Tag: interdependence between plants and animals

Questions Related to interdependence between plants and animals

In food web, hyenas and vultures are

  1. Primary consumers

  2. Predators

  3. Scavengers

  4. Decomposers


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Food web is constituted by various interlinked food chains in a community. It is also called as consumer-resource system. In food web, hyenas and vultures are scavengers. Scavengers keep an ecosystem free of the dead animals. They break down the organic matter and recycle the essential nutrients into the ecosystem. They only eat the bodies of dead animals. Hence, they play very important role in maintaining a stable ecosystem.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Scavengers.'

Decomposers occupy a trophic level

  1. $T _1$

  2. $T _2$

  3. $T _3$

  4. $T _6$


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The first trophic level is represented as T$ _1$. It includes producers. The second trophic level is represented as T$ _2$. It includes primary consumers. These are herbivores. The third trophic level is represented as T$ _3$. It includes secondary consumers or carnivores. Decomposers are organisms which decompose the organic matter from dead animals and plants. They occupy the top level in the ecological pyramid. They release essential nutrients back in the environment..

Thus, the correct answer is 'T$ _6$.' 

What will happen if all the bacteria and fungi are destroyed?

  1. There will be no disease and death.

  2. No antibiotics would become available.

  3. Dead bodies and excretions will pile up.

  4. Soil will become depleted of all nutrients.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

A food chain is series of plants/animals which are interrelated in the form of organism being eaten as food by the other. It consists of producers, consumers and decomposers. The plants are producers. The animals eating plants are called as primary consumers and animals eating primary consumers are called as secondary consumers. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi are those which decomposes the waster organic matter like dead bodies and excretions and release energy back in the environment. Hence, if all the bacteria and fungi are destroyed, dead bodies and excretions will pie up.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Dead bodies and excretions will pile up.'

 What are decomposers?

  1. Decomposers break down the complex organic substances of garbage, dead animals and plants into simpler inorganic substances.

  2. Decomposers synthesise the complex organic substances of garbage, dead animals and plants into simpler inorganic substances.

  3. Decomposers break down the complex inorganic substances of garbage, dead animals and plants into simpler inorganic substances.

  4. Decomposers break down the complex organic substances of garbage, dead animals and plants into simpler organic substances.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organisms and in doing so, carry out the natural process of decomposition. Like herbivores and predators, decomposers are heterotrophic, meaning that they use organic substrates to get their energy, carbon and nutrients for growth and development.

Decomposers and scavengers break down dead plants and animals. They also break down the waste (poop) of other organisms. Decomposers are very important for any ecosystem. If they weren't in the ecosystem, the plants would not get essential nutrients and dead matter and waste would pile up.
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Choose the correct from the alternatives given.
Hyena that lives on left over food of the lion is called a

  1. scavenger

  2. parasite

  3. predator

  4. antibiosis


Correct Option: A
Explanation:
A.Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation. . For example, hyena eats the leftover food of the lion. Hence hyena is a scavenger. 
B.Parasite - relationship between two species of plants or animals in which one benefits at the expense of the other, sometimes without killing the host organism.
C.Predator -  an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals : an animal that preys on other animals. 
D.Antibiosis - an antagonistic association between two organisms (especially microorganisms), in which one is adversely affected.

So the correct option is 'scavenger'.

The decomposers in an ecosystem

  1. Convert inorganic material to simpler forms.

  2. Convert organic material to inorganic forms.

  3. Convert inorganic materials into organic compounds.

  4. Do not breakdown organic compounds.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Most important characteristics of an ecosystem are unidirectional flow of energy and cycling of material. The cycling of material is directly dependent on the activity of decomposers. These organisms, also called as detritivores, feed on detritus ie dead and decaying matter and release the nutrients locked up in dead bodies of plants and animals and excreta of animals. Thus, converting organic material into inorganic nutrients.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

If the decomposers become extinct, the most severely affected would be

  1. Non-cycling of minerals

  2. Damage to nitrogen fixation

  3. Biomagnification

  4. Carnivores will be starved


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Decomposers are microorganisms which decomposes organic matter. These include bacteria and fungi. They break down the organic matter of dead animals and plants and releases essential minerals back to the environment. If the decomposers become extinct, the most severely affected would be noncycling of minerals. Due to this, the essential minerals would not be released back in the environment and could not be used by plants for next cycle.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Noncycling of minerals.'

Organisms in all trophic levels may be consumed by decomposers

  1. True

  2. False


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

 Food chain, in ecology, the sequence of transfers of matter and energy in the form of food from organism to organism. The trophic level of an organism is the position it occupies in a food chain. Decomposers (detritivores) break down dead plant and animal material and wastes and release it again as energy and nutrients into the ecosystem for recycling. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi (mushrooms), feed on waste and dead matter, converting it into inorganic chemicals that can be recycled as mineral nutrients for plants to use again.

So the given statement is true.

In an ecosystem, bacteria are

  1. Microconsumers

  2. Macroconsumers

  3. Primary consumers

  4. Secondary consumers


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

An ecosystem consists of producers and consumers. Plants are the producers of the ecosystem. They obtain their own food by photosynthesis. Consumers are of two types, microconsumers and macroconsumers. Macroconsumers include herbivores, carnivores and detrivores. Microconsumers includes bacteria and fungi. They are also known as decomposers.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Microconsumers.'

Pheretima and its close relatives obtain nourishment from

  1. soil insects

  2. small pieces of fresh fallen leaves

  3. decaying fallen leaves and soil organic matter

  4. Sugarcane roots


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Pheretima or earthworm is a detritivore. Earthworm and its close relatives obtain nourishment from decaying fallen leaves and organic matter.

So, the correct answer is option C, decaying fallen leaves and organic matter.