Chapter 53 practice test, Biology Final Chapter 36, Chapter 34, Biology Chapter 52, Exam 3

21) Which of the following is the equation for zero population growth (ZPG)? A) R = b - m B) dN/dt = rN C) dN/dt =rmax N (K -N)/K D) dN/dt =rmax N E) dN/dt = 1.0N

A

26) As N approaches K for a certain population, which of the following is predicted by the logistic equation? A) The growth rate will not change. B) The growth rate will approach zero. C) The population will show an Allee effect. D) The population will increase exponentially. E) The carrying capacity of the environment will increase.

B

38) Which pattern of reproduction is correctly paired with a species? A) iteroparityPacific salmon B) iteroparity elephant C) semelparityoak tree D) semelparityrabbit E) semelparity-polar bear

B

Skill: Application/Analysis 7) To construct a reproductive table for a sexual species, one needs to A) assess sperm viability for the males in the population. B) keep track of all of the offspring of a cohort. C) keep track of the females in a cohort. D) keep track of all of the offspring of the females in a cohort. E) analyze the ratio of deaths to births in a cohort.

C

25) Logistic growth of a population is represented by dN/dt = A) rN/K B) rN C) rN (K + N) D) rN (K-N)/K E) rN (N-K)/K

D

73) Based on current growth rates, Earth's human population in 2012 will be closest to A) 2 million. B) 3 billion. C) 4 billion. D) 7 billion. E) 10 billion.

D

What kind of curve represents exponential growth?

J-shaped

28) The Allee effect is used to describe a population that A) has become so small that it will have difficulty surviving and reproducing. B) has become so large that it will have difficulty surviving and reproducing. C) is viable and stable at its carrying capacity. D) has exceeded its carrying capacity. E) is in crash decline.

A

71) A population's carrying capacity A) may change as environmental conditions change. B) can be accurately calculated using the logistic growth model. C) generally remains constant over time. D) increases as the per capita growth rate (r) decreases. E) can never be exceeded.

A

79) Which of the following statements about human population in industrialized countries is incorrect? A) Life history is r-selected. B) Average family size is relatively small. C) The population has undergone the demographic transition. D) The survivorship curve is Type I. E) Age distribution is relatively uniform.

A

41) Which of the following is most likely to contribute to density-dependent regulation of populations? A) the removal of toxic waste by decomposers B) intraspecific competition for nutrients C) earthquakes D) floods E) fires

B

78) During exponential growth, a population always A) grows by thousands of individuals. B) grows at its maximum per capita rate. C) quickly reaches its carrying capacity. D) cycles through time. E) loses some individuals to emigration.

B

23) In 2008, the population of New Zealand was approximately 4,275,000 people. If the birth rate was 4 births for every 1,000 people, approximately how many births occurred in New Zealand in 2008? A) 6,000 B) 42,275 C) 60,000 D) 140,000 E) 600,000

C

24) Consider two forests: one is an undisturbed old-growth forest, while the other has recently been logged. In which forest are species likely to experience exponential growth, and why? A) Old growth, because of stable conditions that would favor exponential growth of all species in the forest. B) Old growth, because each of the species is well established and can produce many offspring. C) Logged, because the disturbed forest affords more resources for increased specific populations to grow. D) Logged, because the various populations are stimulated to a higher reproductive potential. E) Exponential growth is equally probable in old-growth and logged forests.

C

31) Which of the following statements about the evolution of life histories is correct? A) Stable environments with limited resources favor r-selected populations. B) K-selected populations are most often found in environments where density-independent factors are important regulators of population size. C) Most populations have both r- and K-selected characteristics that vary under different environmental conditions. D) The reproductive efforts of r-selected populations are directed at producing just a few offspring with good competitive abilities. E) K-selected populations rarely approach carrying capacity.

C

75) The observation that members of a population are uniformly distributed suggests that A) the size of the area occupied by the population is increasing. B) resources are distributed unevenly. C) the members of the population are competing for access to a resource. D) the members of the population are neither attracted to nor repelled by one another. E) the density of the population is low.

C

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 16) Why do some invertebrates, such as lobsters, show a "stair-step" survivorship curve? A) Many invertebrates mate and produce offspring on multiyear cycles. B) Within a species of invertebrates, younger individuals have a higher survivorship than older individuals. C) Many invertebrates molt in order to grow, and they are vulnerable to predation during their "soft shell" stage. D) Many invertebrate species have population cycles that go up and down according to the frequency of sunspots. E) The number of fertilized eggs that mature to become females in many species of invertebrates is based on ambient temperature.

C

30) Which of the following causes populations to shift most quickly from an exponential to a logistic population growth? A) increased birth rate B) removal of predators C) decreased death rate D) competition for resources E) favorable climatic conditions

D

77) Which pair of terms most accurately describes life history traits for a stable population of wolves? A) semelparous; r-selected B) semelparous; K-selected C) iteroparous; r-selected D) iteroparous; K-selected E) iteroparous; N-selected

D

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 8) Which of the following examples would most accurately measure the density of the population being studied? A) counting the number of prairie dog burrows per hectare B) counting the number of times a kilometer transect is intersected by tracks of red squirrels after a snowfall C) counting the number of coyote droppings per hectare D) multiplying the number of moss plants counted in 0 quadrats of m2 each by 00 to determine the density per kilometer2. E) counting the number of zebras from airplane census observations.

E

If most of the individuals of a human population are in their pre-reproductive years, you would expect the population size to ________ after 20 years.

increase

An ecological footprint

is a means of understanding resource availability and usage

Which of the following is NOT a form of environmental resistance?

number of offspring produced per litter

Uniform spacing patterns in plants such as the creosote bush are most often associated with

competitive interaction between individuals of the same population.

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes?

coniferous forest

Which of the following biomes, dominated by cone-bearing evergreen trees, is the largest terrestrial biome?

coniferous forest

Which of the following biomes is dominated by coniferous trees adapted to surviving long, harsh winters and short, wet summers?

coniferous forests

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents. Although the two species are not at all closely related, they may appear quite similar as a result of

convergent evolution

Examine Figure 41.2. According to the Shannon diversity index, which block shows the greatest diversity?

5

27) In models of logistic population growth, A) the population growth rate slows dramatically as N approaches K. B) new individuals are added to the population most rapidly at the beginning of the population's growth. C) new individuals are added to the population as N approaches K. D) only density-dependent factors affect the rate of population growth. E) carrying capacity is never reached.

A

36) Which of the following is characteristic of K-selected populations? A) offspring with good chances of survival B) many offspring per reproductive episode C) small offspring D) a high intrinsic rate of increase E) early parental reproduction

A

37) Which variables define the ecological life history of a species? A) the age at which reproduction begins, frequency of reproduction, and the number of offspring for each reproductive episode B) the ratio of females to males, the length of the breeding season, and the number of offspring for each reproductive episode C) the number of offspring produced over a lifetime by a breeding pair and the survivability of the offspring D) timing breeding sessions with optimal environmental conditions and the number of offspring produced during each breeding session E) the amount of parental care given after birth, the number of reproductive episodes per year, and the number of years females are capable of producing viable offspring

A

42) Why do populations grow more slowly as they approach their carrying capacity? A) Density-dependent factors lead to fewer births and increased mortality. B) Density-independent factors lead to fewer births and increased mortality. C) Hormonal changes promote higher death rates in crowded populations. D) Individuals voluntarily stop mating so that overcrowding does not occur. E) The incoming energy decreases in populations experiencing a high rate of increase.

A

46) An ecological footprint is a construct that is useful A) for a person living in a developed nation to consider to make better choices when using global food and energy resources. B) for a person living in a developing country to see how much of the world's resources are left for him/her. C) in converting human foods' meat biomass to plant biomass. D) in making predictions about the global carrying capacity of humans. E) in determining which nations produce the least amount of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.

A

68) Your friend comes to you with a problem. It seems his shrimp boats aren't catching nearly as much shrimp as they used to. He can't understand why because he used to catch all the shrimp he could handle. Each year he added a new boat, and for a long time each boat caught tons of shrimp. As he added more boats, there came a time when each boat caught somewhat fewer shrimp, and now, each boat is catching a lot less shrimp. Which of the following topics might help your friend understand the source of his problem? A) density-dependent population regulation and intrinsic characteristics of population growth B) exponential growth curves and unlimited environmental resources C) density-independent population regulation and chance occurrence D) pollution effects of a natural environment and learned shrimp behavior E) a K-selected population switching to an r-selected population

A

Skill: Application/Analysis 11) Which of the following sets of measurements is the most useful when studying populations? A) density, dispersion, and demographics of a population B) gene frequency over time and the ratio of reproductive to nonreproductive individuals C) annual precipitation averages and mean annual temperatures D) minimum and maximum amounts of precipitation and annual temperature extremes E) ratio of predators and the number of immigrants and emigrants

A

Skill: Application/Analysis 6) Which of the following groups would be most likely to exhibit uniform dispersion? A) red squirrels, who actively defend territories B) cattails, which grow primarily at edges of lakes and streams C) dwarf mistletoes, which parasitize particular species of forest tree D) moths, in a city at night E) lake trout, which seek out cold, deep water high in dissolved oxygen

A

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 3) An ecologist recorded 2 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, per square mile in one woodlot and 20 per square mile in another woodlot. What was the ecologist comparing? A) density B) dispersion C) carrying capacity D) cohorts E) range

A

1) Population ecologists are primarily interested in A) studying interactions among populations of organisms that inhabit the same area. B) understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence the density, distribution, size, and age structure of populations. C) how humans affect the size of wild populations of organisms. D) how populations evolve as natural selection acts on heritable variations among individuals and changes in gene frequency. E) the overall vitality of a population of organisms.

B

29) Carrying capacity is A) seldom reached by marine producers and consumers because of the vast resources of the ocean. B) the maximum population size that a particular environment can support. C) fixed for most species over most of their range most of the time. D) determined by density and dispersion data. E) the term used to describe the stress a population undergoes due to limited resources.

