ECOLOGY MCQS

9. Soil conservation is
(a) conversion of sterile soil into fertile one
(b) aeration of soil
(c) erosion of soil
(d) protection against loss.
1. Acid rains are produced by 10. The relation between algae and fungi in
lichen is
(a) excess NO2 and SO2 from burning fossil fuels (a) symbiosis
(b) excess production of NH3 by industry and coal (b) parasitism
gas (c) commenalism
(c) excess release of carbon monoxide by (d) protocooperation.
incomplete combustion 11. Major aerosol pollutant in jet plane
(d) excess formation of CO2 by combustion and emission is
animal respiration. (1988, 89) (a) sulphur dioxide
2. Which one is not a pollutant normally? (b) carbon monoxide
(a) hydrocarbon (c) methane
(b) carbon dioxide (d) fluorocarbon.
(c) carbon monoxide 12. Gas released during Bhopal tragedy was
(d) sulphur dioxide. (a) methyl isocyanate
3. Upper part of sea/aquatic ecosystem (b) potassium isothiocyanate
contains (c) sodium isothiocyanate
(a) plankton (d) ethyl isothiocyante.
(b) nekton 13. Deforestation will decrease
(c) plankton and nekton (a) soil erosion
(d) benthos. (c) soil fertility
4. Competition for light, nutrients and space is (b) land slides
most severe between (d) rainfall.
(a) closely related organism growing in different 14. Pyramid of numbers in a grassland/tree
niches ecosystem
(b) closely related organisms growing in the same (a) always inverted
area/niche (b) always upright
(c) distantly related organisms growing in the (c) both (a) and (b)
same habitat (d) spindle-shaped.
(d) distantly related organisms growing in 15. Domestic waste constitutes
different niches. (1988) (a) nonbiodegradable pollution
5. A mutually beneficial association (b) biodegradable pollution
necessary for survival of both partners is (c) effluents
(a) mutualism/symbiosis (d) air pollution
(b) commensalism 16. Acid rain is due to increase in
(c) amensalism atmospheric concentration of
(d) both A and B. (a) ozone and dust
6. What is true of ecosystem? (b) CO2 and CO
(a) primary consumers are least dependent upon (c) SO2 and CO
producers (d) SO2 and NO2.
(b) primary consumers out-number producers 17. A non-renewable resource is
(c) producers are more than primary consumers (a) nonrenewable nonconventional energy source
(d) secondary consumers are the largest and (b) nonrenewable conventional energy source
most powerful. (c) renewable nonconventional energy source
7. in an ecosystem, which one shows one-way (d) renewable conventional energy source.
passage 18. Renewable source of energy is
(a) free energy (a) biomass
(b) carbon (b) coal
(c) nitrogen (c) petroleum
(d) potassium. (d) kerosene.
8. Green house effect is warming due to 19. Homeostasis is
(a) infra-red rays reaching earth (a) tendency of biological systems to change with
(b) moisture layer in atmosphere change in environment
(c) increase in temperature due to increase in (b) tendency of biological systems to resist
carbon dioxide concentration of atmosphere change
(d) ozone layer of atmosphere.
(c) disturbance of self regulatory system and (c) decaying organic matter
natural controls (d) intensive agriculture.
(d) biotic materials used in homeopathic 30. Water is a resource that is
medicines. (a) nondegradable nonmaintainabie
20. Deep black soil is productive due to high (b) degradable maintainable
proportion of (c) renewable
(a) sand and zinc (d) non-renewable.
(b) gravel and calcium 31. River water deposits
(c) clay and humus (a) loamy soil
(d) silt and earthworm. (b) alluvial soil
21. Soil water available to roots is (c) laterite soil
(a) surface water (d) sandy soil
(b) hygroscopic water 32. A fertile agricultural soil appears deep
(c) gravitational water coloured at the surface as compared to soil
(d) capillary water. one metre down. The reason for colour of top
22. Which one is true? soil is
(a) commensalism when none of the interacting (a) more moisture
populations affect each other (b) rich in organic matter
(b) symbiosis when the interaction is useful to (c) rich in iron, calcium and magnesium
both the populations (d) recent formation.
