Chapter-9: Organisms and Populations

1. The volume of B horizon is more than A horizon in the soil profile of

(1) temperate deciduous.
(2) tropical rain forest.
(3) taiga.
(4) tundra.

2. Loam soil usually contains equal amounts of

(1) clay and sand.
(2) sand and silt.
(3) clay and silt.
(4) sand and gravels.

3. Organisms that occupy the similar ecological niches in the different geographical regions are
(1) ecological amplitude.
(2) ecotone.
(3) ecological equivalents.
(4) None of these.

4. Fertile soil has its pH around

(1) 5–6
(2) 6–7
(3) 8–9
(4) 4–5

5. Organic matter fallen recently to the ground is called

(1) litter.
(2) duff.
(3) peat.
(4) humus.

6. The soil transported by water is

(1) colluvial.
(2) alluvial.
(3) eolian.
(4) glacial.

7. Soil particles in order of increasing size are:

(1) Gravel, Clay, Sand, Silt.
(2) Sand, Silt, Clay, Gravel.
(3) Clay, Silt, Sand, Gravel.
(4) Silt, Clay, Sand, Gravel.

8. Ecological niche is normally occupied by

(1) a population.
(2) a small community.
(3) competing species.
(4) competing genera.

9. What is the correct sequence of different zones of atmosphere from below?

(1) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere
(2) Stratosphere, Troposphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere
(3) Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere, Ionosphere
(4) Ionosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere

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10. Abiotic component of ecosystem is
(1) Chlorella.
(2) water.
(3) Daphnia.
(4) bacteria.

11. Ecological factors work

(1) individually.
(2) in combination.
(3) in complex combination interacting and modifying the effects of one another.
(4) All of these.

12. The term Biosphere is used for the zone of earth where life exists
(1) on the lithosphere surface.
(2) in the hydrosphere.
(3) in the lithosphere and hydrosphere.
(4) in the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

13. Species is a
(1) group immediately below a phylum.
(2) closely related interbreeding population.
(3) taxonomic division of similar genera.
(4) closely related non-breeding population.

14. A thin film of water held by the soil particles under the influence of internal attractive force is called
(1) capillary.
(2) combined.
(3) hygroscopic.
(4) gravitational.

15. Humus is essential for plant growth because

(1) it is rich in nutrients and increases the water holding capacity of soil.
(2) it increases aeration of soil.
(3) it increases porosity of soil.
(4) All of these.

16. Match Column-I (terms) with Column-II (their definitions) and select the correct option.
Column-I Column-II
(a) Population (i) Part of the earth consisting of all the ecosystems of the world.
(b) Community (ii) Assemblage of all the individuals belonging to different species occurring in
an area.
(c) Ecosystem (iii) Group of similar individuals belonging to the same species, found in an area.
(d) Ecosphere (iv) Interaction between the living organism and their physical environmental
components
(v) Classification of organisms based on the type of environment.
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(1) (i) (iv) (v) (iii)
(2) (v) (ii) (iii) (i)
(3) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)
(4) (iii) (ii) (iv) (i)

17. The term niche of a species refers to

(1) specific and habitual function.
(2) specific place where an organism lives.
(3) competitive power of an organism.
(4) specific nutrition of organism.

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18. Study of inter-relationship between a species and its environment of a forest is called
(1) forest ecology. (2) autoecology.
(3) synecology. (4) None of these.

19. The factors responsible for causing annual variation in the intensity and duration of temperature are
________.
(1) rotation of earth in solar system
(2) rotation of earth around the sun
(3) tilt in the axis of earth
(4) Both (2) and (3)

20. Select the false statement.

(1) Average temperature on land varies seasonally.
(2) Temperature progressively decreases from poles to equator.
(3) Temperature progressively decreases from plains to mountain tops.
(4) Our intestine is a unique habitat for hundreds of species of microbes.

21. Read the following statements.

(a) Mango trees cannot grow in temperate countries like Canada and Germany.
(b) Snow leopards are not found in Kerala.
(c) Tuna fish are rarely caught beyond tropical latitude in the ocean.
(d) Average temperature exceeds 100°C in the thermal springs and hydrothermal vents.
(e) In polar areas and high altitudes temperature goes up to 70°C.
(f ) Temperature goes to >50°C in tropical desert in summer.
Which of the above statements are false?
(1) Only (a)
(2) (b) and (c)
(3) Only (e)
(4) (e) and (f)

22. Which of the following statements is false?

(1) Earth’s climate has varied in temperature over time.
(2) Natural selection acts on the genetic variability present in the population so that it can adapt.
(3) The physical and biotic environments do not interact.
(4) The productivity and distribution of plants is heavily dependent upon water.

