Test No.

IAS Prelims - 2021 13

PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13

GENERAL STUDIES

RE
ENVIRONMENT - 2
Environment and Ecology
O
Answer Key
SC
Q. 1 (a) Q. 11 (c) Q. 21 (b) Q. 31 (c) Q. 41 (b)

Q. 2 (a) Q. 12 (b) Q. 22 (b) Q. 32 (a) Q. 42 (a)

GS

Q. 3 (b) Q. 13 (d) Q. 23 (c) Q. 33 (a) Q. 43 (c)

Q. 4 (d) Q. 14 (c) Q. 24 (d) Q. 34 (d) Q. 44 (c)

Q. 5 (b) Q. 15 (b) Q. 25 (c) Q. 35 (c) Q. 45 (c)

Q. 6 (b) Q. 16 (c) Q. 26 (c) Q. 36 (c) Q. 46 (a)

Q. 7 (a) Q. 17 (d) Q. 27 (d) Q. 37 (b) Q. 47 (c)

Q. 8 (d) Q. 18 (a) Q. 28 (b) Q. 38 (d) Q. 48 (b)

Q. 9 (c) Q. 19 (c) Q. 29 (c) Q. 39 (c) Q. 49 (d)

Q. 10 (c) Q. 20 (b) Q. 30 (a) Q. 40 (a) Q. 50 (c)

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1. Correct option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement (a) is correct: A wetland
includes areas of marine water the depth
of which at low tide does not exceed six
meters.
Supplementary notes:
Wetlands (Conservation and Management)
Rules, 2017 and Ramsar Convention
 Wetlands (Conservation and
Management) Rules, 2017
 A wetland includes areas of marine
water the depth of which at low tide does
not exceed six meters.
 According to the Convention, wetlands
include almost any habitat where water
is a key to the environment and its
wildlife.
 Wetlands include swamps, marshes,
billabongs, lakes, salt marshes, mudflats,
mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs,
or bodies of water - whether natural or
artificial, permanent or temporary.
 Water within these areas can be static
or flowing; fresh, brackish or saline; and
can include inland rivers and coastal or
marine water to a depth of six metres at
low tide. There are even underground
wetlands.
 Anywhere from estuaries, lakes
and rivers to underground aquifers,
mangroves, coral reefs and rice paddies
count.
 Ramsar Convention
 The Ramsar Convention is an
international treaty for the conservation
and wise use of wetlands.
 It is named after the Iranian city of
Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the
treaty was signed on 2 February 1971.
 Known officially as ‘the Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitat’ (or,
more recently, just ‘the Convention on
Wetlands’), it came into force in 1975.
 The aim of the Ramsar list is to develop
and maintain an international network
of wetlands which are important for the
conservation of global biological diversity
and for sustaining human life through
the maintenance of their ecosystem
components, processes and benefits.
 The convention entered into force in
India on 1 February 1982.
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2. Correct option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Coastal
ecosystems such as mangroves, tidal
marshes, and seagrass meadows sequester
and store more carbon per unit area than
terrestrial forests.
Supplementary notes:
Blue carbon and Mangroves
 Mollasces, Phytoplanktons etc absorb the
carbon known as the Blue Carbon. Or it
is the carbon captured by the world’s
oceans and coastal ecosystems. The
carbon captured by living organisms in
oceans is stored in the form of biomass and
sediments from mangroves, salt marshes
and seagrasses.
 One of the most promising new ideas to
reduce atmospheric CO2 and limit global
climate change is to do so by conserving
mangroves, seagrasses and salt marsh
grasses. Such coastal vegetation, dubbed
“blue carbon”, sequesters carbon far more
effectively (up to 100 times faster) and more
permanently than terrestrial forests.
 Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves,
tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows
sequester and store more carbon per
unit area than terrestrial forests.
 Mangroves represent a characteristic littoral
(near the seashore) forest ecosystem.
 These are mostly evergreen forests that
grow in sheltered low lying coasts, estuaries,
mudflats, tidal creeks backwaters (coastal
waters held back on land), marshes and
lagoons of tropical and subtropical regions.
 Mangroves grow below the high water level
of spring tides.
 The best locations are where abundant silt is
brought down by rivers or on the backshore
of accreting sandy beaches.
 Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems,
and the trees may vary in height from 8 to
20 m. They protect the shoreline from the
effect of cyclones and tsunamis.
 They are breeding and spawning ground for
many commercially important fishes.
 Since mangroves are located between
the land and sea, they represent the best
example of ecotone.
 Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that
grow in coastal saline or brackish water.
 Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also
called halophytes, and are adapted harsh
coastal conditions.
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3. Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: Benthic
organisms are those found living at the
bottom of the water mass.
 Statement 3 is incorrect: Neustons live at
the air-water interface, e.g. floating plants.
Supplementary notes:
 Neuston: These organisms live at the air-
water interface, e.g. floating plants.
 Periphyton: These are organisms which
remain attached to stems and leaves of
rooted plants or substances emerging above
the bottom mud such as sessile algae.
 Plankton: Microscopic floating organisms
such as algae, diatoms, protozoans and
larval forms are called plankton. This
group includes both microscopic plants like
algae (phytoplankton) and animals like
crustaceans and protozoans (zooplankton).
 Nekton: This group contains powerful
swimmers that can overcome the water
currents.
 Benthos: The benthic organisms are those
found living at the bottom of the water
mass.
4. Correct option: (d)
Explanation:
 All statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Biotic components in food chain - Detritus
food chain
 This type of food chain starts from
organic matter of dead and decaying
animals and plant bodies from the
grazing food chain.
 Dead organic matter or detritus feeding
organisms are called detrivores or
decomposers.
 The detrivores are eaten by predators.
 In an aquatic ecosystem, the grazing food
chain is the major conduit for energy flow.
 As against this, in a terrestrial ecosystem, a
much larger fraction of energy flows through
the detritus food chain than through the
grazing food chain.
 Decomposers are also known as
saprotrophs.
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5. Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: Subtidal zone
is the Lower most part of neritic zone and
below the ocean’s intertidal zone.
Supplementary notes:
Zones of the ocean
 Infralittoral zone- This zone is dominated
by the algae and has depth of about 16.40
feet below the low water mark.
 Circalittoral zone- This zone is dominated
by the sessile animals like Oysters.
 Subtidal zone- It is the lower most part
of neritic zone and below the ocean’s
intertidal zone. This zone is never
exposed to the atmosphere.
6. Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: Corals generally
flourish in clear tropical oceans usually
between 30°N and 30°S of the equator.
Supplementary notes:
Coral reefs and coral bleaching
 Corals generally flourish in clear tropical
oceans usually between 30°N and 30°S of
the equator.
 They grow best in the brightly lighted water
about 5 to 10 meters deep. The suspended
particles interfere with feeding.
 Corals live in saline water (27%).
 Coral reef can from to depth of 90 meters,
but growth rate declines rapidly after 5 to
10 meters depths.
 The reef building corals are found within
the 21°C isotherm.
 Corals are not near the mouths of rivers.
 Temperature below 18°C causes their
death.
 The stunning colours in corals come from
marine algae called zooxanthellae, which
live inside their tissues.
 These algae provide the corals with an easy
food supply thanks to photosynthesis, which
gives the corals energy, allowing them to
grow and reproduce.
 When corals get stressed, from things such
as heat or pollution, they react by expelling
this algae, leaving a ghostly, transparent
skeleton behind. This is known as ‘coral
bleaching’.
  Some corals can feed themselves, but without
the zooxanthellae most corals starve.
 Warmer water temperatures can
result in coral bleaching. When water
is too warm, corals will expel the algae
(zooxanthellae) living in their tissues
causing the coral to turn completely white.
 Not all bleaching events are due to
warm water.
7. Correct option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: Lonar Lake is a
notified National Geo-heritage Monument,
saline, soda lake, located at Lonar in
Buldhana district, Maharashtra.
Supplementary notes:
Lakes in India
 Wular Lake is one of the biggest
freshwater lakes in Asia and it was
formed as a result of tectonic activity.
 Upper lake in Madhya Pradesh is the largest
artificial lake in Asia.
 Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest
saline water lake in India.
 Vembanad Lake in Kerala is the longest
lake in India.
 Cholamu Lake in Sikkim is the highest lake
in India.
 Lonar Lake is a notified National Geo-
heritage Monument, saline, soda lake,
located at Lonar in Buldhana district,
Maharashtra.
8. Correct option: (d)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: Ecology is the
study of interactions between organisms,
organisms and the surroundings occurring
within an ecosystem or environment.
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Ecosystem
contains Producers, Consumers,
Decomposers and their relationships (tiny
environment). It is the functional unit of the
environment.
 Statement 3 is incorrect: Environment
can be almost everything or a small region.
Supplementary notes:
Difference between Ecology, Environment
& Ecosystem
 Ecology is the study of interactions
between organisms, organisms and the
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surroundings occurring within an ecosystem
or environment.
 Environment can be almost everything or a
small region.
 Habitat is an area where an organism
lives.
 Biosphere is the region on earth that
supports life.
 Ecosystem contains Producers, Consumers,
Decomposers and their relationships (tiny
environment). It is the functional unit of the
environment.
9. Correct option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Difference between Habitat and
Environment
 Habitat is a place where an organism lives
in nature.
 Environment is the sum total of all physical,
chemical, biotic and cultural factors that
affects life of organism in any way.
 All habitats are environments, but all
environments are not habitats.
 A habitat is always a preference of one
species.
10. Correct option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: The greater
the niche diversity, the more is ecosystem
stability because of the larger number of
pathways for the flow of energy and less
fluctuation of the species population.
Supplementary notes:
Ecological niche
 Ecological niche is a term for the position
of a species within an ecosystem, describing
both the range of conditions necessary for
persistence of the species, and its ecological
role in the ecosystem.
 Ecological niche subsumes all of the
interactions between a species and the
biotic and abiotic environment, and thus
represents a very basic and fundamental
ecological concept.
 The reason is that ecology is about
interactions between organisms, and if
persistence of a species is determined by
the presence of other species (food sources,
competitors, predators, etc.); all species are
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 naturally both affected by environment, and
at the same time affect the environment for
other species.
 Ecological niche may be defined as the
functional role and position of species in its
ecosystem.
 Dominant species occupy an extensive and
broader ecological niche in comparison to
less dominant species.
11. Correct Option: (c)
individual organism. The levels in ecological
hierarchy are as follows:
 Individuals are at the first level of
the biological hierarchy. Study of this
1st ecological level involves all round
development of the individual- Biological,
Physiological, and Morphological.
 A population consists of all the individual
organisms of the same species that live and
interact in the same area.