(c) symbiosis when neither populations affects 33. Soil particles determine its
each other (a) texture
(d) commensalism when the interaction is useful (b) field capacity
to both the populations. (c) water holding capacity
23. Food chain in which microorganisms (d) soil flora.
breakdown the food formed by primary 34. Ultraviolet radiations from sunlight causes
producers is a reaction that produces
(a) parasitic food chain (a) fluorides
(b) detritus food chain (b) carbon monoxide
(c) consumer food chain (c) sulphur dioxide
(d) predator food chain. (d) ozone.
24. Pick up the correct food chain 35. American water plant that has become a
(a) grass —> chamelion —> insect —> bird troublesome water weed in India
(b) grass —> fox —> rabbit —» bird (a) Cyperus rotundus
(c) phytoplankton —> zooplankton —> fish (b) Eichhornia crassipes
(d) fallen leaves —> bacteria —> insect larvae. (c) Typha latifolia
25. Most hazardous metal pollutant of (d) Trapa bispinosa.
automobile exhausts is 36. Study of inter-relationships between
(a) mercury organisms and their environment is
(b) cadmium (a) ecology
(c) lead (b) ecosystem
(d) copper. (c) phytogeography
26. Fertility of soil is measured by its ability to (d) ethology.
(a) retain nutrients 37. The sum total of the populations of the
(b) hold organic materials same kind of organisms constitute
(c) hold water (a) colony
(d) support life. (b) genus
27. Petroleum is a (c) community
(a) synthetic product (d) species.
(b) renewable resource 38. Soil best suited for plant growth is
(c) nonrenewable resource (a) clay
(d) inconvenient resource. (b) loam
28. Minerals and metals are (c) sandy
(a) biodegradable resources (d) gravel.
(b) renewable 39. Association of animals when both
(c) non-renewable partners are benefitted
(d) renewable and nonrenewable resources. (a) colony
29. Soil fertility is reduced by (b) mutualism
(a) crop rotation (c) commensalism
(b) nitrogen fixing bacteria (d) ammensalism.
40. Pyramid of numbers deals with number of (b) herbivores
(a) species in an area (c) carnivores
(b) individuals in a community (d) omnivores.
(c) individuals in a tropic-level 50. The abundance of a species population,
(d) subspecies in a community. within its habitat, is called
41. Pyramid of numbers in a pond ecosystem (a) relative density
is (b) regional density
(a) irregular (c) absolute density
(b) inverted (d) niche density.
(c) upright 51. The Taj Mahal is threatened due to the
(d) spindle shaped. effect of
42. Which among the following is likely to (a) oxygen
have the highest levels of D.D.T. depositions (b) hydrogen
in its body? (c) chlorine
(a) sea gull (d) sulphur-dioxide.
(b) phytoplankton 52. In Minamata Bay Japan the animals which
(c) eel remained free from minamata disease, are
(d) crab. (a) dogs
43. Which one of the following gases (b) cats
contributes maximum to the green house (c) pigs
effect’ on the earth? (d) rabbits.
(a) carbon dioxide 53. Which of the following pairs is a
(b) chlorofluoro carbon sedimentary type of biogeochemical cycle?
(c) Freon (a) phosphorus and nitrogen
(d) methane. (b) phosphorus and sulphur
44. The dominant second trophic level, in a (c) oxygen and nitrogen
lake ecosystem, is (d) phosphorus and carbon dioxide.
(a) phytoplankton 54. The toxic effect of carbon monoxide is due
(b) zooplankton to its greater affinity for haemoglobin as
(c) benthos compared to oxygen approximately by
(d) plankton. (a) 200 times
45. Sounds above what level are considered (b) 1000 times
hazardous noise pollution? (c) 2 times
(a) above 80 dB (d) 20 times.
(c) above 150 dB 55. Which of the following isotopes is most
(b) above 30 dB dangerous to Homosapiensl?
(d) above 120 dB. (a) phosphorus-32
46 A disease caused by eating fish (b) strontium-90
contaminated by industrial waste, containing (c) caesium-137
mercury compounds, is called (d) iodine-131.
(a) osteosclerosis .
(b) Hashimoto’s oxidase 56. Which of the following is the most stable
(c) Bright’s disease ecosystem?
