ECOSYSTEM
A. Multiple choice questions.
1. The rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers, and the
biomass available for consumption of herbivores as well as
decomposers are referred to as : 1M
(A) Gross primary productivity and Net primary productivity
(B) Net primary productivity and Secondary productivity
(C) Secondary productivity and Net primary productivity
(D) Secondary productivity and Gross primary productivity.
2. The pyramid of biomass in sea is generally inverted because in sea :
(A) Biomass of fishes exceeds that of phytoplankton. 1M
(B) Number of phytoplanktons is more.
(C) Number of phytoplanktons is less.
(D) Large fishes feed on small fishes.
B. Assertion and reason.
1. Assertion (A) : Communities that comprise more species tend to be
more stable.
Reason (R) : A higher number of species results in less year to year
variation in total biomass. 1M
2. Assertion (A) : Loss of biodiversity can occur due to overexploitation
of resources.
Reason (R) : Introduction of Clarias gariepinus in Indian rivers has
led to a decline in native Indian fishes. 1M
C. Questions and answers.
1. Explain how are plants benefitted by their association with “Glomus
species”. 2M
2. (a) Tropical regions harbour more species than the temperate
regions. How have biologists tried to explain this in their own ways ?
Explain.
(b) (i) What does an ecological pyramid represent ?
(ii) The Ecological pyramids may have an ‘upright’ or an ‘inverted’
shape. Justify with the help of suitable examples. 3M
3. The world is facing accelerated rates of species extinction largely due
to human activities. Explain any three human activities responsible for
accelerated rates of species extinction. 3M
4. (a) A number of insects are feeding on a big tree which are being fed
by small birds. The small birds are being preyed upon by large birds.
(i) Name the different trophic levels in this situation.
(ii) Mention the types of pyramids that can be formed based on the
biomass and the number respectively in the above situation.
(b) State the effect of the following on the rate (both low and
high) of decomposition of detritus :
(i) Composition of detritus
(ii) Climatic factors. 4M
5. Biodiversity exists at all levels of biological organisation ranging from
macromolecules within cells to biomes. Explain the three most
important levels of biodiversity with the help of one example from
each. 3M
6. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Isn't it incredible that India's land area only 2.4 % of the world's total
land area whereas its share of the global species diversity is an
impressive 8·1 per cent ! However, in these estimates of species,
prokaryotes do not figure anywhere.
Biologists are always keen on collecting data with respect to species
diversity observed in different regions of the world. The data collected
based on the survey conducted for species richness of groups of
mammals in three different regions of the world is shown in the bar
graph given below :
(a) Why is the species richness maximum in Region III in the bar
graph ?
(b) Why is the species richness minimum in Region I in the bar
graph ?
(c) Plants and animals do not have uniform diversity in the world but
show rather uneven distribution. Mention what this kind of diversity is
referred to as.
(d) Why is it that prokaryotes do not have an estimated number of
their species diversity as seen in plants and animals ? Explain. 4M