OUR ENVIRONMENT
1. What is an ecosystem? What are its components?
An Ecosystem is made up of the living organisms (biotic) and the non-living (abiotic)
components of an area which interact with each other to maintain a balance in nature. It
is self-supporting and capable of independent existence.
COMPONENTS OF ECOSYSTEM
It is made up of 2 components:
• Abiotic components (non-living)
• Biotic components (living)
Abiotic: It includes non-living physical things – air, water, soil, minerals, light,
temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall
Biotic: It includes living organisms – plants, animals and microorganisms
2. What are the different types of ecosystems?
• NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS – They operate in nature by themselves without any human
interference.
a) Terrestrial (land): Examples: forest, desert, grassland
b) Aquatic (water): Examples: pond, lake, river, sea, ocean
• ARTIFICIAL ECOSYSTEMS – They are maintained artificially by man.
Examples: crop field, garden, park, orchard, aquarium, zoo
3. What is the role of decomposers in the ecosystem? Name two decomposers.
The decomposers break down the complex organic substances present in the dead
remains of plants and animals into simpler substances and release the nutrients into the
soil. From the soil, these nutrients are again taken up by the roots of the plants. Thus,
decomposers help in recycling the nutrients and maintaining the fertility of soil and also
in cleaning the environment.
Examples of decomposers: bacteria, fungi
4. We do not clean ponds or lakes, but an aquarium needs to be cleaned regularly. Why?
Ponds and lakes are natural and self-sustained ecosystems and contain decomposers
which act as cleansing agents in the system. An aquarium is an artificial ecosystem and
does not contain natural decomposers. Hence, an aquarium needs to be cleaned
periodically.
5. What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state the different trophic
levels in it. (NCERT Page 212 Q1)
The various steps in a food chain at which transfer of energy occurs are called trophic
levels.
Draw Figure 13.2 Page 210 with this answer - Trophic levels
6. Explain the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
• The green plants in an ecosystem capture about 1% of the energy of sunlight that falls
on their leaves and convert it into food energy.
• About 90% of this energy is used up at each trophic level and is lost as heat and only
10% of it is transferred to the next trophic level.
• Thus, the flow of energy is unidirectional (in one direction) from the sun to the
producers, then to the herbivores and then to the carnivores.
• The energy available at each trophic level gets decreased progressively due to loss of
energy at each level.
Draw Figure 13.4 Page 211 with this answer - Flow of energy in an ecosystem
7. What is the ‘ten percent law’? Depict it with the help of a food chain.
This law states that during transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next, only 10%
of the energy is available to the next trophic level and the remaining 90% is lost in
respiration and heat.
8. ‘The number of trophic levels in a food chain is limited’. Justify the statement.
At each trophic level, about 90% of energy is lost as heat and only 10% of it is transferred
to the next trophic level. Thus, the amount of energy available for transfer to the next
trophic level goes on decreasing and after 4 or 5 steps very little usable energy remains.
Therefore, the number of steps in a food chain is limited to 4 or 5.
9. What is ‘biological magnification’? Will the levels of this magnification be different at
different levels of the ecosystem? (NCERT Page 217 Q6)
The increase in the concentration of harmful chemicals in the body of an organism at
each higher trophic level in the food chain is known as biological magnification.
Yes, the levels of this magnification will be different at different levels of the ecosystem.
10. How is ozone formed in the atmosphere?
Ozone is formed at the higher levels of the atmosphere by the action of UV radiation on
oxygen (O2) molecule. The higher energy UV radiations split apart some moleculer
oxygen (O2) into free oxygen (O) atoms. These atoms then combine with the molecular
oxygen to form ozone as shown:
11. What is the major cause of ozone depletion? Why is the depletion of ozone layer a
cause of concern? What steps are being taken to limit this damage?
(a) The major cause of ozone depletion are synthetic chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) which are used in refrigerators, air conditioners and fire extinguishers. These
CFCS react with the ozone layer and destroy it.
(b) The ozone layer shields the surface of the earth from the harmful ultraviolet (UV)
radiation of the sun. Due to depletion of ozone layer, more UV radiation from the sun
will reach the earth surface. This radiation is highly damaging to living organisms and
can cause skin cancer, damage the eyes and immune system.
(c) In 1987, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) succeeded in forging an
international agreement called ‘Montreal Protocol’ to freeze CFC production at 1986
levels. It was also recommended to replace CFCs by developing substitutes which are
less harmful.
12. Why are some substances biodegradable and some non-biodegradable?
(NCERT Page 214 Q1)
Substances which can be broken down into simpler harmless substances by biological
processes such as action of bacteria are said to be biodegradable. e.g. dead plants and
animals, vegetable peels, leftover food, paper.
Substances which cannot be broken down by biological processes and persist in the
environment for a long time are said to be non-biodegradable. e.g. plastics, glass,
metals, pesticides, fertilisers.
13. Give the ways in which biodegradable substances would affect the environment.
(NCERT Page 214 Q2)
• Decomposition of biodegradable wastes produces foul smell which spreads in the
environment causing air pollution.
• Heaps of biodegradable wastes serve as breeding ground for flies which are carriers of
diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery etc.
14. Give the ways in which non-biodegradable substances would affect the environment.
(NCERT Page 214 Q3)
• Non-biodegradable wastes like pesticides and heavy metals enter the food chain, cause
biological magnification and affect human beings.
• Excessive use of non-biodegradable fertilisers and pesticides change the chemical
nature of soil and destroy soil fertility.
• These fertilisers and pesticides may also reach the water bodies and lead to water
pollution.
15. How can you help in reducing the problem of waste disposal? Give any two methods.
(NCERT Page 216 Q2)
We can reduce the problem of waste disposal by changing our life-style and attitude and
reducing the quantity of waste produced.
The important methods of waste disposal are:
• Land fills (Burying the wastes in low lying areas)
• Recycling of wastes like paper, plastics, metals, glass.
• Preparation of compost.
• Production of biogas and manure.
• Incineration (Burning the waste at high temperature in a furnace and converting to
ashes)
16. What will happen if we kill all the organisms in one trophic level? (NCERT Page 217 Q4)
If we kill all the organisms in one trophic level the transfer of food energy to the next
level will stop and the number of individuals in that trophic level will decrease due to
non-availability of food. Also, the number of individuals in the previous trophic level will
increase because there will be no one to feed on them. This will result in imbalance in
the ecosystem.
17. Will the impact of removing all the organisms in a trophic level be different for
different trophic levels? Can the organisms of any trophic level be removed without
causing any damage to the ecosystem? (NCERT Page 217 Q5)
Yes, it will be different for different trophic levels. The effect will be time related. If all
the producers are removed, the herbivores will be affected instantly as there will be no
food available for them and they will die. In the absence of herbivores, the carnivores
will be affected in due course of time.
Since, all organisms are linked through the food chain, removal of organisms at any
trophic level will cause damage to the ecosystem.