B

34) Which of the following pairs of reproductive strategies is consistent with energetic trade-off and reproductive success? A) Pioneer species of plants produce many very small, highly airborne seeds, whereas large elephants that are very good parents produce many offspring. B) Female rabbits that suffer high predation rates may produce several litters per breeding season, and coconuts produce few fruits, but most survive when they encounter proper growing conditions. C) Species that have to broadcast to distant habitats tend to produce seeds with heavy protective seed coats, and animals that are caring parents produce fewer offspring with lower infant mortality. D) Free-living insects lay thousands of eggs and provide no parental care, whereas flowers take good care of their seeds until they are ready to germinate. E) Some mammals will not reproduce when environmental resources are low so they can survive until conditions get better, and plants that produce many small seeds are likely found in stable environments.

B

43) A population of white-footed mice becomes severely overpopulated in a habitat that has been disturbed by human activity. Sometimes intrinsic factors cause the population to increase in mortality and lower reproduction rates to occur in reaction to the stress of overpopulation. Which of the following is an example of intrinsic population control? A) Owl populations frequent the area more often because of increased hunting success. B) Females undergo hormonal changes that delay sexual maturation and many individuals suffer depressed immune systems and die due to the stress of overpopulation. C) Clumped dispersion of the population leads to increased spread of disease and parasites, resulting in a population crash. D) All of the resources (food and shelter) are used up by overpopulation and much of the population dies of exposure and/or starvation. E) Because the individuals are vulnerable they are more likely to die off if a drought or flood were to occur.

B

45) Which of the following could be a density-independent factor limiting human population growth? A) social pressure for birth control B) earthquakes C) plagues D) famines E) pollution

B

70) Population ecologists follow the fate of same-age cohorts to A) determine a population's carrying capacity. B) determine the birth rate and death rate of each group in a population. C) determine if a population is regulated by density-dependent processes. D) determine the factors that regulate the size of a population. E) determine if a population's growth is cyclic.

B

Skill: Application/Analysis 8) A population of ground squirrels has an annual per capita birth rate of 0.06 and an annual per capita death rate of 0.02. Calculate an estimate of the number of individuals added to (or lost from) a population of 1,000 individuals in one year. A) 20 individuals added B) 40 individuals added C) 20 individuals added D) 400 individuals added E) 20 individuals lost

B

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 12) Which of the following scenarios would provide the most legitimate data on population density? A) Count the number of nests of a particular species of songbird and multiply this by a factor that extrapolates these data to actual animals. B) Count the number of pine trees in several randomly selected 0 m x 0 m plots and extrapolate this number to the fraction of the study area these plots represent. C) Use the mark-and-recapture method to estimate the size of the population. D) Calculate the difference between all of the immigrants and emigrants to see if the population is growing or shrinking. E) Add the number of births and subtract the individuals that die to see if the population's density is increasing or decreasing.

B

33) The three basic variables that make up the life history of an organism are A) life expectancy, birth rate, and death rate. B) number of reproductive females in the population, age structure of the population, and life expectancy. C) age when reproduction begins, how often reproduction occurs, and how many offspring are produced per reproductive episode. D) how often reproduction occurs, life expectancy of females in the population, and number of offspring per reproductive episode. E) the number of reproductive females in the population, how often reproduction occurs, and death rate.

C

40) In which of the following situations would you expect to find the largest number of K-selected individuals? A) a recently abandoned agricultural field in Ohio B) the sand dune communities of south Lake Michigan C) the flora and fauna of a coral reef in the Caribbean D) South Florida after a hurricane E) a newly emergent volcanic island

C

44) Why is territoriality an adaptive behavior for songbirds maintaining populations at or near their carrying capacity? A) Songbirds expend a tremendous amount of energy defending territories so that they spend less time feeding their young and fledgling mortality increases. B) Only the fittest males defend territories and they attract the fittest females so the best genes are conveyed to the next generation. C) Songbird males defend territories commensurate with the size from which they can derive adequate resources for themselves, their mate, and their chicks. D) Many individuals are killed in the agonistic behaviors that go along with territorial defense. E) Adult songbirds make improvements to the territories they inhabit so that they can produce successfully fledged chicks.

C

48) Which of the following is most key to understanding the demographic transition in human population growth? A) education of global famine B) improved worldwide health care C) voluntary reduction of family size D) improved sanitary conditions in the world's hospitals E) reduction of casualties of war

C

50) Which statement is true with regard to human population growth? A) It is at a zero reproduction rate. B) Its rate of increase continues to grow at an exponential rate. C) Its rate of growth is slowing. D) Its rate of growth is increasing. E) There is no scientific prediction that can be made about human population growth.

C

72) Scientific study of the population cycles of the snowshoe hare and its predator, the lynx, has revealed that A) the prey population is controlled by predators alone. B) hares and lynx are so mutually dependent that each species cannot survive without the other. C) multiple biotic and abiotic factors contribute to the cycling of the hare and lynx populations. D) both hare and lynx populations are regulated mainly by abiotic factors. E) the hare population is r-selected and the lynx population is K-selected.

C

76) According to the logistic growth equation dN/dt = rmaxN (K-N)/K A) the number of individuals added per unit time is greatest when N is close to zero. B) the per capita growth rate (r) increases as N approaches K. C) population growth is zero when N equals K. D) the population grows exponentially when K is small. E) the birth rate (b) approaches zero as N approaches K.

C

Skill: Application/Analysis 10) Long-term studies of Belding's ground squirrels show that immigrants move nearly 2 km from where they are born and become %-8% of the males and 0.7%-6% of the females in other populations. On an evolutionary scale, why is this significant? A) These immigrants make up for the deaths of individuals, keeping the other populations' size stable. B) Young reproductive males tend to stay in their home population and are not driven out by other territorial males. C) These immigrants provide a source of genetic diversity for the other populations. D) Those individuals that emigrate to these new populations are looking for less crowded conditions with more resources. E) Gradually, the populations of ground squirrels will move from a clumped to a uniform population pattern of dispersion.

C

Skill: Application/Analysis 13) Which of the following is the best example of uniform distribution? A) bees collecting pollen in a wildflower meadow B) snails in an intertidal zone at low tide C) territorial songbirds in a mature forest during mating season D) mushrooms growing on the floor of an old growth forest E) a cultivated cornfield in the Midwest

C

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 2) A population is correctly defined as having which of the following characteristics? I. inhabiting the same general area II. belonging to the same species III. possessing a constant and uniform density and dispersion A) I only B) III only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III

C

20) Starting from a single individual, what is the size of a population of bacteria that reproduce by binary fission every 20 minutes at the end of a 2-hour time period? (Assume unlimited resources and no mortality.) A) 6 B) 18 C) 128 D) 512 E) 1,024

D

20) Starting from a single individual, what is the size of a population of bacteria that reproduce by binary fission every 20 minutes at the end of a 2-hour time period? (Assume unlimited resources and no mortality.) A) 6 B) 8 C)128 D) 512 E) 1,024

D

22) In July 2008, the United States had a population of approximately 302,000,000 people. How many Americans were there in July 2009, if the estimated 2008 growth rate was 0.88%? A) 2,700,000 B) 5,500,000 C) 303,000,000 D) 304,000,000 E) 2,70,800,000

D

39) Often the growth cycle of one population has an effect on the cycle of another. As moose populations increase, for example, wolf populations also increase. Thus, if we are considering the logistic equation for the wolf population, dN/dt = rN (K-N)/K which of the factors accounts for the effect on the moose population? A) r B) N C) rN D) K E) dt

D

67) To measure the population of lake trout in a 250-hectare lake, 400 individual trout were netted and marked with a fin clip, then returned to the lake. The next week, the lake was netted again, and out of the 200 lake trout that were caught, 50 had fin clips. Using the capture-recapture estimate, the lake trout population size could be closest to which of the following? A) 160 B) 200 C) 400 D) 1,600 E) 80,000

D

69) Imagine that you are managing a large game ranch. You know from historical accounts that a species of deer used to live there, but they have been extirpated. You decide to reintroduce them. After doing some research to determine what might be an appropriately sized founding population, you do so. You then watch the population increase for several generations, and graph the number of individuals (vertical axis) against the number of generations (horizontal axis). The graph will likely appear as A) a diagonal line, getting higher with each generation. B) an "S," increasing with each generation. C) an upside-down "U." D) a "J," increasing with each generation. E) an "S" that ends with a vertical line.

D

Skill: Application/Analysis 4) During the spring, you are studying the mice that live in a field near your home. The population density is high, but you realize that you rarely observe any reproductive female mice. This most likely indicates A) that there is selective predation on female mice. B) that female mice die before reproducing. C) that this habitat is a good place for mice to reproduce. D) that you are observing immigrant mice. E) that the breeding season is over.

D

Skill: Application/Analysis 5) Uniform spacing patterns in plants such as the creosote bush are most often associated with A) chance. B) patterns of high humidity. C) the random distribution of seeds. D) competitive interaction between individuals of the same population. E) the concentration of nutrients within the population's range.

D

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 15) Which of the following best defines a cohort? A) a group of individuals that inhabits a small isolated region within the range for the species B) all of the individuals that are annually added to a population by birth and immigration C) the reproductive males and females within the population D) a group of the individuals from the same age group, from birth until they are all dead E) the number of individuals that annually die or emigrate out of a population

D

32) Natural selection involves energetic trade-offs between A) choosing how many offspring to produce over the course of a lifetime and how long to live. B) producing large numbers of gametes when employing internal fertilization versus fewer numbers of gametes when employing external fertilization. C) the emigration of individuals when they are no longer reproductively capable or committing suicide. D) increasing the number of individuals produced during each reproductive episode with a corresponding decrease in parental care. E) high survival rates of offspring and the cost of parental care.

E

35) Pacific salmon and annual plants are excellent examples of A) cohort disintegration. B) dispersion. C) Allee effect. D) iteroparous reproduction. E) semelparous reproduction.

E

47) Which of the following was the most significant limiting factor in human population growth in the 20th century? A) famine B) non-HIV disease C) HIV D) genocide E) clean water

E

74) A recent study of ecological footprints concluded that A) Earth's carrying capacity for humans is about 10 billion. B) Earth's carrying capacity would increase if per capita meat consumption increased. C) current demand by industrialized countries for resources is much smaller than the ecological footprint of those countries. D) it is not possible for technological improvements to increase Earth's carrying capacity for humans. E) the ecological footprint of the United States is large because per capita resource use is high.

