UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 17 December 2024

UPSC Static Quiz – Environment : 17 December 2024 We will post 5 questions daily on static topics mentioned in the UPSC civil services preliminary examination syllabus. Each week will focus on a specific topic from the syllabus, such as History of India and Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, and more.We are excited to bring you our daily UPSC Static Quiz, designed to help you prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Each day, we will post 5 questions on static topics mentioned in the UPSC syllabus. This week, we are focusing on Indian and World Geography.

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• Question 1 of 5 1. Question Consider the following statements regarding Ecological Niche. A niche can be described as the interactions between a species with its biotic and abiotic environment. Two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Correct Solution: a) Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment. According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time. Incorrect Solution: a) Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment. According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

#### 1. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Ecological Niche.

• A niche can be described as the interactions between a species with its biotic and abiotic environment.

• Two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• c) Both 1 and 2

• d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: a)

Niche is basically the ecological or functional role of a species in an ecosystem, especially with regards to food consumption. A niche can also be described as the interactions, a species has with its biotic and abiotic environment.

According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

Solution: a)

According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

• Question 2 of 5 2. Question An energy pyramid shows Absolute amounts of energy stored in each trophic level Rate of energy flow through trophic levels The pattern of energy pyramid reflects the laws of thermodynamics How many of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Energy pyramids represent energy flow through trophic levels. An energy pyramid usually shows rates of energy flow through trophic levels, not absolute amounts of energy stored. Energy pyramids are always upright (biomass pyramids can be inverted), that is, narrower at each successive level (unless organisms enter the ecosystem from elsewhere). This pattern reflects the laws of thermodynamics, which tell us that new energy can’t be created, and that some must be converted to a not-useful form (heat) in each transfer. Incorrect Solution: a) Statement 1 is incorrect. Energy pyramids represent energy flow through trophic levels. An energy pyramid usually shows rates of energy flow through trophic levels, not absolute amounts of energy stored. Energy pyramids are always upright (biomass pyramids can be inverted), that is, narrower at each successive level (unless organisms enter the ecosystem from elsewhere). This pattern reflects the laws of thermodynamics, which tell us that new energy can’t be created, and that some must be converted to a not-useful form (heat) in each transfer.

#### 2. Question

An energy pyramid shows

• Absolute amounts of energy stored in each trophic level

• Rate of energy flow through trophic levels

• The pattern of energy pyramid reflects the laws of thermodynamics

How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Energy pyramids represent energy flow through trophic levels. An energy pyramid usually shows rates of energy flow through trophic levels, not absolute amounts of energy stored.

Energy pyramids are always upright (biomass pyramids can be inverted), that is, narrower at each successive level (unless organisms enter the ecosystem from elsewhere). This pattern reflects the laws of thermodynamics, which tell us that new energy can’t be created, and that some must be converted to a not-useful form (heat) in each transfer.

Solution: a)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Energy pyramids represent energy flow through trophic levels. An energy pyramid usually shows rates of energy flow through trophic levels, not absolute amounts of energy stored.

• Question 3 of 5 3. Question Consider the following statements regarding Food chains. The grazing food chain is found in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. The grazing and detritus food chains are not interlinked. The initial energy source for detritus food chain is dead organic matter. How many of the above statements is/are correct? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: b) Statement 2 is incorrect. A sequence of organisms that feed on one another, forma food chain. In nature, two main types of food chains have been found: Grazing food chain and Detritus food chain. The grazing food chain starts with producers or autotrophs as base, which is consumed by heterotrophs. It is found in both Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Detritus food chain starts from dead organic ‘matter of decaying animals and plant bodies to the microorganisms and then to detritus feeding organism called detrivores or decomposer and to other predators. The two food chains are linked as the initial energy source for detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead organic matter from the grazing food chain. Incorrect Solution: b) Statement 2 is incorrect. A sequence of organisms that feed on one another, forma food chain. In nature, two main types of food chains have been found: Grazing food chain and Detritus food chain. The grazing food chain starts with producers or autotrophs as base, which is consumed by heterotrophs. It is found in both Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Detritus food chain starts from dead organic ‘matter of decaying animals and plant bodies to the microorganisms and then to detritus feeding organism called detrivores or decomposer and to other predators. The two food chains are linked as the initial energy source for detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead organic matter from the grazing food chain.

#### 3. Question

Consider the following statements regarding Food chains.

• The grazing food chain is found in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.

• The grazing and detritus food chains are not interlinked.

• The initial energy source for detritus food chain is dead organic matter.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• A sequence of organisms that feed on one another, forma food chain. In nature, two main types of food chains have been found: Grazing food chain and Detritus food chain.

