Ecology MCQs
Ecology MCQs
Answer these 200+ Ecology MCQs and see how sharp is your knowledge of Ecology. Scroll down and let's start!
1: ________ is not part of the hydrologic cycle.
A. Water evaporating from a lake
B. Water moving into creeks and streams following a rainstorm
C. Calcium carbonate dissolving in soil water and groundwater
D. Water infiltrating into the soil and bedrock
2: A population that is growing logistically __________.
A. The carrying capacity of its environment
B. Lower the survival rates of the parents
C. Grows fastest at an intermediate population density
D. By a logistic equation
3: According to the nonequilibrium model of community diversity, _____.
A. Large and close to a mainland
B. Ecosystem engineers
C. Ecological niche
D. Communities are constantly changing after being influenced by disturbances
E. Trophic structure
4: An ecosystem ________.
A. Is a regional grouping of plants, animals, and other biotic factors
B. Is the total population of a specific kind of plant, animal, or microbe and all members of which do or potentially can interbreed and produce young
C. Encompasses all the organisms and the physical and chemical environment within an area
D. Is a grouping of plants and animals that interacts with one another in a way that causes the grouping to die
E. Is a collection of interacting species living in a specific area
5: Converting a prairie to a farm field is an example of ________.
A. Overharvesting
B. Habitat loss
C. Exotic species
D. Climate change
6: Examples of defensive adaptations include all of the following except ________.
A. Aposematic coloration
B. Müllerian mimicry
C. Mechanical defense
D. Batesian mimicry
E. Predation
7: Flying squirrels competing with each other for truffles is an example of ________.
A. Interspecific competition
B. High-energy carbohydrates
C. Intraspecific competition
D. Lynx and snowshoe hares
8: Food chains are an important part of an ecosystem. a food chain shows _____.
A. Mutualisms between mammals are rare, more so when a primate isn't involved.
B. Herbivorous organisms are near the bottom of the food chain.
C. The part of the habitat's resources that a species uses
D. Food chains are often complex and intertwined.
E. Which organisms are producers and which are consumers
9: For an element to be considered a macronutrient _____.
A. Plants synthesize their own organic molecules.
B. It obtains nitrogen from their bodies that it cannot get from the soil
C. It must be required in relatively large amounts
D. Most serve mainly as cofactors of enzymes
10: Herbivores are _____.
A. Primary consumers
B. Secondary consumers
C. Producers
D. Decomposers
E. Detritivores
11: In ________, the interaction between two species harms both of them.
A. Coevolution
B. Mutualism
C. Symbiosis
D. Competition
E. Parasitism
12: In an ecosystem, the __________ is always greater than the __________.
A. Cellular respiration only ... Disturbance is inevitable
B. Energy used by primary consumers ... energy used by secondary consumers
C. Disturbance is inevitable ... all return carbon dioxide to the atmosphere during cellular respiration.
D. Grows fastest at an intermediate population density ... Disturbance is inevitable
13: In assessing whether a bird species is endangered, biologists might look at __________.
A. Habitat loss
B. Population fragmentation
C. Reproductive reate
D. Population size
E. All of these
14: In queensland, australia, cactus moths (cactoblastis cactorum) ________.
A. Biocontrol measures, crop rotation, and habitat diversification
B. Effectively cleared non-native prickly pear cactus from rangeland
C. Decreased organic soil losses while giving yields comparable to conventional farming
D. Essential pollinators and predators
15: Leaching ________.
A. Adds nutrients to soil naturally
B. Is a common agricultural practice to improve soil
C. Can help plant growth only if done properly
D. Is caused by movement of water upward through soil from the water table
E. Removes water-soluble nutrients from topsoil
16: Mineral nutrients _____.
A. Enter plants via the stomata
B. Include sugars
C. Are organic nutrients
D. Are not essential to plant growth
E. Contribute little to a plant's overall mass
17: Most coltan ore is mined in ________, but purified and marketed in ________.
