Q11 of 14 Page 540

With the help of examples discuss in brief the role of decomposers in cycling of materials.

Decomposers like bacteria, fungi etc. act upon dead and decay organisms to convert organic compounds into simpler forms. These simple substances get mixed up in the soil and are used as nutrients by the producers. From producers it goes to consumers and so on. Thus there is recycle of matter which is done by decomposers that maintain balance in the ecosystem.


More from this chapter

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9

A food chain consists of the following members. If the last member receives 30 J of energy, make a diagrammatic representation to show the flow of energy.

Snake, Vulture, Plants and Rat.

 10

Describe with a diagram how energy flows through different trophic levels. Describe how transfer and circulation of material takes place in nature, and the role of decomposers in the process. State how recycling of materials benefits living organisms.

 12

Consider the following food chains:

(a) Plants → Mice → Snakes → Hawks


(b) Plants → Mice → Hawks


If energy available at the producer level in both the food chains is 100 J, in which case will hawks get more energy as food and by what factor? Justify your answer.

 13

What are chlorofluorocarbons? How are they responsible for causing ozone hole in atmosphere? What will be the consequence of ozone hole?