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

Which of the following statements is TRUE about biomes?

  1. Biomes are defined as group of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions on Earth, such as communities of plants, animals and soil organisms living in the same environment.
  2. A Temperate Grassland or Shrub-Land Biome is commonly known as Steppe in Central Asia, Prairie in North America and Pampas in South America.
  3. Biomes may have both biotic and abiotic components.

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 3

  3. 1, 2 and 3

  4. 1 and 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as groups of ecosystems. Terrestrial biomes are those that occur on the land and include deserts, grasslands, tropical forests, temperate forests, taiga, and tundra. For example, Temperate Grassland or Shrub-Land Biome is commonly known as Steppe in Central Asia, Prairie in North America and Pampas in South America. The Aquatic Biomes occur in water and are often divided into the marine and freshwater biomes, depending on the salinity of the water. Biomes may have both biotic and abiotic components.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are TRUE about community and eco-system diversity?

  1. Alpha-diversity (between-community diversity) refers to the rate of replacement of species along a gradient of habitats or communities.
  2. Beta-diversity (within-community diversity) refers to the diverse organisms sharing the same community/habitat.
  3. Gamma diversity (overall) refers to the diversity of habitats over the total landscape or geographical area.

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 3

  3. 1 and 2

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Alpha-diversity (within-community diversity) refers to the diverse organisms sharing the same community/habitat. Beta-diversity (between-community diversity) refers to the rate of replacement of species along a gradient of habitats or communities. Gamma diversity (overall) refers to the diversity of habitats over the total landscape or geographical area.

Hence, statements 1 and 2 are incorrect and statement 3 is correct.
 

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements regarding forest ecosystems is/are incorrect?

  1. The number pyramid is neither inverted nor upward.
  2. The biomass pyramid is inverted.

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In a forest ecosystem, the producers are large size trees which make the base of pyramid. The herbivores such as fruit eating birds, deer, elephants, etc. make the primary consumers and are less than primary producers. After that, the number goes down at each successive level. Thus, a pyramid of numbers in a forest ecosystem is partially upright or spindle shaped. Biomass pyramid is upright in a forest ecosystem because a larger net biomass of producers supports a smaller weight of consumers.

Multiple choice

The major biomes of the world are

  1. seral stages

  2. climax community

  3. populations

  4. ecosystems

  5. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The major biomes of the world are climax community.