23. Read eth following statements.

(a) Organisms living in oceans, lakes and rivers face water-related problems.
(b) Euryhaline can tolerate a wide range of salinities.
(c) Stenohalineare restricted to a narrow range of salinities.
(d) No fresh water animals can live for long in sea water, but sea animals can live in fresh water for long time
because of osmotic balance.
(e) The salt concentration is less than 5% in inland water, 30–35% in sea and >100% in some hypersaline
lagoons.
(1) All are correct
(2) All are incorrect
(3) Only (d) is incorrect
(4) (a), (c) and (e) are correct

24. In regions of hot temperature and wet climate, you will most likely find _______ biomes, whereas in the
regions of hot temperature and dry climate you will find ________ biomes.
(1) desert; tropical
(2) temperature; arid
(3) tropical; desert
(4) tundra; chaparral

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25. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Light is essential for life to exist on the earth.
(b) Many species of small plants under the canopy to tall trees in a forest show optimal use of available light
due to having large-sized antenna and higher number of thylakoids.
(c) UV-rays are not harmful for many organisms.
(d) Photoperiodic requirement is not essential for many plants for flowering.
(e) Sun is the source of light and temperature for land.
(f ) Red algae can live in deeper water of sea because of having pigment, phycoerythrin.
(1) Only (a)
(2) Only (b)
(3) Only (c)
(4) (d) and (f)

26. Which of the following is correct?

(1) Two species may not live in the same habitat.
(2) The more dissimilar is the niches of two species, the stronger is their competition.
(3) No two species can occupy exactly the same niche in the geographical area.
(4) No two species may occupy the same ecosystem.

27. Select the incorrect statement with respect to ecological niche.

(1) It represents functional role and status of a species in the environment.
(2) It does not represent trophic position of a species.
(3) No two species can have the same niche if they are found in same environment.
(4) It is a component of habitat which is governed by functioning of an organism.

28. Mark the correct match.

(1) Tuna fish – Tropical ocean
(2) Mango – Tropical and arctic tree
(3) Snow leopard – Polar animal
(4) Both (1) and (3)

29. Ecological equivalents are meant for

(1) two similar ecological niche in same geographical location.
(2) two similar ecological niche in two different geographical locations.
(3) organisms that occupy similar ecological niche in different geographical locations.
(4) organisms that occupy different ecological niche in different geographical locations.

30. Permafrost condition is characteristic feature of

(1) hot desert biome.
(2) cold desert biome.
(3) savanna biome.
(4) chaparral biome.

31. Find out the incorrect match.

(1) Topographic factors – Soil texture
(2) Edaphic factors – Soil factors
(3) Climatic factors – Wind, humidity
(4) Physiographic factors – Mountain slope

32. A kind of similarity found in Polar Regions and high altitudes is

(1) high temperature, low precipitation and deciduous forest.
(2) low temperature, snowfall and scanty or no vegetation.
(3) moderate rainfall, high temperature and no vegetation.
(4) high humidity, high rainfall and low temperature.

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33. Read the following statements with respect to features of biomes and select the correct option for tropical rain
forests:
(a) Buttress roots
(b) Vines, lianas and epiphytes are abundant
(c) Highly leached soils
(d) Soil has high base content
(e) 30–40 m tall canopy structure with 2–3 strata only
(1) (a), (b) and (e)
(2) (b), (c) and (d)
(3) (a), (b) and (c)
(4) (c), (d) and (e)

34. A good soil

(1) has very high water holding capacity.
(2) has moderate water holding capacity.
(3) has very low water holding capacity.
(4) allows water to pass through it quickly.

35. Rise in the temperature and air humidity can be observed from
(1) equator towards polar region.
(2) poles to equator region during latitudinal transition.
(3) plains to mountain top during altitudinal movement.
(4) More than one option is correct.

36. Which organism show behavioural response to cope with variations in their environment?
(1) Snails and fishes
(2) Zooplankton species
(3) Desert Lizard
(4) Bacteria, fungi and lower plants

37. Symptoms of altitude sickness include all except

(1) nausea.
(2) fatigue.
(3) heart palpitations.
(4) hyperoxia.

