LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.

INTRODUCTION
 ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM-
 PRIMARY CONSUMERS-

Trophic level type Examples

primary consumers Herbivores- Grasshopper,
dependent on squirrel, elephant
producers. etc.
Secondary Carnivores- Frog, owl, fox etc.
consumers dependent on
herbivores for food.
Apex or top Carnivores- Tiger, lion etc. No
consumers dependent on other animal feed
herbivores for their on apex consumer.
food.
Omnivores Dependent upon Humans, bear,
producers and sparrow etc.
secondary
consumers.

 Food chain and food web-

 Food chain- Feeding relationships among producers, consumers
and saprophytes in an ecosystem is called food chain. Each chain
consist of four, five or more links.
 Food web- Food webs are interconnected food chains in an
ecosystem.
 Energy pyramid-
1. Trophic level-Each level of the food chain is called a trophic level.
Atrophic level is the step at which the organisms obtain its food in
the chain.
2. First trophic level is formed of producers while second trophic
level is formed of herbivores. The third trophic level is formed of
carnivores and the apex carnivores form the fourth trophic level.
3. The amount of matter and energy gradually decrease from
producers to top consumers.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
4. Energy pyramid is the diagrammatic representation showing how
the energy travels up in a food chain through different trophic
levels.
5. The ultimate source of energy in the ecosystem is the sun.
6. The flow of energy in an ecosystem is always unidirectional.

 Biogeochemical cycle-
1. The cyclic flow of nutrients within an ecosystem is called
biogeochemical cycle. It provides different types of nutrients for
the growth and development to living organisms.
2. The nutrients are transferred from abiotic to biotic factors or
within an ecosystem.
3. The biogeochemical cycle operates through the medium of the
biosphere which is formed by the lithosphere, hydrosphere and
atmosphere.
4. The recycling of chemical, geological and biological sources of
nutrients is a complex process and is completely dependent upon
the transfer of energy level in the ecosystem.
 Types of biogeochemical cycles- There are two main types of
biogeochemical cycles- viz, gaseous cycle and sedimentary cycle.
1. Gaseous cycle- It is found in earth’s atmosphere and includes
nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and water vapour cycles.
2. Sedimentary cycles- It is found in soil, sediment and sedimentary
rocks of the earth it includes iron, calcium and phosphorus.
 Some important biogeochemical cycles-
1. Carbon cycle-
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
Main processes in the carbon cycle are-
1) 6CO2 + 12H2O sunlight C6H12O6 + 6H2 + 6O2 ↑
2) C6H12O6 + 6O2 Mitochondria 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.
1. The circulation and recycling of carbon form the atmosphere to
living organisms and after their death back to the atmosphere
is called the carbon cycle.
2. In these abiotic factors are circulated and recycled into biotic
form through photosynthesis and respiration.
3. In these cycle plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrate
by the process of photosynthesis and produce carbon
compounds like proteins and fats. Then herbivores feed upon
these plants and carnivores feed upon herbivores. In this way
biotic carbon is transported from plants to herbivores and from
herbivores to carnivores and from carnivores to apex
consumers.
 Oxygen cycle-

1. Circulation and recycling of oxygen within the biosphere is called

the oxygen cycle.
2. About 21% of oxygen is present in earth’s atmosphere.
3. It includes both abiotic and biotic factors.
4. Oxygen is released in the process of the photosynthesis where it is
used up in processes like respiration, combustion, decomposition,
corrosion, rusting etc.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
 Nitrogen cycle-

1. The circulation and recycling of nitrogen gas into the form of

different compounds through various biotic and abiotic processes
in nature is called the nitrogen cycle.
2. It is an important components of proteins and nucleic acids.
3. As plants cannot take up the atmospheric nitrogen as it is take up
the compounds of nitrogen available in the soil.
4. In this nitrogen fixation is the process in which nitrogen is
converted into nitrates and nitrites.
There are two process of nitrogen fixation is –
Physical and biological fixation.
 Physical fixation- The lightning in the shy brings about
oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen which converts into
nitrogen oxide and these NO2 dissolves in rain water and
forms nitrous acid and nitric acid.
 Biological fixation- The bacteria like rhizobium, azetobacter
and clostridium bring about biological fixation into the soil.
In addition to nitrogen fixation there are other three
processes which are important in nitrogen cycle they are-
 Ammonification- Release of ammonia through
decomposition of dead bodies and excretory wastes of
organisms.
 Nitrification- Conversion of ammonia into nitrite and then
nitrate.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
 Denitrification- Conversion of nitrogen compounds into
gaseous nitrogen.

