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Introduction Questions in English

Class 12 Biology · Ecosystem · Introduction

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Showing 31 of 31 questions in English

1
MediumMCQ
The functional unit of ecology is the
A
Organism
B
Biosphere
C
Ecosystem
D
Community

Solution

(C) An $Ecosystem$ is defined as the functional unit of nature or ecology.
It encompasses the interaction between the biotic components (living organisms) and the abiotic components (physical environment) within a specific area.
These components function together as a unit through processes like energy flow and nutrient cycling.
2
EasyMCQ
Which one of the following terms was used by Prof. $R. Misra$ for an ecosystem?
A
Biocoenosis
B
Ecocosm
C
Microcosm
D
Biosystem

Solution

(B) Prof. $R. Misra$,often regarded as the father of Indian Ecology,used the term $Ecocosm$ to describe an ecosystem. This term emphasizes the holistic and integrated nature of ecological systems.
3
EasyMCQ
What is studied under the term 'microcosm'?
A
Ecosystem
B
Livings
C
Non-livings
D
None of the above

Solution

(A) The term 'microcosm' is one of the various synonyms used to describe an ecosystem. Since the time of Mobius $(1877)$,who introduced the term 'biocoenosis',several other terms have been proposed to denote this system,including 'geobiocoenosis','phytocoenosis','biosystem','ecosom','microcosm',and 'holocene'. However,the term 'ecosystem' has been widely accepted and preferred by most ecologists over these other terms.
4
EasyMCQ
The word "ecosystem" was first coined by
A
Weaver and Clements
B
$A.G. Tansley$
C
$E.P. Odum$
D
By all the above

Solution

(B) The term "ecosystem" was first coined by the British ecologist $A.G. Tansley$ in $1935$. He defined it as a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system.
5
EasyMCQ
$A$ lake ecosystem is:
A
Artificial
B
Abiotic
C
Natural
D
Hydrological

Solution

(C) lake ecosystem is a type of natural ecosystem.
It is classified as a lentic (standing water) freshwater ecosystem because it occurs naturally in the environment without human intervention.
6
MediumMCQ
An ecosystem may be defined as:
A
$A$ group of plants which act as energy suppliers
B
$A$ group of organisms which form a population
C
$A$ functional unit for ecological studies
D
None of these

Solution

(C) An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
It encompasses the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of a specific area,functioning as a complex system through energy flow and nutrient cycling.
Therefore,it is considered the fundamental functional unit for ecological studies.
7
MediumMCQ
$A$ pond is a
A
Biome
B
Natural ecosystem
C
Artificial ecosystem
D
Community of plants and animals

Solution

(B) An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
$A$ pond is a classic example of a natural ecosystem because it is formed by natural processes without human intervention and contains both biotic (plants,animals,microbes) and abiotic (water,soil,sunlight) components interacting with each other.
8
MediumMCQ
The primary source of energy in an ecosystem is:
A
Sun
B
$ATP$
C
Sugar made by plants
D
Green plants

Solution

(A) In almost all ecosystems on Earth,the Sun is the ultimate and primary source of energy.
Green plants (producers) capture solar energy through the process of photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy stored in organic compounds (sugars).
While $ATP$ is the energy currency within cells and sugar is the stored chemical energy,the original input that drives the entire ecosystem is solar radiation.
9
EasyMCQ
An ecosystem may be defined as
A
$A$ localised association of several plants and animals
B
Different communities of plants,animals and microbes together with their physico-chemical environments
C
Different communities of plants and microbes plus their physicochemical environments
D
None of these

Solution

(B) An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
It encompasses the biotic components (plants,animals,and microbes) and the abiotic components (physico-chemical factors like temperature,light,soil,water,etc.) of a specific area.
Therefore,option $B$ is the most accurate definition as it includes all biotic communities and their interaction with the abiotic environment.
10
EasyMCQ
The term $Ecosystem$ was coined by ..........
A
$Odum$
B
$Mishra$
C
$Reiter$
D
$Tansley$

Solution

(D) The term $Ecosystem$ was coined by the British ecologist $Sir$ $Arthur$ $Tansley$ in $1935$. He defined it as a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment,interacting as a system.
11
EasyMCQ
The term "Ecosystem" was coined by ..........
A
Tansley
B
Reiter
C
Haeckel
D
Karl Mobius

