UNIT 10 – ECOLOGY
REVISION WORK SHEET
1. The interdependent evolution of a flowering plant and its pollinator represents 1
a) Coevolution
b) Commensalism
c) Coextinction
d) Parasitism
Ans a)
2. In a grassland ecosystem, if the number of primary producers (grasses) is 1
approximately 6 million, the number of tertiary consumers that can be
supported will be
a) 3
b) 6
c) 30
d) 60
Ans a)
3. In the given equation of species area relationship, the value of regression 1
coefficient for a whole continent, would be
a) 0.1 – 0.2
b) 0.5 – 0.7
c) 0.6 – 1.2
d) 0.3 – 0.5
Ans c)
4. A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn. He found that the average 1
natality was 130, average mortality 120, immigration 20 and emigration 30.
The net increase in the rat population mentioned above is
a) 20
b) 10
c) 5
d) Zero
Ans d)
5. The process of mineralization by microorganisms helps in the release of 1
a) inorganic nutrients from humus
b) both organic and inorganic nutrients from detritus
c) organic nutrients from humus
d) inorganic nutrients from detritus and formation of humus
Ans a)
6. One of the ex situ conservation methods for endangered species is 1
a) biosphere reserves
b) national parks
c) cryopreservation
d) wild life sanctuaries
Ans. c)
7. Asymptote in a logistic growth curve is obtained when 1
a) the value of ‘r’ approaches zero
b) the value of K is equal to N
c) the value of K is greater than N
d) the value of K is less than N
Ans b)
8. If a kite feeds on a mouse that feeds on the grains, the kite is a 1
a) primary consumer
b) secondary consumer
c) tertiary consumer
d) primary producer
Ans b)
9. Select the option that correctly represents in decreasing order, the number of 1
species in the groups of animals mentioned.
a) Fishes → Mammals → Aves → Reptiles
b) Mammals → Reptiles → Aves → Amphibians
c) Fishes → Aves → Reptiles → Amphibians
d) Mammals → Fishes → Aves → Reptiles
Ans c)
10. The rate of formation of new organic matter by rabbit in a grassland ecosystem 1
is called
a) net productivity
b) secondary productivity
c) gross primary productivity
d) net primary productivity
Ans b)
Assertion Reason questions
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
c) A is true but R is false.
d) A is false but R is true.
11. Assertion: When the resources are unlimited in the habitat, any species has 1
the ability to realise its innate potential to reproduce.
Reason: The population of such species shows a sigmoid growth curve.
c) A is true but R is false
12. Assertion : Pyramid of energy is always upright in any ecosystem. 1
Reason : Producers capture the solar energy and only 10% of energy is passed
from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
13. Assertion: Western Ghats in India have been declared as biodiversity hot 1
spots.
Reason: Western Ghats have high levels of species richness and high degree of
endemism.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
14. Why do predators avoid eating monarch butterfly? 2
How does the butterfly develop this protective feature?
- Monarch butterfly is highly distasteful to the predators.
- It is due to a chemical present in its body, the butterfly acquires this
chemical during its caterpillar stage by feeding on a poisonous weed.
15. ‘In-situ’ conservation can help endangered/threatened species. Justify 2
the statement.
Threatened organisms are conserved in their natural habitat / eco system
and such regions are legally protected
As hotspots / biosphere reserves / national parks / sanctuaries / sacred
groves / ramsar sites (Any two names )
16. How are productivity, gross primary productivity, net primary productivity and 2
secondary productivity inter related?
Productivity – Rate of biomass production
GPP – Rate of production of organic matter by plants during photosynthesis
NPP – GPP – R
Secondary productivity – Rate of formation of new organic matter by
consumers.
17. State the two observations made by the German naturalist Alexander Von 2
Humboldt during his extensive exploration in the South American jungles.
Within a region, species richness increased with increasing explored area, but
only upto a limit.
