Basis of Ecosystem Classification & Biomes: Important MCQs

COMPETITIVE EXAM MCQs SERIES of ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE for UGC-NET/JRF, SLET, ARS, GATE, and other entrance tests – Environmental Biology – Basis of Ecosystem Classification & Biomes.

Syllabus Outline

1. Ecological hierarchies and the factors influencing ecosystem boundaries.
2. Terrestrial biomes (e.g. Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Temperate Grassland, Desert, Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Savanna, Chaparral, Montane and Polar Ice).
3. Aquatic biomes (e.g. Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Streams, Oceans, Coral Reefs, Estuaries, Mangrove Swamps and Salt Marshes).
4. Unique characteristics, ecological processes, and adaptations of flora and fauna of each biome.
5. Contemporary issues related to ecosystem classification and biome distribution.

This quiz contains the concept-based most frequently asked 25 MCQs of “Environmental Biology – Basis of Ecosystem Classification & Biomes“. Each question has a single correct/most appropriate answer.

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1. Which of the following is a key feature of the temperate deciduous forest biome?

a) Evergreen trees

b) Four distinct seasons

c) Permafrost

d) Hot and humid climate

2. The process of ecosystem classification involves grouping ecosystems based on: I – Climate and Soil, II – Flora and Fauna and III – Structural and Functional Characteristics.

a) I, II and III

b) I and III

c) I and II

d) II and III

3. Which of the following is a boreal forest biome characteristic?

a) Short growing season

b) Warm temperatures throughout the year

c) Broadleaf evergreen trees

d) Abundant rainfall

4. Assertion (A): Tropical rainforests exhibit high species diversity. Reasoning (R): The consistent climate and abundant rainfall in tropical rainforests provide stable conditions, promoting the specialization of various species.

a) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A.

b) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.

c) A is false, but R is true.

d) A is true, but R is false.

5. In the context of conservation biology, what are umbrella species?

a) Species that protect smaller, endangered species

b) Species that require extensive habitat protection

c) Species that thrive in degraded ecosystems

d) Species with large, flagship populations

6. How do thermohaline currents contribute to the vertical movement of ocean water?

a) Due to variations in water density

b) Facilitated by tidal forces

c) Through wind-driven circulation

d) Influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field

7. What is the primary factor influencing the distribution of coral reefs in marine ecosystems?

a) Salinity

b) Light Intensity

c) Oxygen Levels

d) Temperature

8. How does the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon impact different biomes globally?

a) Increases biodiversity in tropical rainforests

b) Promotes desertification in arid biomes

c) Triggers wildfires in temperate grasslands

d) Alters precipitation patterns in various regions

9. The classification of ecosystems into terrestrial and aquatic is based on:

a) Presence of Water

b) Vegetation Types

c) Soil Characteristics

d) Climate

10. Assertion (A): The boreal forest (taiga) biome experiences extreme temperature variations between seasons.

Reasoning (R): The angle of sunlight and day length change significantly in the boreal forest, leading to distinct seasons with cold winters and warm summers.

a) A is true, but R is false.

b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A.

c) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.

d) A is false, but R is true.

11. The term Montane refers to ecosystems found at:

a) Polar regions

b) High altitudes

c) Low altitudes

d) Coastal regions

12. The classification of ecosystems into forest, grassland, and desert is based on:

a) Temperature

b) Precipitation

c) Vegetation Types

d) Soil Composition

13. The term Chaparral is associated with which biome?

a) Desert

b) Tropical Savanna

c) Mediterranean Scrub

d) Temperate Grassland

14. What is the primary determinant of vegetation type in a tropical rainforest biome?

a) Soil Quality

b) Humidity

c) Precipitation

d) Temperature

15. How do edge effects contribute to our understanding of biodiversity in fragmented ecosystems?

a) Explores the spatial distribution of keystone species

b) Describes the transition zone between two different ecosystems

c) Explains the dominance of invasive species at ecosystem boundaries

d) Highlights the impact of human activities on ecosystem peripheries

16. Assertion (A): Alpine and arctic tundra have similar vegetation despite their geographical separation.

Reasoning (R): The harsh climatic conditions in alpine and arctic tundra favour the growth of low-growing, hardy plant species adapted to cold environments.

a) A is true, but R is false.

b) A is false, but R is true.

c) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.

d) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A.

17. The term Ephemeral is associated with which type of aquatic ecosystem?

a) Lake

b) Wetland

c) River

d) Estuary

18. The concept of Biome was first introduced by:

a) Evelyn Hutchinson

b) Eugene Odum

c) Alexander von Humboldt

d) Charles Darwin

19. The term Biodiversity Hotspot refers to areas with high concentrations of:

a) Invasive species

b) Extinct species

c) Endemic species

d) Migratory species

20. Which of the following is a tropical savanna biome characteristic?

a) Coniferous forests

b) Frigid temperatures

c) Long, dry seasons and grassy landscapes

d) Broadleaved evergreen trees

21. The concept of Ecotone refers to:

a) The climate of a particular biome

b) A region where two different ecosystems meet and overlap

c) The topography of an ecosystem

d) The dominant species in a biome

22. Assertion (A): Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems.

Reasoning (R): Estuaries receive nutrients from freshwater rivers and marine environments, creating ideal conditions for diverse and abundant life forms.

a) A is false, but R is true.

b) A is true, but R is false.

c) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A.

d) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A.

23. Which of the following is an example of a temperate grassland biome?

a) Amazon Rainforest

b) Sahara Desert

c) Pampas

d) Taiga

24. How does the oceanic conveyor belt impact global climates?

a) Transporting heat around the Earth

b) Distributing marine organisms

c) Regulating ocean salinity

d) Modifying ocean currents

25. The term Riparian is associated with which type of ecosystem?

a) Desert

b) Aquatic

c) Grassland

d) Forest

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Next: Population ecology

References

1. Odum, Eugene P. (1993) Ecology and Our Endangered Life-Support Systems, Sinauer Associates Inc., 3rd edition.
2. Singh, R. B., and Sinha, R. K. (2017) Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet, Khanna Publishers, 1st edition.
3. Sharma, P. D., and Jha, R. (2017) Environmental Biology, Rastogi Publications, 1st edition.