E

Skill: Application/Analysis 9) Which of the following assumptions have to be made regarding the capture-recapture estimate of population size? I. Marked and unmarked individuals have the same probability of being trapped. II. The marked individuals have thoroughly mixed with the population after being marked. III. No individuals have entered or left the population by immigration or emigration, and no individuals have been added by birth or eliminated by death during the course of the estimate. A) I only B) II only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) I, II, and III

E

Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension 17) Which of the following is the most important assumption for the capture-recapture method to estimate the size of wildlife populations? A) All females in the population have the same litter size. B) More individuals emigrate from, as opposed to immigrate into, a population. C) Over 50% of the marked individuals need to be trapped during the recapture phase. D) There is a 50:50 ratio of males to females in the population before and after trapping and recapture. E) Marked individuals have the same probability of being recaptured as unmarked individuals during the recapture phase.

E

Skill: Synthesis/Evaluation 14) Which of the following choices would most likely promote random distribution? A) territorial species B) species that secrete chemicals to attract or inhibit other individuals C) flocking and schooling behaviors D) spacing during the breeding season E) homogeneous chemical and physical factors in the environment

E

Which of the following pairs of reproductive strategies is consistent with energetic trade-off and reproductive success?

Female rabbits that suffer high predation rates may produce several litters per breeding season, and coconuts produce few fruits, but most survive when they encounter proper growing conditions.

Which example best describes both an elemental pool where an element accumulates and an elemental sink where it is removed from circulation and locked up for long periods?

Fossil fuel deposits in which carbon is stored for hundreds of millions of years

A population is correctly defined as having which of the following characteristics? I.inhabiting the same general area II.belonging to the same species III.possessing a constant and uniform density and dispersion

I and II only

The following question refers to the figure, which depicts the age structure of three populations.Which population(s) is (are) in the process of decreasing?

II

The following question refers to the figure, which depicts the age structure of three populations. Which population(s) appear(s) to be stable?

III

Which statement about subpopulations within metapopulations is false?

If the patch habitat is favorable, extinction of a small subpopulation is highly unlikely. True: Compared to larger subpopulations, smaller subpopulations have a greater risk of going extinct due to environmental disturbances. Compared to larger subpopulations, smaller subpopulations have a greater risk of going extinct because of chance factors. Dispersal between subpopulations can increase the length of time during which a metapopulation can persist. A subpopulation that exchanges migrants is an open system.

Pronghorn antelopes are well adapted for dry conditions with extremes of temperature, especially cold. As global climate change causes the region where the pronghorns live to change, in temperature as well as plant, predator, and prey diversity and abundance, what is likely to happen to the pronghorns?

If the pronghorn population includes a genetic variation that allows survival and reproduction in the new conditions, they will adapt.

Pronghorn antelopes are well adapted for dry conditions with extremes of temperature, especially cold. As global climate change causes the region where the pronghorns live to change, in temperature as well as plant, predator, and prey diversity and abundance, what is likely to happen to the pronghorns?

If the pronghorn population includes genetic variation that allows survival and reproduction in the new conditions, they will adapt

The climax pattern model states that the same area will always lead to a specific type of community if it is given a sufficient amount of time. Which of the following statements is true of this model?

In recent time this has been modified to recognize that while the area may return to the same biome it may not have exactly the same species diversity.

Which statement best describes an important distinction between the BD model and the BIDE model?

In the BD model, once the density equals zero, it remains at zero. In the BIDE model, density can go from zero to non-zero.

Which of the following describes a type II survivorship curve (drawn by plotting the number of individuals in a given population alive at the beginning of each age interval)?

Individuals die at a constant rate throughout time.

The dominant herbivores in savannas are ________.

Insects

Which statement about ecological interactions is false?

Intraspecific competition has no effect on carrying capacity. True: Interspecific competition can lead to evolution. In mutualisms, each species acts in its own self-interest. Resource partitioning can lead to the coexistence of two competing species. Intraspecific competition can lead to evolution.

What is one application of the metapopulation concept?

It provides a framework for species conservation when those species live in a network of habitat fragments and reserves.

If a population has a birth rate of 40 individuals per 1,000 per year and a death rate of 30 individuals per 1,000 per year, how will the population change each year? (Assume that the population is below carrying capacity and that there is no immigration or emigration.)

It will increase by 1%.

Under the conditions known as El Niño, the inorganic nutrient content of the seawater off the coast of Peru declines to very low levels. What effect will this likely have on marine life in the area?

It will reduce the abundance of phytoplankton and, consequently, the abundance of other organisms.

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Look back at the changes that occurred since the Ice Age and how species redistributed as glaciers melted, then make predictions on future distribution in species based on past trends.

Which statement about deserts and the organisms that live there is true?

Many desert animals are nocturnal.

Which of the following describes a type III survivorship curve (drawn by plotting the number of individuals in a given population alive at the beginning of each age interval)?

Many individuals die early in life.

In general, given sufficient precipitation, what relationship does NPP show to latitude?

NPP is highest at low (equatorial) latitudes and decreases at high latitudes.

Which of the following statements best describes the effect of climate on biome distribution?

Not only is the average climate important in determining biome distribution but so is the pattern of climatic variation.

Which of the following statements about temperate broadleaf forests is true?

Oak, hickory, birch, beech, and maple are common trees in temperate broadleaf forests.

Which statement about temperate broadleaf forests is true?

Oak, hickory, birch, beech, and maple are common trees in temperate broadleaf forests.

How might an ecologist test whether a species is occupying its complete fundamental niche or only a portion of it?

Observe whether the species expands its range after the removal of a competitor.

You are managing a metapopulation of a threatened beetle that lives on a plant that is found in patches. Because of the distribution of its host plant, the beetle is also found in patches, and these patches vary in size. If you are faced with limited resources and cannot attempt to save all of the beetle subpopulations, where should you concentrate your efforts, and why?

On the largest patches, because these have the highest potential to reseed the other patches.

If an overlap develops between the ranges of two closely related species, and if the species occupy the same niche in the zone of overlap, what will probably happen in the zone of overlap?

One species will take over most or all of the zone of overlap.

Ecology is the study of environmental interactions at the following levels, from least inclusive to most inclusive:

Organism, population, community, ecosystem

An organism living in the climate depicted in the below Walter Climate diagram would most likely have the following adaptation(s) EXCEPT:

Outer body covering highly permeable to water True: CAM photosynthetic pathway Concentrated urine Ectothermic

Which statement is NOT true about parasitism?

Parasites are always severe and usually kill a host.

In terms of global air circulation, the tropics are a region where air _______.

Rises and Cools, dropping rain

A photograph of a Victorian trophy room shows the heads of 15 species of hoofed mammals, all shot within a day's walk of a single hunting camp in Africa. This camp was probably located in ________.

Savanna

Many of the world's most spectacular animals- including giraffes, zebras, lions, and cheetahs- are all found in which biome?

Savanna

The ______ is a showcase of large herbivores and their predators

Savanna

Which statement regarding food webs is true?

Several species of primary consumers may feed on the same species of producer.

According to the island biogeography model, which two factors primarily determine the number of species on an island?

Size of island and distance from the mainland

Why is territoriality an adaptive behavior for songbirds maintaining populations at or near their carrying capacity?

Songbird males defend territories commensurate with the size from which they can derive adequate resources for themselves, their mate, and their chicks.

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 33 1/2 degrees?

Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively.

in many dense forests, plants living near the ground level engage in intense competition for ______.

Sunlight

Which statement about the nitrogen cycle is true?

The nitrogen cycle requires different types of bacteria.

As N approaches K for a certain population, which of the following is predicted by the logistic equation?

The population growth rate will approach zero.

Researchers in the Netherlands studied the effects of parental care given in European kestrels over five years. The researchers transferred chicks among nests to produce reduced broods (three or four chicks), normal broods (five or six chicks), and enlarged broods (seven or eight chicks). They then measured the percentage of male and female parent birds that survived the following winter. (Both males and females provide care for chicks.)The figure: Brood size manipulations in the kestrel: Effects on offspring and parent survival.Which of the following is a conclusion that can be drawn from this graph?

There appears to be a negative correlation between brood enlargements and parental survival.

Which is NOT a parasitic relationship?

Unsightly dandelions sprout in a yard and compete with the fescue grass for sunlight.

Palm trees and subtropical plants are commonplace in Land's End, England, whose latitude is the equivalent of Labrador in coastal Canada where the local flora is subarctic. Which statement best explains why this apparent anomaly exists between North America and Europe?

Warm ocean currents interact with England, whereas cold ocean currents interact with Labrador.

Which of the following is responsible for the summer and winter stratification of lakes?

Water is densest at 4°C.

Which of the following environmental factors usually has the greatest direct effect on an organism's rate of water loss by evaporation?

Wind

Coral animals A) are a diverse group of cnidarians often forming mutualistic symbiotic relationships with dinoflagellate algae. B) are predominantly photosynthetic, multicellular algae. C) can tolerate low oxygen and nutrient levels, and varying levels of salinity. D) can only survive in tropical waters 30oC and above. E) build coral reefs by glueing sand particles together.

a

Suppose the number of bird species is determined mainly by the number of vertical strata found in the environment. If so, in which of the following biomes would you find the greatest number of bird species? A) tropical rain forest B) savanna C) desert D) temperate broadleaf forest E) temperate grassland

a

The benthic zone in an aquatic biome A) often supports communities of organisms that feed largely on detritus. B) supports communities of highly motile animals. C) is where one would most expect to find a thermocline. D) has wider seasonal fluctuations in temperature than other aquatic zones. E) is always devoid of light.

a

Which of the following statements about light in aquatic environments is correct? A) Water selectively reflects and absorbs certain wavelengths of light. B) Photosynthetic organisms that live in deep water probably use red light. C) Longer wavelengths penetrate to greater depths. D) Light penetration seldom limits the distribution of photosynthetic species. E) Most photosynthetic organisms avoid the surface where the light is not too intense.

a

Which of the following statements best describes the difference in approach to studying the environment by early naturalists compared to present-day ecologists? A) Early naturalists employed a descriptive approach; present-day ecologists generate hypotheses, design experiments, and draw conclusions from their observations. B) Early naturalists manipulated the environment and observed changes in plant and animal populations, while modern ecology focuses on population dynamics. C) Early naturalists systematically recorded what they observed in their environment; modern ecology is only concerned with manʹs impact on the environment. D) Early naturalists were interested with manʹs interaction with the natural world; present-day ecologists seek to link ecology to developmental biology. E) Early naturalists were interested in interactions between organisms and their environment; present day ecologists are interested in interactions between organisms

a

You are planning a dive in a lake, and are eager to observe not many underwater organisms but be able to observe them both close up and far away. You would do well to choose A) an oligotrophic lake. B) an eutrophic lake. C) a relatively shallow lake. D) a nutrient-rich lake. E) a lake with consistently warm temperatures.

a

A number of populations of different species interacting with one another in a natural environment, such as a rotten log, is called

a community

Which of the following describes a Type II survivorship curve?

a constant death rate over the organism's life span

Which of the following is most clearly a case of density-dependent population regulation?

a dangerous new flu strain that is transmitted among humans by sneezing

The death by bubonic plague of about one-third of Europe's population during the 14th century is a good example of

a density-dependent effect

Which of the following organisms best illustrates K-selection?

a polar bear producing one or two cubs every three years

Which marine zone is expected to have the lowest rates of primary productivity (photosynthesis)?

abyssal

Which marine zone would have the lowest rates of primary productivity (photosynthesis)?

abyssal

The three basic variables that make up the life history of an organism are

age when reproduction begins, how often reproduction occurs, and how many offspring are produced per reproductive episode.

