Introduction: Understanding the types of ecosystems is crucial for B. Pharm students because ecosystems influence the distribution of medicinal plants, drug discovery, and environmental factors that affect drug safety and efficacy. This concise guide covers terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands, mangroves, estuaries, agroecosystems, and urban ecosystems, plus their biodiversity, ecosystem services, energy flow, nutrient cycles, and human impacts. Emphasis on habitat-specific medicinal resources, pollution effects on pharmaceutical residues, and conservation relevance helps bridge ecology with pharmacy practice. These targeted MCQs will reinforce core concepts and clinical relevance to pharmacognosy and environmental pharmacology. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which of the following is a terrestrial ecosystem?
- Coral reef
- Rainforest
- Estuary
- Mangrove
Correct Answer: Rainforest
Q2. Which ecosystem is characterized by standing freshwater bodies like lakes and ponds?
- Lotic ecosystem
- Estuarine ecosystem
- Lentic ecosystem
- Marine pelagic
Correct Answer: Lentic ecosystem
Q3. Which type of ecosystem has the highest primary productivity per unit area?
- Open ocean
- Tundra
- Wetlands
- Desert
Correct Answer: Wetlands
Q4. Mangrove ecosystems are especially important for which of the following?
- High-altitude medicinal plants
- Nursery grounds for fish and coastal protection
- Crop pollination inland
- Desertification control
Correct Answer: Nursery grounds for fish and coastal protection
Q5. Which ecosystem type is dominated by grasses and is important for grazing animals?
- Tropical rainforest
- Grassland
- Boreal forest
- Coral reef
Correct Answer: Grassland
Q6. Estuaries are unique because they are zones of mixing between which waters?
- Freshwater and groundwater
- Freshwater and marine water
- Terrestrial and atmospheric
- Surface water and soil water
Correct Answer: Freshwater and marine water
Q7. Which ecosystem is characterized by permafrost and low biodiversity but is sensitive to climate change?
- Tropical savanna
- Tundra
- Temperate deciduous forest
- Coral reef
Correct Answer: Tundra
Q8. In aquatic ecosystems, which group forms the base of most food webs as primary producers?
- Zooplankton
- Fish
- Phytoplankton
- Bacteria
Correct Answer: Phytoplankton
Q9. Which ecosystem service directly supports drug discovery from natural products?
- Pollination
- Provisioning of medicinal resources
- Climate regulation
- Water purification
Correct Answer: Provisioning of medicinal resources
Q10. Which of the following is a characteristic adaptation of desert ecosystems?
- High leaf area index
- CAM photosynthesis in plants
- Permanent standing water
- Extensive mangrove roots
Correct Answer: CAM photosynthesis in plants
Q11. Agroecosystems primarily differ from natural ecosystems because they are:
- Composed solely of native species
- Managed by humans for crop and livestock production
- Always biodiverse and undisturbed
- Found only in coastal areas
Correct Answer: Managed by humans for crop and livestock production
Q12. Which ecosystem is most likely to act as a sink for pharmaceutical residues from human activity?
- Pristine alpine tundra
- Urban river and downstream estuary
- Boreal forest interior
- Open ocean abyssal plain
Correct Answer: Urban river and downstream estuary
Q13. Which biome is characterized by broadleaf trees that lose leaves seasonally and has distinct seasons?
- Temperate deciduous forest
- Tropical rainforest
- Tundra
- Taiga
Correct Answer: Temperate deciduous forest
Q14. Primary productivity is defined as:
- Rate at which consumers eat producers
- Rate at which autotrophs convert solar energy to chemical energy
- Rate of species extinction in an ecosystem
- Rate of nutrient leaching from soil
Correct Answer: Rate at which autotrophs convert solar energy to chemical energy
Q15. Which ecosystem type commonly hosts a rich source of alkaloid-producing medicinal plants?
- Desert scrub
- Tropical rainforest
- Arctic tundra
- Open ocean
Correct Answer: Tropical rainforest
Q16. Lotic ecosystems refer to:
- Still water systems like lakes
- Flowing water systems like rivers and streams
- Coastal marine zones
- Underground aquifers
Correct Answer: Flowing water systems like rivers and streams
Q17. An ecotone is best described as:
- A uniform area with no species overlap
- A transitional zone between two ecosystems with high species diversity
- A type of desert microhabitat
- A deep marine trench
Correct Answer: A transitional zone between two ecosystems with high species diversity
Q18. Which of the following organisms are key decomposers in most ecosystems?
- Herbivores
- Decomposer fungi and bacteria
- Top predators
- Primary producers
Correct Answer: Decomposer fungi and bacteria
Q19. Which ecosystem is most affected by coral bleaching?
- Temperate grassland
- Coral reef
- Boreal forest
- Mangrove swamp
Correct Answer: Coral reef
Q20. Which process describes the sequential change in species composition of an ecosystem over time?
- Succession
- Migration
- Evolution
- Pollination
Correct Answer: Succession
Q21. Which is an example of a provisioning ecosystem service?
- Carbon sequestration
- Medicinal plant supply
- Flood regulation
- Recreational opportunities
Correct Answer: Medicinal plant supply
Q22. Which biome has nutrient-poor, acidic soils and coniferous forests dominated by pine, spruce, and fir?
- Tropical rainforest
- Boreal forest (Taiga)
- Temperate grassland
- Coral reef
Correct Answer: Boreal forest (Taiga)
Q23. Which term describes the maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support?
- Carrying capacity
- Intrinsic rate of increase
- Biomagnification
- Primary productivity
Correct Answer: Carrying capacity
Q24. Which nutrient cycle is most often limiting in freshwater ecosystems, influencing algal blooms?
- Carbon cycle
- Nitrogen cycle
- Phosphorus cycle
- Water cycle
Correct Answer: Phosphorus cycle
Q25. Biomes are primarily defined by which two factors?
- Latitude and elevation only
- Climate (temperature and precipitation) and dominant vegetation
- Soil pH and human population density
- Species richness and ecosystem services
Correct Answer: Climate (temperature and precipitation) and dominant vegetation
Q26. Which ecosystem is a major source of tannins and other plant secondary metabolites used in pharmacognosy?
- Urban concrete landscapes
- Temperate deciduous and tropical forests
- Open ocean surface waters
- Polar ice caps
Correct Answer: Temperate deciduous and tropical forests
Q27. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are processes most relevant to which concern in ecosystems?
- Loss of soil texture
- Concentration of toxic substances up the food chain
- Decrease in primary productivity
- Increase in pollinator diversity
Correct Answer: Concentration of toxic substances up the food chain
Q28. Which ecosystem type plays a crucial role in groundwater recharge and maintaining freshwater supplies?
- Urban deserts
- Wetlands
- Coral reefs
- Open ocean gyres
Correct Answer: Wetlands
Q29. Which of the following best defines an urban ecosystem?
- A natural forest with no human impact
- An ecosystem influenced heavily by human-built infrastructure and activities
- A marine coastal zone with mangroves
- A pristine alpine meadow
Correct Answer: An ecosystem influenced heavily by human-built infrastructure and activities
Q30. Which ecosystem is most important for supporting migratory bird stopovers and biodiversity hotspots?
- Industrial zones
- Wetlands and estuaries
- Deserts with no water
- Deep sea trenches
Correct Answer: Wetlands and estuaries
Q31. Which trophic level consists of organisms that consume primary producers directly?
- Primary consumers
- Secondary producers
- Decomposers
- Top predators
Correct Answer: Primary consumers
Q32. Which human activity most directly reduces biodiversity in ecosystems and threatens medicinal species?
- Sustainable harvesting
- Habitat destruction and deforestation
- Conservation reforestation
- Protected area designation
Correct Answer: Habitat destruction and deforestation
Q33. Which of the following best describes an ecological niche?
- Physical location only
- The role and position a species has in its environment, including resource use and interactions
- Only the diet of an organism
- Only reproductive behavior
Correct Answer: The role and position a species has in its environment, including resource use and interactions
Q34. Salt marshes and mangroves are important for which pharmaceutical-relevant reason?
- They never support plant life
- They host organisms producing bioactive compounds and buffer coastal pollution
- They only increase ocean salinity
- They degrade medicinal compounds immediately
Correct Answer: They host organisms producing bioactive compounds and buffer coastal pollution
Q35. Which ecosystem measurement estimates biomass or organic matter produced per unit area per time?
- Species richness
- Net primary productivity (NPP)
- Ecological footprint
- Trophic level index
Correct Answer: Net primary productivity (NPP)
Q36. Oligotrophic lakes are characterized by:
- High nutrient levels and frequent algal blooms
- Low nutrient levels and clear water
- Permanent salinity
- Frozen surfaces year-round
Correct Answer: Low nutrient levels and clear water
Q37. Which ecosystem process cycles nitrogen into biologically usable forms via microbes?
- Photosynthesis
- Nitrogen fixation and nitrification
- Evaporation
- Biomagnification
Correct Answer: Nitrogen fixation and nitrification
Q38. Which term refers to species that are crucial for maintaining ecosystem structure and function?
- Redundant species
- Keystone species
- Invasive species only
- Subdominant species
Correct Answer: Keystone species
Q39. Riparian zones are important because they:
- Are dry desert tracts
- Stabilize stream banks, filter pollutants, and support biodiversity
- Are always frozen
- Are unrelated to water bodies
Correct Answer: Stabilize stream banks, filter pollutants, and support biodiversity
Q40. Which ecosystem is characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons with scattered trees and grasses, often used for grazing?
- Tropical rainforest
- Savanna
- Tundra
- Boreal forest
Correct Answer: Savanna
Q41. Which of the following best describes resilience in ecosystems?
- Ability to be completely changed by a small disturbance
- Ability to resist and recover from disturbances while maintaining function
- Rate of species extinction only
- Maximum population growth rate
Correct Answer: Ability to resist and recover from disturbances while maintaining function
Q42. Which method is commonly used to estimate plant biomass in an ecosystem?
- Remote sensing, harvesting plots, and allometric equations
- Counting insects only
- Measuring air temperature alone
- Recording human foot traffic
Correct Answer: Remote sensing, harvesting plots, and allometric equations
Q43. Which ecosystem component transforms dead organic matter back into nutrients usable by plants?
- Primary producers
- Decomposers and detritivores
- Tertiary consumers
- Abiotic factors only
Correct Answer: Decomposers and detritivores
Q44. Coral reefs are best described as which type of ecosystem in terms of biodiversity?
- Low-diversity, low-productivity systems
- High-diversity, high-productivity coastal systems
- Freshwater systems
- Arid desert systems
Correct Answer: High-diversity, high-productivity coastal systems
Q45. Which phenomenon describes increase of concentration of persistent substances like PCBs or mercury through trophic levels?
- Biomagnification
- Bioaccumulation only in producers
- Primary production
- Succession
Correct Answer: Biomagnification
Q46. Which ecosystem type would you study to understand peat-forming plant communities and carbon storage?
- Coral reef
- Bogs and peatlands
- Desert dune
- Open ocean pelagic zone
Correct Answer: Bogs and peatlands
Q47. Which of the following is an impact of urbanization on local ecosystems relevant to pharmacy?
- Increased habitat for rare medicinal plants
- Altered water quality leading to pharmaceutical contamination and altered drug metabolism in wildlife
- Complete elimination of pollution
- Improved natural pollinator corridors everywhere
Correct Answer: Altered water quality leading to pharmaceutical contamination and altered drug metabolism in wildlife
Q48. Which of these ecosystems has specialized adaptations to saline and tidal flooding conditions?
- Alpine meadows
- Mangrove forests
- Boreal bogs
- Temperate deserts
Correct Answer: Mangrove forests
Q49. Which ecological concept explains why top predators influence populations at lower trophic levels and overall ecosystem structure?
- Trophic cascade
- Competitive exclusion only
- Primary production limit
- Allelopathy
Correct Answer: Trophic cascade
Q50. Conservation of biodiversity in ecosystems supports pharmaceutical research mainly because:
- Biodiversity reduces ecosystem services
- Greater species diversity increases the pool of potential bioactive compounds and genetic resources
- Only synthetic drugs matter
- It always increases pollution
Correct Answer: Greater species diversity increases the pool of potential bioactive compounds and genetic resources
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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