Ecosystem
BIOLOGY
Very Short Answer Questions. (1 Mark)
1. Decomposition is faster if detritus is rich in nitrogen and water-soluble substances
like sugars. When is the decomposition process slower?
Ans. The process of decomposition is slower when detritus is rich in lignin and chitin.
2. If we count the number of insects on a tree and the number of small birds depending
on those insects as also the number of larger birds eating the smaller, what kind of
pyramid of20 number would we get?
Ans. Inverted Pyramid of Number.
3. Differentiate between Sere and Seral communities.
Ans. The difference between sere and seral communities are:
Seral community (Individual
Sere Community
transitional community)
In the ecological succession of an
Sere refers to an entire
ecosystem, the intermediate stage
sequence of communities
between pioneer and climax
that change one after the
communities is known as seral
other in a given area.
communities.
4. Who are generally the pioneer species in a Xerarch succession and a Hydrarch
succession?
Ans. Lichens are the pioneer species in Xerarch succession, while small phytoplanktons are
the pioneer species in Hydrarch succession.
5. Which metabolic process causes a reduction in the Gross Primary Productivity?
Ans. Respiration is a metabolic process that causes a reduction in Gross Primary
Productivity.
6. What percentage of photosynthetically active radiation is captured by plants?
Ans. Plants capture 2-10 2-10 of the photosynthetically active radiation.
7. Name the pioneers of primary succession in water.
Ans. Phytoplankton is the pioneer of primary succession in water.
8. Name any two man-made ecosystems?
Ans. Aquarium and Garden are two man-made ecosystems.
9. Define stratification?
Ans. In an ecosystem, stratification refers to the vertical distribution of distinct species at
different levels.
10. Name the ecological pyramid that is always upright?
Ans. The pyramid of energy is an ecological pyramid that is always upright.
11. Name the trophic level occupied by secondary consumers and tertiary consumers?
Ans. The third trophic level is occupied by secondary consumers, while the fourth trophic level
is occupied by tertiary consumers respectively.
12. Define standing crop?
Ans. Standing crop refers to the amount of living matter or biomass present at each trophic
level.
13. Name the ecological pyramid that is inverted in the tree ecosystem?
Ans. The pyramid of number is an ecological pyramid that is inverted in a tree ecosystem.
14. What are the products of decomposition?
Ans. The products of decomposition are CO , H2OH2O and nutrients.
2CO2
15. What is 10 10 law?
Ans. At each trophic level, 90 90 of energy is degraded into heat and only 10 10 is
transferred to the next trophic level. This rule is known as the 10 10 law.
16. Mention one similarity between Hydrarch and Xerarch succession?
Ans. Both hydrarch and xerarch result in the establishment of similar mesic conditions.
17. What is the approximate value of the net primary productivity of the biosphere?
Ans. The approximate value of the net primary productivity of the biosphere is 170 billion
tons.
18. Name two climatic factors that regulate decomposition?
Ans. The two climatic factors that regulate decomposition are temperature and soil moisture.
19. What is sere?
Ans. Sere refers to an entire sequence of communities that change one after the other in a
given area.
20. Name the primary consumers in the aquatic ecosystem?
Ans. Zooplanktons are the primary consumers in the aquatic ecosystem.
21. Name the pioneer species in the primary succession on the rock?
Ans. Lichens are the pioneer species in the primary succession on the rock.
Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
1. What is the shape of the pyramid of biomass in the sea? Why?
Ans. The shape of the pyramid of biomass in the sea is inverted. This is because the amount
of biomass is maximum at the apex of the pyramid and least at the bottom of the pyramid.
2. Give an example of an ecological pyramid that is always upright. Justify your
answer.
Ans. The pyramid of energy is always upright and can never be inverted because some
energy is always lost as heat as energy flows from one trophic level to the next.
3. Differentiate between primary succession and secondary succession. Which one
occurs faster?
Ans. The difference between primary succession and secondary succession are:
Primary Succession Secondary succession
A process that begins in the A process that starts in areas that
absence of any living have lost all the living organisms that
organisms. existed there.
4. Gaseous nutrient cycles and sedimentary nutrient cycles have their reservoir.
Name them. Why is a reservoir necessary?
Ans. The atmosphere serves as a reservoir for the gaseous nutrient cycle, while the Earth's
crust serves as a reservoir for the sedimentary nutrition cycle. The reservoir is required to
meet the deficit caused by an imbalance in the influx and efflux.
5. Fill up the missing links depicted as A, B, C, and D in the given model of primary
succession.
Ans.