Explanation:  A community refers to all of the populations

 Statement 1 is incorrect: Autecology is
the study of individual species or individuals
in relation to the environment
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Synecology
is the study of the community of living
organisms as a unit.
Supplementary notes:
Types of Ecology
 The three main subdivisions of ecology today
are: Autecology, Synecology, and Habitat
ecology.
 Autecology: It is the study of individual
species or individuals in relation to the
environment. There are two approaches
to autecological studies (a) autecology of
species where individual species are studied
(b) population ecology where individuals of
the same species are studied.
 Synecology: It is the study of the community
of living organisms as a unit. Synecological
studies can be of two types. a) community
ecology is concerned with the study of
biotic (living) community comprising of
interdependent plants and animals in a
particular area, b) ecosystem ecology which
is a recent development in ecology. It deals
with the community of living organisms and
their environment as an integrated unit of
nature.
 Habitat ecology : It is the study of the
habitat or environment of organisms and
its effect on the organisms. In this approach
different types of habitats such as terrestrial,
fresh water, marine, and estuarine are the
focus of study.
of different species that live and interact in
the same area. The aquatic community that
includes the angelfish also includes the
populations of other species of fish, corals,
and many other organisms.
 An ecosystem includes all the living things
in a given area, together with the nonliving
environment. The nonliving environment
includes abiotic factors such as water,
minerals, and sunlight.
 A biome is a group of similar ecosystems
with the same general type of physical
environment anywhere in the world.
Terrestrial biomes are generally delineated
by climate and major types of vegetation.
Examples of terrestrial biomes include
tropical rainforests and deserts. Aquatic
biomes are generally defined by the distance
from shore and depth of water. Examples of
aquatic biomes include the shallow water
near shore (littoral zone) and the deepest
water at the bottom of a body of water
(benthic zone).
 The biosphere includes every part of
Earth where life exists, including all the
land, water, and air where living things
can be found. The biosphere is the largest
ecological category and consists of many
different biomes.

