Biology · Environmental Studies

Ecosystem Nutrition and Energy Flow

1,235 Questions

Ecosystem nutrition and energy flow questions cover trophic levels, food chains, and biodegradable materials. These concepts frequently appear in general science sections of major competitive exams. Review these questions to build a solid understanding of ecological interactions.

Trophic levels conceptFood chain orderAutotrophic nutritionEnergy assimilationScavengers and decomposers

Ecosystem Nutrition and Energy Flow Questions

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Which ones are reservoirs of phosphorus and nitrogen cycles respectively?

  1. Consumers

  2. Atmosphere and bedrock

  3. Atmosphere and producers

  4. Bedrock and atmosphere
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

There are various of abiotic reservoirs in which the nutrients are recycled, released and stored in atmosphere. Atmosphere is the reservoir of carbon and nitrogen. Hence, these cycles are also called atmospheric cycles. Water is the reservoir of hydrogen and oxygen. Hence, these cycles are called as hydrological cycles. Bedrock is the reservoir of phosphorous. Hence, it is also called as sedimentary cycle.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Bedrock and atmosphere.'

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

In which of the following both pairs have correct combination?

  1. Gaseous nutrient cycle - Carbon and nitrogen

    Sedimentatry nutrient cycle - Sulphur and phosphorus

  2. Gaseous nutrient cycle - Carbon and sulphur

    Sedimentary nutrient cycle - Nitrogen and phosphorus

  3. Gaseous nutrient cycle - Nitrogen and sulphur

    Sedimentary nutrient cycle - Carbon and phosphorus

  4. Gaseous nutrient cycle - Sulphur and phosphorus

    Sedimentary nutrient cycle - Carbon and nitrogen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

There are various nutrient cycles in an ecosystem which recycles the essential nutrients. The cycles are also called as biogeochemical cycles. Gaseous nutrient cycles include carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nitrogen cycle. In these cycles, the element is released in the air. Sedimentary nutrient cycles include sulphur cycle, phosphorus cycle. In these cycles, the element is released in the sedimentary rocks.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Gaseous nutrient cycle - Carbon and nitrogen
Sedimentatry nutrient cycle - Sulphur and phosphorus.'

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

The path through which nutrients are passed from one acceptor to the other is called _______.

  1. Biogeochemical cycle

  2. Biochemical cycle

  3. Chemical cycle

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The path through which a nutrient travels as it moves from the air, water or soil into the bodies of living organisms and back to the air, water or soil is called a biogeochemical cycle. It is required to maintain the nutrient level in the ecosystem.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Which statements regarding response of organisms to abiotic factors in false?

  1. All birds and mammals are capable of thermoregulation

  2. Majority of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment

  3. Shivering is a kind of exercise which produces heat and raises body temperature

  4. Very small animals are commonly found in polar regions as they have to spend less energy to generate heat

  5. Diapause is a stage of suspended development seen in zooplankton
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Small animals have a large surface area relative to their volume, causing them to lose body heat very rapidly in cold environments. Therefore, they are rarely found in polar regions because the energy cost to maintain body temperature is too high.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Select incorrect statement :

  1. Orchid epiphytic on Mango is commensal

  2. Bird laying eggs in the nest of another for incubation shows brood parasitism

  3. Most animals and plants maintain a constant internal temperature

  4. Small animals are rare in polar regions

  5. One species harmed, other unaffected in amensalism
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Most animals and plants cannot maintain a constant internal environment (homeostasis) in the face of changing external conditions; they are conformers, not regulators.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Aquatic and terrestrial animals need sulphur and nitrogen to

  1. Grow

  2. Transpire

  3. Evaporate

  4. Photosynthesis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sulphur and nitrogen are essential nutrients for the synthesis of proteins and other biological molecules required for growth in all living organisms. Other options like transpiration or photosynthesis are specific physiological processes that do not directly explain the fundamental need for these elements.

Multiple choice evs forests and life forest - the dwelling place of animals forest and its importance introduction to forests conservation of forest and wildlife wildlife

Study the following statements regarding food chains and select the correct ones.
(i) Removal of $80\%$ tigers from an area resulted in greatly increased growth of vegetation.
(ii) Removal of most of the carnivores resulted in an increased population of deers.
(iii) The length of food chains is generally limited to $3-4$ trophic levels due to energy loss.
(iv) The length of food chains may vary from $2$ to $8$ trophic levels.

  1. (i) and (ii)

  2. (ii) and (iii)

  3. (i) and (iii)

  4. (iii) and (iv)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If carnivores, which feed on deer are removed, then the deer population will flourish. Removal of 80% of tigers from an area will cause an increase in the population of herbivores, which would further feed on more vegetation thus, decreasing its growth. The length of the food chain is limited to 3−4 trophic levels as only 10% of energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Hence after 3−4 trophic levels, there is very little or no energy left to sustain more trophic levels.

So, the correct answer is '(ii) and (iii)'.

Multiple choice evs forests and life forest - the dwelling place of animals forest and its importance introduction to forests conservation of forest and wildlife wildlife

Which of the following provides nutrients to the seedling to grow in forest ?

  1. Grubs

  2. Beetles

  3. Bacteria

  4. Decaying animals dung
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The animals living in the forests excrete the nitrogenous wastes which is acted upon by the microbes. The complex materials in the dung is converted into simpler form of nutrients. These nutrients are taken up by the plants and trees in the forests. The new seedling utilises the nutrients from this decayed dung. 

Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

Multiple choice our life and environment geography

If a substance accumulates in a body for a long time, it will be _____.

