Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum population size an environment can support with available resources without degradation.
Q.202Medium
Which of the following represents a density-dependent factor affecting population growth?
Answer: C
Disease transmission increases with population density, making it a density-dependent factor. Natural disasters are density-independent.
Q.203Medium
The pyramid of numbers is typically inverted in which ecosystem?
Answer: C
In a forest, one large tree (producer) supports many insects and parasites, creating an inverted pyramid of numbers.
Q.204Medium
Which of the following is an example of a decomposer in an ecosystem?
Answer: C
Fungi are primary decomposers that break down dead organic matter. Earthworms are detritivores, not true decomposers.
Q.205Medium
What is the main cause of ozone layer depletion?
Answer: B
CFCs from refrigerants and aerosols release chlorine atoms that catalytically destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
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Q.206Medium
The term 'biodiversity hotspot' refers to regions with:
Answer: C
Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high concentration of endemic species and exceptional species diversity, like Western Ghats in India.
Q.207Medium
Which biogeographical region of India is known for the highest biodiversity?
Answer: B
The Western Ghats is one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots with over 7,400 species of plants, many endemic to the region.
Q.208Medium
What is ecological succession preceded by the death of existing community called?
Answer: B
Secondary succession occurs after disturbance to an existing ecosystem where soil remains intact, allowing faster recovery.
Q.209Medium
Which of the following is an example of mutualistic relationship?
Answer: B
Mutualism benefits both organisms. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria receive carbohydrates from legumes while providing usable nitrogen.
Q.210Medium
India's first National Park, established in 1936, is:
Answer: B
Jim Corbett National Park (originally Hailey National Park) in Uttarakhand was India's first national park, established to protect tigers.
Q.211Medium
Which of the following best explains biological magnification?
Answer: B
Biomagnification is the process where persistent pollutants like DDT accumulate in higher concentrations as you move up the food chain.
Q.212Medium
Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor?
Answer: B
Disease spread increases with population density, making it a density-dependent factor. Natural disasters are density-independent factors.
Q.213Medium
The process of ecological succession following a forest fire is classified as:
Answer: B
Secondary succession occurs on previously colonized areas where soil remains intact, such as after a fire. Primary succession occurs on bare rock or new land.
Q.214Medium
Mycorrhizal association between fungi and plant roots is an example of:
Answer: C
Both the fungus and plant benefit: fungi gain carbohydrates while helping the plant absorb water and minerals, making it a mutualistic relationship.
Q.215Medium
The phenomenon where predators and prey population cycles show a time lag is explained by:
Answer: B
Predator populations increase after prey abundance increases, creating characteristic cyclic patterns with a temporal delay between the two population peaks.
Q.216Medium
Which of the following contributes MOST to eutrophication of water bodies?
Answer: A
Nutrient overloading from agricultural runoff causes algal blooms and oxygen depletion, directly causing eutrophication.
Q.217Medium
The Western Ghats of India are recognized globally as a biodiversity hotspot primarily because:
Answer: B
The Western Ghats are designated as a hotspot due to exceptional plant and animal endemism, with thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth.
Q.218Medium
The carrying capacity of an environment is determined by:
Answer: B
Carrying capacity is the maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely, determined by food, water, space, and other limiting factors.
Q.219Medium
Which of the following is the primary cause of habitat fragmentation in India's biodiversity hotspots?
Answer: B
Habitat fragmentation is predominantly caused by human activities like agricultural development, construction, and urban sprawl, dividing continuous ecosystems into isolated patches.
Q.220Medium
The concept of ecological niche differs from habitat in that niche refers to:
Answer: B
While habitat is 'where' an organism lives, niche describes 'how' it lives—its function, food preferences, behavioral patterns, and ecological role.