12. Correct Option: (b)

Explanation:
 Option (b) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Hierarchy
 Ecology typically focuses on the living
world at and above the level of the

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13. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 All statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Deep and Shallow Ecology
 Deep ecology proposes that human beings
function as a part of the environment, not
in opposition to it.
 Unlike most branches of ecology, deep
ecology does not rely on the scientific method
of asking a question, proposing a hypothesis,
and testing that hypothesis by observation
and experimentation. Deep ecology has more
in common with philosophy and political
science than other branches of ecology.
 Shallow Ecology is a movement which
simply promotes conservations strategies
against pollution and the depletion of
resources. Deep Ecology is a movement that
promotes “ecological wisdom,” which is the
understanding of the reason for the Shallow
Ecology movement by acknowledging the
inherent value of all forms of life.
 Examining Shallow vs. Deep Ecology
differentiates those who want to help save
the environment without true understanding
from those who are ecologically wise.
14. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Principles: Adaptations
 Eugene Odum and others compiled a
list of eight general ecological principles.
These are: Adaptation, Behavior, Diversity,
Emergent properties, Energy flow, Growth
and development, Limits, and Regulation.
 The adaptation is any attribute
of the organism (morphological,
physiological, and behavioural) that
enables the organism to survive and
reproduce in its habitat. Many adaptations
have evolved over a long evolutionary
time and are genetically fixed. Some of the
examples are as follows:
 Morphological: Many desert plants
have a thick cuticle on their leaf surfaces
and have their stomata arranged in deep
pits (sunken) to minimise water loss
through transpiration.
 Physiological: Many tribes live in the
high altitude of Himalayas have a higher
red blood cell count.
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 Behavioural: Animals migrating
temporarily to a less stressful habitat.
 According to Charles Darwin’s theory
of evolution by natural selection, the
organisms adapt to their environment
so that they could persist and pass
their genes onto the next generation.
 Adaptation differs from acclimatization.
Both terms are about changes. However,
acclimatization is the physiological
adjustment to the new conditions but
it does not entail increasing species
diversity as adaptation does. For a trait
to be considered as an adaptation, it has
to be heritable, functional, and increases
fitness.
15. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Option (b) is correct: All species are not
equally important in each community.
Supplementary notes:
Characteristics of an Ecological
Community
 The community has the following
characteristics:
 Species Diversity:
 Species diversity is determined not
only by the number of species within
a biological community—i.e., species
richness—but also by the relative
abundance of individuals in that
community.
 Species richness is the number
of species within a community or
area. It does not take into account
the distribution of species within
the area or what is referred to as
species evenness.
 Growth From and structure:
 Community can be analysed in terms
of major growth forms like trees,
shrubs, herbs etc. In each growth from
as in trees, there may be different
kinds of plants as-broad leave trees,
evergreen trees etc.
 These different growth forms
determine the structural pattern of a
community.
 Dominance:
 All species are not equally
important in each community.
The nature of the community is
determined by a few species in a
community. These limited species
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 have control and dominating influence
in the community.
 Dominant species (plants/animals)
playing crucial and unique role and
highly effect community structure and
function in relative to its abundance
are called Keystone species
 Self reliance:
 Each community has a group
of autotrophic plants as well
as heterotrophic animals.
The autotrophic plants are self
dependent.
 Relative abundance:
 Different populations in a community
exist in relative proportions and this
idea is called as relative abundance.
 Trophic structure:
 Each community has a trophic
structure that determines the
flow of energy and material from
plants to herbivores to carnivores.
16. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Stratification of Ecological Community
 The ecological communities are arranged in
different layer or strata forms, a phenomenon
called stratification. For example in a
natural forest community, as per the height
of the plants the community is arranged
into number of strata or layers such as
herbaceous layer consisting of herbaceous
plants followed by shrubs, smaller trees and
tall trees.
 This fractionation in the community is
caused by the gradations in the external
environmental factors like water levels,
temperature and light. Different strata or
layer of forest community receives different
degree of light intensity providing vertical
stratification to the community structure.
In a forest community generally three or
more vertical layers or strata of plants are
found including an herb layer, shrub, small
tree layer followed by canopy tree layer. The
canopy tree or other taller trees produces
more foliage and interrupt the light to
reach smaller plants on the ground. The
gradients in the physical environment
of the community cause horizontal
layering or patterns among species.
Differences in the amount of factors such as
nutrients and water can significantly alter
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the distribution of plant and animal species
over a region.
 Various growth form have different mode
of arrangement classifying community into
(a) Horizontal Zonation and (b) Vertical
stratification, i.e. Populations assembled to
form communities and these populations are
dispersed into definite vertical or horizontal
strata.
Horizontal Zonation
 The spatial arrangement of community
species exhibit patterns and based on these
patterns the community is divided into sub-
communities which are ecologically related.
 If the distribution pattern is horizontal it’s
called zonation layering in community.
 For example in lakes or deep ponds majorly
three zones are recognised i.e. littoral,
limnetic (Photic or openwater) and profondal
zone (Aphotic or Deep-water). The organism
varies in each zone of zonation pattern.
 Another example include mountain
associated vegetation, altitudinal and
latitudinal variations of vegetation in
relation to climate of the existing region.
Vertical Stratification
 Vertical change in the pattern of community
structure is called stratification.
 Vertical Stratification is as simple as the
horizontal zonation community of pond,
where each zone has different vertical
storey, or complex stratification.
 For example in grassland communities
distinct floor with different yet characteristics
growth forms are exhibited.
 The lowest vertical sub-division is called:
 Subterranean-beneath the soil:
Subterranean, which includes roots of
plants, debris and living organisms like
soil bacterium, protozoas or fungi etc.
 Herbaceous substratum- Above the
soil with roots of growth forms: The
herbaceous substratum includes upper
parts of growth forms.
 Forest animals’ lives in different substrata
and many of them may shift between
substratums. The properties (requirement
and adjustments) of one stratum can be
similar to the same stratum of different
community somewhere else in the world.
For example forest floor of one community in
country 1 share common requirements and
adjustments to the community in country 2
although these countries are geographically
separated.
  The animals living in such geographically
separated but similar substratum are called
Ecological Equivalent.
17. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 Option (d) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Dominance
 It refers to the exertion of a major controlling
influence of one or more species upon all
other species by virtue of their number, size,
productivity or related activities.
 To be considered as an ecologically dominant
species
 The organism can compete more
