ECOSYSTEM

Very Short Answer Type Questions

(Marks:1)
What is the importance of phosphorus in animal bodies?

Ans: Phosphorus helps in the formation of bones and teeth in animal bodies.

Give two examples of micro-consumers.

Ans: Bacteria and Fungi.

Give an example of an artificial ecosystem.

Ans: Cropland, Aquarium.

What is decomposition?

Ans: The process by which complex organic matter is broken down by various enzymes
secreted from the bodies of microbes is called decomposition.

What is a Trophic Level?

Ans: The various groups into which organisms of an ecosystem are categorized based on
the nature of their nutrition.

Which type of food chain starts from dead organic matter?

Ans: Detritus food chain.

In which organisms is an inverted pyramid seen?

Ans: Aquatic organisms and parasitic organisms.

Who coined the term "Ecosystem"?

Ans: A. G. Tansley.

Write the steps of decomposition.

Ans: (i) Fragmentation of detritus, (ii) Catabolism, (iii) Leaching, (iv) Humification.
Short Answer Type Questions (Marks: 2)
1. Write the differences between NPP and GPP.

2. Look at the table below and answer the questions.

 (i) What is the Gross Primary Productivity?
Ans: GPP is the total amount of Biomass produced by producers in a specific time.
GPP = NPP + R
GPP = (45000 + 40367)\ KJ \cdot m^{-2} \cdot y^{-1} = 85367\ KJ \cdot m^{-2} \cdot
y^{-1}

(ii) How has Net Primary Production changed from Producer to Carnivore and
why?
Ans: Since energy is transferred following the 10% law, the NPP continues to
decrease as we move higher from the producer toward the consumers.
3. Write the differences between Detritivore and Decomposer.

4. What is Humus? Write its three characteristics.

Ans: The dark-colored amorphous substance produced as a result of partial

decomposition of detritus is called humus.

Characteristics: (1) Humus is resistant to microbial decomposition. (2) It decomposes at a

very slow rate. (3) Being colloidal in nature, it serves as a reservoir of nutrients.

5. Write the relationship between GPP, NPP, and SP.

Ans: NPP = GPP – R

SP is the Biomass remaining after performing all functions at the consumer level.

SP at the primary consumer level = NPP – R.

6. Show the steps of energy flow in an ecosystem with a flow chart.

Ans: Acquisition of energy \longrightarrow Use of energy \longrightarrow Transfer of energy

7. What is meant by Productivity and Decomposition? What is Micro-climate?

Ans: Productivity: The rate of addition and accumulation of organic matter among the
living components of an ecosystem per unit time is called the productivity of the
ecosystem.

Decomposition: The process by which dead bodies of organisms in an ecosystem are

broken down physically and chemically by decomposers and transformers into simple
inorganic substances is called decomposition.

Micro-climate: The distinct climate of a small area within a specific climate is called a
micro-climate.

8. What are Leaching and Humification?

Ans: Leaching: During decomposition, the process by which water-soluble inorganic

nutrients go down into the soil horizons and get precipitated as salts is called leaching.

Humification: During decomposition, those substances that accumulate in the soil as

relatively hard, dark, slowly decaying matter are called humus. This process of humus
formation is called humification.

9. What is meant by Primary Productivity and Secondary Productivity?

Ans: Primary Productivity: The amount of energy fixed or the amount of biomass
produced through photosynthesis and chemical synthesis per unit area per unit time is
called primary productivity. It is of two types:

(1) Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): The total energy fixed through photosynthesis and
chemical synthesis per unit time

(2) Net Primary Productivity (NPP): The portion of GPP that remains stored in the bodies of
producers after being used in various biological activities (Respiration) is called NPP.

Secondary Productivity: The rate of accumulation of biomass in the bodies of consumers

per unit area per unit time.
10. Write the differences between Primary Productivity and Secondary
Productivity.

11. Write the differences between Primary Succession and Secondary Succession.
12. Write the differences between Pioneer Community and Climax Community

13. Write the differences between various types of Ecological Pyramids.

Short Explanatory Answer Type Questions
(Marks: 2/3/5)
1. Give a brief description of the factors affecting energy flow in an ecosystem.
Give an example of a detritus food chain.

Ans: The factors affecting energy flow in an ecosystem are—energy input, temperature,
humidity level, amount of CO_2, availability of nutrients, etc.

Detritus Food Chain Example:

Detritus (Fallen decaying leaves in a forest) \rightarrow Micro-consumers (Bacteria, Fungi,

etc.) \rightarrow Small fish (Minnows) \rightarrow Large carnivore fish (Hagfish) \rightarrow
Large carnivore bird (Fish-eating bird).

2. What is Ecological Succession? Describe the general process of plant

succession with examples. [1+4=5]

Ans: The natural process by which the biotic community of a specific ecosystem changes
periodically over a specific time, leading to the arrival of a stable and climax community
from an initial community, such that those biotic communities live permanently adjusted
to that environment, is called Ecological Succession.

3. Write the steps of the plant succession process.

Ans: Succession in any place is completed through the following stages:

(1) Nudation: The creation of a plant-less vacant land due to the influence of natural or
artificial means is called nudation. Natural forces like floods, droughts, storms, etc., are
responsible for this.

(2) Invasion: Dispersal of plant spores, seeds, or vegetative parts from nearby areas to the
vacant land. They occupy the vacant space through wind, water, insects, birds, etc.

(3) Ecesis: Successful establishment of the invading species on the bare land is called
ecesis.

(4) Aggregation: The number of initial species begins to increase. Later, a group of species
is formed on the bare land through reproduction.
(5) Reaction: The established plant species in the bare area exert influence on the
environment and bring about changes in it, which is called reaction. As a result, one plant
community is easily replaced by another community.

(6) Stabilization: A permanently established plant community covers the entire area and
continues to exist until natural changes occur among the inhabitants.

(7) Climax Stage: This is the final stage of plant succession where the plant community
achieves its most successful climax form through local environmental control and
transforms into a specific forest over a certain period of time.

4. Write the differences between Grazing and Detritus Food Chains. The detritus food
chain is often linked with the grazing food chain. Give an example of this.
(ii) GFC is linked with DFC in some places—this means some members of GFC use some
members of DFC as food. Example: Earthworm—a member of DFC—is sometimes eaten
by birds.

5. Write the characteristics of energy flow in an ecosystem.

Ans: The transfer of converted solar energy from producers to various trophic levels based
on food-consumer relationships in an ecosystem is called energy flow.

Characteristics: (i) Energy flow is unidirectional, not cyclic. (ii) Energy coming from the sun
does not return to the sun. (iii) The sun is the source of all energy in the ecosystem. (iv) As
energy moves from producers to the highest consumers in the food chain, the amount of
energy decreases. (v) Energy flow follows Lindeman's 10 percent law. (vi) It follows the first
and second laws of thermodynamics.