BT101 ASSIGNMENT NO. 1 SPRING 2023 || 100% RIGHT SOLUTION || ECOLOGY BIODIVERSITY & EVOLUTION-I || BY VuTech
Question-1
a) Define ecosystem and ecological pyramid.
Ans:
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms, together with their physical and chemical environment, interacting as a system. It includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components, such as soil, water, air, and sunlight. These components interact in complex ways to create a self-sustaining system where energy and nutrients flow through food webs and cycles, such as the carbon cycle and water cycle.
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the trophic levels (feeding relationships) within an ecosystem. It shows the relative amounts of energy, biomass, or number of individuals at each level, arranged in a hierarchical structure. There are three types of ecological pyramids:
1) Pyramid of Energy
2) Pyramid of Biomass
3) Pyramid of Numbers
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b) Differentiate between R and K selected species.
Ans:
R-selected and K-selected species are two distinct reproductive strategies adopted by different species to maximize their fitness in particular environments.
R-selected species are characterized by rapid population growth and early reproduction. These species have a high reproductive rate and produce a large number of offspring, but they provide little parental care for their young. R-selected species are usually found in unstable or unpredictable environments where the competition for resources is low. Examples of R-selected species include insects, weeds, and small rodents.
In contrast, K-selected species have a slower population growth rate and a longer lifespan. These species invest more energy in parental care, which increases the survival rate of their offspring. K-selected species are typically found in stable and predictable environments where competition for resources is high. Examples of K-selected species include large mammals such as elephants, whales, and primates.
Overall, the main difference between R-selected and K-selected species lies in their reproductive strategies and life histories, with R-selected species having a shorter lifespan and a high reproductive rate, while K-selected species have a longer lifespan and a lower reproductive rate but provide more parental care to their offspring.