Q.1 What is the definition of population in ecology?
A group of different species living in the same area
All the individuals of a single species living in a particular area at a particular time
All organisms in the ecosystem
Only the reproductive members of a species in an area
Explanation - A population consists of all individuals of a single species living in a specific area at a given time.
Correct answer is: All the individuals of a single species living in a particular area at a particular time
Q.2 Which of the following best describes population density?
Number of individuals per unit area or volume
Number of species in an area
Total biomass in an ecosystem
Rate of reproduction of a population
Explanation - Population density measures how many individuals of a species occupy a unit area or volume.
Correct answer is: Number of individuals per unit area or volume
Q.3 Exponential growth in a population occurs when:
Resources are limited
Population size remains constant
Resources are abundant and population reproduces at maximum rate
Predation is high
Explanation - Exponential growth happens when resources are unlimited, allowing the population to reproduce at its maximum potential.
Correct answer is: Resources are abundant and population reproduces at maximum rate
Q.4 Which curve represents logistic population growth?
J-shaped curve
S-shaped curve
Linear curve
Exponential decay curve
Explanation - Logistic growth is represented by an S-shaped curve showing initial exponential growth that slows as the population reaches carrying capacity.
Correct answer is: S-shaped curve
Q.5 Carrying capacity (K) is defined as:
Maximum population size an environment can support indefinitely
Maximum reproduction rate of a species
Total number of species in an area
Rate at which population declines
Explanation - Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can sustain over time without degrading the habitat.
Correct answer is: Maximum population size an environment can support indefinitely
Q.6 Which factor is density-dependent in population regulation?
Natural disasters
Food availability
Climate change
Volcanic eruption
Explanation - Density-dependent factors, such as food availability, depend on the population size and affect population growth accordingly.
Correct answer is: Food availability
Q.7 Which of the following is an example of density-independent factor?
Predation
Disease
Earthquake
Competition
Explanation - Density-independent factors, like earthquakes, affect population size regardless of its density.
Correct answer is: Earthquake
Q.8 What is the main difference between r-strategists and K-strategists?
r-strategists have long lifespan, K-strategists reproduce quickly
r-strategists reproduce quickly and have many offspring, K-strategists reproduce slowly with few offspring
Both reproduce slowly but r-strategists have larger body size
K-strategists have no parental care
Explanation - r-strategists produce many offspring with less parental care, while K-strategists produce fewer offspring with more parental investment.
Correct answer is: r-strategists reproduce quickly and have many offspring, K-strategists reproduce slowly with few offspring
Q.9 Which type of survivorship curve is typical of r-strategists?
Type I
Type II
Type III
None of the above
Explanation - Type III survivorship curve shows high mortality in early life stages, which is typical for r-strategists.
Correct answer is: Type III
Q.10 Population growth rate is calculated as:
Birth rate - Death rate + Immigration - Emigration
Birth rate + Death rate
Death rate - Birth rate
Immigration only
Explanation - Population growth rate considers births, deaths, immigration, and emigration to determine net change in population size.
Correct answer is: Birth rate - Death rate + Immigration - Emigration
Q.11 What is meant by age structure of a population?
Number of species in an area
Distribution of individuals among different age groups
Number of births per year
Carrying capacity
Explanation - Age structure shows how individuals of different ages are distributed in a population, influencing growth potential.
Correct answer is: Distribution of individuals among different age groups
Q.12 Which population distribution pattern is most common in nature?
Uniform
Random
Clumped
Linear
Explanation - Clumped distribution is common because resources like food and shelter are often patchy in nature.
Correct answer is: Clumped
Q.13 Which of the following can lead to population decline?
High birth rate
Abundant resources
Increased predation
Low death rate
Explanation - Increased predation is a biotic factor that can reduce population size.
Correct answer is: Increased predation
Q.14 Which term describes the maximum number of individuals of a species that a habitat can support?
Population density
Ecological niche
Carrying capacity
Growth rate
Explanation - Carrying capacity (K) defines the limit to the number of individuals an environment can sustain.
Correct answer is: Carrying capacity
Q.15 Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of K-selected species?
High parental care
Few offspring
Early reproduction
Long lifespan
Explanation - K-selected species typically have delayed reproduction, investing more in fewer offspring.
Correct answer is: Early reproduction
Q.16 What does a Type I survivorship curve indicate?
High early mortality
Low mortality early, high mortality late
Constant mortality
Random mortality
Explanation - Type I curves, typical of K-strategists like humans, show most individuals survive early life and die later.
Correct answer is: Low mortality early, high mortality late
Q.17 Which method is commonly used to estimate animal population size?
Quadrat sampling
Mark-recapture method
Transect method
Soil sampling
Explanation - Mark-recapture is used for mobile animals by marking individuals, releasing them, and recapturing to estimate population size.
Correct answer is: Mark-recapture method
Q.18 What does natality refer to in population ecology?
Number of deaths
Number of births
Immigration rate
Emigration rate
Explanation - Natality is the rate at which new individuals are born in a population.
Correct answer is: Number of births
Q.19 Which of the following best describes population momentum?
Population decline due to high death rate
Population continues to grow even after fertility rate declines
Rapid extinction of a species
Carrying capacity adjustment
Explanation - Population momentum occurs when a young age structure causes growth to continue even after fertility declines.
Correct answer is: Population continues to grow even after fertility rate declines
Q.20 In population ecology, a community with many species and complex interactions tends to be:
Stable
Unstable
Declining
Exponential
Explanation - Higher biodiversity and complex interactions usually stabilize populations and ecosystems.
Correct answer is: Stable
Q.21 Which factor increases population growth rate?
High mortality
Emigration
High natality
Resource limitation
Explanation - High natality increases the number of individuals in a population, boosting growth rate.
Correct answer is: High natality
Q.22 What is meant by a stable population?
Population size fluctuates wildly
Birth rate equals death rate over time
Population grows exponentially
Population declines steadily
Explanation - A stable population maintains its size over time because births and deaths balance each other.
Correct answer is: Birth rate equals death rate over time
Q.23 Which ecological interaction is most likely to limit population size?
Mutualism
Competition
Commensalism
Neutralism
Explanation - Competition for limited resources is a major factor that can restrict population growth.
Correct answer is: Competition
Q.24 What is the primary cause of population oscillations in predator-prey systems?
Random migration
Density-independent factors
Interaction between predator and prey populations
Climate change
Explanation - Predator and prey populations influence each other's size, often causing cyclical oscillations.
Correct answer is: Interaction between predator and prey populations
Q.25 Which is an example of a density-dependent mortality factor?
Flood
Drought
Disease outbreak
Volcanic eruption
Explanation - Disease outbreaks are more severe when population density is high, making it a density-dependent factor.
Correct answer is: Disease outbreak