The relation between species richness and area for a wide variety of taxa like
angiosperms, birds, freshwater fishes, bats turns out to be a rectangular
hyperbola.
18. Why is the pyramid of biomass upright in most of the ecosystems? Compare it 2
with the biomass in sea.
-Pyramid of biomass in terrestrial ecosystems is upright because the amount
of biomass is more in producers than herbivores ( primary consumers) and the
biomass in herbivores is more than that in carnivores ( secondary and tertiary
consumers)
- In a sea ecosystem , the pyramid of biomass is inverted because the biomass
of consumers far exceeds that of producers ( phytoplanktons)
19. (a) How will you measure the population density of fish in a lake? 2
(b) In a pond, there are 100 frogs,20 more were born in a year. Calculate the
birth rate of this population.
(a) The number of fish caught in a trap is a measure of population density of
fish in a lake.
(b) 20/200 = 0.2 per frog per year.
20. State the importance of (i) IUCN Red data list and (ii) Hot spots in 2
conservation of biodiversity.
(i) Provides information of extinction of species
(ii) Regions with very high levels of species richness , high degree of endemism
/species confined to that region and not found anywhere else are identified
which need to be conserve on priority basis.
21. Draw a stable human age pyramid. Comment on the population growth rate 3
that is depicted by it.
- It represents zero population growth.
- The number of individuals in the pre reproductive age group is equal to that
in the reproductive age.
22. A forest hardly has any carnivores. Census of herbivorous mammals was taken 3
and plotted as a graph shown below :
Identify the curve that will explain the population growth of herbivores. Give
reasons for your answer.
- the curve J will explain the population growth of herbivores.
- In the absence of carnivores , the number of herbivores will increase
exponentially . Hence an enormous population density reached in a short time.
23. (a) Name the process that makes the detritus become part of the soil in 3
nutrient cycle.
(b) Write the factors responsible for controlling the rate of this process.
(c) Mention the condition, when the rate would be faster.
( a) Decomposition is the process . The last step in decomposition called
mineralization release the inorganic nutrients into the soil.
(b) Decomposition is controlled by
(i) Chemical composition of the detritus – Slow rate if detritus is rich in
chitin and lignin and faster if detritus is rich in nitrogen and water soluble
substances like sugars.
(ii) Climatic factors – Oxygen necessary, Temperature and soil moisture.
(c) Decomposition would be faster under warm and moist environment .
24. Alien species are a threat to native species. Justify taking examples of an 3
animal and a plant alien species.
Alien species become invasive, compete with the native species and cause
extinction of indigenous species.
(i) Introduction of Nile perch into Lake Victoria lead to extinction of more than
200 species of cichlid fish in that lake.
(ii) Carrot grass (Parthenium and Lantana) introduced in our country have
become invasive and cause environmental damage. They pose a threat to the
native species of plants in our forests.
25. CASE BASED 4
Study the following table and answer the questions that follow:
Species A Species Name of
B interaction
(+) (+) A
(-) (-) B
(0) (-) C
(+) (0) D
(a) Identify and name the type of interaction among ( A – D) that can show co-
evolution . Give two examples of this type of interaction.
(b) Identify the types of interactions B and C.
(c) Select from the following, the interaction(s) which depict(s) D.
(i) Ticks living on dogs.
(ii) Clown fish living among tentacles of sea anemone.
(iii) Rhizobium in root nodules of leguminous plants.
(iv) Cuscuta growing on a hedge plant.
(v) An orchid plant growing on a mango tree.
(vi) Sucker fish attached to the back of a whale.
(a) Mutualism
Eg – Fig tree and wasp/Lichens – fungus and alga/Mycorrhizae – fungi and
plant roots/Rhizobium in root nodules of legumes.
(b) B – Competition
C – Amensalism
(c) (ii) Clown fish living among tentacles of sea anemone.
(v) An orchid plant growing on a mango tree.
(vi) Sucker fish attached to the back of a whale.