successfully than other organisms for
essentials of life such as nutrition in the
same habitat or the physical environment
in which it live,
 It has greater adaptability to
environmental variables,
 It can exert a greater influence on the
habitat in which it lives,
 The population or the size of the
individual species constitutes a dominant
proportion when compared with other
species, and
 The organism is mobile, aggressive
and intelligent, particularly in the case
of human beings.
 Example: Caribou are a dominant species
on the tundra.
18. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Stratification is
a practical strategy to minimise interspecific
competition i.e. competition between
different species.
Supplementary notes:
Interdependence of Ecological
Community
 Mutual interdependence includes all the
direct and indirect effects that organisms
have upon each other. The three such
relationships are (a) competition, (b)
stratification, and (c) dependence.
 Competition: Demand for a common
resource by different organisms
results in competition. Competition
between individuals of different species is
called interspecific; when it occurs between
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individuals of the same species it is called
intraspecific.
 Stratification: Different organisms in a
community develop a characteristic pattern
of stratification to minimise competition
and conflict among the members of
the community. Plants and animals of
each layer differ in size, behaviour and
adaptation from those of other layers.
Stratification is a practical strategy to
minimise interspecific competition i.e.
competition between different species.
 Dependence: In a community there are
some species which are wholly dependent
on the dominant member for survival.
Bryophytes, thallophytes and a few
vascular small plants are examples of such
organisms. These dependent organisms
require special conditions such as shade and
moisture provided by the dominant species.
The dependent species will die if the
dominant species are eliminated.
19. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Natural or
human induced disturbances can convert
a particular seral stage of succession to an
earlier stage.
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Succession
 The gradual and fairly predictable change
in the species composition of a given area is
called ecological succession.
 During succession some species colonise
an area and their population become more
numerous whereas populations of other
species decline and even disappear.
 The entire sequence of communities that
successively change in a given area are
called sere(s). The individual transitional
communities are termed seral stages or
seral communities. In the successive
seral stages there is a change in the
diversity of species of organisms,
increase in the number of species and
organisms as well as an increase in the
total biomass.
 The present day communities in the world
have come to be because of succession that
has occurred over millions of years since life
started on earth. Actually succession and
evolution would have been parallel processes
at that time. Succession is hence a process
that starts in an area where no living
organisms are there – these could be areas
where no living organisms ever existed, say
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 bare rock; or in areas that somehow, lost all
the living organisms that existed there. The
former is called primary succession, while
the latter is termed secondary succession.
 Examples of areas where primary succession
occurs are newly cooled lava, bare rock,
newly created pond or reservoir. The
establishment of a new biotic community is
generally slow. Before a biotic community of
diverse organisms can become established,
there must be soil. Depending mostly on the
climate, it takes natural processes several
hundred to several thousand years to
produce fertile soil on bare rock.
 Secondary succession begins in areas
where natural biotic communities have
been destroyed such as in abandoned farm
lands, burned or cut forests, lands that have
been flooded. Since some soil or sediment is
present, succession is faster than primary
succession.
 At any time during primary or secondary
succession, natural or human induced
disturbances (fire, deforestation, etc.),
can convert a particular seral stage of
succession to an earlier stage. Also such
disturbances create new conditions
that encourage some species and
discourage or eliminate other species.
 Based on the nature of the habitat – whether
it is water (or very wet areas) or it is on very
dry areas – succession of plants is called
hydrarch or xerarch, respectively. Hydrarch
succession takes place in wet areas and the
successional series progress from hydric
to the mesic conditions. As against this,
xerarch succession takes place in dry areas
and the series progress from xeric to mesic
conditions. Hence, both hydrarch and
xerarch successions lead to medium
water conditions (mesic) – neither too
dry (xeric) nor too wet (hydric).
 The species that invade a bare area are
called pioneer species. In primary succession
on rocks these are usually lichens which
are able to secrete acids to dissolve rock,
helping in weathering and soil formation. In
primary succession in water, the pioneers
are the small phytoplanktons, which are
replaced with time by rooted-submerged
plants, rooted-floating angiosperms followed
by free-floating plants, then reedswamp,
marsh-meadow, scrub and finally the trees.
The climax again would be a forest.
 In secondary succession the species that
invade depend on the condition of the soil,
availability of water, the environment as
also the seeds or other propagules present.
Since soil is already there, the rate of
succession is much faster and hence,
climax is also reached more quickly.
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 All succession whether taking place in
water or on land, proceeds to a similar
climax community – the mesic.
20. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: An organism
with a narrow tolerance range is said
to be “steno” whereas, that with a wide
tolerance range is said to be “eury”.
Supplementary notes:
Tolerance range of species
 Just as species have geographic ranges,
they also have tolerance ranges for the
abiotic environmental conditions. In other
words, they can tolerate (or survive within)
a certain range of a particular factor, but
cannot survive if there is too much or too
little of the factor.
 Each organism has an invariably defined
range of conditions that it can tolerate,
diversity in the resources it utilises and a
distinct functional role in the ecological
system, all these together comprise its
niche.
 An organism with a narrow tolerance
range is said to be “steno” for that factor
(e.g. stenothermal or stenohaline).
 An organism with a wide tolerance
range is said to be “eury” (e.g.
eurythermal).
 Organisms can be steno with respect to one
factor and eury with respect to a different
one. Centrarchids (bass and sunfish) are
eurythermal but stenohaline; salmonids are
just the opposite. These tolerance ranges
are not independent.
 An organism near the tolerance limits for
one factor will probably be under stress, so
its ability to tolerate other factors will be
reduced.
 The tolerance ranges for environmental
factors partly define the organism’s niche.
If salinity tolerance is graphed against
temperature tolerance, a niche area is
defined.
 Ideally then, the organism should try to
maintain the constancy of its internal
environment (a process called homeostasis)
despite varying external environmental
conditions that tend to upset its homeostasis.
This constancy, for example, could be in
terms of optimal temperature and osmotic
concentration of body fluids.
 Responses to Abiotic Factors
 Some organisms are able to maintain
homeostasis by physiological (sometimes
behavioural also) means which ensures
constant body temperature, constant
osmotic concentration, etc. This is called
regulation.
 An overwhelming majority (99 per
cent) of animals and nearly all plants
cannot maintain a constant internal
environment. Their body temperature
changes with the ambient temperature.
This is called conformation.
 The organism can move away temporarily
from the stressful habitat to a more
hospitable area and return when stressful
period is over, called migration.
 Another means is the suspension
i.e. to suspend their physiological
process until availability of suitable