  1. Passed out through egestion

  2. Passed out through excretion

  3. Become insoluble in water

  4. Passed on to next consumer in food chain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

If a substance accumulates in a body for a long time, it will be passed on to next consumer in food chain.

Multiple choice biology multicellular structure: tissue defense mechanism in plants epidermal tissue system kinds of plant tissue permanent tissues and their types

Which of following tissues do you expect to be the most important during droughts and why?

  1. Vascular tissue because phloem regulates water supply to the plant

  2. Ground tissue because water can be stored in sclerenchyma for use during drought

  3. Epidermal tissue because it is covered with a waxy cuticle and also bears drought responsive stomata

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The epidermis is the outermost cellular layer which covers the whole plant structure, i.e. it covers roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is composed of a single layer of living cells. The outer walls, which are exposed to the atmosphere and usually thickened, are covered by a waxy, waterproof cuticle which is made up of cutin. The waxy cuticle prevents the loss of moisture from the leaves and stems. During drought, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) triggers stomatal closure, thus reducing water loss.

So, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology our environment - our concern biomagnification the effects of human activities on ecosystems bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Which of the following statements is related to biological magnification?

  1. There is a progressive increase in biological activities through trophic levels

  2. There is a progressive increase in the level of harmful substances through trophic levels.

  3. There is a progressive increase in the body weight through trophic levels.

  4. There is a progressive increase in the number of organisms through trophic levels.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The toxic substances which cannot be metabolized get accumulated at a particular trophic level. This leads to increase in the concentration of the toxicant at successive trophic levels. This phenomenon is called as biological magnification and well-known for mercury and DDT. Higher the trophic level of an organism in the food chain greater will be the magnification of toxic chemicals.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology our environment - our concern biomagnification the effects of human activities on ecosystems bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Which of the following is the correct order of biomagnification of DDT in an aquatic food chain?

  1. Water- $0.003$ ppm, zooplankton- $0.5$ppm, small fish- $0.04$ppm, large fish -$2$ppm, fish eating birds-$25$ppm
  2. Water-$0.003$ppm, zooplankton-$0.04$ppm, small fish-$0.5$ppm, large fish-$2$ppm, fish eating birds-$25$ppm
  3. Water-$0.003$ppm, small fish-$0.04$ppm. zooplankton-$0.5$ppm, large fish-$2$ppm, fish eating birds-$25$ppm
  4. Water-$0.003$ ppm, fish eating birds-$25$ppm, zooplankton-$0.5$ppm, small fish-$0.04$ppm, large fish-$2.5$ppm
  5. Water-$0.003$ppm, large fish-$0.04$ppm, small fish-$0.5$ppm, zooplankton-$2$ppm, fish eating birds-$25$ ppm
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
DDT is not soluble in water, so it will be least in water (0.003 ppm). It is seen that the level of DDT increases as the food chain progresses. It means, the primary consumers (zooplankton) will have more DDT concentration than the producers, the secondary consumers (small fish) will have more than primary consumers and so on. The highest concentrations will be seen in the top carnivore (fish eating bird). This is because the consumers at the successive trophic level consume more than the previous level to fulfil the energy requirements. Due to this, DDT keeps on accumulating in the successive trophic levels in higher concentrations. This process is called the biomagnification. 
Hence, the correct answer is 'Water-0.003ppm, zooplankton- 0.04ppm, small fish-0.5ppm, large fish-2ppm, fish eating birds-25ppm'
Multiple choice biology biogeochemical cycles carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle

If the carbon atoms fixed by producers already have passed through three species, the tropic level of the last species would be.

  1. Scavenger

  2. Tertiary producer

  3. Tertiary consumer

  4. Secondary consumer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If the carbon atoms fixed by producer already have passed through three species then the trophic level of the last species(i.e., third species) would be tertiary consumer.
Producers $\rightarrow 1^o$ consumers $\rightarrow 2^o$ consumers $\rightarrow 3^o$ consumers.

Multiple choice biology ecology carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle

Biochemical cycle with gaseous phase is

  1. Carbon

  2. Sodium

  3. Phosphorus

  4. Magnesium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon is a gaseous cycle because it circulates through the atmosphere primarily as carbon dioxide. Elements like sodium, phosphorus, and magnesium are sedimentary cycles with no significant gaseous phase.

Multiple choice biology biogeochemical cycles carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle

The carbon cycle is the movement of carbon on Earth by the processes of --- and ---- .

  1. Plants and animals

  2. Respiration and photosynthesis

  3. Breathing in and breathing out

  4. Oxygen and carbon dioxide
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Carbon exists in the atmosphere as the compound carbon dioxide. It first enters the ecological food web when photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and certain algae, absorb carbon dioxide through tiny pores in their leaves. The plants then "fix" or capture the carbon dioxide and are able to convert it into simple sugars like glucose through the biochemical process known as photosynthesis. Plants store and use this sugar to grow and to reproduce. Thus, by their very nature as makers of their own food, plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When plants are eaten by animals, their carbon is passed on to those animals. Since animals cannot make their own food, they must get their carbon either directly by eating plants or indirectly by eating animals that have eaten plants.
Respiration is the process in which oxygen is used to break down organic compounds into carbon dioxide  (CO2) and water (H2O). For an animal then, respiration is both taking in oxygen (and releasing carbon dioxide) and oxidizing its food (or burning it with oxygen) in order to release the energy the food contains. In both cases, carbon is returned to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
So, the correct answer is 'Respiration and photosynthesis'.