Answer twenty questions, selecting any four from each Unit.
1. Who coined the term 'ecology'?
Ernst Haeckel coined the term 'ecology' in 1866.
2. Define environmental science.
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that integrates physical, biological, and information sciences to study the environment and find solutions to environmental problems.
3. Who developed the concept of 'food chain'?
The concept of the food chain was first introduced by the Arab scientist and philosopher Al-Jahiz and later popularized by Charles Elton.
4. State one difference between ecology and environmental science.
Ecology focuses specifically on the interactions between organisms and their environment, while environmental science is a broader field that incorporates social, political, and chemical aspects of human impact on the world.
5. Mention the different types of food chain.
The two main types are the Grazing food chain and the Detritus food chain.
6. What is an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit of the biosphere consisting of a community of living organisms interacting with their non-living physical environment.
7. What are the different components of an ecosystem?
The components are categorized into Biotic components (living beings) and Abiotic components (physical factors like sunlight, temperature, and minerals).
8. What is population?
A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographical area at a particular time.
9. Define biosphere.
The biosphere is the narrow zone of the Earth where land, water, and air interact to support life.
10. What is species?
A species is a group of organisms that share common characteristics and are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.
11. What is atmosphere?
The atmosphere is the thick gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth, held in place by gravity.
12. Mention the different layers of atmosphere.
The layers are: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere.
13. What is the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere?
Oxygen accounts for approximately 21% of the Earth's atmosphere.
14. What is monsoon?
Monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal in wind direction, often associated with significant changes in precipitation.
15. What is atmospheric pressure?
Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of the air above a given point on the Earth's surface.
16. What is hydrosphere?
The hydrosphere includes all the water found on, under, and above the surface of the Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
17. Define freshwater.
Freshwater is naturally occurring water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids (usually less than 0.5 parts per thousand).
18. Give two examples of lentic ecosystem.
Examples include Ponds and Lakes.
19. What is an estuary?
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.
20. What is groundwater?
Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock, stored in and moving slowly through geologic formations called aquifers.
21. What is lithosphere?
The lithosphere is the rigid, outermost shell of the Earth, comprising the crust and the portion of the upper mantle that behaves elastically.
22. What is soil profile?
A soil profile is a vertical cross-section of the soil that exposes its various layers or horizons.
23. What is mantle?
The mantle is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, consisting of hot, semi-solid silicate rocks.
24. What is humus?
Humus is the dark, organic material in soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter by microorganisms.
25. Mention the composition of core.
The Earth's core is primarily composed of Iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni).
Answer five questions, selecting one from each Unit.
26. Mention any two objectives of studying ecology.
27. Mention any two approaches of studying ecology.
28. Mention the difference between food chain and food web. Give at least one example.
| Feature | Food Chain | Food Web |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A linear sequence of organisms. | A complex network of interconnected food chains. |
| Example | Grass -> Goat -> Lion | A forest network where a hawk may eat a mouse, bird, or snake. |
29. What is the difference between population and community? Give at least one example.
A Population consists of individuals of a single species in a specific area (e.g., all the tigers in a forest). A Community consists of all the different populations of various species interacting in that same area (e.g., tigers, deer, grass, and trees in a forest).
30. Give two characteristic features of stratospheric ozone.
31. What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather refers to the short-term state of the atmosphere (minutes to days) in a specific place. Climate is the long-term average of weather patterns in a region over a minimum of 30 years.
32. What are the differences between marine and estuarine system?
Marine systems have high and constant salinity (approx. 35 ppt) and are vast, open bodies of water. Estuarine systems have fluctuating salinity (brackish) because they are transition zones where river freshwater meets the sea.
33. What are the differences in the characteristics of lotic and lentic system?
Lotic systems involve flowing water (e.g., rivers, streams), whereas Lentic systems involve still or standing water (e.g., ponds, lakes).
34. Give two importances of lithosphere.
35. Give any two importances of water holding capacity of soil.
Answer five questions, selecting one from each Unit.
36. Elaborate on the multidisciplinary nature of the subject Ecology and Environmental Science.
Ecology and Environmental Science are inherently multidisciplinary because they draw from various branches of knowledge to address complex environmental issues.
37. Discuss elaborately the need for environmental awareness.
Environmental awareness is the first step toward conservation.
38. Describe with suitable examples the energy flow in an ecosystem.
Energy flow is the transfer of energy from the sun through various trophic levels of an ecosystem. It follows the Laws of Thermodynamics.
39. What is biogeochemical cycle? Describe the nitrogen cycle with suitable diagrammatic illustration.
A biogeochemical cycle is the movement of chemical elements and compounds between living organisms and the physical environment.Nitrogen Cycle Steps:
40. Discuss briefly the climate of NE India.
The climate of Northeast India is characterized by:
41. Discuss the tropical monsoon climate.
The Tropical Monsoon climate (Am in Köppen classification) is marked by:
42. Describe briefly, with suitable diagrammatic illustration, the hydrologic cycle.
The hydrologic cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
43. Describe briefly the various physical, chemical and biological pollutants that affect our surface water.
44. What is soil? Write notes on the composition of soil and formation of soil.
Soil is the thin layer of loose material on the Earth's surface that supports plant life.
Composition of Soil:
45. Describe the physical properties of soil and the role played by such properties in soil ecosystem.