A: - Plant stage
B: - Reed Swamp Stage
C: - Scrub stage
D: - Forest stage
6. In the model of the phosphorus cycle given below, what does A, B, C and D refer to?
Ans.
A: - Detritus
B: - Decomposition
C: - Weathering
D: - Producers
7. Differentiate between Hydrarch and Xerarch succession.
Ans. The difference between Hydrarch and Xerarch succession are:
Hydrarch Succession Xerarch Succession:
This succession occurs in wet This succession occurs in dry
areas. areas
This succession takes place from This succession takes place from
hydric (aquatic) to mesic (neither xeric (bare rocks) to mesic
dry nor wet) conditions. (neither dry nor wet) conditions.
This succession begins with the This succession begins with bare
phytoplankton stage. rocks.
8. What is the effect on decomposition rate if: –
a. Detritus is rich in lignin and chitin
b. Detritus is rich in nitrogen and sugars?
Ans. The effect on decomposition rate: -
a. If the detritus is rich in lignin and chitin, the decomposition rate is slower.
b. If the detritus is rich in nitrogen and sugars, the decomposition rate is faster.
9. What are the limitations of ecological pyramids?
Ans. The following are the limitations of ecological pyramids:
i. Does not account for the equivalent species belonging to two or more trophic levels.
ii. Assumes a simple food chain and does not account for a food web.
iii. Saprophytes have been excluded from ecological pyramids
10. Name any four ecosystem services. Who gave the price tags on nature’s life support
services? Which is the most important ecosystem service provider?
Ans. Four ecosystem services provided by the natural ecosystem are: -
i. Drought and flood mitigation.
ii. Offer aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual values.
iii. Cycling nutrients and generating fertile soil.
iv. Providing habitat for wildlife, pollinating flowers, and maintaining Biodiversity.
Robert Constanza gave price tags to nature's life support services. Soil formation is the most
important ecosystem services provider.
11. Study the table given below and fill the blanks from ‘A’ to ‘F’.
Position of
S. Component of Organism present in
the trophic
No. the Ecosystem the Food chain
level
1. Fourth
E F
trophic level
Secondary
2. D Bird, fish, wolf.
consumer
3. Second
B C
trophic level
4. Primary Phytoplankton,
A
producer grass, tree.
Ans.
S. Component of the Position of the Organism present in
No. Ecosystem trophic level the Food chain
1. E: - Tertiary Fourth trophic
F: - Man, Lion.
consumer level
2. Secondary D: - Third
Bird, fish, wolf.
consumer trophic level
3. B: - Primary Second trophic C: - Zooplankton, Cow,
consumer level Grasshopper.
4. A: - First Phytoplankton, grass,
Primary producer
trophic level tree.
12. In the pyramid of biomass drawn below, name the two crops (i) one which is
supported (ii) one which supports. In which ecosystem are such types of pyramids
found?
Ans.
i. Supported trophic level is formed by zooplanktons (Primary consumers).
ii. Supporting trophic level is formed by phytoplankton (Secondary consumers). such types
of pyramids are found in aquatic ecosystems.
13. Why is secondary succession faster than primary succession?
Ans. Secondary succession is the development of a community on a site that was previously
occupied by well-developed communities where the environment is both organic and
inorganic. Secondary succession is faster than primary succession because these bare areas
have suitable soil for proper growth.
14. Distinguish between upright and inverted pyramids?
Ans. The difference between upright and inverted pyramids are:
Upright pyramid Inverted pyramid
The number and biomass of The number and biomass of
organisms in an ecosystem are organisms in an ecosystem are
greatest at the producer level and lowest at the producer level and
decrease with each trophic level increase with each trophic level
in a food chain. in a food chain.
The energy in the lower trophic The energy in the lower trophic
level is greater than the energy in level is lesser than the energy in
the higher trophic level. the higher trophic level.
15. Explain with an example, why is the length of a food chain in an ecosystem
generally limited to 3-43-4trophic level?
Ans. The length of a food chain in an ecosystem is generally limited to 3-43-4 trophic levels
because the energy transferred for 3-43-4 trophic levels is sufficient to do work and then the
energy is insufficient to do work because only 10 10 of energy is transferred to the next level.
This is because according to the 10 10 Law of transfer of energy, in a food chain at each
trophic level, about 90 90 of energy is degraded into heat and only 10 10 of energy is
transferred to the next trophic level.
16. What is meant by ecological succession? Describe the different stages in which
succession occurs?