(d) minimata disease. (a) mountain
47. When huge amount of sewage is dumped (b) ocean
into a river, its B.O.D. will (c) forest
(a) slightly decrease (d) desert.
(b) remain unchanged 57. The primary succession refers to the
(c) increase development of communities on a
(d) decrease. (a) forest clearing after devastating fire
48. If we completely remove the decomposers (b) newly-exposed habitat with no record of
from an ecosystem, its functioning will be earlier vegetation
adversely affected, because (c) freshly cleared crop field
(a) mineral movement will be blocked (d) pond, freshly filled with water after a dry
(b) the rate of decomposition will be very high phase.
(c) energy flow will be blocked 58. A dental disease characterized by mottling
(d) herbivores will not receive solar energy. of teeth is due to the presence of certain
49. In a biotic community, the primary chemical element in drinking water. Which of
consumers are the following is that element?
(a) detritivores (a) fluorine
(b) boron 68. The most common indicator organism that
(c) mercury represents polluted water is
(d) chlorine. (a) C.vibrio
59. Which of the following is the main factor (b) Entamoeba histolytica
of desertification? (c) E.coli
(a) over-grazing (d) P.typhi.
(b) tourism 69. In coming years, skin related disorders
(c) irrigated agriculture will be more common due to
(d) all of these. (a) water pollution
60. Which one of the following pairs is (b) depletion of ozone layer
correctly matched? (c) pollutants in air
(a) parasitism – intra-specific relationship (d) use of detergents.
(b) uricotelism – aquatic habitat 70. During adverse season, therophytes
(c) excessive perspiration – xeric adaptation survive by
(d) stream lined body – aquatic adaptation. (a) rhizomes
61. The closely related morphologically (b) seeds
similar sympatric populations, but (c) bulbs
reproductively isolated, are designated as (d) corms.
(a) clones 71. MAB stands for
(b) sibling species (a) mammals and biosphere
(c) clines (b) mammals and biology programme
(d) denies. (c) man and biology programme
62. The true statement about ‘green-house (d) man and biosphere programme.
effect’ is that it is 72. Formation of ozone hole is maximum over
(a) caused by combination of many gases (a) Europe
(b) caused only by CO2 (b) Africa
(c) caused by CO2, CFC, CH4 and NO2 gases (c) India
(d) none of these. (d) Antarctica.
63. Benthoic animals are those, which 73. Which of the following ecosystem has the
(a) are submerged in area highest gross primary productivity?
(b) float on the sea surface (a) mangroves
(c) are deep dweller in sea (b) rain forest
(d) are floating (free) organisms. (c) grassland
64. Which country has the greatest (d) coral reef.
contribution for the whole formation in ozone 74. Phosphate pollution is caused by
layer? (a) sewage and phosphate rock
(a) Russia (b) sewage and agricultural fertilizers
(b) Japan (c) phosphate rock only
(c) USA (d) agricultural fertilizers only.
(d) Germany. 75. Which of the following acts as “nature’s
65. The ‘niche’ of a species is meant for scavengers”?
(a) habitat and specific functions of a species (a) insects
(b) specific place where an organism lives (b) microorganisms
(c) specific species function and its competitive (c) man
power (d) animals.
(d) none of these. 76. In desert grasslands, which type of
66. The two great industrial tragedies namely, animals are relatively more abundant?
MIC and Chernobyl tragedies respectively (a) aquatic
occurred where and at which time? (b) fossorial
(a) Bhopal 1984, Ukrain 1986 (c) diurnal
(b) Bhopal 1986, Russia 1988 (d) arboreal.
(c) Bhopal 1984, Ukrain 1990 77. The supersonic jets cause pollution by the
(d) Bhopal 1984, Ukrain 1988 thinning of
67. The 10% energy transfer law of food chain (a) O2 layer
was given by (b) O3 layer
(a) Lindemann (c) CO2 layer
(b) Tansley (d) SO2 layer.
(c) Stanley 78. Which one of the following organisms is
(d) Weismann. used as indicator of water quality?
(a) Azospirilluni
(b) Escherichia (c) a non-degradable pollutant
(c) Biggiata (d) a biodegradable pollutant.