Q1) Fill in the blanks.

1. The flow of nutrients is cyclic.
2. Biotic and abiotic factors along with the interactions occurring in
them together constitute an ecosystem.
3. Only 10% of energy obtained from the sun is utilized by the
producers.
4. Each level in the food chain is called trophic level.

Q2) Match the column-

Column A Column B
1. Producer Secondary consumer
2. Consumers Primary consumer
3. Decomposers Phosphorus
4. Scavengers Bacteria
5. Rabbit Algae
6. Snake Amoeba
7. Third trophic level Sunflower
8. First trophic level Cobra
9. Gaseous cycle Termites
10.Sedimentary cycle. CO2 → O2.

Rewrite the answer-

1. Producer- Algae.
2. Consumer- amoeba.
3. Decomposer- Bacteria.
4. Scavengers- Termites.
5. Rabbit- Primary consumer.
6. Snake- Secondary consumer.
7. Third trophic level- Cobra.
8. First trophic level- Sunflower.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
9. Gaseous cycle- CO2 → O2.
10.Sedimentary cycle- phosphorus.
Q3) Find odd man out-
1. Worm, shellfish, sparrow, crab.
Ans- sparrow.
2. Deer, tiger, eagle, leopard.
Ans- Deer.
Q4) Correct and rewrite the following statements and justify your answer-
1. Carnivores occupy the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ans- Carnivores occupy the third trophic level.
Autotrophic producers constitute the first trophic level. Herbivorous
animals obtain their nutrients from them. They occupy second trophic
level. Carnivorous animals feed upon these herbivorous animals,
therefore, they occupy the third trophic level in the food chain.
2. The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is considered to be a one way
transport.
Ans- The flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is considered to be cyclic.
The green plants are producers. By photosynthesis they convert minerals
and inorganic compounds into glucose. This food is transferred along
with food chain from producers → Primary consumers → secondary
consumers. The decomposers of the ecosystem decompose all the dead
and decaying organisms and return these nutrients back to the
ecosystem. Thus, the flow of nutrients is cyclic and one way transport.
3. Plants in an ecosystem are called primary consumers.
Ans- Plants in an ecosystem are called producers.
Green plants are called producers as they carry out photosynthesis with
the help of solar energy. The food which they produce is utilized by the
herbivores. Therefore, they are called primary consumers.

Q2) Answer the following-

1. Define the terms-
I) Biogeochemical cycle- The cyclic path in which nutrients are
transferred through air, water or soil into the bodies of living
organisms and back to the air, water and soil is called a bio-
geochemical cycle.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
II) Ecosystem- The biotic and abiotic factors in an environment and their
interactions with one another form an ecosystem.
III) Food chain- Linkages of organisms within an ecosystem with respect
to eating and being eaten is called a food chain.
IV) Food web- The intricate network of intertwining of food chains with
one another is called food web.

2. Give reasons-
1) Energy flow through an ecosystem is ‘one way’.
Ans- i) Sun is the ultimate source of energy.
ii) In all ecosystems, producers store the solar energy in the form of
food.
iii) This energy is passed on from one trophic level to the other
trophic level.
iv) Owing to decomposition some part of this energy is released in
the form of heat.
v) However no part of energy returns to the sun.
Therefore, energy flow through an ecosystem is one way.
2) Equilibrium is necessary in the various bio-geochemical cycle.

Ans- i) In nature, the various bio-geochemical cycles operate

simultaneously and there is an equilibrium between them.
ii) During these cycles, the inorganic compounds that are released
from organic compounds are released back to nature.
iii) Soil bacteria and other decomposers play a vital role in these
cycles.
iv) If bio-geochemical cycles are imbalanced then they bring about
the imbalance in the ecosystem as a result of which the ecosystem
is destroyed. This shows that equilibrium is necessary in the
various bio-geochemical cycles.
3) The flow of nutrients through an ecosystem is cyclic.

Ans- i) Producers obtain nutrients from the soil, air and water.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
ii) These nutrients are transferred from one trophic level to
another trophic level and so on.
iii) Finally, the decomposers decompose the dead organisms and
the wastes of living organisms.
iv) Thus, decomposers return these nutrients back to air, water
and soil, which in turn are absorbed by the plants.
v) Thus, the flow of nutrients in an ecosystem is cyclic.

4) Decomposers are crucial biotic factors in any ecosystem.

