Bio 94 Final Study Guide

How do species richness and species diversity differ? a. Species richness is a count of the number of species in an area. Species diversity incorporates both species richness and the relative abundance of each species. b. It is easier to determine species diversity than species richness. c. Species diversity is always greater than species richness. d. Species diversity is a more accurate means of quantifying the diversity of species than species richness

a. Species richness is a count of the number of species in an area. Species diversity incorporates both species richness and the relative abundance of each species.

Which of the following types of ecosystem typically has the lowest net primary productivity? a. Temperate grassland b. Tropical dry forest c. Tropical wet forest d. Tropical grassland

a. Temperate grassland

Select the correct description of the graph shown in Figure 49.1. a. The graph compares the temperature tolerances of coconut and açaí palms. b. The graph compares the height ranges of coconut and açaí palms. c. The graph compares the population abundance of coconut and açaí palms. d. The graph compares the geographic range of coconut and açaí palms

a. The graph compares the temperature tolerances of coconut and açaí palms.

What happens to population growth when (K - N)/K is zero? a. The population does not grow. b. The population drops to zero. c. The population grows at a maximal rate. d. Population growth slows.

a. The population does not grow.

Why are lionfish considered "invasive" off the coast of South Florida? a. They spread aggressively and displace native species. b. They are found in areas where they are not native. c. They were accidentally introduced by humans. d. They are predators of other fish.

a. They spread aggressively and displace native species.

A biodiversity "hotspot" is _________. a. an area with high species richness and high threat to those species b. an area where an environmental sequencing study has been completed c. a particular habitat in the Amazon, the Congo River basin, or New Guinea with high species diversity d. a habitat with high NPP

a. an area with high species richness and high threat to those species

Ultimately, behaviors that influence the choice of mates are driven by ______. a. attempts to maximize the fitness of the individual b. attempts to produce as many offspring as possible c. attempts to avoid mates with unusual alleles d. attempts to produce more sons than daughters

a. attempts to maximize the fitness of the individual

Why do conservation efforts focus on biodiversity hotspots? a. Biodiversity hotspots are the areas most affected by human impact. b. Biodiversity hotspots are areas where efforts to preserve habitat have the highest return on investment due to the high diversity of endemic species and high threat to biodiversity that characterize hotspots. c. Biodiversity hotspots are the areas most affected by global warming. d. Biodiversity hotspots contain species that are economically important to humans.

b. Biodiversity hotspots are areas where efforts to preserve habitat have the highest return on investment due to the high diversity of endemic species and high threat to biodiversity that characterize hotspots.

What is Hamilton's rule? a. An animal should help (be altruistic to) any infant regardless of whether they are related. b. Br > C, meaning altruism occurs when its benefit to a relative times r, the coefficient of relatedness between the relative and the actor, outweighs the costs to the actor c. Altruism should only occur in certain species that meet key criteria. d. FR < FA, meaning the fitness of relatives is worth less than the actor's fitness, so altruism should never occur.

b. Br > C, meaning altruism occurs when its benefit to a relative times r, the coefficient of relatedness between the relative and the actor, outweighs the costs to the actor

You wish to estimate the size of a population of rabbits living in a large urban park. What is the best method to use? a. Count individual rabbits within a randomly placed set of quadrants b. Capture a set of rabbits, mark and release them, and then recapture a second set of rabbits c. Count individual rabbits along a randomly placed series of transects d. Set up a life table for the rabbit population

b. Capture a set of rabbits, mark and release them, and then recapture a second set of rabbits

Which of these is not a benefit of wildlife corridors to help maintain genetic diversity in a fragmented landscape? a. Corridors can overcome barriers that fragment landscapes. b. Corridors can reduce edge effects in fragmented habitats. c. Corridors enable the introduction of new alleles that can counteract genetic drift and inbreeding in small, isolated populations. d. Corridors allow areas to be recolonized if a species is lost.

b. Corridors can reduce edge effects in fragmented habitats.

African savanna elephants have now been pushed into many isolated patches of habitat-by-habitat destruction and fragmentation. What evidence would support that there is still a metapopulation structure among certain separate habitat patches? a. There are no empty patches. b. Dispersal occurs among the patches. c. All the patches are similar habitats. d. Population sizes in the patches are not declining

b. Dispersal occurs among the patches.

