Previous year MCQs

Environment & Ecology UPPSC 2024 GS-I
Question

Which of the following statements is not true about "ecological niche"?

Answer & Solution

Answer: (Detailed Solution Below)

Option C: Number of species becomes small in ecological niche if resources are sufficient.

Detailed Solution:

The correct answer is “Number of species becomes small in ecological niche if resources are sufficient.”.
An ecological niche refers to the role and position a species has in its environment, including how it obtains resources and interacts with other organisms.

Dominant species are those that have a strong influence on the structure and function of an ecosystem. They typically have a broad ecological niche, meaning they can utilize a wide range of resources and tolerate various environmental conditions.

In a natural ecosystem, if resources (food, water, shelter, etc.) are abundant, species richness increases because more species can coexist. Resource availability reduces competition, allowing even less competitive species to survive.

If resources are sufficient, the number of species does not decrease; rather, it increases due to reduced competition. A decrease in the number of species usually occurs when resources are scarce, leading to competitive exclusion where only the strongest species survive.

If resources are evenly distributed, no single species dominates because multiple species can access the resources they need. This promotes biodiversity and ecological balance.

Similar Questions:

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Biosphere sites) - List-II (Year of setting up)

A. Nilgiri - Year 2000
B. Nanda Devi - Year 1989
C. Sunderban - Year 1988
D. Kanchanjunga - Year 1986

A B C D
  1. A) 1 2 3 4
  2. B) 4 3 2 1
  3. C) 3 4 1 2
  4. D) 2 3 1 4
Which one of the following is not correctly matched?
  1. A) Article 153 — Office of the Governor
  2. B) Article 154 — Executive Authority of the Governor
  3. C) Article 155 — Removal of the Governor
  4. D) Article 156 — Term of the Governor
Consider the following statements with reference to cultivated area of some countries of the world:

1. In comparison to USA, China and Japan, India has highest geographical area under cultivation.
2. India's location in tropical monsoon, region helps diversified cropping all through the year.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
  1. A) Both 1 and 2
  2. B) Neither 1 nor 2
  3. C) Only I
  4. D) Only 2
Assertion (1): The Green Belt represents a planning concept for controlling the physical expansion of large cities.

Reason (R): It is an integral component of a city.
Codes:
  1. A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  2. B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  3. C) A is true but R is false
  4. D) A is false but R is true
Which of the following statements is not true?
  1. A) Chromosomes are composed of DNA and Protein.
  2. B) Nucleus of a cell does not play a role in cellular reproduction.
  3. C) Chromosomes contain information for inheritance.
  4. D) Functional segment of DNA is called genes.
Arrange the following events in chronological order of their commencement and select correct answer from the codes given below:

I. Wild Life (Protection) Act
II. Biological Diversity Act
III. Project Tiger
IV. Project Elephant

Codes:
  1. A) I, II, III, IV
  2. B) I, III, IV, II
  3. C) II, III, IV, I
  4. D) II, III, I, IV
Today the largest contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is:
  1. A) China
  2. B) Japan
  3. C) Russia
  4. D) U.S.A.
Biodegradable pollutant is:
  1. A) Mercury
  2. B) Sewage
  3. C) Plastic
  4. D) Asbestos
The amount fo energy during transfer from one trophic level to another in an ecosystem:
  1. A) Increases
  2. B) Decreases
  3. C) Remain Constrant
  4. D) May increase or decrease
On which date Ozone Day, is observed ?
  1. A) October 2
  2. B) September 16
  3. C) April 29
  4. D) January 30
The concept of ecosystem was propounded by:
  1. A) A.G.Tansley
  2. B) C.C. Park
  3. C) A.H. Strahler
  4. D) E.P Odum
Consider the following Peshwas and arrange them in ascending chronological order:

1. Raghunath Rao (Raghoba)
2. Balaji BajiRao
3. Narayan Rao
4. Balaji Vishwanath

Select the correct answer from the codes given
below:
  1. A) 4, 2, 3, 1
  2. B) 3, 4, 1, 2
  3. C) 1, 2, 3, 4
  4. D) 1, 3, 2, 4