Unit 3 Ecosystem

UNIT 3 : ECOSYSTEM
UNIT STRUCTURE

3.1 Learning Objectives

3.2 Introduction
3.3 Ecosystem
3.4 Food Chain
3.5 Food Web
3.6 Energy Flow
3.7 Ecological Pyramid
3.8 Main Ecosystems
3.9 Let Us Sum Up
3.10 Further Reading
3.11 Answers to Check Your Progress
3.12 Possible Questions

3.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through this unit, you will be able to :

 describe an ecosystem, its types and structure,
 get an idea about the productivity of the ecosystem, its elements
and its trophic structure,
 acquire knowledge about food chain and food web, and how it is
helpful to us,
 discuss energy flow in an ecosystem
 get a comprihensive idea about the ecological pyramid and its
different types,
 discuss the important ecosystems.

3.2 INTRODUCTION

The word ‘ecology’ was used by the German scientist Ernest Hekel
in 1869. The term means the study of the environment. The term ‘ecology’
has come from the Greek word ‘Oikos’, Oikos meaning ‘house’, and ‘logos’
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meaning ‘study of’. In other words, ecology is the study of the relationship
among living beings and their relation with the environment. The group
formed by the reproduction of a particular species within a specific
geographical area is called a population. The population of different species
together is called a biotic community. There exists inter-specific and intra-
specific relations and dependence within a biotic community. It is not possible
for a population or community to live in isolation. The environment in which
the biotic community lives provides it with all the necessary ingredients and
energy for its survival. This results in an inseparable relationship between
the living beings and the environment.
In this unit, you will learn about the ecosystem, food chain, food
web, energy flow, ecological pyramid etc. You will also learn about some
important ecosystems.

3.3 ECOSYSTEM

The term ‘ecosystem’ (Greek: Eco-environment, system: action:

reaction or interaction and inter dependence) was first used by A.G. Tansley
in 1935. Russian ecologist Sukachev defined it as Biogeo coerosis in 1944.
The intermingling of the organic and inorganic elements in the environment
is called the ecosystem. The chemical cycle through which energy flows
to the bio-diversity, food chain and material cycle etc. help create action
and reaction within the intermixture. This is called ecological system.
According to Odum (1963), ecosystem is the main active unit of ecology.

 Types of Ecosystem: There are different types of ecosystems in our

environment. These are:
 Natural and Permanent Ecosystem: This ecosystem becomes
effective in a natural environment without human interference. This
system is of two types –
 Terrestrial Ecosystem: This system is effective on land, e.g.
grassland ecosystem, desert ecosystem and forest ecosystem.
 Aquatic Ecosystem: This system is effective in water. It is of
two types:

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Unit 3 Ecosystem
(i) Freshwater Ecosystem : This works in streams, ponds and
lakes.
(ii) Marine Ecosystem : This works in seas, oceans and bays.
 Temporary and Natural Ecosystem: This system is effective in a
natural environment, but it is temporary and dependant on rainfall.
 Artificial or Manmade Ecosystem: These are created by man, e.g.
croplands, space ecosystem, fisheries etc. The aquarium in the
drawing room is also one type of artificial ecosystem.
 Structure of Ecosystem: The main factors of the ecosystem are the
biotic and abiotic elements.
 Biotic Factors: All living beings within an ecosystem are included in
the biotic factors. These biotic factors are of two types depending
on the mode of nutrition.
 Autotrophic Factors
 Heterotrophic Factors
 AutotrophicFactors: These include green plants, photosynthetic
bacteria and cyanobacteria. These organisms can produce their
own food through the use of abiotic elements like CO2 and H2O
during photosynthesis. So, these factors can be called
producers. The autotrophic factors include grass, shrubs, trees
and microscopic phytoplankton.