Based on what you have learned in this chapter about global trends in terrestrial ecosystems, what is currently the largest threat to the wet tropical forests in Central America? a. Pollution, such as the use of pesticides in coffee plantations b. Habitat destruction, such as the clearing of forests for coffee plantations c. Exotic species, such as the introduction of coffee berry borers d. Climate change, such as changes in precipitation patterns

b. Habitat destruction, such as the clearing of forests for coffee plantations

Island biogeography theory is based on which two processes? a. Longevity and fecundity b. Immigration rates and extinction rates c. Birth rates and carrying capacity d. Population size and community structure

b. Immigration rates and extinction rates

What best explains snowshoe hare-lynx population cycles? a. Variation in population density of hares b. Interaction of food availability and predation intensity c. Variation in food availability over time d. Natural variation in the number of lynxes born

b. Interaction of food availability and predation intensity

Which of these is not an ultimate cause of human mate choice? a. Individuals may choose mates who will provide "good alleles" to their offspring. b. Humans tend to choose a mate who will increase their fitness. c. Males who win physical battles with other males tend to have higher mating success. d. A rise in sex hormones in humans triggers sexual readiness.

d. A rise in sex hormones in humans triggers sexual readiness.

Consult the image below and associate the letter with the appropriate category names for species interactions. a. A: Consumption; B: Competition; C: Commensalism b. A: Competition; B: Commensalism; C: Consumption c. A: Commensalism; B: Consumption; C: Competition d. A: Competition; B: Consumption; C: Commensalism

d. A: Competition; B: Consumption; C: Commensalism

Why does altruism seem paradoxical? a. Altruism does not actually help others. b. Animals behave altruistically to help the species, but sometimes their behavior harms the species. c. Sometimes altruistic behavior is actually selfish. d. Alleles that cause an organism to behave altruistically should be selected against since these alleles should lower the organism's fitness.

d. Alleles that cause an organism to behave altruistically should be selected against since these alleles should lower the organism's fitness.

Bluegill sunfish breed in spring and early summer. Select the ultimate cause for the timing of breeding in these fish. a. Breeding is triggered by the effect of increased day length. b. Bluegill sunfish have genes for neurological features that cause them to respond to increased day length with reproductive behaviors. c. Breeding behaviors are caused by hormonal changes that occur in spring and early summer. d. Breeding is most likely to be successful in spring and early summer, when water is warm and food is abundant.

d. Breeding is most likely to be successful in spring and early summer, when water is warm and food is abundant.

Why does increased species richness increase NPP? a. A diverse assemblage of plants species will perform many ecosystem services. b. Diverse assemblages of plant species may utilize the same resources in the same way, increasing efficiency of resource extraction and increasing NPP. c. In a diverse assemblage of plant species, all surviving plants are likely to be high-productivity species. d. Certain species or functional groups may facilitate the growth and productivity of primary producers by modifying the environment to make it more favorable

d. Certain species or functional groups may facilitate the growth and productivity of primary producers by modifying the environment to make it more favorable

Which of these species is not correctly matched to its correct type of survivorship curve? Ta. hale cress plants, Arabidopsis thaliana −−Type III b. Humans, Homo sapiens −−Type I c. Lynx cats, Lynx canadensis −−Type I d. Common blackbirds, Turdus merula −−Type III

d. Common blackbirds, Turdus merula −−Type III

Indicate the main level of ecological study addressed by this question: How does the decline of bee pollinators affect fruit production in apple trees? a. Organismal ecology−−the declining bee pollinator numbers interact less with apple trees. b. Ecosystem ecology−−because of the declining number of bee pollinators, apple trees produce fewer fruits, disrupting nutrient cycling in the local environment. c. Population ecology−−the decline in bee pollinator numbers is a population question. d. Community ecology−−the interaction between bee pollinators and apple trees focuses on the local community.

d. Community ecology−−the interaction between bee pollinators and apple trees focuses on the local community.

The open oceans are nutrient poor compared to coastal areas and intertidal habitats. Which of these factors is not an explanation? a. Intertidal and coastal areas receive large inputs of nutrients from rivers. b. The open ocean has almost no nutrient input from the land. c. The open ocean has little upwelling to supply nutrients from the deep ocean d. There are weaker ocean currents in the open ocean than along the coastlines.

d. There are weaker ocean currents in the open ocean than along the coastlines.

