Question 1

Question 1Write a short note on biotic components of the environment.

Accepted Answer

All the living organisms in an ecosystem, namely, plants, animals and microorganisms form its biotic components. Depending on how they obtain their food, living organisms can be divided into three groups, namely, producers, consumers and decomposers.Producers — Green plants make their own food in the presence of sunlight using water, minerals and carbon dioxide. Thus, green plants are called producers or autotrophs.Consumers — Living organisms that cannot make their own food but consume either plants or other animals, are called consumers or heterotrophs. They are either herbivores, carnivores or omnivores.Decomposers — The microorganisms that feed on the dead bodies of organisms and decaying organic matter are called Decomposers.

Question 2

Question 4Explain the flow of energy in a food chain with the help of a diagram.

Accepted Answer

Green plants convert solar energy into chemical energy present in food. Some energy gets stored in plants while the rest is used up by them. When the plants are eaten by herbivores, the energy stored in them is transferred to herbivores. Herbivores use some of the energy for their activities and store a part of it in their body. This stored energy is further transferred to carnivores when they eat herbivores. Thus, as one organism eats the other, energy passes on from producers to herbivores and then to carnivores. The given diagram shows the flow of energy in a food chain:

Question 3

Question 5Write a short note on the dependence of animals on plants.

Accepted Answer

The animals depend upon the plants in many ways like for food, shelter and and most importantly for oxygen. Dependence of animals on plants can be explained as follows:Animals (herbivores) depend upon plants for food.Animals such as birds, squirrels and monkeys depend upon plants for their shelter. Birds also use plant materials to make their nests. Insects like ants, bee and beetles etc. also live on trees.Animals also use Oxygen given out by plants for respiration.

Question 4

Question 7Write about biotic and abiotic components of a forest ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

Biotic component of forest ecosystem — The biotic components of a forest includes :Producers like herbs, shrubs and trees. A wide variety of grasses, ferns, creepers, berries etc. are found in a forest. The trees in a forest are home to thousand of birds and animals.Consumers like herbivores(deer,nilgai, elephants, leaf hoppers and bugs), Carnivores(tiger, lion, eagle kite) and Omnivores (bear, crow) are found in forest ecosystem.Decomposers like bacteria and fungi are also found in the forest ecosystem. They derive their nutrition from dead and decaying organisms.Abiotic component of forest ecosystem — The abiotic components of a forest ecosystem include air rich in oxygen, water in several water bodies, organic and inorganic compounds in trees and soil as well as in the dead remains of plants and animals. Climatic factors such as sunlight, temperature, rainfall and humidity play a great role in determining the flora and fauna in a forest ecosystem.

Question 5

Question 2producers and consumers

Accepted Answer

Sl.No.ProducerConsumer1.The green plants that make their own food in the presence of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide are called producers.Living organisms that cannot make their own food but consume either plants or other animals are called consumers.2.They are called Autotrophs.They are called Heterotrophs.3.They constitute the first trophic level.They constitute the second, third or fourth trophic levels.4.Example: Green plants, AlgaeExample: Cow, Lion

Question 6

Question 3Consumers and decomposers

Accepted Answer

Sl.No.ConsumersDecomposers1.The organisms that cannot make their own food but consume either plants or animals are called consumers.Microscopic organisms that feed on the dead bodies of organism and decaying organic matter are called decomposers.2.They get energy by eating other organisms.They derive their energy by breaking down the complex organic compounds present in the dead plants and animals.3.They maintain the ecological balance.They help to maintain the nutrient cycle by recycling of the nutrients.4.They are called heterotrophs.They are called nature's scavengers.

Question 7

Question 2Differentiate among primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. Give one example of each in a food chain.

Accepted Answer

PrimaryConsumersSecondaryConsumersTertiaryConsumersThe organisms that feed on primary producers.The organisms that feed on primary consumers.The animals that obtain their nutrition by eating primary consumers and secondary consumers.HerbivoresEither carnivores or omnivoresCarnivoresObtain energy from primary producersObtain energy from primary consumersObtain energy either from primary or secondary consumersExamples — Grasshopper eating grassExamples — Frog eating GrasshopperExamples — Snake eating Frog.

Question 8

Question 4(a)Give reason/explain — Food web is important to maintain an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

Food web illustrates the complex relationships between different species and how they are interdependent on each other for survival. Food webs show the flow of energy and matter, highlighting the importance of each organism in the ecosystem. They help maintain the natural balance of habitats, which is essential for the sustainability of animal and plant life. The complex food web imparts that in case of sudden change in population of a species, the food chain will not collapse at once and the stability of ecosystem will be maintained.

Question 9

Question 4(b)Give reason/explain — The existence of plant life is integral to the continuity and development of most ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

Plants are primary producers. Every food chain starts with plants. They supply food to nearly all terrestrial organisms, including humans. They also provide oxygen on which all organisms depend for respiration. Therefore, the existence of plant life is integral to the continuity and development of most ecosystems.

Question 10

Question 5Draw the following with a suitable example :(a) Pyramid of numbers(b) Pyramid of biomass

Accepted Answer

(a) Diagram showing the pyramid of numbers with example is shown below:(b) Diagram showing the pyramid of biomass with example is shown below:

Question 11

Question 4(d)Define Food chain.

Accepted Answer

Food chain is the linear sequence of organisms in which each organism eats the lower member and is itself eaten by the next higher member.

Question 12

Question 4(e)Define Food web.

Accepted Answer

A network of various interconnected food chains which show complex feeding relationships is called food web.

Question 13

Question 4(f)Define Consumers.

Accepted Answer

The organisms that cannot make their own food but consume either plants or animals are called consumers.

Question 14

Question 4(g)Define Symbiosis.

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis is defined as a relationship or interaction in which both the interacting species are benefitted.

Ecosystems

Answer the following in detail

Differentiate between

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