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:

Sustainable agriculture means:
  1. A) Self-sufficiency
  2. B) To be able to export and import under WTO norms
  3. C) To utilise land so that its quality remains intact
  4. D) To utilise waste land for agricultural purpose
Which of the following has the lowest mean net primary productivity?
  1. A) Temperate forests
  2. B) Tropical forests
  3. C) Temperate grasslands
  4. D) Tropical savanna
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 statements:

1. Scientific investigation depends on commitment to practical ideals.
2 Honesty is particularly important in science.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
  1. A) Both statements 1 and 2 are correct
  2. B) Both statements 1 and 2 are incorrect
  3. C) Statement 1 is correct, 2 is not correct
  4. D) Statement 1 is correct, 2 is unpredictable
Match List-I with List-II and choose the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Person) - List-II (Reason)

A. Gopi Thotakura - 1. First Indian Gymnast to win Gold at Asian Championship
B. Dipa Karmakar - 2. Indian born NASA scientist who led the team to study solar ecliptic impact on ionosphere
C. Aroh Barjatya - 3. First Indian Space Tourist
D. Dev Patel - 4. British actor who made his directorial debut with thriller "Monkey Man"

Codes:
A B C B
  1. A) 4,1,2,3
  2. B) 3,1,2,4
  3. C) 3,2,1,4
  4. D) 2,1,3,4
The country which has the finest system of protected lands in the world is-
  1. A) China
  2. B) Costa Rica
  3. C) India
  4. D) Switzerland
Which of the following is the correct sequence of phases of Biotic succession?
  1. A) Ecesis - Migration - Reaction - Stabilisation
  2. B) Ecesis - Migration - Stabilisation - Reaction
  3. C) Migration - Reaction - Stabilisation - Ecesis
  4. D) Migration - Ecesis - Reaction- Stabilisat
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): CO2, SO2 and NO2 gases get dissolved in rain water and produce acid rain.
Reason (R): Atmospheric air is polluted due to high concentration of gases like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
  1. A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  2. B) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
  3. C) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
  4. D) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Assertion (A) :The Green Belt represent a planning concept for controlling the physical expansion of large cities.
Reason (R): It is an integral component of a city.

Select the correct answer by using the codes given below:
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 are true for bionomics? Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

A. It literally means 'management of life'
B. It is a synonym for ecology
C. It stresses on the value of natural system which influence human systems

Codes:
  1. A) A is correct
  2. B) A and B are correct
  3. C) B and C are correct
  4. D) All are correct
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change, Government of India has announced ‘Dolphin Day’ which will be celebrated on
  1. A) April 15
  2. B) October 5
  3. C) July 15
  4. D) October 28
Which of the following statements about Radioactive pollution are correct?

1. It causes hereditary change in the animals.
2. It causes dis-balance among different minerals in the soil.
3. It hinders blood circulation.
4. It causes carcinogenesis.

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