Ecosystems and Biodiversity MCQs with Answers
Which of the following is an example of a biotic component of an ecosystem?
a) Sunlight
b) Water
c) Soil
d) Plants
Answer: d) Plants
The variety of different species in an ecosystem is referred to as:
a) Habitat diversity
b) Genetic diversity
c) Species diversity
d) Ecosystem diversity
Answer: c) Species diversity
Which of the following is NOT a terrestrial biome?
a) Tundra
b) Coral reef
c) Grassland
d) Desert
Answer: b) Coral reef
What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?
a) Sunlight
b) Soil nutrients
c) Decomposers
d) Water
Answer: a) Sunlight
The process by which carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds during photosynthesis is known as:
a) Respiration
b) Decomposition
c) Eutrophication
d) Carbon fixation
Answer: d) Carbon fixation
Which of the following is an example of a keystone species?
a) Bee
b) Grasshopper
c) Deer
d) Wolf
Answer: d) Wolf
The process by which nutrients are gradually depleted from a body of water, leading to excessive algae growth, is known as:
a) Eutrophication
b) Biomagnification
c) Succession
d) Deforestation
Answer: a) Eutrophication
Which of the following is an example of a decomposer in an ecosystem?
a) Rabbit
b) Hawk
c) Mushroom
d) Grass
Answer: c) Mushroom
The relationship between a flower and a bee, where the bee obtains nectar and the flower is pollinated, is an example of:
a) Mutualism
b) Commensalism
c) Parasitism
d) Competition
Answer: a) Mutualism
Which of the following is an example of a primary consumer in a food chain?
a) Hawk
b) Grasshopper
c) Grass
d) Snake
Answer: b) Grasshopper
The process of one-way transfer of energy through trophic levels in an ecosystem is known as:
a) Nutrient cycling
b) Succession
c) Energy flow
d) Predation
Answer: c) Energy flow
Which of the following is an example of a pioneer species?
a) Oak tree
b) Grass
c) Deer
d) Hawk
Answer: b) Grass
The process by which species gradually change and adapt to their environment over time is known as:
a) Succession
b) Evolution
c) Ecosystem development
d) Migration
Answer: b) Evolution
The role or position that a species has in its environment is known as its:
a) Niche
b) Habitat
c) Ecosystem
d) Trophic level
Answer: a) Niche
Which of the following is a characteristic of a stable ecosystem?
a) High species diversity
b) Rapid population growth
c) Low primary productivity
d) Limited nutrient cycling
Answer: a) High species diversity
The process by which one species benefits while the other is unaffected is known as:
a) Mutualism
b) Commensalism
c) Parasitism
d) Competition
Answer: b) Commensalism
The loss of a species from a particular habitat or from the entire planet is known as:
a) Extinction
b) Invasive species
c) Habitat fragmentation
d) Pollution
Answer: a) Extinction
Which of the following is an example of a secondary consumer in a food chain?
a) Rabbit
b) Hawk
c) Grasshopper
d) Grass
Answer: b) Hawk
The number of different species in a given area is known as:
a) Species richness
b) Genetic diversity
c) Ecosystem diversity
d) Species evenness
Answer: a) Species richness
The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere is called:
a) Transpiration
b) Evaporation
c) Condensation
d) Precipitation
Answer: a) Transpiration
The process by which nitrogen is converted into different chemical forms in the environment is known as:
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Nitrogen assimilation
Answer: c) Nitrification
Which of the following is an example of a nonrenewable resource?
a) Wind energy
b) Solar energy
c) Fossil fuels
d) Water
Answer: c) Fossil fuels
The process by which water returns to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, or sleet is called:
a) Evaporation
b) Transpiration
c) Condensation
d) Precipitation
Answer: d) Precipitation
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Coal
c) Solar energy
d) Nuclear energy
Answer: c) Solar energy
The loss of a species from a specific geographic area, but not from the entire planet, is known as:
a) Endangered species
b) Extirpation
c) Invasive species
d) Pollution
Answer: b) Extirpation
The process by which an area of land gradually changes in species composition over time is known as:
a) Succession
b) Evolution
c) Adaptation
d) Extinction
Answer: a) Succession
Which of the following is a direct threat to biodiversity?
