Chapter 30

Sankalp Bharat
Organisms and Populations

1. Plants offer rewards to animals in the form 5. While explaining interspecific interaction of
of pollen and nectar and the animals population, (+) sign is assigned for
facilitate the pollination process. This is an beneficial interaction, (-) sign is assigned for
example of: (2023) detrimental interaction and (0) for neutral
(a) Amensalism interaction. Which of the following
(b) Competition interactions can be assigned (+) for one
(c) Commensalism specifies and (-) for another specifies
(d) Mutualism involved in the interaction? (2022)
2. If there are 250 snails in a pond, and within (a) Predation
a year their number increases to 2500 by (b) Amensalim
reproduction. What should be their birth (c) Commensalism
rate per snail per year? (2023) (d) Competition
(a) 10 6. If '8' Drosophila in a laboratory population
(b) 9 of '80' died during a week, the death rate in
the population is week. individuals per
(c) 25
(d) 15 Drosophila per (2022)
(a) 0.1
3. Statement I: Gause's 'Competitive (b) 10
Exclusion Principle' states that two closely (c) 1.0
related species competing for the same (d) zero
resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and 7. Inspite of interspecific competition in
competitively inferior one will be eliminated nature, which mechanism the competing
eventually. species might have evolved for their
Statement II: In general, carnivores are survival? (2021)
more adversely affected by competition than (a) Competitive release
herbivores. (b) Mutualism
In the light of the above statements, choose (c) Predation
the correct answer from the options given (d) Resource Partitioning
below: (2023)
8. Amensalism can be represented as: (2021)
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are
false. (a) Species A (+) ; Species B (+)
(b) Statement I is correct Statement II is (b) Species A (–) ; Species B (–)
false. (c) Species A (+) ; Species B (0)
(c) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II (d) Species A (–) ; Species B (0)
is true. 9. In the exponential growth equation
(d) Both Statement I and Statement II are 𝑁𝑡 = 𝑁0 𝑒 𝑟𝑡 , e represents: (2021)
true. (a) The base of exponential logarithms
(b) The base of natural logarithms
4. Which one of the following statements (c) The base of geometric logarithms
cannot be connected to Predation? (2022) (d) The base of number logarithms
(a) It helps in maintaining species diversity
in a community 10. Match List-I with List-II: (2021)
(b) It might lead to extinction of a species List-I List-II
(c) Both the integrating species are A. Allen’s Rule (i) Kangaroo rat
negatively impacted Physiological (ii) Desert lizard
B.
(d) It is necessitated by nature to maintain adaptation
the ecological balance

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 C. Behavioural (iii) Marine fish at (c) Positive
adaptation depth (d) Negative

