Free Forest Ecology MCQs with Answers

• A. Gilgit and parts of Chitral
• B. Both (a) & (b)
• C. Nilam and Khaghan valleys
• D. None of these

Explanation: Dry temperate forests occur beyond the effective south-west monsoon, including Gilgit and parts of Chitral as well as the Nilam and…

• A. The canopy is only rarely closed
• B. Is often formed of widely spaced
• C. All of the above
• D. Low-branching trees
• E. Free-standing

Explanation: Dry temperate forests typically have an open canopy formed by widely spaced, free-standing, low-branching trees.

• A. Kashmir
• B. Dir
• C. Swat
• D. All of the above
• E. Chitral

Explanation: Sub-alpine forests occur in the higher mountainous areas of Kashmir, Dir, Swat and Chitral.

• A. 2.3 m
• B. 2.4 m
• C. 2.5 m
• D. 2.6 m

Explanation: Large conifers in these forests may attain about 3 m in girth, while birch can reach approximately 2.5 m.

• A. 5,550 m to 5,800 m
• B. 4,450 m to 4,800 m
• C. 3,350 m to 3,800 m
• D. None of these

Explanation: The sub-alpine zone forms the uppermost tree formation in the Himalayas, generally developing around 3,350 to 3,800 m on northerly aspects…

• A. Coniferous trees limited to Abies (Fir)
• B. Pinus wallichiana (blue pine) stand singly
• C. In groups over an irregular, sometimes dense, lower storey of broadleaved trees
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Sub-alpine forest is characterized mainly by Abies, with blue pine sometimes occurring singly, while conifers may also occur in groups…

• A. 1 to 3m
• B. 1 to 4m
• C. 1 to 5m
• D. 1 to 5m

Explanation: In this sub-alpine vegetation description, the shrub layer is generally about 1 to 3 m high, below the approximately 8 m conifers and 9 m…

• A. Shrub formations often forming a quite dense cover 0.4 to 1.4 m
• B. Shrub formations often forming a quite dense cover 0.6 to 1.8 m
• C. Shrub formations often forming a quite dense cover 0.5 to 1.6 m
• D. None of these

Explanation: Alpine scrub consists of dense shrub formations typically about 0.6 to 1.8 m high.

• A. 140 m
• B. 150 m
• C. 160 m
• D. 170 m

Explanation: Alpine scrub commonly occurs about 150 m or more above the sub-alpine forest zone, where climatic conditions become markedly more severe.

• A. Salix
• B. Lonicera
• C. Cotoneaster
• D. Berberis
• E. All of the above

Explanation: Cotoneaster is a characteristic alpine-scrub genus, commonly associated with Juniperus and sometimes Rhododendron or Ephedra.

• A. All of the above
• B. Loss of valuable timber
• C. Accelerated erosion and other related features
• D. Loss of valuable forested land, which is brought under a totally unproductive use

Explanation: Shifting cultivation removes forest cover, wastes valuable timber and exposes the soil to accelerated erosion and related degradation.

• A. Many natural or semi-natural ecosystems
• B. All of the above
• C. To role of forests in watershed regulation and stabilization of soils in erosion-prone areas
• D. Some of which may be high biological diversity, are of considerable benefit to man

Explanation: Biodiverse natural and semi-natural ecosystems provide material and ecological benefits, including useful products, watershed regulation…

• A. Food
• B. Pharmaceuticals
• C. None of these
• D. Both (a) & (b)

Explanation: Biological diversity supplies food resources and organisms or compounds used in pharmaceuticals.

• A. All of the above
• B. Species diversity
• C. Ecosystem diversity
• D. Genetic diversity

Explanation: Biodiversity is conventionally described at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.

• A. Over hunting is perhaps the most obvious direct cause of extinction in animals, as it has affected several large and well-known species
• B. All of the above
• C. A major, though at present largely unpredictable, change in natural environments is likely to occur within the next century as a result of large-scale changes in global climate and weather patterns
• D. Genetic diversity as represented by genetic differences between discrete populations with wild species, is liable to reduction as result of the same factors affecting species

Explanation: Overhunting directly causes extinctions, while habitat and environmental changes can reduce genetic diversity and climate change can alter…

• A. Dioscuri
• B. Taxus
• C. Rauvolfia
• D. Papaver

Explanation: Reserpine is an indole alkaloid obtained chiefly from the roots of Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly called Indian snakeroot.

• A. 834
• B. 483
• C. 533
• D. 384

Explanation: World Conservation Monitoring Centre estimates commonly cite about 384 plant species as having become extinct during the preceding four…

• A. A contraction of biological diversity.
• B. All of the above
• C. Some set of entities; biological diversity thus refers to variety within the living world
• D. The range of variation or differences among

Explanation: Biodiversity is short for biological diversity and covers variation at genetic, species and ecosystem levels.

• A. Ecads
• B. Populations
• C. Ecotypes
• D. Communities

Explanation: Ecotypes are genetically distinct forms or populations within a species that are adapted to particular environments.

• A. Gamma diversity
• B. Ecosystem diversity
• C. Community diversity
• D. Beta diversity

Explanation: Beta diversity measures the change or replacement in species composition between habitats or along an environmental gradient.