When is deceitful communication effective for the deceptive individual? a. When it goes undiscovered by others b. When honeybees wish to conceal location of a food source from other bees in the hive c. When members of the same species are involved d. When it is relatively rare

d. When it is relatively rare

In Brazil, a research group that set up plots to study forest fragments of different sizes found that _____. a. intact forests lost biomass b. fragmented forests and intact forests did not differ in biomass loss c. fragments of all sizes responded to disturbance more strongly than intact forests d. aboveground biomass dropped sharply in fragmented forests

d. aboveground biomass dropped sharply in fragmented forests

In the process of recovering from ecological disturbance called succession, occurs when early-arriving species make conditions more favorable for the arrival of certain later species. a. dispersal b. tolerance c. inhibition d. facilitation

d. facilitation

When biologists refer to community stability, resilience is a measure of _____. a. how many species are present in a community b. how community members work together to maintain stability c. how many members of a community succumb to a disease, blight, or parasite d. how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance

d. how quickly a community recovers following a disturbance

The famous biologist JBS Haldane purportedly once quipped, "I'd gladly give my life for two brothers or eight cousins." What principle learned in class is most closely related to this joke? a. dishonest signaling b. optimal foraging c. sexual selection d. kin selection

d. kin selection

Different types of research have all concluded that global climate change is _____. a. increasing annual temperatures everywhere b. making storms more frequent c. increasing annual precipitation everywhere d. making climates more extreme

d. making climates more extreme

Which mammals are oviparous? a. Marsupials b. Cetartiodactyls c. Eutherians d. Monotremes

d. monotremes

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of viviparity and the placenta? a. offspring are portable — mothers are not tied to a nest b. offspring develop at a more constant, favorable temperature c. offspring are protected d. offspring and parents specialize on different food, reducing competition

d. offspring and parents specialize on different food, reducing competition

A placenta and viviparity are most likely adaptations for increasing ______. a. the number of offspring produced b. the chance that the offspring will be female c. the amount of yolk available to offspring d. parental care and offspring survival

d. parental care and offspring survival

In the food chain depicted below, the robin occupies which trophic level? a. primary consumer b. primary producer c. tertiary consumer d. secondary consumer e. primary decomposer f. quaternary consumer

d. secondary consumer

When using compass orientation, migrating animals make use of _____. a. familiar landmarks and olfactory cues b. memories from previous trips with parents c. the North and South Poles d. the Sun, stars, and Earth's magnetic field

d. the Sun, stars, and Earth's magnetic field

Each year, glacially formed lakes undergo spring and fall turnovers in response to air temperature changes. Without spring and fall turnovers, most freshwater nutrients would remain on the bottom of lakes and aquatic ecosystems would be much less productive as a result. What peculiar property of water permits lakes to turn over each spring and fall? a. water has a high specific heat b. water forms hydrogen bonds c. water is an effective solvent d. water's density is highest just above freezing

d. water's density is highest just above freezing

Which of these statements about aquatic biomes is accurate? a. Once nutrients sink to the bottom of lakes, they are trapped there. b. The ocean is so vast that it is not influenced by human impacts. c. In temperate lakes, there is a turnover of oxygenated surface water and nutrient-rich bottom water once a year. d.Because of coastal runoff and abundant sunlight, estuaries are among the most productive aquatic habitats.

d.Because of coastal runoff and abundant sunlight, estuaries are among the most productive aquatic habitats.

What is a negative feedback in the context of global warming?a. Warmer temperatures increase frequency of forest fires. b. Global warming increases insect infestations, killing trees which then decompose and release carbon. c. Absorption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic organisms increases. d. Warmer temperatures increase decomposition of tundra in northern latitudes, adding methane to the atmosphere.

c. Absorption of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic organisms increases.

Lyme disease is caused by infections of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transferred to humans via blood-sucking bites from the tick, Ixodes scapularis. Lyme disease can cause flulike symptoms in the short term and more serious illnesses in the long term, if not treated. In relation to humans, B. burgdorferi is a(n) _____ and the tick is a(n) _____. a. parasitoid; host b. endoparasite; host c. endoparasite; ectoparasite d. parasite; predator

c. endoparasite; ectoparasite

In class, we discussed global energy and nutrient cycles. Which of the following is a major distinction we drew between them? a. recent data confirm the the recent rise in average global temperatures result from an overall rise in energy from solar radiation rather than an increase in the concentration of atmospheric CO2 b. energy harvested from the sun does not influence climate while energy harvested from sequestered carbon sources does influence climate c. energy dissipates but nutrients cycle d. ocean productivity is limited by energy rather than by nutrients

c. energy dissipates but nutrients cycle

UN human population growth projection estimates hinge on _____ a. life expectancies b.disease c. fertility rates d. infant survival rates

