NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Biology Chapter 14 Ecosystem

NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem: Earlier you have learnt that cell is a structural and functional unit of life, so similarly ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of nature and it comprises both components that are; abiotic and biotic components. Solutions of ecosystem NCERT class 12 biology chapter 14 will make you understand the questions which have been asked from this chapter in NCERT book and will provide answers for the same. In this chapter, you will learn that abiotic components are inorganic materials that are air, water, and soil, whereas biotic components are producers, consumers, and decomposers.

There are different types of ecosystem and each of the ecosystems has a characteristic which results from the interaction between abiotic and biotic components. Also, there are two main structural features of an ecosystem which are species composition and stratification. Based on the source of nutrition every organism occupies a place in an ecosystem. NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem provides all the answers to the topics discussed in this chapter. If you are looking for the answers of any other class from 6-12 then NCERT solutions are there for you as it's the easiest way to get all the solutions of ecosystem NCERT.

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NCERT Exemplar for Class 12 Biology Chapter 14 Ecosystem

NCERT Solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem: Solved Exercise Questions

Q1. How is diapause different from hibernation?

Answer:

Differentiation between diapause and hibernation:

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Plants are called as_________because they fix carbon dioxide.

Answer:

Plants are called as autotrophs because they fix carbon dioxide.

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

(b) In an ecosystem dominated by trees, the pyramid (of numbers) is_________type.

Answer:

In an ecosystem dominated by trees, the pyramid (of numbers) is inverted type.

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

(c) In aquatic ecosystems, the limiting factor for the productivity is_________.

Answer:

In aquatic ecosystems, the limiting factor for productivity is light .

Q1 . Fill in the blanks.

(d) Common detritivores in our ecosystem are_________.

Answer:

Common detritivores in our ecosystem are earthworms

Q1. Fill in the blanks.

(e) The major reservoir of carbon on earth is_________.

Answer:

The major reservoir of carbon on earth is ocean.

Q2 . Which one of the following has the largest population in a food chain?

(a) Producers

(b) Primary consumers

(c) Secondary consumers

(d) Decomposers

Answer:

(d) Decomposers

Decomposers are microorganisms including fungi and bacteria. These break down the remains of dead plants and animals. Decomposers form the largest community of organisms in a food chain.

Q3. The second trophic level in a lake is

(a) Phytoplankton

(b) Zooplankton

(c) Benthos

(d) Fishes

Answer:

(b) Zooplankton

In a lake, the first trophic level is formed by phytoplankton while the second trophic level is formed by zooplankton.

Q4. Secondary producers are:

(a) Herbivores

(b) Producers

(c) Carnivores

(d) None of the above

Answer:

(d) None of the above

In a food chain, plants are the only producers, there are no other producers. Herbivores and carnivores are primary and secondary consumers respectively.

Q5. What is the percentage of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the incident solar radiation?

(a) 100%

(b) 50 %

(c) 1-5%

(d) 2-10%

Answer:

(b) 50%

Out of total incident solar radiation, 50 % is formed by photosynthetically active radiation

Q6. Distinguish between

(a) Grazing food chain and detritus food chai

Answer:

Q6. Distinguish between

(b) Production and decomposition

Answer:

Q6. Distinguish between

(c) Upright and inverted pyramid

Answer:

Q6. Distinguish between

(d) Food chain and Food web

Answer:

Q6. Distinguish between.

(e) Litter and detritus

Answer:

Q6. Distinguish between.
(f) Primary and secondary productivity

Answer:

Q7. Describe the components of an ecosystem.

Answer:

An ecosystem refers to be the functional unit of nature in which living organisms interact among themselves and also with their surrounding physical environment in order to perform nutrient cycling, energy flow, decomposition and productivity. There are many types of ecosystems such as pond ecosystem, forest ecosystem etc.

Components of ecosystem

The components of the ecosystem can be divided into abiotic components and biotic components

1. Abiotic components- These include the non-living components of nature such as light, temperature, water, soil, air, inorganic nutrients etc.

2. Biotic components- The biotic components of an ecosystem refer to the living organisms present in that ecosystem. The biotic components are divided as producers, consumers and decomposers. Producers are plants, consumers include animals which can be herbivores or carnivores and decomposers include microorganisms like fungi and bacteria.

Q8. Define ecological pyramids and describe with examples, pyramids of number and biomass.

Answer:

Ecological pyramid- The graphical representation of an ecological parameter such as number, biomass or energy, sequence wise in various trophic levels of a food chain in which producers are at the base, herbivores in the middle and carnivores at the top level. Ecological pyramids can be upright, inverted, or spindle-shaped. The three common types of ecological pyramids include the pyramid of number, pyramid of biomass and pyramid of energy.

1. Pyramids of number- It is the number of individuals per unit area at various trophic levels. It is generally upright, however, the pyramid of number in case of a big tree is generally inverted because number of insects that feed on tree generally exceeds in number.

2. Pyramids of biomass- It represents the biomass in various trophic levels. A pyramid of biomass is upright except in an aquatic food chain. A pyramid of biomass in the sea is generally inverted because the biomass of fishes is generally more than that of phytoplankton.

3. Pyramids of energy- It is the graphic representation of the amount of energy trapped at different trophic levels per unit area. Pyramid of energy is always upright.