Which of the following is an example of a population?

all of the redwood trees that live in a forest

Which of the following is an example of a population?

all of the students in your classroom

An ecologist hypothesizes that predation by a particular owl species is the major factor controlling the population of a particular rabbit species. If this is the case, which of the following population effects could be expected in this rabbit-owl pair?

an increase in the pwl population should cause a fall in the rabbit population

In which of the following situations would you expect to find the largest number of K-selected individuals?

an old-growth forest

Species richness increases

as we travel southward from the North Pole to the equator.

According to the theory of island biogeography, if the colonization rate is equal to the extinction rate, the species richness is

at equilibrium.

In temperate lakes, the surface water is replenished with nutrients during turnovers that occur in the

autumn and spring.

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both dependent upon periodic burning? A) tundra and coniferous forest B) chaparral and savanna C) desert and savanna D) tropical forest and temperate broadleaf forest E) grassland and tundra

b

Which of the examples below provides appropriate abiotic and biotic factors that might determine the distribution of the species in question? A) The amount of nitrate and phosphate in the soil and wild flower abundance and diversity B) The number of frost-free days and competition between species of introduced grasses and native alpine grasses C) Increased predation and decreased food availability and a prairie dog population after a prairie fire D) Available sunlight and increased salinity in the top few meters of the ocean and the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton communities E) The pH and dissolved oxygen concentration and the streams in which brook trout can live

b

Which statement best contrasts environmentalism with ecology? A) Ecology is the study of the environment; environmentalism is the study of ecology. B) Ecology provides scientific understanding of living things and their environment; environmentalism is more about conservation and preservation of life on Earth. C) Environmentalists are only involved in politics and advocating for protecting nature; ecologists are only involved in scientific investigations of the environment. D) Ecologists study organisms in environments that have been undisturbed by human activities; environmentalists study the effects of human activities on organisms. E) Environmentalism is devoted to applied ecological science; ecology is concerned with basic/theoretical ecological science

b

You are interested in studying how organisms react to a gradient of a variety of abiotic conditions and how they coexist in this gradient. The best location in which to conduct such a study is A) a grassland. B) an intertidal zone. C) a river. D) tropical forest. E) an eutrophic lake.

b

You are working for the Environmental Protection Agency and researching the effect of a potentially toxic chemical in drinking water. There is no documented scientific evidence showing that the chemical is toxic, but many suspect it to be a health hazard. Using the precautionary principle, what would be a reasonable environmental policy? A) Establish no regulations until there are conclusive scientific studies. B) Set the acceptable levels of the chemical conservatively low, and keep them there unless future studies show that they can be safely raised. C) Set the acceptable levels at the highest levels encountered, and keep them there unless future studies demonstrate negative health effects. D) Caution individuals to use their own judgment in deciding whether to drink water from a potentially contaminated area. E) Establish a contingency fund to handle insurance claims in the event that the chemical turns out to produce negative health effects.

b

All of these factors reduce the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels except

biomass stored as fat or starch. True: lack of availability of some biomass heat loss due to maintaining homeostasis. heat loss due to metabolism. indigestibility of some biomass.

The relatively thin layer on the earth's surface where life is possible is known as the

biosphere

All of Earth that is inhabited by life is called the

biosphere.

Because the environment is complex, organisms can potentially be affected by many different variables. Ecologists group these variables into two major types: ______ and ________ factors.

biotic factors abiotic factors

The maximum per capita rate of increase for a population that can occur under ideal conditions is the

biotic potential.

An ecosystem contains

both the living organisms and the abiotic components of the environment.

A certain species of pine tree survives only in scattered locations at elevations above 2,800 m in the western United States. To understand why this tree grows only in these specific places an ecologist should A) conclude that lower elevations are limiting to the survival of this species. B) study the anatomy and physiology of this species. C) investigate the various biotic and abiotic factors that are unique to high altitude. D) analyze the soils found in the vicinity of these trees, looking for unique chemicals that may support their growth. E) collect data on temperature, wind, and precipitation at several of these locations for a year.

c

Fire suppression by humans

can change the species composition within biological communities.

Which substance is cycled between organic matter and abiotic reservoirs?

carbon

Greenhouse gases include

carbon dioxide and methane.

Population size is believed to level off at the _______ of an environment.

carrying capacity

The maximum number of individuals a habitat can support is called its

carrying capacity

Carbon mainly cycles between the biotic and abiotic worlds through the processes of

cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological organization except

cellular.

During ecological succession, the species composition of a plant community generally

changes gradually because each species responds differently to the changing environment.

Mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers are typical of which type of biome?

chaparral

Which type of biome would most likely occur in a climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers?

chaparral

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

chaparral and savanna

Probably the most important factor(s) affecting the distribution of biomes is (are)

climate.

An example of commensalism is

clown fishes in sea anemones.

In wild populations, individuals most often show a _____ pattern of dispersion.

clumped

The pattern of distribution for a certain species of kelp is clumped. The pattern of distribution for a population of snails that live on the kelp would be

clumped

The pattern of distribution for a certain species of kelp is clumped. The pattern of distribution for a population of snails that live on the kelp would be

clumped.

Some herbivore-plant interactions evolved through a series of reciprocal evolutionary adaptations in both species. This process is called

coevolution.

A form of symbiosis in which one participant benefits and the other apparently is not benefited nor harmed is

commesalism

NPP and NPP are most closely associated with

community function.

Interaction between two species as both attempt to use the same environmental resources is

competition

Similar species occupying slightly different niches in the same community is shown by

competition between two species of barnacles in Scotland resulting in one living in the intertidal zone and the other living below this species.

There are two organisms with overlapping ranges and filling a similar niche. We find that where their niches overlap, there is twice the competition for resources. This leads to

competitive exclusion

Which term describes the concept that no two species can have the same "job" in the community at the same time?

competitive exclusion

Which of the following statements about the ocean pelagic biome is true? A) The ocean is a vast, deep storehouse that always provides sustenance; it is the next ʺfrontierʺ for feeding humanity. B) Because it is so immense, the ocean is a uniform environment. C) More photosynthesis occurs in the ocean than in any other biome. D) Pelagic ocean photosynthetic activity is disproportionately low in relation to the size of the biome. E) The most abundant animals are unicellular zooplankton.

d

In an altitudinal gradient, all of the following would change in the same way as in a latitudinal gradient except

day length.

In the logistic growth model, as population size increases, birth rates

decline and/or death rates increase

Suppose you are in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent. There is a decrease in the size of the acorn crop. This change will most likely lead to a(n) _______ in the incidence of Lyme disease because there is a decrease in the size of _______ populations.

decrease; rodent

Which of the following will likely decrease a population's size?

decreasing the food supply available to the population

An ecologist recorded 12 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, per square mile in one woodlot and 20 per square mile in another woodlot. What was the ecologist comparing?

density

Assume that there are five alligators per acre in a swamp in northern Florida. This is a measure of the alligator population's

density

Which of the following sets of measurements would best describe a population's physical structure and vital statistics?

density, dispersion, and demographics

A tidal wave wipes out the entire population of mice living on an island. This is an example of

density-independent effect

Generally speaking, deserts are located in places where air masses are usually

descending

Deserts typically occur in a band around 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude because

descending air masses originating from the tropics tend to be dry.

Deserts typically occur in a band at 20 degrees north and south latitude because

descending air masses tend to be cool and dry.

Deserts typically occur in a band at 30 degrees north and south latitude or at different latitudes in the interior of continents. This supports the idea that

descending air masses tend to be dry.

Which of the following correctly lists the biomes in order from lowest precipitation (at the left) to highest precipitation (to the right)?

desert, tundra, temperate broadleaf forest, tropical rain forest

Studying species transplants is a way that ecologists

determine if dispersal is a key factor in limiting the distribution of organisms.

Population ecologists follow the fate of same-age cohorts to

determine the birth rate and death rate of each group in a population.

