Why is damage to the ozone layer a cause for concern?

[question] Question. Why is damage to the ozone layer a cause for concern? What steps are being taken to limit this damage? [/question] [solution] solution: The ozone shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. These radiations are highly damaging as they can cause cancer in both plants and animals, damage to eyes and immune system. They can also lead to variations in global rainfall, ecological disturbances and dwindling of global food supplies. Due to these r...

If all the waste we generate is biodegradable,

[question] Question. If all the waste we generate is biodegradable, will this have no impact on the environment ? [/question] [solution] solution: Biodegradable waste will be recycled easily by the decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. It will have only this bad impact on our environment that, many of the gases released during decomposition process may result in global warming. [/solution]...

What are the problems caused by the

[question] Question. What are the problems caused by the non-biodegradable wastes that we generate ? [/question] [solution] solution: (i) Non-biodegradable waste persist in the environment for a long time and cause greater harm to the various members of the ecosystem by causing biological magnification. (ii) Non-biodegradable waste such as fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, etc., changes the soil chemistry. This inturn affects the fertility of soil and subsequently reduces the crop yield. [/so...

What is biological magnification ?

[question] Question. What is biological magnification ? Will the levels of this magnification be different at different levels of the ecosystem ? [/question] [solution] solution: The accumulation of harmful chemicals in the body of living organisms at different trophic levels in a food chain is called biological magnification. Yes, the concentration of these harmful chemicals will be different at different trophic levels. It will be maximum at the last trophic levels which is mostly of the top c...

Will the impact of removing all the organisms

[question] Question. Will the impact of removing all the organisms in a trophic level be different for different trophic levels? Can the organisms of any trophic level be removed without causing any damage to the ecosystem ? [/question] [solution] solution: Yes, the impact of removing all the organisms in a trophic level will be different for different trophic levels. For example : Consider the following food chain: Plants $\longrightarrow$ Deer $\longrightarrow$ Lion. If all the lions are remov...

What will happen if we kill all

[question] Question. What will happen if we kill all the organisms in one trophic level ? [/question] [solution] solution: If we kill all the organisms in one trophic level then transfer of energy as well as matter to next higher level will stop. It will lead to over population at lower trophic level causing competition amongst the individuals. This would seriously disturb the food chain and can cause even a collapse of an ecosystem. [/solution]...

Which of the following are environment friendly practices ?

[question] Question. Which of the following are environment friendly practices ? (a) Carrying cloth-bags to put purchases in while shopping (b) Switching off unnecessary lights and fans (c) Walking to school instead of getting your mother to drop you on her scooter (d) All of the above. [/question] [solution] solution: (d) All of the above. [/solution]...

Which of the following constitute food-chain ?

[question] Question. Which of the following constitute food-chain ? (a) Grass, wheat and mango (b) Grass, goat and human (c) Goat, cow and elephant (d) Grass, fish and goat. [/question] [solution] solution: (b) Grass, goat and human [/solution]...

Which of the following groups contain only biodegradable items?

[question] Question. Which of the following groups contain only biodegradable items? (a) Grass, flowers and leather (b) Grass, wood and plastic (c) Fruit-peels, cake and lime-juice (d) Cake, wood and grass [/question] [solution] solution: (c) Fruit-peels, cake and lime-juice (d) Cake, wood and grass [/solution]...

How can you help idegradable and non

[question] Question. How can you help idegradable and non biodegradable waste before dumping [/question] [solution] solution: To reduce the problem of waste disposal we can :- (i) Segregate the biodegradable and non biodegradable waste before dumping (ii) Remove all materials which can be recycled. eg paper, glass. [/solution]...

What is ozone and how does

[question] Question. What is ozone and how does it affect any ecosystem? [/question] [solution] solution: (i) Ozone is formed in atmosphere by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen gas. (ii) The high energy ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) coming from the sun splits oxygen gas into free oxygen atoms (iii) The free oxygen atoms are highly reactive. One oxygen atom reacts with an oxygen molecule to form an ozone molecule. $\mathrm{O}_{2}+\mathrm{O} \longrightarrow \mathrm{O}_{3}$ (Ozon...

What is the role of decomposers

[question] Question. What is the role of decomposers in the ecosystem? [/question] [solution] solution: Decomposers are essential components of ecosystem. They decompose dead remains of plants and animals and their waste organic products into simpler, inorganic substances. The latter are released into the environment for their reuse as raw materials by the producers. Thus it maintains balance in nature and play important role in ecosystem. [/solution]...

What are trophic levels?

[question] Question. What are trophic levels? Give an example of a food chain and state thedifferent trophic levels in it. [/question] [solution] solution: Trophic levels : The distinct sequential steps in the food chain where transfer of energy occurs are referred to as different trophic levels. [/solution]...

Give any two ways in which non-biodegradable

[question] Question. Give any two ways in which non-biodegradable substances would affect the environment. [/question] [solution] solution: (i) Non-biodegradable substances contaminate soil and water resources as they cannot be decomposed. (ii) They may be radioactively active which have hazardous effects to human beings. [/solution]...

Give any two ways in which biodegradable substances

[question] Question. Give any two ways in which biodegradable substances would affect the environment. [/question] [solution] solution: (i) If biodegradable substances are not degraded properly on right time , They will be accumulated and will act as pollutant. (ii) They are used in composting which forms humus that enhances soil fertility. [/solution]...

Why are some substances biodegradable

[question] Question. Why are some substances biodegradable and some non-biodegradable? [/question] [solution] solution: [/solution]...