A. The U.S.; Europe
B. Canada ; the U.S.
C. South America ; South Africa
D. South Africa ; Congo
E. Congo ; developed nations in North America and Europe
18: Most parasites have evolved to __________ their host
A. Predator
B. Weaken
C. Exotic
D. Climatic Events
19: Of the following, ________ best describes integrated pest management (ipm).
A. Biocontrol measures, crop rotation, and habitat diversification
B. Erosion, over-irrigation, and overgrazing
C. Affected by rainfall, freezing and thawing
D. Are techniques for conserving soil resources and fertility
20: Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between _____.
A. Sympatric populations of a predator and its prey.
B. Sympatric populations of species with similar ecological niches.
C. Sympatric populations of a flowering plant and its specialized insect pollinator
D. Allopatric populations of the same animal species.
E. Allopatric populations of species with similar ecological niches
21: Some researchers suggest that primates are able to do all of the following except __________.
A. Master rules of syntax
B. Learn sign language
C. Create simple sentences
D. Comprehend spoken words
22: Speciation _____.
A. Occurs when a species dies out
B. Is caused by reduced gene flow
C. Happens when parasites evolve
D. Is slowed by geographic isolation
23: Speciation requires ______
A. Genetic isolation
B. Geographic isolation
C. Periods of rapid evolutionary change
D. Long periods of time
24: Succession of communities occurs because _____.
A. Resources in an area are limited
B. Most populations have a limited life span and die, making room for others
C. Climatic changes lead to reduced water availability
D. Each existing community changes the environment
25: The phosphorus cycle lacks a(n) __________ component.
A. Atmospheric
B. Organic
C. Mineral
D. Aquatic
E. Organic and gaseous
26: Dam removal in this country ________.
A. Will probably continue because the environmental impacts of dams are reviewed periodically
B. Will probably increase rapidly as we move to a more fossil-fuel-dependent society
C. Is controversial because dams provide such good habitats for native species
D. Provides many new jobs and opportunities and so is economically beneficial
E. Will assist with our transition to more natural forms of renewable energy
27: Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output ________.
A. Cities and states are setting their own programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
B. Is less than any of the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change
C. Is an international panel that reports on how climate change influences biomes and economies
D. Molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat
28: Succession is _______
A. Harmful to ecosystems
B. A natural recovery process
C. Unnecessary for ecosystem recovery
D. A one-time event
29: The type iii survivorship curve has _____.
A. Group of individuals of the same age
B. High initial death rates but later high survivorship (e.g., plants)
C. Both of these
D. None of these
30: When equilibrium is reached on an island, __________.
A. Ecological disturbance is minimized
B. Extinction will cease
C. The rate of species immigration will equal the rate of species extinction
D. The food web will be highly stable
31: Within an ecosystem, the _____ is always greater than the _____.
A. Energy used by primary consumers … energy used by secondary consumers
B. Biomass of producers … biomass of primary consumers
C. Number of producers … number of primary consumers
D. Biomass of secondary consumers … biomass of producers
32: Variations in allometric growth patterns demonstrate how _____.
A. Chimpanzees are basically juvenile humans that have gained the ability to reproduce
B. Relatively small genetic changes can have a major impact on phenotype
C. Differences in the fetal skulls of chimpanzees and humans lead to very similar adult skulls
D. Relatively large genetic changes can have a minor impact on phenotype
33: Of the following, ________ requires the least land to produce 1 kg of protein.
A. Egg
B. Milk
C. Chicken
D. Beef
34: If a predator is eliminated from an ecosystem its prey?s population will likely _______. .
A. Increase
B. Decrease
C. Stay the same
D. Change, but the direction cannot be predicted
35: A characteristic that is shared by snakes and birds is ________.
A. Amniotic egg
B. Amniotic fluid
C. Leathery
36: _____ allows populations to adapt to the abiotic and biotic conditions where they live
A. Reproduction
B. Natural selection
C. Competition
D. Predation
37: _____ are secondary consumers
A. Herbivores
B. Plants
C. Cows
D. Carnivores
38: A biome is a large group of plants and animals living together in a specific _____.