Which of the following choices causes all of the others in creating global terrestrial climates?

differential heating of Earth's surface

Which of the following choices includes all of the others in creating global terrestrial climates?

differential heating of Earth's surface

Imagine some cosmic catastrophe jolts Earth so that its axis is perpendicular to the orbital plane between Earth and the sun. The most obvious effect of this change would be A) the elimination of tides. B) an increase in the length of night. C) an increase in the length of a year. D) a decrease in temperature at the equator. E) the elimination of seasonal variation.

e

In mountainous areas of western North America, north-facing slopes would be expected to A) receive more sunlight than similar southern exposures B) be warmer and drier than comparable southern exposed slopes C) consistently steeper than southern exposures D) support biological communities similar to those found lower elevations on similar south-facing slopes. E) support biological communities similar to those found at higher elevations on similar south-facing slopes.

e

Landscape ecology is best described as the study of A) the flow of energy and materials between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. B) how the structure and function of species enable them to meet the challenges of their environment. C) what factors affect the structure and size of a population over time. D) the interactions between the different species that inhabit and ecosystem. E) the factors controlling the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms among ecosystem patches.

e

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes? A) savanna B) temperate broadleaf forest C) temperate grassland D) tropical rain forest E) coniferous forest

e

Trees are not usually found in the tundra biome because of A) insufficient annual precipitation. B) acidic soils. C) extreme winter temperatures. D) overbrowsing by musk ox and caribou. E) permafrost

e

Which biome is able to support many large animals despite receiving moderate amounts of rainfall? A) tropical rain forest B) temperate forest C) chaparral D) taiga E) savanna

e

Which of the following biomes is correctly paired with the description of its climate? A) savanna-low temperature, precipitation uniform during the year B) tundra-long summers, mild winters C) temperate broadleaf forest-relatively short growing season, mild winters D) temperate grasslands-relatively warm winters, most rainfall in summer E) tropical forests-nearly constant day length and temperature

e

Which of the following causes Earthʹs seasons? A) global air circulation B) global wind patterns C) ocean currents D) changes in Earthʹs distance from the sun E) the tilt of Earthʹs axis

e

Which of the following environmental features might influence microclimates? A) a discarded soft-drink can B) a tree C) a fallen log D) a stone E) all of the above

e

Which of the following organisms is the most likely candidate for geographic isolation? A) sparrow B) bat C) squirrel D) salt-water fish E) land snail

e

The study of the interrelationships of plants and animals with each other and with their environment is known as

ecology

A survivorship curve that involves producing very few offspring, each of which has a high probability of surviving to adulthood, is typical of

elephants

The flow of ________ into ecosystems occurs in one direction only, while ________ are recycled within the ecosystem itself.

energy; chemicals

The area where fresh water and seawater mix is called a(n)

estuary

When growth proceeds at a rate similar to 2 → 4 → 8 → 16 → 32 → 64...etc., it is called

exponential growth.

Factors that help to limit the growth of woody plants in temperate grasslands include

fires and grazing by large mammals.

Which of the following is regarded as a density-independent factor in the growth of natural populations?

flooding

Which of the following environmental features might influence microclimates?

forest canopy freshly plowed field log on the forest floor large boulder All of the options are correct.

In your backyard, you overturn a large rock. In the damp soil underneath the rock, you see various insects scurrying for cover: one black spider, five black ants, two brown beetles, and three gray pillbugs. In this community of organisms, species richness is represented by

four different species of organisms.

A survivorship curve is a

graph that plots an individual's likelihood of being alive as a function of age

A broad-based pyramid-shaped age structure is characteristic of a population that is _____.

growing rapidly

While on a walk through a forest, you notice birds in trees, earthworms in the soil, and fungi on plant litter on the forest floor. Based on your observations, you conclude that each of these organisms occupies a different

habitat.

An r-selected species typically

has an advantage in habitats that experience unpredictable disturbances

The Allee effect is used to describe a population that

has become so small that it will have difficulty surviving and reproducing.

Which ecological problem might result from fertilizing a golf course with phosphorus-rich fertilizer?

heavy growth of algae and cyanobacteria in lakes and rivers caused by phosphorus runoff

Which of the following statements accurately describes the less developed countries?

high birthrate, large pre-reproductive portion of the population

Natural selection involves energetic trade-offs between

high survival rates of offspring and the cost of parental care.

Biotic potential depends on all of the following EXCEPT

how many different mates each individual has.

A scientist observes a population of grasshoppers in a farmer's field several times over the summer. She notices that after each application of an insecticide the grasshopper population increases to its pre-pesticide levels very rapidly and that the population never goes near zero at any time. The scientist's results indicate the grasshopper population is probably

in the exponential growth phase.

Which of the following is most likely to contribute to density-dependent regulation of populations?

intraspecific competition for nutrients

Two species are most likely to coexist despite competition between them when

intraspecific competition is stronger than interspecific competition.

A population is growing, and its density increases rapidly, but its food source becomes limiting. The per capita growth rate (r) decreases and the population eventually stops growing and fluctuates around its carrying capacity. The interaction that led to this change in growth rate was

intraspecific competition.

A certain species of pine tree survives only in scattered locations at elevations above 2,800 m in the western United States. To understand why this tree grows only in these specific places, an ecologist should

investigate the various biotic and abiotic factors that are unique to high altitude.

Which of the following is NOT true about production efficiency?

is lowest in poikilotherms True: decreases at higher trophic levels is the percent of assimilated energy that goes into producing new biomass can be calculated as the growth plus energy in offspring divided by the assimilated energy

The relationship between ecosystem type and net primary productivity (NPP) in Earth's ecosystems

is variable, with some ecosystems responsible for disproportionately more NPP.

Which pattern of reproduction is correctly paired with a species?

iteroparity-elephant

Which pair of terms most accurately describes life history traits for a stable population of wolves?

iteroparous; K-selected

To construct a life table for a sexual species, one needs to

keep track of the females in a cohort.

To construct a reproductive table for a sexual species, one needs to

keep track of the females in a cohort.

In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to 8 after one species was removed. The species removed was likely a(n)

keystone species.

Ecological systems are _______ over space and time.

known to vary

A newly mated queen ant establishes an ant nest in an unoccupied patch of suitable habitat. The population of the nest grows quickly at first, then levels off at carrying capacity. Which of the following models best describes its population growth?

logistic

There are several species of grain beetles that can live on dry meal obtaining water mostly as metabolic water. Many of these beetle species are grain pests that do considerable damage to stored grain. You set up a dozen jars of dry meal and introduce fifty individuals of each species to each jar, being careful to have half of each species from each sex. The food supply is sufficient to last for a year and the size is adequate so that wastes do not become toxic. Most likely, examination of the jars in six months will find

only one species per jar, similar to the classic experiment with paramecia.

Ecology is best defined as the study of

organisms as they interact with other organisms and with their physical surroundings.

In addition to abiotic factors, the community composition of plants can be severely compromised by

parasites and pathogens.

The freshwater leech is an organism that feeds off of the blood of other organisms such as frogs and turtles. Which interaction describes the relationship between freshwater leeches and frogs or turtles?

parasitism

A Type I survivorship curve is associated with which of the following life history traits?

parents providing extended care for their young

The major cause of tropical deforestation is

people clearing forests to open up land for agriculture

The major reason for tropical deforestation is ________.

people clearing forests to open up land for agriculture.

In the models that describe population growth, r stands for _____.

per capita population growth rate

The factor(s) that help to perpetuate temperate grasslands, such as the American prairies, and prevent them from becoming woodlands include

periodic drought and fires.

The chaparral biome is maintained by _____.

periodic fires

Trees are not usually found in the tundra biome because of

permafrost

Where would an ecologist find the most phytoplankton in a lake?

photic zone

Earth's biosphere is not completely self-contained (or closed) because _____

plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria obtain energy from sunlight, and heat escapes from the biosphere into space

A group of individuals of a single species that occupy the same general area defines a

population

All the members of the same species that inhabit a particular area are termed a(n)

population

When the number of births exceeds the number of deaths, this results in

population growth.

What is a metapopulation?

populations that are linked by immigration and emigration

In a hypothetical food chain consisting of grass, grasshoppers, sparrows, and hawks, the grasshoppers are

primary consumers.

A population age structure in which the birthrate is high and the population is mainly young would be best represented by a graph with a(n)

pyramid shape.

In terrestrial systems, the two major climatic factors affecting the distribution of organisms are __________.

rainfall and temperature

Which of the following groups would be most likely to exhibit uniform dispersion?

red squirrels, who actively defend territories

White-breasted nuthatches and Downy woodpeckers both eat insects that hide in the furrows of bark in hardwood trees. The Downy woodpecker searches for insects by hunting from the bottom of the tree trunk toward the top, whereas the white-breasted nuthatch searches from the top of the trunk down. These hunting behaviors best illustrate which of the following ecological concepts?

resource partitioning

As you study two closely related predatory insect species, the two-spot and the three-spot avenger beetles, you notice that each species seeks prey at dawn in areas without the other species. However, where their ranges overlap, the two-spot avenger beetle hunts at night and the three-spot hunts in the morning. When you bring them into the laboratory and isolate the two different species, you discover that the offspring of both species are nocturnal. You have discovered an example of

resource partitioning.

Global warming is the result of

rising concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Many of the world's most spectacular animals — including giraffes, zebras, lions, and cheetahs — are all found in which biome

savanna

Which biome is able to support many large animals despite receiving moderate amounts of rainfall?

savanna

Tropical grasslands with scattered trees are also known as

savannas.

Female rabbits that suffer high predation rates may produce several litters per breeding season, and coconuts produce few fruits, but most survive when they encounter proper growing conditions.

semelparous reproduction.

The shortgrass prairie is found in relatively _______ regions, while tallgrass prairie forms in _______ areas.

shortgrass prairie = dry regionstall grass prairie = wetter areas

Many marine phytoplankton construct shells from calcium carbonate (CaCO3). In the carbon cycle, the shells

sink to ocean sediments when the organisms die, and form limestone, locking up the carbon.

If an ecosystem has a carrying capacity of 1,000 individuals for a given species and 2,000 individuals of that species are present, we can predict that the population

size will decrease

Which of the following factors would have the LEAST impact on a deep-sea hydrothermal vent community?

solar energy

The relative abundance of any one species within a community of many species is known as

species evenness.

In a patchy habitat, a group of smaller, isolated _______ form a single large _______.

subpopulations; metapopulation

What is the ultimate source of energy for nearly all surface terrestrial and shallow water ecosystems?

sunlight

The main reason that polar regions are cooler than the equator is that

sunlight strikes polar regions at a lower angle.

The main reason polar regions are cooler than the equator is that

sunlight strikes the poles at a lower angle.

In mountainous areas of western North America, north-facing slopes would be expected to

support biological communities similar to those found at higher elevations on similar south-facing slopes

In mountainous areas of western North America, north-facing slopes would be expected to

support biological communities similar to those found at higher elevations on similar south-facing slopes.

Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between

sympatric populations of species with similar ecological niches.

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes?

taiga

Which of the following biomes is dominated by gymnosperm or conifer trees (pines, firs, spruces)?

taiga

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods?

temperate forest

In which of the following biomes would you expect to find the highest abundance of large, grazing mammals?

temperate grassland

Most of the best agricultural soils in the United States are found in areas that were formerly

temperate grasslands

Which of the following abiotic factors has the greatest influence on the metabolic rates of plants and animals?

temperature

Important abiotic factors in ecosystems include which of the following?

temperature water wind

The kind of terrestrial biome that exists in a particular region depends largely on __________ and __________

temperature; precipitation

In an average ecosystem, about how much energy is present in the organisms at a given trophic level compared to the organisms at the next higher trophic level?

ten times as much

Which of the following is the best example of uniform distribution?

territorial songbirds in a mature forest during mating season

A BIDE model of population growth is more applicable than a BD model for a population

that is part of a metapopulation.

