TOPIC 1

ECOSYSTEM
Learning Objectives
 Students will learn about biotic and abiotic components.
 Students will understand the interaction between biotic and abiotic
components.
Learning Outcomes
 Students will be able to describe an ecosystem and its components.
 Students will be able to explain the impact of abiotic components on
biotic components and their interrelationship.

Real Life Application

You must have seen aquariums probably at your friends’ home where different
species of colorful fishes and plants are provided with a habitat which help
them grow and develop in a healthy manner.
Do you know aquariums are considered as a closed artificial ecosystem? Yes!
It is because humans add all the necessary components such as water, soil,
and rocks etc., required for the development of both fish and plants. Thus,
aquarium possesses ability to increase the aesthetic appeal of any place.

In the same way, a natural ecosystem is a self-contained unit of

living things (plants, animals and decomposers) and their non-living
environment (soil, air and water). There are different types of ecosystems
such as grassland ecosystem, desert ecosystem, aquatic ecosystem etc.,
which you are going to study in this topic.
The environment includes our physical surroundings like air, water, soil
and all the organisms such as plants, animals, human beings and micro-
organisms like bacteria and fungi (called decomposers).
An ecosystem is a self-contained unit of living things and their non-living
environment. All the interacting organisms in an area together with the

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non-living constituents of the environment form an ecosystem. It, therefore,
consists of biotic and abiotic components.
There are two types of ecosystem:
(1) Terrestrial ecosystem: These are land-based ecosystems such as forest,
grassland, desert, mountains etc.
(2) Aquatic ecosystem: These are water based ecosystems such as ponds,
lakes, river, sea, aquarium etc.
Ecosystems can also be classified as natural ecosystem and artificial
ecosystem. Examples of natural ecosystem are forests, ponds etc., whereas
examples of artificial ecosystem are gardens, aquarium and crop-fields.
Components of an Ecosystem
Abiotic Components
The abiotic components of an ecosystem include the physical environment
like air, water, soil along with the inorganic substances like carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, oxygen, water, phosphorus, sulphur, sodium and other elements
present in them. The physical factors which affect our climate such as light,
temperature, pressure, humidity are also considered as abiotic components.
Biotic Components
The biotic components of an ecosystem is a community of organisms
which is made up of many inter dependent populations. It includes three
types of organisms:
(1) Producers: These are the autotrophs which synthesize their own food
such as green plants and certain blue green algae.
(2) Consumers: These are the heterotrophs which depend on other organisms
for food. These organisms consume the food produced either directly from
producers or indirectly by feeding on other consumers. They can be further
classified as herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and parasites.
(3) Decomposers: These are the organisms which consume the dead
remains of other organisms. The microorganisms comprising bacteria
and fungi break down the dead remains and waste products of
organisms which comprises of complex inorganic substances into
simpler inorganic substances that go into the soil and are used up once
more by the plants.

Mnemonics
 Esha Buys Apple
Esha — Ecosystem comprises
Buys — Biotic components
Apple — Abiotic components

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 The Functioning of an Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a self sufficient unit. It involves input of energy and matter
which are exchanged between the living and non living components in a
cyclic process.
Importance of Decomposers
The decomposers help in decomposing the dead bodies of plants and animals
and in this way, act as cleansing agents of environment. The various nutrients
which are initially taken by plants from the soil, air and water are returned to
the soil, air and water (nutrient pool) after the death of plants and animals.
They help in recycling the materials in the ecosystem.
Example 1. Real Life Based:
Divya is fond of fishes. So, her father sets up an aquarium at home. But
she noticed that every month somebody comes to clean the aquarium.
She also knows that a pond is a natural ecosystem but that does not
require any cleaning. Why ?
(Understand)
Breakdown
Total Marks
(As per CBSE Marking Scheme)
Explain what kind of ecosystem a pond and an
aquarium are? (1½m)
3 Write why cleaning is not required in a pond but
is required in an aquarium with reference to the
decomposers. (1½m)