A. Habitat
B. Population
C. Community
D. Climate
39: A cow eating grass is an example of a _____.
A. Herbivory
B. Predation
C. Habitat destruction
D. A keystone species
40: A niche specialist is ________.
A. More likely to go extinct than a niche
B. More likely to go extinct than a niche generalist
C. More likely to go extinct than a specialist
41: An example of restoration ecology is ________.
A. Cessation of mining or farming or causes of erosion
B. Restricting livestock from riparian areas
C. Removing toxic materials from soil or sediments
D. All
42: Mushrooms, algae, and protozoa are all examples of ___________ cells...
A. Protist.
B. Plant.
C. Fungal
43: Human impacts on biomes are best characterized by _______
A. Increased fossil fuel usage
B. Industrial pollution of landfills
C. Interruption of natural biome processes
D. Sewage contamination of groundwater
44: In captive breeding programs, organisms are bred with the intent to __________.
A. Release them to non-native ecosystems
B. Clone them
C. Keep them in zoos
D. Release them to the wild
45: Nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil _____
A. Convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia
B. Plants synthesize their own organic molecules.
C. Most serve mainly as cofactors of enzymes.
D. Contribute little to a plant's overall mass
46: Which of the following, ________ requires the least land to produce 1 kg of protein.
A. Beef
B. Eggs
C. Chicken
D. Milk
E. Pork
47: Species found in only one place on earth are called ________ species.
A. Species richness
B. Predation
C. Endemic
D. Both an herbivore and a primary consumer
48: Endemic species ________.
A. Are generalist organisms
B. Cause disease
C. Are invasive species that cause extinction
D. Have high rates of mutations that lead to large numbers of offspring species
E. Are found only in one place on the planet
49: Most crops cannot grow in ________.
A. Warm climates.
B. Water logged soil.
C. Soil containing good oxygen levels.
D. Nutrient rich soil
50: "the sundew plant has to digest insects because __________.
A. It must be required in relatively large amounts is a mixture of rock fragments, living organisms, and humus
B. [ Topsoil is produced by the erosion of rock by living organisms and is rich in decomposing organic matter (humus).]
C. It obtains nitrogen from their bodies that it cannot get from the soil( The sundew lives in nitrogen-poor soil and obtains its nitrogen from the digestion of insects.)
D. None of these
51: Fungi and bacteria are _____.
A. Producers.
B. Consumers.
C. Decomposers.
D. Pollinators
52: Classification systems _____
A. Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya
B. Vary with the taxonomist
C. All of these
53: During ecological succession, the species composition of a plant community _____.
A. Changes gradually because each species responds differently to changes in environmental factors
B. Nutrients and other life-sustaining molecules are in limited supply and must be continually recycled
C. Both benefit
D. None of these
54: In coenocytic hyphae, __________.
A. And animals have a common ancestor
B. Secreting digestive enzymes into the environment and then absorbing the smaller compounds into their bodies
C. Athlete's foot and yeast infections
D. Nuclei undergo mitosis without cytokinesis
55: The 3 principal types of precipitation are frontal, orographic, and _______________________
A. Cyclonic Precipitation
B. Convective Precipitation
C. Orographic Precipitation
D. Cyclonic Rainfall
E. Snow
56: Taiga and tundra both ________
A. Lack many birds
B. Lack trees
C. Are found in the southeastern United States
D. Have many burrowing rodents
E. Have comparatively low temperatures throughout the year
57: Detritivores are _________.
A. Recycle chemical elements directly back to primary consumers
B. Synthesize organic molecules that are used by primary producers
C. Convert organic materials from all trophic levels to inorganic compounds usable by primary producers
D. Secrete enzymes that convert the organic molecules of detritus into carbon dioxide and water
E. Heterotrophs
58: A plant native to the chaparral would be expected to _______.
A. Tolerate nutrient poor soil
B. Water conserving behaviors
C. Competition for water
D. They have limited access to nutrients
59: An organism's environment consists of _____.
