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 not correct about the characteristics of the ecological niche of an organism?

  1. Includes living and physical factors of a species

  2. Includes the response of the population

  3. Describes a relative position of a species

  4. The realized niche is a group of environmental and ecological conditions

  5. Includes the set of both living and non-living factors
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The non-living, physical factor is also a part of a niche as it influences the effect of the population and how they effect the resources and its enemies.

Multiple choice

Ecosystem functions are also called ecological processes. Which among the following statements regarding the ecosystem functions is incorrect?

  1. A stable ecosystem is one whose structure and function remains more or less similar from year to year.

  2. In an ecosystem, the frequency of the occurrence of stress may be very high.

  3. The biotic community in an ecosystem usually contains a large biomass.

  4. The functioning of the ecosystem depends on biomass of the organisms.

  5. A system with high species diversity and low dominance is more productive but unstable.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

A system with high species diversity and low dominance is less productive but stable. A system with a low species diversity and high dominance is more productive but unstable.

Multiple choice

Which among the following types of succession is a kind of self destruction being triggered by the external factors?

  1. Primary succession

  2. Autotrophic succession

  3. Allogenic succession

  4. Heterotrophic succession

  5. Autogenic succession
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Autogenic succession is caused by changes in soil structure and composition.  It is commonly found where the established community in response to environmental conditions or other factors, changes its habitat, eventually destroying itself. It is a kind of self destruction which is triggered by the external factors.

Multiple choice

Which among the following does not characterise climax community?

  1. It is a balanced ecosystem.

  2. The individual organisms in the climax ecosystem are replaced by other organisms of the different kind.

  3. There is a large species diversity.

  4. There is an equilibrium between the nutrients intake and the return of the nutrients to the soil.

  5. The life here indicates the climatic type.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The individual organisms in the climax ecosystem are replaced by other organisms of the same kind. Thus, maintaining species equilibrium. The life and growth here indicates the climatic types of an area.

Multiple choice

All of Earth's water, land, and atmosphere wherein life exists is called

  1. a community

  2. a population

  3. the biosphere

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

All of Earth's water, land, and atmosphere wherein life exists are called the biosphere. The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be called the zone of life on Earth, a closed and self-regulating system. 

Multiple choice

In which kind of ecosystem, the number of primary producers within a fixed area would be the greatest?

  1. Pond ecosystem

  2. Grassland ecosystem

  3. Forest ecosystem

  4. Desert ecosystem

  5. Man-made ecosystem
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A pond ecosystem is a fragile balance of organisms such as fish, plants and other animals. The ecosystem starts with solar energy, which is utilized by plants. Here, the number of primary producers is the greatest, which also includes many phytoplankton's.

Multiple choice

Red Data Book provides data on

  1. biota of Red Sea

  2. effect of red light on photosynthesis

  3. red pigmented plants

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

Red data book of the Russian federation is the slate document established documenting rare and endangered species.

Multiple choice

Stability of ecosystem depends upon

  1. primary productivity

  2. interchange between producers and consumers

  3. number of producers

  4. number of consumers

  5. -
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

There is lot of interaction between producers and consumers. Basically, these are interdependent over each other. For example, producers provide food to consumers and consumers provide carbon dioxide as a raw material to producers.This brings a stability in ecosystem.

Multiple choice

Which among the following correctly defines ‘biodiversity’?

  1. The variety of flora found in an area.

  2. The variety of fauna found in an area.

  3. The variety of flora and fauna found in an area.

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

'Biological diversity' means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.  

Multiple choice

A community is

  1. a group of independent and interacting population of different species

  2. a group of independent and interacting population of the same species

  3. a group of independent and interacting population of same species in a specific area

  4. a group of independent and interacting population of different species in a specific area
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Community is an assemblage or association of populations of two or more different species occupying the same geographical area and in a particular time.