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

What is the type of energy flow in an ecosystem?

  1. Unidirectional

  2. Bidirectional

  3. Multidirectional

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

Energy flow in an ecosystem is unidirectional - it flows from the sun to producers, then to various consumer levels, and finally to decomposers. Energy cannot cycle back to lower trophic levels; only nutrients cycle.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is true?

  1. The number of living organisms continuously decreases as we move up an ecological pyramid

  2. The pyramid of biomass represents the biomass of an ecosystem.

  3. The pyramid of biomass represents the biomass of an species.

  4. The number of plants will be less than the number of cows in an ecological pyramid.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The number of organisms decreases at higher trophic levels due to energy loss (only about 10% transfers). This is why ecological pyramids are broader at the base. Option B is false because pyramids of biomass represent ecosystem biomass across trophic levels, not just one species. Option C has the same error as B. Option D is false because plants (producers) always outnumber herbivores in a stable ecosystem.

Multiple choice

What is the classification of resources on the basis of origin?

  1. Renewable and Non-renewable

  2. Biotic and abiotic

  3. Quantity and quality

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

Resources are classified by origin into biotic (living organisms like plants, animals) and abiotic (non-living things like minerals, water, air). Renewable vs non-renewable is classification based on exhaustibility, not origin.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are an/the abiotic component(s) of ecosystem?

  1. Insects

  2. Birds

  3. Plants

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

Soil is an abiotic (non-living) component of ecosystems, consisting of minerals and organic matter. Insects, birds, and plants are all biotic (living) components. Understanding this distinction is fundamental to ecology, as abiotic factors like soil, water, and temperature interact with biotic organisms.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a biotic component of ecosystem?

  1. Temperature

  2. Cactus

  3. Rainfall

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

Cactus is a biotic (living) component as it's a plant. Temperature, rainfall, and wind are all abiotic (non-living) environmental factors. Biotic components include all living organisms within an ecosystem, while abiotic components are the physical and chemical factors that affect them.

Multiple choice

ASSERTION (A): Soil microbiology is the study of microbes in soil, their functions and effects on soil properties. REASON (R): The microbial ecosystem of soil includes only biotic components of soil.

In the following question there are two statements, Assertion (A) and Reason (R), consider both the statements independently and mark your answers as under:
1. If A and R both are correct and R is correct explanation of A.
2. If A and R both are correct and R is not correct explanation of A.
3. If A is correct and R is incorrect.
4. If A is incorrect and R is correct.
5. If A and R both are incorrect.

 

  1. 1

  2. 2

  3. 3

  4. 4

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

Soil Microbiology is the study of soil inhabiting microborganisms, their functions and effects soil properties. The microbial ecosystem of soil includes biotic and abiotic components of soil.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct about a biome?

  1. A biome is a very large ecosystem on land having distinct types of vegetation and animal life.

  2. A biome is identified on the basis of its wildlife.

  3. Human beings are not considered a part of biome.

  4. All interdependent and interrelated plants and animals in an area are considered a biome.

  5. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as this statement is correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements best defines the ecosystem?

  1. A system that classifies organisms

  2. A system which comprises the physical environment and the organisms that live therein

  3. A system that studies the volume, intensity and velocity of sound

  4. A system that governs the radiation of energy from the sun
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An ecosystem is defined as a functional system comprising both living (biotic) components and the physical environment (abiotic factors) in which they interact. This includes organisms, their habitat, and the complex relationships between them. Options C and D describe unrelated acoustic and atmospheric phenomena respectively, while option A refers to taxonomic classification rather than ecological systems.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the biggest component of ecological hierarchy?

  1. Biome

  2. Community

  3. Biosphere

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

The biosphere is the highest and most comprehensive level of ecological hierarchy, encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with Earth's systems. A biome is a large ecosystem type. A community is populations of different species. A population is individuals of one species.

Multiple choice

Ecosystem means

  1. interdependence of human beings on other things

  2. interdependence of animals on humans for survival

  3. interdependence of living beings for survival

  4. interdependence of living beings on non-living things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ecosystem means interdependence of living beings for survival.