SUBJECT : CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

SUBJECT CODE : 21CV654

QUESTION BANK FOR MODULE- 4 AND MODULE – 5

Module - 4
Q1. Describe the following types of ecosystem:
a. Forest Ecosystem
b. Grassland Ecosystem
c. Marine Ecosystem
d. Wetlands Ecosystem
e. Estuarine Ecosystem
f. Pond Ecosystem
Q.2 Describe different components of Ecosystem in brief
Q.3 Write a short note on Lotic and Lentic ecosystem
Ans. LOTIC ECOSYSTEM:
LENTIC ECOSYSTEM:
Lentic ecosystems generally include ponds, lakes, bogs, swamps,
reservoirs, pools, etc. and they vary considerably in physical, chemical
and biological characteristics.
Ponds are smaller bodies of still water located in natural hollows, such as
limestone sinks, or that result from the building of dams, either by humans
or beavers. Ponds are found in most regions and may exist either
seasonally or persist from year to year.
Rivers and streams are bodies of fresh, flowing water. The water runs
permanently or seasonally within a natural channel into another body of
water such as a lake, sea, or ocean. Rivers and streams are generally
more oxygenated than lakes or ponds, and they tend to contain organisms
that are adapted to the swiftly moving waters.
A lake is a sizable water body surrounded by land and fed by rivers,
springs, or local precipitation. A lake's structure has a significant impact
on its biological, chemical, and physical features. Lakes can be classified
on the basis of a variety of features, including their formation and their
chemical or biological condition, as oligotrophic and eutrophic.
Oligotrophic lakes are characterised by relatively low productivity and are
dominated by cold-water bottom fishes such as lake trout. Eutrophic lakes,
which are relatively shallower, are more productive and are dominated by
warm-water fishes such as bass. Natural processes of lake formation
most commonly include glacial, volcanic, and tectonic forces while human
constructed lakes are created by reservoirs or excavation of basins.
Wetlands are habitats that are partially submerged by water and include
habitats like marshes, swamps, ponds, etc. they also include lakes,
reservoirs and ponds. They function as ecotones, transitions between
different habitats and have characteristics of both aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystems. These habitats support diverse flora and fauna and are
highly productive ecosystems akin to the tropical rainforest in terrestrial
ecosystems
Q. 4. Explain Abiotic & biotic components of ecosystem
Ans:
An ecosystem is, therefore, defined as a natural functional ecological unit
comprising of living organisms (biotic community) and their non-living
(abiotic or physio-chemical) environment that interact to form a stable self-
supporting system. A pond, lake, desert, grassland, meadow, forest etc.
are common examples of ecosystems. Environment involves both living
(Biotic) organisms and the non-living (Abiotic) physical conditions. These
two are inseparable but inter-related. For food, shelter, growth and
development, all life systems interact with the environment. Environment
is a life supporting system

(1) Abiotic Components:

The non-living factors or the physical environment prevailing in an
ecosystem form the abiotic components. They have a strong influence on
the structure, distribution, behaviour and inter-relationship of organisms.
Abiotic components are mainly of two types:
Climatic Factors: Which include rain, temperature, light, wind, humidity
etc.
Edaphic Factors: Which include soil, pH, topography minerals etc.?
The functions of important factors in abiotic components are given below:
Soils are much more complex than simple sediments. They contain a
mixture of weathered rock fragments, highly altered soil mineral particles,
organic matter, and living organisms. Soils provide nutrients, water, a
home, and a structural growing medium for organisms. The vegetation
found growing on top of a soil is closely linked to this component of an
ecosystem through nutrient cycling. The atmosphere provides organisms
found within ecosystems with carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and
oxygen for respiration. The processes of evaporation, transpiration and
precipitation cycle water between the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface.
Solar radiation is used in ecosystems to heat the atmosphere and to
evaporate and transpire water into the atmosphere. Sunlight is also
necessary for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis provides the energy for
plant growth and metabolism, and the organic food for other forms of life.
Most living tissue is composed of a very high percentage of water, up to
and even exceeding 90%. The protoplasm of a very few cells can survive
if their water content drops below 10%, and most are killed if it is less than
30-50%.
Water is the medium by which mineral nutrients enter and are translocated
in plants. It is also necessary for the maintenance of leaf turgidity and is
required for photosynthetic chemical reactions. Plants and animals
receive their water from the Earth’s surface and soil. The original source
of this water is precipitation from the atmosphere.
(2) Biotic Components: The living organisms including plants, animals
and micro-organisms (Bacteria and Fungi) that are present in an
ecosystem form the biotic components.
On the basis of their role in the ecosystem the biotic components can be
classified into three main groups:
(A) Producers (B) Consumers (C) Decomposers or Reducers.
(A) Producers: The green plants have chlorophyll with the help of which
they trap solar energy and change it into chemical energy of
carbohydrates using simple inorganic compounds namely water and
carbon dioxide. This process is known as photosynthesis. As the green
plants manufacture their own food they are known as Autotrophs (i.e. auto
= self, trophos = feeder)
(B) Consumers: The animals lack chlorophyll and are unable to
synthesise their own food. Therefore, they depend on the producers for
their food.
They are known as heterotrophs (i.e. heteros = other, trophos = feeder).
They are of four types
(B1) Primary Consumers or First Order Consumers or Herbivores:
These are the animals which feed on plants or the producers. They are
called herbivores. Examples are rabbit, deer, goat, cattle etc.
(B2) Secondary Consumers or Second Order Consumers or Primary
Carnivores: The animals which feed on the herbivores are called the
primary carnivores. Examples are cats, foxes, snakes etc.
(B3) Tertiary Consumers or Third Order Consumers: These are the
large carnivores which feed on the secondary consumers. Example are
Wolves.
(B4) Quaternary Consumers or Fourth Order Consumers or
Omnivores: These are the largest carnivores which feed on the tertiary
consumers and are not eaten up by any other animal. Examples are lions
and tigers.

(C) Decomposers or Reducers: Bacteria and fungi belong to this

category. They breakdown the dead organic materials of producers
(plants) and consumers (animals) for their food and release to the
environment the simple inorganic and organic substances produced as
by-products of their metabolisms.
Module-5
Q. 5. List and explain the various health impacts due to global
warming
Q.6 List and explain the projects needing environmental clearance
under EIA
Q.7 Explain the importance of EIA in implementing projects like
Thermal /Hydro power plants
Q.8 Develop a flowchart of hydropower plant EIA environmental
clearance under EIA notifications.
Q.9 Discuss briefly about global climate change-indicators and
factors responsible for it
Q.10. How does climate change affect the Bio-diversity?
Q11. Discuss the Environmental impact of any Thermal Power Plant
in India.
Q12. Explain Environmental Clearance. List the projects which
require Environmental clearance in India
Q.13. What is the purpose of EIA? Explain the stages involved in EIA
Q.14. Summarise the global efforts in conservation of biodiversity
Q.15 Tabulate various EIA regulations of India in chronological order
and explain the application of each EIA regulations