environment. For example, spores
formation in bacteria, fungi and lower
plants; ‘seed dormancy’ in higher
plants; and hibernation & aestivation
in animals.
21. Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: In order for
biomagnifications to occur, the pollutants
must be long-lived.
Supplementary notes:
Biomagnifications
 It refers to the tendency of pollutants to
concentrate as they move from one trophic
level to the next.
 In biomagnifications there is an increase
in concentration of a pollutant from one
link in a food chain to another. In order for
biomagnifications to occur, the pollutant
must be:
 long-lived
 mobile
 soluble in fats
 Biologically active
 It can be seen in the case of Mercury or
DDT. The concentration of Mercury/DDT
increases at the successive trophic levels.
DDT concentration in zooplankton gets
magnified when DDT contaminated water
is consumed by the Zooplanktons. In the
successive trophic levels like, small fish, big
fish, and at top carnivore, the magnification
is much higher, which proves the event of
Biomagnifications.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 A pollutant having properties like long life,
mobile, soluble in fat, biologically active will
lead to the process of biomagnifications.
22. Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Option b is correct
Supplementary notes:
Energy Flow
 Energy flow is linear / unidirectional in an
ecosystem because:-
 Only 1% of solar energy falling on leaves
of producers get converted into food
energy through photosynthesis and is
made available to the next tropic level of
consumers.
 After consumers eat producers a lot of
energy is lost to the environment in the
form of heat. Energy used is also used
by the consumer for digestion, growth,
reproduction and other activities.
 Only 10% of energy is turned into into its
own body and is made available for the next
level of consumers[10% Law]
 Once energy is taken up by producers from
solar energy it cannot be reverted back into
solar energy.
 Once energy enters a trophic level, it is then
not available to the previous trophic level. So
little energy is available after every trophic
level, and the energy can only go to a higher
consumer and not previous consumer.
 Solar Energy ® Grass Deer Lion /
Tiger.
23. Correct option: (c)
Explanation:
 Option (c) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Trophic Levels:
 Decrease in the tigers will lead to increase
in the number of Deers. Since, tigers are
predators for the deers.
 Increase in deers will lead to decrease in
grasses. More deers will eat more grasses
and it will ultimately lead to decrease in
grasses.
 Trophic level, step in a nutritive series, or
food chain, of an ecosystem. The organisms
of a chain are classified into these levels on
the basis of their feeding behaviour.
10
  The first and lowest level contains the
producers, green plants. The plants or their
products are consumed by the second-level
organisms the herbivores, or plant eaters.
 At the third level, primary carnivores, or
meat eaters, eat the herbivores; and at the
fourth level, secondary carnivores eat the
primary carnivores.
 These categories are not strictly defined,
as many organisms feed on several trophic
levels; for example, some carnivores also
consume plant materials or carrion and
are called omnivores, and some herbivores
occasionally consume animal matter.
 A separate trophic level, the decomposers
or transformers, consists of organisms
such as bacteria and fungi that break down
dead organisms and waste materials into
nutrients usable by the producers.
24. Correct option: (d)
Explanation:
 Option (d) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Trophic cascades
26. Correct option: (c)
 Trophic cascades are powerful indirect
interactions that can control entire
ecosystems. Trophic cascades occur when
predators limit the density and/or behavior
of their prey and thereby enhance survival
of the next lower trophic level.
 Predators eat prey. By so doing, predators can
impact both prey abundance and behavior
(e.g., prey get scared when predators are
around and hide or move away).
 When the impact of a predator on its prey’s
ecology trickles down on more feeding level
to affect the density and/or behavior of the
prey’s prey, ecologists term this interaction
a feeding, or trophic cascade.
 In this situation, by controlling densities
and/or behavior of their prey, predators
indirectly benefit and increase the
abundance of their prey’s prey.
 Trophic cascades by definition must occur
across a minimum of three feeding levels.
Indeed, this is how they most commonly
occur, although evidence of 4- and 5-level
trophic cascades have been shown in nature,
but are far less common.
25. Correct option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
11
Supplementary notes:
Organic Farming:
 India ranks first in number of organic
farmers and ninth in terms of area under
organic farming.
 Sikkim became the first State in the world
to become fully organic and other States
including Tripura and Uttarakhand have
set similar targets.
 With the aim of assisting farmers to adopt
organic farming and improve remunerations
due to premium prices, two dedicated
programs namely Mission Organic Value
Chain Development for North East Region
(MOVCD) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas
Yojana (PKVY) were launched in 2015 to
encourage chemical free farming.
 With the simultaneous thrust given by the
Agri-export Policy 2018, India can emerge as
a major player in global organic markets.
 The major organic exports from India have
been flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea,
medicinal plants, rice and pulses, which
were instrumental in driving an increase of
nearly 50% in organic exports in 2018-19.
Explanation:
 Option (c) is correct: Photosynthesis
takes out CO2 from the carbon cycle. Rest
all adds CO2.
Supplementary notes:
Carbon cycle:
 Carbon is a minor constituent of the
atmosphere as compared to oxygen and
nitrogen.
 However, without carbon dioxide life could
not exist because it is vital for the production
of carbohydrates through photosynthesis by
plants.
 It is the element that anchors all organic
substances from coal and oil to DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid: the compound that
carries genetic information).
 Carbon is present in the atmosphere, mainly
in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2).
 Carbon cycle involves a continuous exchange
of carbon between the atmosphere and
organisms.
 Carbon from the atmosphere moves to green
plants by the process of photosynthesis, and
then to animals.
 By process of respiration and decomposition
of dead organic matter, it returns to the
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 atmosphere. It is usually a short term
cycle.
 Some carbon also enters a long term cycle.
It accumulates as un-decomposed organic
matter in the peaty layers of marshy soil or
as insoluble carbonates in bottom sediments
of aquatic systems which take a long time to
be released.
 In deep oceans, such carbon can remain
buried for millions of years till geological
movement may lift these rocks above sea
level.
 These rocks may be exposed to erosion,
releasing their carbon dioxide, carbonates
and bicarbonates into streams and rivers.
 Fossil fuels such as coals, oil and natural
gas etc. are organic compounds that were
buried before they could be decomposed and
were subsequently transformed by time and
geological processes into fossil fuels. When
they are burned the carbon stored in them
is released back into the atmosphere as
carbon dioxide.
27. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 Option (d) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Nitrogen fixation:
 Plants need nitrogen to make themselves.
Without nitrogen, a plant cannot make the
proteins, amino acids and even its very
DNA.
 This is why when there is a nitrogen
deficiency in the soil, plants are stunted.
They simply cannot make their own cells. If
there is nitrogen all around us, as it makes
up 78 percent of the air we breathe.
 In order for plants to use the nitrogen in
the air, it must be converted in some way
to nitrogen in the soil. This can happen
through nitrogen fixation, or nitrogen can
be “recycled” by composting plants and
manure.
 There are two routes to go when fixing a
nitrogen deficiency in the soil, either organic
or non-organic.
Organic:
 To correct a nitrogen deficiency using
organic methods requires time, but will
