Mention some substances that are biodegradable?


Spoiled food, used tea leaves, vegetable peels, cotton rags, waste paper were biodegradable materials.
685 Views

An aquarium is known as an artificial ecosystem. Why?


An aquarium comprises of green plants, fish and other aquatic animals. Water, sand (or gravel etc.), temperature, light, etc. are also present the abiotic factors. Aquatic green plants that are added are the producers. Fishes are the consumers. The green plants give out oxygen which is taken up by the fishes. Animals give out carbon dioxide which plants utilise in photosynthesis. Animals excreta is decomposed by the decomposers and the simple compounds produced are taken up by the plants. Thus, an aquarium is self-perpetuating functional unit. Therefore, it is known as ecosystem. Since the fishes and plants and others are added by man, so it is known as artificial ecosystem.
676 Views

Give examples of herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and parasites.

Herbivores: Camel, Deer, Cow, Rabbit, Elephant.
Carnivores: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snakes, Vultures, Eagles.
Omnivores:  Humans, Most Birds.
Decomposers: Bacteria and Fungi.

456 Views

The food we eat is digested by various enzymes in our body. Why the same enzyme does not breakdown everything we eat? What significance does this have for degradation of waste material?

Enzymes are specific in their action, specific enzymes are needed for breakdown of a particular substance. For example, pepsin is needed to breakdown proteins while lipase is needed to digest fats. Because enzymes are specific in their action many human made materials like plastics cannot be broken down by bacteria and other saprophytes. These materials will be acted upon by physical processes like heat and pressure but under the conditions found on the earth these materials persist for a long time.
1145 Views

Advertisement

What are various components of the ecosystem?


Components of the ecosystem are -:
i. Biotic components - which comprises of all the living organisms like plants, animals and microorganisms.
ii. Abiotic components comprising of the non-living components like temperature, rainfall, wind, soil and minerals.

469 Views

Advertisement
Advertisement