Q1: What is a food chain?

Ans: A food chain refers to the order of events in an ecosystem, where one living organism eats
another organism, and later that organism is consumed by another larger organism. The flow
of nutrients and energy from one organism to another at different trophic levels forms a food
chain.

The different trophic levels in a food chain include:

1- Producers.

2- Primary Consumers

3- Secondary consumers

4- Tertiary Consumers

A simple example of a food chain is as follows:

Grass (Producer) -> Grasshopper (Primary consumer) -> Frog (Secondary consumer) -> Snake
(Tertiary consumer).

Q2: What is food web?

Ans: A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that represents the
direction of the flow of energy and nutrients among various organisms in an ecosystem. It
represents the complex relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Organisms are arranged into different trophic levels, with producers at the base, followed by
primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers. All the organisms including predators, prey, and
scavengers interact within this food web, that influences the population dynamics.
Decomposers break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. Each level
in food web depends on the lower level for energy and nutrients. Change in one trophic level
impacts the other tropic levels or the whole food web. It shows the dependency of one trophic
level on other and the importance of biodiversity.

A simple example:

Grass -> Grasshopper -> Frog -> Snake -> Hawk.

Q3: What is Eco-System?

Ans: An ecosystem is a biological community of living organisms (plants, animals, and

microorganisms) interacting with their physical and chemical environment. Ecosystems can
vary in size and complexity, ranging from small, localized environments, such as a pond or a
forest, to large, global systems like the Earth's biosphere.
Q4: What are the types of Eco-system?

Ans: Ecosystems can be categorized into various types based on different criteria, such as
geographical location, climate, and the dominant vegetation or habitat. Here are some
common types of ecosystems:

1: Terrestrial Ecosystem:

- Forest Ecosystem
- Grassland Ecosystem
- Desert Ecosystem

2: Aquatic Ecosystem:

- Marine Aquatic Ecosystem

- Fresh Aquatic Ecosystem

Q5: What is sustainable development?

Ans: Sustainable development is a concept and an approach to economic, social, and

environmental progress that seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is often defined as development that
balances economic, social, and environmental concerns to ensure that development is not
only economically viable but also socially equitable and environmentally responsible.

Q6: Explain ecological pyramid.

Ans: An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the trophic (feeding) relationships

and energy transfer within an ecosystem. These pyramids help visualize the distribution of
energy, biomass (the total mass of living organisms), or the number of individuals at each
trophic level in an ecosystem. The bottom of the pyramid, usually the broadest part is occupied
by the producers followed by the primary consumers at the next level, then the secondary
consumers, and then tertiary consumers or the organisms placed at the top of the food chain
at the topmost level. The ecological pyramid is additionally used to make sense of how
different living beings in an environment are connected with each other. Also, it shows who is
consumed by whom, while likewise showing the flow of the energy.

Q7: What is productivity?

Ans: Productivity, in the context of ecology and ecosystems, refers to the rate at which energy
or biomass is produced by primary producers, typically plants, through photosynthesis or
chemosynthesis. It is a fundamental concept in understanding the flow of energy and nutrients
through an ecosystem. Productivity can be measured in terms of two main categories:

1- Primary Productivity
2- Secondary Productivity
Q8: Explain the method of primary production.

Ans: Primary production, the process by which organisms convert inorganic compounds into
organic matter, mainly occurs through two main methods: photosynthesis and
chemosynthesis. Here's a brief explanation of both methods:

1- Photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis is the most common method of primary production and is carried out by green
plants, algae, and some photosynthetic bacteria.
It involves the capture of sunlight by chlorophyll, a pigment found in chloroplasts within plant
cells.
Carbon dioxide is taken in through small openings called stomata, while water is absorbed
through plant roots.
Sunlight energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds, primarily
glucose, and oxygen.
The produced organic matter serves as the foundation of the food chain and supports life in
ecosystems.

2- Chemosynthesis:

Chemosynthesis is a less common method and is typically seen in certain deep-sea and
hydrothermal vent ecosystems, where sunlight is scarce.
Instead of using sunlight, chemosynthetic organisms, often bacteria, use chemical energy from
inorganic compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide or methane, to produce organic matter.
These chemosynthetic bacteria can be found in extreme environments where they can
harness the energy from chemical reactions between different substances.
Chemosynthesis supports unique ecosystems and provides energy for organisms in the
absence of sunlight.

