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Sure! Here are 33 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the functions of an ecosystem, energy flow, and trophic level interactions:

Functions of an Ecosystem
1. What are the three main functions of an ecosystem? Answer: Energy flow, nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles), and ecological su
ccession or ecosystem development.

Energy Flow
2. What is the basic force responsible for all metabolic activities in an ecosystem? Answer: Energy.
3. What is the flow of energy from producer to top consumers called? Answer: Energy flow.
4. In which direction is energy flow in an ecosystem? Answer: Unidirectional.
5. How is the idea of energy flow through the ecosystem studied? Answer: Through trophic level interaction.

Trophic Level Interaction

6. What does trophic level interaction deal with? Answer: How the members of an ecosystem are connected based on nutritional needs.
7. What does "Trophe" mean? Answer: Nourishment.

Trophic Levels
8. What is the first trophic level? Answer: Autotrophs (Green plants/producers).
9. What is the second trophic level? Answer: Herbivores (Primary consumers).
10. What is the third trophic level? Answer: Carnivores (Secondary consumers).
11. What is the fourth trophic level? Answer: Carnivores (Tertiary consumers).
12. What is the fifth trophic level? Answer: Top carnivores (Quaternary consumers).

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Energy Flow Through Trophic Levels

13. How does energy flow through trophic levels? Answer: From producers to subsequent trophic levels.
14. Does energy flow in the reverse direction from carnivores to herbivores to producers? Answer: No, it never flows in the reverse directi
on.
15. What happens to some energy at each trophic level? Answer: It is lost in the form of unusable heat.
16. What is the result of energy loss at each trophic level? Answer: Energy levels decrease from the first trophic level upwards.
17. How many trophic levels are there usually? Answer: Four or five, seldom more than six.
18. Why are there seldom more than six trophic levels? Answer: Very little energy is left to support any organism beyond that.
19. How are trophic levels numbered? Answer: According to the steps an organism is away from the source of food or energy, that is the
producer.

Concepts Involving Trophic Level Interaction

20. What are the three concepts involving trophic level interaction? Answer: Food Chain, Food Web, and Ecological Pyramids.

Specific Questions on Functions of an Ecosystem

21. What are the three main functions of an ecosystem? Answer: Energy flow, nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles), and ecological su
ccession or ecosystem development.

Specific Questions on Energy Flow

22. What is the basic force responsible for all metabolic activities in an ecosystem? Answer: Energy.
23. What is the flow of energy from producer to top consumers called? Answer: Energy flow.
24. In which direction is energy flow in an ecosystem? Answer: Unidirectional.

Specific Questions on Trophic Level Interaction

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25. What does trophic level interaction deal with? Answer: How the members of an ecosystem are connected based on nutritional needs.

Specific Questions on Trophic Levels

26. What is the first trophic level? Answer: Autotrophs (Green plants/producers).
27. What is the second trophic level? Answer: Herbivores (Primary consumers).
28. What is the third trophic level? Answer: Carnivores (Secondary consumers).
29. What is the fourth trophic level? Answer: Carnivores (Tertiary consumers).

Specific Questions on Energy Flow Through Trophic Levels

30. How does energy flow through trophic levels? Answer: From producers to subsequent trophic levels.
31. Does energy flow in the reverse direction from carnivores to herbivores to producers? Answer: No, it never flows in the reverse directi
on.
32. What happens to some energy at each trophic level? Answer: It is lost in the form of unusable heat.

Specific Questions on Concepts Involving Trophic Level Interaction

33. What are the three concepts involving trophic level interaction? Answer: Food Chain, Food Web, and Ecological Pyramids.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the functions of an ecosystem, energy flow, and trophic level interactions! If you need more qu
estions or more information, feel free to ask.

now 29 mcqs on this ; FOOD CHAIN

Organisms in the ecosystem are related to each other
through feeding mechanism or trophic levels, i.e. one or ganism
becomes food for the other. A sequence of organ isms that feed on
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one another, form a food chain. A food

chain starts with producers and ends with top carnivores.
Do you know?
Bear hibernation is different than most hibernating
animals. True hibernation (like we see in ground squir rels) involves
a drastic drop in body temperature but
the hibernating animal will awaken occasionally to eat
and defecate before resuming hibernation. When a bear
‘hibernates’ it is really in a deep sleep. It’s body tem perature drops
but not drastically and it does not wake
up. The one exception is that a mother bear will wake
up to give birth in January or February. Since food is
scarce in the winter bears figure that if you can’t eat
you might as well sleep. Bears like the Asiatic Bear live
in warmer climates where food is readily available all
year long and there is no need to hibernate.
12
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY ENVIRONMENT
All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in
any form or by any means, without permission in writing.
The sequence of eaten and being eaten, produces transfer
of food energy and it is known as food chain. The plant
converts solar energy into chemical energy by
photosynthesis.
Small herbivores consume the plant matter and convert
them into animal matter. These herbivores are eaten by
large carnivores

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Sure! Here are 29 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the food chain and related concepts:

Food Chain
1. How are organisms in the ecosystem related to each other? Answer: Through feeding mechanisms or trophic levels.
2. What forms a food chain? Answer: A sequence of organisms that feed on one another.
3. Where does a food chain start and end? Answer: Starts with producers and ends with top carnivores.
4. What is the sequence of eaten and being eaten known as? Answer: Food chain.
5. What does the plant convert solar energy into by photosynthesis? Answer: Chemical energy.
6. What do small herbivores consume and convert into animal matter? Answer: Plant matter.
7. Who eats the herbivores in a food chain? Answer: Large carnivores.

