Maharashtra Board Class 9 Science Chapter 7- BYJU’S

Important Questions & Answers

1. Carnivores occupy the second trophic level in the food chain. Is it correct? Justify
your answer.

Answer: Carnivores occupy the second trophic level in the food chain- The statement is
correct. Each level in the food chain is known as a trophic level. A trophic level is the step at
which the organism obtains its food in the chain. These carnivores consumers use herbivores
as their food and herbivores come at the first trophic level after producers.

2. The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is considered to be a ‘one way’ transport. Is the

statement correct? Justify.

Answer: Though the energy flow in an ecosystem is one way, the flow of nutrients is
cyclical. Known as bio-geo-chemical cycle, the cyclical flow of nutrients required for the
organisms to grow are continuously transmitted from abiotic to biotic factors and biotic to
abiotic factors within an ecosystem. This cycle functions continuously via a medium of the
biosphere that is made up of the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.

3. Are plants in an ecosystem called primary consumers? Give reason.

Answer: Plants in an ecosystem are the autotrophs (producers) that produce their own food
and other organisms depend on them to get their own food.

4. Energy flow through an ecosystem is ‘one way’. Give reasons.

Answers: One of the most significant sources of energy in any ecosystem is the sun. The
green plants of the ecosystem store some of that solar energy in the form of food. Then,
before reaching the decomposers, this energy is transferred from trophic level to the next one.
Even if the decomposers may dissipate some of the energy in the form of heat, no part of it
ever returns to the sun. For this reason, the passage of energy in an ecosystem is considered
as ‘one way’ transport.

5. State a reason why equilibrium is necessary in the various bio-geo-chemical cycles.

Answer: Bio-geo-chemical cycle is the cyclical flow of nutrients within an ecosystem.

Within an ecosystem, the nutrients are continuously transferred from abiotic to biotic factors
and biotic to abiotic factors. The recycling of biological, geological and chemical sources of
nutrients is a complex process and is dependent upon the level of energy transfer in the
ecosystem. Any type of disturbance at any level of these cycles can affect ecosystems and the
balance of nature. So, for this reason equilibrium is necessary in the various bio-geo-chemical
cycles.

6. Flow of nutrients through an ecosystem is cyclic. Justify.

Answer: Energy transmission occurs at every trophic level. Herbivores, at the first trophic
level feed on plants, which are known as the producers of food. Carnivores at the second
trophic level then feed on herbivores, while omnivores or the apex consumers at the 3rd
trophic level get their food from other herbivores or carnivores animals. Thus, the initial
quantity of energy goes on decreasing at every level of energy exchange. Now, following the
death of apex consumers, their energy is made available to the decomposers. During the
process of getting food from the remaining organisms, the decomposers convert them to
simple carbon compounds which can easily mix with air, water and soil. They are further
absorbed by plants and then incorporated into the food chain.

7. Explain the carbon cycle.

Answer : Carbon cycle is circulating and recycling the carbon from the atmosphere to the
living organisms and then back to the atmosphere following their death. The abiotic carbon
atoms are circulated and recycled via photosynthesis and respiration into biotic form.
Therefore, the carbon cycle is a significant bio-geo-chemical cycle.

Carbon is converted to carbohydrates by the plants using photosynthesis. They also form
carbon compounds such as proteins and fats, as well. Herbivores feed on these plants and
carnivores use herbivores as their food. Thus, biotic carbon is transmitted to the herbivores
from the plants and to the carnivores from the herbivores. This is further transported to the
apex consumers from the carnivores.

Main Process in the Carbon Cycle.

Finally, following its death, every type of consumer is decomposed with the help of
decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. This results in the carbon dioxide to be released
again into the atmosphere, which is used by living organisms. Hence, carbon is continuously
transferred to one living organism from another. On the death of the organism, carbon is
released in the atmosphere.

More details to be found at Carbon Cycle.

8. How is Carbon Dioxide released into the atmosphere?

Answer: Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere via abiotic processes such as
burning of fossil fuels and wood, forest fires and volcanic activity. Oxygen is released into
the atmosphere by the biotic process like photosynthesis, while CO2 via respiration.

9. How is the equilibrium of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the atmosphere
maintained?

Answer: The equilibrium of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the atmosphere is
maintained by plants.

10. Explain Oxygen cycle.

Answer: Nearly 21% of the atmosphere is made up of Oxygen. Oxygen can also be found in
the hydrosphere and lithosphere. Oxygen cycle means to circulate and recycle oxygen within
the biosphere including both the biotic and abiotic components. Oxygen that is continuously
generated is also utilised in the atmosphere. It is also very reactive and it reacts quickly with
the other compounds and elements. Meanwhile, for the reason that oxygen is available in
several forms such as molecular oxygen (O2), water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), inorganic
compounds, and so on, the oxygen cycle of the biosphere is extremely complex. Now, during
the process of photosynthesis, oxygen is released and then used up in processes such as
combustion, corrosion, respiration, decomposition, rusting and more.

