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
Q51. Which one of the following is not related to ecological balance? (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005)
[A] Water management
[B] Afforestation
[C] Industrial Management
[D] Wildlife protection
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
Water management, afforestation, and wildlife conservation contribute to maintaining ecological balance, whereas industrial management does not align with ecological balance.
Q52. “Ecology is permanent economy” is the slogan of which movement? (U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007)
[A] Appiko Movement
[B] Narmada BachaoAndolan
[C] Chipko Movement
[D] None of the above
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
The slogan “Ecology is permanent economy” is associated with the Chipko Movement. The Narmada Bachao Andolan opposed the construction of a multi-purpose dam on the Narmada River, while the Appiko Movement, launched in Karnataka, focused on environmental conservation.
Q53. Chipko movement is related to: (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015)
[A] Plant conservation
[B] Tiger project
[C] Crocodile conservation
[D] Plant reproduction
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
The Chipko Movement, initiated in 1973, was a forest conservation effort in India. Led by Gaura Devi, village women from the Garhwal Himalayas prevented loggers from cutting down trees by embracing them.
This courageous act by tribal and village women to reclaim their traditional forest rights became known as the ‘Chipko Andolan,’ a non-violent protest that marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement in India.
Q54. Consider the following statements relating to the ecosystem: (U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002)
ThetermecosystemwasfirstusedbyA.G.Tansley.
Those organisms which produce their food themselves are termed as autotrophs.
Consumersconsumetheirfoodthroughtheprocess of photosynthesis.
The term “ecosystem” was first introduced by A.G. Tansley, making statement (1) correct. Biotic components refer to living organisms that influence an ecosystem, while autotrophs, or self-feeding organisms, produce their own food, confirming that statement (2) is also correct.
Consumers, or heterotrophs, obtain energy by consuming other organisms, which makes statement (3) incorrect. Organic matter is recycled in an ecosystem by decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, which break down dead plant and animal material into inorganic matter, thus statement (4) is also incorrect.
Q55. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity? (I.A.S. (Pre) 2013)
[A] Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
[B] Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
[C] Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
[D] Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
View Explanation
Correct Answer is C.
The correct order of ecosystems in terms of decreasing productivity is: Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, and oceans.
Q56. Concerning food chains in ecosystems, consider the following statements
A food chain illustrates the order in which a chain of organisms feeds upon each other.
Food chains are found within the population of a species.
A food chain illustrates the number of organism, which is eaten by others.
Which of the statements given above is /are correct? (I.A.S. (Pre) 2013)
[A] Only 1
[B] 1 and 2
[C] 1, 2 and 3
[D] None of these
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
One of the most evident aspects of nature is the transfer of energy from one living organism to another. When herbivores consume plants, energy moves from plants to animals. In an ecosystem, some animals feed on living organisms, while others feed on dead organic matter, forming the detritus food chain.
Typically, food chains consist of only four to five links. Food chains do not exist within a single species population, as that would imply, for example, humans eating other humans, which is not natural for a single species like humans.
Q57. Which of the following statement is correct? (U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015)
[A] The energy flow in the biospheric ecosystem is unidirectional.
[B] The energy flows in the biospheric is cyclical.
[C] Relative loss of energy in natural ecosystem decrease with increasing trophic levels.
[D] Species at progressively higher trophic levels appear to be less efficient in using available energy
View Explanation
Correct Answer is A.
The flow of energy in an ecosystem is unidirectional, meaning it moves in one direction. Energy enters plants from the sun through photosynthesis and is then passed along the food chain from one organism to another. The energy that organisms release as heat is lost to the environment and cannot be reused by plants, reinforcing the unidirectional flow.
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. The second law states that when energy changes form, its intensity decreases. Similarly, as energy moves through higher trophic levels, its availability diminishes in the natural ecosystem.
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