c. fertility rates

Which of the following are major threats to biodiversity? (Choose all that apply.) a. elevated solar radiation b. competitive exclusion c. habitat destruction/degradation d. overexploitation e. climate change f. niche partitioning

c. habitat destruction/degradation d. overexploitation e. climate change

Which of the following geographic patterns is the DOMINANT pattern in human origins? a. humans developed from a globally distributed ancestor b. humans developed mostly in North America and migrated outwards from there c. humans developed mostly in Africa and migrated outward from there d. humans developed mostly in Australia and migrated outwards from there e. humans developed mostly in Eurasia and migrated outwards from there f. humans developed mostly in South America and migrated outwards from there g. humans developed from hybridization between Asian and North American ancestors and migrated outwards from their initial points of contact

c. humans developed mostly in Africa and migrated outwards from there

What is the leading hypothesis on why humans evolving such large brains was beneficial? a. They evolved to help overpower other species. b. They evolved so humans could be better at locating and securing mates. c. They evolved because of competition with apes d. They evolved because of spoken language and tool use.

They evolved because of spoken language and tool use.

What term describes the combination of resources used and conditions tolerated in the absence of competitors? a. A fundamental niche b. Symmetric competition c. Asymmetric competition d. A realized niche

a. A fundamental niche

What is the main reservoir for nitrogen? a. Atmospheric N2 b. Nitrate ions, NO3- c. Proteins and nucleic acids in living organisms d. Ammonium ions, NH4

a. Atmospheric N2

Which of the following are members of the class Reptilia (in other words, which are reptiles)? (Select all that apply.) Aves (birds) a. Testudinia (turtles and tortoises) b. Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators) c. Urodela (salamanders) d. Lepidosauria (snakes and lizards) e. Anura (frogs and toads) f. Mammalia (mammals)

a. Aves (birds) b. Testudinia (turtles and tortoises c. Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators) e. Lepidosauria (snakes and lizards)

Suppose you are conducting an experiment on your own intestinal microbiome (microbial community) after following different diets. Which of these variables would contribute the least information about the community structure? a. Changes in the population size of the most common microorganism in your gut microbiome b. Changes in the total number of species in your gut microbiome c. Changes in the type of species interactions present in your gut microbiome d. Changes in the relative abundance of each species in your gut microbiome.

a. Changes in the population size of the most common microorganism in your gut microbiome

The number of species have been tallied for two communities in the figure below. Which of the following statements about species diversity below is true? a. Community 2 has the highest species diversity. b. There is not enough information to determine which community has the highest species diversity. c. Community 1 has the highest species diversity. d. The species diversity is equal between the communities.

a. Community 2 has the highest species diversity.

Which aquatic biome has the highest NPP per unit area? a. Coral reefs and algal beds b. Open ocean c. Estuaries d. Upwelling zones

a. Coral reefs and algal beds

Which of the following is the longest-lived reservoir for carbon? a. Fossil fuels b. Wood c. Marine plankton (primary producers and consumers) d. Atmospheric CO2

a. Fossil fuels

Select the example of facilitation during secondary succession. a. Mutualistic bacteria living inside nodules on the roots of Sitka alder produce ammonia that Sitka alder uses to build nitrogen-rich proteins and nucleic acids. When Sitka alder leaves fall and decay or roots die, the nitrogen becomes available to Sitka spruce. b. Shading by Sitka alder trees reduces the growth of Sitka spruce trees until Sitka spruce trees are tall enough to protrude above the Sitka alder thicket. Once the Sitka spruce trees breach the alder canopy, Sitka alder trees die out. c. The establishment of western hemlock trees during succession is independent of the establishment of salmonberry and Indian plum during early successional stages. d. Invasive garlic mustard releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of mycorrhizal fungi, limiting the growth of hardwood tree seedlings.

a. Mutualistic bacteria living inside nodules on the roots of Sitka alder produce ammonia that Sitka alder uses to build nitrogen-rich proteins and nucleic acids. When Sitka alder leaves fall and decay or roots die, the nitrogen becomes available to Sitka spruce.