Specific Concepts in Food Chain

8. What is the trophic level for green plants (producers)? Answer: Autotrophs.
9. What trophic level do herbivores (primary consumers) belong to? Answer: Heterotrophs.
10. What trophic level do carnivores (secondary consumers) belong to? Answer: Heterotrophs.
11. What trophic level do carnivores (tertiary consumers) belong to? Answer: Heterotrophs.
12. What trophic level do top carnivores (quaternary consumers) belong to? Answer: Heterotrophs.

Energy Flow Through Trophic Levels

13. From which to which trophic level does energy flow? Answer: From producers to subsequent trophic levels.
14. Does energy flow in the reverse direction from carnivores to herbivores to producers? Answer: No, it never flows in the reverse directi
on.
15. What happens to some energy at each trophic level? Answer: It is lost in the form of unusable heat.
16. What is the result of energy loss at each trophic level? Answer: Energy levels decrease from the first trophic level upwards.
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17. How many trophic levels are there usually in a food chain? Answer: Four or five, seldom more than six.
18. Why are there seldom more than six trophic levels? Answer: Very little energy is left to support any organism beyond that.
19. How are trophic levels numbered? Answer: According to the steps an organism is away from the source of food or energy, that is the
producer.

Bear Hibernation (Fun Fact)

20. How is bear hibernation different from most hibernating animals? Answer: True hibernation involves a drastic drop in body temperat
ure, but bear hibernation is a deep sleep with a slight drop in body temperature.
21. What do bears not do during hibernation that true hibernating animals do? Answer: Wake up occasionally to eat and defecate.
22. When does a mother bear wake up during hibernation? Answer: To give birth in January or February.
23. Why do bears hibernate during winter? Answer: Because food is scarce, and they sleep to conserve energy.
24. Do Asiatic bears hibernate? Answer: No, they live in warmer climates where food is available all year long.

Food Chain Dynamics

25. What does a food chain produce through the sequence of eaten and being eaten? Answer: Transfer of food energy.
26. What is the significance of the trophic level interaction in an ecosystem? Answer: It gives an idea about the energy flow through the
ecosystem.
27. What are the main concepts involved in trophic level interaction? Answer: Food Chain, Food Web, and Ecological Pyramids.
28. How does the trophic level interaction contribute to the understanding of ecosystems? Answer: By showing how energy flows and ho
w organisms are connected based on nutritional needs.
29. What is the role of autotrophs in the food chain? Answer: They are the producers that convert solar energy into chemical energy, serv
ing as the primary source of energy for the ecosystem.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the food chain and related concepts! If you need more questions or more information, feel fre
e to ask.

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now 30 mcqs on this ; 2.1. Types of Food Chai

In nature, two main types of food chains have been distin guished:
i) Grazing food chain
The consumers which start the food chain, utilising the
plant or plant part as their food, constitute the grazing
food chain. This food chain begins from green plants at
the base and the primary consumer is herbivore.
Grazing Food Chain
For example, In terestrial ecosystem, grass is eaten up by
caterpillar, which is eaten by lizard and lizard is eaten by
snake.
In Aquatic ecosystem phytoplanktons (primary producers)
is eaten by zoo planktons which is eaten by fishes and
fishes are eaten by pelicans.
ii) Detritus food chain
It starts from dead organic matter of decaying animals and
plant bodies consumed by the micro-organisms and then
to detritus feeding organism called detrivores or decom poser and
to other predators.
Litter Earthworms Chicken Hawk
Detritus food chain
The distinction between these two food chains is the
source of energy for the first level consumers. In the graz ing food
chain the primary source of energy is living plant
biomass while in the detritus food chain the source of
energy is dead organic matter or detritus. The two food
chains are linked. The initial energy source for detritus
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food chain is the waste materials and dead organic matter

from the grazing food chain.

