Ecology Quiz: GATE EY / UGC NET

1. Natural selection acts on:

2. In a predator-prey relationship, if the prey population increases significantly due to abundant resources, what would you expect to happen to the predator population over time?

3. Consider a scenario where a large population of a species is divided into several smaller populations due to habitat fragmentation. What might be an immediate consequence for these smaller populations?
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A) Increased genetic diversity due to isolation.
B) Decreased risk of inbreeding.
C) Higher susceptibility to genetic drift and inbreeding depression.
D) Enhanced survival rates due to reduced competition.

4. Consider an ecosystem where a dam is built, converting a lotic environment into a lentic one. What would be an immediate ecological consequence?

5. In terms of energy flow, which of the following statements about lentic and lotic ecosystems is most accurate?
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A) Energy flow in lentic systems is primarily horizontal due to water movement.
B) Energy flow in lotic systems is more vertical due to stratification.
C) Lotic systems have less efficient energy transfer due to the continuous flow of water.
D) Lentic systems often have more efficient energy transfer because of the stable environment.

6. Which type of species interaction is most likely to lead to coevolution where both species involved undergo evolutionary changes?

7.
Which scenario best exemplifies stabilizing selection?
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A) A population of birds where the average-sized beaks are most common because they are best at exploiting the most abundant food source.
B) A population of insects where larger individuals survive better due to better resistance to cold temperatures.
C) A population of fish where the fastest swimmers survive better due to predation pressure.
D) A population of plants where those with red flowers are more visible to pollinators, leading to increased reproduction.

8. Which of the following biomes is characterized by having a wet season and a dry season, with fires being a natural part of the ecosystem?

9. Which of the following best describes a characteristic difference between lentic and lotic ecosystems in terms of nutrient distribution?

10. Which of the following scenarios would lead to an increase in energy transfer efficiency from one trophic level to the next?
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A) Decreasing the number of species at each trophic level.
B) Increasing the complexity of food webs.
C) Reducing the metabolic rate of consumers.
D) Introducing more efficient predators.

11. Which of the following best describes a metapopulation?

A) A single, isolated population of a species within a habitat patch.
B) A group of populations of the same species that are geographically separated but potentially connected by dispersal.
C) A population that has reached its carrying capacity.
D) A population that is undergoing exponential growth.

12. If a population of rabbits suddenly experiences a decrease in food availability, which of the following is most likely to occur in terms of population dynamics?

A) Exponential growth
B) Carrying capacity increase
C) Density-dependent regulation
D) Logistic growth with a decrease in population size