Radiated energy
6CO2+6H2O C6H12O6
Chlorophyll

 Heterotrophic Factors: The living beings included in these factors

cannot produce their own food, and consume only pre-produced
biotic food or else break down complex biotic compounds.
Therefore, these factors are called consumers. Depending on
their shape, the heterotrophic beings are divided into two types.
They are –
(a) Macro Consumers: Those animals which consume the
producers either directly and indirectly are called macro
consumers. These animals can be divided into four types—
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(i) Primary Consumers: Animals like cows, buffaloes, goats,
deer, rabbits, horses etc. which directly consume plants
are called primary consumers. These animals are also
called herbivores.
(ii) Secondary Consumers: Animals like fox, wild cats,
snakes, carnivorous fish, frogs, toads, centipedes etc.
live by feeding on herbivorous animals.
(iii) Tertiary Consumers: Those animals which feed on
secondary consumers for survival are called tertiary
consumers. e.g. wolves.
(iv) Quarternary Consumers: Lions, tigers etc live by feeding
on tertiary consumers. These are called quarternary
consumers.
(b) Micro Consumers: There are certain living organisms in the
environment which decompose dead plants and biotic
compounds. They feed upon some of these matters and
return the abiotic compounds to the environment. These
organisms are called decomposers or detritivores e.g.
bacteria, fungus. These organisms help in recycling matter.
 Abiotic Factors: Physico-Chemical factors are included in this
category. These can be divided into three types –
 Abiotic Matter: This includes carbon, nitrogen, carbon-dioxide,
water etc. These are intimately related with the material cycle.
 Biotic Compounds: Include carbohydrates, protein, lipids, nuclei
acids etc. These are found in dead biotic matter.
 Edaphic Factors: Climate, light, air, temperature etc. which are
related to land are called edaphic factors.
 Examples of Ecosystem (Fresh Water Ponds): Fresh water ponds
are a good example of ecosystem. Pond represents a fresh water
ecosystem. The study of a pond gives a comprehensive idea of the
structures and function of an ecosystem.
Abiotic Elements : Water, carbon dioxide, oxygen and its compounds,
amino acids, humus etc are the abiotic matters of the pond
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Unit 3 Ecosystem

ecosystem. Adequate light, temperature and climatic conditions

control the efficiency of the pond ecosystem.
Biotic Elements: Producers and different consumers are the biotic
factors. The biotic matters found in ponds are—
 Autotrophic Consumers: Spirogyra, oscillator arabina, flagmitos,
potamgaton velisner and ecocrinia are examples of autotrophic
consumers.
 Macro Consumers: Paramecium, daphnia cyclops etc are
zooplanktons, worms etc are primary consumers. Small fishes
living in water and insects like dung beetles live by feeding on
primary consumers. These together are called secondary
consumers. Comparatively, big fishes consume these small
organisms. These living things which live by consuming
secondary consumers are called tertiary consumers.
 Decomposers or Micro Consumers: The numerous bacteria and
fungi which are found in muddy water are called micro
consumers. The main function of the micro consumers is to
decompose dead animals, plants and animal refuse and then
to return the abiotic compound to the pond ecosystem.
Therefore, they are called decomposers.
 Trophic Structure: The living organisms which derive energy from
the same source are said to belong to the same trophic structure.
The green plants which use the sun’s energy to produce food – e.g.
planktons, herbs, shrubs or trees etc- are said to belong to the first
trophic structure (T1). Herbivorous plants or primary consumers
which depend upon the autotrophic producers for survival belong to
the second (T2) trophic structure. Secondary consumers belong to
the third (T3) trophic structure and the tertiary consumers belong to
the fourth (T4) trophic structure. Quarternary consumers live in the
T5 level, and the decomposers belong to the final or residual level in
the structure. There can only be a few trophic structures in an
ecosystem. This is because –

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 In moving from one place to another, there is a dificiency in the
food energy.
 The food is not used wholly
 A huge amount of energy is used in breathing.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 1. What do you mean by ecosystem?
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Q 2. What are the biotic and abiotic factors?
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3.4 FOOD CHAIN

In a trophic structure, the process of eating and being eaten among

the living beings helps the food energy to flow in an orderly manner. This is
called the food chain. The characteristics of food chain are as follows :
 Food is consumed frequently. The big animals consume the small
animals for food.
 The solar energy flows from the sun to the producers and from the
producers to the consumers in one direction.
 Each time energy is transformed, 80-90% of the static energy is radiated
as heat energy.
 There can be four to five trophic levels in one food chain. It may be
mentioned that 6 food chains can supply enormous energy.
 Food chain is always unidirectional
 The omnivores dominate more than one trophic structure in one food
chain.
Food chains are of two types– Grazing Food Chain and Detritus
Food Chain.
 Grazing Food Chain: As a primary source of energy the grazing food
chain produces food through photosynthesis using the sun’s rays, and