Which of the following are true of population growth dynamics? (Choose all that apply.) a. Populations may experience exponential growth when resources are abundant (the per capita rate of growth remains constant but the absolute rate of growth increases), but growth will eventually slow. b. Populations may experience indefinite exponential growth, where the per capita rate of growth remains constant but the absolute rate of growth grows. c. Populations may overshoot the carrying capacity, which can be followed by a population crash. d. Populations may approach a stable size called the carrying capacity. e. Populations may alternately overshoot and undershoot the carrying capacity, resulting in persistent oscillations sometimes called limit cycles.

a. Populations may experience exponential growth when resources are abundant (the per capita rate of growth remains constant but the absolute rate of growth increases), but growth will eventually slow. c. Populations may overshoot the carrying capacity, which can be followed by a population crash. d. Populations may approach a stable size called the carrying capacity. e. Populations may alternately overshoot and undershoot the carrying capacity, resulting in persistent oscillations sometimes called limit cycles.

What is the most effective way to preserve species diversity? a. Protect an entire area from exploitation or habitat degradation b. Genetic restoration c. Establish wildlife corridors d. Seed banks

a. Protect an entire area from exploitation or habitat degradation

In species like sea turtles with high juvenile mortality, low adult mortality, and low fecundity, conservationists can most effectively help them by _____. a. focusing on keeping adults alive b. focusing on keeping juveniles alive c. controlling predator populations d. captive breeding programs

a. focusing on keeping adults alive

The range of environmental conditions that a species can tolerate is called its while the part of the environment it actually occupies after also taking into account biotic factors like competition with other species is called its . Fill in the blanks. a. fundamental niche; realized niche b. realized niche; character displacement c. realized niche; fundamental niche d. fundamental niche; character displacement

a. fundamental niche; realized niche

Populations grow due to births and _____. a. immigration b. emigration c. deaths d. survivorship

a. immigration

Which of the following are chordate synapomorphies? (Select all that apply.) a. muscular post-anal tail b. vertebrae; a column of cartilaginous or bony structures that forms along dorsal side of most species c. dorsal hollow nerve cord that runs the length of body, comprised of projections from neurons d. stiff and supportive but flexible rod, called notochord, runs the length of body e. openings into throat called pharyngeal gill slits f. a cranium; a bony, cartilaginous, or fibrous case that encloses and protects brains and sensory organs

a. muscular post-anal tail c. dorsal hollow nerve cord that runs the length of body, comprised of projections from neurons d. still and supportive but flexible rod called notochord, runs the length of the body.

Why do populations with strongly pyramidal age structure have "population momentum", even when their rates of fertility are predicted to decline? a. such populations contain so many people of reproductive age, that the overall number of births will stay high, even when the average number of children per mother decreases b. when there are fewer adults, there is less competition for resources, so people bear children at younger ages and keep having them longer c. because the pyramidal age structure causes the carrying capacity () to increase d. because fecundity is predicted to decline only in populations without a pyramidal age structure

a. such populations contain so many people of reproductive age, that the overall number of births will stay high, even when the average number of children per mother decreases

Which of the following features are synapomorphies of deuterostomes? (Select all that apply.) a. they possess pharyngeal slits or pouches b. during development, the deuterostome embryo's first opening develops into the mouth c. during development, the deuterostome embryo's first opening develops into the anus d. they move under their own power at some time during development

a. they posses pharyngeal slits or pouches c. during development, the deuterostome embryo's first opening develops into the anus

Which of the following are true concerning echinoderms? (Select all that apply.) a. unlike other deuterostomes, they show pentaradial symmetry b. they possess endoskeletons c. they possess a visceral mass from which a rasp-like organ called the radula develops d. like other deuterostomes, they show pentaradial symmetry e. they lack endoskeletons f. they possess tube feet and a water vascular system

a. unlike other deuterostomes, they show pentaradial symmetry b. they possess endoskeletons f. they possess tube feet and a water vascular system

In terrestrial environments, net primary productivity is maximized under which of the following conditions? (Choose all that apply.) a. wet b. dry c. warm d. cold e. windy f. sunny

a. wet c. warm f. sunny

Which of the following parameters limits the ultimate population size attained by a population undergoing logistic growth? a.(carrying capacity) b.(instantaneous growth rate) c.(initial population size) d.(growth rate, or the ratio)

a.(carrying capacity)

Why is the relative size of the yolk sac in a mammal egg much smaller than that found in an amniotic egg? a. Because amniotic eggs develop outside the body, they require larger yolk sacs to support embryos exposed to variable environmental temperatures. Mammal eggs develop at a more constant, favorable temperature inside the body. b. The yolk sac is relatively smaller in the mammal because its function in an amniotic egg (source of nutrients) has been taken over by the placenta. c. Amniotic eggs require larger yolk sacs to support longer maturation times compared to mammal eggs that develop more quickly. d. The embryos of animals with amniotic eggs like reptiles are larger than the embryos of placental mammals, so they need more nutrients.

b. The yolk sac is relatively smaller in the mammal because its function in an amniotic egg (source of nutrients) has been taken over by the placenta.

