Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q30 (IAS/2021) Environment & Ecology › Ecology & Ecosystem Basics › Ecological succession Official Key

In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mushroom Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3 (2 and 3) because Lichens and Mosses are pioneer species in primary ecological succession.

  • Lichens (2): These are symbiotic associations between algae and fungi. They secrete organic acids that weather rocks, breaking them down into smaller particles, allowing them to survive on bare rocky surfaces without soil.
  • Mosses (3): As bryophytes, mosses lack true roots and instead use rhizoids for attachment. They can grow on damp rocks or tree bark, requiring very little substrate, and often follow lichens in the succession process.
  • Ferns (1): These are vascular plants that generally require well-developed soil to anchor their root systems and absorb nutrients.
  • Mushrooms (4): Being saprophytic fungi, they require organic matter (like decaying wood or humus-rich soil) to thrive; they cannot survive on a bare, inorganic surface like a rock.

Thus, only Lichens and Mosses possess the physiological adaptations to colonize and survive on surfaces devoid of soil.

How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
78%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest preview
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mu…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10
You're seeing a guest preview. The Verdict and first statement analysis are open. Login with Google to unlock all tabs.

This is a classic 'Ecological Succession' question disguised as a general observation query. While ferns (epiphytes) and mushrooms (wood-rotters) technically don't need mineral soil, Lichens and Mosses are the textbook 'Pioneer Species' cited in every NCERT and Geography book for colonizing bare rock. The key is identifying the primary context: Pedogenesis and Succession.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Can ferns survive and grow on a surface without soil, such as on bare rock or as epiphytes on tree bark?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 3: MAJOR BIOMES > 1. Tropical Evergreen Rainforest Biome > p. 7
Presence: 5/5
“such as orchids, bromeliads and fern that live entirely above ground, supported physically but not nutritionally by the structures of other plants are epiphytes. Epiphytes plants attach themselves to the trunk, branches or foliage of trees and lianas. Teir 'host' is used solely as a means of physical support. Epiphytes include plants of many diferent types – ferns, orchids, mosses, and lichens. Undergrowth is restricted in many areas by the shortage of sunlight at ground level. Tese epiphytes provide certain habitats to microorganisms, such as snails, centipedes, termites, earthworms, lizards, tree-frogs, ants, tse-tse fies, mosquitos, and numerous insects. Te main animals include numerous birds, bats, falconet, swifts, parakeets, barbets, monkeys, squirrels, peacocks, bill-bird and fowls.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly lists ferns among epiphytes that live above ground and are supported physically but not nutritionally by other plants.
  • States epiphytes attach to trunks, branches or foliage, showing ferns can grow on tree surfaces without soil.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Equatorial Vegetation > p. 426
Presence: 5/5
“All plants struggle upwards (most epiphytes) for sunlight resulting in a peculiar layer arrangement. • Epiphyte: An epiphyte is a plant that grows harmlessly upon another plant (such as a tree) and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and sometimes from debris accumulating around it.• The equatorial vegetation comprises a multitude of evergreen trees that yield tropical hardwood, e.g. mahogany, ebony, dyewoods etc. In the coastal areas and brackish swamps, mangrove forests thrive. Many parts of the tropical rain forests have been cleared for either lumbering or shifting cultivation. Despite dense forests, countries in equatorial regions are net timber importers.”
Why this source?
  • Provides a definition of epiphyte and says they derive moisture and nutrients from air, rain and accumulated debris rather than from soil.
  • Places the epiphytic habit in forest canopies, supporting the idea that ferns can survive on bark/branches.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 6: Geomorphic Movements > Biological Activity and Weathering > p. 91
Presence: 3/5
“• Biological weathering is the removal of minerals from the environment due to the growth or movement of organisms.• Living organisms contribute to both mechanical and chemical weathering.• Lichens and mosses grow on essentially bare rock surfaces and create a more humid chemical microenvironment.• On a larger scale, seedlings sprouting in a crevice and plant roots exert physical pressure and provide a pathway for water and chemical infiltration.• Burrowing and wedging by organisms like earthworms, rodents etc., help expose the new surfaces to chemical attack and assist in the penetration of moisture and air.”
Why this source?
  • Describes lichens and mosses growing on essentially bare rock and creating humid microenvironments.
  • Notes seedlings sprouting in crevices and roots penetrating rock, implying vascular plants can establish on rock after pioneer colonisation.
Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

Login with Google to unlock all statements.

How to study

This tab shows concrete study steps: what to underline in books, how to map current affairs, and how to prepare for similar questions.

Login with Google to unlock study guidance.

Micro-concepts

Discover the small, exam-centric ideas hidden in this question and where they appear in your books and notes.

Login with Google to unlock micro-concepts.

The Vault

Access hidden traps, elimination shortcuts, and Mains connections that give you an edge on every question.

Login with Google to unlock The Vault.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CAPF · 2012 · Q55 Relevance score: -5.02

Consider the following statements : 1. Creepers or climbers are commonly found in the tropical rain forest. 2. The epiphytes, which do not have their roots on the ground, survive on the trees in the tropical rain forest. 3. All epiphytes are not creepers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

NDA-I · 2014 · Q74 Relevance score: -5.14

Which of the following is/are the most likely cause/causes of sheet-flood found in western part of Rajasthan? 1. Scanty rainfall 2. Sudden high intensity rain 3. Loose sandy soil with scanty vegetation Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2014 · Q23 Relevance score: -5.93

If you travel through the Himalayas, you are likely to see which of the following plants naturally growing there? 1. Oak 2. Rhododendron 3. Sandalwood Select the correct answer using the code given below.

IAS · 2020 · Q27 Relevance score: -6.14

Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat ? 1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary 2. Gangotri National Park 3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 4. Manas National Park Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2016 · Q45 Relevance score: -6.46

Which of the following statements regarding soil is/are correct? 1. Alluvial soils are rich in nitrogen content. 2. Black soils are rich in iron and lime but deficient in nitrogen. 3. Laterite soils are rich in iron and aluminium but deficient in nitrogen and potassium. Select the correct answer using the code given below.