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 zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

Species diversity in an ecosystem mainly depends on

  1. Light intensity

  2. Less temperature

  3. Rain fall

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

Species diversity is a measure of the diversity within an ecological community that incorporates both species richness (the number of species in a community) and the evenness of species abundances and it varies from region to region and mainly depends on rainfall apart from other other factors like temperature, light intensity etc. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

Ecological diversity includes

  1. Species diversity

  2. Genetic diversity

  3. Ecosystem diversity

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

In our biosphere immense diversity (or heterogeneity) exists not only at the species level but at all levels of biological organisation ranging from macromolecules within cells to biomes. Biodiversity is the term popularised by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson to describe the combined diversity at all the levels of biological organisation. 

The most important of them are -
(i) Genetic diversity.
(ii) Species diversity.
(iii) Ecological diversity.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

Beta diversity is diversity

  1. In a community

  2. Between communities

  3. In mountain gradient

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

Beta diversity is the diversity present between the communities. It is also the rate of replacement of species along a gradient of habitats/communities. Whereas, the local species pool is known as alpha diversity and the diversity present in the ranges of communities is known as Gamma diversity.

In general, Gamma diversity=Alpha diversity x Beta diversity.
So, the correct answer is 'Between communities'.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

The relation between species richness and area is correctly depicted by

  1. log S = log C - Z log A

  2. log S = Z log A

  3. log S = log C + Z log A

  4. log S = log C

  5. log C = log S + Z log A
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The relationship between the area of a habitat, or of part of a habitat, and the number of species found within that area is described by the species-area curve. It says that log S = log C + Z log A. Here S is the number of species, A is the habitat area, and Z is the slope of the species-area relationship. Larger areas tend to contain larger numbers of species.
So, the correct answer is 'log S = log C + Z log A'.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

The number of taxa present within a particular area or an ecosystem is

  1. $\alpha$ - diversity
  2. $\beta$ - diversity

  3. Gamma diversity

  4. Delta diversity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The number of taxa present within a particular area or an ecosystem is called alpha diversity. It is also the diversity present within the community. The term was introduced by R. H. Whittaker. Example of such diversity includes high tree diversity throughout the Amazon Rainforests of Ecuador. Generally, gamma diversity = alpha diversity x beta diversity.

So, the correct answer is 'α - diversity'.

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

Ten species (i) to (x) sampled in four areas  $A-D$ having $11-13$ habitats (given in brackets) possess populations (in thousands) given in the table. Which one has the maximum species diversity

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x)
A (11) 2.3 1.2 0.52 6.0 - 3.1 1.1 9.0 - 10.3
B (11) 10.2 - 0.62 - 1.5 3.0 - 8.2 1.1 11.2
C (13) 11.3 0.9 0.48 2.4 1.4 4.2 0.8 8.4 2.2 4.1
D (12) 3.2 10.2 11.1 4.8 0.4 3.3 0.8 7.3 11.3 2.1

  1. A

  2. B

  3. C

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

A) The given region does not have much species richness. 

B) The given region has the least species richness. 
C) The region has the second largest (sum total) of species richness. 
D) The region has the most species richness (by adding up the columns). 
So the correct answer is 'D'. 

Multiple choice zoology biodiversity, classification and conservation levels of biodiversity environmental conservation and biodiversity biodiversity on earth and in india

The diversity of an ecosystem of total geographical area is called 

  1. Ecological integrity
  2. $\alpha$-diversity
  3. $\beta$- diversity
  4. $\gamma$- diversity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Alpha diversity : species diversity within a community or habitat, comprises two components, i.e., species richness and evenness. Sometimes dominant of one vegetation stratum may affect the diversity of the other strata. 

Beta diversity : diversity is the inter community diversity expressing the rate of species turnover per unit change in habitat. 
Gamma diversity : gamma diversity is the overall diversity at landscape level includes both and  diversities. 

Multiple choice biology animal behaviour ethology natural selection coordination in human beings- chemical control endocrine system in humans

The table below gives the populations (in thousands) of ten species (A-J) in four areas (a-d) consisting of the number of habitats given within brackets against each. Study the table and answer the question which follows :-










































































































































Area and Number of habitats Species and their populations (in thousands) in the areas
A B
a (11) 2.3
b (11) 10.2
c (13) 11.3
d (14) 3.2





Which area out of a tod shows maximum species diversity?

  1. d

  2. a

  3. b

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

Species diversity is the number of different species that are represented in a given community. The two main factors taken into account when measuring diversity are richness and evenness. The habitats c and d have a higher species richness as compared to habitat a and b as both of them have 10 different types of species, while a and b have 8 and 7 different types of species respectively. However, habitat d has more species evenness as compared to habitat c. Since, the species diversity depends both on the species richness and the species evenness, so species d has a higher species diversity as compared to species c. So, the correct option is 'd'.

Multiple choice

Biotic means _______?

  1. living things

  2. non-living things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The term biotic refers to any living or once-living component of an environment.

Multiple choice

Abiotic means _______?

  1. living things

  2. non-living things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The term abiotic refers to the non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Multiple choice evs - i issues of the environment eco-system and its destruction ecology and ecosystem ecology and ecosysytem

Which one of the following aspects is not a component of functional unit of ecosystem?

  1. Productivity

  2. Decomposition

  3. Energy flow

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

Interaction of biotic and abiotic components result in a physical structure, that is characteristic of each type of ecosystem. Components of ecosystem function as one single unit. Four important functional aspects of the ecosystem are (i) Productivity, (ii) Decomposition, (iii) Energy flow and (iv) Nutrient cycling. Ecological pyramids are a graphical representation of a number, biomass, and energy flow in an ecosystem.

So, the correct answer is 'Ecological pyramids'.