D. Biochemical (iv) Polar seal 15. Match Column – I with column – II (2019)
adaptation Column-I Column-II
Choose the correct answer from the options A. Saprophyte (i) Symbiotic
given below. association of
(a) A-(iv), B-(i), C-(iii), D-(ii) fungi with plant
(b) A-(iv), B-(i), C-(ii), D-(iii) roots
(c) A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i) Parasite (ii) Decomposition of
(d) A-(iv), B-(ii), C-(iii), D-(i) B.
dead organic
11. Assertion (A) : A person goes to high materials
altitude and experiences ‘altitude sickness’ Lichens (iii) Living on plants
with symptoms like breathing difficulty and C.
or animals
heart palpitations.
Reason (R) : Due to low atmospheric D. Mycorrhiza (iv) Symbiotic
pressure at high altitude, the body does not association of
get sufficient oxygen. algae and fungi
In the light of the above statements, choose Choose the correct answer from the option
the correct answer from the options given given below.
below. (2021) (A) (B) (C) (D)
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not (a) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
the correct explanation of (A) (b) (iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
(b) (A) is true but (R) is false (c) (ii) (i) (iii) (iv)
(c) (A) is false but (R) is true (d) (ii) (iii) (iv) (i)
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the
16. Niche is: (2018)
correct explanation of (A)
(a) All the biological factors in the organism
12. Which of the following is not an attribute of
environment
a population? (2020)
(b) The physical space where an organism
(a) Natality
live
(b) Mortality
(c) The range of temperature that the
(c) Species interaction
organism needs to live
(d) Sex ratio
(d) The functional role played by the
13. Match the items in Column I with those in organism where it lives
Column II: (2020 Covid Re-NEET) 17. Natality refers to: (2018)
Column-I Column-II (a) Death rate
1. Herbivores- (i) Commensalism (b) Birth rate
Plants (c) Number of individuals leaving the
habitat
2. Mycorrhiza- (ii) Mutualism
Plants (d) Number of individuals entering a
3. Sheep-Cattle (iii) Predation habitat
18. Which one of the following plants shows a
4. Orchid-Tree (iv) Competition
very close relationship with a species of
(1) (2) (3) (4) moth, where none of the two can complete
(a) (iii) (ii) (iv) (i) its life cycle without the other? (2018)
(b) (ii) (i) (iii) (iv) (a) Hydrilla
(c) (i) (iii) (iv) (ii) (b) Yucca
(d) (iv) (ii) (i) (iii) (c) Banana
14. The impact of immigration on population (d) Viola
density is: (2020 Covid Re-NEET) 19. In a growing population of a country:
(a) Both positive and negative (2018)
(b) Neutralized by natality
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 (a) Pre-reproductive individuals are more sign to neutral interaction, then the
than the reproductive individuals population interaction represented by ‘+’ ‘–’
(b) Reproductive individuals are less than refers to: (2016-II)
the post-reproductive individuals (a) Commensalism
(c) Reproductive and pre-reproductive (b) Parasitism
individuals are equal in number (c) Mutualism
(d) Pre-reproductive individuals are less (d) Amensalism
than the reproductive individuals 27. It is much easier for a small animal to run
20. Which one of the following population uphill than for a large animal, because:
interactions is widely used in medical (2016-I)
science for the production of antibiotics? (a) It is easier to carry a small body weight
(2018) (b) Smaller animals have a higher
(a) Commensalism metabolic rate
(b) Mutualism (c) Smaller animals have a lower O2
(c) Parasitism requirement
(d) Amensalism (d) The efficiency of muscles in large
21. Plants which produce characterstic animals is less than in the small
pneumatophores and show vivipary belong animals
to: (2017) 28. When does the growth rate of a population
(a) Mesophytes following the logistic model equal zero? The
(b) Halophytes logistic model is given as dN/dt = rN (1 –
(c) Psammophytes N/K): (2016-I)
(d) Hydrophytes (a) When N/K is exactly one
22. Mycorrhizae are the example of: (2017) (b) When N nears the carrying capacity of
(a) Fungistasis the habitat
(b) Amensalism (c) When N/K equals zero
(c) Antibiosis (d) When death rate is greater than birth
(d) Mutualism rate
29. Gause’s principle of competitive exclusion
23. Asymptote in a logistic growth curve is
states that: (2016-I)
obtained when: (2017)
(a) More abundant species will exclude the
(a) The value of ‘r’ approaches zero
less abundant species through
(b) K = N
competition
(c) K > N
(b) Competition for the same resources
(d) K < N
excludes species having different food
24. In a hypothetical population of 100 preferences
individual having ‘r’ = 0.5/female/year, (c) No two species can occupy the same
what will be the population size in 6 years niche indefinitely for the same limiting
(with e = 2.72) showing exponential rate of resources
growth? (2017) (d) Larger organisms exclude smaller ones
(a) 448 through competition
(b) 1212 30. Most animals are tree dwellers in a: (2015)
(c) 739 (a) Temperature deciduous forest
(d) 2012 (b) Tropical rain forest
25. The principle of competitive exclusion was (c) Coniferous forest
stated by: (2016-II) (d) Thorn woodland
(a) MacArthur 31. In which of the following interactions both
(b) Verhulst and Pearl partners are adversely affected?
(c) C. Darwin (2015 Re)
(d) G.F. Gause (a) Predation
26. If ‘+’ sign is assigned to beneficial (b) Parasitism
interaction, ‘–’ sign to detrimental and ‘0’ (c) Mutualism