Ans. Ecological succession is a community–controlled phenomenon in which the structure
and composition of the community change in a systematic and orderly manner, eventually
leading to the establishment of a climax community.
Stages of Succession: -
[Link]: - Invasion is the arrival of propagating organs such as seeds, spores, bulbils, etc.
on a bare area of primary or secondary succession. Those for which conditions are favorable
germinate in a new area and some of them grow into mature plants. These new arrivals from
outside are called pioneers.
[Link]: - The process by which migrants adjust themselves to new areas after the
migration is called ecesic. It consists of three essential processes i.e., germination, growth,
and reproduction.
[Link]: - The coming together of individuals of various species in an area are called
aggregation.
[Link]: - The species which have similar requirements of nutrition are known as
competitive species e.g., those with the different requirements are complementary species.
[Link]: - It is the changes caused by colonizers within the habitat. The influence of
vegetation on the site is referred to as a reaction until a stable community develops in that
area.
vi.
17. What is meant by ecological pyramid? With the help of one example each, show
that the pyramid of numbers can be both upright as well as inverted.
Ans. An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation in the form of a pyramid that depicts
the feeding relationship of groups of organisms. It is frequently depicted as follows: the
producers are at the bottom, followed by the various trophic levels, with the highest at the top.
A pyramid of numbers is a graphical representation of the number of organisms at each
trophic level.
In an upright pyramid of numbers, the more abundant species form the first trophic level i.e.,
the base of the pyramid, and less abundant species remain near the top. Example: -
Grassland ecosystem.
Green plants →Rabbit→ Fox→ LionGreen plants →Rabbit→ Fox→ Lion
In a grassland ecosystem, producers (Green plants) are more in number, and herbivores
(Rabbit) are more than carnivores (Fox and Lion).
In an inverted pyramid of numbers, the most abundant species occurs at the top while the
less abundant species form the base of the pyramid. Example: - Tree ecosystem.
Tree →Birds→ ParasiteTree →Birds→ Parasite
A big tree provides food to several herbivores (birds) which in turn provides food to few
carnivores.
18. Describe the components of an ecosystem?
Ans. An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature consisting of biotic and abiotic factors where
the living organisms interact among themselves and with the physical environment. The
ecosystem consists of two components: -
A. Abiotic Components: -
[Link] substances e.g., phosphorus, Sulphur, carbon, nitrogen hydrogen, etc.
[Link] substances e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids.
[Link] regime e.g., light, humidity, rainfall, temperature.
B. Biotic Components: -
[Link]: - The organisms which produce food for themselves and all living organisms from
inorganic raw material and solar radiation are called producers.
[Link]: - These are living heterotrophic members of the ecosystem that consume the
food synthesized lay producers. They are broadly classified as:
a. Primary Consumers: - They are directly dependent on producers called herbivores.
Example: - Rat, deer, cow, goat.
b. Secondary Consumers: - The organisms that use primary consumers as their food
are called carnivores. Example: - Fox cats, lions.
c. Tertiary Consumers: - These are top carnivores that prey upon other carnivores and
herbivores. Example: - Crow, man.
C. Decomposers: - Organisms that break up the dead bodies of plants, animals, and related
waste products are called decomposers. Example: - Bacteria, Fungi etc.
D.
19. “Energy flow in an ecosystem is always unidirectional”. Justify the statement.
Ans. Energy flow in an ecosystem is always unidirectional, which means that it is always
transferred from one trophic level to the next and is never reverted. Example: - Energy from
the sun is captured by producers, which is then consumed by the primary consumer, and
energy is transferred to the next trophic level.
20. Differentiate between Production and decomposition?
Ans. The difference between production and decomposition are:
Production Decomposition
The process of synthesis of
organic food materials from Decomposition is the breakdown
inorganic substances such as of complex substances into their
CO2CO2, H2OH2O in the constituents caused by bacteria,
presence of sunlight is referred to fungi, and other microorganisms.
as production.
21. Explain why the pyramid of energy of an ecosystem is always upright and never
inverted?
Ans. The pyramid of energy represents the total amount of energy utilized by the different
trophic level organisms in a unit area. The pyramid of energy of the ecosystem is always
upright and can never be inverted. This is because when energy flows from one trophic level
to the next, some energy is always degraded as heat at each step.
22. i. Name the compound whose cycle is depicted.
ii. In what way do vehicles add this compound to the atmosphere?
iii. What adverse effect does its excess have on the environment?
iv. Cite an event that depicts this effect in modern times.
v. Suggest two ways of depleting this effect.
