Environmental Studies · Biology

Ecology and Biodiversity

1,739 Questions

Ecology and biodiversity are vital topics in environmental studies, covering ecosystem structures, species diversity, and environmental impacts. These concepts are frequently tested in competitive examinations for civil services and state selections. The questions cover carrying capacity, ecological succession, and conservation fundamentals.

Species richness measurementTypes of ecological diversityBiome distribution factorsCarrying capacity conceptEcosystem servicesEnvironmental Impact Assessment

Ecology and Biodiversity Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a biotic component of the ecosystem?

  1. Light

  2. Water

  3. Heat

  4. Living organisms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biotic Components, are all the living beings, in an environment, from protists to mammalians. Individuals should have specific behavioral and physiological characteristics, that permit their survival and reproduction, in a defined environment. The condition of sharing an environment, generates a competence among the species, competence that is given for food, space, etc.

Multiple choice

Coral reefs are made up of which of the following?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question given underneath.

Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.

  1. Tiny plants

  2. Animals

  3. Plants with animals living inside them

  4. Animals with plants living inside them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The sixth sentence of the passage gives the answer. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them.

Multiple choice

Which of the following words is opposite in meaning to the word ‘significant’?

Directions: Read the passage below and answer the question given underneath.

Coral reefs are one of the Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony which make a coral. Several polyps make a coral which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients, and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands and protect coastlines from wave and storm damage and erosion.

  1. Common

  2. Serious

  3. Valid

  4. Petty
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of significant as used in the passage is important. Its antonym is petty.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. When as a consequence of ecological distress, damages are induced in the ecosystem, they are called ecological droughts. b. When the availability of water in different storages and reservoirs falls below what precipitation can replenish, it is called meteorological drought. c. Agricultural drought is characterised by low soil moisture that is necessary to support the crops, thereby resulting in crop failures.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. b and c

  4. a and c

  5. b only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is not a biotic component of environment?

  1. Edaphic factors

  2. Plants

  3. Animals

  4. Micro organisms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Edaphic factors which are related to the structure and composition of soil, including its physical and chemical properties, like soil and its types, soil profile, minerals, organic matter, soil water, soil organisms, are the abiotic factors of the ecosystem.

Multiple choice

Biotic component of environment is ________________.

  1. climatic factors

  2. edaphic factors

  3. micro organisms

  4. inorganic substances
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The micro organisms form a very large group of biotic components. They are found in all types of habitats and climatic conditions. They are members of bacteria, viruses and fungi group.

Multiple choice

Phyllosphere refers to the habitat of microorganisms on above-ground portions of plants. Which of the following about phyllosphere is false?

  1. Phyllosphere microbiota is adapted to tolerate high irradiation and low humidity stresses.

  2. Phyllosphere microorganisms antagonise airborne pathogens, thereby protecting the plant.

  3. An understanding of phyllosphere is of great importance to agricultural industry.

  4. Phyllosphere provides the most benign environment for microorganisms.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is false. Phyllosphere can be considered a very hostile community because there is a limited availability of nutrients, strong sun irradiation and variation in water availability.

Multiple choice

Which of the following words is opposite in meaning to the word ‘significant’?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most beautiful, ancient and complex ecosystems. They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But, coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Ecological research provides information that is  fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Corals are actually animals with plants living inside them. A coral structure is actually composed of hundreds or thousands of tiny animals growing together as a colony. Several polyps make a coral, which together form a reef.
Coral reefs are the most diverse and productive marine communities on the planet. They play a critical role as habitat and nursery grounds for 10 to 20% of the world’s fisheries. They are intimately connected to other marine communities such as mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and the open seas as water currents transport larvae, plants, animals, nutrients and organic materials. They play a significant role in the development of other ecosystems, such as mangroves and wetlands, and protect coastlines from waves, storm damage and erosion.

  1. Common

  2. Serious

  3. Valid

  4. Petty
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of significant is important. Its antonym is petty.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question given below.Most geographers are naturalists, but some biologists are also naturalists. Yet all naturalists have one thing in common: they all love nature.

Assuming that all statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?

  1. All people who love nature are naturalists.

  2. Some people who love nature are not naturalists.

  3. Most people who love nature are geographers.

  4. Some people who love nature are biologists.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Those biologists that are naturalists must love nature because all naturalists love nature.

Multiple choice

What is formed by plants and animals living in an area?

  1. Ecosystem

  2. Community

  3. Population

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A community consists of all the populations of different species living and interacting in a particular area. An ecosystem includes the community plus the non-living environmental factors.