What is the main expected consequence of global climate change on rainfall? a. It is not possible to make predictions about future rainfall. b. Variability in rainfall will increase. c. Average rainfall will increase. d. Average rainfall will decrease.

b. Variability in rainfall will increase.

Suppose that record snows blanket your campus this winter. Your friend says this is proof that global warming isn't really occurring. What is the flaw in your friend's logic? a. Global warming refers to temperatures, but snow is a type of precipitation. b. While the average global temperature is increasing, local temperatures and precipitation (weather) will vary. c. The average temperature of Earth is not actually increasing. d. Most of the temperature increase occurs in the summer rather than the winter

b. While the average global temperature is increasing, local temperatures and precipitation (weather) will vary.

Which of the following is NOT found in the common ancestor of all fish? (Select all that apply.) a. lungs b. amniotic eggs c. bones d. lobed fins e. limbs

b. amniotic eggs d. lobed fins e. limbs

Sea turtles have a remarkable ability to travel around vast areas of the ocean and return to specific nesting or feeding sites. This is an example of: a. optimal foraging: b. map orientation c. piloting d. compass navigation

b. map orientation

The amount of biomass produced is greatest at lower trophic levels and declines at higher trophic levels. Why? (Chose the best answer.) a. in primary producers, photosynthesis is more efficient at capturing solar energy than consumption is at capturing chemical energy b. most of the energy consumed in a trophic level is used for cellular respiration; only a fraction is used for growth and reproduction c. higher trophic levels face nutrient limitations due to losses that occur during global nutrient cycling, limiting the amount that can be invested in growth and reproduction d. lower trophic levels benefit from an increase in the concentration of nutrients lower in the food chain (also known as bioamplification), limiting the amount that can be invested in growth and reproduction

b. most of the energy consumed in a trophic level is used for cellular respiration; only a fraction is used for growth and reproduction

Pollinating bees that visit flowers while harvesting nectar and pollen are considered examples of _____. a. competition b. mutualism c. parasitism d. commensalism

b. mutualism

Despite its low productivity per square meter, the biome contributes the highest total productivity of all biomes due to the extensive surface area of the earth it occupies. a. coral reefs and algal beds b. open ocean c. wetlands d. tropical wet forests

b. open ocean

Inclusive fitness refers to _____. a. the combination of number of mates and number of offspring produced b. the combination of direct and indirect fitness c. the total number of offspring produced over a lifetime that survive to reproductive age d. the total number of offspring produced over a lifetime

b. the combination of direct and indirect fitness

Why are the tropics warm and the poles cold? (Choose the best answer.) a. as heated air rises at the equator, it cools and is less able to hold water, producing rain; as more air is heated along the equator, the cooler air above Earth's surface is pushed toward the poles b. the curvature of the earth slopes away from the Sun towards the poles, causing the sun to hit a lower, less direct angles c. the poles are tilted away from the Sun and thus receive a smaller amount of solar radiation per unit area d. the tilt of the earth makes the poles farther away from the Sun than the equator

b. the curvature of the earth slopes away from the Sun towards the poles, causing the sun to hit a lower, less direct angles

Succession in an ecological context refers to _______. a. the sequence of changes that a species goes through during its occupancy within a community b. the sequence of changes in species composition within the community over time after a disturbance c. the predictable series of changes in a community as species evolve and become extinct d. how species evolve as a result of coevolutionary arms races

b. the sequence of changes in species composition within the community over time after a disturbance

Which of the following is true of ALL mammals? (Select all that apply.) a. they have placentas b. they possess hair or fur c. they bear live young d. they possess lactation

b. they possess hair or fur d. they possess lactation

Which of these scenarios describes bottom-up control of community structure? a. Removal of the sea star Pisaster ochraceus from rocky intertidal communities in the Pacific NW reduced community diversity, as the mussel M. californainus, released from sea star predation, overgrew the intertidal region. b. Overhunting of sea otters triggered a trophic cascade in kelp forest communities. c. Extreme warming causes photosynthetic protists to be expelled from coral animals, resulting in coral bleaching. The subsequent death of the coral has devastating effects on the coral reef community. d. Reintroduction of wolves to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem led to a decrease in elk populations and an increase in populations of trees eaten by elk such as aspen, willow, and cottonwood.

c. Extreme warming causes photosynthetic protists to be expelled from coral animals, resulting in coral bleaching. The subsequent death of the coral has devastating effects on the coral reef community.