(d) Chlorella. 88. Which of the following organism is likely
79. If there was no C02 in the earth’s to have more concentration of D.D.T. in its
atmosphere, the temperature of earth’s body?
surface would be (a) top carnivores
(a) higher than the present (b) primary producers
(b) dependent on the amount of oxygen in the (c) herbivores
atmosphere (d) carnivores.
(c) same as present 89. Which of the following is pollution related
(d) less than the present. disorder?
80. Plants such as Prosopis, Acacia and (a) silicosis
Capparis represent examples of tropical (b) pneumonicosis
(a) deciduous forests (c) fluorosis
(b) evergreen forests (d) leprosis.
(c) grass lands 90. Energy transfer from one trophic level to
(d) thorn forests. other, in a food chain, is
81. Carbon mono-oxide is a pollutant because (a) 10%
(a) reacts with haemoglobin (b) 20%
(b) makes nervous system inactive (c) 1%
(c) it reacts with O2 (d) 2%.
(d) it inhibits glycolysis. 91. In 1984, Bhopal gas tragedy was caused
82. How carbon monoxide, emitted by due to leakage of
automobiles, prevents transport of oxygen in (a) potassium isocyanate
the body tissues? (b) methyl isocyanate
(a) by forming a stable compound with (c) sodium monoxide
haemoglobin (d) none of these.
(b) by obstructing the reaction of oxygen with 92. Which of the following is a secondary
haemoglobin pollutant?
(c) by changing oxygen into carbon dioxide (a) PAN
(d) by destroying the haemoglobin. (b) aerosol
83. In a terrestrial ecosystem such as forest, (c) CO
maximum energy is in which trophic level? (d) CO2
(a) T3 93. Which part of the world has a high density
(b) T4 of organisms?
(c) T1 (a) deciduous forests
(d) T2 (b) tropical rain forests
84. Which of the following communities is (c) grasslands
more vulnerable to invasion by outside (d) savannahs.
animals and plants? 94. The maximum biomagnifications would be
(a) temperate forests in which of the following in case of aquatic
(b) oceanic island communities ecosystem?
(c) mangroves (a) zooplanktons
(d) tropical evergreen forests. (b) phytoplanktons
85. The rate at which light energy is converted (c) fishes
into chemical energy of organic molecules is (d) birds.
the ecosystems 95. Which of the following is the use of
(a) net secondary productivity lichens in case of pollution?
(b) gross primary productivity (a) they promote pollution
(c) net primary productivity (b) lichens are not related with pollution
(d) gross secondary productivity. (c) they treat the polluted water
86. The Minamata disease in Japan was (d) they act as bioindicators of pollutions.
caused through the pollution of water by 96. Land mass occupied by forest is about
(a) cyanide (a) 30%
(b) methyl isocyanate (b) 60%
(c) lead (c) 11%
(d) mercury. (d) 22%.
87. D.D.T. is 97. Which is the result of damage to relative
(a) not a pollutant biological effectiveness?
(b) an antibiotic (a) high temperature
(b) pollution (c) Dollo’s rule
(c) radiation (d) Weisman’s theory.
(d) low temperature. 108. Bamboo plant is growing in a fir forest
(b) sea grass, and slime moulds then what will be the trophic level of it?
(c) benthoic and brown algae (a) first trophic level (T1)
(d) diatoms. (b) second trophic level (T2)
99. What is the best pH of the soil for (c) third trophic level (T3)
cultivation of plants? (d) fourth trophic level (T4).
