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 do you mean by secondary succession?

Ecological succession is the process of changes in the species structure of an ecological community over time. Within any community some species may become less abundant over some time, or they may even disappear from the ecosystem. Similarly, over some time interval, other species within the community may become more abundant, or new species may appear in the community from adjacent ecosystems.

  1. It defines the dominant organisms that are autotrophs, and it starts in an inorganic environment.

  2. It starts on a substance where there are no living organisms.

  3. It establishes that the causative factor behind succession is not the community itself but the physical surrounding.

  4. It describes the phenomenon whereby the organisms of a community modify the environment in such a way that the community itself is replaced by a new one.

  5. It begins on a substratum where there was living organism previously but has diminished due to some natural disaster.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Secondary succession begins on a substratum where there was living organism previously but has diminished due to some natural disaster, e.g., grass -> shrub -> trees -> oak hickory forest. Secondary succession is much more commonly observed and studied than primary succession.

Multiple choice

What is actually meant by the term fundamental niche?

In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; The ecological niche describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors and how it in turn alters those same factors. It can be of different types: Fundamental niche, Realized niche, Ecological niche, Spatial Niche, Trophic niche.

  1. It refers to an actual niche space occupied by organisms exposed to competition.

  2. It is the ultimate distributional unit within which no two species in the same general territory can occupy for long the same ecological niche.

  3. It represents niche in terms of functional status of organisms in community.

  4. It is the physical space occupied by organisms.

  5. Fundamental niche can be defined as a niche that the species can occupy when the species are not restricted by degree of competition and predation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Fundamental niche is used to define the maximum abstractly inhabited hypervolume that a species can occupy when it is not limited by predation or competition.

Multiple choice

What is plant succession?

Ecological succession is the process of changes in the species structure of an ecological community over time. Within any community some species may become less abundant over some time, or they may even disappear from the ecosystem. Similarly, over some time interval, other species within the community may become more abundant, or new species may appear in the community from adjacent ecosystems.

  1. It includes the plants that develop themselves for the first time on a surface.

  2. It begins as soon as a land area capable of supporting plant life is formed.

  3. Successive development of plants.

  4. It includes dominant plants which are heterotrophs; and it starts in an organic environment, where the energy and organic matter gradually decrease.

  5. It is the change in the species structure of an ecological community of a plant species.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Plant succession begins as soon as a land area capable of supporting plant life is formed. Natural vegetation of a particular location evolves in a series of steps involving different plant communities. Plant succession usually begins with a simple community known as a pioneer community.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is incorrect?

  1. Biotic and abiotic factors are the segments of the ecosystem.

  2. Water is an important biotic component of the ecosystem.

  3. Herbivores are the primary consumers in the ecosystem.

  4. Energy and nutrients enter the ecosystem through primary producers.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Water is an important abiotic component of an ecosystem. Water is a climatic factor and is not living.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a wrong pair?

  1. Sunlight - Abiotic component

  2. Mountain - Terrestrial habitat

  3. Soil - Abiotic component

  4. Fungus - Biotic component

  5. Ponds - Terrestrial habitat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Ponds belong to the aquatic habitat, not terrestrial habitat. Hence, this option is wrong.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs is incorrect?

  1. Desert - Terrestrial habitat

  2. Animals - Biotic component

  3. Coast - Aquatic habitat

  4. Water - Abiotic component

  5. Lakes - Aquatic habitat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Coastal area comes under terrestrial habitat, not aquatic habitat. Hence, this pair is incorrect.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements can define a steady state community?

  1. Groups of individuals for a particular purpose

  2. Community that is more concerned about quality than quantity

  3. Group of interacting species living in the same region

  4. Community where individuals have the same profession

  5. Community where individuals share the same interest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Steady state community refers to a community that is more concerned about quality than quantity. We will try to have that kind of growth of our environment, which is more qualitative in terms of sustainable. Example of steady state community is a standard wetland where it continuously changing, developing or sometimes shrinking but alive never changes its overall aspect.

Multiple choice

What is water cycle?

A biogeochemical cycle occurs by decomposition of vegetations and incorporation of minerals naturally in humus for future development of plants. Circulation of chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water, etc., through biological and physical world are called biogeochemical cycle.