Q9. What is primary productivity? Give brief description of factors that affect primary productivity.

Answer:

Primary productivity refers to the amount of organic matter or biomass produced by producers per unit area over a period of time. The primary productivity of an ecosystem depends upon a number of factors such as light, temperature, water, precipitation, availability of nutrients etc.

Q10. Define decomposition and describe the processes and products of decomposition.

Answer:

Decomposition is the process of breaking down of complex organic matter of detritus into inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water and nutrients. Dead remains of plants and animals constitute detritus. The process of decomposition involves steps like fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and mineralization.

1. Fragmentation of Detritus- In this step, the detritus is broken down into small fragments by earthworms

2. Leaching- In leaching the water-soluble nutrients, seep down into the soil and become unavailable salts.

3. Catabolism- The small fragments of decomposed by decomposers like fungi and bacteria with the help of action of enzymes.

4. Humification- In this step, humus is formed. Humus is a dark coloured, amorphous solid substance that acts as a nutrient reserve.

5. Mineralization- In this step by the action of microbes, the inorganic nutrients are released from the humus.

Q11. Give an account of energy flow in an ecosystem

Answer:

Energy Flow in an ecosystem:

All living organisms are dependent for their food on producers, directly or indirectly. There is a unidirectional flow of energy from the sun to producers and then to consumers. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is responsible for the synthesis of food by plants. Animals obtain their food from plants, so they are called consumers. The process of eating and being eaten is called a food chain in which energy flows from producers to consumers. For example, in Grazing food chain, the grass is eaten by goats which are further eaten by man. Similarly, in the detritus food chain, the sequence begins with dead organic matter. It is made up of decomposers which are heterotrophic organisms (fungi and bacteria). These are also known as saprotrophs. Decomposers secrete digestive enzymes that breakdown dead and waste materials into simple, inorganic materials, which are subsequently absorbed by them. Natural interconnection of food chain forms the food web. Thus, in an ecosystem, energy flow occurs through food chains and food webs.

Q12. Write important features of a sedimentary cycle in an ecosystem.

Answer:

The important features of the sedimentary cycle are as follows:

1. These nutrient cycles have their reservoirs in the Earth's crust.

2. Sulphur, calcium, phosphorous etc have sedimentary cycles.

3. Sedimentary cycles are slow, they take more time to complete their circulation and are considered less perfect cycles

Q13. Outline salient features of carbon cycling in an ecosystem.

Answer:

Salient features of carbon cycling are as follows

1. Carbon cycling occurs through atmosphere, ocean and through the living and dead organisms.

2. Most of the carbon is fixed by plants during the process of photosynthesis and returns to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 during respiration.

3. Burning of wood, forest fire and combustion of organic matter, fossil fuel, and volcanic activity are some other sources of releasing CO2 in the atmosphere.

An outline of C-cycle is depicted in the figure given below:

Features Of Ecosystem NCERT Solutions

In ecosystem ncert, you will also study about different communities of an ecosystem. The biotic community is dynamic and undergo changes with the passage of time. These changes are sequentially ordered and constitute ecological succession and in the ecosystem ncert pdf, you will get all the solutions related to this topic. Succession begins with the invasion of a bare lifeless area by pioneers which later pave way for successors and ultimately a stable climax community is formed. The climax community remains stable as long as the environment remains unchanged.

After going through the ecosystem ncert, you must be able to answer the questions: common detritivores in our ecosystem are?

Four important components of an ecosystem are:

1. Productivity
2. Decomposition
3. Energy Flow
4. Nutrient Cycling

Primary productivity is the rate of capture of solar energy or biomass production of the producers. It is divided into two types:

• Gross primary productivity (GPP)
• Net primary productivity (NPP)

Nutrient cycling is of two types and these are:

• Gaseous
• Sedimentary

If you have any problem in finding the answers to the above questions, then NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem, will help you out.

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Also, try to do all the questions mentioned in CBSE NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem by yourself, because NCERT is the base of your studies and base should always be clear. If you have any doubt or unable to do by yourself then Solutions for NCERT class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem will help you in a very good way, so that you can score good marks not only in 12th board exam as well as also in other competitive exams like NEET.

Important topics of NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem mentioned below:

14.1 Ecosystem–Structure and Function

14.2. Productivity

14.3 Decomposition

14.4 Energy Flow

14.5 Ecological Pyramids

14.6 Ecological Succession

14.6.1 Succession of Plants

14.7 Nutrient Cycling

14.7.1 Ecosystem – Carbon Cycle

14.7.2 Ecosystem – Phosphorus Cycle

14.8 Ecosystem Services

And if still, you have any doubt or problems in getting the correct answers then ecosystem ncert pdf will help you. But don't forget to try ecosystem ncert questions at least once, so that you can answer those questions by yourself then check your answers with the help of solutions given in the ecosystem ncert pdf.

NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Solutions

Why you should use CBSE NCERT solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem?

• NCERT is the base of your learning.

• You will get all the answers to this chapter of ecosystem ncert and it will help you to score good marks in the exam.
• Ecosystem ncert solutions will also help you with competitive exams like NEET.
• Solutions for class 12 biology chapter 14 ecosystem NCERT will also help you in your 12th board exam.
• Ecosystem ncert will also boost your knowledge.

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