Ans- i) If decomposers are not there, the nutrients that entered food
chains would remain locked up forever in the waste thrown out by
the bodies of the organisms and after their death in their bodies.
ii) less and less nutrients would be available to plants and through
them to other creatures.
iii) As a result of this, the waste matter would be piled up without
decomposition.
iv) Converting dead and decaying matter into useful nutrients is
therefore, a very important function played by decomposers.
v) Therefore, the decomposers are said to be the crucial biotic factors
in an ecosystem.

3. Draw a well labelled diagram of-

1. Trophic levels.

2. Food chain.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
3. Energy pyramid in aquatic system.

Q3) Answer in brief-

1. What would you do to help maintain the equilibrium in the various bio-
geochemical cycles? Explain in brief.
Ans- For maintaining the balance in the bio-geochemical cycles, following
measures have to be taken-
i) We have to conserve plants like trees, creepers and the entire
available flora. For this, we have stop cutting down trees. If plants are
destroyed the productivity of the ecosystem is hammered. Therefore,
the flora has to be well maintained.
ii) We should not poach and kill carnivorous wild animals. This results in
disturbance in the ecological balance. In order to protect the
equilibrium we should conserve the food chains.
iii) Under any condition, apex consumers should not be killed. The
hunting of animals makes the animals or species to become extinct.
Moreover, the population of herbivorous animals will not be under
control if carnivores are killed. By exterminating the apex consumers,
the interrelationships between food chains and food web will suffer.
iv) Anthropogenic activities such as pollution, deforestation,
constructions in the wild habitat, over consumption of natural
resources should be immediately kept under control.
2. Explain in detail the interrelationships between the food chain and food
web.
Ans- i) In every ecosystem, interactions go on continuously between
producers, consumers and saprophytes.
ii) These interactions follow a definite sequence called the food chain.
iii) Each food chain consists of four, five or more links.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
iv) An ecosystem consisting of interconnected food chains at various levels
constitute a food web.
v) Thus, there is an interrelationships between the food chain and food
web.
3. Explain the carbon cycle with suitable diagrams.
Ans- i) The circulation and recycling of carbon form the atmosphere to living
organisms and after their death back to the atmosphere is called the carbon
cycle.
ii) Abiotic carbon atoms are circulated and recycled into biotic form mainly
through photosynthesis and respiration.
iii) In the atmosphere and water bodies, carbon dioxide is the main source of
carbon. Green plants synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide of the
atmosphere as shown below:
6CO2 + 12H2O sunlight C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2 ↑
iv) The carbohydrate in the form of food through food chain reaches the
plants, from plants to herbivorous animals and from herbivorous animals to
carnivorous animals. In this way, the carbon moves from one living being to
another living being.
v) During the process of respiration, both plants and animals oxidize
carbohydrates and liberate energy along with the evolution of CO2.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 Mitochondria 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy.
vi) Carbon compounds undergo decomposition through microorganisms.
During this process also carbon dioxide is produced which mixes with the
atmosphere.
vii) In this way, carbon is continuously passed on from one organism to
another.
viii) After the death of living organisms, carbon goes to the atmosphere and is
taken up by living organisms.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.

4. Explain the nitrogen cycle with suitable diagram-

Ans- i) The circulation and recycling of nitrogen gas into the form of different
compounds through various biotic and abiotic processes in nature is called the
nitrogen cycle.
ii) About 78% of the nitrogen is present in earth’s atmosphere.
Iii) As plants cannot take up the atmospheric nitrogen as it is therefore, they
take up various compounds of the nitrogen that are available in the soil. For
the plants nitrogen compounds in the soil is the only source of nitrogen.
iv) Nitrogen fixation is the process in which nitrogen is converted into
compound such as nitrates and nitrites. There are two processes of nitrogen
fixation, viz physical and biological fixation.
v) Physical fixation- The lightning in the shy brings about oxidation of
atmospheric nitrogen which converts into nitrogen oxide and these NO2
dissolves in rain water and forms nitrous acid and nitric acid.
Atmospheric nitrogen Lightning Nitrogen oxide.
Nitrogen oxide + Rain Nitrous acid + nitric acid.
vi) Biological fixation- The symbiotic bacteria like rhizobium living in
root nodules of leguminous plants carry out the function of biological
fixation.
vii) The other bacteria like Azetobacter, clostridium, blue green algae
also bring about nitrogen fixation into the soil.
viii) Herbivorous animals consume plants and fulfil their protein
requirement. Then these proteins are broken down to amino acids
during the metabolism.
ix) In addition to nitrogen fixation there are about three processes which
are important in nitrogen cycle they are-
a) Ammonification- Release of ammonia through decomposition of
dead bodies and excretory waste of organisms.
b) Nitrification- Conversion of ammonia into nitrite and then nitrate.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
c) Denitrification- Conversion of nitrogen compounds into gaseous
nitrogen.