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Unit 3 Ecosystem
thereby it creates the first trophic structure of the food chain. The primary
consumers (herbivores) depend upon producer for survival and form the
second level. On the other hand, the carnivores prey upon the herbivores.
They are of many types. These food chains are long and they end in the
decomposition level.

Figure 3.1 : Ideal Structure of Ecosystem

Sun

Producer

Nutrient pool

Decomposers Consumers

Table 3.1 : Food Chain

Types of Producer Herbivorous/ Primary Secondary Tertiary

Ecosystem Carnivorous Carnivorous Carnivorous Carnivorous
Grassland Grass Insect Forg Snake Predatory Birds
Ecosystem Grass Rat/Mice Sanke Predatory Birds
Grass Rabbit Fox Hyena Lion
Pond Phyto Animal Small Big Predatory
Ecosystem Plankton Plankton Fish Fish Birds

 Detritus Food Chain: The dead mater is the primary source of energy
of the detritus food chain. The fallen leaves and dead animals are the
main sources of the dead biotic matter. Protozoa or unicellular organ-
isms, bacteria, fungi etc are the primary consumers of decomposed
matter. The insects and their larvae survive on decomposed matter.
The detritus food chain is shorter than the grazing food chain.

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Table 3. 2 : Grassland Food Chain

Types of Detrivores Detrivore Small Big

Detritus Consumers Carnivorous Carnivorous
Mangrove Fungi Insect Larva Fish Fry Big size
Fallen Leaf Bacteria Certain and Small Fish and
Crustacean Fish Fish Eating
Dead Bodies Protozoa Mollascs & Fishes Birds

3.5 FOOD WEB

The food relationship among the different living beings in the biotic
community is called the food web. There is a web-like connection among
the different trophic levels in different food chains. This is called the food
web or food cycle.
No plant or animal in an ecosystem can be free of the food chain.
The inter-relationship among the three types of food chain, e.g. predatory
food chain, parasitic food chain and necrophagous food chain, - forms the
food web. Some of the characteristics of food web are –
 Food web gives direction to an alterative means. Even though a crop
may be destroyed due to disease related causes, the animals which
survive on them are not affected, because of the availability of alternative
sources of food. An ecosystem remains stable if alternative sources of
food are available.
 The probability of alternative sources in the food web obstructs the
increase in the population of the highly productive species.
 The food web especially contributes to the development of the
ecosystem. e.g. Terrestrial food web.
In a grassland ecosystem, the five probable food chains mutually
connect, and create a food web.
1) grass – grasshopper – predatory bird.
2) grass – grasshopper, lizard – predatory bird
3) grass – rabbit – predatory bird
4) grass – mouse/rat – predatory bird

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5) grass – mouse / rat / snake – predatory bird

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 3. What is Food chain? What are its types?
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Q 4. What do you mean by Food web or Food cycle?
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3.6 ENERGY FLOW

The main function of the ecosystem is energy flow. The energy flow
is governed by two main laws of thermo-dynamics. The first law is that –
energy can neither be produced nor be destroyed; it can only be transformed
from one state to another. The second law affirms that some amount of
energy is lost in transformation.
Leaves contain chlorophyll and therefore they are green in colour.
Because of the presence of chlorophyll, the plants can produce their own
food using the sun’s rays during photosynthesis. The biotic community that
sustains itself through photosynthesis is called the primary producers of
the ecosystem. The avarage percentage of radiated energy is 1-5%. The
plants utilize a part of this energy during breathing.
The main features of energy flow are –
 The energy from the sun to the producers, and from the producers to
the different consumers in the food chain always flows in one direction.
During energy transformation, 80-90% energy utilized in metabolic
activities like respiration, excretion etc is lost as heat energy. This means
that in the next trophic level, only 10-20% energy is realized.
 In thermodynamics, energy flow follows both the laws mentioned above.
For example–
 Lindaman (1942) through a fresh water ecosystem (a lake) has

