Q7 of 67 Page 104

“The energy flow in the ecosystem follows the second law of thermodynamics.” Explain.

• Second law of Thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, it can only be transformed from one form to another form.


• Energy flows in the ecosystem through external environment to the series of organisms back again to the external environment.


• During this process 90% of the energy is utilised by the each trophic level and only 10% energy is passed to next trophic level,


• The utilised energy later on transforms into heat.


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5

Write a short note on pyramid of numbers and pyramid of biomass.

 6

Given below is a list of autotrophs and heterotrophs. With your knowledge about food chain, establish various linkages between the organisms on the principle of ‘eating and being eaten’. What is this inter-linkage established known as? Algae, hydrilla, grasshopper, rat, squirrel, crow, maize plant, deer, rabbit, lizard, wolf, snake, peacock, phytoplankton, crustaceans, whale, tiger, lion, sparrow, duck, crane, cockroach, spider, toad, fish, leopard, elephant, goat, Nymphaea, Spirogyra.

 8

What will happen to an ecosystem if:

a. All producers are removed;


b. All organisms of herbivore level are eliminated; and


c. All top carnivore population is removed


 9

Give two examples of artificial or man made ecosystems. List the salient features by which they differ from natural ecosystems.