  1. It is the movement of water within the atmosphere.

  2. It is a group of processes where water is moved between living systems.

  3. It is the movement of water through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

  4. It is the constant movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth.

  5. It is the cycle by which water can be reused throughout the biosphere.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Water cycle is the constant movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth. In the different places of water cycle, water can alter its states among liquid, vapours and ice. Here the water is moved from one reservoir to other like from river to ocean, or it may be from ocean to the atmosphere by some physical processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration and subsurface flow. It exchanges heat energy resulting in alteration of temperature

Multiple choice

Match the following items given in two columns, column-I and column-II.
Column-I Column-II

  1. Detritus A. Water is available to the plants
  2. Edaphic B. Parts of dead animals and plants
  3. Ecotone C. Pertaining to soil
  4. Chresard D. A species that great impact on community despite small size
  5. Keystone E. Transformation territory between two communities

  1. 1 - A, 2 - B, 3 - C, 4 - D, 5 - E

  2. 1 - B, 2 - C, 3 - E, 4 - A, 5 - D

  3. 1 - E, 2 - A, 3 - D, 4 - B, 5 - C

  4. 1 - D, 2 - E, 3 - A, 4 - C, 5 - B

  5. 1 - C, 2 - D, 3 - B, 4 - E, 5 - A
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Because detritus means debris or disintegrated substances, so here detritus matches with parts of dead animals and plants. Edaphic defines physical and chemical conditions of soil,  so here edaphic matches with pertaining to soil, ecotone is the transition region between two biome so here ecotone matches with transformation territory between two communities, Chresard defines water is available to the plants that is actually absorbed from soil, keystone is a species that constitutes a small proportion of total biomass within a community though they has great impact on the organization and survival of the community.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements best defines the carbon cycle?

A biogeochemical cycle occurs by decomposition of vegetations and incorporation of minerals naturally in humus for future development of plants. Circulation of chemical elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water, etc., through biological and physical world are called biogeochemical cycle.

  1. Movement of carbon through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.

  2. It is the movement of carbon within the atmosphere.

  3. It is the cycle by which carbon can be reused throughout the biosphere.

  4. It is a cycle where carbon is converted into different chemicals through biological and chemical processes.

  5. It is a group of processes where carbon is moved between minerals and living systems.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon cycle was invented by Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier, and later popularised by Humphry Davy. It is the most essential cycle where carbon is recycled and reused throughout the biosphere. Basically carbon is exchanged between hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Multiple choice

What is Manipulation Forest Zone?

  1. It is the renewal region by natural processes.

  2. It is for habituation by tribal people and agriculture is allowed.

  3. It is a part of a buffer zone where forest may be formed by plantation.

  4. It is the most important and stable region of biosphere.

  5. It is the region for education, training and ecotourism.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Manipulation Forest Zone is a part of a buffer zone where forest may be formed by plantation and selective tree-falling is allowed. Buffer zone lies outside the core area.

Multiple choice

What is transition zone?

Biosphere Reserve is oriented towards the entire ecosystem. It is made for conservation or the aspects of entire ecosystem, symbiosis within a single life-zone. It includes all the verities of life-form from bacteria to mammals, their interdependence, interactions, energy-flow and  the entire aspects of the whole system. It is strictly defined by state law. Human interference is strictly prohibited. Ecotourism is permitted in buffer zone but strictly restricted in core area.

  1. It is the area used for education, training and ecotourism.

  2. It is the area that lies beyond the buffer zone.

  3. It is the area for habituation by tribal people and agriculture is allowed.

  4. It is the part of buffer zone where forest may formed by plantation.

  5. It is the renewal region by natural processes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Transition zone lies beyond the buffer zone. It is delimited and may be expanded in dimension with time. It is used for activities of local population.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are the component(s) of biosphere? A. All living organisms on the earth B. Dead organic matter C. Other spheres like lithosphere, hydrosphere, etc.

  1. A, B and C

  2. Only A

  3. Only A and C

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

The biosphere is the biological component of earth systems, which also include the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and other spheres (e.g. cryosphere, anthrosphere, etc.). The biosphere includes all living organisms on earth, together with the dead organic matter produced by them.

Multiple choice

Arrange the following sub-units of environment in descending order. A. Ecosystem B. Biome C. Community D. Biosphere

  1. A, D, B, C

  2. A, B, D, C

  3. D, A, B, C

  4. D, B, A, C
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Components of Environment: At the top of the hierarchy is the planet’s entire living environment, known as the biosphere. Within this biosphere are several large categories of living communities known as biomes that are usually characterized by their dominant vegetation, such as grasslands, tropical forests, or deserts. The biomes are in turn made up of ecosystems. The living or biotic parts of an ecosystem, such as the plants, animals, and bacteria found in soil, are known as a community. The physical surroundings or abiotic components, such as the minerals found in the soil, are known as habitat.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

 
List - I List - II
1. Biosphere A. All of one species in one area at one time
2. Community B. A specific climactic community established by the climate
3. Population C. All of the species in one area at one time
4. Biome D. The largest organisational grouping in ecology

  1. 1 - C, 2 - B, 3 - D, 4 - A

  2. 1 - D, 2 - C, 3 - A, 4 - B

  3. 1 - D, 2 - B, 3 - A, 4 - C

  4. 1 - C, 2 - B, 3 - A, 4 - D
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The biosphere is the largest organisational grouping in ecology. It includes every place where life is found on the earth. A population is all of one species in one area at one time, a community is all of the species in one area at one time and a biome is a specific climactic community established by the climate, which controls the plants living there, which in turn, control the animals living there.