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explained the model of unidirectional energy flow through a diagram,
and has shown that autotrophic organisms utilize only 0.1% of the
solar radiation during photosynthesis. Of the total production, 21%
is used in metabolic activities, 63% in an unused state, 3% in
decomposition and 13% is kept for herbivores. In case of herbivores,
30% is used in metabolic activities, 57% is left unused and 3% is
used in decomposition. This means that 20% of autotrophic energy
is used in secondary production. The process of energy
transformation from herbivores to primary carnivores happens again
and again.
 E.P. Odum (1963) has shown through a model of the energy flow in
the three trophic levels that – 50% of the light energy which falls on
green plants is extracted by autotrophic organisms, and only 1% is
transformed to the biotic community.
On the basis of this discussion, depending upon the energy flow,
the characteristics of an ecosystem can be defined as follows :
 Energy flows in a unidirectional manner
 The usable energy is reduced gradually
 The radiated energy from the sun is changed into the non-living
state as heat energy.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 5. How is the energy flow directed?
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3.7 ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID

The graphical representation of the population or biotic community

in an ecosystem, the reserved energy in the different trophic levels in a
food chain is called the ecological pyramid. The concept of ecological

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Unit 3 Ecosystem
pyramid was first suggested by the English scientist Charles Elton in 1927.
Therefore, it is also known as Eltonian Pyramid. The lower, middle and
upper levels of the pyramid denote the population of the producers,
herbivores and carnivores respectively. The ecological pyramid can be
vertical towards the top or the opposite, or it can be in the shape of a
weaver’s reel.
Depending upon the ecological parameter, ecological pyramid is
divided into three types.
 Pyramid of Numbers: In this pyramid, a graphical representation of
the size of the biotic population in different trophic levels is given.
Grassland ecosystem and pond ecosystem are very good examples
of pyramid of numbers. In the predatory food chain, even though the
organisms in the trophic structure increase in size gradually, they,
however, decrease in numbers. In the pond ecosystem, the
phytoplankton leads to big fishes, and in the grassland ecosystem, grass
leads to predatory birds. The producers are small in size, but large in
numbers. On the other hand, the higher level carnivores are bigger in
size but smaller in numbers.
 Pyramid of Biomass: The dry weight of biotic matter in an ecosystem
is called biomass. The graphical representation of the biomass in per
unit structure of the trophic level is called pyramid of biomass. The
pyramid of biomass of the terrestrial ecosystem is always vertical. The
biotic population is the largest at the producer level, and it decreases
gradually towards the upper reaches of the trophic structure. In an
aquatic ecosystem (pond ecosystem), the pyramid of biomass is upside
down, or the apex is at the bottom. The organisms in this trophic
structure depend upon the reproductive capacity and age of the
community because the number of zooplanktons is more than thet of
the phytoplankton, but less than the secondary consumers.

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Figure 3.2 : Pyramid of Biomass (Pond Ecosystem)

Large fish Secondary carnivores

Small fish Primary carnivores
Zoo plankton Herbivores
Phytoplankton Phytoplankton

Figure 3.3: Pyramid of Biomass (Terrestrial Ecosystem)

Extreme carnivores
(Lion 1 kg)

Primary carnivores
(Fox 10 kg)

Primary consumer
(Rabbit 100 kg)

Grass 100 kg

Figure 3.4: Inverted Pyramid of Biomass (Pond Ecosystem)

Secondary Consumer Biomass

Primary Consumer Biomass

Producers
Biomass

 Pyramid of Energy: The graphical representation of the amount of

energy per unit area and per unit time in a trophic structure is called
pyramid of energy. According to the second law of thermodynamics,
each time energy moves from the lower trophic levels to the higher
levels, 80-90% of the energy is made available for the autotrophic. The
herbivores and carnivores get 10% and 20% energy respectively for
metabolic activities. In each trophic structure, 10% chemical energy is
saved. Lindaman first proposed this chemical reaction in 1942, Pyramid
of energy is always straight and vertical.
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Unit 3 Ecosystem
Figure 3.5: Pyramid of Energy

Carnivores
0.15 calories

Herbivores
1.5 calorie

Solar Energy Grassland

1500 calories 15 calories

3.8 MAIN ECOSYSTEMS

There are three types of ecosystems in the environment (i) Terrestrial

ecosystem, (ii) Fresh water ecosystem, (iii) Marine Ecosystem. The plants
and animals residing in a specific geographical region is called biomass.
The condition of plants is dependent upon various physical factors like the
type of soil, rainfall, amount of light, time etc.