Sure! Here are 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the types of food chains:

Types of Food Chains

1. How many main types of food chains have been distinguished in nature? Answer: Two.

Grazing Food Chain

2. What constitutes the grazing food chain? Answer: Consumers that start the food chain by utilizing plants or plant parts as their food.
3. Where does the grazing food chain begin? Answer: From green plants at the base.
4. Who are the primary consumers in the grazing food chain? Answer: Herbivores.
5. What is an example of a grazing food chain in a terrestrial ecosystem? Answer: Grass is eaten by a caterpillar, which is eaten by a lizar
d, which is eaten by a snake.
6. What is an example of a grazing food chain in an aquatic ecosystem? Answer: Phytoplanktons (primary producers) are eaten by zoopl
anktons, which are eaten by fishes, which are eaten by pelicans.

Detritus Food Chain

7. What does the detritus food chain start from? Answer: Dead organic matter of decaying animals and plant bodies.
8. Who consumes the dead organic matter in the detritus food chain? Answer: Micro-organisms.
9. What are the organisms called that feed on detritus? Answer: Detrivores or decomposers.
10. What happens to detritus feeding organisms in the detritus food chain? Answer: They are consumed by other predators.
11. What is an example of a detritus food chain? Answer: Litter → Earthworms → Chicken → Hawk.

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Distinction Between Grazing and Detritus Food Chains

12. What is the source of energy for the first level consumers in the grazing food chain? Answer: Living plant biomass.
13. What is the source of energy for the first level consumers in the detritus food chain? Answer: Dead organic matter or detritus.
14. How are the two food chains linked? Answer: The initial energy source for the detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead org
anic matter from the grazing food chain.

Specific Questions on Types of Food Chains

15. How many main types of food chains have been distinguished in nature? Answer: Two.

Specific Questions on Grazing Food Chain

16. What constitutes the grazing food chain? Answer: Consumers that start the food chain by utilizing plants or plant parts as their food.
17. Where does the grazing food chain begin? Answer: From green plants at the base.
18. Who are the primary consumers in the grazing food chain? Answer: Herbivores.
19. What is an example of a grazing food chain in a terrestrial ecosystem? Answer: Grass is eaten by a caterpillar, which is eaten by a lizar
d, which is eaten by a snake.
20. What is an example of a grazing food chain in an aquatic ecosystem? Answer: Phytoplanktons (primary producers) are eaten by zoopl
anktons, which are eaten by fishes, which are eaten by pelicans.

Specific Questions on Detritus Food Chain

21. What does the detritus food chain start from? Answer: Dead organic matter of decaying animals and plant bodies.
22. Who consumes the dead organic matter in the detritus food chain? Answer: Micro-organisms.
23. What are the organisms called that feed on detritus? Answer: Detrivores or decomposers.
24. What happens to detritus feeding organisms in the detritus food chain? Answer: They are consumed by other predators.
25. What is an example of a detritus food chain? Answer: Litter → Earthworms → Chicken → Hawk.
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Specific Questions on Distinction Between Grazing and Detritus Food Chains

26. What is the source of energy for the first level consumers in the grazing food chain? Answer: Living plant biomass.
27. What is the source of energy for the first level consumers in the detritus food chain? Answer: Dead organic matter or detritus.
28. How are the two food chains linked? Answer: The initial energy source for the detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead org
anic matter from the grazing food chain.

Detailed Questions on Types of Food Chains

29. How many main types of food chains have been distinguished in nature? Answer: Two.
30. What constitutes the grazing food chain? Answer: Consumers that start the food chain by utilizing plants or plant parts as their food.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the types of food chains! If you need more questions or more information, feel free to ask.

now 30 mcqs on this ; 3. FOOD WEB

A food chain represents only one part of the food or energy
flow through an ecosystem and implies a simple, isolated
relationship, which seldom occurs in the ecosystems.
An ecosystem may consist of several interrelated food
chains. More typically, the same food resource is part of
more than one chain, especially when that resource is at
the lower trophic levels.
“A food web illustrates, all possible transfers of energy and
nutrients among the organisms in an ecosystem, whereas
a food chain traces only one pathway of the food”.
If any of the intermediate food chain is removed, the suc ceeding
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links of the chain will be affected largely. The food

web provides more than one alternative for food to most
of the organisms in an ecosystem and therefore increases
their chance of survival.
For example, grasses may serve food for rabbit or grass hopper or
goat or cow. Similarly a herbivore may be food
source for many carnivorous species.
13
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY ENVIRONMENT
All Rights Reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced in
any form or by any means, without permission in writing.
Also food availability and preferences of food of the organ isms
may shift seasonally e.g. we eat watermelon in sum mer and
peaches in the winter. Thus there are
interconnected networks of feeding relationships that take
the form of food webs.
Do you know?
Dolphins, Porpoises and whales are called cetaceans.
A cetacean is a creature belonging to a group of water
living mammals that have no hind limbs and a blow hole for
breathing. They are not fish