38. The plants which grow best in sun but can also grow fairly well under shade are called
(1) heliophytes.
(2) sciophytes.
(3) facultativesciophytes.
(4) facultativeheliophytes.

39. Hekistotherms are plants growing at

(1) low temperature.
(2) high temperature.
(3) very low temperature.
(4) very low high.

40. Psychrometer is used in measuring

(1) light.
(2) relative humidity.
(3) temperature.
(4) None of these.

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41. Match Column-I with Column-II and select the correct option.

Column-I Column-I
(a) Hydrophytes (i) Plants capable of growing in water deficient medium
(b) Xerophytes (ii) Plants growing in places of moderate water supply
(c) Mesophytes (iii) Plants growing in water or water rich substratum
(d) Pneumatophores (iv) Roots possessing breathing pores

(1) (a) – (iii); (b) – (i); (c) – (ii); (d) – (iv)

(2) (a) – (i); (b) – (ii); (c) – (iv); (d) – (iii)
(3) (a) – (iii); (b) – (ii); (c) – (i); (d) – (iv)
(4) (a) – (iv); (b) – (i); (c) – (ii); (d) – (iii)

42. Select the incorrect statements.

(1) An overwhelming majority of animals and nearly all plants maintain a constant internal temperature.
(2) An orchid growing as an epiphyte on a branch is an example of mutualism.
(3) In brood parasitism, the parasite bird lays its eggs in the nest of its host and let the host incubate them.
(4) In amensalism, one species is harmed whereas the other is unaffected.

43. Hydrophytes are characterized by

(1) thick and large leaf.
(2) delicate and mucilaginous stem.
(3) short hollow stem.
(4) All of these.

44. Mark the correct pair.

(1) Plants growing in shady places – Heliophytes
(2) Plants growing in light – Sciophytes
(3) Plants growing in saline soil – Halophytes
(4) Roots are absent – Xerophytes

45. Acid secreted lichens on barren rock helps in

(a) corroding rocks. (b) weathering.
(c) soil formation.
Which of the options given above best complete the sentence?
(1) (a) and (b) (2) (a) and (c)
(3) (b) and (c) (4) (a), (b) and (c)

46. Marine organisms, which live at a depth of >500 m, receive solar energy in which form?
(1) Different rays from visible spectrum
(2) UV radiations
(3) Cosmic rays
(4) Infrared radiations

47. Shivering during cold is beneficial for mammals. It helps to

(1) decrease body temperature.
(2) increase body temperature.
(3) decrease rate of metabolism.
(4) None of these.

48. Snails and fish undergo aestivation to avoid summer-related problems of heat and _______.
(1) hygroscopicity
(2) desiccation
(3) efflorescence
(4) starvation

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49. Diapause is a stage of _______.
(1) perpetual development
(2) intermittent development
(3) suspended development
(4) sequential development

50. Many adaptations of an organism have evolved over a long duration of evolution and are ________
(1) genetically unstable.
(2) genetically fixed.
(3) genetically disadvantageous.
(4) genetically extemporaneous.

51. Select the true statement from the following options.

(1) Desert plants have thick cuticle on their body.
(2) Stomata are arranged superficially.
(3) Minimum loss of water occurs through fat oxidation.
(4) Special photosynthetic pathway occurs in desert plants.

52. Mammals from colder climates generally have ______ ears and limbs to minimize heat loss.
(1) reduced (2) shorter (3) longer (4) wider

53. A thick layer of fat under the skin in aquatic mammals essentially acts as
(1) food reservoir. (2) insulator.
(3) conductor. (4) heat generator.

54. How acclimatization occurs in case of altitude sickness?

(1) Decrease RBC production
(2) Increase RBC production
(3) Increase rate of breathing
(4) Both (2) and (3)

55. Which of the following adaptations desert lizard shows to deal with high temperature?
(1) Bask in sun when body temperature drops
(2) Move in shade when body temperature drops
(3) Bask in sun when ambient temperature drops
(4) Move in shade when ambient temperature drops

56. Which of the following statement is false?

(1) Osmoconformers are able to maintain homeostasis by physiological means or sometimes behavioural
means also which ensure constant body temperature, constant osmotic concentration etc.
(2) All birds and mammals, and a very few lower vertebrates and invertebrates are capable of osmoregulation
and thermoregulation.
(3) Thermoregulation is the major reason of the success of mammals.
(4) Sweating and shivering are the means of thermoregulation by humans.

