JAMB Ecology Questions and Answers on Biosphere (Exam Practice)

We have created 50 logical questions on Basic Ecology and the Biosphere, carefully designed in JAMB-style (JAMB-based test format).

The questions focus on reasoning, understanding, and application, just like what candidates encounter in real examinations. Detailed answers have also been provided to aid proper learning and self-assessment.

Students are encouraged to study, practice, and share these questions as a reliable resource for exam preparation and revision.

BASIC ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT, BIOSPHERE & HABITAT (Q1–50)

(JAMB-style, logical, multiple choice A–D)

Questions

1. Ecology is best defined as the study of

A. plants and animals only

B. living organisms in isolation

C. relationships between organisms and their environment

D. environmental pollution

2. Which of the following best describes the environment of an organism?

A. The climatic condition only

B. All living things around it

C. The total surrounding of the organism

D. Soil and water only

3. Which of the following is NOT a biotic component?

A. Goat

B. Grass

C. Bacteria

D. Temperature

4. Abiotic components of the environment include

A. animals and plants

B. fungi and bacteria

C. soil, water and air

D. algae and protozoa

5. The biosphere refers to

A. the solid part of the earth only

B. the water body on earth

C. parts of the earth where life exists

D. the atmosphere alone

6. Which of the following does NOT form part of the biosphere?

A. Atmosphere

B. Hydrosphere

C. Lithosphere

D. Magnetosphere

7. The largest level of biological organization is the

A. population

B. ecosystem

C. community

D. biosphere

8. The atmosphere is mainly composed of

A. oxygen and carbon dioxide

B. nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide

C. nitrogen and hydrogen

D. carbon monoxide and oxygen

9. The gas with the highest percentage in the atmosphere is

A. oxygen

B. carbon IV oxide

C. nitrogen

D. hydrogen

10. The first layer of the atmosphere is the

A. stratosphere

B. mesosphere

C. troposphere

D. thermosphere

11. Rivers, oceans and lakes belong to the

A. lithosphere

B. atmosphere

C. biosphere

D. hydrosphere

12. The solid outer part of the earth where plants grow is the

A. atmosphere

B. hydrosphere

C. lithosphere

D. biosphere

13. A habitat can best be described as

A. a feeding area

B. a place where an organism lives

C. an ecosystem

D. a population

14. Which of the following is an aquatic habitat?

A. Forest

B. Desert

C. Pond

D. Grassland

15. Arboreal habitats are found

A. underground

B. in water

C. on trees

D. on rocks

16. Which of the following is a terrestrial habitat?

A. Stream

B. Pond

C. Ocean

D. Farmland

17. A niche refers to

A. the size of a population

B. where an organism lives only

C. the role of an organism in its habitat

D. the food chain

18. The ecological niche of an organism includes

A. its enemies only

B. its feeding habit only

C. all roles it plays in its habitat

D. its population size

19. Which of the following best describes a monkey’s niche?

A. Living in water

B. Being a producer

C. Living on trees and feeding as a consumer

D. Decomposing dead matter

20. Population refers to

A. all organisms in a habitat

B. organisms of different species

C. total number of one species in an area

D. organisms living worldwide

21. A group of goats grazing in a field represents a

A. community

B. ecosystem

C. population

D. biome

22. A community is made up of

A. one species only

B. different populations living together

C. abiotic factors only

D. decomposers alone

23. Organisms in a community are said to be interdependent because they

A. compete always

B. depend on one another

C. have the same habitat

D. are of the same species

24. A biome is best described as

A. a small habitat

B. a population of plants

C. a large natural ecosystem

D. a food chain

25. Which of the following is a biome?

A. Pond

B. Savanna

C. Population

D. Community

26. An ecosystem consists of

A. plants only

B. animals only

C. living organisms and their environment

D. soil and water only

27. Which of the following is a biotic component of an ecosystem?

A. Sunlight

B. Rainfall

C. Green plants

D. Temperature

28. Autotrophs are organisms that

A. feed on others

B. depend on dead matter

C. manufacture their own food

D. cause diseases

29. Which of the following is a heterotroph?

A. Grass

B. Algae

C. Goat

D. Fern

30. Decomposers mainly help in

A. producing food

B. recycling nutrients

C. increasing population

D. reducing rainfall

31. Which organism is a saprophyte?

A. Goat

B. Bacteria

C. Grass

D. Snake

32. Abiotic resources include

A. fungi and bacteria

B. animals and plants

C. sunlight and water

D. parasites

33. Temperature, rainfall and light mainly affect

A. soil formation

B. organism behaviour and growth

C. population size only

D. food chain only

34. Which of the following is NOT an abiotic condition?

A. Humidity

B. Light

C. Temperature

D. Population

35. The forest and savanna zones in Nigeria are examples of

A. habitats

B. ecosystems

C. biomes

D. populations

36. The forest zone in Nigeria is mainly characterized by

A. grasses only

B. shrubs only

C. trees

D. cactus

37. Mangrove swamp forest is commonly found

A. in arid areas

B. along coastal regions

C. on mountains

D. in deserts

38. A major feature of mangrove plants is the presence of

A. thorns

B. needle-like leaves

C. prop and breathing roots

D. bulbs

39. Which of the following animals is commonly found in mangrove swamps?

A. Camel

B. Tilapia

C. Kangaroo

D. Ostrich

40. High rainfall in mangrove swamp forests leads to

A. drought

B. desertification

C. water logging

D. frost

41. Tropical rain forest vegetation mainly consists of

A. grasses

B. herbs only

C. woody plants

D. mosses

42. The layered arrangement of trees in tropical rain forests is called

A. canopy

B. stratification

C. adaptation

D. succession

43. The absence of undergrowth in tropical rain forest is due to

A. lack of water

B. excessive heat

C. thick canopy

D. poor soil

44. Which of the following is a plant found in tropical rain forest?

A. Acacia

B. Baobab

C. Iroko

D. Cactus

45. Animals commonly found in tropical rain forests include

A. camels and lizards

B. monkeys and birds

C. penguins

D. seals

46. Savanna vegetation is mainly dominated by

A. mosses

B. grasses

C. algae

D. fungi

47. The largest biotic community in Nigeria is the

A. tropical rain forest

B. mangrove swamp

C. southern guinea savanna

D. sahel savanna

48. Deciduous trees are those that

A. never shed leaves

B. shed leaves during dry season

C. have needle-like leaves

D. grow in deserts only

49. Which of the following best describes ecology logically?

A. Study of organisms alone

B. Study of soil and climate

C. Interaction of organisms with environment

D. Classification of plants

50. The influence of environment on organisms is studied under

A. anatomy

B. physiology

C. ecology

D. genetics

Answers (Q1–50)

1. C
2. C
3. D
4. C
5. C
6. D
7. D
8. B
9. C
10. C
11. D
12. C
13. B
14. C
15. C
16. D
17. C
18. C
19. C
20. C
21. C
22. B
23. B
24. C
25. B
26. C
27. C
28. C
29. C
30. B
31. B
32. C
33. B
34. D
35. C
36. C
37. B
38. C
39. B
40. C
41. C
42. B
43. C
44. C
45. B
46. B
47. C
48. B
49. C
50. C