Revision Ecosystem

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions

* Which of the following is a man-made ecosystem?
(a) Forest (b) Pond (c) Crop field (d) Lake
* The primary producers in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystem are:
(a) Phytoplankton (b) Zooplankton (c) Chemoautotrophic bacteria (d) Algae
* The pyramid of biomass in a sea ecosystem is generally:
(a) Upright (b) Inverted (c) Linear (d) Irregular
* The amount of organic matter present in an ecosystem at a particular time is called:
(a) Productivity (b) Standing crop (c) Ecological efficiency (d) Biomagnification
* Which of the following is a detritus food chain?
(a) Grass → Goat → Man (b) Dead leaves → Earthworm → Crow
(c) Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Fish (d) Algae → Aquatic insects → Fish
* The 10% law related to the transfer of energy in a food chain was given by:
(a) Tansley (b) Lindeman (c) Odum (d) Warming
* The term 'ecological pyramids' was introduced by:
(a) Darwin (b) Elton (c) Lamarck (d) Mendel
* Which of the following is a terrestrial ecosystem?
(a) Estuary (b) Grassland (c) Pond (d) Lake
* In a food chain, the level that represents the highest energy content is:
(a) Producers (b) Primary consumers (c) Secondary consumers (d) Tertiary consumers
* The process of accumulation of harmful chemicals in the body of living organisms at
successive trophic levels in a food chain is known as:
(a) Eutrophication (b) Biomagnification (c) Biodegradation (d) Mineralization
* Which of the following is not a characteristic of a functional ecosystem?
(a) Energy flow (b) Decomposition (c) Stratification (d) Productivity
* The organisms that convert dead organic material into simpler inorganic substances are
called:
(a) Producers (b) Consumers (c) Decomposers (d) Transformers
Assertion-Reason Questions
* Assertion (A): Energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional.
Reason (R): Energy lost as heat cannot be reused by the ecosystem.
* Assertion (A): Food webs are more stable than food chains.
Reason (R): Food webs provide alternate pathways for energy flow.
* Assertion (A): Phytoplanktons are the primary producers in aquatic ecosystems.
Reason (R): Phytoplanktons are microscopic and float freely in water.
* Assertion (A): Decomposers play a vital role in ecosystems.
Reason (R): Decomposers convert inorganic materials into organic materials.
Section B: Very Short Answer Questions
* Define an ecosystem.
* What is a standing crop? What are primary producers?
* What is the 10% law? What is ecological efficiency?
* Define detritus.What is the importance of decomposers in an ecosystem?
* What is the difference between grazing and detritus food chain
Revision Ecosystem

* What is the role of the consumer in an ecosystem?

Section C: Short Answer Questions
* Differentiate between (a) food chain and food web (b) primary and secondary productivity.
* Explain the importance of ecological pyramids.
* Describe the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
* What are the factors affecting primary productivity?
* Explain the process of decomposition.
* What is biomagnification? Explain with an example.
* How does energy flow in aquatic ecosystems differ from terrestrial ecosystems?

Section D: Case Study Based Questions

Case Study 1:
A study was conducted in a lake ecosystem where it was observed that the population of
phytoplankton was significantly reduced. This led to a decrease in the population of
zooplankton, which in turn affected the fish population.
(a) What type of ecosystem is being described?
(b) What could be the possible reasons for the reduction in phytoplankton population?
(c) Explain the impact of this change on the higher trophic levels.
Case Study 2:
A farmer uses excessive amounts of pesticides in his crop field. Over time, these pesticides
accumulate in the soil and water bodies.
(a) What is the phenomenon associated with the accumulation of pesticides?
(b) Explain how these pesticides can affect human beings.
(c) Suggest measures to prevent such accumulation.
Case Study 3:
In a forest ecosystem, the biomass of trees is significantly higher than that of herbivores and
carnivores.
(a) Draw a pyramid of biomass for this ecosystem.
(b) Explain why the biomass of trees is higher.
(c) What type of ecosystem is this?
Case Study 4:
A researcher is studying the energy flow in a grassland ecosystem. They observe that only a
small fraction of the sunlight energy is converted into plant biomass.
(a) What is the term used to describe the conversion of light energy into chemical energy?
(b) Explain why only a small fraction of energy is converted.
(c) Where does the rest of the energy go?

Section E: Long Answer Questions

* Describe the different types of ecological pyramids with suitable examples.
* Explain the process of energy flow in an ecosystem with the help of a diagram.
* Discuss the various components of an ecosystem and their roles.
* Explain the significance of decomposition in an ecosystem.
* Describe the different types of food chains and their importance in an ecosystem.