a) Habitat loss
b) Climate change
c) Pollution
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
The largest level of ecological organization is the:
a) Ecosystem
b) Community
c) Biome
d) Biosphere
Answer: d) Biosphere
Which of the following is an example of an invasive species?
a) Native plants in their natural habitat
b) Bees pollinating flowers
c) Zebra mussels in a freshwater lake
d) Wolves in a forest ecosystem
Answer: c) Zebra mussels in a freshwater lake
The process by which a new habitat is colonized and developed over time is known as:
a) Ecosystem development
b) Ecological succession
c) Biogeography
d) Fragmentation
Answer: b) Ecological succession
The process by which individuals with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce is known as:
a) Natural selection
b) Genetic drift
c) Gene flow
d) Mutation
Answer: a) Natural selection
Which of the following is a characteristic of a stable ecosystem?
a) High resilience
b) Low species diversity
c) Limited energy flow
d) Rapid nutrient cycling
Answer: a) High resilience
The term “ecosystem services” refers to:
a) The goods and products provided by ecosystems
b) The roles and functions of different organisms in an ecosystem
c) The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems
d) The ecological processes that maintain biodiversity
Answer: c) The benefits that humans derive from ecosystems
The process by which individuals of a species are distributed over an area is known as:
a) Dispersion
b) Migration
c) Extinction
d) Adaptation
Answer: a) Dispersion
The process by which organic matter is broken down by decomposers into simpler substances is called:
a) Photosynthesis
b) Respiration
c) Decomposition
d) Nitrogen fixation
Answer: c) Decomposition
Which of the following is an example of a pioneer species in primary succession?
a) Mosses
b) Trees
c) Grasses
d) Shrubs
Answer: a) Mosses
The variety of different ecosystems in a region is known as:
a) Habitat diversity
b) Genetic diversity
c) Species diversity
d) Ecosystem diversity
Answer: d) Ecosystem diversity
Which of the following is a characteristic of a healthy ecosystem?
a) High primary productivity
b) Low species diversity
c) Limited nutrient cycling
d) Rapid population growth
Answer: a) High primary productivity
The process by which individuals of a species move from one population to another is known as:
a) Dispersal
b) Succession
c) Immigration
d) Emigration
Answer: a) Dispersal
The loss of a particular habitat type, such as a forest or wetland, is known as:
a) Extinction
b) Deforestation
c) Fragmentation
d) Eutrophication
Answer: b) Deforestation
Which of the following is an example of a keystone species in a marine ecosystem?
a) Sea turtle
b) Coral
c) Jellyfish
d) Octopus
Answer: b) Coral
The process by which carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during respiration and combustion is known as:
a) Carbon fixation
b) Photosynthesis
c) Cellular respiration
d) Combustion
Answer: c) Cellular respiration
The process by which different species evolve adaptations in response to one another is known as:
a) Coevolution
b) Succession
c) Dispersal
d) Competition
Answer: a) Coevolution
The process by which populations of different species interact and influence each other’s evolution is known as:
a) Ecological succession
b) Speciation
c) Community ecology
d) Population ecology
Answer: c) Community ecology
The process by which different populations in a given area evolve into distinct species is known as:
a) Allopatric speciation
b) Sympatric speciation
c) Genetic drift
d) Natural selection
Answer: a) Allopatric speciation
Which of the following is an example of a natural ecosystem service?
