General Studies & Exam Prep•Updated for 2026 Competitive Exams
Most 70 Important MCQS on Ecology
Practice top multiple choice questions (MCQs), topic summary, and verified answers for Most 70 Important MCQS on Ecology. Essential for Central & State competitive examinations. Solve these high-frequency practice questions with step-by-step solutions to evaluate your preparation level.
Attempt Timed Mock TestInstant Scorecard & Negative Marking
Practice Questions & Explanations (70 Questions)
50:50 Lifeline & Instant Feedback Enabled
Q1UPSC / SSCMedium
Ecology is the study of?
Q2UPSC / SSCMedium
Who coined the term 'Ecology'?
Q3UPSC / SSCMedium
The basic functional unit of ecology is:
Sponsored Advertisement
Ad Space • Google AdSense Partner Network
Q4UPSC / SSCMedium
Who coined the term 'Ecosystem'?
Q5UPSC / SSCMedium
Which of the following is an abiotic component?
Q6UPSC / SSCMedium
Which of the following is a biotic component?
Q7UPSC / SSCMedium
The natural place where an organism lives is its:
Q8UPSC / SSCMedium
The functional role of an organism in its ecosystem is its:
Q9UPSC / SSCMedium
A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area is a:
Q10UPSC / SSCMedium
Different populations interacting in a specific area form a:
Q11UPSC / SSCMedium
The largest recognizable assemblage of animals and plants on Earth is called a:
Q12UPSC / SSCMedium
The zone of Earth where life exists is the:
Q13UPSC / SSCMedium
Green plants are classified as:
Q14UPSC / SSCMedium
Organisms that feed on plants are called:
Q15UPSC / SSCMedium
Carnivores that eat herbivores are:
Q16UPSC / SSCMedium
Organisms that break down dead organic matter are:
Q17UPSC / SSCMedium
A linear sequence of organisms through which energy flows is a:
Q18UPSC / SSCMedium
A complex network of interconnected food chains is a:
Q19UPSC / SSCMedium
Each step in a food chain or web is called a:
Q20UPSC / SSCMedium
According to the 10% law, how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
Q21UPSC / SSCMedium
Who proposed the 10% law of energy transfer?
Q22UPSC / SSCMedium
Ecological pyramids were first developed by:
Q23UPSC / SSCMedium
Which ecological pyramid is always upright?
Q24UPSC / SSCMedium
An inverted pyramid of biomass can be found in a:
Q25UPSC / SSCMedium
The rate at which solar energy is converted into organic matter by producers is called:
Q26UPSC / SSCMedium
Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is equal to:
Q27UPSC / SSCMedium
Which ecosystem has the highest net primary productivity?
Q28UPSC / SSCMedium
The movement of nutrient elements through the living and non-living components of the biosphere is called:
Q29UPSC / SSCMedium
The main reservoir for the carbon cycle is the:
Q30UPSC / SSCMedium
The main reservoir for the nitrogen cycle is the:
Q31UPSC / SSCMedium
The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia by bacteria is called:
Q32UPSC / SSCMedium
Which bacteria are symbiotic nitrogen fixers in leguminous plants?
Q33UPSC / SSCMedium
The conversion of ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates is called:
Q34UPSC / SSCMedium
The process of converting nitrates back into nitrogen gas is called:
Q35UPSC / SSCMedium
The phosphorus cycle is an example of a:
Q36UPSC / SSCMedium
The gradual and predictable change in species composition in a given area is called:
Q37UPSC / SSCMedium
Succession that occurs on bare rock or a newly formed volcanic island is called:
Q38UPSC / SSCMedium
Succession that occurs in an area where the previous community was destroyed (e.g., after a forest fire) is called:
Q39UPSC / SSCMedium
The first species to colonize a bare area are called:
Q40UPSC / SSCMedium
The final, stable community in ecological succession is the:
Q41UPSC / SSCMedium
A transition zone between two different ecosystems is called an:
Q42UPSC / SSCMedium
The tendency for increased biodiversity at the boundary between two ecosystems is known as the:
Q43UPSC / SSCMedium
Two species competing for the exact same limited resource cannot coexist permanently. This is the:
Q44UPSC / SSCMedium
An interaction where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped is:
Q45UPSC / SSCMedium
An interaction where both species benefit is:
Q46UPSC / SSCMedium
Lichens are a symbiotic association between:
Q47UPSC / SSCMedium
An interaction where one species benefits at the expense of another is:
Q48UPSC / SSCMedium
An interaction where one species is harmed and the other is unaffected is:
Q49UPSC / SSCMedium
A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically, is a:
Q50UPSC / SSCMedium
Species that serve as early warnings of environmental damage are called:
Q51UPSC / SSCMedium
Species that are found only in one specific geographical area are called:
Q52UPSC / SSCMedium
Non-native species that cause ecological or economic harm are known as:
Q53UPSC / SSCMedium
The variety of life on Earth at all its levels is called:
Q54UPSC / SSCMedium
Who coined the term 'Biodiversity'?
Q55UPSC / SSCMedium
The concept of 'Biodiversity Hotspots' was developed by:
Q56UPSC / SSCMedium
How many biodiversity hotspots are currently recognized globally?
Q57UPSC / SSCMedium
Which of the following is an ex-situ conservation method?
Q58UPSC / SSCMedium
Which of the following is an in-situ conservation method?
Q59UPSC / SSCMedium
The 'Red Data Book' which lists endangered species is published by:
Q60UPSC / SSCMedium
What does the 'WWF' stand for in environmental conservation?
Q61UPSC / SSCMedium
The 'Greenhouse Effect' is primarily caused by an increase in which gas?
Q62UPSC / SSCMedium
Ozone depletion in the stratosphere is primarily caused by:
Q63UPSC / SSCMedium
The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect:
Q64UPSC / SSCMedium
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty aimed at:
Q65UPSC / SSCMedium
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation of:
Q66UPSC / SSCMedium
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the protective ozone layer?
Q67UPSC / SSCMedium
The phenomenon of increasing concentration of a toxic substance in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain is:
Q68UPSC / SSCMedium
The process by which a water body becomes enriched with nutrients, leading to excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion, is called:
Q69UPSC / SSCMedium
Acid rain is primarily caused by the emissions of:
Q70UPSC / SSCMedium
The 'Chipko Movement' was an environmental movement in India aimed at:
Chapter Completed
Ready to test your accuracy under exam pressure?
Take full-length mock tests designed in the authentic TCS-iON CBT interface with countdown timer and negative marking.