A. Rainfall and temperature
B. Pelagic zone/realm
C. Abiotic and biotic factors
D. Swimming and drifting organisms
60: Biodiversity enhances human food security because it ________.
A. Means that there is genetic uniformity
B. Reduces the number of pollinators available to any one plant species
C. Is a potential source of new food items or new genetic varieties of existing foods
D. Decreases the number of predators
E. Increases the number of available pathogens
61: Biological augmentation is a process that _________.
A. Uses organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems
B. Restoring seaweed and seagrass beds of fish and shellfish nurseries
C. Uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem
D. Nutrient enrichment such as nitrate and phosphate runoffs from land
62: Birds in the chaparral biome have adapted to living _______.
A. In trees
B. In burrows
C. On the ground
D. Through cool summers
63: Boreal forests are characterized by _______ trees
A. Creosote
B. Eucalyptus
C. Coniferous
D. Deciduous
64: Desert and tundra both ________.
A. Have wide temperature variations throughout the year
B. Lack shrubs
C. Lack insects
D. Have relatively low precipitation
65: A mature collection of species, called a _____, makes up the final stage of succession.
A. Niche overlap
B. Obligate
C. Climax community
D. Ecological niche
66: An ecological _____ is the set of all populations of all species found in a given place.
A. Ecosystem
B. Community
C. Population
D. Metapopulation
67: Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to ________ and destroy abnormal tissue.
A. Burn
B. Identify
C. Coagulate
D. Freeze
68: Exponential growth would be represented by a ____ curve?
A. J-shaped
B. S-shaped
C. Straight
D. Bimodal
E. Linear
69: Clouds form from _____ temperature change, which occurs when an expanding gas cools.
A. Condensation
B. An adiabatic
C. An aerodynamic
D. A sublimation
70: Cows require a high quantity of feed because they ________.
A. Are genetically modified organisms
B. Can feed more people than pigs
C. Are raised on feedlots
D. Take time to grow and have a low energy conversion efficiency
E. Are the best source of high-quality protein
71: Species richness and relative abundance define the _____ of a community.
A. Species diversity
B. Hormonal
C. Respiratory
D. Cardiovascular
72: Two of the most common mycoses (fungal infections) in humans are __________.
A. Athlete's foot
B. Yeast infections
C. All of the above
73: Using water more efficiently _______.
A. Protects the environment
B. Causes the loss of natural pollution filters
C. Increases water contamination
D. All of the above
74: In general, biomes in the _______ zone have been changed the most by human activity.
A. Tropical
B. Subtropical
C. Temperate
D. Arctic
75: In regard to energy efficiency, aquaculture is _______.
A. Pests can evolve defenses against pesticides
B. Incredibly energy-efficient compared to harvesting fish from open waters
C. Organic fertilizers increase humus in soil
76: Non-native species can have important effects on biological communities by ______.
A. Preying upon native species
B. Competing with native species for resources
C. Reducing biodiversity
D. All of these
77: Of the following, ________ can change global species diversity.
A. Speciation and extinction
B. Emigration and extinction
C. Speciation and immigration
D. Extirpation and extinction
E. Immigration and extirpation
78: Of the following, ________ would be most vulnerable to extinction.
A. A mold that attacks wheat in the field
B. A moth, brought to the US for silk production, escaping into the wild and becoming established
C. A healthy plant, such as a pine tree, that completely dominates its native environment
D. A migratory flock of warblers stopping along its winter route to feed on local resources that are now gone and replaced by a suburb
E. An orchid endemic to a forest where logging is occurring
79: Organisms in the same ecosystem are all _______
A. Interrogative
B. Interdependent
C. Intermediate
D. Interceptive
80: Predation is considered to be a(n) _______________ factor.
A. Extrinsic
B. Intrinsic
C. Abiotic
D. Biotic
E. Extrinsic and biotic
81: Rooted plants are found only in the __________ zone of a lake.
A. Littoral
B. Detritus
C. Limnetic
D. None of these
82: Savannas are _______.
