Question

A functional aspect of an ecosystem is
A. Producers, consumers, and abiotic environment
B. Regulation of populations
C. Light, temperature, oxygen, and carbon dioxide
D. Both A and C

Answer 1

An ecosystem is the basic functional ecological unit consisting of biotic and abiotic components interacting with each other. The ecosystem runs uniformly and in a balanced way by its functional attributes only. In addition, the functions of the ecosystem are natural processes that involve energy exchange in various plants and animal populations of different biomes.

Step by step answer: An Ecosystem contains four functional aspects for its maintenance. These are biogeochemical cycles, energy flow, nutrient cycle, etc. Other important functional attributes are ecological succession, ecological pyramid, food web, and food chain.
-Option A lists producers, consumers, and abiotic environments. All of these are factors or components of the ecosystem which sustain it and affect it if there is any change in them. So, they are not functional aspects but components that make the ecosystem. Interaction between them forms the structure of the ecosystem.
-Option B is the regulation of populations. The ecosystem functions to regulate the populations in it by controlled interaction of various food chains. Many factors in nature limit the population size and growth for the proper functioning of the ecosystem. It is one of the functional aspects of the ecosystem.
-Option C is light, temperature, oxygen, and carbon dioxide makes up the abiotic or physical components of an ecosystem and thus they are not functional aspects.
-Option D that is both A and C can’t be correct as it is stated above that producers, consumers and abiotic components listed in option C that are light, temperature, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are the components of the ecosystem, not its functional aspects.
Hence, option B that is regulation of populations is the correct answer

Note: The abiotic factors and biotic factors are the components of the ecosystem. The biotic populations need to be in balance and interact with abiotic factors for the proper working of an ecosystem. An ecosystem is the key component for the maintenance of life and thus should not be disturbed by human activities.