Biodiversity considers

the genetic diversity within and between populations of a species.

Which could be a topic for a community-level study of a hydrothermal vent ecosystem?

the interactions between crabs and other species near hydrothermal vents

The carrying capacity of the environment for a species is determined by

the limited productivity of the environment and the environmental resistance to the biotic potential of the organism.

Carrying capacity is

the maximum population size that a particular environment can support.

The observation that members of a population are uniformly distributed suggests that

the members of the population are competing for access to a resource.

In models of logistic population growth,

the population growth rate slows dramatically as N approaches K.

Age structure diagrams with a broad base suggest that

the population will continue to grow for some time.

What is the age structure of a population?

the proportion of individuals alive in different age-groups

Which of the following does not impact an organism's biotic potential?

the rate of immigration into an area

The demographic transition, where population growth slows in developed countries, may be attributed at least in part to

the rise of medicine.

To determine the density of a rabbit population, you would need to know the number of rabbits and _____.

the size of the area in which they live

The presence of a species in a particular place, and its ability to reproduce there, implies that __________

the species is (or was) adapted to the type of abiotic and biotic environmental conditions found at that location

Habitat

the specific environment an organism lives in, including the biotic and abiotic factors present in its surroundings.

Which of the following causes Earth's seasons?

the tilt of Earth's axis

The success with which plants extend their range northward following glacial retreat is best determined by

their seed dispersal rate.

Examine the age structure of Germany in the figure below. Which of the following statements is not supported by the age structure?

there will be a large positive population growth in the near future

The feeding relationship between species in a community is called

trophic structure.

Which of the following biomes is correctly paired with the description of its climate?

tropical forests-nearly constant day length and temperature

Which of the following options correctly pairs a biome and its characteristics?

tundra=very cold winters; only the upper layer of the soil thaws during summer

Consider the life of the praying mantis. The large predatory female lays several hundred eggs in a foam mass in the fall. The young are most vulnerable when they emerge in the spring, but the few that survive spread out over the countryside and, if they find a mate, lay eggs the following fall. Which type of survivorship curve does this represent?

type III

You drive through Iowa in the spring and notice that along a stretch of several kilometers, every third fence post has a male redwing blackbird perched on it defending its nesting territory. This is an example of

uniform dispersion

Which of the following is characteristic of most terrestrial biomes?

vegetation demonstrating vertical layering

While habitat destruction by humans creates fragmented ecosystems, fragmentation can also occur due to natural processes. Which natural process would most likely create a fragmented ecosystem?

volcanic eruption

An ecologist hypothesizes that predation by a particular owl species is the major factor controlling the population of a particular rabbit species. The first step in testing this hypothesis would be to determine

whether the owls eat the rabbits

In an ecosystem, GPP was measured as 75 units of carbon per year and NPP was measured as 25 units per year. How many units of carbon per year was used for respiration?

50

For conservation purposes, a continuous corridor of habitat would be least needed for a species

that can fly.

Why do some invertebrates, such as lobsters, show a "stair-step" survivorship curve?

Many invertebrates molt in order to grow, and they are vulnerable to predation during their "soft shell" stage.

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems?

Many kinds of plants and plant communities have adapted to frequent fires.

In a population of 10000 organisms over a one year period there are 750 births and 130 deaths. Calculate the growth rate for that year.

0.062

A population of fungi in a yard produces 10 mushrooms in year 1, 20 in year 2, and 40 in year 3. If this trend continues, by year 5 there will be ________ mushrooms.

160

Assume that a population of marmots fits the BD model, with no movement into or out of the population. If 245 individuals are in the population at the start of the month, 43 die during the month, and 37 are born during the month, what is the population size of the marmots at the end of the month?

239

The pool of a phosphorus compartment is 645 units. Two fluxes enter the pool: one is 13 units per day; the other is 34 units per day. Two fluxes leave: one is 22 units per day; the other rate is unknown. If the pool of phosphorus is balanced, the size of the second outgoing flux is _______ units per day.

25

At the beginning of May, 259 butterflies are found in a certain locality. During the month, 45 butterflies emigrate, 10 die, and 67 immigrate into the area. There are no butterfly births. What is the population size at the end of the month?

271

Eighty-one pocket gophers were present in Maddox Field at the start of 2006. During that year, 24 individuals were born and 19 died. Twelve individuals immigrated and 10 emigrated. How many pocket gophers were present in Maddox Field at the start of 2007?

88

Suppose the population density of a sample of a bagworm population is 45 per square meter. Assuming that the population is uniformly distributed, what would be the population size if the bagworms encompassed an area that was 1 km × 200 m?

9 million

If gross primary productivity (GPP) is 120 units per day, and the respiration rate (R) of primary producers is 30 units per day, net primary productivity (NPP) is _______ units per day. [Note: Use the formula NPP = GPP - R.]

90

Which curve best describes survivorship in humans who live in developed nations?

A

Which of the following examples of an ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect is most correct?

A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age, and the reproducing survivors of the ice age all have long fur.

Consider a population whose growth over a given time period can be described by the exponential model: dN/dt = rN. Select the correct statement about this population.

A population with a positive value of r will grow exponentially.

Which of the following best describes the consequences of white-band disease in Caribbean coral reefs?

Algal species take the place of the dead coral, and the fish community is dominated by herbivores.

Which statement about the human intestine is false?

All of the above are true; none is false It can act as an ecosystem for bacteria. It is densely populated with bacteria. It receives a steady supply of nutrients. Its environment is regulated within narrow physiological limits.

How do seed-eating animals affect the distribution and abundance of the trees?

All options are correct.

Permafrost, bitterly cold temperatures, and high winds are responsible for the absence of trees and tall plants in the ________ tundra.

Arctic tundra

Which of the following is NOT true?

As the human population increases in size, less energy but more material will be consumed.

The harmless orange-and-black viceroy butterfly closely resembling the toxic orange-and-black monarch butterfly is an example of

Batesian mimicry

All of earth is inhabited by life is called the.

Biosphere

According to this graph of changes in Earth's atmosphere, which change took place between the years 1800 and 2000?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels increased from 290 ppm to 380 ppm.

An organism living in the climate depicted in the below Walter Climate diagram would most likely have the following adaptation(s) EXCEPT:

Concentrated urine

Which statement about coniferous forests is true?

Coniferous forests experience precipitation that is mainly in the form of snow.

Which of the following statements about coniferous forests is true?

Coniferous forests may experience considerable precipitation, but usually in the form of snow.

Which process does not occur in ecosystems?

Consumers directly use the energy source that powers the system.

Permafrost is characteristic of the ________

Desert Tundra X Temperate forest Taiga

the immediate resuts of the widepreaduse of pesticides and fertilizers included ______, but long-term esults included _____.

Dramatic increases in crop yields... the evolution of pest resistance.

Which curve best describes survivorship in marine molluscs?

E

Which statement describes how climate might change if Earth was 75% land and 25% water?

Earth's daytime temperatures would be higher and nighttime temperatures lower.

The level of ecologic organization that incorporates abotic factors is the _____.

Ecosystem

The questions of how chemicals flow and energy cycles between organisms and their surroundings are addressed in the study of which level of ecological organization?

Ecosystem

Elephants are not the most dominant species in African grasslands, yet they influence community structure. The grasslands contain scattered woody plants, but they are kept in check by the uprooting activities of the elephants. If the elephants are taken away, the grasslands convert to forests or to shrublands. The newly growing forests support fewer species than the previous grasslands. Which of the following describes why elephants are the keystone species in this scenario?

Elephants exhibit a disproportionate influence on the structure of the community relative to their abundance.

Fresh water and seawater mix in a(n) _______.

Estuary

Which of the following would be considered a biotic factor in the environment of an aquatic mammal?

Gut flora

While on a walk through a forest, you notic birds in trees, earthworms in th soil, and fungi on plnt litter on the forest foor. based on your observations, ou conclude that each of these organisms occupies a different

Habitat

Usually, a river ________ at its source compared to farther downstream.

Has less phytoplankton

Which of the following species has te highest assimilation efficiency?

Herbivorous insect

A population with rapidly expanding exponential growth would be best represented by a graph with a(n) ______-shaped curve.

J

The human growth curve is best described as being

J-shaped

Consider two forests: one is an undisturbed old -growth forest, while the other has recently been logged. In which forest are species likely to experience exponential growth, and why?

Logged, because the disturbed forest affords more resources for increased specific populations to grow.

Consider two forests: one is an undisturbed old-growth forest, while the other has recently been logged. In which forest are species likely to experience exponential growth, and why?

Logged, because the disturbed forest affords more resources for increased specific populations to grow.

Which of the following statements about deserts and the organisms that live there is true?

Many desert animals are nocturnal.

Which of the following describes a type I survivorship curve (drawn by plotting the number of individuals in a given population alive at the beginning of each age interval)?

Most individuals die of old age.

Which statement about movement corridors is true?

Movement corridors can connect otherwise isolated habitat patches.

Which process represents a step in the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.

The major cause of tropical deforestation is:

People clearing forests to open up land for agriculture

The chaparral biome is maintained by ________.

Periodic fires

________ is permanently frozen subsoil

Permafrost

The pool of a substance in a compartment is 45 kilograms for one month. In the previous month, the pool was 40 kilograms. What is net flux into the compartment?

Positive 5 kilograms/month

Why is the climate drier on the leeward side of mountain ranges that are subjected to prevailing winds?

Pushed by the prevailing winds on the windward side, air is forced to rise, cool, condense, and drop its precipitation, leaving only dry air to descend the leeward side.

The kind of vegetation in a tropical rain forest is generally determined by the amount of

Rainfall

Palm trees and subtropical plants are commonplace in Land's End, England, whose latitude is the equivalent of Labrador in coastal Canada, where the local flora is subarctic. Which statement best explains why this apparent anomaly exists between North America and Europe?

Regions such as Labrador are actually colder than England because colder Arctic water flows down to eastern North America and warm water from the equator flows to England.