a) Water purification by wetlands
b) Timber extraction by logging companies
c) Crop pollination by bees
d) Oil extraction from offshore drilling
Answer: a) Water purification by wetlands
The process by which nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia by bacteria is known as:
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Nitrogen assimilation
Answer: a) Nitrogen fixation
The loss of biodiversity can have negative impacts on ecosystems, including:
a) Reduced stability and resilience
b) Disruption of nutrient cycling
c) Decreased productivity
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
The process by which individuals of a species compete for limited resources is known as:
a) Mutualism
b) Commensalism
c) Parasitism
d) Competition
Answer: d) Competition
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
a) Oil
b) Natural gas
c) Wind energy
d) Coal
Answer: c) Wind energy
The process by which toxic substances become more concentrated in organisms as they move up the food chain is called:
a) Biomagnification
b) Bioaccumulation
c) Eutrophication
d) Deforestation
Answer: a) Biomagnification
The process by which ecosystems recover and return to their original state after a disturbance is known as:
a) Ecosystem development
b) Ecological succession
c) Restoration ecology
d) Adaptation
Answer: c) Restoration ecology
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Coal
c) Solar energy
d) Nuclear energy
Answer: c) Solar energy
The process by which organisms produce offspring that are similar to themselves is known as:
a) Adaptation
b) Reproduction
c) Migration
d) Evolution
Answer: b) Reproduction
The process by which individuals with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce is known as:
a) Natural selection
b) Genetic drift
c) Gene flow
d) Mutation
Answer: a) Natural selection
The process by which different populations in a given area evolve into distinct species is known as:
a) Allopatric speciation
b) Sympatric speciation
c) Genetic drift
d) Natural selection
Answer: a) Allopatric speciation
The loss of a particular habitat type, such as a forest or wetland, is known as:
a) Extinction
b) Deforestation
c) Fragmentation
d) Eutrophication
Answer: b) Deforestation
The process by which nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia by bacteria is known as:
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Nitrogen assimilation
Answer: a) Nitrogen fixation
Which of the following is an example of a natural ecosystem service?
a) Water purification by wetlands
b) Timber extraction by logging companies
c) Crop pollination by bees
d) Oil extraction from offshore drilling
Answer: a) Water purification by wetlands
The process by which toxic substances become more concentrated in organisms as they move up the food chain is called:
a) Biomagnification
b) Bioaccumulation
c) Eutrophication
d) Deforestation
Answer: a) Biomagnification
The process by which ecosystems recover and return to their original state after a disturbance is known as:
a) Ecosystem development
b) Ecological succession
c) Restoration ecology
d) Adaptation
Answer: c) Restoration ecology
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Coal
c) Solar energy
d) Nuclear energy
Answer: c) Solar energy
The process by which organisms produce offspring that are similar to themselves is known as:
a) Adaptation
b) Reproduction
c) Migration
d) Evolution
Answer: b) Reproduction
Which of the following is an example of a biome?
a) Coral reef
b) Wetland
c) Prairie
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
The variety of different ecosystems in a region is known as:
a) Habitat diversity
b) Genetic diversity
c) Species diversity
d) Ecosystem diversity
Answer: d) Ecosystem diversity
The process by which carbon dioxide is converted into organic compounds during photosynthesis is known as:
a) Respiration
b) Decomposition
c) Eutrophication
d) Carbon fixation
Answer: d) Carbon fixation
Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to biodiversity loss?
a) Habitat destruction
b) Climate change
c) Species introduction
d) Ecosystem restoration
Answer: d) Ecosystem restoration
The process by which individuals of different species compete for limited resources is known as:
a) Mutualism
b) Commensalism
c) Parasitism
d) Competition
Answer: d) Competition
The loss of a species from a particular habitat or from the entire planet is known as:
a) Extinction
b) Invasive species
c) Habitat fragmentation
d) Pollution
Answer: a) Extinction
The variety of different species in an ecosystem is referred to as:
a) Habitat diversity
b) Genetic diversity
c) Species diversity
d) Ecosystem diversity
Answer: c) Species diversity