12.EcosystemMedium

Distinguish between

$(a)$ Grazing food chain and detritus food chain

$(b)$ Production and decomposition

Solution

$(a)$ Grazing food chain and detritus food chain

Grazing food chain	Detritus food chain
$1$. In this food chain, energy is derived from the Sun.	$1$. In this food chain, energy comes from organic matter (or detritus) generated in trophic levels of the grazing food chain.
$2$. It begins with producers, present at the first trophic level. The plant biomass is then eaten by herbivores, which in turn are consumed by a variety of carnivores.	$2$. It begins with detritus such as dead bodies of animals or fallen leaves, which are then eaten by decomposers or detritivores. These detritivores are in turn consumed by their predators.
$3$. This food chain is usually large.	$3$. It is usually smaller as compared to the grazing food chain.

$(b)$ Production and decomposition

Production	Decomposition
$1$. It is the rate of producing organic matter (food) by producers.	$1$. It is the process of breaking down of complex organic matter or biomass from the body of dead plants and animals with the help of decomposers into organic raw material such as $\mathrm{CO}_{2}, \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O},$ and other nutrients.
$2$. It depends on the photosynthetic capacity of the producers.	$2$. It occurs with the help of decomposers.
$3$. Sunlight is required by plants for primary production.	$3$. Sunlight is not required for decomposition by decomposers

The biotic part of ecosystem includes

Medium

Medium

Easy

Medium

Medium