(a) 3.4 – 5.4 109. Which type of association is found in
(b) 6.5 – 7.5 between entomophilous flower and pollinating
(c) 4.5 – 8.5 agent
(d) 5.5 – 6.5. (a) mutualism
100. What is B.O.D.? (b) commensalism
(a) The amount of O2 utilized by organisms in (c) co-operation
water (d) co-evolution
(b) The amount of O2 utilized by micro-organisms 110. Fluoride pollution mainly affects
for decomposition (a) brain
(c) The total amount of P2 present in water (b) heart
(d) All of the above. (c) teeth
101. What is the intensity of sound in normal (d) kidney
conversation 111. Escherichia coli is used as an indicator
(a) 10-20 dB organism to determine pollution of water with
(b) 30-60 dB (a) heavy metals
(c) 70-90 dB (b) faecal matter
(d) 120-150 dB. (c) industrial effluents
102. Plant decomposers are (d) pollen of aquatic plants
(a) monera and fungi 112. Mycorrhiza is an example of
(b) fungi and plants (a) symbiotic relationship
(c) protista and animalia (b) ectoparasitism
(d) animalia and Monera. (c) endoparasitism
103. Which of the following is absent in (d) decomposers
polluted water? 113. Certain characteristic demographic
(a) Hydrilla developing countries are
(b) water hyacinth (a) high fertility, low or rapidly fall rate, rapid
(c) larva of stone fly population growth and age distribution
(d) blue green algae. (b) high fertility, high density, mortality rate and a
104. What is true for individuals of same very young age
species? (c) high infant mortality, low fertility population
(a) live in same niche growth and a very distribution
(b) live in same habitat (d) high mortality, high density, uneven growth
(c) interbreeding and a very old age distribution.
(d) live in different habitat. 114. What is a keystone species?
105. Maximum green house gas released by (a) a species which makes up only a small
which of the following country? proportion of the total biomass of a community,
(a) India yet has a huge impact community’s organization
(b) France and s
(c) USA (b) a common species that has plenty of biomass
(d) Britain. yet has a fairly low impact on the community
106. Which type of association is found in organization
between entomophilous flower and pollinating (c) a rare species that has minimal impact on the
agent: biomass and on other species in the community
(a) mutualism (d) a dominant species that constitutes a large
(b) commensalism proportion of the biomass and which affects many
(c) coperation other species.
(d) co-evolution. 115. Which of the following is expected to
107. Two different species cannot live for long have the highest value (gm/m2/yr) in a
duration in the same niche or habitat. This law grassland ecosystem?
is (a) secondary production
(a) Allen’s law (b) tertiary production
(b) Gause’s hypothesis (c) gross production (GP)
(d) net production (NP) (a) chlorine
116. In 1984, the Bhopal gas tragedy took (b) ozone
place because methyl isocyanate (c) chloramine
(a) reacted with DDT (d) phenyl.
(b) reacted with ammonia 126. Which of the following is not true for a
(c) reacted with CO2 species?
(d) reacted with water. (a) members of a species can interbreed
117. Lead concentration in blood is (b) gene flow does not occur between the
considered alarming if it is populations of a species
(a) 20 g / 100 ml (c) each species is reproductively isolated from
(b) 30 g / 100 ml every other species
(c) 4 – 6 g / 100 ml (d) variations occur among members of a
(d) 10 g / 100 ml. species.
118. In which one of the following pairs is the 127. Identify the correctly matched pair:
specific characteristic of a soil not correctly (a) Basal convention – Biodiversity conservation
method? (b) Kyoto protocol – Climatic change
(a) Laterite – contains aluminium compound (c) Montreal protocol – Global warming
(b) Terra rosa – most suitable for roses (d) Ramsar convention – Ground water pollution
(c) Chernozems – richest soil in the world 128. More than 70% of worlds freshwater is
(d) black soil – rich in calcium carbonate. contained in
119. An ecosystem which can be easily (a) polar ice
damaged but can recover after some time if (b) glaciers and mountains
damaging effect stops will be having (c) Antartica
(a) low stability and high resilience (d) Greenland.
(b) high stability and low resilience 129. At which latitude, heat gain through
(c) low stability and low resilience insulation approximately equals heat loss
(d) high stability and high resilience. through terrestrial radiation?
120. The maximum growth rate occurs in (a) 22 1/2 North and South
(a) stationary phase (b) 40° North and South
(b) senescent phase (c) 42 1/2° North and South
(c) lag phase (d) 66° North and South.
(d) exponential phase. 130. Animals have the innate ability to escape
121. Common indicator organism of water from predation. Examples for the same are
pollution is given below. Select the incorrect example.
(a) Lemna pancicostata (a) colour change in chamaeleon
(b) Eichhornia crassipes (b) enlargement of body size by swallowing air in
(c) Escherichia coli puffer fish
(d) Entamoeba histolytica. (c) poison fangs in snakes
122. In which one of the following habitats (d) melanism in moths.
does the diurnal temperature of soil surface 131. Which one of the following pairs is
vary most? mismatched?
