Vertical distribution of different species occupying different level is called:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Stratification
Option (2) Stratification — Correct. Species occupy different vertical layers: in a forest, trees on top, shrubs next, and herbs and grasses at the bottom.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 21-05-2026 (Slot 2), on 21-05-2026 (Slot 1) and on 18-05-2026 (Slot 1), in CUET (UG) 2025 on 29-05-2025 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 02-07-2023 (Slot 3).
NCERT Extract:
Ecosystem – Structure and Function – “… Interaction of biotic and abiotic components result in a physical structure that is characteristic for each type of ecosystem. Identification and enumeration of plant and animal species of an ecosystem gives its species composition. Vertical distribution of different species occupying different levels is called stratification. For example, trees occupy top vertical strata or layer of a forest, shrubs the second and herbs and grasses occupy the bottom layers.”