Biology

NTSE Foundation
Environment
Ecology (iv) water (v) Soil
The branch of biology that deals with the (b) Biotic or Living components:
interrelationships amongst organisms and interaction The living components consist of 3 types of
between organisms and their environment. The organisms:
organization of the living matter or organisms is (i) Producers: Organisms which can prepare
observed at several levels. The different levels of their own food from simple inorganic substances
organization in living world are like CO2 and H2O in presence of sunlight. E.g.
Molecular  Cellular  Tissue  Organ  Individu Green plants, photosynthetic algae,
al photosynthetic bacteria etc.
 Population  Community  Ecosystem (ii) Consumers: Those organisms which
 Biome  Biosphere consume food prepared by producers are called
Amongst them, the levels from molecular to organ as consumers. They can be:
are considered lower levels of organization and rest  Herbivores: Which eat only plants and their
all are higher levels of organization. products. Also called primary consumers.
(a) Individual:  Carnivores: Which eat only other animals also
It is the basic level of ecological hierarchy which called secondary consumers.
can undergo all the life processes.  Omnivores: Which eat both primary as well as
(b) Population: secondary consumers.
Group of similar individuals in a particular (iii) Decomposers: The microorganisms which
geographical are. break down the complex organic compounds
(c) Community: present in dead organisms (plants and animals)
The Various populations of an area taken e.g. fungi, bacteria etc.
together like plants, animals bacteria, fungi, etc.  Interrelationship Among Different components
(d) Ecosystem: of Environment: The biotic community of
It is a segment of nature consisting of biological producers, Consumers, Decomposers, and the
community and its physical environment e.g. abiotic environment are interdependent (depend
pond, desert etc. on one another.) There is a network of
(e) Biome: The natural ecological grouping of relationships- a system of give- and – take
plants and animals on the basis of climates are between the two. The abiotic substance supply
called as biomes. nutrients to the producer plants. The producers
(f) Biosphere: prepare food from these basic nutrients and
A zone consisting of land, water and air where sunlight. The animals are unable to synthesis
life exists is called as biosphere. their own food. They are consumers. So, the
Environment consumers eat up the food prepared by
It is the sum total of all biotic and abiotic producers (plants). When the producers (plants)
components, substances and conditions that and consumers (animals) die, the decomposers
surrount & influence organisms. The various convert the complex organic compounds of
components of environment are interlinked as dead organisms into the simple organic and
well as interdependent. inorganic substances and rturn them into soli,
Components of Environment air and water. These nutrients are again
It consists of 2 major components: absorbed by the producers (plants). Thus there
(a) Non living components: is a cyclic exchange of materials between theh
Also called as abiotic components. living community and the abiotic environment.
(i) Climate: It is average weather of an area Interrlationship among organisms
including general patterns of atmosphere and (a) Mutualism or Symbiosis:
seasonal variations. It is an association between two dissimilar
(ii) Light (iii) Temperature organisms in which both the partners are
 mutually benefited by each other. E.g. The egret 2. Endangered: The taxon is facing a high risk
bird on the back of the buffalo eating lice. or extinction and can become extinct at any
(b) Commensalism: moment. E.g. Red panad, Blue whale, Wild
It is also a relationship between two organisms ass etc.
in which one partner is benefited and the other 3. Vulnerable: Presently the population is
remains unaffected. This relationship may or sufficient but is undergoing depletion e.g.
may not involve food e.g. sea anemone gets Antelope (black buck)
attached to the hermit crab. 4. Rare species: They are the species with
(c) Parasitism: natural small populations, either localized or
When one organism lives in or on the body or thinly scattered and are at risk from pests
another organism and also derives food from it pathogens etc. e.g. Great Indian bustard,
so that one organism is always benefited while clouded leopard.
the other is at a loss, it is called as parasitism. Food Chain
The former organism is called as a parasite and The food (or energy) can be transferred from one
the later as host. E.g. malarial parasite is a organisms to the other through food chains. The
parasite in the body of man and mosquito as a starting point of a food chain is a category of
host. organisms called producers. Producers are, In
(d) Predation. fact, Plants. So we can say that at the food
It is a direct food relationship between two chains begin with a green plant (or grass) which
organisms when one eats the other. The one who is the original source of food. The sequence of
eats is a predator and the organism eaten is a living organisms in a community in which one
prey e.g. in a forest lion eats the deer. organism consumes another organisms to
(e) Scavenging: transfer food energy is called as food chain. In
It is the food relationship between a dead animal Simple words, a list of organisms (living
and its eater. Here the eater is known as a beings) showing “who eats whom” is called a
scavenger. E.g. in a forest hyenas, vultures, food chain, e.g. in a grassland or forest, there is a
crows and the jackals. lot of grass. This grass is eaten up by animals
(f) Competition: like deer and this deer is then consumed by a
It is an interaction between two organisms for lion.
the same thing. Grass Deer Lion
Species (Producer) (Herbivore) (Carnivore)
The group of individuals that are similar in form, Grass is the producer organism which uses
physiology etc. can interbreed freely to give rise sunlight energy to prepar food like
to new individuals is called species. Natural carbohydrates by the process of photosynthesis.
imbalance created to threat to biodiversity is due Grass is consumed by a herbivore called deer,
to: then deer is consumed by a carnivore called.
(i) Increasing human population Lion.
(ii) Habitat loss A food chain represents single directional (or
(iii) Pollution unidirectional) transfer of energy. It cannot take
(iv) Over exploitation of natural resources place in the reverse direction from lion to deer
(i) Intensive agriculture. and form deer to grass.
Results of natural imbalance (a) Importance of Food chain:
In biodiversity it leads to extinction of species. The study of food chain in an area or habitat
According to IUCN, species are categorized as: helps us in knowing various interactions
1. Extinct: The taxon has been completely amongst the different organisms and also their
eliminated or died our from earth e.g. Dodo interdependence.
(b) Examples of Food chain:
 Grass Insects Frog Snake (Top) (ii) Herbivores (which feed upon plants)
(Producer) (Herbivore) (Carnivore carnivore) constitute the ‘second trophic level’.
Plants Worms Birds Cat
(Producer)(Herbivore) (Carnivore) (Top (iii) Carnivores (that feed upon herbivores)
constitute the ‘third trophic level’.
Carnivore)
(c) Functions of Food chains:
(iv) Large carnivores or top carnivores (which
1. The food chains depict (tell us) the structure of feed upon the small carnivores), constitute the
living components of the ecosystem or ‘fourth trophic level’.
biosphere.
2. The food chains transfer energy and materials 4 Top carnivores (Fourth trophic level)
between various living components of an
ecosystem or biosphere.
3. Longer the food chain, less is the energy
available to the final member of food chain. 3 Carnivores (Third trophic level)