57. Read the following statements.

(a) Thermoregulation, osmoregulation and excretion are mechanisms that moderate change in the body.
(b) 99% animals and almost all plants are conformers.
(c) Heat loss or heat gain is a function of surface area.
(d) Thermoregulation is the energetically least expensive process for many organisms like shrews and
humming birds.
(e) 99% animals are thermo-regulators.
(1) (a) and (b) are incorrect
(2) (d) and (e) are incorrect
(3) None is incorrect
(4) All are incorrect

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58. Read the following statements.
(a) Conformers are the organisms that cannot maintain a constant internal environment.
(b) 99% animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain their constant internal environments.
(c) During the course of evolution, the cost and benefits of maintaining a constant internal environment are
discarded.
(d) Conformity is a condition in which an external challenge induces parallel internal changes.
(e) Regulation is a condition in which external challenge elicits compensatory action to maintain the internal
milieu.
(1) All are correct
(2) All are wrong
(3) Only (c) is wrong
(4) Only (d) and (e) are wrong

59. Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) In a hot climate, reptiles can maintain a constant body temperature in the day by behavioural regulation.
(b) The body temperature of thermoconformers changes with ambient temperature.
(c) In aquatic osmoconformers, the osmolarity of body fluids changes with that of ambient water.
(d) Small animals have a larger surface area relative their volume, they tend to lose body heat very fast when
it is cold outside, then they have to spend much energy to generate body heat through metabolism.
(1) All of these
(2) None of these
(3) Only (d)
(4) (a), (b) and (c)

60. Choose the odd out with respect to structure formed in the different organisms during suspended phase.
(1) Bacteria – Thick-walled spores
(2) Higher plants – Seeds, vegetative propagules
(3) Zooplankton – Diapause stage
(4) Ectothermic organisms – Torpid state during favourable season.

61. Whales, the world’s largest living mammals, live in the ocean, but there are not very small aquatic mammals
why?
(1) They get eaten by larger animals.
(2) They cannot regulate body temperature effectively in water.
(3) Their kidneys cannot handle life in the marine environment.
(4) They lose too much heat from evaporation.

62. Choose the odd one out with respect to adaptations in the organisms:
(1) Biochemical adaptations are seen in organisms living in great depth of the ocean to face crushing pressure.
(2) Allen’s rule is seen in mammals living in colder climates.
(3) Altitude sickness is caused because of body not getting enough oxygen due to low atmospheric pressure at
high altitude.
(4) Desert lizards lack the physiological and behavioural means to manage their body temperature.

63. Consider the following statements (a) – (d) each with one or two blanks.
(a) Bears go into _____(i)______ during winter to ____ (ii)_______ cold weather.
(b) A conical age pyramid with a broad base represents ____(iii)______ human population.
(c) A wasp pollinating a fig flower is an example of _____ (iv)_______.
(d) An area with high levels of species richness is known as ______(v)________.
Which one of the following options, gives the correct fill ups for the respective blank numbers from (i) to (v)
in the statements?
(1) (iii) – stable; (iv) – commensalism; (v) – marsh
(2) (i) – aestivation; (ii) – escape; (iii) – stable; (iv) – mutualism
(3) (iii) – expanding; (iv) – commensalism; (v) – biodiversity park
(4) (i) – hibernation; (ii) – escape; (iii) – expanding; (v) hot spot

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64. According to Gause, if two species are occupying same ecological niche and competing for common
resources, then
(1) both species will eliminate each other.
(2) inferior type will eliminate the superior type of species.
(3) superior type of species will exclude the inferior type of species.
(4) both species will remain unaffected.

65. Smaller animals tend to lose body heat very fast as compared to larger animals because they have
(1) higher surface to volume ratio.
(2) lower surface to volume ratio.
(3) equal values of surface and volume.
(4) very low BMR (basal metabolic rate).

66. Nearly all plants and an overwhelming majority (99 percent) of animals are categorized as
(1) Conformers – They can maintain a constant internal environment.
(2) Conformers – They cannot maintain a constant internal environment.
(3) Regulators – They can maintain a constant internal environment.
(4) Regulators – They cannot maintain a constant internal environment.

