Vertical distribution of different species occupying different levels is called as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Stratification
In a community, plants and animals live at different heights or depths. In a forest, for example, tall trees form the top layer, shrubs the middle layer and herbs the ground layer. This vertical arrangement of different species at different levels is stratification.
(1) Humification — Incorrect. This is a step of decomposition in which humus is formed in the soil.
(2) Stratification — Correct. It is the vertical distribution of species at different levels.
(3) Fragmentation — Incorrect. This is the first step of decomposition, when detritivores break dead matter into small pieces.
(4) Population density — Incorrect. This is the number of individuals of a species per unit area. It does not describe levels.
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NCERT Extract:
Ecosystem – Structure and Function – …
