Class 5 Science Question Answers - Ecosystem: Interdependence in Nature

Q1: What is an ecosystem, and why is it important?
Ans: An ecosystem is like a community of living things and their surroundings. It includes plants, animals, water, soil, and more. Ecosystems are important because all living things in them depend on each other, and if one part is damaged, it affects everything else.

Q2: Give an example of an ecosystem in India and describe the plants and animals found there.
Ans: In the hot and dry region of Rajasthan, we find an ecosystem. Here, you'll see small shrubs and cacti plants, and the prominent animal is the camel.

Q3: Explain what a biome is and how it is identified.
Ans: A biome is a specialized ecosystem found in a certain area or climate. It is identified by factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type, and altitude.

Q4: Describe the different types of terrestrial ecosystems mentioned in the notes.
Ans: There are four types of terrestrial ecosystems: Forest (abundance of plants), Desert (low rainfall and scarce flora and fauna), Grassland (grasses with grazing animals), and Mountain (diverse habitats with adapted animals and plants).

Q5: What are the two main types of aquatic ecosystems, and what is the difference between them?
Ans: The two main types of aquatic ecosystems are Marine (found in oceans, covers 71% of Earth's surface) and Freshwater (rivers, lakes, and covers 0.8% of Earth's surface). Marine ecosystems contain saltwater, while freshwater ecosystems have freshwater.

Q6: What do we call plants in an ecosystem, and why?
Ans: We call plants in an ecosystem "producers" because they can make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, water, and produce glucose/sugar and oxygen.

Q7: What are consumers in an ecosystem, and how are they categorized?
Ans: Consumers in an ecosystem are animals that eat plants and/or other animals because they cannot make their own food. They are categorized into four groups: Herbivores (eat plants), Carnivores (eat animals), Omnivores (eat both plants and animals), and Scavengers (eat dead animals).

Q8: What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem, and why are they important?
Ans: Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down decaying matter, releasing nutrients and mineral salts back into the soil. This is important because it recycles nutrients, making them available for plants to grow.

Q9: Explain the concept of a food chain and give an example.
Ans: A food chain shows how living things get food and how energy is passed from producers (plants) to consumers (animals). For example, grass is eaten by rabbits, which are then eaten by foxes.

Q10: What is a food web, and how does it differ from a food chain?
Ans: A food web is a complex network of food chains. It shows how different organisms are connected in an ecosystem. Unlike a food chain that has a linear sequence, a food web is more interconnected, with multiple species and interactions.