67. Consider the following statements (a) – (d) each with one or two blanks.
(a) Some snails go into _____(i)_____ to avoid _____ (ii)______ related problems.
(b) Since small animals have a _____ (iii)_____ surface area relative to their volume, they tend to lose body
heat _____ (iv)_____ when it is cold outside.
(c) Next to temperature, _____ (v)_____ is the most ecologically important environmental factor.
(d) Every _____ (vi)_____ the famous Keolado National Park in Rajasthan hosts thousands of migrating
birds.
Which one of the following option gives the correct fill ups for the respective blank numbers from (i) to (vi) in
the given statements?
(1) (i) – hibernation; (ii) – summer; (v) – light
(2) (iii) – larger; (iv) – very fast; (v) – water
(3) (iv) – very slow; (v) – water; (vi) – summer
(4) (i) – aestivation; (ii) – winter; (v) – light

68. Select the incorrect statement.

(1) Organisms living in oceans, lakes and rivers do not face any water-related problems.
(2) Productivity and distribution of plants is dependent on water.
(3) The levels of thermal tolerance of different species determine to a large extent their geographical
distribution.
(4) Foraging, reproductive and migratory activities of some animals are dependent on seasonal variation in
light.

69. Natality refers to

(1) number of births in a given geographical area.
(2) number of births in a given time period.
(3) number of births under influence of a given environmental factor.
(4) number of deaths in a given time period.

70. A striking difference between immigration and emigration is _______.

(1) immigration considers total numbers of species in a given habitat, while emigration refers to a single
species.
(2) emigration considers total numbers of species in a given habitat, while immigration refers to a single
species.
(3) immigration considers total number of dominant species in a given habitat, while emigration refers to a
single species.
(4) immigration considers total number of species in a given habitat, while emigration refers to a dominant
single species.

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71. While developing theory of natural selection, Darwin observed that each species could realize fully its innate
potential to grow in number provided in a particular habitat _______.
(1) favourable environmental conditions are prevalent
(2) natural disasters like floods and famine are absent
(3) unlimited resources are available
(4) mutations develop in certain species
72. Carrying capacity K means ______.
(1) organism’s capability of maximum reproduction
(2) nature’s limit for supporting maximum growth of a species
(3) nature’s limit for supporting maximum number of species
(4) organism’s capability to withstand environment odds

73. Which of the following equation correctly describes sigmoid growth curve?
(1) dN/dt= rN (2) dN/dt= rN (3) dN/dt= N (4) dN/dt= rN

74. In a field experiment, when all the starfish were removed from an enclosed intertidal area, more than
___(a)___ species of invertebrates become extinct within a year, because of _______(b)_____ competition.
(1) (a) – 10; (b) – intraspecific (2) (a) – 10; (b) – interspecific
(3) (a) – 20; (b) – intraspecific (4) (a) – 20; (b) – interspecific

75. The age structure of a population influences population growth because

(1) younger females have more offspring than do older females.
(2) different age groups have different reproductive capabilities.
(3) the more individuals that are immature, the slower the population will grow.
(4) a shorter generation time results in slower population growth.

76. A population with a larger proportion of older individuals than younger ones will likely to
(1) grow larger and then decline.
(2) continue to grow larger indefinitely.
(3) grow smaller and may stabilize at a smaller population size.
(4) not experience a change in population size.

77. Which of the following is true concerning exponential growth?

(1) No population can grow exponentially for long.
(2) Exponential growth slows down as the population nears its maximal size.
(3) Bacterial colonies have been observed to maintain exponential growth for over a month.
(4) Exponential growth is commonly observed in large, slow growing species such as humans and elephants.

78. The population growth equation describes a population that

(1) grows without limits.
(2) grows rapidly at small population sizes, but whose growth rate slows and eventually stops as the
population reaches the maximum number the environment can support.
(3) rapidly overshoots the maximum number the environment can support and then fluctuates around this
number.
(4) grows very rapidly and then crashes when the environmental resources are used up.

79. Which of the following is not an assumption of the logistic model for population growth?
(1) Members of the population compete for resources at high density.
(2) All individuals have the same effect on population growth.
(3) Population growth rate increases as the size of the population approaches the carrying capacity.
(4) There is no time lag between birth and the time an organism begins to affect population growth.

