Gause's principle of competitive exclusion is, essentially:

1. the more abundant species will exclude the less abundant species through competition

2. competition for the same resources excludes species having different lifestyles

3. no two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when resources are limited

4. larger organisms exclude smaller ones through competition as in the case of large trees controlling underbush.

Which one of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?

1. Temperature and rainfall

2. Nutrient availability and soil pH

3. Predation and competition

4. Light intensity and seasonality

The country with the given population pyramid is likely to have:

1. Low birth rate

2. High death rate

3. Declining population in future

4. More females than males

In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to 8 after one species was removed. The removed species may be a:

1. Parasite                   

2. Mutualist

3. Top predator           

4. Herbivore

If global warming continues, in general, how what would be the expected effect on the distributional range of some species ?
1. It will be an equatorial shift
2. It will be a pole ward shift
3. It will have no impact
4. It will affect only plants

The logistic growth curve of animal population growth is more realistic than J shaped curve because:

1. Asexual mode of reproduction is rare in higher animals

2. Resources are finite and become limiting sooner or later.

3. Most animals are conformers rather than regulators

4. Abiotic factors affect animals more than plants

Which of the following is not a function of predators?

(1) They act as conduits for energy transfer across trophic levels

(2) They keep prey populations under control

(3) They help in the stabilization of the ecosystems

(4) They decrease the species diversity in a community

Very small animals are rarely found in polar region mainly because:

1. Smaller animals have a relatively slower heart rate

2. Smaller animals have a more surface area relative to their volume

3. Smaller animals are invariably herbivores

4. Smaller animals rely on diffusion for exchange of gases with the environment

When the population density reaches the carrying capacity, the logistic growth curve is said to be in:

1. Lag phase

2. A phase of acceleration

3. A phase of deceleration

4. Asymptote

In general, which of the following is not an adaptation seen in parasites in accordance with their life style?

1. Loss of unnecessary sense organs

2. Presence of adhesive organs

3. Low reproductive capacity

4. Loss of digestive system