Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
Why do elephants in states like Odisha and Assam occasionally enter human farms and villages?
Answer
They search for food and water when vegetation is scarce or waterholes dry up in their natural habitat.
Question
What is the primary purpose of wildlife corridors identified by ecologists?
Answer
To allow safe movement of animals between large forest areas without human settlement conflict.
Question
The specific place where an organism lives and survives is called its _____.
Answer
Habitat
Question
Term: Biotic components
Answer
Definition: The living beings within a habitat, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Question
Term: Abiotic components
Answer
Definition: The non-living parts of a habitat, including air, sunlight, water, temperature, and soil.
Question
How do fish in a pond meet their abiotic needs?
Answer
They obtain oxygen directly from the water.
Question
What ecological term describes a group of the same kind of organisms living together in a specific habitat?
Answer
Population
Question
A _____ comprises different populations of organisms sharing the same habitat and interacting with one another.
Answer
Community
Question
Why does a habitat usually contain multiple types of organisms rather than just one?
Answer
To prevent extreme competition and total scarcity of shared resources like food and space.
Question
What is the process of carrying yellow dust-like grains from stamens to carpels called?
Answer
Pollination
Question
In the pond study (Activity 12.3), why did ponds with fish have fewer dragonflies?
Answer
The fish preyed on the dragonfly larvae.
Question
How does a reduction in dragonfly populations affect nearby flowering plants?
Answer
It increases pollinator numbers (bees/butterflies), leading to higher seed production.
Question
An _____ is formed by the interaction between biotic communities and their abiotic surroundings.
Answer
Ecosystem
Question
Identify the two main categories of ecosystems found in nature.
Answer
Aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems.
Question
Give an example of a human-made terrestrial ecosystem mentioned in the text.
Answer
Farmland
Question
How do plants contribute to the abiotic component of soil?
Answer
Their roots hold soil in place to prevent erosion and help retain moisture.
Question
Term: Autotrophs (Producers)
Answer
Definition: Organisms that make their own food through photosynthesis. Example: Green plants.
Question
Term: Heterotrophs (Consumers)
Answer
Definition: Organisms that cannot produce their own food and depend on others for nutrition.
Question
What is an organism that eats only plants and plant products called?
Answer
Herbivore
Question
A _____ is an organism that eats only other animals, such as a leopard.
Answer
Carnivore
Question
Term: Omnivore
Answer
Definition: An organism that consumes both plants and animals. Example: Crows or mice.
Question
A simple linear sequence showing 'who eats whom' in an ecosystem is a _____.
Answer
Food chain
Question
The specific position an organism occupies in a food chain is known as its _____.
Answer
Trophic level
Question
Which group of organisms always occupies the first trophic level?
Answer
Producers (green plants)
Question
What trophic level do small carnivores like frogs typically occupy?
Answer
The third trophic level.
Question
A network formed by interlinked food chains in an ecosystem is called a _____.
Answer
Food web
Question
Role: Decomposers
Answer
Fungi and bacteria break down dead matter into simpler substances to recycle nutrients back into nature.
Question
How do migratory birds such as the Demoiselle Crane benefit farmers?
Answer
They act as predators of insect pests, helping to control their populations.
Question
In a pond ecosystem, how does plant death due to pollution eventually lead to fish death?
Answer
Dying plants result in less oxygen being produced for the fish to breathe.
Question
What happened to agricultural pest levels in India after bullfrog populations declined in the 1980s?
Answer
Pest populations rose because there were fewer frogs to eat the insects.
Question
Why is competition for resources like sunlight and water important for an ecosystem?
Answer
It controls population sizes and helps maintain a dynamic balance.
Question
Relationship: Mutualism
Answer
Definition: An interaction where both organisms benefit. Example: A bee pollinating a flower while getting nectar.
Question
Relationship: Commensalism
Answer
Definition: An interaction where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Example: Orchids growing on trees.
Question
Relationship: Parasitism
Answer
Definition: An interaction where one organism benefits while the other is harmed. Example: Ticks on a dog.
Question
What did wildlife biologist A.J.T. Johnsingh prove was key to predator survival?
Answer
A healthy population of prey animals, such as deer and wild boar.
Question
Which famous mangrove forest in India was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987?
Answer
The Sundarbans
Question
What are 'protected areas' in the context of conservation?
Answer
Lands or waters set aside to conserve wildlife and their habitats, such as national parks.
Question
What was the primary aim of the mid-20th century 'Green Revolution' in India?
Answer
To increase food production using machines, synthetic fertilisers, and pesticides.
Question
How does the overuse of synthetic fertilisers affect soil health over time?
Answer
It reduces organic matter (humus) and friendly microorganisms, making soil prone to erosion.
Question
Term: Monoculture
Answer
Definition: The practice of growing only one type of crop repeatedly on the same land.
Question
According to the ancient text 'Vrikshayurveda', what is 'Kunapa Jala'?
Answer
A liquid organic fertiliser made from fermented animal and plant waste.
Question
How do large carnivores like tigers maintain the balance of a forest ecosystem?
Answer
By controlling the population of prey animals like deer to prevent overgrazing.
Question
The process of bacteria and fungi returning nutrients to the soil from dead matter is essential for _____.
Answer
Nutrient recycling
Question
Why is heavy irrigation and repeated ploughing considered harmful to ecological balance?
Answer
It disturbs vital soil organisms like earthworms and snails.
Question
In the hierarchy of nature, which level is broader than a community but smaller than the biosphere?
Answer
Ecosystem
Question
Why are mushrooms often found growing on dead plants or trees during the rainy season?
Answer
They are fungi acting as decomposers to break down dead organic matter.
Question
How can the use of synthetic pesticides lead to a future increase in pest populations?
Answer
By killing natural predators of the pests or by pests developing resistance to the chemicals.
Question
Which Indian national park is located in Leh and serves as a protected area?
Answer
Hemis National Park
Question
How does organic farming differ from the methods introduced during the Green Revolution?
Answer
It aims to reduce synthetic chemicals and maintain soil health with minimal environmental interference.
Question
What is the primary abiotic factor that causes water to evaporate and air currents to blow over a pond?
Answer
Sunlight (Solar energy)