Important Ecology MCQs. Ecology plays a crucial role within the broader field of environment and ecology. It serves as a foundational concept for achieving success in competitive exams such as Civil Services, State exams, SSC, Railways, Banking, and more. Mastering these subjects offers a unique advantage, allowing you to gain invaluable insights into the country’s environmental legacy. With a focus on Environment, Biodiversity, and Ecology, this knowledge not only sharpens your competitive edge but also equips you to excel in these challenging exams.
MCQs on Ecology – Objective Questions and Answers
Q58. Who of the following used the term ‘deep ecology’ for the first time? (U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014)
[A] E.P. Odum
[B] C. Raunkiaer
[C] F.E. Clements
[D] Arne Naess
View Explanation
Correct Answer is D.
Arne Næss was a Norwegian philosopher who introduced the concept of deep ecology in 1972.
Næss’s work has been influential in environmental philosophy and ecological activism, encouraging people to rethink their relationship with the natural world.
Q59. The concept of the ecological niche was enunciated by – (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005)
[A] Grinnell
[B] Darwin
[C] E.P. Odum
[D] C.C. Park
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
Joseph Grinnell, an American field biologist and ecologist, introduced the concept of the ecological niche in the early 20th century.
In his 1917 paper, he described the niche as the sum of environmental factors that influence the distribution of a species, emphasizing that each species occupies a unique role or “niche” in the ecosystem.
Grinnell’s definition focused on the habitat and geographical range of species, considering the niche as the ultimate distributional unit of species and subspecies.
Q60. The measurement unit of the ecological footprint is: (U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2016)
[A] Global hectares
[B] Nanometer
[C] Hoppus cubic foot
[D] Cubic ton
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
The ecological footprint measures the impact of human activity on Earth’s ecosystems. It provides a standardized way to assess the demand for natural resources in relation to the planet’s capacity to regenerate them.
This metric represents the biologically productive area needed to supply everything necessary for human survival, including food, wood, fibers, fossil fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions. The unit used to express this measure is global hectares.
Q61. The minimum area of the land required to completely sustain the life of the person is called his – (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012)
[A] Biota
[B] Ecological footprint
[C] Biome
[D] Niche
View Explanation
Correct Answer is B.
The minimum area of land required to completely sustain a person’s life is called their ecological footprint.
It represents the amount of biologically productive land and water needed to provide the resources they consume and to absorb the waste they generate, including carbon dioxide emissions.
Q62.Which one of the following statements best describes the term ‘Social Cost of Carbon’? (I.A.S. (Pre.) 2020)
It is a measure, in monetary value, of the:
[A] long-term damage done by a tonne of CO2 emissions in a given year.
[B] requirement of fossil fuels for a country to provide goods and services to its citizens, based on the burning of those fuels.
[C] efforts put in by a climate refugee to adapt to live in a new place.
[D] contribution of an individual person to the carbon footprint on the planet Earth.
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
The Social Cost of Carbon (SC-CO2) is a monetary estimate of the long-term damage caused by the emission of one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a specific year.
It reflects the economic impact of climate-related damages, such as extreme weather, health issues, and agricultural losses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies use these estimates to assess the climate-related consequences of policy decisions and rulemaking.
Q63.Read the list of Ecological concerns and the year in which Acts were executed in India:
Ecological concerns
Year, Act was passed
A.Wildlife Protection
(i) 1986
B. Environment Protection
(ii) 2013
C. The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dweller’s (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act
(iii) 1972
D. The Forest Conservation Act
(iv) 1988
Which of the following is not correctly matched? Code: (R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013)
[A] A(iii) B(i) C(ii) D(iv)
[B] A(iv) B(ii) C(iii) D(i)
[C] A(i) B(ii) C(iii) D(iii)
[D] A(ii) B(iii) C(iv) D(i)
View Explanation
Wildlife Protection
1972
Environment Protection
1986
The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dweller’s (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act
2006
The Forest Conservation Act
1980
Q64. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment describes the following major categories of ecosystem services- provisioning, supporting, regulating, preserving and cultural. Which one of the following is supporting service? (I.A.S. (Pre) 2012)
[A] Production of food and water
[B] Control of climate and disease
[C] Nutrient cycling and crop pollination
[D] Maintenance of diversity
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
According to the 2010 World Development Report, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment outlines five major categories of ecosystem services: Provisioning Services, Regulating Services, Supporting Services, Cultural Services, and Preserving Services.
Supporting services are crucial for the production of all other ecosystem services, though their impacts on people are often indirect or take place over long periods. Examples include soil formation, nutrient cycling, crop pollination, and water cycling.
Provisioning Services include the production of food and water.
Regulating Services involve the control of climate and disease.
Preserving Services are concerned with the maintenance of biodiversity.
Q65. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of a food chain? (I.A.S. (Pre) 2014)
[A] Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
[B] Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings
[C] Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans
[D] Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
The correct order of a common marine food chain is:
Diatoms ↓ Crustaceans ↓ Herrings
In this food chain, diatoms (a type of phytoplankton) are the primary producers, crustaceans (such as zooplankton) are the primary consumers, and herrings are secondary consumers.
Q66. Which of the following statements is true about Bionomics? (U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001)
It means “management of life’.
It is synonymous with ecology.
It stresses the value of natural systems which influence human systems.
Code :
[A] Only 1
[B] 1 and 2
[C] 2 and 3
[D] 1, 2 and 3
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
In ecology, bionomics (from the Greek “bio” = life and “nomos” = law) refers to the comprehensive study of an organism and its relationship with its environment.
Another term for bionomics is ecology, which focuses on understanding how natural systems influence human systems. Bionomics emphasizes the intrinsic value of natural systems but is not concerned with the management of life.
Q67. Which of the following shows a density gradient of the water system? (U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016)
[A] Ecocline
[B] Halocline
[C] Pycnocline
[D] Thermocline
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
The pycnocline refers to a layer in a water body where there is a density gradient, typically influenced by variations in temperature and salinity. The halocline indicates a layer with a gradient in salinity within the water system.
Meanwhile, the thermocline represents a layer where there is a noticeable change in temperature with increasing depth in the water
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