now 30 mcqs on this ; 3. FOOD WEB A food chain represents only

one part of the food or energy flow through an ecosystem and
implies a simple, isolated relationship, which seldom occurs in the
ecosystems. An ecosystem may consist of several interrelated food
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chains. More typically, the same food resource is part of more than
one chain, especially when that resource is at the lower trophic
levels. “A food web illustrates, all possible transfers of energy and
nutrients among the organisms in an ecosystem, whereas a food
chain traces only one pathway of the food”. If any of the
intermediate food chain is removed, the suc ceeding links of the
chain will be affected largely. The food web provides more than one
alternative for food to most of the organisms in an ecosystem and
therefore increases their chance of survival. For example, grasses
may serve food for rabbit or grass hopper or goat or cow. Similarly
a herbivore may be food source for many carnivorous species. 13
SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY ENVIRONMENT All Rights Reserved. No
part of this material may be reproduced in any form or by any
means, without permission in writing. Also food availability and
preferences of food of the organ isms may shift seasonally e.g. we
eat watermelon in sum mer and peaches in the winter. Thus there
are interconnected networks of feeding relationships that take the
form of food webs. Do you know? Dolphins, Porpoises and whales
are called cetaceans. A cetacean is a creature belonging to a group
of water living mammals that have no hind limbs and a blow hole
for breathing. They are not fish

Sure! Here are 30 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the food web and related concepts:

Food Web
1. What does a food chain represent? Answer: Only one part of the food or energy flow through an ecosystem.

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2. What does a food chain imply? Answer: A simple, isolated relationship.

3. How often do simple, isolated relationships occur in ecosystems? Answer: Seldom.
4. What may an ecosystem consist of? Answer: Several interrelated food chains.
5. Where is a food resource typically part of more than one chain? Answer: Especially at the lower trophic levels.
6. What does a food web illustrate? Answer: All possible transfers of energy and nutrients among the organisms in an ecosystem.
7. What does a food chain trace? Answer: Only one pathway of the food.
8. What happens if any of the intermediate food chains is removed? Answer: The succeeding links of the chain will be largely affected.
9. What does the food web provide for most organisms in an ecosystem? Answer: More than one alternative for food.
10. What does the food web therefore increase for organisms? Answer: Their chance of survival.

Examples of Food Web

11. What can grasses serve as food for? Answer: Rabbit, grasshopper, goat, or cow.
12. What may a herbivore be a food source for? Answer: Many carnivorous species.
13. How can food availability and preferences shift? Answer: Seasonally.
14. What is an example of a seasonal food preference? Answer: Eating watermelon in summer and peaches in winter.
15. What do interconnected networks of feeding relationships take the form of? Answer: Food webs.

Fun Fact
16. What are dolphins, porpoises, and whales called? Answer: Cetaceans.
17. What is a cetacean? Answer: A creature belonging to a group of water-
living mammals that have no hind limbs and a blowhole for breathing.
18. Are cetaceans fish? Answer: No.

Specific Questions on Food Web

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19. What does a food chain represent? Answer: Only one part of the food or energy flow through an ecosystem.
20. What does a food chain imply? Answer: A simple, isolated relationship.
21. How often do simple, isolated relationships occur in ecosystems? Answer: Seldom.
22. What may an ecosystem consist of? Answer: Several interrelated food chains.
23. Where is a food resource typically part of more than one chain? Answer: Especially at the lower trophic levels.
24. What does a food web illustrate? Answer: All possible transfers of energy and nutrients among the organisms in an ecosystem.
25. What does a food chain trace? Answer: Only one pathway of the food.
26. What happens if any of the intermediate food chains is removed? Answer: The succeeding links of the chain will be largely affected.

Detailed Questions on Food Web Examples

27. What can grasses serve as food for? Answer: Rabbit, grasshopper, goat, or cow.
28. What may a herbivore be a food source for? Answer: Many carnivorous species.
29. How can food availability and preferences shift? Answer: Seasonally.
30. What do interconnected networks of feeding relationships take the form of? Answer: Food webs.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the food web and related concepts! If you need more questions or more information, feel free
to ask.

now 33 mcqs on this ; ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

The steps of trophic levels expressed in a diagrammatic
way are referred as ecological pyramids. The food producer
forms the base of the pyramid and the top carnivore forms
the tip. Other consumer trophic levels are in between.
The pyramid consists of a number of horizontal bars de picting
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specific trophic levels which are arranged sequen tially from primary
producer level through herbivore,
carnivore onwards. The length of each bar represents the
total number of individuals at each trophic level in an eco system.
The number, biomass and energy of organisms gradually
decrease with each step from the producer level to the
consumer level and the diagrammatic representation as sumes a
pyramid shape.
The ecological pyramids are of three categories.
1. Pyramid of numbers,
2. Pyramid of biomass, and
3. Pyramid of energy or productivity.
2.4.1. Pyramid of Numbe
This deals with the relationship between the numbers of
primary producers and consumers of different levels. It is
a graphic representation of the total number of individuals
of different species, belonging to each trophic level in an
ecosystem.
Depending upon the size and biomass, the pyramid of
numbers may not always be upright, and may even be
completely inverted.
(a) Pyramid of numbers - upright
• In this pyramid, the number of individuals is decreased
from lower level to higher trophic level.
• This type of pyramid can be seen in grassland eco system.
• The grasses occupy the lowest trophic level (base) be cause of
their abundance.