A. Located only in Africa
B. Characterized by four distinct seasons
C. Lacking diverse animal life
D. Between tropical rainforests and deserts
83: Several warbler species are able to coexist in the same forest because ________.
A. They feed in different parts of the fir and spruce trees
B. The birds eat in the different portions of the forest canopy
C. Introducing maples
D. A relationship between two species in which both benefit
84: The greatest cause of the worldwide loss of species is ________.
A. Habitat destruction
B. Overharvesting
C. Captive breeding programs
D. None of these
85: The main difference between deserts and steppes is the _____.
A. Annual rainfall that occurs in both biomes
B. Earthworms
C. Being drought resistant
D. None of these
86: The niche of an animal is _____.
A. The number of individuals of the species the environment will support
B. The same as its habitat
C. The way the animal fits into its environment
D. Its den or nest
E. Its position in the food chain
87: Topsoil _____.
A. Is a mixture of rock fragments
B. Living organisms
C. Humus
D. All of these
88: Tropical rain forests are high in __________ and low in __________.
A. Species diversity; soil nutrients
B. Temperate grasslands; species diversity
C. Periodic fires; soil nutrients
D. Soil nutrients; species diversity
89: Food chains are sometimes short because _____.
A. Only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species
B. Most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as it passes to the next higher level
C. Predator species tend to be less diverse and less abundant than prey species
D. Local extinction of a species causes extinction of the other species in its food chain
90: The transitional stage in frank notestein's demographic model is initiated by ________.
A. Government intervention
B. The increased use of contraceptives
C. Inudustrialization.
D. None of these
91: Wildlife in the serengeti is currently threatened by ________.
A. Pollution from a nearby coal power plant.
B. Plans to build a highway that passes through the park.
C. An invasive fish that has been introduced into the major river that flows through the park.
D. Plans to legalize hunting of most of the large animal species in the park.
92: The monarch butterfly-milkweed relationship is best described as an example of ________.
A. Succession;
B. Carnivory;
C. Parasitism;
D. Commensalism
93: To make organic fertilizer by composting, you do not include ________.
A. Animal manures
B. Wastes from butchering animals
C. Crop residues
D. Microbes
94: Keystone predators can maintain species diversity in a community if they _____.
A. Competitively exclude other predators.
B. Prey on the community's dominant species.
C. Allow immigration of other predators.
D. Reduce the number of disruptions in the community.
95: Accounting for over half of all deforestation in tropical regions is the ________.
A. The highly productive nature of tropical soils
B. The need for agricultural expansion
C. The harvesting of natural forest products for food
D. The unlimited supply of land
96: An organism's ______ is its position in the food chain relative to the ecosystem's energy source.
A. Resource partitioning
B. Trophic level
C. Coevolution
D. Camouflage
97: Exponential growth of a population is represented by δn/ δt = ________.
A. RN*(K−N/K)
B. Demography
C. Consumption
D. RmaxN
98: Flying squirrels (same species) competing with each other for truffles is an example of ________.
A. Intraspecific competition
B. Interspecific competition
C. Habitat competition
D. Exploitation competition
99: More greenhouse gas emissions will indirectly lead to ________.
A. Loss of sources of medicines
B. Speciation and extinction
C. Loss of ecosystem services
D. Increased genetic diversity
100: Of the following, ________ can change local species diversity but not global species diversity.
A. Speciation and immigration
B. Immigration and extirpation
C. Emigration and extinction
D. Extirpation and extinction
List of Ecology MCQs Multiple ...
Available in:
Ecology MCQs
Множественный выбор в экологии (MCQs)
Preguntas de opción múltiple de Ecología
生態学の多肢選択問題 (MCQs)
Domande a risposta multipla di Ecologia
Questions à choix multiples sur l'écologie
Questões de múltipla escolha de Ecologia
Ökologie Multiple-Choice-Fragen
生态学多项选择题
أسئلة اختيار من متعدد في علم البيئة
Pertanyaan Pilihan Ganda Ekologi
Ekoloji Çoktan Seçmeli Sorular
