1. The following habitats can be used in the study of succession except
A. savanna grassland.
B. abandoned farmland.
C. a pond.
D. a well cultivated land
2. In ecological succession, since lichens grow on bare rock, they are considered to be
A. primary consumers.
B. pioneer organisms.
C. climax organisms.
D. producers.
3. A good site for secondary succession would be
A. a sand dune.
B. a bare rock.
C. a land that has just had forest fire.
D. a stretch of barren land.
4. The order of primary succession by plants in a very dry habitat is
A. xerophytes mesophytes shrub.
B. mesophytes xerophytes → shrub.
C. mesophytes → shrub xerophytes.
D. xerophytes shrub → mesophytes.
5. The maximum size of a population that a given area can support is known as
A. population density.
B. carrying capacity.
C. population growth.
D. maximum population.
6. Population growth rate may be defined as the
A. mortality rate per unit area over a period.
B. number of times an organism occurs within a given period.
C. number of a particular species per unit area.
D. net rate of natality and mortality in the habitat over a period.
7. A community reaches a climax when
A. only pioneer organisms are present.
B. new habitats are constantly being formed.
C. there is an introduction of new plants and animal species within the community.
D. the composition and size of a community remains constant over a long period.
8. The following observations concerning succession are true except that the
A. pioneer community has fewer species.
B. middle stages communities are most diverse.
C. climax community has the greatest number of species.
D. total biomass of the community increases as succession progresses.
9. Which of the following factors will most likely lead to overcrowding within a population?
A. Absence of predators.
B. Emigration.
C. Food shortage.
D. Absence of territorial behaviour.
10. Overcrowding in a population does not result in
A. death.
B. Commensalism.
C. competition.
D. migration.
11. Rural-urban migration in developing countries can be prevented by
A. increasing the number of years in school.
B. putting up more factories in urban areas.
C. having boarding schools in rural areas.
D. even distribution of facilities in both regions.
12. In a population, food shortage may lead to
A. an increased survival rate.
B. high reproduction date.
C. intra-specific competition.
D. low rate migration.
13. The number of individuals that the environment can support over a long period of time is its A. growth rate.
B. total capacity.
C. population capacity.
D. carrying capacity.
14. A population which exceeds its carrying capacity and then collapses is represented graphically by
A. bell- shaped curve.
B. linear curve.
C. sigmoid curve.
D. skewed curve.
15. Assuming that a period of stable population size is followed by a period when natality increases by ten (10) per cent and immigration increases by twenty (20) per cent of population size. The population size will
A. be at equilibrium.
B. increase by forty (40) per cent.
C. begin to increase.
D. begin to decrease.
16. The most important factor(s) that influence(s) the ecological niche of an organism is/are the
A. water, light and predator-prey relationship.
B. food and water availability.
C. physical environment.
D. competition for food and space.
17. Which of the following factors would be least likely to act as a density dependent limiting factor in a population of mice?
A. Buildup of waste products.
B. Predation.
C. Parasitism.
D. Unfavourable climate.
18. Which of the following ecological factors will result in food shortage
A. Drought.
B. Low rate of reproduction.
C. Emigration.
D. Topography.
19.When large numbers of organisms share limited space and resources, the immediate result is
A. extinction.
B. migration.
C. competition.
D. immigration.
20. Which of the following is not a characteristic of overcrowding in plant and animal community?
A. Population outstripping available space.
B. Population exceeding available food.
C. Competition within the population.
D. increase in primary production.
21. Which of the following limiting resources is competed for by organisms in the desert?
A. Light.
B. Temperature.
C. Oxygen.
D. Water.
22. Which of the following factors may not cause over-crowding?
A. limited space
B. scarcity of food
C. reduced birth rate
D. lose immigration conditions
23. In an inter-species competition, the less successful species usually
A. reproduce faster.
B. become more active.
C. become dormant.
D. become eliminated.
24. Which of the following is not essential in the studying of the ecological factors that directly affect plants?
A. wind.
B. temperature.
C. herbivores.
D. carnivores.
25. Which of the following relationships illustrates competition?
A. Cattle egret moving along with cattle.
B. Goats and cows grazing on a small grass lawn.
C. Mosses succeeding lichens in a rocky terrain.
D. Red mangrove swamp dying and replaced by white mangrove.
26. When large numbers of organisms share limited space and resources the result is
A. immigration.
B. commensalism.
C. symbiosis.
D. competition.
27. If a piece of abandoned farmland went through a series of floral and faunal changes and became because different species may
A. have different nutritional needs.
B. lack the same nutrient.
C. be active at the same time.
D. have similar tolerance.
28. The following conditions form the basis of competition in a habitat except
A. food.
B. space.
C. reproductive mat.
D. body structure.
29. Which of the following orders correctly represents the trend in eutrophication?
A. Lack of oxygen→ Death of aquatic organisms Massive algal growth.
B. Excess nitrates and phosphates Massive algal growth→ Lack of oxygen Death of aquatic organisms.
C. Heavy mineralization Lack of oxygen→ Massive algal growth.
D. Excess nitrates and phosphates Lack of oxygen→ Massive algal growth Death of aquatic
organisms.
