Question

Which one of the following is one of the characteristics of a biological community?

• A. Natality
• B. Mortality
• C. Sex-ratio
• D. Stratification

Hint:

The characteristics of biological community are dominance, species diversity, trophic organisation, stratification, dynamism and stability. Organisms are not uniformly distributed throughout a community. They usually occur in definite zones.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Throughout a community, organisms are not uniformly distributed, instead, they occur in definite zones. 

• Stratification is the spatial arrangement of populations. 
• A forest can have 5 to 7 strata with large, medium, short canopy trees, shrubs, herbs, etc. 
• It is useful to accommodate many organisms of various types to ensure the efficient use of resources.

 The animals occupying similar strata are called ecological equivalents though they are geographically separated.

Answer 2

Stratification is the arrangement of vegetation into different layers on the basis of their fixed characteristics.

• It is the vertical layering of habitat or the phenomenon of having more than one stratum according to their heights formed by different plants or organisms in the same place.
• The different vertical layers are habitats of different types of plant and animal communities. 
• This helps to understand the interactions of resources among different species within the community. 

Therefore, Stratification is one of the characteristics of a biological community.

Answer 3

Stratification refers to the vertical layering of organisms within a biological community based on their different ecological roles and physical attributes. 

• This layering can be observed in various ecosystems, including forests, lakes, and oceans, where different species occupy distinct zones within the ecosystem, each with its own unique set of physical and biological conditions.
• For example, in a forest ecosystem, the tallest trees form the canopy layer, which provides shade and shelter for other organisms below. 
• Beneath the canopy, smaller trees and shrubs occupy the understory layer, while the ground layer is dominated by herbs, ferns, and mosses. 
• Similarly, in an aquatic ecosystem, different species of fish, plants, and other organisms occupy different depths and regions based on their tolerance to light, temperature, and water movement.

Stratification is a crucial characteristic of biological communities as it allows efficient use of resources and helps reduce competition between species. It also provides a diverse range of habitats for different species, leading to greater biodiversity and stability of the ecosystem.

It is a key feature of biological communities that contributes to the diversity, stability, and resilience of ecosystems by enabling species to occupy different ecological niches and reducing competition for resources.

Therefore, option D) is the correct answer.