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• The next higher trophic level is primary consumer -

herbivore (example – grasshopper).
• The individual number of grasshopper is less than that
of grass. The next energy level is primary carnivore
(example – rat).
• The number of rats are less than grasshopper, because,
they feed on grasshopper. The next higher trophic level
is secondary carnivore (example – snakes). They feed
on rats.
• The next higher trophic level is the top carnivore. (Ex.
Hawk).
• With each higher trophic level, the number of individual
decreases.

Sure! Here are 33 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the concepts of ecological pyramids:

Ecological Pyramids
1. What are the steps of trophic levels expressed in a diagrammatic way referred to as? Answer: Ecological pyramids.
2. What forms the base of the ecological pyramid? Answer: The food producer.
3. What forms the tip of the ecological pyramid? Answer: The top carnivore.
4. Where are other consumer trophic levels located in the ecological pyramid? Answer: Between the base (producers) and the tip (top c
arnivores).
5. What does the pyramid consist of? Answer: A number of horizontal bars depicting specific trophic levels.
6. How are the trophic levels arranged in the pyramid? Answer: Sequentially from primary producer level through herbivore, carnivore,
onwards.

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7. What does the length of each bar in the pyramid represent? Answer: The total number of individuals at each trophic level in an ecosy
stem.
8. What decreases with each step from the producer level to the consumer level? Answer: The number, biomass, and energy of organis
ms.
9. What shape does the diagrammatic representation of ecological pyramids assume? Answer: A pyramid shape.

Categories of Ecological Pyramids

10. What are the three categories of ecological pyramids? Answer: Pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of energy or p
roductivity.

Pyramid of Numbers
11. What does the pyramid of numbers deal with? Answer: The relationship between the numbers of primary producers and consumers
of different levels.
12. What is the pyramid of numbers a graphic representation of? Answer: The total number of individuals of different species, belonging
to each trophic level in an ecosystem.
13. How can the shape of the pyramid of numbers vary? Answer: Depending upon the size and biomass, it may not always be upright an
d may even be completely inverted.

Pyramid of Numbers - Upright

14. In an upright pyramid of numbers, how does the number of individuals change from lower to higher trophic levels? Answer: It decrea
ses.
15. In which type of ecosystem can an upright pyramid of numbers be seen? Answer: Grassland ecosystem.
16. Who occupies the lowest trophic level (base) in an upright pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem? Answer: Grasses.
17. What is the next higher trophic level after grasses in an upright pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem? Answer: Primary cons
umer - herbivore (e.g., grasshopper).

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18. How does the number of grasshoppers compare to the number of grasses? Answer: The number of grasshoppers is less than that of
grasses.
19. What is the next energy level after the primary consumer in an upright pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem? Answer: Prima
ry carnivore (e.g., rat).
20. How does the number of rats compare to the number of grasshoppers? Answer: The number of rats is less than that of grasshoppers.
21. What is the next higher trophic level after primary carnivores in an upright pyramid of numbers? Answer: Secondary carnivore (e.g., s
nakes).
22. What do secondary carnivores feed on in an upright pyramid of numbers? Answer: Rats.
23. What is the top carnivore in an upright pyramid of numbers? Answer: Hawk.
24. How does the number of individuals change with each higher trophic level in an upright pyramid of numbers? Answer: The number o
f individuals decreases.

Specific Questions on Ecological Pyramids

25. What are the steps of trophic levels expressed in a diagrammatic way referred to as? Answer: Ecological pyramids.
26. What forms the base of the ecological pyramid? Answer: The food producer.
27. What forms the tip of the ecological pyramid? Answer: The top carnivore.

Specific Questions on Pyramid of Numbers

28. What does the pyramid of numbers deal with? Answer: The relationship between the numbers of primary producers and consumers
of different levels.
29. What is the pyramid of numbers a graphic representation of? Answer: The total number of individuals of different species, belonging
to each trophic level in an ecosystem.