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 (d) Competition 34. A biologist studied the population of rats in
32. Just as a person moving from Delhi to a barn. He found that the average natality
was 250, average mortality 240,
Shimla to escape the heat for the duration
of hot summer, thousands of migratory immigration 20 and emigration 30. The net
birds from Siberia and other extremely cold increase in population is: (2013)
northern regions move to: (2014) (a) Zero
(a) Keolado National Park (b) 10
(b) Western Ghat (c) 15
(c) Meghalaya (d) 05
(d) Corbett National Park 35. A sedentary sea anemone gets attached to
33. Which of the following are likely to be the shell lining of hermit crab. The
present in deep sea water? (2014) association is: (2013)
(a) Saprophytic fungi (a) Amensalism
(b) Archaebacteria (b) Ectoparasitism
(c) Eubacteria (c) Symbiosis
(d) Blue-green algae (d) Commensalism

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 Answer Key
S1. Ans. (d) S33. Ans. (b)

S2. Ans. (b) S34. Ans. (a)

S3. Ans. (b) S35. Ans. (c)

S4. Ans. (c)

S5. Ans. (a)

S6. Ans. (a)

S7. Ans. (d)

S8. Ans. (d)

S9. Ans. (b)

S10. Ans. (c)

S11. Ans. (d)

S12. Ans. (c)

S13. Ans. (a)

S14. Ans. (c)

S15. Ans. (d)

S16. Ans. (d)

S17. Ans. (b)

S18. Ans. (b)

S19. Ans. (a)

S20. Ans. (d)

S21. Ans. (b)

S22. Ans. (d)

S23. Ans. (b)

S24. Ans. (d)

S25. Ans. (d)

S26. Ans. (b)

S27. Ans. (b)

S28. Ans. (a)

S29. Ans. (c)

S30. Ans. (b)

S31. Ans. (d)

S32. Ans. (a)

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 Solutions
S1. Ans.(d) If 8 Drosophila in a laboratory
population of 80 died during a week, the
This is an example of Mutualism.
death rate in the population is 8/80=0.1
Mutualism is a type of symbiotic
individuals per Drosophila per week.
relationship in which both organisms
involved benefit. In this case, the plant S7. Ans.(d)
benefits by having its pollen dispersed by Species facing competition might evolve
the animal, thus facilitating pollination, mechanism that promote co-existence
and the animal benefits by obtaining food rather than exclusion. One such
in the form of pollen and nectar. mechanism is ‘resource partitioning’.
S2. Ans.(b) S8. Ans.(d)
∆𝑁 Amensalism, association between
Birth rate = 𝑁∆𝑡
organisms of two different species in
Here, N = 250 which one is inhibited or destroyed and
the other is unaffected.
t = 1 year
S9. Ans.(b)
N = 2500 – 250 = 2250 The integral form of the exponential
2250 growth equation as Nt = N0 ert where,
Birth rate = =9
250×1
Nt = Population density after time t
S3. Ans.(b)
N0 = Population density at time zero
Gause's 'Competitive Exclusion r = intrinsic rate of natural increase
Principle' states that two closely related
e = the base of natural logarithms
species competing for the same
resources cannot co-exist indefinitely (2.71828)
and the competitively inferior one will be S10. Ans.(c)
eliminated eventually. Thus, statement I Allen’s rule is an ecogeographical rule
is correct. which states that the limbs, ears and
Statement II is incorrect as in general, other appendages of animals living in
herbivores and plants appear to be more colder climate are shorter than the
adversely affected by competition than animals of same species living in
carnivores. warmer regions. Desert lizard adapted to
desert climate. They require less water,
S4. Ans.(c)
adapt to hide in soil and their mimicry.
One of the species in predation gains Deep sea marine animal physiology
benefit on the expense of the other. changed according to depth of sea like
Predators help in maintaining species biomolecule composition. These changes
diversity in a community, by reducing are permanent.
the intensity of competition among
competing prey species. If a predator is S11. Ans.(d)
too efficient and overexploits its prey, A person goes to high altitude and
then the prey might become extinct. experiences altitude sickness with
symptoms like breathing difficulty and
S5. Ans.(a)
heat palpitations because in the low
In predation, one species is benefited atmospheric pressure of high altitudes,
where as the other is harmed. It is (+-) the body does not get enough oxygen.
type of population interaction.
S12. Ans.(c)
S6. Ans.(a) Species interaction is not a population
trait.
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S13. Ans.(a) Pre-reproductive > reproductive > post-
Herbivores are animals that eat plants reproductive > stable population – Bell-
and are classified as such. Predation shaped pyramid Limiting Low
can be seen in several situations. percentage of younger people and a
Mycorrhizae are fungi that form falling birth rate.
connections with the roots of higher S20. Ans.(d)
plants. They demonstrate mutualism. Amensalism (–, 0) is a sort of connection
Because the sheep and cattle are in which one party gets damaged while
competing for food, this is an example of the other is untouched. Antibiotics are
competition interaction. Commensalism damaging to germs, yet they have no
is demonstrated by an orchid growing as effect on humans.
an epiphyte on a mango branch.
S21. Ans.(b)
S14. Ans.(c)
In saline soils, halophytes demonstrate I
The number of individuals of the same Vivipary (in-situ seed germination) and
species who arrived in the habitat from (ii) Pneumatophores (gaseous exchange).
elsewhere during the time period under
S22. Ans.(d)
consideration is referred to as
immigration. The increase in population Mycorrhizae is a symbiotic interaction of
density is aided by immigration. fungi with the roots of higher plants.

