ECOSYSYEM

1. Write the equation that helps in deriving the net primary productivity of an ecosystem
(2013 Delhi)

GPP – R = NPP

2. Write a difference between NPP and GPP. (2011 AI)

GPP is the rate of production of organic matter during photosynthesis. NPP is the available
biomass for consumption by heterotrophs. GPP – R = NPP.

3. What is secondary productivity? (2013 AI)

The rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers.
4. State what does “standing crop” of trophic level represent. (2013 AI)
The mass of living material (biomass) at a particular time.

5. List any two ways of measuring standing crop of a trophic level. (2010 F)
Biomass or number of plants per unit area.

6. How is stratification represented in a forest ecosystem? (2014 Delhi)

Stratification is the vertical distribution of species at different levels. Trees occupy the top
strata followed by shrubs and then herbs and grasses.

7. What is detritus food chain made up of? How do they meet their energy and nutritional
requirements? (2013 AI)
DFC starts with detritus and continues through decomposers. They obtain energy by
breaking down the organic matter in the dead matter.
8. Why are green plants not found beyond a certain depth in an ocean? (2011 Delhi)
Sunlight does not penetrate beyond a certain depth in the ocean. So green plants cannot
photosynthesise and hence cannot survive.
9. Why is earthworm called a detritivore? (2012 F)
Earthworm breaks up detritus into smaller particles.
10. “Man can be a primary as well as secondary consumer”. Justify the statement. (2015 F)
When on vegetarian diet, man is a primary consumer. When on non-vegetarian diet, man
is a carnivore.
11. How are productivity, gross primary productivity, net primary productivity and secondary
productivity interrelated? (2015 Delhi)
Productivity is the rate at which biomass is produced. GPP is the rate of production of
organic matter during photosynthesis. NPP is the biomass available to consumers.
Secondary productivity is the rate of formation of new organic matter by consumers.
12. “It is possible that a species may occupy more than one trophic level in the same
ecosystem at the same time.” Explain with the help of one example. (2013 AI)
When a sparrow eats seeds, it occupies the second trophic level as a primary consumer.
When it eats worms, it becomes a secondary consumer occupying the third trophic level.
Thus, it occupies more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem.
13. Justify the importance of decomposers in an ecosystem. (2015 F)
 Decomposers breakdown complex organic matter in the detritus and release simple
inorganic materials. They are also called saprotrophs. The help in the recycling of nutrients
and thus maintain the balance in an ecosystem.
14. Why is earthworm considered a farmer’s friend? Explain humification and mineralisation
occurring in a decomposition cycle.
Earthworm feeds on detritus which gets pulverised and fragmented. They breakdown
complex organic matter and loosen the soil. This helps in growing crops.
Humification is the accumulation of dark coloured amorphous substance called humus
which is a colloidal reservoir of nutrients. It is highly resistant to microbial action and
undergoes decomposition slowly.
Mineralisation is the process by which humus is degraded by microbes to release inorganic
nutrients.
15. Compare the two ecological pyramids of biomass given below and explain the situations in
which this is possible. Also, construct an ideal pyramid of energy, if 200,000 joules of
sunlight is available. (2016 Sample Paper)

The first pyramid of biomass corresponds to a terrestrial ecosystem. Second pyramid refers
to a small standing crop of phytoplankton supporting a large standing crop of zooplankton
in an aquatic ecosystem.

16. Differentiate between the two different types of pyramids of biomass with the help of one
example each. (2013 AI)
When the biomass of producers in a forest exceeds that of consumers, the pyramid of
biomass becomes upright.
 When the biomass of phytoplankton is less than that of fish in an aquatic ecosystem, the
pyramid of biomass becomes inverted.
17. “In a food chain, a trophic level represents a functional level, not a species.” Explain.
(2016 Delhi)
A species may occupy more than one trophic level in the same ecosystem (in different food
chains) at the given time. If the function of the mode of nutrition of species changes its
position shall change in the trophic levels, same species can be at primary consumer level
in one food chain and at secondary consumer level in another food chain in the same
ecosystem at the given time.

