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 biology biogeochemical cycles carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle

Which of the owing statements regarding the maintenance of carbon cycle in the biosphere are correct?
a. Plant utilize solar energy to convert $CO _2$ and water into cellular materials and produce oxygen that animals consume.
b. Oxygen produced by the plants during carbon assimilation is not a byproduct.
c. Energy used by an animal comes from the oxidation of plant material releasing $CO _2$ that escapes into the atmosphere.
d. All decaying organic matter on the earth is ultimately degraded by molds and bacteria to yield $CO _2$ that escapes into the atmosphere.
Select the correct answer.

  1. $2, 3$ and $4$
  2. $1, 3$ and $4$
  3. $1$ and $2$
  4. $1, 2, 3$ and $4$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Plants utilize solar energy for photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide and water into cellular material while releasing oxygen, which animals consume. Animals derive energy by oxidizing plant material, releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, and all decaying organic matter is ultimately degraded by microbes to yield carbon dioxide. Statement 2 is incorrect because oxygen produced is indeed a byproduct of carbon assimilation, making statements 1, 3, and 4 correct.

Multiple choice botany organisms and their environment energy flow in food chain food chain and energy flow energy flow in ecosystem

What happens in biological magnification?

  1. A progressive increase in the level of energy transferred through trophic levels

  2. A progressive increase in the body weight through trophic levels

  3. A progressive increase in the number of organisms through trophic levels

  4. A progressive increase in the amount of harmful substances through trophic levels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biomagnification (or bioaccumulation) refers to the ability of living organisms to accumulate certain chemicals to a concentration larger than that occurring in their inorganic, non-living environment, or in the case of animals, in the food that they eat.  The contaminants include heavy metals namely mercury, arsenic, pesticides such as DDT, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) compounds which are then taken up by organisms because of the food they consume or the intoxication of their environment. These materials are highly present in a variety of household and industrial chemicals. The harmful substances then build up inside the organism’s cells. When organisms in the higher food chain consume the organisms containing the toxins below their trophic levels, the toxins gradually become concentrated in the higher food chain. Because this is a repetitive process in the ecosystem and throughout the entire food chain, the higher organisms are the ones that will accumulate most of the toxins.

So the correct option is 'a progressive increase in the level of energy transferred through trophic levels'.

Multiple choice botany organisms and their environment energy flow in food chain food chain and energy flow energy flow in ecosystem

As energy is passed from one trophic level to another, the amount of usable energy

  1. increases

  2. decreases

  3. remains the same

  4. energy is not passed from one trophical level to another
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The transfer of energy from one trophic level to next trophic level follows 10 percent law known as Lindeman's law of trophic efficiency which states that the efficiency of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level is about 10%. Rest of the energy is lost in respiration. So the energy decreases as it is transferred to subsequent trophic levels.
So, the correct answer is 'decreases'.
Multiple choice botany ecosystem : structure and function energy flow in food chain food chain and energy flow energy flow in ecosystem

The pyramid of energy is always upright for any ecosystem. This situation indicates the fact that?

  1. Producers have the lowest energy conversion efficiency

  2. Carnivores have a better energy conversion efficiency than herbivores

  3. Energy conversion efficiency is the same in all trophic levels

  4. Herbivores have a better energy conversion efficiency than carnivores
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The pyramid of energy is always upright because energy is lost as heat at each transfer, and producers have the highest energy availability, which decreases as you move up the trophic levels.

Multiple choice botany organisms and their environment energy flow in food chain food chain and energy flow energy flow in ecosystem

Which level in food chain has maximum energy?

  1. Third Trophic Level

  2. Decomposers

  3. Herbivores

  4. First Tropic Level
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to the ten percent law of energy transfer in ecosystems, energy decreases at each successive trophic level. Therefore, producers at the first trophic level possess the maximum amount of energy.

Multiple choice botany ecosystem : structure and function energy flow in food chain food chain and energy flow energy flow in ecosystem

The principles which bind all living systems together are _______________.

  1. Laws of thermodynamics

  2. Laws of heredity

  3. Mechanisms of photosynthesis

  4. Modes of germination
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The laws of thermodynamics govern the flow and transformation of energy in all systems, including living ones. Living systems must obey these laws to maintain order and perform life processes.

Multiple choice botany adaptation plant adaptation adaptation in plants plant habitat importance and classification of angiosperms aquatic plant adaptations pollination through water life in water

Plants adapted to grow in shade are

  1. Psammophytes

  2. Sciophytes

  3. Mesophytes

  4. Xerophytes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Plants growing in bright light are called as sun plants or heliophytes, while plants growing in partial shade or low light intensity are called as shade plants or sciophytes. 

In sciophytes the stems are soft, slender with large internodes. Leaves are thin and large sized. The have bright green colour. Leaf cells are large. Cuticle is thin. Stomata are in level with surface. Palisade parenchyma is less developed. There is more vegetative growth as compared to flowering and fruiting
So, the correct answer is 'Sciophytes'

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Mycorrhizal fungi, which form a mutualistic association with many plant roots, are particularly sensitive to the effects of acid rain. These fungi facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants; in turn, the plants provide sugars and amino acids without which the fungi could not survive.

The relationship between mycorrhizal fungi

  1. One partner benefits from the association and the other partner is harmed

  2. One partner benefits from the association and the other partner is neither harmed nor helped

  3. One partner preys upon the other partner

  4. Both partners benefit from the association

  5. Neither partner benefits from the association
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mycorrhizae are the symbiotic fungi that reside in roots of higher plants and increase soil fertility by nitrogen fixation and also increase water and mineral absorption by plant roots. Fungi are beneffited by this association as they get sugar and amino acids. Both partners are benefitted; association is symbiosis. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology the living world: adaptations and classification animal classification and its benefits criteria for new system of classification five kingdoms of living organisms

Mostly animals fall in the category of

  1. Heterotrophs

  2. Autotrophs

  3. Decomposers

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

A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and rely on others for its food requirement. Most animals fall in the category of heterotrophs. They are not able to synthesize their own food. They usually eat autotrophs (plants) to obtain the energy. The types of heterotrophs include herbivores, those who eat plants; carnivores, those who eat other animals; omnivores, those who eat both plants and animals. 

Thus, the correct answer is 'Heterotrophs.'

Multiple choice commercial applications environmental equilibrium threatened species need of conservation conservation of soil and wild life sleeping time animal senses sense organs in animals

Migration is an

  1. Annual event

  2. Biannual event

  3. Quarterly event

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

The correct answer is 'annual event'

Migration done by birds is usually dome during winters in search of a warmer environment and food. Since winters are only one of the 4 seasons of a year, migration only occurs during winters and thus only once a year.

Multiple choice botany know the plant world closely nutrition and its types types of nutrition in plants different modes of nutrition in plants

Organisms which obtain their food from non-living material environment are called

  1. Autotrophs

  2. Epiphytes

  3. Parasites

  4. Saprophytes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Saprophytes are organisms that obtain their nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter, which is considered non-living material in an environmental context.