Question:
(i) State, what does "standing crop" of a trophic level represent.
(ii) List any two ways of measuring the standing crop of a trophic level.
(i) State, what does "standing crop" of a trophic level represent.
(ii) List any two ways of measuring the standing crop of a trophic level.
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Standing crop is the biomass of a trophic level at a given time; measure it as fresh or dry weight per unit area.
Updated On: Oct 22, 2026
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Each trophic level in an ecosystem holds living organisms at any moment. The standing crop describes how much living matter is present.
Step 2: Part (i) - Meaning of standing crop:
Standing crop is the mass of living organisms (biomass) present in a trophic level at a particular time.
It is a snapshot, not a rate. It is expressed as mass or number per unit area, for example \( \mathrm{g\,m^{-2}} \).
Step 3: Part (ii) - Ways of measuring it:
1. Fresh weight: weigh the living organisms collected from a unit area.
2. Dry weight: dry the sample to remove water and then weigh it. Dry weight is more reliable because water content changes with season and age.
Step 4: Link to productivity:
Standing crop is not the same as productivity, which is the rate of biomass formation per unit time.
Final Answer:
(i) Standing crop is the biomass of living organisms in a trophic level at a given time. (ii) It is measured as fresh weight or as dry weight per unit area.
Each trophic level in an ecosystem holds living organisms at any moment. The standing crop describes how much living matter is present.
Step 2: Part (i) - Meaning of standing crop:
Standing crop is the mass of living organisms (biomass) present in a trophic level at a particular time.
It is a snapshot, not a rate. It is expressed as mass or number per unit area, for example \( \mathrm{g\,m^{-2}} \).
Step 3: Part (ii) - Ways of measuring it:
1. Fresh weight: weigh the living organisms collected from a unit area.
2. Dry weight: dry the sample to remove water and then weigh it. Dry weight is more reliable because water content changes with season and age.
Step 4: Link to productivity:
Standing crop is not the same as productivity, which is the rate of biomass formation per unit time.
Final Answer:
(i) Standing crop is the biomass of living organisms in a trophic level at a given time. (ii) It is measured as fresh weight or as dry weight per unit area.
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