Chapter 2
Concepts of real science
1. Define ecology or practical science.
Answer: Ecology is the study of the interrelationships and interdependence of plants, animals and their environment. The essence of real science lies in the study of the unity of plants, animals, microorganisms and their environment.
2. What do you mean by ecology?
Answer: An ecosystem is a community of different organisms involved in a dynamic web of biological, chemical and physical interactions among each other and inert components. Ecosystems include biological components, inert components and their interactions. Ecology is the main active group of physical sciences.
3. Classify ecology.
Answer: Types of ecosystems
There are two main types of ecosystems:
(a) Natural ecology
(b) Artificial or man-made ecosystems
(a) Natural ecosystem: This system is again divided into two parts.
(1) Terrestrial ecosystems: Examples are forest ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, desert ecosystems.
(2) Aquatic ecosystems: These ecosystems can be freshwater ecosystems and marine ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems can be flowing or stagnant water.
(b) Man-made ecosystems: These ecosystems are artificially created by man. For example, cropland ecosystems, pond fish farming systems, etc.
4. The What is the ecology of flowing and still water bodies? Give examples.
Answer: Flowable ecosystem- An ecosystem in which water flows continuously is called a flowing ecosystem. such as the river.
Stagnant water ecosystem - An ecosystem in which water is stable is called a stagnant water ecosystem. such as ponds, lakes.
5. Who are producers, consumers and decomposers ?
Answer: Producers- Those that can make their own food by photosynthesis using carbon dioxide gas in the air, water and sunlight are called producers.
Consumers - A class of organisms that cannot prepare their own food. They collect their food from the producers. They are called consumers. There are two types of consumers – large consumers and small consumers.
Decomposers- which collect nutrients from decaying or breaking down dead plants and organic matter in the environment. They are called decomposers.
6. Briefly describe the structure and function of ecosystems.
Answer: Ecosystem structure
The structure and organization of biological and inorganic components forms the structure of the ecosystem.
Biological structure: The biological components of an ecosystem consist of plants, animals and microorganisms. Organic components can be divided as follows:
(a) autotrophic and (b) paranoid
Inorganic structure: Inorganic structure consists of the physical and chemical components of the ecosystem. It covers all kinds of physical factors like sunlight, longitude, latitude, average temperature, rainfall pattern, wind speed etc. as well as factors related to soil conditions.
Chemical components include the main nutrients, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, potassium, etc., compounds, such as proteins, nucleic acids, etc.
Ecosystem Functions: Ecosystems perform all their functions in a systematic manner among natural environments. This system collects energy from the Sun and sends it to different components at different stages. Ecological action can only be considered as a whole. This is because each part of the ecology has interactive effects with each other. The main characteristics of an ecosystem can be described through food chains, food webs, nutrient levels, energy flows, nutrient cycles, etc.
7. What are food chains and food webs?
Answer: A food chain is the sequence in which an organism consumes food and is consumed by other organisms in any ecosystem.
For example, grass 一 locusts 一 birds 一 lizards
The connection with each other creates a food web just like a spider web. This interconnected form of several interconnected food chains is called a food web.
8. What is the nutrient level?
Answer: In any ecosystem, each organism can be considered as a food stage or layer. This is considered the nutrient level. Living organisms that derive energy from the same source are considered to be of the same nutrient level.
9. What do you mean by environmental pyramid? Name different types of environmental pyramids.
Answer: The graphical representation of the sequence of nutrient level structures and functions of consumers from the lowest level of producers to the highest level in any ecosystem is known as the physical science or environmental pyramid. There are three types of environmental pyramids:
(1) Pyramid of numbers
(2) Pyramid of organic mass
(3) Pyramid of Energy
10. State the main characteristics of food chains and food webs.
Answer:
