The table below describes the number of tree species in a forest whose seeds are dispersed by large or small animals, and whether they are insect or wind pollinated. In the past, seed dispersers and pollinators were abundant in this forest. Now, there are very few large animal dispersers, but the number of small animal dispersers has not changed. There are also very few insect pollinators in this forest. Which one or more of the following inferences about trees in the forest can be drawn from these changes in seed dispersers and pollinators?
Show Hint
- Mortality of all trees in this forest will decrease in the future
- Mortality of a large number of trees in this forest will increase in the future
- Regeneration of all tree species in this forest will increase in the future
- Regeneration of a large number of tree species will decrease in future
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Analyze the Impact of Reduced Large Animal Dispersers.
The table shows that 85 tree species rely on large animals for seed dispersal and insects for pollination. With fewer large animals and insect pollinators, these species are likely to face challenges in seed dispersal and pollination.
Step 2: Consider the Impact of Reduced Insect Pollinators.
Insect-pollinated trees, which include both those dispersed by large and small animals (85 + 25), will also struggle to achieve successful pollination, affecting their reproductive success.
Step 3: Draw Inferences on Tree Regeneration.
Given the dependencies described and the reductions in key dispersers and pollinators, it is reasonable to infer that the regeneration capacity of these tree species, particularly those dependent on large animals and insects, will decrease.
Top Questions on Ecology
- Which one or more of the following would make a plant community more susceptible to invasion by exotic plants?
- In a grassland (P), there are 8 plant species with a similar number of individuals of each species. In another grassland (Q), there are 12 species with uneven abundances. Which one of the following statements about the Shannon’s diversity index of P and Q is correct?
- Fungus S infects elm trees and fungus T infects chestnut trees, and both kill their hosts within a year of infection. A forest with equal density of elm and chestnut trees is colonized by both pathogenic fungi. A 100 years later, the elm tree population has declined and the chestnut trees have become extinct. Which one of the following mechanisms would NOT contribute to this outcome?
Figure F shows how predation rate changes with increasing prey density.
Which one of the figures represents the per capita death rate of prey under the conditions of F?
- Which one or more of the following functions do insects directly perform in ecosystems?
Questions Asked in GATE EY exam
- An organization allows its employees to work independently on consultancy projects but charges an overhead on the consulting fee.
The overhead is 20% of the consulting fee if the fee is up to ₹5,00,000.
For higher fees, the overhead is ₹1,00,000 plus 10% of the amount by which the fee exceeds ₹5,00,000.
The government charges a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 18% on the total amount (i.e., the consulting fee plus the overhead).
An employee of the organization charges this entire amount — that is, the consulting fee, overhead, and tax — to the client.
If the client cannot pay more than ₹10,00,000, what is the maximum consulting fee that the employee can charge? The table lists the top 5 nations according to the number of gold medals won in a tournament; also included are the number of silver and the bronze medals won by them. Based only on the data provided in the table, which one of the following statements is INCORRECT?
Eight students (P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W) are playing musical chairs. The figure indicates their order of position at the start of the game. They play the game by moving forward in a circle in the clockwise direction.
After the 1st round, the 4th student behind P leaves the game.
After the 2nd round, the 5th student behind Q leaves the game.
After the 3rd round, the 3rd student behind V leaves the game.
After the 4th round, the 4th student behind U leaves the game.
Who all are left in the game after the 4th round?
A stick of length one meter is broken at two locations at distances of \( b_1 \) and \( b_2 \) from the origin (0), as shown in the figure. Note that \( 0<b_1<b_2<1 \). Which one of the following is NOT a necessary condition for forming a triangle using the three pieces?
Note: All lengths are in meter. The figure shown is representative.
- Identify the option that has the most appropriate sequence such that a coherent paragraph is formed:
P: Over time, such adaptations lead to significant evolutionary changes with the potential to shape the development of new species.
Q: In natural world, organisms constantly adapt to their environments in response to challenges and opportunities.
R: This process of adaptation is driven by the principle of natural selection, where favorable traits increase an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction.
S: As environments change, organisms that can adapt their behavior, structure, and physiology to such changes are more likely to survive.