80. Some organisms reproduce only once in their lifetimes because they
(1) invest so much in reproduction that they have insufficient reserves for survival.
(2) produce so many offspring at one time that they do not need to survive longer.
(3) do not have enough eggs to reproduce again.
(4) do not have enough sperms to reproduce again.

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81. Read the following statements.
(a) Populations evolve to maximize their reproductive fitness, also called Darwinian fitness (higher r value) in
the habitat in which they live.
(b) The population growth rate r is inversely related to generation time.
(c) The housefly, which has a short life span and produces a large number of eggs, could be considered as a
low rmax species.
(d) Under a particular set of selection pressures, organisms evolve towards the most efficient reproductive
strategies.
(e) Life history traits of organisms have evolved in relation to the constraints imposed by biotic and abiotic
factors in their habitat.
Select the false statement:
(1) All of these
(2) Only (c)
(3) Only (e)
(4) Only (a)

82. In small isolated tribal population,

(1) wrestlers pass down the trait of strong muscles to the progeny.
(2) there is no change in population size due to large gene pool.
(3) there is decline in population as boys marry girls only of their tribe.
(4) hereditary diseases like colour blindness do not spread.

83. A biologist studied the population of rats in a barn. He found that the average natality was 250, average
mortality 240, immigration 20 and emigration 30. The net increase in population is
(1) 15
(2) 5
(3) 0
(4) 10

84. A J-shaped growth curve depicts

(1) exponential growth when conditions are limited.
(2) exponential growth when conditions are unlimited.
(3) logistic growth when conditions are limited.
(4) logistic growth when conditions are unlimited.

85. Read the following statements and select the correct option with respect to population attributes.
(a) Population density is necessarily measured in numbers.
(b) Tiger census is often based on pug marks and faecal pellets.
(c) Biomass is not a meaningful measure to know population size.
(d) Size of a population for any species is not a static parameter.
(1) (a) and (b)
(2) (a) and (d)
(3) (c) and (d)
(4) (b) and (d)

86. Competition is most severe in

(1) closely related species growing in the same area.
(2) closely related species growing in different habitat.
(3) distantly related species growing in the same habitat.
(4) distantly related species growing in the different habitat.

87. An interaction favourable to both populations, but no obligatory to either is

(1) mutualism. (2) proto-cooperation.
(3) commensalism. (4) parasite.

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88. A bird enters the mouth of crocodile and feed on parasitic leeches. The bird gets food and crocodile gets rid of
blood sucking leeches. Both the partners can live independently. Such an association is
(1) symbiosis.
(2) amensalism.
(3) commensalism.
(4) proto-cooperation.

89. In commensalism
(1) both partners are benefitted.
(2) both partners are harmed.
(3) weaker is benefitted while stronger is unharmed.
(4) None of these.

90. Small fish get stuck near the bottom of a shark and derives its nutrition from it. This kind of association is
called
(1) symbiosis.
(2) commensalism.
(3) predation.
(4) parasitism.

91. Which of the following is a hyperparasite?

(1) Rat
(2) Xenopsyllacheopsis
(3) Pasteurellapestes
(4) Anopheles

92. The smoother crops secretes chemicals called

(1) allochemicals.
(2) pseudochemicals.
(3) allylsulphide.
(4) mutagens.

93. Match Column-I (interspecific relations) with Column- II (their examples) and choose the correct option.
Column-I Column-II
(a) Commensalism (i) Epiphyte on tree
(b) Mutualism (ii) Fig tree and wasp
(c) Co-evolution (iii) Cattle egret and grazing cattle
(d) Sexual deceit (iv) Sea anemone and clown fish
(v) Lichen
(vi) Mycorrhiza
(vii) Mediterranean orchid Ophrys
(1) (a) – (i), (iii), (iv); (b) – (ii), (v), (vi); (c) – (ii); (d) – (vii)
(2) (a) – (iii), (iv); (b) – (i), (ii), (v); (c) – (iii); (d) – (v), (vi)
(3) (a) – (i), (iii); (b) – (ii), (iv); (c) – (ii); (d) – (vii)
(4) (a) – (iv); (b) – (v), (vi); (c) – (i); (d) – (vii)

94. Abingdon tortoise in Galapagos Islands became extinct within a decade after ________ were introduced on
the island, because of the greater browsing efficiency of the introduced animals on the island.
(1) cows (2) buffaloes (3) goats (4) camels

95. A species whose distribution is restricted to a small geographical area because of the presence of a
competitive superior species is found to expand its distributional range dramatically when the competing
species is experimentally removed. This phenomenon is known as
(1) competitive exclusion.
(2) competitive release.
(3) interference competition.
(4) resource partitioning.