result in a more even distribution of the
added nitrogen over time.
 Some organic methods of adding nitrogen to
the soil include:
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 Adding composted manure to the soil
Planting a green manure crop, such as
borage Planting
 nitrogen fixing plants like peas or beans
 Adding coffee grounds to the soil
Non-organic:
 Nitrogen as a plant fertilizer is common
when purchasing chemical fertilizers.
 When looking to specifically add nitrogen
to your garden, choose a fertilizer that has
a high first number in the NPK ratio. The
NPK ratio will look something like 10-10-10
and the first number tells you the amount
of nitrogen.
 Using a nitrogen fertilizer to fix a nitrogen
deficiency in the soil will give a big, fast
boost of nitrogen to the soil, but will fade
quickly.
28. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: IUCN provides
administrative services to it.
 Statement 4 is incorrect: Almost 90% of
UN member states, from all the world’s
geographic regions, have acceded to
become “Contracting Parties”.
Supplementary notes:
Ramsar convention:
 The Convention on Wetlands is the
intergovernmental treaty that provides the
framework for the conservation and wise
use of wetlands and their resources.
 The Convention was adopted in the Iranian
city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into
force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of
UN member states, from all the world’s
geographic regions, have acceded to become
“Contracting Parties”.
 Every three years, representatives of the
contracting parties meet as the Conference
of the Contracting Parties (COP), the
policy-making organ of the convention
which adopts decisions (resolutions and
recommendations) to administer the work
of the convention and improve the way in
which the parties are able to implement its
objectives.
 The Ramsar Convention works closely
with six other organisations known as
international organization partners (IOPs).
These are:
 BirdLife International
 International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN)
12
  International Water Management
Institute (IWMI)
 Wetlands International
 WWF International
 Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)
29. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Kabartal in
Bihar has been recognised as a wetland
of international importance, the first such
wetland in the state.
Supplementary notes:
Ramsar sites:
 Any wetland site which is listed under the
Ramsar Convention is called as a Ramsar
site. There are a total of 41 Ramsar Sites
in India.
 In January 2020, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC), Government of India announced
the addition of country’s 10 more wetlands
in the list of Ramsar sites.
 With this addition, the Indian State of
Maharashtra got its first Ramsar site,
Punjab got 3 more Ramsar sites and Uttar
Pradesh got 6 more Ramsar sites.
 In October 2020, two more Indian wetlands--
Kabartal Wetland (Bihar) and Asan
Conservation Reserve (Uttarakhand)-- were
added to the list of Ramsar sites.
 In November 2020, Lonar lake in
Maharashtra and Sur Sarovar, also known
as Keetham lake, in Agra were added to the
list.
 The part of Sundarban delta, which lies
in Bangladesh was accorded the status of
Ramsar site in 1992.
30. Correct option: (a)
Explanation:
 Option (a) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Montreux record:
 The Montreux Record is a register of
wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of
International Importance where changes
in ecological character have occurred, are
occurring, or are likely to occur as a result
of technological developments, pollution or
other human interference.
 It is the principle tool under the Ramsar
convention for highlighting wetlands sites
13
in need of priority conservation status. It is
maintained as part of the Ramsar Database
and is subject to continuous review.
 It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
 At present, 48 sites are listed in Montreux
Record in the world.
 At present 2 Indian sites are listed under
it. (Loktak Lake, Manipur and Keoladeo
National Park, Rajasthan)
 In 1993 Chilka lake was also listed in
Montreux record due to problem of Siltation,
But later in 2002, it was removed from
the list as problem tackled by govt actions
.2020
31. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
 Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of
substances, such as pesticides, or other
chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation
occurs when an organism absorbs a
substance at a rate faster than that at
which the substance is lost by catabolism
and excretion.
 Bioconcentration is the specific
bioaccumulation process by which the
concentration of a chemical in an organism
becomes higher than its concentration
in the air or water around the organism.
Although the process is the same for both
natural and manmade chemicals, the
term bio-concentration usually refers to
chemicals foreign to the organism. For fish
and other aquatic animals, bioconcentration
after uptake through the gills (or sometimes
the skin) is usually the most important
bioaccumulation process.
32. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 All statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
 The vulnerability of a species to extinction
depends on a wide variety of factors, some
of which are:
 Species with narrow geographical
ranges. Such locally endemic species are
highly susceptible to extinction.
 Seasonal migratory species are depended
on two or more distinct habitat types, and
are unable to survive if either habitat is
destroyed.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
  Species low in genetic variability:
Adapting to new environments and
changing conditions depend on the
availability of genetic diversity.
 Species with small population sizes.
 Species that need large home range, like
the Bengal Tiger. Usually, large-sized
animals require larger ranges.
33. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Estuaries are
homes to plants & animals which have high
salt tolerance.
Supplementary notes:
Estuaries
 Estuaries are located where river meets the
sea. Estuaries are water bodies where the
flow of freshwater from river mixes with
salt water from transported by tide, from
the ocean .
 An estuary is a semi enclosed coastal body
of water with one or more rivers flowing into
it. It has a free connection with open sea.
Estuaries are usually biologically highly
productive zones.
 Many estuaries are locations of some of the
major seaports. Most of the India’s major
estuaries are occur on the east coast, in
contrast, the estuaries on the west coast are
smaller.
 Estuaries are homes to plants & animals
which have high salt tolerance.
 Estuaries create a natural barrier that
absorbs the energy of the waves and
prevents them from flooding cities.
34. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 Option (d) is correct
Supplementary notes:
Abiotic Components of Ecosystem
 Abiotic components are the inorganic and
non-living parts of the world.
 The abiotic part consists of soil, water,
air, and light energy etc.
 It also involves chemicals like oxygen,
nitrogen etc. and physical processes
including volcanoes, earthquakes,
floods, forest fires, climates, and
weather conditions.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 Abiotic factors are the most important
determinants of where and how well an
organism exists in its environment.
 Although these factors interact with each
other, one single factor can limit the range
of an organism.
35. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: Biofertilizers
increases phosphorus uptake by solubilising
and releasing unavailable phosphorus.
Supplementary notes:
Biofertilizers
 Biofertilizers is a substance which contains
living microorganism which, when applied
to seed, plant surfaces, or soil, promote
the growth by increasing the supply or
availability of primary nutrients to the
plant. Biofertilizers add nutrients through
the natural processes of fixing atmospheric
nitrogen, solubilizing Phosphorus, and
stimulating plant growth through the
synthesis of growth promoting substances.
 Biofertilizers harnesses atmospheric
nitrogen and makes it available directly
to the plants. It Increases phosphorus
uptake by solubilising and releasing
unavailable phosphorus. It also enhances
root proliferation due to release of growth
promoting harmones.
36. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: A pyramid of
numbers is upright in grassland ecosystem.
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Pyramids
 Pyramid of numbers shows the number of
the producers, herbivores and the carnivores
at their successive Trophic levels. This
pyramid can be either upright, or inverted
or partially upright.
 In a forest ecosystem, the producers are
large size trees which make the base of
Pyramid. The herbivores such as fruit
eating birds, deer, elephants etc. make
the primary consumers and are less than
primary producers. After that, the number
goes down at each successive level. Thus the
pyramid of number is upright in the forest
ecosystem.
 In a grassland ecosystem, the number
of producers (mainly grasses) is always
14
 maximum, followed by decreasing numbers
at second Trophic level (herbivores), third
Trophic level (carnivores) and least number
of apex predators. Thus, a pyramid of
numbers is upright in grassland ecosystem.
 Pyramid of Biomass shows the biomass of the
producers, herbivores and the carnivores at
their successive Trophic levels.
 Pyramid of biomass for terrestrial ecosystems
(grasslands, forests) the biomass generally
decreases at each higher Trophic level from
plants via herbivores to carnivores. Thus the
Pyramid of biomass is upright in grassland
ecosystem.
 In the aquatic system, the biomass can
increase at higher Trophic levels. For
example, in Oceans, the food chain typically
starts with phytoplankton and ends at
predatory fish, which has largest biomass.
Thus, the pyramid of biomass is inverted
in the aquatic systems including marine,
ponds etc.
37. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: It consists
of community of living beings and the
physical environment, both interacting and
exchanging materials between them.
Supplementary notes:
Ecosystem
 An ecosystem is defined as a structural
and functional unit of biosphere
consisting of community of living beings
and the physical environment, both
interacting and exchanging materials
between them.
 It includes plants, trees, animals, fish,
birds, micro-organisms, water, soil, and
people. Ecosystems vary greatly in size and
elements but each is a functioning unit of
nature.
 Everything that lives in an ecosystem
is dependent on the other species and
elements that are also part of that ecological
community.
 If one part of an ecosystem is damaged or
disappears, it has an impact on everything
else.
 When an ecosystem is healthy (i.e.
sustainable) it means that all the elements
live in balance and are capable of reproducing
themselves.
 Ecosystem can be as small as a single
tree or as large as entire forest.
15
38. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 All pairs are correctly matched:
Supplementary notes:
Biotic Components
 Biotic components include living organisms
comprising plants, animals and microbes
and are classified according to their
functional attributes into producers and
consumers.
 Primary producers - Autotrophs
(self-nourishing)
 Primary producers are basically
green plants (and certain bacteria
and algae).
 They synthesise carbohydrate from
simple inorganic raw materials like
carbon dioxide and water in the
presence of sunlight by the process
of photosynthesis for themselves,
and supply indirectly to other non-
producers.
 In terrestrial ecosystem, producers
are basically herbaceous and woody
plants, while in aquatic ecosystem
producers are various species of
microscopic algae.
 Consumers - Heterotrophs
 Consumers are incapable of producing
their own food (photosynthesis).
 They depend on organic food derived
from plants, animals or both.
 Herbivores are primary
consumers which feed mainly on
plants e.g. cow, rabbit.
 Secondary consumers feed on primary
consumers e.g. wolves., known as
carnivores
 Carnivores which feed on
secondary consumers are called
tertiary consumers e.g. lions which
can eat wolves.
 Omnivores are organisms which
consume both plants and animals e.g.
man, monkey.
 Decomposers- Saprotrophs
 They are bacteria and fungi which
obtain energy and nutrients by
decomposing dead organic substances
(detritus) of plant and animal origin.
 The products of decomposition such
as inorganic nutrients which are
released in the ecosystem are reused
by producers and thus recycled.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
  Earthworm and certain soil organisms
(such as nematodes, and arthropods)
are detritus feeders and help in the
decomposition of organic matter and
are called detrivores.
39. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Food Chain and Food web
 Organisms in the ecosystem are related to
each other through feeding mechanism or
trophic levels, i.e. one organism becomes
food for the other. A sequence of organisms
that feed on one another, form a food chain.
 Food chain is a linear sequence of
organisms which starts from producer
organisms and ends with decomposer
species.
 Food web is a connection of multiple food
chains. Food chain follows a single path
whereas food web follows multiple paths.
 From the food chain, we get to know how
organisms are connected with each other.
Food chain and food web form an integral
part of this ecosystem
 A food chain represents only one part
of the food or energy flow through an
ecosystem and implies a simple, isolated
relationship.
 An ecosystem may consist of several
interrelated food chains. More typically, the
same food resource is part of more than one
chain, especially when that resource is at
the lower trophic levels.
 A food web illustrates, all possible transfers
of energy and nutrients among the
organisms in an ecosystem, whereas a food
chain traces only one pathway of the food.
40. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: The number,
biomass and energy of organisms gradually
decrease with each step.
Supplementary notes:
Ecological Pyramids
 The steps of trophic levels expressed in a
diagrammatic way are referred as ecological
pyramids. The food producer forms
the base of the pyramid and the top
carnivore forms the tip. Other consumer
trophic levels are in between.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 The pyramid consists of a number of
horizontal bars depicting specific trophic
levels which are arranged sequentially from
primary producer level through herbivore,
carnivore onwards. The length of each bar
represents the total number of individuals
at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
 The number, biomass and energy of
organisms gradually decrease with
each step from the producer level to the
consumer level and the diagrammatic
representation assumes a pyramid shape.
 The ecological pyramids are of three
categories
 Pyramid of numbers
 Pyramid of biomass, and
 Pyramid of energy or productivity.
41. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: It never flows in
the reverse direction that is from carnivores
to herbivores to producers.
Supplementary notes:
Trophic level Interaction
 Energy flows through the trophic levels:
from producers to subsequent trophic
levels. This energy always flows from lower
(producer) to higher (herbivore, carnivore
etc.) trophic level.
 It never flows in the reverse direction
that is from carnivores to herbivores to
producers.
 There is a loss of some energy in the form
of unusable heat at each trophic level so
that energy level decreases from the
first trophic level upwards. As a result
there are usually four or five trophic levels
and seldom more than six as beyond that
very little energy is left to support any
organism.
 Trophic levels are numbered according to the
steps an organism is away from the source
of food or energy that is the producer.
42. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement (a) is incorrect: It starts from
dead organic matter of decaying animals
and plant bodies consumed by the micro-
organisms
Supplementary notes:
Detritus food chain
 It starts from dead organic matter of
decaying animals and plant bodies
16
 consumed by the micro-organisms and
then to detritus feeding organism called
detrivores or decomposer and to other
predators.
 The distinction between these two food
chains is the source of energy for the first
level consumers.
 In the grazing food chain the primary source
of energy is living plant biomass while in
the detritus food chain the source of energy
is dead organic matter or detritus. The
two food chains are linked. The initial
energy source for detritus food chain is
the waste materials and dead organic