30. Competition among individuals of a population increases the
A. number of organisms.
B. survival of the fittest.
C. availability of nutrient supplied.
31. Which of the following groups of factors do the Agama established with a permanent plant and animal population, it could be said to have undergone
A. transformation.
B. succession.
C. competition.
D. evolution.
D. enlargement of the territory.
32. Which of the following statements is not correct?
A. Shortage of food may be caused by pestilence, rinderpest and neglect of farming.
B. Shortage of food in the rate of reproduction.
C. Over-crowding may lead may lead to competition, emigration, death and decline
to scarcity of food.
D. Territorial defence encourages food scarcity in a habitat.
33. Which of the following is not an effect of over-crowding on a population?
A. Death.
B. Competition.
C. Commensation.
D. Aggression.
34. Which of the following is not an effect of overcrowding on a population?
A. Death.
B. Competition.
C. Commensalism.
D. Aggression.
35. Which of the following ecological factor causes food shortage?
A. Low rate of reproduction.
B. Emigration.
C. Drought.
D. Topography.
36. Over-crowding in seedlings of different species is less serious than over-crowding involving one species
A. Limited space.
B. Scarcity of food.
C. Reduced birth rate.
D. Lose immigration conditions.
37. Which of the following resources is competed for by organisms in the desert?
A. Light.
B. Temperature.
C. Oxygen.
D. Water.
38. An abandoned refuse dump may be a good site for an intending vegetable farmer because
A. very little manual work would be done by the farmer.
B. microbial activity had released nutrients into the soil.
C. the roots of vegetable seedlings easily get enough light.
D. refuse dumps possess plenty of gas which scares away rodents.
39. Which of the following organisms will be a colonizing species of a heap of moist sub soil?
A. Green algae.
B. Ferns.
C. White mangrove.
D. Snails.
40. Succession is best described as
A. a process whereby different organisms systematically colonize a barren habitat until a stable community is formed.
B. a process whereby plants occupy a barren habitat until a suitable habitat is formed.
C. a process whereby animals occupy a barren habitat until a suitable habitat is formed.
D. the subsequent taking over of the land through emigration or dispersal of seeds.
41. Which of the following is not an outcome of ecological succession?
A. There is progressive change in species structure, organic matter and energy flow.
B. The climax stage consists of atom operatively long lasting species composition.
C. There is no dynamic equilibrium by between the community and habitat in the climax stage.
D. Communities occurring later in the sequence of succession are more complex.
42. Which of the following habitats cannot be used for the study of succession?
A. Savanna grassland..
B. Abandoned farmland.
C. A pond.
D. Well cultivated land.
43. Which of the following statements is not correct about the ecological effects of agricultural activities?
A. The use of herbicides and pesticides, in farms can cause pollution.
B. Bush-burning encourages desertification.
C. Excessive use of fertilizers in farms may have harmful effects.
D. Mono tropping is one of the cultural methods of controlling pests.
44. If 90 ants are found in a field with a total area of 100 m², what is the population density of the ants?
A. 0.09
B. 0.90
C. 9.00
D. 90.00.
45. Tall trees with unbranched trunks which grow above the upper storey of the forest are commonly referred to as
A. emergents.
B. herbs.
C. lianes.
D. shrubs.
46. When a large number of organisms share limited resources, the result is
A. mutualism.
B. extinction.
C. commensalism.
D. competition.
47. The biological association that contributes directly to 70% succession in a community is
A. competition.
B. predation.
C. parasitism.
D. commensalism.
THEORY
1. Explain the following terms:
(i) Succession
(ii) Competition.
2. (a) What is ecological succession?
(b) Describe the process of ecological succession on a bare plot of land.
3. Write short notes on each of the following:
(a) ecological niche
(b) population density
(c) climax community.
4. (i) What is population
(ii) State five effects of overpopulation on a community.
5. (a) State three factors that can likely limit the size of human populations
(b) Outline two ways each by which humans can overcome the factors named in (a).
6. State two factors each which result in
(i) increase in population density.
(ii) Decrease in population density.
7. A farmer has two plots of land; plots A and B. On plot A. the farmer planted several seeds of maize. On plot B, the farmer planted several seeds of maize and pepper in a small area. What type of competition would be observed on:
(i) plot A;
(ii) plot B?
8. Explain the term: ecological succession.
9. State four factors that bring about competition among organisms.
10. (a) What is meant by competition.
(b) Explain briefly the terms
(i) inter-species competition
(ii) intra-species competition.
11. (a) Name two types of competition
(b) Outline the relationship between competition and succession.
12. (a) Define ecological succession
(b) List four characteristics of ecological succession of plant.
13. Write short notes on: ecological succession in plants?
14. Describe the process of succession in an abandoned farm land.
15. Explain briefly how the activities of organisms bring about dynamic equilibrium in the habitat.