• The grazing food chain starts with producers or autotrophs as base, which is consumed by heterotrophs. It is found in both Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

• The Detritus food chain starts from dead organic ‘matter of decaying animals and plant bodies to the microorganisms and then to detritus feeding organism called detrivores or decomposer and to other predators.

• The two food chains are linked as the initial energy source for detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead organic matter from the grazing food chain.

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• A sequence of organisms that feed on one another, forma food chain. In nature, two main types of food chains have been found: Grazing food chain and Detritus food chain.

• The grazing food chain starts with producers or autotrophs as base, which is consumed by heterotrophs. It is found in both Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

• The two food chains are linked as the initial energy source for detritus food chain is the waste materials and dead organic matter from the grazing food chain.

• Question 4 of 5 4. Question Consider the following statements. Glaciers are the largest source of freshwater in the Himalayan ecosystem. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake. There is considerable shrinking of glacial lakes across the Himalayas, in recent decade. Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Correct Solution: b) Glaciers are the largest source of freshwater outside of the polar regions. Glaciers and snow melt in the Himalayan ecosystem are the source of water for several rivers across the subcontinent, and are responsible for maintaining the perennial supply of water in the river systems like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra to over a billion people. Some models predict that an increase in global temperatures by 2°C from 1850 by 2070 would result in 45% of the medium and large glaciers (10 sq km or more) disappearing completely. Nearly 70% smaller glaciers are likely to melt away. Shrinking glaciers have led to the formation of a large number of glacial lakes all across the Himalayas. Many of these high-altitude lakes are potentially dangerous, because of their potential to cause flash floods in the event of a breach. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake. Incorrect Solution: b) Glaciers are the largest source of freshwater outside of the polar regions. Glaciers and snow melt in the Himalayan ecosystem are the source of water for several rivers across the subcontinent, and are responsible for maintaining the perennial supply of water in the river systems like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra to over a billion people. Some models predict that an increase in global temperatures by 2°C from 1850 by 2070 would result in 45% of the medium and large glaciers (10 sq km or more) disappearing completely. Nearly 70% smaller glaciers are likely to melt away. Shrinking glaciers have led to the formation of a large number of glacial lakes all across the Himalayas. Many of these high-altitude lakes are potentially dangerous, because of their potential to cause flash floods in the event of a breach. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake.

#### 4. Question

Consider the following statements.

• Glaciers are the largest source of freshwater in the Himalayan ecosystem.

• A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake.

• There is considerable shrinking of glacial lakes across the Himalayas, in recent decade.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• b) 1 and 2 only

• c) 2 and 3 only

• d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: b)

Glaciers are the largest source of freshwater outside of the polar regions. Glaciers and snow melt in the Himalayan ecosystem are the source of water for several rivers across the subcontinent, and are responsible for maintaining the perennial supply of water in the river systems like the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra to over a billion people.

Some models predict that an increase in global temperatures by 2°C from 1850 by 2070 would result in 45% of the medium and large glaciers (10 sq km or more) disappearing completely. Nearly 70% smaller glaciers are likely to melt away. Shrinking glaciers have led to the formation of a large number of glacial lakes all across the Himalayas. Many of these high-altitude lakes are potentially dangerous, because of their potential to cause flash floods in the event of a breach.

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake.

Solution: b)

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood caused by the failure of a dam containing a glacial lake.

• Question 5 of 5 5. Question Consider the following statements regarding benthic species. Benthic species filter the water and keep seas, rivers and lakes clean by eating dead organisms. They are an important food source for other creatures. They provide some of the main ocean habitats. How many of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) Only one b) Only two c) All three d) None Correct Solution: d) Many benthic species are crucial to the marine ecosystem. They filter the water and keep seas, rivers and lakes clean by eating dead organisms. Some species are an important food source for other creatures or are harvested by humans. Benthics like soft corals, seaweed and seagrasses provide some of the main ocean habitats. Incorrect Solution: d) Many benthic species are crucial to the marine ecosystem. They filter the water and keep seas, rivers and lakes clean by eating dead organisms. Some species are an important food source for other creatures or are harvested by humans. Benthics like soft corals, seaweed and seagrasses provide some of the main ocean habitats.

#### 5. Question

Consider the following statements regarding benthic species.

• Benthic species filter the water and keep seas, rivers and lakes clean by eating dead organisms.

• They are an important food source for other creatures.

• They provide some of the main ocean habitats.

How many of the above statements is/are incorrect?

• a) Only one

• b) Only two

• c) All three

Solution: d)

Many benthic species are crucial to the marine ecosystem. They filter the water and keep seas, rivers and lakes clean by eating dead organisms. Some species are an important food source for other creatures or are harvested by humans. Benthics like soft corals, seaweed and seagrasses provide some of the main ocean habitats.

Solution: d)

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