Solution

(A) The term "Ecosystem" was coined by the British ecologist $A.G. Tansley$ in $1935$.
An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
$A.G. Tansley$ defined it as the system resulting from the integration of all the living and non-living factors of the environment.
12
EasyMCQ
The source of energy in an ecosystem is ...........
A
Sunlight
B
$DNA$
C
$ATP$
D
$RNA$

Solution

(A) In any ecosystem,the primary source of energy is solar radiation or sunlight.
Plants (producers) capture this solar energy through the process of photosynthesis and convert it into chemical energy stored in organic compounds.
This energy then flows through the food chain from producers to consumers.
Therefore,sunlight is the ultimate source of energy for all ecosystems on Earth.
13
EasyMCQ
The term $Ecosystem$ was coined by ..........
A
$A.G. Tansley$
B
$Reiter$
C
$Karl Mobius$
D
$Sukachev$

Solution

(A) The term $Ecosystem$ was coined by the British ecologist $A.G. Tansley$ in $1935$.
An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
14
EasyMCQ
Who suggested that an ecosystem is a functional and structural unit of nature?
A
Gardner
B
Odum
C
Tansley
D
Reiter

Solution

(C) The term 'ecosystem' was coined by Arthur Tansley in $1935$. He defined the ecosystem as a functional and structural unit of nature where living organisms interact with their physical environment. This concept emphasizes the interdependence between biotic and abiotic components.
15
EasyMCQ
What do all ecosystems in nature collectively form?
A
Population
B
Biotic community
C
Various ecosystems
D
Biosphere

Solution

(D) The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It can also be termed as the zone of life on Earth. All ecosystems on Earth,including their interactions with the atmosphere,hydrosphere,and lithosphere,collectively form the biosphere.
16
EasyMCQ
How is the biosphere formed?
A
By the collection of populations living in a common habitat.
B
By the interaction between the biotic community and the environment.
C
By the combination of all ecosystems in nature.
D
By the collection of individual organisms.

Solution

(C) The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It represents the zone of life on Earth,encompassing all living organisms (biotic components) and their interactions with the physical environment (abiotic components). Since an ecosystem consists of the interaction between a community of organisms and their physical environment,the biosphere is formed by the integration of all these ecosystems across the planet.
17
EasyMCQ
The combined structure formed by all ecosystems of nature is known as ........
A
Atmosphere
B
Environment
C
Biosphere
D
All of the above

Solution

(C) The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems. It is the zone of life on Earth,encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the lithosphere,hydrosphere,and atmosphere. Therefore,the combined structure formed by all ecosystems of nature is the biosphere.
18
MediumMCQ
The biosphere is defined as:
A
Interactions between populations and communities
B
Interactions between biological communities and their environment
C
The organization of all ecosystems in nature
D
$A$ group of individual organisms

Solution

(B) The biosphere is the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships,including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere,geosphere,hydrosphere,and atmosphere. It represents the sum total of all ecosystems on Earth,where biological communities interact with their physical environment to sustain life.
19
EasyMCQ
The term ecosystem was coined by
A
$E$. Haeckel
B
$E$. Warming
C
$E$. $P$. Odum
D
$A$. $G$. Tansley

Solution

(D) The term ecosystem was coined by the British ecologist $A. G. Tansley$ in $1935$. An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
20
EasyMCQ
Robert Constanza and his colleagues have put an average price tag of how much for ecosystem services?
A
$US$ $18$ million
B
$US$ $33$ trillion
C
$US$ $50$ billion
D
$US$ $33$ million

Solution

(B) Robert Constanza and his colleagues have attempted to put price tags on nature's life-support services. Researchers have put an average price tag of $US$ $33$ trillion a year on these fundamental ecosystem services,which are largely taken for granted. This value is significantly higher than the global Gross National Product $(GNP)$ of that time.
21
EasyMCQ
In primary succession on rocks,the pioneer species are usually:
A
Bryophytes
B
Pteridophytes
C
Lichen
D
Phytoplankton

Solution

(C) Primary succession is the process of ecological succession that occurs in an area where no living organisms previously existed,such as bare rocks.
On bare rocks,the pioneer species (the first organisms to colonize the area) are typically lichens.
Lichens are able to secrete acids to dissolve rock,which helps in the process of weathering and soil formation,thereby creating a suitable environment for subsequent plant species like bryophytes to grow.
22
MediumMCQ
Which of the following is found as a pioneer organism on bare rocks?
A
Liverworts
B
Mosses
C
Green algae
D
Lichens

