Model Questions for Ecology B.Sc. First Semester

Model Question Paper

Principles of Ecology (ZOO-HC-1026)

Total marks: 60

Distribution of marks

Short answer type question: (For 2 marks)

• Define Autecology and Synecology. 
• What do you mean by unitary population? Give an example of a unitary population. 
• What is a modular population? Write with an example. 
• Define population. 
• What is fecundity? 
• What are the age ratio and sex ratio?
• Write two density-dependent and independent factors of population regulation. 
• What is the abiotic component of the ecosystem? Give two examples. 
• What is the biotic component of the ecosystem? Give two examples. 
• What do you mean by biome?
• Define species richness.
• Define species evenness.
• What do you mean by vertical stratification? Write briefly. 
• What is ecesis? 
• Define ecological efficiency.
• What do you mean by the bio-geo-chemical cycle? Give an example. 
• What do you mean by natality? How does it influence population growth?
• Define food chain and food web. 
• Write two differences between species richness and species evenness.
• Write shortly on Kaziranga National park.
• How many national parks are there in Assam? Write the name of the latest national park of Assam. 
• What do you mean by genetic diversity?
• What is climax community? What is its position in ecological succession?
• Define ecotone. 
• Write two usefulness of Nitrogen cycle.
• What do you mean by detritus food chain? 
• What is the ecological pyramid?
• What do you mean by edge effect?
• What is the meaning of carrying capacity?
• Define allogenic succession
• Define autogenic succession
• What is the difference between emigration and migration?

Long answer type question: (For 5 marks)

• Write the differences between autecology and synecology.
• What is an ecosystem? What are the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem?
• What are the different levels of organization in the ecosystem? Write briefly.
• Write the differences between unitary and modular populations.
• What are the physical factors that can influence an ecosystem?
• What do you mean by population? How do natality and mortality affect it?
• What is the survivorship curve? Briefly describe with a graph.
• What do you mean by dispersion and dispersal? Write briefly with an example.
• What is the difference between exponential and logistic growth?
• Define the strategies of population regulation emphasizing r and K strategies. 
• Write briefly on the density-dependent factors of population regulation.
• Write briefly about the density-independent factors of population regulation. 
• Write about the various characters of a community. 
• What do you mean by vertical stratification? Describe briefly.
• Describe ecological succession with an example.
• Describe briefly about ecotone and edge effect.
• What are the various types of ecosystems available? Write briefly.
• What are the differences between grazing and detritus food chains?
• Describe the linear and Y-shaped food chain.
• What are the various theories pertaining to the climax community? 
• Schematically describe the energy flow in an ecosystem.
• What are the stages of ecological pyramids? Explain.
• What are ecological efficiencies? Describe with an example.
• Write briefly on the Nitrogen cycle.
• How ecology is going to play an important role in conservation? Explain. 
• Write the Gause's Principle with laboratory and field examples.
• Write shortly on competition and predation with examples.
• How age ratio and sex ratio are going to play a vital role in population regulation. Describe. 
• What is a life table? Explain with an example. 
• Write about the functional and numerical responses for population interaction. 

Very long answer type question: (For 10 marks)

• Define ecology. What are the types of ecology? Write the various levels of the organization in ecology.                          
• Write about the laws of limiting factors. What are the physical factors of the ecology?
• What is an ecosystem? Discuss the role of various ecological/environmental factors of an ecosystem by taking the example of a forest. 
• What do you mean by population? What are the different types of populations? 
• What do you know about life tables? Write about the attributes of a population. 
• What do you mean by exponential and logistic growth? Write the impact of age and sex in a population.
• What is the difference between dispersal and dispersion? What do you mean by carrying capacity? Write briefly on the exponential growth curve. 
• What do you know about population regulation? What are the density-dependent and independent factors of population regulation? Write about K and r strategies. 
• Describe the Gause principle with a field example. 
• Write the Lotka-Volterra equation for competition and predation, functional and numerical responses. 
• Explain the range of temperature tolerated by an animal and add a note on the effect of it on the animals. 
• What do you mean by ecological population? What are the different phases of the population growth curve? Write a note on the limitations of the population approach. 
• What is a competition? What are the different types of competition? Write the difference between interspecific and intraspecific competition. 
• What is parasitism? Write about the various modes of adaptation in the parasitic mode of life. 
• How do the animals communicate with each other? Write in detail.
• What do you mean by species diversity? How will you measure the species diversity? Explain the factors that determine the various clines of diversity around the world?
• What are the different modes of classification of the ecotones? Write a connecting note on ecotone and species diversity.
• With a proper diagram, write about the various process of succession in a pond.
• Define climax community. What are the different theories pertaining to the climax community?
• What are the causes of succession? Write about the process of succession in general.
• What are the functional attributes of an ecosystem? Write about the significance of the ecosystem concept.
• What are the different types of ecosystems? Write in detail. 
• Write the basic characteristics of energy flow in an ecosystem with the help of various models. 
• What is a biogeochemical cycle? Describe the nitrogen cycle with an appropriate diagram. 
• What do you mean by ex-situ and in-situ conservation? Write a note on the national parks of Assam with special emphasis on Kaziranga National Park. 
• Write the full form of IUCN. What is a red data book? What are the different categories of a red data book?

Questions are prepared by:

Dr. Gitartha Kaushik

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Zoology

Rangapara College

Sonitpur, Assam