Class 9 Science Chapter 7 Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

2. Correct and rewrite the following statements and

justify your corrections.
a. Carnivores occupy the second trophic level in the
food chain.
b. The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is considered
to be a ‘one-way’ transport.
c. Plants in an ecosystem are called primary
consumer
3. Give reasons.
a. Energy flow through an ecosystem is ‘one way’.
Answer:
The Sun is the most important source of energy in any
ecosystem.
Green plants of the ecosystem store some amount of
solar energy in the form of food.
Before reaching the decomposers, this energy is
passed on from one trophic level to the next.
Decomposers dissipate some amount of energy in the
form of heat.
However, no part of the energy ever returns to the
Sun. Hence, energy flow through an ecosystem is ‘one
way’.

b. Equilibrium is necessary in the various bio-geo-

chemical cycles.
Answer:
The cyclic flow of nutrients within an ecosystem is
called bio-geo-chemical cycles. Nutrients, necessary
for the growth of organisms are continuously
transferred from abiotic to biotic factors and biotic to
abiotic factors within an ecosystem.
Any imbalance in the cycles will break the link
between the biotic and abiotic factors.
Therefore, equilibrium is necessary between bio-geo-
chemical cycles.

c. Flow of nutrients through an ecosystem is cyclic.

Answer:
All organisms need nutrients for their growth.
The nutrients carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, iron, calcium
etc. are circulated and recycled from the biosphere to
living organisms and after their death back to the
biosphere.
Nutrients are taken up by plants and then passed on
to the consumers.
Eventually, after their death, all types of consumers,
are decomposed by decomposers like bacteria and
fungi and the nutrients are again released into the
biosphere and are, used again by living organisms.
Therefore, the flow of nutrients through an
ecosystem is cyclic.

4. Explain the following cycles in your own words with

suitable diagrams.
a. Carbon cycle.
Answer:
The circulation and recycling of carbon from the
atmosphere to living organisms and after their death
back to the atmosphere is called the carbon cycle.
Abiotic carbon atoms are circulated and recycled into
biotic form mainly through photosynthesis and
respiration.
Hence, the carbon cycle is one of the important bio-
geochemical cycles.
Plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates by
the process of photosynthesis.
Similarly, they produce carbon compounds like
proteins and fats, too.
Carnivores feed upon herbivores. In this way, biotic
carbon is transported from plants to herbivores, from
herbivores to carnivores and from carnivores to apex
consumers.
Main processes in the carbon cycle
Eventually, after death, all types of consumers, are
decomposed by decomposers like bacteria and fungi
and carbon dioxide is released again into the
atmosphere and is used again by living organisms.
In this way, carbon is continuously passed on from
one living organism to another. After the death of
living organisms, carbon goes to the atmosphere and
is again taken up by living organisms.
b. Nitrogen cycle.
Answer:
Nitrogen forms 78% i.e. the maximum portion of the
atmosphere. It is necessary for the maintenance of
the cycle of nature.
The circulation and recycling of nitrogen gas into the
form of different compounds through various biotic
and abiotic processes in nature is called the nitrogen
cycle.
All organisms participate in the nitrogen cycle. It is an
important component of proteins and nucleic acids.
As compared to other elements, it is inactive and does
not easily combine with other elements. Most
organisms cannot use the free form of nitrogen.
Important processes of nitrogen cycle:
(a) Nitrogen fixation: Conversion of nitrogen into
nitrates and nitrites through atmosphere, industrial
and biological processes.
(b) Ammonification: Release of ammonia through the
decomposition of dead bodies and excretory wastes
of organisms.
(c) Nitrification: Conversion of ammonia into a nitrite
and then nitrate.
(d) Denitrification: Conversion of nitrogen compounds
into gaseous nitrogen.
c. Oxygen cycle.
Answer:

Oxygen forms 21% of the atmosphere. It is also

present in the hydrosphere and lithosphere. The
circulation and recycling of oxygen within the
biosphere is called the oxygen cycle.
This cycle, includes both the biotic and abiotic
components. Oxygen is continuously produced as well
as used up in the atmosphere.
Oxygen is highly reactive and it readily reacts with
other elements and compounds.
As oxygen is found in various forms like molecular
oxygen (Oz), water (H,0), carbon dioxide (C02),
inorganic compounds etc, the oxygen cycle of the
biosphere is extremely complex.
Oxygen is released in the process of photosynthesis,
whereas it is used up in processes like respiration,
combustion, decomposition, corrosion, rusting, etc.
5. What would you do to help maintain the
equilibrium in the various bio-geochemical cycles?
Explain in brief.
Answer:
Bio-geo-chemical cycles always involve the
achievement of equilibrium, i.e., a balance in the
cycling of the nutrients between the spheres.
Human activities that are known to be
environmentally unfriendly can disrupt this balance.
We should avoid deforestation as trees play an
important role in maintaining the balance.
We should avoid overuse of fertilizers. The fertilizers
get washed away in the nearby water bodies
disrupting the balance.
Avoid burning of fossil fuels as these fuels release a
large amount of carbon in the form of carbondioxide,
thus disrupting the balance.
Vehicular emissions is another contributor to the
disruption in balance of the various cycles.
These emissions release oxides of nitrogen and
carbon and other hazardous air pollutants.
So, we must use better quality fuel like CNG or
ethanol to reduce vehicular emissions.
6. Explain in detail the inter-relationship between the
food chain and food web.
Answer:

Interaction go on continuously between producers,

consumers and decomposers.
There is a definite sequence in these interactions
which is called the food chain.
Each chain consists of four, five or more links.
An ecosystem consists of many food chains that are
interconnected at various levels. Thus, a food web is
formed.
An organism may be the prey for many other
organisms.
For example, an insect feeds upon leaves of various
plants but the same insect is the prey for different
animals like frog, wall lizard, birds, etc.
Thus, many food chains interconnected together form
an intricate web called as food web.
7. State the different types of bio-geochemical cycles
and explain the importance of those cycles.
Answer:
The different types of bio-geo-chemical cycles are
nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, water vapour, iron, calcium,
phosphorus, etc.
Nutrients, necessary for the growth of the organisms
are continuously transferred from abiotic to biotic
factors and biotic to abiotic factors within an
ecosystem.
These cycles operate continuously through the
medium of the biosphere formed by the lithosphere,
atmosphere and hydrosphere.
(iv) The recycling of biological, geological and
chemical sources of nutrients takes place through
these cycles.
Nutrients from the biosphere enter the bodies of
plants and animals. Eventually, after death, all types
of consumers are decomposed by decomposers like
bacteria and fungi and they are again released into
the biosphere and are used again by living organisms.
Therefore, these cycles help in maintaining the flow
of nutrients and energy through ecosystem and
maintaining the equilibrium in the ecosystem.