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

The concept of 'keystone species' refers to:

  1. Species that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance

  2. Species that are essential for maintaining the stability of an ecosystem

  3. Species that are at risk of extinction due to human activities

  4. Species that are found at the top of the food chain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Keystone species are those that have a significant influence on the structure and functioning of an ecosystem, often beyond their numerical abundance.

Multiple choice

The term 'trophic cascade' refers to:

  1. The transfer of energy and nutrients through different trophic levels in an ecosystem

  2. The impact of a predator on the population size of its prey

  3. The effect of a keystone species on the structure and functioning of an ecosystem

  4. The process by which species adapt to changing environmental conditions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A trophic cascade describes the indirect effects that a predator can have on the populations of other species in an ecosystem, often resulting in changes in the abundance and distribution of prey and their resources.

Multiple choice

The concept of '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.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Climate regulation

  2. Water purification

  3. Food production

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

Food production is a provisioning service, not a regulating service.

Multiple choice

Which of the following factors has the greatest impact on the ability of ecosystems to regulate pests?

  1. Biodiversity

  2. Climate

  3. Soil type

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

Biodiversity is the most important factor influencing the ability of ecosystems to regulate pests, as a diverse array of species provides natural enemies and competitors that help to control pest populations.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a key factor influencing the provision of regulating services?

  1. Climate

  2. Soil type

  3. Human activities

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

Human activities are not a key factor influencing the provision of regulating services, but rather a factor that can impact the provision of these services.

Multiple choice

What is the term used to describe the process by which ecosystems regulate the composition of the atmosphere?

  1. Climate regulation

  2. Air pollution control

  3. Atmospheric chemistry

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

Climate regulation refers to the process by which ecosystems regulate the composition of the atmosphere, including the exchange of gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Climate regulation

  2. Water purification

  3. Food production

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

Food production is a provisioning service, not a regulating service.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Climate regulation

  2. Water purification

  3. Pollination

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

Food production is a provisioning service, not a regulating service.

Multiple choice

Which index measures the species richness and evenness of a community?

  1. Shannon-Wiener Index

  2. Simpson's Index

  3. Margalef's Index

  4. Berger-Parker Index
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Shannon-Wiener Index takes into account both the number of species and the relative abundance of each species in a community.

Multiple choice

Which index is commonly used to measure species richness?

  1. Shannon-Wiener Index

  2. Simpson's Index

  3. Margalef's Index

  4. Berger-Parker Index
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Marglef's Index is calculated by dividing the number of species in a community by the natural logarithm of the total number of individuals in the community.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a measure of species diversity?

  1. Species richness

  2. Species evenness

  3. Species composition

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

Species abundance is not a measure of species diversity, but rather a measure of the relative abundance of each species in a community.

Multiple choice

Which index is most sensitive to changes in the relative abundance of species?

  1. Shannon-Wiener Index

  2. Simpson's Index

  3. Margalef's Index

  4. Berger-Parker Index
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Shannon-Wiener Index is more sensitive to changes in the relative abundance of species because it takes into account the proportion of each species in the community.

Multiple choice

Which index is most appropriate for comparing communities with different numbers of species?

  1. Shannon-Wiener Index

  2. Simpson's Index

  3. Margalef's Index

  4. Chao's Index
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Chao's Index is most appropriate for comparing communities with different numbers of species because it takes into account the number of species that are not sampled.