NAME: ______________________________

FREEDOM CONCEPT SCHOOL, POIGAI, VELLORE-632114

(A.Y.2024-25) Revision exam -2
FREE KIDS: XII-A BIOLOGY (044) THEORY [Link]: 70
Reading Time: 15 min. CH:12 Writing Time: 3 hrs.
Teacher’s Name: R PADMAVATHI DATE: 25.9.2024
Answer the following questions:
1 3

2 c) Soil Samples A& B both 1

3 Decomposition is largely an oxygen-requiring process. The rate of 4
decomposition is controlled by chemical composition of detritus and
climatic factors. In a particular climatic condition, decomposition rate is
slower if detritus is rich in lignin and chitin, and quicker, if detritus is
rich in nitrogen and water-soluble substances like sugars. Temperature
and soil moisture are the most important climatic factors that regulate
decomposition through their effects on the activities of soil microbes.
Warm and moist environment favour decomposition whereas low
temperature and anaerobiosis inhibit decomposition resulting in build
up of organic materials.
4 Breakdown of dead organic matter into inorganic substances is called as 5
decomposition. A dead organic matter/organism or biomass is regarded as a
detritus. Decomposition of detritus occurs in following stages:-
Fragmentation of detritus is done by detritivores. It is a process in which
detritivores feed on the dead organic matter, turning it into smaller fragments.
Catabolism is the next step in which bacteria and fungi secrete digestive
enzymes over the detritus. It helps in the formation of simple and soluble
organic and inorganic substances. A part of this nutrient may be taken up and
immobilized by the bacteria.
Leaching of nutrient occurs when the nutrients seep deeper in soil.
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 Decomposition process yields inorganic nutrients and humus formation.
Formation of humus is called humification.
Nutrients are released as further degradation of humus occurs, this is called as
mineralization.
5 A constant input of solar energy is the basic requirement for any 5
ecosystem to function and sustain. Primary production is defined as the
amount of biomass or organic matter produced per unit area over a time
period by plants during photosynthesis. It is expressed in terms of
weight (gm–2 ) or energy (kcal m–2 ). The rate of biomass production
is called productivity. It is expressed in terms of gm–2 yr –1 or (kcal
m–2 ) yr –1 to compare the productivity of different ecosystems
. It can be divided into gross primary productivity (GPP) and net
primary productivity (NPP).
Gross primary productivity of an ecosystem is the rate of production of
organic matter during photosynthesis.
A considerable amount of GPP is utilised by plants in respiration. Gross
primary productivity minus respiration losses (R), is the net primary
productivity (NPP). GPP – R = NPP
Net primary productivity is the available biomass for the consumption
to heterotrophs (herbiviores and decomposers).
Secondary productivity is defined as the rate of formation of new
organic matter by consumers
6 Detritus food chain begins with the dead organic matter. It is made up of 3
decomposers (saprotrophs) which are heterotrophic organisms. For example,
fungi and bacteria. They meet their energy and nutrient requirements by
degrading dead organic matter or detritus.
7 Each trophic level has a certain mass of living material at a particular 2
time called as the standing crop. The standing crop is measured as the
mass of living organisms (biomass) or the number in a unit area. The
biomass of a species is expressed in terms of fresh or dry weight(Extra)
8 So, the green plants here are producers, insects depending on green 1
plants are primary consumers, snake eating insects is a secondary
consumer and the peacock is a tertiary consumer. The peacock is at the
apex of the food pyramid.(d)
9 X eating curd/yoghurt should be considered as occupying third trophic 2
level. Producers or green plants (first trophic level) are consumed by
herbivores (second trophic level) and from them curd/yoghurt (made
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 from daily breed) is consumed by third trophic level organisms like
man.
10 4
.

11 The energy relationship between trophic levels is shown in a form of 4

. pyramid. Consider a food chain Grass → Grasshopper →Frog → Snake
→ Hawk. This food chain can also be considered as energy chain. We
can place these animals in different trophic levels,
12 3
.

13 B) stratification is one of the structural components of an ecosystem. It 4

refers to the vertical distribution of different species at different levels
of an ecosystem.
The ecosystem is an assemblage of biotic and abiotic factors of a geographical
area and also takes account of the interaction between them. Biotic factors of
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 an ecosystem include all plant and animal species present in there. Thee biotic
factors of a self-sufficient ecosystem contain types of organisms—producers,
consumers, and decomposers. The abiotic factors include a physical
environment in which they can survive. It includes light, temperature,
humidity and other climatic condition as well as physical factors like soil.
14 More than one species may occupy multiple trophic levels as in case of 4
. the food web. Thus, this system does not take into account food webs.
The saprophytes are not considered in any of the pyramids even though
they form an important part of the various ecosystem.
15 The representation of total living biomass or organic matter present at 3
different trophic levels in an ecosystem.i) primary producer
(phytoplankton) (ii) primary consumer (zooplankton) In aquatic
ecosystem such type of pyramid found.
16 6

17 4
.

18 a) If all producers are removed from an ecosystem. then there will be 6

. no food for the primary consumers. All the primary consumers will be
wiped out because of starvation. This will leave no food (or secondary
and tertiary consumers and they will also be finished in due course of
time. This will be the end of the ecosystem.
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 (b) If all herbivores are eliminated from an ecosystem, there will be no
food for the carnivores. Eventually, all the carnivores would be finished
because of lack of food. Absence of herbivores will also result in
exponential growth in plant population. But lack of other biotic factors
will stop biogeochemical cycle. This will finally finish the ecosystem.
(c) If all the top carnivores are eliminated, then population of
herbivores will become manifold. This will put the existence of green
plants in danger because of overgrazing. Loss of green plants will force
the herbivores to die because of starvation.
19 The organism found as secondary carnivore in an aquatic ecosystem is 2
. Shark.
20 [Link], 10 kg of deer's meat means 10 kg of biomass at the level of 2
. primary consumer. Out of this, 90% is utilized by the deer for its own
needs. Rest 10%, i.e. just 1 kg is available for the lion. Hence, it is
correct to say that 10 kg of deer's meat is equivalent to 1 kg of lion's
flesh.
21 Healthy forest ecosystems purify air and water which helps to breathe 3
. properly, fresh air to live and provide us clean water to drink. > It also
maintains balance of the food chain whenever some natural calamity
like droughts, floods occurs.

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