2 Herbivores (Second trophic level)

Food Web
 Food web: Network of a large number of food 1 Producers (First trophic level)
chains existing in an ecosystem is called is
called as food web. Ecological Pyramids

The food chains involving various living

organisms (or species) in a community can be
represented graphically by drawing pyramids
which are known as ecological pyramids. Three
types of ecological pyramids can be constructed
for a community of organisms in an ecosystem.
These are:
(i) Pyramid of numbers (based on the number of
organisms present in each trophic level)
(ii) Pyramid of mass or Biomass (based on the
biomass of organisms present in each trophic
level)
(iii) Pyramid of energy (based on the energy
Trophic Levels content of each trophic level)
The various links (or steps) in a food chain at
which the transfer of food (or energy) takes Pollution
place are called trophic levels. In a food chain, The contamination of the environment with
each link representing an organisms is known as substances that are harmful to living beings is
a trophic level. called pollution.
 Pollutants: Any material or act of man, or
(i) The plants are producers and constitute the nature which leads to pollution is called as
‘first trophic level’. pollutants.
  Air Pollution: agricultural wastage, domestic wastage, hot
The presence of chemicals in the atmosphere water of thermal plants and nuclear reactors etc.
in undesirable quantities and duration  Effects of water pollution:
harmful to human health and the (a) Industrial wastes discharged into the water
environment is known as a air pollution. The bodies contain a lot of toxic substances that
substance which contaminate the air are make water unfit for drinking and batting. The
called air pollutants. chemical released include arsenic, lead and
 Air pollutants and Their Effects: fluorides which lead to toxicity in plants and
(i) Carbon monoxide (CO): This is the main animals.
air pollutiont. It combines with haemoglobin (b) Untreated domestic sewage when released into
of the blood and blocks the transportation of water bodies becomes a breeding ground to a
oxygen. Thus, It impairs respiration and it number of waterborne disease carriers.
causes death. (c) Pollution of water also leads to a reduction in the
(ii) Unburnt hydrocarbons: Out of them 3, 4 number of aquatic plants and animals due to
– benzypyrene is the main pollution. This destruction of habitat and nesting places.
causes cancer in lungs. (d) Eutrophication: The entry of nutrient-rich water
(iii) Oxides of nitrogen: These oxides of nitrogen results in a thick growth of algae, called algal
form photochemical smog in the atmosphere bloom and many other weeds. Soon these plants
and release ozone. The oxide pollutants of cover the entire surface of water. This is called
nitrogen are nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen eutrophication.
di oxide (NO2). The entry of these pollutants (e) Water contaminated with sewage may contain
causes various various diseases in animal bacteria, virus fungi and parasites which causes
like- respiratory trouble such as emphysema, diseases like cholera, Typhoid and jaundice.
bronchitis, Swelling of lungs and lung cancel  Prevention from water pollution:
etc. (a) Bathing and washing clothes near water bodies
(iv) Aerosol: The aerosol like C.F.C. (Chloro such as lakes, Ponds, and rivers should be
fluoro carbon) release into the atmosphere restricted.
from the refrigerators, air conditioners and (b) Pollution-control rules enforced by the
jet planes deplete or reduce the ozone layer. government should be strictly followed.
This thin layer of ozone is also known as (c) Water should be treated before releasing in river.
ozone hole results in the increase in Water treatment plant should be installed in all
temperature of the earth. industrial areas.