Ans.
i. Carbon cycle
ii. By burning fossil fuel. Example: - Diesel or petroleum. They introduce CO2CO2 in the
atmosphere.
iii. Environmental pollution
iv. Ozone layer depletion
v. Two ways of depleting this effect are: -
a) By cutting down the use of fossil fuels.
b) By planting more and more trees.
23. What do you mean by “productivity of an ecosystem? What types of productivity
also mention the factors on which productivity of an ecosystem depends?
Ans. Productivity of an ecosystem is the rate at which solar radiation energy is fixed by the
vegetation of an ecosystem per unit area & per unit time. It is generally expressed in terms of
a unit of energy (cal)(cal) produced in a unit area (m2)(m2) per unit time (year).
Productivity can be of two types: -
[Link] Productivity: - It is defined as the amount of biomass or organic matter produced
per unit area by plants during photosynthesis over a given period. Primary productivity is of
following two types: -
a. Gross primary productivity (GPP): - It refers to the total amount of food formed by
the producers during photosynthesis.
b. Net primary productivity (NPP): - It refers to gross primary productivity minus loss
by respiration (R).
NPP = GPP - RNPP = GPP - R
ii. Secondary Productivity: - Secondary productivity is the rate of storage at the
consumer level. It is defined as the rate at which organic matter is synthesized by
consumers over a given period.
Primary productivity is determined by: -
a. Several environmental factors.
b. Availability of nutrients.
c. Photosynthetic capacity of plants.
d.
24. What is decomposition? Describe the different processes involved in
decomposition?
Ans. Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) helps in the breakdown of complex organic matter into
simple inorganic substances like CO2CO2, H2OH2O, minerals. This process is called
decomposition. Detritus is made up of dead plant remains such as leaves, bark, and flowers,
as well as remains of dead animals along with fecal matter. The important processes involved
in decomposition are: -
[Link]: - Detritivores are organisms that break down detritus into smaller particles.
[Link]: - By leaching, water-soluble inorganic nutrients penetrate the soil horizon and
precipitate as unavailable salts.
[Link]: - The enzymes of bacteria and fungi degrade detritus into simple inorganic
substances.
[Link]: - Humification results in the accumulation of humus, a dark-colored amorphous
substance. This is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an
extremely slower rate.
[Link]: - Some microbes further degrade the humus, resulting in the release of
inorganic nutrients via the mineralization process.
25. Why is the productivity of coral reefs maximum?
Ans. The productivity of coral reefs is maximum because of the availability of good light,
enough warmth, water, and abundant nutrients.
26. In the pyramid of biomass, drawn below, name the two crops: -
a. one which is supported and the one which supports
b. In which ecosystem is such a pyramid found.
Ans.
a. Supported trophic level is formed by zooplanktons (Primary consumers) and supporting
trophic level is formed by phytoplankton (Secondary consumers).
b. Such types of pyramids are found in aquatic ecosystems (Pond).
c.
27. Differentiate between primary productivity and secondary productivity?
Ans. The difference between primary productivity and secondary productivity are:
Primary Productivity Secondary Productivity
It is defined as the amount of
It is defined as the rate at
biomass or organic matter produced
which organic matter is
per unit area by plants during
synthesized by consumers
photosynthesis over a given time
over a given time period.
period.
The process of production of The process of production of
organic matter is fast. organic matter is slow.
It is the result of the synthesis of It is the result of synthesis of
fresh organic matter from inorganic organic matter from organic
matter. matter.
28. What ecological principles are derived from the study of food chains?
Ans. The ecological principles are derived by studying food chains are: -
[Link] food chain is complete and self–sufficient.
[Link] food chain must start with photosynthesis and end with decay.
[Link] food chains are more efficient because the greater the number of steps, the more
energy is wasted.
[Link] members of food chains are large in size but fewer in number.
29. List the factors on which pioneer species depend during secondary succession?
Ans. In secondary succession, the factors on which pioneer species depends are: -
[Link] conditions,
[Link] availability,
[Link] conditions, and
[Link] presence of seeds or other propagules.
v.
30. The productivity of the ecosystem increases from polar regions towards tropics.
Why?
Ans. The productivity of the ecosystem increases from the polar region towards the tropics
because of the suitable temperature and increasing sunlight.
31. Mention some of the ecological services provided by forests?
Ans. Some of the ecological services provided by forests are: -
[Link] and flood mitigation.
[Link] aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual values.
[Link] nutrients and generating fertile soil.
[Link] habitat for wildlife, pollinating flowers, and maintaining Biodiversity.
v.
