Ecosystem structure and function MCQs

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: September 12, 2024

1. What is an ecosystem?
a) A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system
b) A group of species living in the same area
c) A single species interacting with its environment
d) A collection of plants in a forest
Answer: a) A community of living organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system

2. Which of the following is an example of an abiotic component of an ecosystem?
a) Plants
b) Animals
c) Bacteria
d) Water
Answer: d) Water

3. What is the role of producers in an ecosystem?
a) To consume primary consumers
b) To decompose organic material
c) To produce energy from sunlight through photosynthesis
d) To recycle nutrients in the soil
Answer: c) To produce energy from sunlight through photosynthesis

4. Which trophic level is occupied by herbivores in a food chain?
a) Primary producers
b) Primary consumers
c) Secondary consumers
d) Tertiary consumers
Answer: b) Primary consumers

5. In an energy pyramid, which level typically has the least amount of energy available?
a) Primary producers
b) Primary consumers
c) Secondary consumers
d) Tertiary consumers
Answer: d) Tertiary consumers

6. What is the primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?
a) To produce oxygen
b) To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients
c) To consume plants
d) To provide shelter for other organisms
Answer: b) To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients

7. Which of the following describes a keystone species?
a) A species with no natural predators
b) A species that has a disproportionate effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance
c) A species that migrates seasonally
d) A species that is the most numerous in an ecosystem
Answer: b) A species that has a disproportionate effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance

8. What is the process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere?
a) Photosynthesis
b) Transpiration
c) Respiration
d) Decomposition
Answer: b) Transpiration

9. In a food web, what is the primary role of secondary consumers?
a) To produce energy through photosynthesis
b) To consume primary producers
c) To consume primary consumers
d) To break down organic material
Answer: c) To consume primary consumers

10. What does the term “biomass” refer to in an ecological context?
a) The total number of species in an ecosystem
b) The total mass of living organisms in a given area
c) The diversity of ecosystems within a region
d) The amount of solar energy captured by plants
Answer: b) The total mass of living organisms in a given area

MCQs on wildlife