Question

______is the basic unit of ecological hierarchy
A) Gene
B) Species
C) Individual
D) Animals

Answer 1

Hint: The term ecology stands for the study of living organisms, which includes both plants and animals in their natural habitats. The term hierarchy stands on arrangement of things or organisms at different ranks based on certain properties.

Complete answer:
Ecological hierarchy is based on the arrangement of organisms with respect to one another. The simplest level of hierarchy are individual organisms which is then followed by population and communities, ecosystems and finally biosphere. For individuals, the hierarchy is known to examine how a certain organism interacts biologically, physiologically and morphologically with their environment. For this study concepts of evolution are also referred.

Next comes a population which comprises a group of individuals belonging to the same species and living in the same geographical area. The community level focuses on relationships between different species in the community. This is followed by the ecosystem which is much larger than communities and includes both living and nonliving components and how these two interact with one another.

Final level is the biosphere which includes all the things present on earth and their interactions as well. It includes all the ecosystems of the earth and also the ways they interact with one another.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: Determination of ecological hierarchy is important because it provides emerging properties which are normally not found on the lower or different levels. It also helps us to get an idea of the mechanism of evolution and cause of certain diseases.