To find more about Oxygen cycle with diagram.

11. What are aerobes and anaerobes?

Answer: Aerobes are the microorganisms that use oxygen for respiration, while anaerobes
are the microbes that do not need oxygen.

12. What is Oxygen used for?

Answer: Oxygen is used for the synthesis of fats, carbohydrates and proteins and also in
several chemical reactions. Meanwhile, Ozone (O3) is formed from oxygen by using several
atmospheric processes, Some microorganisms even use it for respiration.

13. Explain the nitrogen cycle.

Answer: Maximum portion, that is almost 78% of the atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen,
which is required for the maintenance of the cycle of nature. Nitrogen cycle is the circulation
and the recycling of the nitrogen gas into different compounds via several biotic and abiotic
processes. Every organism takes part in the nitrogen cycle. It is a very significant component
of the nucleic acids and the proteins, but in comparison to other elements, it is inactive and
does not combine easily with other elements. Free form of nitrogen cannot be used by most
of the microorganisms. Given below are some of the important processes of the nitrogen
cycle:

1. Nitrogen fixation: Converting nitrogen into nitrates and nitrites using processes that are
biological, atmospheric and industrial.

2. Ammonification: Releasing ammonia via excretory wastes of organisms and

decomposition of dead bodies.

3. Nitrification: Converting ammonia into a nitrite and further to nitrate.

4. Denitrification: Converting nitrogen compounds into nitrogen that is gaseous.

Details with the image about the Nitrogen cycle are here.

14. How is nitrogen present in the atmosphere?

Answer: It is seen that nitrogen is found in the form of a gas in the atmosphere, while it is
present in the form of compounds such as nitrogen oxide in the soil and sediments.

15. Explain the presence of carbon.

Answer: Carbon is present in the earth’s crust in the abiotic form, chiefly in granite,
limestone, diamond, coal and more, while in the atmosphere it is present as carbon dioxide
gas. Carbon occurs in plants and animals for a shorter duration than in coal.

16. What are the types of bio-geo-chemical cycles?

Answer: There are two types of bio-geo-chemical cycles such as gaseous cycle and
sedimentary cycle. Gaseous cycle is faster than the sedimentary cycle.

Gaseous cycle Sedimentary cycle

 On the atmosphere of the earth the main abiotic On the soil, sediment and sedimentary rocks and more of
gaseous nutrient materials have accumulated the earth the main abiotic nutrient materials is found

It consists of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapour, It includes soil components such as phosphorus, iron,
oxygen and so on calcium and more

17. What is The Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, Delhi?

Answer: Set up in 1980, in Delhi, The Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, is
responsible for training, conducting workshops and seminars, research and so on. The
International Encyclopaedia of Ecology and Environment has also been published by the
institute.

18. Illustrate the pyramid of energy in an aquatic ecosystem.

Answer:

19. What is a pyramid of energy?

Answer: Energy transfer occurs at each trophic level. In the food chain, various levels of
energy exchange are taking place. At every level of energy transfer, the original quantity of
energy decreases. Likewise, the number of organisms also reduces from the lowest level to
the highest level. This pattern of energy exchange is termed a ‘Pyramid of energy’.

20 Who are the primary consumers in an ecosystem?

Answer: The primary consumers of the ecosystem are the herbivores, which are directly
dependent on the autotrophs (producers) like plants for food. Examples are Grasshopper,
Squirrel, Elephant and more.

21. Who are apex or top consumers?

Answers: Apex consumers or top consumers are those who feed on the herbivores and
carnivores as their food. No animals will feed on these top consumers. Examples are Tiger,
Lion and so on.

22. Who are Omnivores?

Answer: Omnivores are mixed consumers who feed on both the herbivores and carnivores.
Examples are Human, Bear and more.

23. What is the food web?

Answer: An organism can be food for many organisms. Take the example of an insect that
feeds on leaves of various plants, but is in fact the food for various animals such as wall
lizard, frogs, birds and so on. Now, the image illustrating this would represent an intricate
web as an alternative to a liner food chain. This intricate network is known as a ‘Food Web’.
Food Webs are seen everywhere in nature.

24. Who proposed the concept of the Ecological Pyramid in 1927? Why is it called
Eltonian Pyramid?

Answer: A British Scientist, Charles Elton in 1927 first put forward the concept of the
Ecological Pyramid, after studying the Tundra Ecosystem of the Beer islands in England. So,
the pyramid came to be called the Eltonian Pyramid.

25. Each level in the food chain is a trophic level. Who is found at the third trophic
level?

Answers: The omnivores are found at the topmost level, that is the third trophic level in the
food chain. Omnivores feed on both herbivores and carnivores.