Table 3.2 :Different Ecosystems in the World

Ecosystem

Natural Ecosystem Artificial Ecosystem

(Man-made Ecosystem)
Agricultural Ecosystem (crop land)

Terrestrial Ecosystem Aquatic Ecosystem

1) Forest Ecosystem
2) Grassland Ecosystem Fresh Water Marine
3) Desert Ecosystem Ecosystem Ecosystem

1) Ocean
2) Bay
Running Water Ecosystem Standing Water Ecosystem

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Running Water Ecosystem Standing Water Ecosystem

1) River Ecosystem 1) Lake Ecosystem

2) Brook Ecosystem 2) Pond Ecosystem
3) Stream Ecosystem

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 6. Who propagated the concept of ecological
pyramid?
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Q 7. What are the main ecosystems?
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ACTIVITY – 3.1
Discuss broadly the different ecosystems of the world.
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 Terrestrial Ecosystem
 Forest Ecosystem
The forest ecosystems are of different types, namely –
 Evergreen Forest Ecosystem
 Coniferous Forest
 Deciduous Forest
Evergreen forest ecosystems are also known as tropical
rainforests. It covers an area of 20X106 square kilometers. This
constitutes 1/12 of the earth. Evergreen forests are found in different
parts of the world, e.g. Mexico, South America (Amazon and Orinock
river basin), African Congo river basin, South-east Asia etc. In India,