 Control Air pollution: (d) We all should follow Reduce, reuse and recyle
(a) Use of unleaded petrol should be encouraged. rule.
(b) Less polluting fuels such as CNG (Compressed  Useful plant: The great necessities of life-food,
Natural Gas.) should be used. clothing, shelter and several other things-are
(c) Regular pollution – check on vehicles should be supplied in great parts by plants. Thus plants
made. have become a part of his life.
(d) We should plant more trees  Cultivation and production of useful plants or
(e) Industries should not be established at one place. farm animals and their management is called
Water Pollution husbandry.
Any undesirable contamination of water is called  Study of economically useful plants and plant
water pollution. The substance that pollute water products is known as Economic botany.
are called water pollutants.  Plants are of special importance in medicine to
The water pollution is caused by many sources cure human beings. Study of plant medicines on
such as sewage mater, industrial wastage, body part is known as pharmacology.
 Classification given by A.F. Hill 1952 is (tulsi) skin diseases
considered to be the most useful. Hill classified 9. Eucalyptus Leaf Sinus
economically important plants in groups such problems
as- 10. Dhatura and Seeds Pain killers
(i) Food plants: Cereals, pulses, vegetables and poppy
fruit. Cereals is the most important source of 11. Neem Leaf Antiseptic
food and fodder. property, skin
(ii) Additional food plants: Spices, beverages. diseases such
 Soyabeans is the richest source of vegetarian as exzema,
protein. scabis, etc
 Inflorescence is used as edible part in 12. Casara Bark Constipation
cauliflower. &
 Beta vulgaris is the major source of sugar in sluggishness
world.
(iii) Plants of Industrial use: Plants used in EXERCISE
production of fibers, rubber, gum and essential oils,
fatty oils, sugar and starch. 1. Ecology is the study of relationships between
(iv) Medicinal plants: Medicinal plants, chewing (a) Water and environment
plants, narcotics. (b) Organisms and environment
 Rauwolffia serpentine is a medicinal plant. (c) Soil and water (d) All of the above
 In Brahmi leaves are the source of medicine.
 Opium, Morphine, Heroin are used as sedative 2. Which of the following pyramid is upright always?
or pain reliever. (a) Pyramid of number (b) Pyramid of energy
 Morphine is obtanined from Papaver (c) Pyramid of biomass (d) All of the above
somniferum
S.No. Name of Part Medical 3. Total organic matter present in an ecosystem is
the plant Used value called
treatment for (a) Biomass (b) Biome
1. Sarpgandha Root For blood (c) Litter (d) Food
pressure,
Snake bite, 4. The species, which are in danger of extinction are
mental referred to as.
disorders (a) Endangered species (b) Vulnerable species
2. Opium Latex Narcotic, (c) Threatened species (d) Rare species
from sedative in
unripe relieving pain 5. The importance of ecosystem lies in
3. Quinine Bark of For malaria (a) Flow of energy (b) Cycling of materials
Cinchona (c) Both of the above (d) None of the above
4. Aconite Root Rheumatism
6. The pyramid of numbers in grassland ecosystem will
5. Jalap Root Constipation
be
6. Ishapgul Seeds & Constipation
(a) Upright (b) Inverted
their husk & dysentery
(c) Irregular (d) Linear
7. Chamomile Flower Sprains;
bruises
7. Vultures in an ecosystem are
;rheumatism
(a) Predators (b) Scavagers
8. Sacred basil Leaf Sore throat &
(c) Consumers (d) Top carnivores
8. Which of the following cycle would be affected 16. The best solution to stop environmental
if decomposers of an ecosystem vanish polluction is- (NTSE stage-I/Raj./2007)
(a) Producer cycle (a) Water conservation
(b) Consumer cycle (b) Land conservation
(c) Decomposer cycle (c) Control on industries
(d) Biogeochemical cycle (d) Population control