What do proximate explanations of behavior focus on? a. The adaptive significance of a behavior b. Appropriate experimental methods when studying behavior c. Genetic, neurological, and hormonal mechanisms of behavior d. How displays and other types of behavior have changed through time, or evolved

c. Genetic, neurological, and hormonal mechanisms of behavior

Which of these characteristics is the same in amniotic eggs and placental mammal eggs? a. The embryos in amniotic eggs and placental mammal eggs both rely on the yolk for most of their nutrients. b. The chorion's gas exchange functions in amniotic eggs are replaced by the placenta in placental mammal eggs. c. Placental mammal eggs have all four membrane-bound sacs found in amniotic eggs but no shell. d. Amniotic eggs and placental mammal eggs both have a hard or leathery outer protective covering.

c. Placental mammal eggs have all four membrane bond sacs found in amniotic eggs but no shell

In what populations does exponential growth tend to occur? a. Populations that experience high rates of predation b. Populations that have surpassed their carrying capacity c. Populations that colonize new habitats d. Populations that experience intense competition

c. Populations that colonize new habitats

Which of these nature preserves is likely to have high species richness? a. Preserves in temperate areas would have a higher species richness than those in tropical areas. b. A long, narrow habitat would have higher species richness compared with a rounder habitat. c. Preserves near other preserves would have higher species richness. d. Several small preserves are likely to have high species richness.

c. Preserves near other preserves would have higher species richness.

What is net primary productivity (NPP)? a. Water maintained in the soil b. Minerals and atmospheric nitrogen that can be fixed c. Primary producer biomass or organic material that is available for consumption d. Solar energy consumed by photosynthetic organisms

c. Primary producer biomass or organic material that is available for consumption

What produces seasonality, regular, annual fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, or both? a. Seasonality is driven by Hadley cells, large cycles in global air circulation. b. Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and farther away from the Sun in winter. c. Seasonality occurs because Earth is tilted on its north-to-south axis. d. The orbiting Earth faces the Sun in summer and faces away from the Sun in winte

c. Seasonality occurs because Earth is tilted on its north-to-south axis.

How did the forehead and brow ridge of hominin skulls change through time?a. The forehead remained the same size, but the brow ridges became less prominent in later skulls than in earlier skulls. b. The forehead became taller and the brow ridges are more prominent in later skulls than in earlier skulls. c. The forehead became much larger, and the face became "flatter"; the brow ridges are less prominent in later skulls than in earlier skulls. d. The forehead and brow ridges became broader and wider in later skulls than in earlier skulls.

c. The forehead became much larger, and the face became "flatter"; the brow ridges are less prominent in later skulls than in earlier skulls

Spring and fall lake turnovers occur in response to _____. a. changes in sediment composition b. changes in humidity c. changes in air temperature d. changes in water level

c. changes in air temperature

When moist air is forced upward when blown over mountains, what happens? a. it piles up against the highest peaks of the mountains; when enough pressure builds up, it suddenly spills over the mountains, acting much like a damn bursting, causing torrential rain on the other side of the mountain; this is called a temperature inversion b. at higher altitudes, the surface air is colder but higher in oxygen, while the air at the bottom is warmer, denser, and higher in nutrients; as the higher air warms, it becomes denser and sinks, forcing the air at the bottom to rise; this is called turnover c. it cools and loses its ability to hold water, producing rain on the near side of the mountains; the remaining dry air blows to the other side, creating a rain shadow on the far side of the mountains d. low-pressure areas over the ocean cause a pressure gradient that draws warm, dry air outwards in a clockwise spiral from the high pressure center; this dry airmass sweeps across the deserts of eastern toward the coast; the winds are known as Santa Ana winds

c. it cools and loses its ability to hold water, producing rain on the near side of the mountains; the remaining dry air blows to the other side, creating a rain shadow on the far side of the mountains

Biologists study how nutrients and energy move among organisms and through water, soil, and air. Which level of ecological study is this? a. It is organismal ecology. b. It is community ecology. c. It is ecosystem ecology. d. It is population ecology.