Q9: Explain ecological succession.

Ans: Ecological Succession is described as changes in the structure of ecosystem or

community of different species.

Different types of ecological succession exist during different phases of the ecosystem.

1- Primary Succession:
The primary succession is a process of small organism and erosion breaking down the
rocks into the soil.
Soil is the foundation for a higher form of plant life.
2- Secondary Succession:
Small plants will come first, then sherds and trees will dominate, as the tree grows, it blocks
the light to most of the ground.
3- Cyclic Succession: The cyclic ecological succession happens when changing the structure
of ecosystem on a cycling basis.

Some plants at certain times of the year will grow and some may be dormant at rest.

This changes the Ecosystem drastically.

Example for Ecological Succession: Coral reef.

Q10: Explain Forest Ecosystem.

Ans: A forest ecosystem comprises of soil, trees, insects, animals, birds, and man as its
interacting units. It is a large and complex ecosystem.

There are two parts of forest ecosystem:

1- Non-Living aspects of forest:

Forest on the hill or mountain may differ.

The vegetation is specific to the amount of rainfall and local according to longitude.

and latitude.

2- Living aspects of forest:

The plants and animals form a community based on each forest type.

Example: Snow Leopard lives in Himalayas and Lion & Tiger Lives in the rest.

Q11: Explain Grassland Ecosystem.

Ans: Grassland are open areas of land where grasses are like small plants or the dominant
species. The grassland receives water through rainfall, and it does occur the grasses use their
roots to search for moisturizer.

A grassland is a wide-open grassy space.

Grassland may also contain low shrubs and other plants, but its dominant future is where the
plenty of grass grows.

Q12: Explain Desert Ecosystem.

Ans: desert ecosystem is a unique and harsh environment characterized by its arid or
extremely dry conditions, where water is scarce, and temperatures can vary significantly
between day and night. Despite these challenging conditions, desert ecosystems are home to
a variety of specialized plant and animal species that have adapted to survive in this
environment.

There are two types of deserts:

1- Hot Desert
2- Cold Desert

Q13: Explain Aquatic Ecosystem.

Ans: An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem that is water based.

Aquatic Ecosystem includes freshwater habitats (Lakes, ponds, river and streams). And Marine
habitats (Oceans, Seabed) etc.

In an aquatic ecosystem, the environment is water, all plants and animals live in that water.

Characteristics of Aquatic Ecosystem:

- Being underwater.
- Being based around water.
- Being a community of organisms.
- Being a distinct community (Self-contained).

Q14: Explain the types of food chain.

Ans: There are two types of food chains:

1- Detritus food chain:

The detritus food chain includes different species of organisms and plants like algae,
bacteria, fungi, protozoa, mites, insects, worms and so on. The detritus food chain begins with
dead organic material. The food energy passes into decomposers and detritivores, which are
further eaten by smaller organisms like carnivores. Carnivores, like maggots, become a meal for
bigger carnivores like frogs, snakes and so on. Primary consumers like fungi, bacteria,
protozoans, and so on are detritivores which feed on detritus.

2- Grazing food chain:

The grazing food chain is a type of food chain that starts with green plants, passes
through herbivores and then to carnivores. In a grazing food chain, energy in the lowest trophic
level is acquired from photosynthesis.

Q15: What is environmental studies?

Ans: Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the complex
interactions between the environment and human society. It encompasses a wide range of
topics related to the environment, including natural resources, ecosystems, pollution, climate
change, sustainability, conservation, and more. Environmental studies aims to understand and
address environmental issues and challenges, with a focus on promoting environmental
awareness, responsible stewardship of the planet, and sustainable practices.

Key components of environmental studies include:

1- Natural Sciences
2- Social Sciences
3- Environmental Policy and Management
4- Sustainability
5- Conservation and Preservation
6- Climate Change
7- Environmental Ethics
8- Interdisciplinary Approach

The major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability prepares students for careers in policy-
making, education, conservation, government service, research, and the arts. Students will also
be well prepared to work for non-governmental organizations or enter into post-graduate
studies in environmental law, urban planning, and scientific disciplines such as ecology.