ECOSYSTEM PRACTUCE QUESTIONS
CASE STUDY
1. An ecological pyramid is used to graphically represent the structure of an ecosystem, depicting
the new biomass at various trophic levels. The pyramid shows the first trophic level or producers
at the bottom that form the base, followed by the successive tiers of the trophic categories of
consumers.
a) Identify the type of pyramid and comment on why it is always upright. (1)
b) Illustrate one terrestrial ecosystem which shows an inverted pyramid of numbers. (1)
c) Differentiate between GFC & DFC (2)
2. A part of an aquatic ecosystem is represented in the picture provided below
a) Construct a food chain operating in this ecosystem. (1)
b) Mention the relationship between 3 & 4 with regard to trophic levels. (1)
c) How will a pond act as a mini ecosystem? (2)
3. You may have heard of the earthworm being referred to as the farmer’s ‘friend’. Decomposers
break down complex organic matter into inorganic substances like carbon dioxide, water and
nutrients and the process is called decomposition. The important steps in the process of
decomposition are fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and mineralisation.
Decomposition is largely an oxygen-dependent process. The rate of decomposition is controlled
by the chemical composition of detritus and climatic factors.
a) Name the raw material of decomposition. (1)
b) When water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down in the soil and precipitate as unavailable
salts, then the process is called (1)
(i) Catabolism
(ii) Fermentation
(iii) Humification
(iv) Leaching
c) Briefly explain how the rate of decomposition is controlled by the chemical composition of
detritus and climatic factors. (2)
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (1 Mark)
1. Approximately how much of the solar energy that falls on the leaves of a plant is converted
to chemical energy by photosynthesis?
a. Less than 1% b. 2-10% c. 30% d. 50%
2. Which of the following is not a producer?
a. Spirogyra b. Agaricus c. Volvox d. Nostoc
3. Productivity is the rate of production of biomass, expressed in terms of:
i. (kcal m–3) yr–1
ii. gm–2yr–1
iii. g–1 yr–1
iv. (kcal m–2) yr–1
a. ii b. iii c. ii and iv d. i and iii
4. The process of mineralisation by microorganisms helps in the release of:
a. inorganic nutrients from humus
b. both organic and inorganic nutrients from detritus
c. organic nutrients from humus
d. inorganic nutrients from detritus and formation of humus.
5. An inverted pyramid of biomass can be found in which ecosystem?
a. Forest
b. Marine
c. Grassland
d. Tundra
6. Which of the following ecosystems is most productive in terms of net primary production?
a. Deserts
b. Tropical rainforests
c. Oceans
d. Estuaries
7. Among the following, where do you think the process of decomposition would be the fastest?
a. Tropical rain forest
b. Antarctic
c. Dry arid region
d. Desert
8. If the carbon atoms fixed by producers have already passed through three species, the trophic
level of the last species would be.
a. First trophic level
b. Second trophic level
c. Third trophic level
d. Fourth trophic level
TWO MARK QUESTIONS
9. Expand PAR, how much PAR is used in gross primary productivity?
10. Give an account of factors affecting the rate of decomposition.
11. Why is the length of a food chain in an ecosystem generally limited to 3-4 trophic levels?
12. Which ecosystem has maximum stratification? Justify.
13. Construct a grazing food chain using the following with five links.
(Earthworm, bird, snake, vulture, grass, grasshopper, frog, decaying plant
matter)
THREE MARKS QUESTIONS
14. What are ecological pyramids? Mention its limitations
15. Briefly describe the process of decomposition
16. Construct a pyramid of biomass starting with phytoplankton. Label 3 trophic levels. Is the
pyramid upright or inverted? Why?
FIVE MARKS QUESTIONS
17. (a)Draw the ideal pyramid of energy up to four trophic levels, where 10,000 J are available
from sunlight to the primary producer. Indicate the amount of end product available at each
trophic level.
(b) Why is the pyramid of energy always upright? Explain.
(c) Mention the limitations of an ecological pyramid.
18.(a) Give an example of a pyramid where a small standing crop of phytoplankton supports a
large standing crop of zooplankton. Draw the pyramid.
(b) How is the pyramid of biomass of a forest ecosystem different from that of a lake ecosystem?
PREVIOUS IMPORTANT BOARD QUESTIONS
19. 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 of 20
numbers would we get?
20. Name any two man-made ecosystems?
21. Define stratification?
22. What is the shape of the pyramid of biomass in the sea? Why?
23. 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?
24. What is meant by the ecological pyramid? With the help of one example each, show that the
pyramid of numbers can be both upright as well as inverted.
25. What are the limitations of ecological pyramids?
26. What is decomposition? Describe the different processes involved in decomposition.