Test: Ecosystem Structure & Function (NCERT) - NEET MCQ

Ecological equivalents are the organisms which occupy same niche in different habitats (or geographical areas) e.g. both owl and cat feed on shrews and mice hence they occupy the same niche though their habitats are different.

Soil has five components with different compositions: Mineral matter - 40%, water - 25%, organic matter - 10%, air-25% and soil organisms (variable).

Tropical rainforest shows the maximum diversity and also the maximum productivity. More solar energy and resources are available in tropics which promotes higher productivity. On land the maximum primary production rate is found in tropical rainforests followed by tropical deciduous forests, temperate forests, savannah, temperate grasslands and desert scrub.

The components of the ecosystem are seen to function as a unit when the aspect is energy flow. It is the calorific amount of energy that moves from the sun and up to each subsequent level of the food chain in an environment.

Interaction of biotic and abiotic components result in a physical structure, that is characteristic of each type of ecosystem. Components of ecosystem function as one single unit. Four important functional aspects of the ecosystem are:
(i) Productivity,
(ii) Decomposition,
(iii) Energy flow and
(iv) Nutrient cycling.
Ecological pyramids are graphical representation of number, biomass and energy flow in an ecosystem.