NATIONAL ENGLISH SCHOOL

CLASS lX

SUBJECT EVS

CHAPTER HOW ECOSYSTEMS WORK

Long answer questions:-

1. Explain the various trophic levels in a food chain.

Ans-- A trophic level is a group of organisms whose feeding source is the same number of
steps from the Sun.
PRODUCERS-- producers or autotrophs are the first trophic level. They absorb the energy from
sunlight to make their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Example--green plants,
green algae.
CONSUMERS—consumers occupy the next trophic levels.
HERBIVORES-- herbivores or primary consumers are the second trophic level. They consume
the green plants. Example-- cow, sheep, deer, zebra.
CARNIVORES—carnivores are the third, fourth and fifth trophic levels.
Secondary consumers are the third trophic level. They usually eat the primary consumers.
Example—cat, dog, tiger, lion.
Tertiary consumers are the fourth trophic level. They usually eat the secondary consumers.
Quaternary consumers are the fifth trophic level. They usually eat tertiary consumers.

2. Explain the carbon cycle.

Ans-- Carbon is the most significant element as it is the building block of all organic molecules
of life. Together, photosynthesis and cellular respiration form the basis of carbon cycle. The
steps are—
• Carbon exist in the form of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is added
to the atmosphere by the process of respiration, oxidation and combustion.
• Carbon dioxide is trapped by the green plants--autotrophs during photosynthesis store
it in the form of starch.
• Carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere by the burning of dead bodies
and by the process of decomposition by various groups of bacteria and fungi.
• When plants die and get buried in the soil, they undergo slow degradation and over
millions of years are converted into fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas.
• The carbon content in animal parts like shells also undergo compaction and lead to
the formation of rocks containing carbonates.
Thus carbon from carbon dioxide taken by green plants from the environment through
photosynthesis is returned to the environment through respiration, combustion and
burning of fuels.

3. What is the importance of main nutrient cycles?

Ans—Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen constitute about 95% mass of the living
organisms. Plants obtain elements from the surrounding atmosphere, water or soil. Animals
 may also obtain elements directly from the physical environment. These materials are
transformed biochemically within the bodies of organisms but due to excretion or
decomposition they are returned to an inorganic state. Decomposers play a key role in many
of these cycles, returning nutrients to soil, water or air that they can again be used by the
biotic constituents of the ecosystem. The nutrients are repeatedly recycled between the living
and nonliving components of the ecosystem. Energy flows through an ecosystem and
nutrients cycle in an ecosystem. The flow of energy through the ecosystem drives the
movement of nutrients within the ecosystem. For the proper functioning of ecosystems,
nutrients are required. Nutrients are cycle through the ecosystem between the biotic and
abiotic components and that is known as biogeochemical cycles. Water cycle, carbon cycle,
nitrogen cycle, Oxygen cycle, Phosphorus cycle, sulphur cycle and calcium cycle are the major
biogeochemical cycles.

4. Write about the interdependence of natural cycle.

 Ans--All systems recycle. Ecosystems are capable of complete recycling. The biosphere is a
network of continually recycling materials. The components of organic molecules are
constantly being stored and recycled as a part of their biogeochemical cycles.
Water contains hydrogen and oxygen, is essential to all living processes. Water can be liquid
on the surface and beneath the surface of frozen in rivers, lakes, oceans, glaciers,
groundwater, polar ice caps or exist as water vapour in the atmosphere.
Carbon is found in all organic macromolecules. It is an important constituent of fossil fuels.
Nitrogen is a major component of a our nucleic acids and proteins.
Phosphorus is also a major component of nucleic acids along with nitrogen. It is one of the
main ingredients in artificial fertilizers used in agriculture.
Sulphur is released into the atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels like coal.
The cycling of all these chemicals is interconnected. The movement of water is critical for the
leaching of nitrogen and phosphate into water bodies. The ocean itself is a major reservoir for
Carbon. Thus, mineral nutrients are cycled either rapidly or slowly through the entire
biosphere from one living organism to another and between the biotic and abiotic world.

5. Distinguish between the following—

a. Food chain and food web

b. Ammonification and denitrification

Ans— Ammonification is the process of conversion of complex nitrogenous substances
to ammonia. Ammonifying bacteria return the nitrogen back to the soil from the dead
remains of plants and animals and also from their waste products.
Denitrification is the process of returning of nitrogen to the atmosphere. Dinner
tripping bacteria breakdown nitrates and release nitrogen gas back into the
atmosphere.

6. Write in detail about the ecological succession.

Ans--The orderly arrangement of one ecosystem to another is a process known as ecosystem
development or ecological succession. Succession occurs when a sterile area like Barren rock
 or a lava flow is first colonized by living things or when an existing ecosystem is disrupted as
when a forest is destroyed by a fire. Some habitats may remain unchanged for hundreds or
thousands of years. However, there are others that undergo dramatic changes every few
years. The causes of these changes can be natural occurrences like fire, floods, volcanic
eruptions, tsunamis and glacial retreat. Sometimes the changes are caused by human
activities, like logging, building of dams and agricultural use. It is the gradual process by which
ecosystems change and develop over time. Nothing remains the same and habitats are
constantly changing. Succession include gradual orderly and predictable changes in the
composition of communities towards a climax community. Destruction of ecosystems
generally according two phases. The early or the growth phase is characterized by ecosystems
that have few species and short food chains. The final or climax ecosystem is characterized by
a great diversity of species complex food webs and high stability.

7. Explain primary succession by giving an example.

PRIMARY SUCCESSION—primary succession begins in an area where the soil has yet not
formed. Changes in vegetation during succession and as follows—
• Pioneer plants--lichens and algae are the first plants that grow in an area. These plants
create a layer of soil on the rock surface. As declined to the rocks they hold the water
on the surface.
• Moss stage—mosses grow after the growth of the lichens. After the most have
established the compete with lichens and gradually eliminate the lichens. The masses
continued to build the deposits of organic matter and soil.
• Herb stage—some herbs like grasses may compete with the moss when an area has
been covered with moss. The herbs finally eliminate the moss and become dominant.
• Shrub stage—The herbs further enrich the soil and also provide shade and actors a
windbreak so that the soil has more moisture for the growth of shrubs. As the shrubs
grow taller they become the dominant plants and shade the herbs.
• Tree stage--the next type of plants following the shrubs are the trees as they grow and
gradually form a dense vegetation. They shade out the herbs.