18. Identify the type of the ecological pyramid and give one example each of pyramid of
number and pyramid of biomass in such cases. (2011 AI)

The given ecological pyramid is the inverted ecological pyramid. The inverted pyramid of
biomass in an aquatic ecosystem with Phytoplankton, zooplankton and Fish. The inverted
pyramid of number with a tree, many insects and birds obtaining food from the tree.

19. Draw a pyramid of biomass and pyramid of energy in sea. Give your comments on the type
of pyramids drawn. (2016 F)

The pyramid of biomass in the sea is inverted. The pyramid of energy is always upright as
only 10% of energy reaching a trophic level gets transferred to the next level.
20. Construct a pyramid of numbers by taking suitable examples for each trophic level in an
ecosystem. Explain why a progressive decline is seen in the population size from the first
to the fourth trophic level in the above pyramid. (2015 F)
 The amount of energy decreases with successive trophic levels as per 10% law and so the
number of organisms decrease.
21. Name the type of food chains responsible for the flow of larger fraction of energy in an
aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem, respectively. Mention the difference between the two
food chains. (2010 Delhi)
DFC in terrestrial ecosystem and GFC in aquatic ecosystem.
DFC starts with detritus and detritivore and then saprophytes which secrete enzymes and
break down organic matter to simple inorganic materials. Major amount of energy flow is
through this food chain in terrestrial ecosystems.
GFC starts with green plants as the producers and then through the herbivore reaches the
carnivore. It follows the 10% law. Major energy flow in aquatic ecosystem is through this
food chain.
22. Name the type of detritus that decomposes faster. List any two factors that enhance the
rate of decomposition. (2019)
Detritus rich in nitrogen or water-soluble substances like sugar decomposes faster. Warm
temperature and availability of oxygen enhance the rate of decomposition.
23. Explain primary productivity and the factors that influence it. Describe how do oxygen and
chemical composition of detritus control decomposition. (2011 Delhi)
Primary productivity, GPP, NPP – definitions.
Factors – sunlight, temperature, moisture, availability of nutrients and photosynthetic
efficiency – description.
Decomposition of detritus becomes slow if it has lignin, tannin, chitin and cellulose. It will
be quicker if it is made of nitrogenous compounds and water-soluble substances like
sugars.
Oxygen is required for the activity of decomposers and detritivores. Reduced oxygen level
will slow the process.
24. Describe the process of decomposition of detritus under the following heads:
fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and mineralisation. (2010 Delhi)
Decomposition – Breakdown of complex organic matter into simple inorganic materials.
The raw material is detritus.
Fragmentation – The breakdown of detritus into smaller particles by detritivores.
Leaching – The process by which water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil
horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts.
Catabolism – The enzymatic process
25. What is a trophic level in an ecosystem? Explain the role of the “first trophic level” in an
ecosystem. How is DFC connected with GFC in a natural ecosystem? (2018)
The specific place occupied by an organism in the food chain is called trophic level.
 The first trophic level is formed of producers which trap solar energy to convert it into
chemical energy of food. They provide food for the higher trophic levels.
The organisms of DFC are the prey to organisms in the GFC. The dead remains of GFC are
decomposed into simple inorganic materials. These are absorbed by organisms of DFC.
26. Write any two limitations of ecological pyramids. (2014 Delhi)
Ecological pyramids do not consider the same species occupying two trophic levels. It
assumes food chains and not food webs. Saprophytes are not considered.
27. Citing lake as an example of a simple aquatic ecosystem, interpret how various functions
of this ecosystem are carried out. Make a food chain that is functional in that ecosystem.
(2015, 2017, 2018 Sample Paper)
Productivity – Autotrophs convert inorganic materials into organic materials with the help
of solar energy.
Energy flow – Unidirectional flow of energy from the Sun to the Producers and from there
to the higher trophic levels and its dissipation and loss of heat to the environment.
Decomposition – Fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and mineralization by
bacteria, fungi and flagellates.
Nutrient cycling – Decomposition of dead organic matter to release the nutrients for use
by the autotrophs.

Phytoplankton Zooplankton Small fish Big fish