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96. Gause’s competitive exclusion principle states that
(1) two unrelated species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and competitively
inferior one will be eliminated eventually.
(2) two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and competi-
tively inferior one will be eliminated eventually.
(3) two unrelated species competing for the same resources can co-exist indefinitely and can grow together.
(4) two closely related species competing for the same resources can co-exist indefinitely and can grow
together.

97. Find out the incorrect statement.

(1) In brood parasitism (of Koel and Crow), the eggs of parasitic bird have evolved to resemble the host’s egg
in size and colour to reduce the chance of the host bird detecting the foreign eggs and ejecting them from
the host.
(2) Majority of the parasites harm the host; they may reduce the survival, growth and reproduction of the host
and reduce its population density.
(3) Many parasites have evolved to the host specific in such a way that both host and the parasite end to co-
evolve.
(4) Monarch butterfly require chemical by feeding on a poisonous weed in its adult stage, that chemical
makes it high distasteful to its bird.

98. Select the incorrect statement.

(1) The mediterranean orchid Ophrysemploys sexual deceit to get pollinated.
(2) In mycorrhizal association, fungi help the plant in the absorption of essential nutrients from the soil.
(3) Pinusseeds cannot germinate and establish without the presence of mycorrhizae.
(4) When resources are unlimited, the growth is usually logistic but when resources become progressively
limited, the growth pattern turns exponential.

99. Fill in the blanks (a), (b), (c) and (d), respectively.

Species A Species B Nature of

Interaction
+ + Mutualism
– – (a)
+ – (b)
+ – Parasitism
+ 0 (c)
– 0 (d)
(+) Beneficial (–) detrimental (0) Neutral

(1) (a) – Commensalism; (b) – Predation; (c) – Amensalism; (d) – Competition

(2) (a) – Predation; (b) – Parasitism; (c) – Commensalism; (d) – Amensalism
(3) (a) – Competition; (b) – Predation; (c) – Commensalism; (d) – Amensalism
(4) (a) – Competition; (b) – Predation; (c) – Amensalism; (d) – Commensalism

100. Which one of the following is incorrect?

(1) Biological control methods adopted in agricultural pest control are based on the ability of the predator to
regulate prey population.
(2) Predators also help to maintain species diversity in a community by increasing the intensity of competition
among competing prey species.
(3) In the rocky intertidal communities of the American Pacific coast, the starfish piaster is an important
predator.
(4) In a field experiment, when all the starfish were removed from an enclosed intertidal area, more than 10
species of invertebrates became extinct within a year, because of interspecific competition.

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101. Predators are important for natural ecosystems because they
(a) keep prey population under control.
(b) helps in maintaining species diversity.
(c) are used in biological control method.
(d) they reduced intensity of competition among completing prey species.
(1) (a), (c) and (d)
(2) (a), (b) and (c)
(3) (a), (b), (c) and (d)
(4) (a), (b) and (d)

102. (a) Some species of insects and frogs are cryptically coloured (camouflaged).
(b) Some animals are poisonous.
(c) Some animals (e.g., monarch butterfly) are distasteful due to having certain chemical in their bodies.
The above adaptations are against
(1) predation. (2) mimicry.
(3) symbiosis. (4) protection.

103. What does competitive exclusion theory state?

(1) Two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and
competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually.
(2) Humans are the most widespread agents of disturbance.
(3) In a competition for similar resources, both the participants are benefitted.
(4) In a competition, both the participants are excluded.

104. Through resource partitioning,

(1) two species can compete for the same prey.
(2) slight variation in niche allow closely related species to co-exist in the same habitat.
(3) competitive exclusion results in the success of the superior species.
(4) two species undergo character displacement that allows them to compete.

105. A female fig wasp enters the syconium of a fig, pollinates the flowers and lays eggs in the ovaries of some of
the flowers. The young larvae grow up, eat (and kill) some, but not all of the seeds, and complete their life
cycle. The fig is completely dependent on fig wasps to pollinate its flowers, and the fig wasp requires figs to
complete its life cycle. The interaction between figs and fig wasps has aspects of
(1) mutualism.
(2) competition.
(3) predator prey and host parasite interaction.
(4) Both (1) and (2).

