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

Recycling of material is carried out by decomposers. If decomposers of an ecosystem vanish recycling of materials is stopped, thereby affecting the movement materials between the biotic and the abiotic systems that forms the biogeochemical cycle.

So, the correct answer is 'Biogeochemical cycle'

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

Which of the following occurs in abiotic component of an ecosystem?

  1. Flow of energy

  2. Cycling of materials

  3. Consumers

  4. Flow of energy and cycling of materials
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An ecosystem is made up of biotic and abiotic components. Biotic components include plants, animals, microorganism. Abiotic components include nonliving things such as water, air, temperature, materials of the soil. Essential material includes minerals like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous. Cycling of materials include release of minerals back to the environment. 

Thus, the correct answer is 'Cycling of materials.'

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

For the sedimentary type of biogeochemical cycles, the reservoir is 

  1. Atmosphere

  2. Water

  3. Earth's crust

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

Biogeochemical cycles are also called as nutrient cycles. It includes gaseous cycles such as carbon cycle, oxygen cycle and sedimentary cycle. Sedimentary cycle consists of weathering of an existing rock followed by the erosion of minerals, transport and deposition. It has earth's crust as the reservoir pool. Examples of sedimentary cycle include sulphur cycle, phosphorous cycle, iron cycle, calcium cycle.

Thus, the correct answer is 'Earth's crust.'

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

For sedimentary type of biogeochemical cycles, the reservoir is

  1. atmosphere

  2. water

  3. earth's crust

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

For the sedimentary type of biogeochemical cycles, the reservoir is earth's crust as the nutrients do not take any gaseous form rather they are either mineralized of immobilized but ultimately return to earth's crust by decomposition, leaching etc.

So, the correct answer is option C, earth's crust.

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

The inorganic nutrients cycle though more than the organisms, however, they also enter into the atmosphere, the oceans and even rocks. Since these chemicals cycle through both the biological and the geological world, we call the overall cycles biogeochemical cycles. 

Each chemical has its own unique cycle, but all of the cycles do have some things in common. Reservoirs are those parts of the cycle where the chemical is held in large quantities for long periods of time. In exchange pools, on the other hand, the chemical is held for only a short period of time. The length of time a chemical is held in an exchange pool or a reservoir is termed its residence time. 

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

Biogeochemical cycling means cycling of 

  1. Energy in an ecosystem

  2. Gases between plants and the atmosphere

  3. Nutrients in an ecosystem

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

Biogeochemical cycles are nutrient cycles. These are the cycles which are responsible for the recycling 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 zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

I. Temperature
II. Humidity
III. Vegetation 
The abiotic factors of ecosystem include

  1. I only

  2. II only

  3. III only

  4. I and II only

  5. I, II and III
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biotic factors of an ecosystem include all plant and animal species present in there. The abiotic factors include a physical environment in which they can survive. It includes light, temperature, humidity and other climatic condition as well as physical factors like soil. Thus, the correct answer is D. 

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

In a .......... ecosystem, the producers are mostly herbaceous or woody plants.

  1. Terrestrial

  2. Aquatic

  3. Desert

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

Herbaceous plants are plants with very flexible stems. Woody plants include trees and shrubs. These are the plants present in the terrestrial ecosystem. They convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide and water are used in presence of sunlight to synthesize nutrients such carbohydrates in the form of glucose and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Since plants form the base of the terrestrial ecosystem they are the producers.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Environment consists of

  1. land, air, water

  2. light, temperature and rainfall

  3. plants, animals and microbes

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The environment consists of two major components:
  • Abiotic components: These are non-living components of the environment and consist of two things, materials and energy (that may be light or chemical energy). Materials include land, air, water, minerals, salts, atmospheric gases, rainfall, temperature etc.
  • Biotic components: These are living components of the environment and divided into autotrophic and heterotrophic components. An autotrophic component is the producers or green plants while heterotrophic component includes consumers (primary, secondary and tertiary consumers) and decomposers (microbes).
Hence, all the given options are correct.
So, the correct answer is 'All the above'.
Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Which one of the following is not a correct match of the term and its description?

  1. Ecosystem - Functional unit of nature

  2. Global ecosystem - Entire biosphere

  3. Aquatic ecosystem - Wetland

  4. Natural ecosystem - Crop field
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Crop field is considered as man-made(anthropogenic or artificial) ecosystem. Natural ecosystem is developed in nature without human involvement, e.g., forest, ocean, etc.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

The abiotic components of the environment are the living factors.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
There are two major components of an ecosystem:
  • Abiotic components: These are non living components of environment and consist of two things, materials and energy (that may be light or chemical energy). Materials include water, minerals, salts, atmospheric gases etc.
  • Biotic components: These are living components of environment and divided into autotrophic and heterotrophic components. Autotrophic component is the producers or green plants while heterotrophic component includes consumers (primary, secondary and tertiary consumers) and decomposers.
Hence, the statement given in the question is incorrect.
So, the correct answer is 'False'. 
Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Which of the following is an ecosystem service provided by a natural ecosystem?

  1. Cycling of nutrients

  2. Prevention of soil erosion

  3. Pollutant absorption and reduction of the threat of global warming

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

The products of ecosystem processes which have environmental aesthetic and indirect economic value are named as ecosystem services. Soil formation and soil protection are the major ecosystem services accounting for nearly 50% of their total worth. Plant cover protects the soil from drastic changes in temperature. There is little wind or water erosion as soil particles are not exposed to them. The soil remains spongy and fertile. There are no landslides and no floods. The plant cover of natural ecosystem absorbs polluting gases, causes settling of suspended particulate matter, removes CO2 and releases O2. Purified air becomes available. There is no overall depletion of nutrients as the same as repeatedly circulated and recirculated. This keeps the fertility of soil intact.

So, the correct answer 'All of the above'.

Multiple choice zoology environmental factors soil-nature climate factors abiotic components organisms and environment

Initial causes of ecological succession includes:

  1. Climatic and Biotic factors

  2. Abiotic Factors

  3. Water Vapours

  4. Air Precipitation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. It is primarily initiated by climatic factors (like temperature and rainfall) and biotic factors (like the introduction of pioneer species or human activity).