S15. Ans.(d) S23. Ans.(b)

Saprophytes are organisms that The logistic growth curve depicts a
decompose decaying organic matter. population increasing in an environment
with restricted resources.
Parasite are living on plants or animals.
S24. Ans.(d)
Lichens- Symbiotic association of algae
and fungi N = N ert is the exponential growth
equation. When we put the values in the
Mycorrhiza- Symbiotic association of
question together, we obtain N = 100
fungi with plant roots
e(0.56)
S16. Ans.(d)
A population growing in a habitat with
An ecological niche shows how an limited resources shows logistic growth
organism or population reacts to curve.
resource distribution and the overall
For logistic growth
environment.
𝑑𝑁 𝐾−𝑁
S17. Ans.(b) 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑟𝑁 ( 𝐾
)

The natality or birth rate is the ratio of If K = N then

𝐾−𝑁
=0
𝐾
the number of births to the population
𝑑𝑁
size. ∴ = 0,
𝑑𝑡
S18. Ans.(b) The population reaches asymptote.
Yucca blossoms are pollinated by no S25. Ans.(d)
other species except the moth, and G.F. Gause established the competitive
Yucca moth larvae eat exclusively on exclusion principle.
Yucca seeds. As a result, they exhibit a
According to Gause’s ‘Competitive’
symbiotic interaction.
Exclusion Principle, ‘two closely related
S19. Ans.(a) species competing for the same
Upright pyramid of population growth: resources cannot coexist indefinitely,
pre-reproductive > reproductive > post- and the competitively inferior species
reproductive. will eventually be eliminated.

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S26. Ans.(b) S31. Ans.(d)
Species + + Mutualism, – – Competition, Competition is a relationship in which
+ – Predation + – Parasitism, + 0 each population has a negative impact
Commensalism, – 0 Amensalism, A on the other in the quest for limited
Species B Name of Interaction resources.
S27. Ans.(b) S32. Ans.(a)
Because little animals have a faster Thousands of migratory birds from
metabolic rate than large animals, Siberia visit the famed Keolado national
running uphill is significantly easier for park (Bharatput) in Rajasthan every
them. winter.
S28. Ans.(a) S33. Ans.(b)
When N/K is exactly one, the population Archaebacteria thrive in hot springs and
growth rate using the logistic model is deep sea hydrothermal vents.
zero. S34. Ans.(a)
S29. Ans.(c) (B + I) – (D + E) = Population growth.
According to Gause’s ‘Competitive S35. Ans.(c)
Exclusion Principle,’ two closely related
The relationship between the sea
species competing for the same
anemone and the hermit crab is a sort
resources cannot coexist indefinitely,
of facultative mutualism known as
and the competitively inferior species
protocol-operation.
will eventually be eliminated.
S30. Ans.(b)
Many tree-dwelling animals live in
tropical rain forests.

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