106. The association between clown fish and sea anemone is the same as between
(1) egret and grazing cattle.
(2) cuckoo and crow.
(3) fig and wasp.
(4) cuscuta and hedge plant.

107. Which of the following is most appropriately defined?

(1) Host is an organism which provides food to another organism.
(2) Amensalism is a relationship in which one species is benefited whereas the other is unaffected.
(3) Predator is an organism that catches and kills other organism for food.
(4) Parasite is an organism which always lives inside the body of other organism and may kill it.

108. Sexual deceit is employed by

(1) figs. (2) orchid. (3) Yucca. (4) Pinus.

109. Predation performs all, except

(1) transfer of energy. (2) keeps prey population under control.
(3) loss of sense organs. (4) maintains species diversity.

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110. Read the following statements.
(a) Loss of unnecessary sense organs
(b) Presence of adhesive organs
(c) Presence of suckers
(d) High reproductive capacity
(e) Well-developed digestive system
Choose the correct statements with respect to parasites.
(1) All of these (2) Only (a), (b), (d) and (e)
(3) All except (e) (4) All except (d) and (e)

111. Camouflage is an important mechanism where

(1) predators are never cryptically coloured for easy capturing of their prey.
(2) prey species are cryptically coloured to avoid being detected easily by the predator.
(3) prey produces some poisonous chemical in their surroundings to protect themselves from predators.
(4) predators evolved some physiological adaptations to reach to the prey present in some harsh habitats.

112. Pollination in Ophrys(a mediterranean orchid) occurs by

(1) insects through clip mechanism.
(2) insects through trap door mechanism.
(3) insects through pseudocopulation mechanism.
(4) insects through lever mechanism.

113. Predation, parasitism and commensalism share a common characteristic, that is,
(1) both the interacting species are benefitted.
(2) interacting species live closely together.
(3) one of the species is benefitted while other is harmed.
(4) both the species belong to the same taxonomic group.

114. Competition is a rivalry between two or more organisms for obtaining the same resources. It is a type of
(1) positive interaction.
(2) negative interaction.
(3) neither positive nor negative interaction.
(4) symbiotic relationship.

115. Which of the following is incorrect with respect to competition?

(1) Resources need not be limiting for competition.
(2) Competitive species may evolve mechanism that promotes their co-existence.
(3) Conne’s field experiment is an example of competitive release.
(4) Only closely related species can show competition.

116. What is a keystone species?

(1) A species which adds up to only a small proportion of the total biomass of a community, yet has a huge
impact on the communities organization and survival.
(2) A common species that has plenty of biomass, yet has a fairy low impact on the communities organization.
(3) A rare species that has minimal impact on the biomass and on other species in the community.
(4) A prominent species that has large impact on the biomass and affects many other species.

117. Match Column-I with Column-II and select the correct option.
Column-I Column-II
(a) Intraspecific interaction (i) Interaction between the individual of same species
(b) Interspecific interaction (ii) Interaction between different species
(c) Habitat (iii) Natural surroundings
(d) Biome (iv) Community of animals and plants
(1) (a) – (i); (b) – (iii); (c) – (ii); (d) – (iv)
(2) (a) – (iv); (b) – (i); (c) – (ii); (d) – (iii)
(3) (a) – (i); (b) – (ii); (c) – (iii); (d) – (iv)
(4) (a) – (i); (b) – (iv); (c) – (iii); (d) – (ii)

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118. What parameters are used for tiger census in our country’s national parks and sanctuaries?
(1) Pug marks only
(2) Pug marks and faecal pellets
(3) Faecal pellets only
(4) Actual head counts

119. Which of the following is not an example of a defence used by plants against herbivores?
(1) Production of caffeine, tannins and quinines
(2) More production of non-woody tissues
(3) Productions of hairs, thorns and spines
(4) Production of hormone like chemicals that interfere with insect metamorphosis

120. No predator become proficient at acquiring prey because

(1) predators are too large to be fast enough.
(2) prey populations evolve more rapidly than predator population.
(3) predators are not as intelligent as their prey.
(4) prey populations evolve anti-predatory traits.

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