Specific Questions on Pyramid of Numbers - Upright

30. In an upright pyramid of numbers, how does the number of individuals change from lower to higher trophic levels? Answer: It decrea
ses.
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31. Who occupies the lowest trophic level (base) in an upright pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem? Answer: Grasses.
32. What is the next higher trophic level after grasses in an upright pyramid of numbers in a grassland ecosystem? Answer: Primary cons
umer - herbivore (e.g., grasshopper).
33. How does the number of grasshoppers compare to the number of grasses? Answer: The number of grasshoppers is less than that of
grasses.
I hope these questions cover all aspects of ecological pyramids and related concepts! If you need more questions or more information, fe
el free to ask.

now 33 mcqs on this ; Pyramid of numbers - inverted

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• In this pyramid, the number of individuals is increased
from lower level to higher trophic level.
• A count in a forest would have a small number of large
producers, for e.g. few number of big trees.
• This is because the tree (primary producer) being few
in number and would represent the base of the pyramid
and the dependent herbivores (Example - Birds) in the
next higher trophic level and it is followed by parasites
in the next trophic level. Hyper parasites being at higher
trophic level represents higher in number.
• And the resulting pyramid is in inverted shape. A pyra mid of

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numbers does not take into account the fact that

the size of organisms being counted in each trophic level
can vary.
• It is very difficult to count all the organisms, in a pyra mid of
numbers and so the pyramid of number does not
completely define the trophic structure for an ecosystem.
2.4.2. Pyramid of Bioma
In order to overcome the shortcomings of pyramid of num bers, the
pyramid of biomass is used. In this approach
individuals in each trophic level are weighed instead of
being counted. This gives us a pyramid of biomass, i.e., the
total dry weight of all organisms at each trophic level at a
particular time.
Pyramid of biomass is usually determined by collecting all
organisms occupying each trophic level separately and
measuring their dry weight. This overcomes the size dif ference
problem because all kinds of organisms at a trophic
level are weighed. Biomass is measured in g/m2
.

Sure! Here are 33 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the concepts of inverted pyramid of numbers and pyramid of biomass:

Inverted Pyramid of Numbers

1. In an inverted pyramid of numbers, how does the number of individuals change from lower to higher trophic levels? Answer: It increa
ses.

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2. What would a count in a forest typically show in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: A small number of large producers, e.g., fe
w big trees.
3. Why does the tree (primary producer) represent the base of the pyramid in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Because the tre
es are few in number.
4. Who are the dependent herbivores in the next higher trophic level in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Birds.
5. Who follows the herbivores in the trophic levels of an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Parasites.
6. Who are represented in higher numbers at the higher trophic levels in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Hyper parasites.
7. What shape does the resulting pyramid of numbers take in an inverted pyramid? Answer: Inverted shape.
8. What does the pyramid of numbers not take into account regarding the size of organisms? Answer: That the size of organisms being
counted in each trophic level can vary.
9. Why is it difficult to count all the organisms in a pyramid of numbers? Answer: Because the size and number of organisms can vary si
gnificantly.
10. Does the pyramid of numbers completely define the trophic structure for an ecosystem? Answer: No, it does not.

Pyramid of Biomass
11. Why is the pyramid of biomass used? Answer: To overcome the shortcomings of the pyramid of numbers.
12. How are individuals in each trophic level measured in a pyramid of biomass? Answer: They are weighed instead of being counted.
13. What does the pyramid of biomass represent? Answer: The total dry weight of all organisms at each trophic level at a particular time.
14. How is the biomass usually determined in a pyramid of biomass? Answer: By collecting all organisms occupying each trophic level se
parately and measuring their dry weight.
15. What problem does the pyramid of biomass overcome? Answer: The size difference problem because all kinds of organisms at a trop
hic level are weighed.
16. In what units is biomass measured? Answer: Grams per square meter (g/m²).

Specific Questions on Inverted Pyramid of Numbers

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17. In an inverted pyramid of numbers, how does the number of individuals change from lower to higher trophic levels? Answer: It increa
ses.
18. What would a count in a forest typically show in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: A small number of large producers, e.g., fe
w big trees.
19. Why does the tree (primary producer) represent the base of the pyramid in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Because the tre
es are few in number.

Specific Questions on Pyramid of Biomass

20. Why is the pyramid of biomass used? Answer: To overcome the shortcomings of the pyramid of numbers.
21. How are individuals in each trophic level measured in a pyramid of biomass? Answer: They are weighed instead of being counted.
22. What does the pyramid of biomass represent? Answer: The total dry weight of all organisms at each trophic level at a particular time.
23. How is the biomass usually determined in a pyramid of biomass? Answer: By collecting all organisms occupying each trophic level se
parately and measuring their dry weight.
24. What problem does the pyramid of biomass overcome? Answer: The size difference problem because all kinds of organisms at a trop
hic level are weighed.

Detailed Questions on Inverted Pyramid of Numbers

25. In an inverted pyramid of numbers, how does the number of individuals change from lower to higher trophic levels? Answer: It increa
ses.
26. What would a count in a forest typically show in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: A small number of large producers, e.g., fe
w big trees.
27. Why does the tree (primary producer) represent the base of the pyramid in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Because the tre
es are few in number.
28. Who are the dependent herbivores in the next higher trophic level in an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Birds.
29. Who follows the herbivores in the trophic levels of an inverted pyramid of numbers? Answer: Parasites.