c. it is ecosystem ecology

Optimal foraging ______. a. avoids predation risk b. maximizes both fitness costs and benefits c. minimizes fitness costs and maximizes fitness benefits d. selects areas for foraging that are suitable for nesting

c. minimizes fitness costs and maximizes fitness benefits

The lemurs of Madagascar are ____? a. anthropoids b. hominins c. prosimians d. Old World monkeys

c. prosimians

Carbon dioxide functions as a greenhouse gas because it _____. a. creates moist, humid environments similar to a greenhouse b. allows plants to grow year-round, just like in a greenhouse c. reflects heat radiated from Earth back toward the Earth the way the glass of a greenhouse reflects heat d. directly increases atmospheric temperature, just like in a greenhouse

c. reflects heat radiated from Earth back toward the Earth the way the glass of a greenhouse reflects heat

Species richness is defined as __________. a. the evenness of species in an area b. the functional diversity of a species in an area c. the number of species in an area d. the phylogenetic diversity of species in an area

c. the number of species in an area

Which of the following is the LEAST likely to explain why high biodiversity has a positive impact on ecosystem productivity? a. Resource use efficiency — diverse plant assemblages are more efficient and can thus make more biomass b. Facilitation — certain species assist the growth of other species by providing them with benefits c. Chance inclusion of high-productivity species — if one or two species are extremely productive, productivity will depend on whether those species are in a study plot; high-species plots will tend to outproduce low-species plots d. Competitive exclusion — when species compete in the same niche, the best competitor excludes the competition; thus, the most productive species flourish, increasing productivity

d. Competitive exclusion — when species compete in the same niche, the best competitor excludes the competition; thus, the most productive species flourish, increasing productivity

Use the out-of-Africa hypothesis to explain why it is possible that some or none of your genome may be derived from Neanderthals. a. Modern humans and Neanderthals both originated in Africa; therefore, all modern humans have some alleles in common with Neanderthals. b. Modern humans and Neanderthals are different species; therefore, they could not have interbred. No Neanderthal alleles are in the modern human genome. c. After modern humans left Africa, they probably interbred with Neanderthals in Europe. Humans with European origins often have less than 15 percent Neanderthal alleles. Humans with purely African or Asian origins do not have any Neanderthal alleles. d. Homo sapiens originated in Africa, then interbred with Neanderthals and migrated to Europe and to the rest of the world. If you have purely African heritage, you would not have any Neanderthal alleles in your genome, but if your heritage is from anywhere else or mixed, you are probably 1 to 4 percent Neandertha

d. Homo sapiens originated in Africa, then interbred with Neanderthals and migrated to Europe and to the rest of the world. If you have purely African heritage, you would not have any Neanderthal alleles in your genome, but if your heritage is from anywhere else or mixed, you are probably 1 to 4 percent Neanderthal.

How do humans impact the global water cycle when they pave land, convert forest to agriculture, and irrigate farmland? a. Precipitation is increasing on every continent. b. Precipitation is decreasing on every continent. c. Humans have brought about a global increase in the water table. d. Humans have brought about a global reduction of the water table.

d. Humans have brought about a global reduction of the water table.

If most individuals in a population are young, why is the population likely to grow rapidly in the future? a. The per capita birth rate is high. b. Death rates will be low. c. There are few individuals in the old age classes. d. Many individuals will begin to reproduce as soon as they reach sexual maturity.

d. Many individuals will begin to reproduce as soon as they reach sexual maturity.

Which of the following is a PROXIMATE explanation for the behavior of the cuttlefish male on the right? a. Camouflage in young cuttlefish males is one important way that they avoid predation. b. Cuttlefish males that mimic females on one half of their body while retaining male coloration on the other side may simultaneously avoid conflicts with rival males while continuing to court females. c. Courtship displays by cuttlefish males play an important role in their mating success. d. The cuttlefish chromatophores on the side facing a rival male mimic the coloration of a female while those on the side facing potential females adopt the male coloration.

d. The cuttlefish chromatophores on the side facing a rival male mimic the coloration of a female while those on the side facing potential females adopt the male coloration.

Where do rain shadows form? a. The region along the equator where precipitation is abundant b. The region near 30°N and 30°S latitude that receives dry air from the descending air of Hadley cells c. The part of a mountain that receives prevailing winds and heavy rain d. The downwind region beyond a mountain range that receives dry air

d. The downwind region beyond a mountain range that receives dry air

What is niche differentiation? a. The claim that species with the same niche cannot coexist b. Interactions that allow species to occupy their fundamental niche c. The degree to which the niches of two species overlap d. The evolution of traits that reduce niche overlap and competition

d. The evolution of traits that reduce niche overlap and competition