9. Biogeochemical cycle is also known as 17. Soil erosion due to running water can be
(a) Gaseous cycle (b) sedimentary cycle checked by: (NTSE stage-II/2007)
(c) compound cycle (d) Cycle of matter (a) Animal grazing
(b) Afforestation
10. Primary source of energy in an ecosystem is (c) Building reservoirs
(a) Sugar stored in plants (d) Cultivation on steep slopes
(b) Heat liberated during respiration
(c) Solar energy 18. Biogas is a mixture of: (NTSE stage-II/2007)
(d) Heat liberated by fuel buring (a) Methane and carbon dioxide
(b) Methane and Hydrogen
11. Which one of the following in the pyramid is (c) Propane and benzene
most delicately balanced in the chain? (d) Nilrogen and Hydrogen
(a) Top carnivore (b) plant
(c) herbivore (d) Small carnivore 19. Examine the following statements.
(NTSE stage-II/2007)
12. The correct sequence of increasing (A) Conservation of wild life is to maintain
organizational. Complexity is- essential ecology processes and life
(a) Species, population, community and supporting systems.
ecosystem (B) There is no direct relationship between
(b) Population, community, species and the preservation of wild life and human
ecosystem progress.
(c) Population variety, ecosystem and (C) Thc wild Lite (Protection) Act prohibits
community trade in idle and endangered species.
(d) Species, variety, population and ecosystem (D) Afforestation is a threat to our economy,
quality of life and environment.
13. Individuals of the same species inhabiting a Which one of the following alternatives in
particular locality form- ture?
(a) Community (b) population (a) A and B (b) A and D
(c) flora (d) fauna (c) C and D (d) A and C

14. In an aquatic ecosystem, maximum 20. The soil which contains the highest amount of
biomagnification is seen among humus is- (NTSE stage-II/2008)
(a) Fish (b) Phytoplanktons (a) Desert soil (b) Black soil
(c) Zooplanktons (d) Macroscopic plants (c) red soil (d) clay soil

15. How much energy is consumed from one trophic 21. DDT (Dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane) has
level to another trophic level? been found to pollute our soil and water bodies
(a) 5% (b) 10% and has been banned from being used as a
(c) 15% (d) 20% pesticide because it is- (NTSE stage-II/2008)
 (a) Non biodegradable , non-selctive in action, Which statements are true?
toxic and is accumulated in animals (a) A, B only (b) A, B, C only
(b) Non- biodegradable extremely selective in (c) B, C, D only (d) A, B, D only
action, toxic but not accumulated in animals
(c) Biodegradable, non-selective in action, toxic 23. Match the items in column I whit column II.
and is accumulated in animals (NTSE stage-II/2008)
(d) Biodegradable, selective in action, toxic but
not accumulated in animals. Column-II Column-II
Which one of the following alternatives is A. Jim Corbett National a One horned
correct? Park rhinoceros.
(a) Ais ture, B is false
(b) B is true, A is false B. Gir sanctuary b Tiger
(c) B is true, C is false C. Bandipur National c Asiatic lion
(d) D is ture, A is false park
D. Kaziranga National d Indian Elephant
22. Study the statements given below concerning Park
water. (NTSE stage-II/2008)
(a) Many cities are located on the banks of a Which one of the following alternatives is
water body. correct?
(b) Total amount of water on the earth is (a) A-c, B-d, C-a, D-b
constant. (b) A-b, B-c, C-d, D-a
(c) Ground water is a always pure. (c) A-a, B-b, C-d, D-d
(d) Bawris (water bodies) are a traditional (d) A-d, B-c, C-b, D-a
method of water storage.

ANSWER - KEY
ENVIRONMENT
Q. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A. B B A A C A B D D C
Q. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
A. A A B A B D B A D D
Q. 21 22 23
A. A D B