Solution

(D) Lichens are considered pioneer organisms in primary succession on bare rocks. They secrete acids that help in the weathering of rocks,which leads to the formation of soil. This process creates a suitable environment for the growth of other organisms like mosses and eventually higher plants.
23
EasyMCQ
Who coined the term 'Ecosystem'?
A
$A$. $G$. Tansley
B
$E$. Haeckel
C
$E$. Warming
D
$E$. $P$. Odum

Solution

(A) The term 'Ecosystem' was coined by the British botanist $A. G. Tansley$ in $1935$. He defined it as the sum of biotic and abiotic components in a given area that interact with each other.
24
Easy
Give general information about ecosystem and give examples of various ecosystems.

Solution

(N/A) An ecosystem can be visualized as a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
Ecosystems vary greatly in size,from a small pond to a large forest or a sea.
Many ecologists regard the entire biosphere as a global ecosystem,as a composite of all local ecosystems on Earth.
Since this system is too large and complex to be studied at one time,it is convenient to divide it into two basic categories: terrestrial and aquatic.
Examples of terrestrial ecosystems include forests,grasslands,and deserts.
Examples of aquatic ecosystems include ponds,lakes,wetlands,rivers,and estuaries.
Crop fields and aquariums may also be considered as man-made (artificial) ecosystems.
Studying the structure of an ecosystem helps us understand the input (productivity),the transfer of energy (food chain/web,nutrient cycling),and the output (degradation and energy loss),along with the relationships and cycles created by these energy flows.
25
EasyMCQ
Which scientist coined the term 'Ecosystem'?
A
$A$. $G$. Tansley
B
Von Behring
C
Englemann
D
None of these

Solution

(A) The term 'Ecosystem' was coined by the British ecologist $A. G. Tansley$ in $1935$.
He defined the ecosystem as a basic functional unit of ecology,comprising both the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of the environment and their interactions.
26
EasyMCQ
Who coined the term 'Ecosystem'?
A
Von Bering
B
$A$. $G$. Tansley
C
$P$. Odum
D
Alexander

Solution

(B) The term 'Ecosystem' was coined by the British ecologist $A. G. Tansley$ in $1935$.
He defined it as the basic functional unit of nature,comprising both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components interacting with each other.
27
EasyMCQ
The term 'ecosystem' was coined by
A
Odum
B
Koestler
C
Tansley
D
Mobius and Forbes

Solution

(C) The term 'ecosystem' was coined by the British ecologist Arthur Tansley in $1935$. An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
28
MediumMCQ
The most stable ecosystem is:
A
Desert
B
Marine
C
Mountain
D
Forest

Solution

(B) An ecosystem is considered stable if it can resist changes and maintain its structure and function over a long period.
Marine ecosystems (oceans) are the most stable ecosystems on Earth.
This is due to their vast size,high biodiversity,and the ability of the water to act as a thermal buffer,which minimizes fluctuations in temperature and chemical composition.
Unlike terrestrial ecosystems,which are more susceptible to rapid environmental changes,human interference,and climatic shifts,marine ecosystems possess a high degree of resilience and self-regulation.
29
MediumMCQ
Estuaries are considered as nutrient-rich and trap:
A
River
B
Pond
C
Lake
D
Ocean

Solution

(D) An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water that has a free connection with the open sea. It is strongly affected by tidal action,and within it,seawater is mixed with freshwater from land drainage. Estuaries act as nutrient traps because they collect sediments and nutrients brought by rivers before they reach the open ocean. Therefore,they are transitional zones between freshwater and marine environments,such as river mouths,coastal bays,and tidal marshes.
30
MediumMCQ
An ecosystem is $...............$.
A
$A$ system formed by the interaction of abiotic and biotic components.
B
$A$ system formed by the interaction of biotic components with each other.
C
$A$ system formed by the interaction of abiotic components with each other.
D
$A$ system formed by the interaction of populations with each other.

Solution

(A) An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment (abiotic components). Thus,it is a system formed by the interaction of both biotic and abiotic components.
31
MediumMCQ
Which of the following best defines an ecosystem?
A
$A$ community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment
B
$A$ group of animals living together in a particular habitat
C
$A$ physical environment without any living organisms
D
$A$ single species living in isolation

Solution

(A) An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact among themselves and also with the surrounding physical environment.
It encompasses both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components that function as a system through nutrient cycling and energy flow.
Option $A$ correctly describes this interaction between biotic communities and their physical environment.

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