5. Explain the oxygen cycle with suitable diagram.

Ans- i) The circulation and recycling of oxygen within the biosphere is called
the oxygen cycle.
ii) About 21% of the earth’s atmosphere contain oxygen.
iii) The oxygen cycle includes both biotic and abiotic components.
iv) Oxygen is continuously produced and used up in the atmosphere.
v) During photosynthesis, plants use carbon dioxide and release oxygen in
the atmosphere. Animals utilize this oxygen for respiration and release
carbon dioxide.
vi) The release CO2 is again used by the plants for photosynthesis.
vii) Oxygen is also utilized in various other processes such as combustion,
decomposition, corrosion, rusting etc.
viii) As oxygen is highly reactive, it readily reacts with other elements and
compounds.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
ix) Oxygen is found in various forms such as molecular oxygen (O2), water,
CO2, inorganic compounds etc.
x) Therefore, the oxygen cycle of the biosphere is extremely complex
process.

6. State the different types of bio-geochemical cycles and explain the

importance of those cycles.
Ans-There are two types of biogeochemical cycles, gaseous cycle and
sedimentary cycle.
i) Gaseous cycle- In this type of biogeochemical cycle, the major
reservoir of the abiotic gaseous nutrient exist in gaseous phase in
earth’s atmosphere. The carbon, oxygen and nitrogen cycles, water
vapour are examples of gaseous cycle.
ii) Sedimentary cycles- In the sedimentary cycle, the major reservoir of
abiotic nutrient materials is the lithosphere. i.e. soil, sediment and
sedimentary rocks etc. It includes soil components like iron, calcium,
phosphorous etc.
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.
iii) Biogeochemical cycles are important for transformation of matter
from one form to another. This transformation plays significant role
as matter become available for organisms in specific form.
iv) Biogeochemical cycles help to maintain the flow of nutrients which
are required by all organisms for their growth.
7. Explain the following with suitable examples.
i) What type of changes occur in the amount of energy during its
transfer from plants to apex consumers?
1) Ans- Green plants of the ecosystem store large amount of energy in the
form of food.
2) Before reaching the decomposers, this energy is passed through
different trophic levels like primary consumer, secondary consumer,
tertiary consumer etc.
3) The level of energy goes on decreasing while moving through one
trophic level to the other.
4) While moving from one trophic level to the other, some amount of
energy is liberated in the form of heat.
5) Therefore, the apex consumer receives the least amount of energy.

ii) What are the difference between flow of matter and of energy in
an ecosystem? Why?
1) Ans- Flow of matter in an ecosystem is cyclic.
2) However, the flow of energy in an ecosystem is ‘one way’ transport.
3) All organisms need matter for their growth. These nutrients are
continuously transferred from abiotic to biotic factors and from biotic to
abiotic factors within an ecosystem. Thus, flow of matter in an
ecosystem takes place in a cyclic manner.
4) During the flow of energy, no part of it ever returns to the sun.
Therefore, flow of energy in an ecosystem is considered to be a ‘one
way’ transport.

8. Complete the chart.

 LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.

Ecosystem

Natural Manmade
ecosystem ecosystem

Aquatic
Terrestrial

Marine Fresh
Forest Desert

8. Complete the following food chain-

Grass Grasshopper Frog

GG

Snake
Saprotrophs
ssd Eagle
LESSON NO 7- ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM.

9. Complete the following table-

Biogeochemical cycles Biotic processes Abiotic processes

1. Carbon cycle.

2. Oxygen cycle.
3. Nitrogen cycle.

Ans-

Biogeochemical Biotic processes Abiotic processes

cycles
1. Carbon cycle. Photosynthesis and Combustion
respiration, Absorption by water.
decomposition by
decomposers.
2. Oxygen cycle. Photosynthesis and Combustion,
respiration, production of ozone
decomposition by and oxides.
decomposers.
3. Nitrogen cycle. Decomposition by Industrial fixation,
decomposers, physical fixation,
biological fixation, Nitrification,
Ammonification. Denitrification.