32. Differentiate between food chain & food web?
Ans. The difference between the food chain and the food web is:
Food Chain Food Web
The unidirectional sequence of
organisms in which energy flows in the The network of interlinked
form of food from one organism to food chains is collectively
another through the process of eating & known as the food web.
being eaten is called the food chain.
It consists of only four to five trophic It consists of numerous
levels. trophic levels.
An individual of a higher
An individual of a higher trophic level can trophic level can feed
only feed upon a single type of organism upon several types of
of a lower trophic level. organisms of lower
trophic level.
Short Answer Question (3 Marks)
1. With the help of a diagram, represent the energy flow through the different trophic
levels.
Ans. In an ecosystem, energy flows through the different trophic levels by the food chain. It
consists of two steps: -
[Link] solar energy: - Primary source of energy is the sun. The only
48 48
of the sun’s energy reaches the surface of the earth and only a part of it is used by
plants for photosynthesis. The chemical energy produced by plants is stored in plant
tissues. The photosynthetic organism uses a part of this chemical energy and
transfers the rest to the organism at the next trophic level.
[Link] and flow of energy: - The primary consumers, therefore, take chemical potential energy
in the form of food. Most of it dissipates as heat during respiration and is lost out of the
ecosystem. The same process is repeated at secondary consumers. At each trophic level,
90 90
of energy is degraded into heat and only
10 10
is then transferred to the next trophic level. This rule of energy flow is called the ten
percent law.
2. What is a pyramid of biomass? Represent the pyramid of biomass in
[Link] ecosystem
[Link] ecosystem.
Ans. The total weight of dry matter is referred to as biomass. The pyramid of biomass
represents the weight of dry matter at different trophic levels of the ecosystem at one time in
a food chain or food web.
[Link] ecosystem: - In a grassland ecosystem, the pyramid of biomass is upright i.e., the
pyramid of biomass shows a gradual reduction in biomass at each trophic level from base to
apex.
Green plants →Rabbit→ Fox→ LionGreen plants →Rabbit→ Fox→ Lion
ii. Aquatic ecosystem: - In the pond or aquatic ecosystem, the biomass of consumers is
always greater than the biomass of producers. As a result, it takes the form of an
inverted pyramid.
Phytoplanktons → Zooplanktons → Small fishes →Large fishesPhytoplanktons → Zooplanktons → Small fishes →Large fishes
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
1. Represent schematically and describe the phosphorus cycle in an ecosystem?
Ans. Phosphorus Cycle: -
[Link] major reservoir of phosphorus is sedimentary rocks which are only available to basic
cycle in small amounts as a result of weathering.
[Link] phosphorus is weathered and later transported to the soil by wind and water, where they
exist as inorganic dissolved phosphates.
[Link] basic phosphorus cycle begins with dissolved phosphates which are absorbed by plants
for making their issue.
[Link] are then eaten by animals. Decaying bacteria break the tissue of dead animals and
these products return phosphates to the soil.
[Link] water-soluble phosphates are lost to the deep rudiments of the ocean through run-off.
[Link] major pathway of returning phosphorus to land is the uplifting of marine sediments. Some
amount of phosphorus is returned to absorb inorganic phosphate, when they die, most of the
absorbed phosphate is recycled back into ambient matter. This sort of cycling is called the
biological cycle or metabolic cycle.
2. Represent schematically and describe the carbon cycle in the ecosystem?
Ans. Carbon is derived from the atmosphere and water. Carbon is present in the atmosphere
predominantly in the form of carbon dioxide. It is essential for the production of carbohydrates
via photosynthesis. It is incorporated into tissues of green plants e.g., carbohydrates, proteins,
and lipids.
6 CO2+ 12 H2O −→−−−−−Chlorophyllhv C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O26 CO2+ 12 H2O →Chlorophyllhv C6H12O6 + 6 H2O + 6 O2
The CO2CO2 dissolved in seawater is utilized by marine animals like protozoans, corals,
molluscs etc. for their life. In these animals, CO2CO2 is converted into calcium carbonate
which is used for the construction of shells.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3→ CaCO3 + H+CO2 + H2O → H2CO3→ CaCO3 + H+
After the death of marine animals,
CaCO3CaCO3
store in shells is either deposited as sedimentary rock or dissolved in water to release
CO2CO2. A certain amount of carbon is deposited in the form of coal carbon. Coal returns to
the air in the form of CO2CO2 through combustion and weathering. Thus, carbon from the
atmospheric pool moves to green plants, then to animals, and finally to bacteria, fungi, etc.
They return it to the atmosphere through decomposition.