(a) shrub land (a) fossil fuel burning – release of CO2
(b) forest (b) nuclear power – radioactive wastes
(c) desert (c) solar energy – greenhouse effect
(d) grassland. (d) biomass burning – release of CO2.
123. In your opinion, which is the most 132. Which one of the following pairs is
effective way to conserve the plant diversity mismatched?
of an area? (a) Tundra
(a) by tissue culture method (b) Savanna
(b) by creating biosphere reserve (c) prairie
(c) by creating botanical garden (d) coniferous forest
(d) by developing seed bank. 133. Biodiversity Act of India was passed by
124. Prolonged liberal irrigation of agricultural the Parliament in the year.
fields is likely to create the problem of (a) 1992
(a) acidity (b) 1996
(b) aridity (c) 2000
(c) salinity (d) 2002.
(d) metal toxicity. 134. Which of the following is considered a
125. Which one of the following is not used hot-spot of biodiversity in India?
for disinfection of drinking water? (a) Aravalli hills
(b) Western ghats (c) the population of its predators increases
(c) Indo-gangetic plain enormously
(d) Eastern ghats (d) S-shaped or sigmoid growth of this insect.
135. Limit of BOD prescribed by Central 143. Which one of the following statements is
Pollution Control Board for the discharge of correct?
industrial and municipal waste waters into (a) Both Azotobacter and Rhizobium fix
natural surface waters, is atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules of plants.
(a) < 30 ppm (b) Cyanobacteria such as Anabaena and Nostoc
(b) < 3.0 ppm are important mobilizers of phosphates and for
(c) < 10 ppm plant nutrition in soil
(d) < 100 ppm (c) At present it is not possible to grow maize
136. Which one of the following is not used without chemical fertilizers
for construction of ecological pyramids? (d) Extensive use of chemical fertilizers may lead
(a) fresh weight to eutrophication of nearby water bodies.
(b) dry weight 144. If the mean and the median pertaining to
(c) number of individuals a certain character of a population are of the
(d) rate of energy flow same value, the following is most likely to
137. Niche overlap indicates occur
(a) mutualism between two species (a) a bi-modal distribution
(b) active cooperation between two species (b) a T-shaped curve
(c) two different parasites on the same host (c) a skewed curve
(d) sharing of one or more resources between the (d) a normal distribution.
two species (2006) 145. A high density of elephant population in
138. Photochemical smog pollution does not an area can result in
contain (a) intra specific competition
(a) PAN (peroxy acyl nitrate) (b) inter specific competition
(b) ozone (c) predation on one another
(c) nitrogen dioxide (d) mutualism.
(d) carbon dioxide 146. Which one of the following ecosystem
139. In which one of the following the BOD types has the highest annual net primary
(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) of sewage (S), productivity?
distillery effluent (DE), paper mill effluent (PE) (a) tropical deciduous forest
and sugar mill effluent (SE) have been (b) temperate evergreen forest
arranged in ascending order? (c) temperate deciduous forest
(a) SE < PE < S < DE (d) tropical rain forest.
(b) PE < S < SE < DE 147. Which one of the following pairs of
(c) S < DE < PE < SE organisms are exotic species introduced in
(d) SE < S < PE < DE. India?
140. In a coal fired power plant electrostatic (a) Lantana camara, water hyacinth
precipitators are installed to control emission (b) water hyacinth, Prosopis cinereria
of (c) nile perch, Ficus religiosa
(a) NOx (d) Ficus religiosa, Lantana camara.
(b) SPM 148. Which one of the following is not a
(c) CO bioindicator of water pollution?
(d) SO2. (a) blood-worms
141. Geometric representation of age (b) stone flies
structure is a characteristic of (c) sewage fungus
(a) population (d) sludge-worms.
(b) landscape
(c) ecosystem
(d) biotic community.
142. The population of an insect species
shows an explosive increase in numbers
during rainy season followed by its
disappearance at the end of the season. What
does this show?
(a) the food plants mature and die at the end of
the rainy season
(b) its population growth curve is of J-type
ANSWER 4. (b):

5. (a):
1. (a): 6. (c):
2. (b): 7. (a):
3. (a): 8. (c):