Environmental Studies · Biology

Ecology and Biodiversity

1,737 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 botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Which of the following cycle would be affected if decomposers of an ecosystem vanish?

  1. Producer's cycle

  2. Consumer's cycle

  3. Decomposer's cycle

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

The term biogeochemical cycles is used for exchange or circulation of biogenetic nutrients between living and nonliving components of biosphere. Biogenetic nutrients are essential elements required by organisms for their body building and metabolism, which are provided by earth and returned to earth after their death by the decomposition activity of decomposers. If decomposition is not carried out then biogenetic nutrients will slowly become locked up in the bodies of plants and animals and ultimately the biogeochemical cycles will stop.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Which one of the following is not a gaseous biogeochemical
cycle in ecosystem

  1. Sulphur cycle

  2. Phosphorus cycle

  3. Nitrogen cycle

  4. Carbon cycle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Biogeochemical cycles like carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur have gaseous phases where elements circulate through the atmosphere. The phosphorus cycle is different - it's a sedimentary cycle that moves through soil, water, and rock but doesn't have a significant atmospheric gaseous phase.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Cycling of elements in an ecosystem is called

  1. Chemical cycle

  2. Geochemical cycle

  3. Biogeochemical cycle

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

Biogeochemical cycles refer to the movement of chemical elements between living organisms and the non-living environment (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere). The term combines 'bio' (living organisms), 'geo' (earth/rocks), and 'chemical' (chemical processes).

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

The circulation or cycling of elements in an ecosystem is known as

  1. Geological cycling

  2. Geo-chemical cycling

  3. Bio-geochemical cycling

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

Nutrient cycling is defined as the circulation or cycling of elements in an ecosystem. It is an essential process of an ecosystem. In this, a particular nutrient or element is transferred from environment to one living being to another living being and comes back to the environment. The various elements include carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorous, etc. 

Thus, the correct answer is 'Nutrient cycling.'

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

In ecosystem, cycling of nutrients is called

  1. Geological cycle

  2. Biogeochemical cycle

  3. Geochemical cycle

  4. Chemical cycle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In ecosystem, cycling of nutrients is called biogeochemical cycle. In this, essential nutrients moves through biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments in an ecosystem. The various biogeochemical cycle includes carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, oxygen cycles. 

Thus, the correct answer is 'Biogeochemical cycle.'

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Cycling of elements in any ecosystem is called as

  1. Chemical cycle

  2. Geochemical cycle

  3. Biogeochemical cycle

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

In earth science, a biogeochemical cycle or substance turn over or cycling of substances is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth. A cycle is a series of change, which comes back to the starting point and which can be repeated.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycling means cycling of 

  1. Energy in ecosystem

  2. Gases between plants and the atmosphere

  3. Nutrients in an ecosystem

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

Biogeochemical cycle is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic and abiotic compartments of earth. The circulation of chemical nutrients like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and water, etc., through the biological and physical world are known as biogeochemical cycles. In effect, the element is recycled, although in some cycles there may be places where the element is accumulated or held for a long period of time.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles are also known as

  1. Cycles of matter

  2. Sedimentary cycles

  3. Material cycling

  4. Gaseous cycles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Biogeochemical cycles may also be referred to as cycles of matter because they link together all organisms and abiotic features on earth. Matter is continually recycled among living and abiotic elements on earth. Biogeochemical cycles facilitate the transfer of matter from one form to another and from one location to another on planet earth.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles can be traced in 

  1. Ecosystems

  2. Biomes

  3. Only water

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biogeochemical cycles are the nutrient cycles. These are the cycles which are responsible for the recycling of the nutrients. The chemical cycles are necessary for the metabolism and maintenance of the organisms in the ecosystem. Biome is a collection of many ecosystems. The nutrient recycling takes place in the ecosystem and biomes. 

Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

The natural cycle that circulates elements between the earth and the environment is called as 

  1. Biological cycle

  2. Chemical cycle

  3. Biogeochemical cycle

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

Biogeochemical cycles are the nutrient cycles. These are the cycles which are responsible for the recycling of the nutrients which are present in the geosphere and atmosphere. The nutrient recycling takes place in the ecosystem and biomes. The recycling of nutrients helps in maintaining the nutrients in the available form for the uptake by the organisms.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.  

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

An ecosystem, such as an aquarium, is self-sustaining if it involves the interaction between organisms, a flow of energy, and the presence of 

  1. Equal numbers of plants and animals

  2. More animals than plants

  3. Materials cycles

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

If a ecosystem such as an ecosystem is to be self-sustaining, materials such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and nitrogen must be able to recycle between the organisms. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles

  1. Include the processes only conducted by or within living organisms

  2. Pertain only to the abiotic environment

  3. Describe the movement of water and other materials throughout the abiotic and biotic environment

  4. Are used to describe the attempts of humans to recycle various pollutants
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Breaking apart the word biogeochemical into pieces. The first part of the word, bio, involves biological organisms, like bacteria, plants, and animals. The next part of the word, geo, involves geological processes, like the weathering of rocks. The last part of the word indicates chemical processes, such as the formation of molecules. Thus a biogeochemical cycle or substance turnover or cycling of substances is a pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) compartments of Earth. A cycle is a series of change which comes back to the starting point and which can be repeated.
So, the correct answer is 'Describe the movement of water and other materials throughout the abiotic and biotic environment'.
Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycle involves .......... factors.

  1. Biological

  2. Geological

  3. Chemical

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biogeochemical cycle involves biological, geological and chemical factors. The circulation of chemical nutrients like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water, etc. between biotic and abiotic components of the biosphere is known as a biogeochemical cycle.

So, the correct option is option D.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

________ is required to maintain the balance in nature.

  1. Biotic factors

  2. Abiotic factors

  3. Biogeochemical cycle

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

The path through which a nutrient travels as it moves from the air, water or soil into the bodies of living organisms and back to the air, water or soil is called a biogeochemical cycle. It is one of the requirements to maintain the balance in nature.

Multiple choice botany energy flow in an ecosystem biogeochemical cycle nutrient cycles species, communities and ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles are of

  1. Two types

  2. Three types

  3. Four types

  4. Five types
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The term biogeochemical cycle is used for exchange or circulation of biogenetic nutrients between living and nonliving components of a biosphere. 

The Biogeochemical or nutrient cycle can be- 
(A) gaseous cycle in which the materials involved in circulation between living and nonliving components are gases or vapours. E.g., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. 
(B) sedimentary cycles of matter in which the materials involved in circulation between biotic and abiotic components of a biosphere are non-gaseous. E.g., phosphorous, calcium, magnesium.
(C) Hydrological cycle is the cycle where the surface water which gets evaporated due to the heat is returned back to the earth by precipitation through sequential interconvertible reactions.
So, the correct answer is option B.