LET US ASSESS

1. Phytoplankton – zooplankton - - seal - shark a) In which trophic level is the secondary consumer of this food chain included? ANSWER: Third tropic level

In this, fish is the secondary consumer and it comes under third tropical level.

b) Rewrite the food chain in such a way that the organism in the third trophic level figures in the second trophic level. ANSWER: Phytoplankton fish seal shark

2. Find the odd one out from the following. Justify your answer. a) Quagga, Malabar civet cat, Nilagiri Tahr, Lion-tailed macaque.

ANSWER: is the only animal which is still not extinted .other options are extinted. As few as 100 Nilagiri Tahr were left in the wild by the early 20th century. Since that time their numbers have increased somewhat; in a comprehensive study of the Nilagiri Tahr population in , the WWF- India has put the population at 3,122.Their range extends over 400 kilometres (250 mi) from north to south, and is home to the largest population. As per the Wildlife census conducted by forest department in association with volunteers from College of Forestry & Veterinary Science under Kerala Agricultural University, from April 24–28, 2014, number of animals in Eravikulam National Park has increased to 894 individuals.

b) Eravikulam, Mathikettan shola, Periyar, Silent Valley

ANSWERS: Eravikulam, Silent Valley, Shola, Mathikettan Shola and Pambadum Shola are the national parks in Kerala whereas Periyar is wild life sanctuaries.

3. Examine the statements given below and rewrite if there are errors. a) Extinct species are included in the Red Data Book. b) WWF is an organization working with the objective of protection of biodiversity. c) Gene banks are included in in-situ conservation.

ANSWER: gene banks are included in ex-situ conservation