The flux that is responsible for transferring carbon from the land to the atmosphere is called:

Respiration

The ________ biome contains land that can be used for highly productive agriculture

Temperate grassland

Some North American glasslands are called shortgrass prairies, whereas others are called tallgrass prairies. What is the main cause of this difference in grass size?

The amount of rainfall

What would be the effect on climate in the temperature latitudes if Earth were to slow its rate of rotation from a 24-hour period of rotation to a 48-hour period of rotation?

The climate would stay the same. The only change would be longer days and nights.

Which of the following statements about tropical forests is true?

The forest structure consists of distinct layers that provide many different habitats.

As N approaches K for a certain population, which of the following is predicted by the logistic equation?

The growth rate will approach zero.

In a pine forest few other species of plants grow under the pines because the needles of pine trees are acidic and make the soil more acidic. This is an example of

The inhibition model

Which statement about the phosphorus cycle is false?

The main abiotic reservoir for phosphorus is in the water. True: Plants release dissolved phosphate ions into the soil. Phosphates that drain from soils into the sea become part of the new rock and will cycle back into living organisms.

One model proposed for succession predicts that different types of plants can all colonize an area at the same time and it is chance alone that determines which one arrives first and begins the process of succession. This model is called

The tolerance model

Phytoplankton is most frequently found in which of the following zones? A) oligotrophic B) photic C) benthic D) abyssal E) aphotic

b

How do human activities such as deforestation and cattle grazing affect Earth's water cycle?

They decrease precipitation and increase runoff.

Why do tropical communities tend to have greater species diversity than temperate or polar communities?

Tropical communities are generally older than temperate and polar communities.

Which statement about tropical forests is true?

Tropical forest structure consists of distinct layers that provide many different habitats

The greatest annual input and least seasonal variation in solar radiation occurs in the _____.

Tropics

In nature animals tend to be either an opportunistic or equilibrium species or somewhere along an intermediate point between the two. Why aren't there animals in nature that are both big, fierce and highly reproductive so they leave many offspring?

You can "spend" your energy to be a large equilibrium species, to produce many offspring as an opportunistic species, or to be somewhere in between, but you can't spend the energy to be both large and highly reproductive.

Abiotic factors

______ are the environment's nonliving component, the physical and chemical factors such as temperature, forms of energy available, water, and nutrients.

Biotic factors

______ include all of the organisms in the area. They are the living component of the environment.

As climate changes because of global warming, speciesʹ ranges in the northern hemisphere may move northward. The trees that are most likely to avoid extinction in such an environment are those that A) have seeds that are easily dispersed by wind or animals. B) have thin seed coats. C) produce well-provisioned seeds. D) have seeds that become viable only after a forest fire. E) disperse many seeds in close proximity to the parent tree.

a

Deserts typically occur in a band at 30 degrees north and south latitude because A) descending air masses tend to be cool and dry. B) trade winds have a little moisture. C) water is heavier than air and is not carried far over land. D) ascending air tends to be moist. E) these locations get the most intense solar radiation of any location on Earth

a

Generalized global air circulation and precipitation patterns are caused by A) rising, warm, moist air masses cool and release precipitation as they rise and then at high altitude, cool and sink back to the surface as dry air masses after moving north or south of the tropics. B) air masses that are dried and heated over continental areas that rise, cool aloft, and descend over oceanic areas followed by a return flow of moist air from ocean to land delivering high amounts of precipitation to coastal areas. C) polar, cool, moist high pressure air masses from the poles that move along the surface, releasing precipitation along the way to the equator where they are heated and dried. D) the revolution of the Earth around the sun. E) Mountain ranges that deflect air masses containing variable amounts of moisture.

a

If a meteor impact or volcanic eruption injected a lot of dust into the atmosphere and reduced the sunlight reaching Earthʹs surface by 70% for one year, all of the following marine communities most likely would be greatly affected except A) deep-sea vent communities. B) coral reef communities. C) benthic communities. D) pelagic communities. E) estuary communities.

a

In temperate lakes, the surface water is replenished with nutrients during turnovers that occur in the A) autumn and spring. B) autumn and winter. C) spring and summer. D) summer and winter. E) summer and autumn

a

In the development of terrestrial biomes, which factor is most dependent on all the others? A) the species of colonizing animals B) prevailing temperature C) prevailing rainfall D) mineral nutrient availability E) soil structure

a

When climbing a mountain, we can observe transitions in biological communities that are analogous to the changes A) in biomes at different latitudes. B) at different depths in the ocean. C) in a community through different seasons. D) in an ecosystem as it evolves over time. E) across the United States from east to west.

a

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earthʹs axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased 33.5 degrees? A) Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively. B) Winters and summers in Australia would likely become less distinct seasons. C) Seasonal variation at the equator might decrease. D) Both northern and southern hemispheres would experience summer and winter at the same time. E) Both poles would experience massive ice melts

a

Which of the following is responsible for the summer and winter stratification of deep temperate lakes? A) Water is densest at 4°C. B) Oxygen is most abundant in deeper waters. C) Winter ice sinks in the summer. D) Stratification is caused by a thermocline. E) Stratification always follows the fall and spring turnovers.

a

Which of the following best defines a cohort?

a group of the individuals from the same age group, from birth until they are all dead

All of the following could reasonably lead to the extinction of small subpopulations of a native plant except

a large immigration rate.

Air masses formed over the Pacific Ocean are moved by prevailing westerlies where they encounter extensive north-south mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades. Which statement best describes the changes that these air masses undergo? A) The cool, moist Pacific air heats up as it rises, releasing its precipitation as it passes the tops of the mountains, and this warm, now dry air cools as it descends on the leeward side of the range. B) The warm, moist Pacific air rises and cools, releasing precipitation as it moves up the windward side of the range, and this cool, now dry air mass heats up as it descends on the leeward side of the range. C) The cool, dry Pacific air heats and picks up moisture from evaporation of the snowcapped peaks of the mountain range, releasing this moisture as precipitation as the air cools as it descends on the leeward side of the range. D) These air masses are blocked by these mountain ranges producing high annual amounts of precipitation on the windward sides of these mountain ranges. E) These air masses remain essentially unchanged in moisture content and temperature as they pass over these mountain ranges.

b

Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological organization except A) population. B) cellular. C) organismal. D) ecosystem. E) community.

b

Fire suppression by humans A) will always result in an increase in the species diversity in a given biome. B) can change the species composition within biological communities. C) will result ultimately in sustainable production of increased amounts of wood for human use. D) is necessary for the protection of threatened and endangered forest species. E) is a management goal of conservation biologists to maintain the healthy condition of biomes.

b

If global warming continues at its present rate, which biomes will likely take the place of the coniferous forest (taiga)? A) tundra and polar ice B) temperate broadleaf forest and grassland C) desert and chaparral D) tropical forest and savanna E) chaparral and temperate broadleaf forest

b

Rachel Carson would most likely have endorsed which of the following statements? A) Conserving wildness will lead to the preservation of the Earth. B) The greatest liberty humans have taken is with nature. C) Humans have dominion over the Earth and all of its inhabitants. D) All pesticides are unsafe and must be banned. E) The environment can repair damage created by human activity.

b

The main reason polar regions are cooler than the equator is because A) there is more ice at the poles. B) sunlight strikes the poles at an lower angle. C) the poles are farther from the sun. D) the poles have a thicker atmosphere. E) the poles are permanently tilted away from the sun.

b

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents. Although the two species are not at all closely related, they may appear quite similar as a result of A) parallel evolution. B) convergent evolution. C) allopatric speciation. D) introgression. E) gene flow.

b

Which lake zone would be absent in a very shallow lake? A) benthic zone B) aphotic zone C) pelagic zone D) littoral zone E) limnetic zone

b

Which marine zone would have the lowest rates of primary productivity (photosynthesis)? A) pelagic B) abyssal C) neritic D) continental shelf E) intertidal

b

Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive? A) community, ecosystem, individual, population B) ecosystem, community, population, individual C) population, ecosystem, individual, community D) individual, population, community, ecosystem E) individual, community, population, ecosystem

b

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems? A) The chance of fire in a given ecosystem is highly predictable over the short term. B) Many kinds of plants and plant communities have adapted to frequent fires. C) The prevention of forest fires has allowed more productive and stable plant communities to develop. D) Chaparral communities have evolved to the extent that they rarely burn. E) Fire is unnatural in ecosystems and should be prevented.

b

Which of the following is the equation for zero population growth (ZPG)?dN/dt = rN

b = m or r = 0

Small areas that are home to a large number of threatened species and an exceptional concentration of species found nowhere else on Earth are called

biodiversity hot spots.

An area in which different terrestrial biomes grade into each other is known as a(n) A) littoral zone. B) vertically stratified canopy. C) ecotone. D) abyssal zone. E) cline.

c

Experts in deer ecology generally agree that population sizes of deer that live in temperate climates are limited by winter snow. The deer congregate in ʺyardingʺ areas under evergreen trees because venturing out to feed in winter is energetically too expensive when snowfall depths accumulate to above 40 cm. Deer often stay yarded until the spring thaw. Snow depth over 40 inches for more than 60 days results in high mortality due to starvation. This observation best illustrates which of the following principles about factors that limit distribution of organisms? A) Abiotic factors, such as weather extremes, ultimately limit distribution. B) Organisms will face extinction unless they adapt to conditions or evolve new mechanisms for survival. C) Environmental factors are limiting not only in amount but also in longevity. D) Daily accumulations in snow depth gradually add up to cause increased deer mortality. E) Temporary extremes in weather conditions usually result in high mortality in the deer population.

c

Of the following examples of ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect (→), which is most correct? A) When seeds are not plentiful → trees produce more seeds. B) A few organisms of a larger population survive a drought → these survivors then emigrate to less arid environments. C) A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age → the reproducing survivors all have long fur. D) Fish that swim the fastest in running water → catch the most prey and more easily escape predation. E) The insects that spend the most time exposed to sunlight → have the most mutations.

c

The success with which plants extend their range northward following glacial retreat is best determined by A) whether there is simultaneous migration of herbivores. B) their tolerance to shade. C) their seed dispersal rate. D) their size. E) their growth rate.

c

Tropical grasslands with scattered trees are also known as A) taigas. B) tundras. C) savannas. D) chaparrals. E) temperate plains

c

Where would an ecologist find the most phytoplankton in a lake? A) profundal zone B) benthic zone C) photic zone D) oligotrophic zone E) aphotic zone

c

Which of the following abiotic factors has the greatest influence on the metabolic rates of plants and animals? A) water B) wind C) temperature D) rocks and soil E) disturbances

c

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities? A) precipitation, wind B) nutrient availability, soil pH C) predation, competition D) temperature, water E) light intensity, seasonality

c

Which of the following areas of study focuses on the exchange of energy, organisms, and materials between ecosystems? A) population ecology B) organismal ecology C) landscape ecology D) ecosystem ecology E) community ecology

c

Which of the following statements about ecology is incorrect? A) Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms. B) Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers. C) Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and evolutionary history. D) Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from individuals to ecosystems. E) Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of the environment

c

Which of the following statements best describes the effect of climate on biome distribution? A) Knowledge of annual temperature and precipitation is sufficient to predict which biome will be found in an area. B) Fluctuation of environmental variables is not important if areas have the same annual temperature and precipitation means. C) It is not only the average climate that is important in determining biome distribution, but also the pattern of climatic variation. D) Temperate forests, coniferous forests, and grasslands all have the same mean annual temperatures and precipitation. E) Correlation of climate with biome distribution is sufficient to determine the cause of biome patterns.

c

Artificially constructed movement corridors

can be harmful because they allow for the spread of disease.

