Ecosystem Test - 4

A pond ecosystem refers to the freshwater ecosystem where there are communities of organism dependent on each other with the prevailing water environment for their nutrients and survival. The number of primary producers within a specified area would be maximum in a pond ecosystem.

An ecosystem is an open unit, as ecosystems require a continuous flow of high-quality energy to maintain their structure and function.

Pond is an example of natural ecosystem. A natural ecosystem consists of a diverse species of plants and animals that significantly interact with the nonliving things that are also present in the system. It is naturally sustainable and does not require the intervention of humans to survive.

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
The term ecosystem was first used in 1935 in a publication by British ecologist Arthur Tansley. Tansley devised the concept to draw attention to the importance of transfers of materials between organisms and their environment. Tansley regarded ecosystems not simply as natural units, but as "mental isolates". Tansley later defined the spatial extent of ecosystems using the term ecotope.

The correct sequence of ecological complexities starting from the smallest to the largest unit is: Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, Biosphere.

These are features of planktons.

Arboreal animals are creatures who spend the majority of their lives in trees. They eat, sleep and play in the tree canopy. Many arboreal animals have elongated limbs that allow them to swing efficiently from branch to branch. Several creatures have long tails called prehensile tails that can grasp branches and act as an extra limb. Arboreal species tend to have a low center of mass to minimize the chance of toppling when climbing, and some have a crouched posture. They tend to have a diagonal sequence gait to maximize balance.

Productivity is rate of accumulation of energy containing organic matter by an ecosystem per unit area per unit time. It is of two types - primary and secondary. Productivity at producer's level is known as primary productivity. It is two types. Gross primary productivity is primary productivity including that amount which is utilised in respiration and other metabolic activities. Net primary productivity (NPP) is primary productivity in excess to that which is utilised in respiration and other metabolic activities.
Secondary productivity is productivity at consumer's level. Since gross production includes total production including the amount utilised in respiration and other metabolic activities, it is more than other forms of productivity.
NP = GP – Respiration

Pyramid of energy is upright because when energy flows from a trophic level to next trophic level, some energy is always lost as heat at each step. As little as 10 percent of the energy at any trophic level is transferred to the next level.