Ans.Pond is a natural ecosystem and is a self sustaining unit. Aquatic

plants act as producers, small aquatic insects like mosquito larvae,
beetles, etc., are herbivores and they are eaten by small fishes
(carnivore). Microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) present in the soil
of the pond decompose the dead remains and waste products into
simpler inorganic substances and clean the pond. But an aquarium is
an artificial ecosystem in which the transfer of energy takes place from
producers to herbivores and then to carnivores.
Since there is no soil in the aquarium, so decomposers are not present in
the aquarium which act as cleaners, so we have to clean the aquarium
regularly.

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 If we do not clean the aquarium, waste material accumulates which
will be harmful for the fishes and the process of photosynthesis by
aquatic plants will be affected.

•
•
•

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 OBJECTIVE Type Questions
[ 1 mark ]

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the image showing a food web:
Hawk
Fox
Kingle bird

Salamander Pine
Squirrel
borer Insect

Oak acorn
Pine

Bacteria

(a) Fox feeds on hawk to obtain energy.

(b) Hawk feeds on oak acorn to obtain energy.
(c) Squirrel feeds on pine borer to obtain energy.
(d) Salamander feeds on pine borer to obtain energy.
 [CBSE Question Bank 2022]
Ans. (d) Salamander feeds on pine borer to obtain energy.
Explanation: Organisms of a higher trophic level feeds on several
types of organisms belonging to a lower trophic level constitute
the food web. In the food web, an organism can consume two or
more organisms as food.
From the series of food chains present in the food web, we can see:
Pine → Pine borer insect → Salamander → Fox
Fox and hawk feed on salamander to obtain energy as shown in
the given food chain:
Pine → Pine borer insect → Salamander → Hawk
This shows salamander is eaten both by fox and hawk.
Squirrel feeds on either pine or oak acorns to obtain energy not on
pine borer insect.
Caution
 Students usually get confused with arrows and can not identify which
organism is feeding and which organism is consumed. Consider an example:
Human → Lion, here Lion eats Human and not Human eats Lion.

Assertion-Reason Questions
These questions consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R).
Answer these questions selecting the appropriate option given below:

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(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
2.Assertion (A):Ozone shields the surface of the Earth from ultraviolet
radiations from the sun.
Reason (R) : Ozone at the higher levels of the atmosphere is a product
of UV radiations acting on oxygen molecule.
Ans. (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Explanation: Ozone is formed when the high energy UV radiations
act on oxygen molecules (O2) and split it into free oxygen atoms
(O) which combine with the molecular oxygen to form ozone (O3).
Ozone, thus shields the Earth’s surface from the harmful effects of UV
radiations.

CASE BASED Questions (CBQs)

[4&5 marks ]

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
3. Human body is made up of five important components, of which water
is the main component. Food as well as potable water are essential for
every human being. The food is obtained from plants through agriculture.
Pesticides are being used extensively for a high yield in the fields.
These pesticides are absorbed by the plants from the soil along with
water and minerals and from the water bodies. These pesticides are
taken up by the aquatic animals and plants. As these chemicals are not
biodegradable, they get accumulated progressively at each trophic level.
The maximum concentration of these chemicals gets accumulated in our
bodies and greatly affects the health of our mind and body.
(A) Why is the maximum concentration of pesticides found in human
beings?
(B) Give one method which could be applied to reduce our intake of
pesticides through food to some extent.
Ans. (A)As human beings occupy the top level in any food chain, the maximum
concentration of these chemicals get accumulated in our bodies due
to biological magnification.
Related Theory
 Pesticides are being used extensively for a high yield in the fields. These

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 pesticides mix up with soil and water. From soil and water, these pesticides
are absorbed by the plants along with water and minerals. When
herbivores eat this plant food, these chemical pesticides go into their
bodies through the food chain. When the next trophic level, carnivores
eat herbivores, these pesticides get transferred to their bodies. As these
chemicals are not biodegradeable, they get accumulated progressively
at each trophic level.
(B) We can reduce our intake of pesticides through food to some extent
using the following methods:
(1) Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
(2) Buy organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables.
(3) Use non-toxic methods for controlling insects in the kitchen garden.
 (Any one)