matter from the grazing food chain.
43. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Grazing food chain
 The consumers which start the food chain,
utilising the plant or plant part as their food,
constitute the grazing food chain. This food
chain begins from green plants at the base
and the primary consumer is herbivore.
Detritus food chain
 It starts from dead organic matter of
decaying animals and plant bodies consumed
by the micro-organisms and then to detritus
feeding organism called detrivores or
decomposer and to other predators.
 The distinction between these two food
chains is the source of energy for the
first level consumers.
 In the grazing food chain the primary source
of energy is living plant biomass while in
the detritus food chain the source of energy
is dead organic matter or detritus. The two
food chains are linked. The initial energy
source for detritus food chain is the waste
materials and dead organic matter from the
grazing food chain.
44. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 2 is incorrect: Both
photosynthesis and respiration takes place
in the photic zone.
Supplementary notes:
Photic zone:
 It is the upper layer of the aquatic
ecosystems, up to which light penetrates
17
and within which photosynthetic activity is
confined.
 The depth of this zone depends on
the transparency of water. Both
photosynthesis and respiration activity
takes place.
 Photic (or “euphotic”) zone is the lighted
and usually well-mixed portion that extends
from the lake surface down to where the
light level is 1% of that at the surface.
Aphotic zone:
 The lower layers of the aquatic ecosystems,
where light penetration and plant
growth are restricted form the aphotic
zone. Only respiration activity takes
place.
 Aphotic zone is positioned below the
littoral and photic zones to bottom of
the lake where light levels are too low for
photosynthesis.
 Respiration occurs at all depths so
the aphotic zone is a region of oxygen
consumption. This deep, unlit region is also
known as the profundal zone.
45. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Dissolved Oxygen
 Water pollution by organic wastes is
measured in terms of Biochemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD). BOD is the amount of
dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria in
decomposing the organic wastes present
in water. It is expressed in milligrams of
oxygen per litre of water.
 The higher value of BOD indicates low DO
content of water. Since BOD is limited to
biodegradable materials only. Therefore,
it is not a reliable method of measuring
pollution load in water.
 Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a slightly
better mode used to measure pollution
load in water. It is the measure of oxygen
equivalent of the requirement of oxidation
of total organic matter (i.e. biodegradable
and non-biodegradable) present in water.
46. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: The humus
is further degraded by some microbes and
release of inorganic nutrients occurs by the
process known as mineralization.
PTS2021/PPP-01/122020/13
 Supplementary notes:
 Decomposition is the natural process of
dead animal or plant tissue being rotted or
broken down . The important steps in the
process of decomposition are fragmentation,
leaching , Catabolism and, Humification
and Mineralization.
 Decomposition is largely an oxygen
requiring process. Humifiacation leads to
accumulation of a dark colored amorphous
substance called humus that is highly
chemical resistant to microbial action and
undergoes at an extremely slow rate .
 The humus is further degraded by
some microbes and release of inorganic
nutrients occurs by the process known as
mineralization.
47. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Statement 4 is incorrect: Genetically
modified organisms and plant growth
regulators are prohibited in Organic
Farming.
Supplementary notes:
Organic farming
 Organic farming is a holistic system designed
to optimize the agricultural productivity
and to reduce the impacts on diverse
communities like soil organisms, plants,
livestock and humans. Organic farming is a
contemporary method of crop and livestock
production that involves tools which do
not use chemicals and artificial tools of
cropping. It is an integrated farming system
that strives for sustainability, enhancement
of soil fertility and biological diversity.
 Key characteristics of organic farming are:
 It relies primarily on local, renewable
resources
 It makes efficient use of solar energy and
the production potential of biological
systems
 It maintains the fertility of the soil
 It maximizes recycling of plant nutrients
and organic matter
 It does not use organisms or substances
foreign to nature (e.g. GMOs, chemical
fertilizers or pesticides)
 Substances which are prohibited in organic
farming are:
 Chemical fertilizers and pesticides,
 Genetically modified organisms,
 Nanomaterials,
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 Human sewage sludge,
 Plant growth regulators,
 Hormones
48. Correct Option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 1 is incorrect: Mangroves
have breathing roots also called aerial roots
which is defined as a root which, for part of
the day, is exposed to the air.
Supplementary notes:
Mangroves
 Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs
that live in the coastal intertidal zone.
Mangroves grow in areas with low-oxygen
soil, where slow-moving waters allow
fine sediments to accumulate. Mangrove
forests only grow at tropical and subtropical
latitudes near the equator because they
cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
 The Sundarbans delta is the largest
mangrove forest in the world and is
intersected by a complex network of tidal
waterways, mudflats and small islands of
salt-tolerant mangrove forests. It lies at the
mouth of the Ganges.
 Mangroves have breathing roots also called
aerial roots which is defined as a root which,
for part of the day, is exposed to the air. The
mangrove mud is rather anaerobic (oxygen
poor) and unstable and different plants
have root adaptations to cope with these
conditions.
 Pneumatophores - Pneumatophores are erect
roots that are some form of upward extension
of the underground root system. Because
these roots are exposed at least part of the
day and not submerged underwater, the root
system can obtain oxygen in an otherwise
anaerobic substrate. Pneumatophores also
accumulate sediments in protected sites
and form mangrove peats.
49. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 All statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
 An increase in Phosphorous due to waste
disposal rerouting affect the trophic food
web of a lake as:
 Cause an algal bloom,
 Cause increase in biomass and possible
shading. That could either cause
decrease in phyto or possible increase
due to added nutrient
18
  If assume shading does not affect
biomass, the increase in turbidity and
loss of water clarity makes is hard for
visual hunting predatory piscivorous fish
to catch food, so they would decrease.
 Big zooplankton would increase because
a lot of phyto available and so small
would decrease
 Planktivoruous fish would increase
because not preyed upon and have a lot
of zooplankton to eat
50. Correct Option: (c)
Explanation:
 Both statements are correct
Supplementary notes:
Desert Ecosystem
 Desert plants show phenomenon of
Allelopathy i,e, they secrete some chemical
substance which inhibits the growth of
plants growing in their near vicinity .
™™™™™
19
 Succulent plants store water in fleshy leaves,
stems or roots. All cacti are succulents,
as are such non-cactus desert dwellers
as agave, aloe, elephant trees, and many
euphorbias.
 Several other adaptations are essential for
the water storing habit to be effective.
 Owl’s clover, California poppy and other
drought avoidance plants die after
channeling all their energy into producing
seeds
 A succulent must be able to absorb large
quantities of water in short periods.
 Desert rains are often light and brief, and
the soil dries rapidly under an intense
sun. To cope with these conditions, nearly
all succulents have extensive, shallow root
systems.
 The roots of a saguaro extend horizontally
about as far as the plant is tall but are rarely
more than four inches (10 cm) deep. The
water- absorbing roots are mostly within
the upper half inch (1.3 cm). So that they
can get water from atmosphere.
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