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rainforests are found in the Western Ghats, Andamans, North-East
Himalayas (Assam) etc. Almost half the population of plants and
animals in the world are found in these regions. Therefore, the
rainforests are rich in biodiversity. It is also very productive. In the
rainforests, 1200 kilo calories of energy are produced per square
metre per year. The main characteristics of rainforests as
 Its temperature is high (230 to 270C)
 Every year, 200-1000cm of rainfall occurs
 Warm and moist climate
 Contains sufficient quantities of minerals and humus
 The height of plants depends upon the species. Some trees
grow up to 30-40 metres.
 Plants which can grow in the shadow of big trees, like, bamboo,
ferns and other shrubs also exist.
 70-80% insects and 80-85% birds reside in the rainforests. Other
animals which live in these forests are monkeys, langur, snakes,
ant- eaters, bats, cheetah etc.
 The main trees of the rainforests are rosewood, mahogany,
dimro, nutmeg etc.
 Grassland Ecosystem: The main grasslands of the world are the
plains of Europe and Asia, the Prairies of north America and Canada,
the Pampas of South America, the Tuscus of New Zealand and
Veldts of Africa etc. The largest grasslands are the Plains of Russia
and Siberia. It covers almost 9X106 square km area. It has been
ascertained that every year, 2500 kilo calories of energy is produced
per sq. meter in these grasslands. The main characteristics of the
grassland region are:
 The amount of rainfall every year is 25-95 cm
 Amount of humus in the soil is more
 The plants are different varieties of short and long grass. E.g.
Andropagan Panicam, Desmodium, Cyanodon.
 The animals are primary consumers, grazing mammals (eg.
bison, antelope, zebra, big-horned sheep and deer), and animals
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living in burrows (e.g. Rat, rabbit, prairie dog and land squirrels).
These herbivorous animals are food for wolves and predatory
birds.
 These grasslands are very useful for crop production and cow
rearing.
 Desert Ecosystem: 20% (1/5th) of the world’s land area is desert.
Some famous deserts are mainly in south-west America (the famous
west desert Death Valley) Mexico, Peru, North Africa (Sahara and
Kalahari), China (Tibet, Gobi), India (Thar), South America (Atacama)
and Mid-Australian region (Tanami Gibson, Victorian) etc. The main
characteristics of the desert ecosystem are :
 Amount of rainfall is 5-25 cm only.
 Climate is extremely dry.
 Too hot in daytime and too cold at night
 Population of plants and animals is much less.
 Among the plants, shrubs and small trees can be found sparingly.
Some plants are seen growing only in the rains. They have a
very short shelf life (10-14days) e.g. Boerhaavia. Some plants
can retain water, eg. Hardy Grass. Some other plants can live
for long, eg. Dates. Some plants are fleshy and juicy, e.g. Cacti,
Euphabia.
 The chief animal of the desert is the camel. In addition, there
are also kangaroos, rats, rabbits, foxes, cats and some other
mammals. Among reptiles, there are horned lizards; among
birds, there are insectiovorous birds, owls; and among the
insects, there are ants, wasps, centipedes, spiders etc.
 Aquatic Ecosystem: Water constitutes 71% of the total volume of the
earth. Only 29% is land. Therefore, the number of aquatic ecosystems
is more. Aquatic ecosystem is mainly of two types – Freshwater
ecosystem and marine ecosystem.
 Freshwater Ecosystem : It is of two types –
 Standing Water (lake and pond)
 Running Water (stream, river)
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Unit 3 Ecosystem
 Standing Water (lake and pond):
Lake Ecosystem: Lakes and ponds are standing water bodies.
Lakes are large in size and also deep. Lakes are classified on
the basis of productivity and physical factors. Deep lakes are
divided on the basis of the capacity of light to penetrate its depth.
(a) Spilimnion – the surface temperature becomes 11-120C
because of the sun’s heat in the summer; it becomes
cold in winter.
(b) Hypolimnion – Deep surfaces are always cool (50C)
(c) Thermocline – There is variation in heat.
Depending upon productivity, lakes are divided into two types –
First : Eutrophic lake : Its depth is less. There are large number
of bio producers, but the amount of oxygen is less. The
circulation of nutrition is frequent. e.g. Kashimir’s Dal
Lake.
Second:Oligotrophic lake. These lakes are generally quite deep.
The mountain inside the lakes are called vidges.They
are Circulation of nutrition is also less.
Pond Ecosystem: The plants found in ponds are :
a) Those which can be seen with the help of microscopes like
chlamydomones, chlorella, spirogyra, eugonium, zygnema,
b) Those which floted on water such as – floating plants like
cerataphylum, articularia, hydrila,
c) Floating plants like ozola, wolphia, salvinia, pigtia lemona,
echornia etc.
d) Plants with roots like vallisnaria, nelumb, typha etc. The
roots of saggitaria, frogomytes can however be seen.
Among animals, there are zoo planktons like ciliates and
flagellata protozoa, rotifera, daphnia, cyclops, haylly, dragonfly,
damal fly; nekton like- water boatman, beetles, water insects,
fish, frog, turtles, snakes etc. and those that live in the depths
like hydra, prawns, crabs and the different varieties of snails
etc.
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Ecosystem Unit 3
 Running Water Ecosystem (Stream, river) : Running water
ecosystem is also known as flotic ecosystem. In this ecosystem,
water always flows and it is always changing.
 Marine Ecosystem: Marine ecosystem is of three types: open
seas, coastal regions, and bay regions. The main feature of the
marine ecosystem is that its water is salty (average salinity 3.5%).
The salt content varies according to the depth. The factors
responsible for the limitation of the biotic community are the
temperature of the sea, salinity, water pressure, and light. As the
depth of the sea increases, the water pressure also increases.

LET US KNOW
Words to remember-
 Biogeocirnosis  Ecological System
 Aquarium  Autotrophic
 Heterotrophic  Biome
 Ecological Pyramid  Food Chain
 Food Web  Primary Productivity
 Secondary Productivity  Trophic Level

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Q 8. What are the main characteristics of the
rainforests?
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Q 9. Where in India can you find desert ecosystem?
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Q 10. Write the names of some plants and animals found in the
pond ecosystem.
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Unit 3 Ecosystem

3.9 LET US SUM UP

 After going through this unit, we have come to learn about ecosystem.
There are different ecosystems in the world, namely forest ecosystem,
grassland ecosystem, desert ecosystem and acquatic ecosystem.
 All these different types of ecosystem are discussed in detail. Besides,
the unit also deals with food-chain, food web, ecological pyramids etc.
We also got a comprehensive idea about food chain, food web,
ecological pyramid etc. We have learnt that the pond we see everyday
contains different plants and animals, which develop a relationship
amongst them.