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Detailed Questions on Pyramid of Biomass

30. Why is the pyramid of biomass used? Answer: To overcome the shortcomings of the pyramid of numbers.
31. How are individuals in each trophic level measured in a pyramid of biomass? Answer: They are weighed instead of being counted.
32. What does the pyramid of biomass represent? Answer: The total dry weight of all organisms at each trophic level at a particular time.
33. In what units is biomass measured? Answer: Grams per square meter (g/m²).

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the inverted pyramid of numbers and the pyramid of biomass! If you need more questions or
more information, feel free to ask.

now 24 mcqs on this ; ) Upward pyramid

Upright Pyramid of Biomass
For most ecosystems on land, the pyramid of biomass has
a large base of primary producers with a smaller trophic
level perched on top.
The biomass of producers (autotrophs) is at the maximum.
The biomass of next trophic level i.e primary consumers is
less than the producers. The biomass of next higher trophic
level i.e secondary consumers is less than the primary
consumers. The top, high trophic level has very less amount
of biomass.
(b) Inverted pyramid
In contrast, in many aquatic ecosystems, the pyramid of
biomass may assume an inverted form.
This is because the producers are tiny phytoplanktons that
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grow and reproduce rapidly. Here, the pyramid of biomass

has a small base, with the consumer biomass at any instant
actually exceeding the producer biomass and the pyramid
assumes inverted shape

Sure! Here are 24 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the concepts of upright and inverted pyramids of biomass:

Upright Pyramid of Biomass

1. What type of ecosystems typically have an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: Most ecosystems on land.
2. What does the pyramid of biomass have at its base in an upright pyramid? Answer: A large base of primary producers.
3. How does the size of trophic levels change from the base to the top in an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: The trophic levels be
come smaller as they go upwards.
4. What is at the maximum in the upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: The biomass of producers (autotrophs).
5. How does the biomass of primary consumers compare to the biomass of producers in an upright pyramid? Answer: The biomass of p
rimary consumers is less than that of the producers.
6. How does the biomass of secondary consumers compare to the biomass of primary consumers in an upright pyramid? Answer: The b
iomass of secondary consumers is less than that of primary consumers.
7. How does the biomass of the top, high trophic level compare to the other levels in an upright pyramid? Answer: The top, high trophi
c level has a very small amount of biomass.

Inverted Pyramid of Biomass

8. In which type of ecosystems is the pyramid of biomass often inverted? Answer: Many aquatic ecosystems.
9. Why does the pyramid of biomass assume an inverted shape in many aquatic ecosystems? Answer: Because the producers are tiny p
hytoplanktons that grow and reproduce rapidly.

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10. How does the base of the pyramid of biomass compare in size to the consumer biomass in an inverted pyramid? Answer: The base (p
roducer biomass) is small, and the consumer biomass at any instant exceeds the producer biomass.
11. What shape does the pyramid of biomass assume in an inverted pyramid? Answer: An inverted shape.

Specific Questions on Upright Pyramid of Biomass

12. What type of ecosystems typically have an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: Most ecosystems on land.
13. What does the pyramid of biomass have at its base in an upright pyramid? Answer: A large base of primary producers.
14. How does the size of trophic levels change from the base to the top in an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: The trophic levels be
come smaller as they go upwards.
15. What is at the maximum in the upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: The biomass of producers (autotrophs).

Specific Questions on Inverted Pyramid of Biomass

16. In which type of ecosystems is the pyramid of biomass often inverted? Answer: Many aquatic ecosystems.
17. Why does the pyramid of biomass assume an inverted shape in many aquatic ecosystems? Answer: Because the producers are tiny p
hytoplanktons that grow and reproduce rapidly.
18. How does the base of the pyramid of biomass compare in size to the consumer biomass in an inverted pyramid? Answer: The base (p
roducer biomass) is small, and the consumer biomass at any instant exceeds the producer biomass.

Detailed Questions on Upright Pyramid of Biomass

19. What type of ecosystems typically have an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: Most ecosystems on land.
20. What does the pyramid of biomass have at its base in an upright pyramid? Answer: A large base of primary producers.
21. How does the size of trophic levels change from the base to the top in an upright pyramid of biomass? Answer: The trophic levels be
come smaller as they go upwards.

Detailed Questions on Inverted Pyramid of Biomass

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22. In which type of ecosystems is the pyramid of biomass often inverted? Answer: Many aquatic ecosystems.
23. Why does the pyramid of biomass assume an inverted shape in many aquatic ecosystems? Answer: Because the producers are tiny p
hytoplanktons that grow and reproduce rapidly.
24. How does the base of the pyramid of biomass compare in size to the consumer biomass in an inverted pyramid? Answer: The base (p
roducer biomass) is small, and the consumer biomass at any instant exceeds the producer biomass.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the upright and inverted pyramids of biomass! If you need more questions or more informatio
n, feel free to ask.