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account for this? A) sunlight intensity B) precipitation C) day length D) ocean currents E) salinity

d

Generally speaking, deserts are located in places where air masses are usually A) tropical. B) humid. C) rising. D) descending. E) expanding

d

How would an ecologist likely explain the expansion of the cattle egret? A) The areas to which the cattle egret has expanded have no cattle egret parasites. B) Climatic factors, such as temperature and precipitation provide suitable habitat for cattle egrets. C) There are no natural predators for cattle egrets in the New World, so they continue to expand their range. D) A habitat left unoccupied by native herons and egrets met the biotic and abiotic requirements of the cattle egret transplants and their descendants. E) The first egrets to colonize South America evolved into a new species capable of competing with the native species of herons and egrets.

d

If Earthʹs axis of rotation suddenly became perpendicular to the plane of its orbit, the most predictable effect would be A) no more night and day. B) a big change in the length of the year. C) a cooling of the equator. D) a loss of seasonal variation at high latitudes. E) the elimination of ocean currents

d

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods? A) tropical forest B) coral reef C) savanna D) temperate forest E) abyssal

d

Probably the most important factor(s) affecting the distribution of biomes is (are) A) wind and ocean water current patterns. B) species diversity. C) proximity to large bodies of water D) climate. E) day length and rainfall

d

Species introduced to new geographic locations A) are usually successful in colonizing the area. B) always spread because they encounter no natural predators. C) increase the diversity and therefore the stability of the ecosystem. D) can out-compete and displace native species for biotic and abiotic resources. E) are always considered pests by ecologists

d

Studying species transplants is a way that ecologists A) determine the abundance of a species in a specified area. B) determine the distribution of a species in a specified area. C) develop mathematical models for distribution and abundance of organisms. D) determine if dispersal is a key factor in limiting distribution of organisms. E) consolidate a landscape region into a single ecosystem

d

The oceans affect the biosphere in all of the following ways except A) producing a substantial amount of the biosphereʹs oxygen. B) removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. C) moderating the climate of terrestrial biomes. D) regulating the pH of freshwater biomes and terrestrial groundwater. E) being the source of most of Earthʹs rainfall.

d

Turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by which of the following? A) warm, less dense water layered at the top B) cold, more dense water layered at the bottom C) a distinct thermocline between less dense warm water and cold, dense water. D) the density of water changes as seasonal temperatures change. E) currents generated by nektonic animals

d

Which of the following is characteristic of most terrestrial biomes? A) annual average rainfall in excess of 250 cm B) a distribution predicted almost entirely by rock and soil patterns C) clear boundaries between adjacent biomes D) vegetation demonstrating stratification E) cold winter months

d

NPP in aquatic ecosystems is most often limited by

light and nutrient availability.

Which of the following is not true about estuaries? A) Estuaries are often bordered by mudflats and salt marshes. B) Estuaries contain waters of varying salinity. C) Estuaries support a variety of animal life that humans consume. D) Estuaries usually contain no or few producers. E) Estuaries support many semiaquatic species.

d

Which of the following is true with respect to oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes? A) Oligotrophic lakes are more subject to oxygen depletion. B) Rates of photosynthesis are lower in eutrophic lakes. C) Eutrophic lake water contains lower concentrations of nutrients. D) Eutrophic lakes are richer in nutrients. E) Sediments in oligotrophic lakes contain larger amounts of decomposable organic matter.

d

Which type of biome would most likely occur in a climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers? A) desert B) taiga C) temperate grassland D) chaparral E) savanna

d

Studying species transplants is a way that ecologists

determine if dispersal is a key factor in limiting distribution of organisms

ʺHow does the foraging of animals on tree seeds affect the distribution and abundance of the trees?ʺ This question A) would require an elaborate experimental design to answer. B) is difficult to answer because a large experimental area would be required. C) is difficult to answer because a long-term experiment would be required. D) is a question that a present-day ecologist would be likely to ask. E) A, B, C and D are correct.

e

Replacement reproduction occurs when

each couple has an average of two children, but may still allow for population growth.

In large natural ecosystems, competition between two species over time will usually result in

each species occupying a slightly different niche.

Which of the following could be a density-independent factor limiting human population growth?

earthquakes

The conditions under which an organism survives and exists in the community is called its

ecological niche

The questions of how chemicals flow and energy cycles between organisms and their surroundings are addressed in the study of which level of ecological organization?

ecosystem

Which of the following levels of ecological organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive?

ecosystem, community, population, individual

Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive?

ecosystem, community, population, individual

An area in which different terrestrial biomes grade into each other is known as a(n)

ecotone.

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

emergent layer, canopy, under story, shrub/immature layer, ground layer

Which of the following terms is used by ecologists to describe the community interaction in which one organism makes the environment more suitable for another organism?

facilitation

The theory that plants cannot grow on a particular area until the soil has been developed enough by an earlier community is the

facilitation model

Much of the chaparral vegetation requires ________ for increasing nutrient availability and reproduction.

fire

Factors that help to limit growth of woody plants in temperate grasslands include:

fires and grazing by large mammals

Which of the following choices would most likely promote random distribution?

homogeneous chemical and physical factors in the environment

Which of the following would most likely promote random distribution?

homogeneous chemical and physical factors in the environment

Which of the following has the greatest impact on the global water cycle?

human destruction of forests

Parasites are found

in all kingdoms and sometimes one parasite uses more than one host to disperse.

When climbing a mountain, we can observe transitions in biological communities that are analogous to the changes

in biomes at different latitudes

Consider two forests: one is an undisturbed old-growth forest and the other has recently been logged. In which forest are species likely to experience exponential growth, and why?

logged, because the disturbed forest affords more resources for increased specific populations to grow

A population's carrying capacity

may change as environmental conditions change.

Based on the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, a community's species diversity is increased by

moderate levels of disturbance.

Living things that live in the polar ice biome include

mosses, lichens, seals, and polar bears

Evidence shows that some grasses benefit from being grazed. Which of the following terms would best describe this plant-herbivore interaction?

mutualism

Resource competition, territoriality, disease, and toxic wastes are some of the factors that provide _____ and help regulate population.

negative feedback

According to the competitive exclusion principle, two species cannot continue to occupy the same

niche.

Based on our knowledge of the factors influencing primary productivity, the lowest level of net primary production would most likely be found in forests located in

northern Canada.

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes?

northern coniferous forest

A community is composed of

potentially interacting populations of different kinds of organisms.

Interaction between two species in which one feeds on the other is

predation

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account

ocean currents

Which of the following is characteristic of K-selected populations?

offspring with good chances of survival

Introduced species

often fail to colonize the new area. may become common enough to become pests. can disrupt the balance of the natural species with which they become associated.

The benthic zone in an aquatic biome

often supports communities of organisms that feed largely on detritus.

Ecology is the study of environmental interactions at the following levels, from least inclusive to most inclusive: __________

organism, population, community, ecosystem

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?

predation, competition

Within an ecosystem, a tree is a

producer.

Which of the following graphs illustrates the population growth curve of single bacterium growing in a flask of ideal medium at optimum temperature over a 24-hour period?

slow positive curve

Which of the following is a physical factor that can limit the geographic distribution of species?

soil structure

Temperate grassland is characterized by _________ made rich in nutrients by glacial deposits, and ______ from decaying plant material.

soils,mulch

In many dense forests, plants living near the ground level engage in intense competition for

sunlight.

During the spring, you are studying the mice that live in a field near your home. The population density is high, but you realize that you rarely observe any reproductive female mice. This most likely indicates

that you are observing immigrant mice.

Which variables define the ecological life history of a species?

the age at which reproduction begins, frequency of reproduction, and the number of offspring for each reproductive episode

Which of the following might be an investigation of microclimate?

the effect of sunlight intensity on species composition in a decaying rat carcass

Imagine some cosmic catastrophe jolts Earth so that its axis is perpendicular to the orbital plane between Earth and the sun. The most obvious effect of this change would b

the elimination of seasonal variation.

Gross primary productivity (GPP) and net primary productivity (NPP) are both rates relating to energy use by producers. The key difference between them is that GPP represents

the energy capture rate, while NPP represents the energy conversion rate.

Farmers sprayed leechi trees to suppress populations of scale insects. This also killed the populations of a predatory lacewing that controlled the numbers of scales. Soon the spraying did no good, and the damage to the leechi from the scales was greater than before spraying had occurred. Few predatory lacewings existed in the trees now because

the scale insect was an opportunistic species and the high number of young included a resistant strain; the predator was an equilibrium species and will take longer to produce a resistant variety.

Ecology

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and the environment.

In the development of terrestrial biomes, which factor is most dependent on all the others?

the species of colonizing animals

If an ecologist wants to study a system with the least ecological complexity, she should examine one

with an individual organism interacting with two other organisms of the same species in an isolated community.

Consider that a species of salmon lays 20,000 eggs per pair when it spawns and dies. At the end of five years, an average of one pair of mature salmon from this group of hatched eggs returns again to spawn in the parent stream (19,998 have died). What is the per capita rate of increase?

zero, because there is exact replacement of the previous generation