3.10 FURTHER READING

1) Asthana, D. K. & Meera A. (2012). A Textbook of Environmental Studies.

New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Ltd.
2) Bharucha, E. (2004). A Textbook of Environmental Studies. New Delhi:
UGC.
3) Kaushik, A. & Kaushik, C. P.(2006). Perspectives in Environmental
Studies. India: New Age Publications (Academic).

3.11 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR

PROGRESS

Ans to Q No 1: The interaction created by the inter-relationship between

the biotic and abiotic factors in the environment is called an
ecosystem.

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Ans to Q No 2: All the living beings living in an ecosystem are called the
biotic elements.
Carbon, nitrogen, carbon, dioxide, water, carbohydrates, proteins,
lipids, nucleic acid, climate, light, temperature, air etc. are abiotic
factors.
Ans to Q No 3: The process of eating and being eaten among animals in
any trophic structure helps the food energy to flow in a disciplined
manner. This is called food chain. Food chains are of two types
(a) Grassland food chain
(b) Detritus food chain
Ans to Q No 4: The food-related relationship among different beings in a
biotic community is called food web or food cycle.
Ans to Q No 5: Heat energy is directed by the two laws of thermo-dynamics.
The first law is that – energy can neither be created nor be destroyed;
it can only be transformed from one state to another. The second
law states that during transformation, some amount of energy is
lost.
Ans to Q No 6: An English scientist named Charles Elton.
Ans to Q No 7: There are three types of ecosystems in the environment –
(i) Terrestrial Ecosystem (ii) Freshwater Ecosystem, and
(iii) Marine Ecosystem.
Ans to Q No 8: Its temperature is high (230 – 270 C)
 Every year, there is 200 – 1000 cm rainfall.
 Warm and moist climate
 Contains sufficient amount of mineral and humus.
 The height of plants differs according to species. Some trees
grow upto 30-40 metres in height
 Trees which can grow under the shadow of these big trees are
bamboo, ferns and shrubs etc.
Ans to Q No 9: India’s Thar Desert.
Ans to Q No 10: Spyrogyra, Eugonium, Zygnema Azola, Wolpaia, Salvinia,
Pigtia Lemona, Echomia, Cerataphylum, Articularia, Hydrilla,

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Unit 3 Ecosystem
Vallisnaria, Nelumb, Typha, Saggitaria, Frogomytes, Ciliates and
Flagellate protozoa, Rotifers, Daphnia, Cyclops, haylly, dragonfly,
damal fly, water boatman, beetles, water insects, fish, frogs, turtles,
snakes etc. and those that live in the depths like hydra; prawns,
crabs, different varieties of snails.

3.12. POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q 1. What are the different types of ecosystems?
Q 2. Write the names of the elements of an ecosystem.
Q 3. Define trophic structure.
Q 4. What is food chain?
Q 5. What is the significance of food web?
Q 6. Write the names of primary producers and secondary producers.
Q 7. Write the names of the forest biomass?
Q 8. Where in India can we find tropical rainforests?
Q 9. What are the different types of ecological pyramid?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q 1. What are the different characteristics of aquatic biome?
Q 2. What is the role of the biotic and abiotic factors in the ecosystem?
Q 3. What is the difference between food chain and food web?
Q 4. Why does energy always flow in one direction?
Q 5. Explain one pyramid of biomass.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q 1. Describe a pond ecosystem as an ideal ecosystem.
Q 2. What is biome? Describe tropical rainforests and grassland biome.
Q 3. What is ecological pyramid? Describe the various ecological
pyramids found in an ecosystem.

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Ecosystem Unit 3
Q 4. Write the characteristics of food chain. Describe two kinds of food
chain with examples.

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