now 28 mcqs on this ; 3. Pyramid of Ene

To compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an
ecosystem, an energy pyramid is most suitable. An energy
pyramid, reflects the laws of thermodynamics, with con version of
solar energy to chemical energy and heat energy
at each trophic level and with loss of energy being depicted
at each transfer to another trophic level. Hence the pyra mid is
always upward, with a large energy base at the
bottom.
Let us explain this with an example. Suppose an ecosys tem receives
1000 calories of light energy in a given day.
Most of the energy is not absorbed; some is reflected back
to space; of the energy absorbed only a small portion is
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utilised by green plants, out of which the plant uses up

some for respiration and of the 1000 calories, therefore
only 100 calories are stored as energy rich materials.
Pyramid of energy
Now suppose an animal, say a deer, eats the plant contain ing 100
cal of food energy. The deer uses some of it for its
own metabolism and stores only 10 cal as food energy. A
lion that eats the deer gets an even smaller amount of
energy. Thus usable energy decreases from sunlight to
producer to herbivore to carnivore. Therefore, the energy
pyramid will always be upright.
Energy pyramid concept helps to explain the phenomenon
of biological magnification-the tendency for toxic sub stances to
increase in concentration progressively at higher
levels of the food chain

Sure! Here are 28 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering the concept of the energy pyramid:

Energy Pyramid
1. What is the most suitable way to compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem? Answer: An energy pyramid.
2. What does an energy pyramid reflect? Answer: The laws of thermodynamics.
3. What types of energy conversions does an energy pyramid involve at each trophic level? Answer: Conversion of solar energy to chem
ical energy and heat energy.
4. What is depicted at each transfer to another trophic level in an energy pyramid? Answer: Loss of energy.
5. How is the shape of the energy pyramid described? Answer: Always upward with a large energy base at the bottom.

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Example of Energy Flow in an Energy Pyramid

6. If an ecosystem receives 1000 calories of light energy in a given day, what happens to most of the energy? Answer: It is not absorbed
and some is reflected back to space.
7. Of the energy absorbed by plants, how much is typically stored as energy-
rich materials? Answer: Only a small portion, e.g., 100 calories out of 1000.
8. What happens when a deer eats a plant containing 100 cal of food energy? Answer: The deer uses some of it for its own metabolism
and stores only 10 cal as food energy.
9. What happens to the amount of energy when a lion eats the deer? Answer: The lion gets an even smaller amount of energy.
10. How does usable energy change from sunlight to producer to herbivore to carnivore? Answer: Usable energy decreases.
11. Why is the energy pyramid always upright? Answer: Because usable energy decreases from one trophic level to the next.

Concept of Biological Magnification

12. What phenomenon does the energy pyramid concept help to explain? Answer: Biological magnification.
13. What is biological magnification? Answer: The tendency for toxic substances to increase in concentration progressively at higher level
s of the food chain.

Specific Questions on Energy Pyramid

14. What is the most suitable way to compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem? Answer: An energy pyramid.
15. What does an energy pyramid reflect? Answer: The laws of thermodynamics.
16. What types of energy conversions does an energy pyramid involve at each trophic level? Answer: Conversion of solar energy to chem
ical energy and heat energy.
17. What is depicted at each transfer to another trophic level in an energy pyramid? Answer: Loss of energy.

Example Questions on Energy Flow

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18. If an ecosystem receives 1000 calories of light energy in a given day, what happens to most of the energy? Answer: It is not absorbed
and some is reflected back to space.
19. Of the energy absorbed by plants, how much is typically stored as energy-
rich materials? Answer: Only a small portion, e.g., 100 calories out of 1000.
20. What happens when a deer eats a plant containing 100 cal of food energy? Answer: The deer uses some of it for its own metabolism
and stores only 10 cal as food energy.
21. What happens to the amount of energy when a lion eats the deer? Answer: The lion gets an even smaller amount of energy.

Detailed Questions on Biological Magnification

22. What phenomenon does the energy pyramid concept help to explain? Answer: Biological magnification.
23. What is biological magnification? Answer: The tendency for toxic substances to increase in concentration progressively at higher level
s of the food chain.

More Specific Questions on Energy Pyramid

24. What is the most suitable way to compare the functional roles of the trophic levels in an ecosystem? Answer: An energy pyramid.
25. What does an energy pyramid reflect? Answer: The laws of thermodynamics.
26. What types of energy conversions does an energy pyramid involve at each trophic level? Answer: Conversion of solar energy to chem
ical energy and heat energy.
27. What is depicted at each transfer to another trophic level in an energy pyramid? Answer: Loss of energy.
28. How does usable energy change from sunlight to producer to herbivore to carnivore? Answer: Usable energy decreases.

I hope these questions cover all aspects of the energy pyramid concept! If you need more questions or more information, feel free to ask.

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now 33 mcqs on this ; 5 POLLUTANTS AND TROPHIC LEVEL

Pollutants especially nondegradable ones move through the
various trophic levels in an ecosystem.
Nondegradable po

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