Environmental Studies ยท 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 term for the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms?

  1. Ecology

  2. Biogeography

  3. Population ecology

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

Biogeography is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, and the factors that influence their distribution.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the variety of life on Earth, including the different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems in which they live?

  1. Biodiversity

  2. Economic Development

  3. Sustainable Development

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

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, including the different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems in which they live.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a provisioning service provided by ecosystems?

  1. Food

  2. Water

  3. Oxygen

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

Oxygen is a regulating service provided by ecosystems, not a provisioning service.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the total amount of organic matter produced by plants in an ecosystem?

  1. Primary production

  2. Secondary production

  3. Tertiary production

  4. Net primary production
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Primary production refers to the total amount of organic matter produced by plants through photosynthesis.

Multiple choice

Which of the following factors is NOT considered a driver of primary production?

  1. Light intensity

  2. Temperature

  3. Water availability

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

While light intensity, temperature, and water availability are all important drivers of primary production, species diversity is not directly a driver but can influence it through various mechanisms.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a sampling effect on primary production?

  1. Increased species richness leads to increased productivity

  2. Different species use different resources more efficiently

  3. Species interactions, such as competition and facilitation, influence productivity

  4. Random fluctuations in environmental conditions affect productivity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sampling effects are caused by random fluctuations in environmental conditions, such as weather events, which can affect primary production.

Multiple choice

How does functional diversity, which considers the different traits and functions of species, influence primary production?

  1. It has no effect on primary production

  2. It increases primary production by increasing resource use efficiency

  3. It decreases primary production by increasing competition

  4. It decreases primary production by reducing resource availability
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Functional diversity can increase primary production by allowing different species to use resources more efficiently, reducing competition and increasing overall productivity.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the total amount of organic matter produced by plants in an ecosystem per unit area?

  1. Primary production

  2. Secondary production

  3. Tertiary production

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

Net primary production refers to the total amount of organic matter produced by plants in an ecosystem per unit area, after accounting for the organic matter used by the plants for respiration.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a type of primary production?

  1. Gross primary production

  2. Net primary production

  3. Secondary production

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

Secondary production refers to the production of organic matter by consumers, such as animals, and is not a type of primary production.

Multiple choice

How does species richness, which refers to the number of different species in an ecosystem, influence primary production?

  1. It has no effect

  2. It increases primary production

  3. It decreases primary production

  4. It can have both positive and negative effects
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Species richness can have both positive and negative effects on primary production, depending on the specific ecosystem and the species involved.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback loop between species diversity and primary production?

  1. Increased diversity leads to decreased competition and decreased production

  2. Increased diversity leads to increased competition and increased production

  3. Increased diversity leads to decreased competition and increased production

  4. Increased diversity leads to increased competition and decreased production
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A positive feedback loop occurs when an increase in one factor leads to an increase in another factor, which in turn leads to a further increase in the first factor. In this case, increased diversity leads to increased competition, which stimulates plants to increase their growth and productivity, leading to increased primary production.

Multiple choice

The concept of 'functional redundancy' in an ecosystem refers to:

  1. Multiple species performing similar ecological roles

  2. Species having identical genetic makeup

  3. Organisms occupying the same trophic level

  4. Species exhibiting competitive exclusion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Functional redundancy describes the presence of multiple species within an ecosystem that perform similar ecological functions, contributing to the overall stability and resilience of the system.

Multiple choice

In the context of ecosystem functioning, stability refers to:

  1. The ability to resist change

  2. The ability to recover from disturbances

  3. The ability to maintain a constant state

  4. The ability to adapt to changing conditions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Stability in an ecosystem is often measured by its ability to recover from disturbances, such as natural disasters or human-induced changes, and return to a functional state.

Multiple choice

The term 'ecosystem services' refers to:

  1. The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems

  2. The interactions between different species within an ecosystem

  3. The processes that maintain the stability of an ecosystem

  4. The genetic diversity within a population
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Ecosystem services encompass the various benefits that humans obtain from the functioning of ecosystems, such as clean air and water, pollination, and climate regulation.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a key mechanism by which species diversity contributes to ecosystem resilience?

  1. Functional redundancy

  2. Increased competition for resources

  3. Enhanced nutrient cycling

  4. Reduced susceptibility to environmental disturbances
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While competition for resources can occur within diverse ecosystems, it is not a primary mechanism by which species diversity contributes to ecosystem resilience.