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark ]

4. In what two ways are the organisms occupying the highest

trophic level at a disadvantage as compared to the organisms
of the lower trophic levels?[Diksha]
Ans.Organisms occupying the highest trophic level are at a disadvantage as
compared to the organisms of the lower trophic levels in a food chain
in the following two ways: they get more amount of harmful chemicals
and less amount of energy..

SHORT ANSWER Type-I Questions (SA-I)

[ 2 marks ]

5. The diagram shows the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

The smallest amount of energy transferred between organisms and

the largest amount of energy lost to the ecosystem is represented by
which arrows?
Explain with an example. [Delhi Gov. 2022]

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Ans. The smallest amount of energy transferred between organisms and the
largest amount of energy lost to the ecosystem is represented by arrows
- B and C respectively.
Example: About 90% of the chemical energy received by the rabbit is
utilized for the metabolic activities and lost as heat and undigested
matter. Only 10% is used for the growth and formation of new tissues.

SHORT ANSWER Type-II Questions (SA-II)

[ 3 marks ]

6. Complete the following table:

Oxygen Ozone
Formula (A) .......... (B) ..........

Benefits to biotic (C) .......... (D) ..........

component ..........
..........

Ans.(A) O2
(B) O3
(C) Benefits of oxygen to biotic component.
Breathing: All biotic components inhale oxygen from the atmosphere
and exhale CO2.
Related Theory
 Decomposition: The breakdown of complex food material (dead plants and
animals) into simpler material requires oxygen.
 Combustion: The burning of fossil fuels requires oxygen.
(D) Benefits of Ozone to biotic component: The ozone layer is important
for the existence of life on Earth because it absorbs most of the
harmful ultra violet radiations coming from the sun and prevents
them from reaching the earth.
Related Theory
 O3 gas is poisonous in nature if inhaled.

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 LONG ANSWER Type Questions (LA)
[ 4 & 5 marks ]

7. How is ozone formed in the upper atmosphere? State its importance.

What is responsible for its depletion? Write one harmful effect of
ozone depletion.  [CBSE 2019]

Ans. Ozone is produced by the action of UV radiations on oxygen molecule.

First, the energy of UV radiations splits some molecular oxygen, O2,
into free oxygen atoms, O.
O2 UV→ O + O

The free oxygen atoms O combines with molecular oxygen O2 to form

Ozone, O3.
O + O2 → O3
Importance of ozone: Ozone shields the Earth’s surface from the
harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiations from the sun.
Synthetic chemicals such as Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and aerosols
are mainly responsible for depletion of ozone in the atmosphere.
Harmful effect of ozone depletion:
(1) Ozone layer depletion causes increased UV radiation levels at the
Earth’s surface, which is damaging to human health as it causes
certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency
disorders.
(2) UV radiation also affects terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems,
altering growth, food chains and biochemical cycles.
(3) UV rays also affect plant growth, reducing agricultural productivity.
(Any 1 of 3 points can be written to get full marks)

TOPPER’S CORNER

VERY SHORT ANSWER Type Questions (VSA)

[ 1 mark ]

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 1. A diagram of traditional water harvesting system is given below:
The statement which defines the system and its parts is:

A
C

(a)This is an ideal setting of the Khadin system and A = Catchment

area; B = Saline area & C = Shallow dugwell.
(b)This is an ideal setting of the Shallow dugwell system and A =
Catchment area; B = Saline area and C = Khadin.
(c)This is an ideal setting of Catchement area and A = Khadin, B =
Saline area and C = Shallow dugwell.
(d)This is showing Saline area and A = Catchment area; B = Khadin
and C = Shallow dugwell.

Ans.
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2020]

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