ESCI quiz 3
Which of the following statements concerning the reasons why coyotes have managed to greatly increase their range and numbers is FALSE? a) Coyotes primarily increased their range because human hunting eliminated natural wolf populations to open up new niches for coyotes to fill. b) Coyotes can alter their litter size in response to changes in their population density, which they can determine in part through their howling. c) Coyotes are one of the relatively few species that evolved fission-fusion societies where they can live alone or band together as needed. d) Coyotes are remarkably intelligent animals as they did not evolve as apex (top) predators but were also potential prey for larger predators. e) Coyotes have adapted so successfully to some urban settings that some cities now have denser coyote populations than surrounding areas.
a) Coyotes primarily increased their range because human hunting eliminated natural wolf populations to open up new niches for coyotes to fill.
Which of the following statements concerning theropod dinosaurs or their skeletal designs is FALSE? a) Most of the early theropods had thick heavy skulls reinforced by bone layers to provide powerful bites to withstand struggling prey. b) Most theropod skulls allowed for some degree of stereoscopic vision (depth perception) which is more typical of predators than of prey. c) Despite their fearsome reputation as deadly predators, theropod dinosaurs also provide some of our most direct evidence of parental care. d) Although not all theropods were predators, their skeletal designs were dominated by features that had originally arisen for hunting. e) Most of the early theropods had scissors-like jaw hinges and vertical jaws that had space for deeply rooted teeth and replacement teeth.
a) Most of the early theropods had thick heavy skulls reinforced by bone layers to provide powerful bites to withstand struggling prey.
Which of the following was NOT one of Nopcsa's many contributions to science? a) Nopcsa was the first to study the fossil record of Indonesian islands and to recognize that hominins were smaller in the past than they are now. b) Nopcsa was the first to propose the idea of insular dwarfism, that large forms living on islands tended to become smaller over time. c) Nopcsa helped revive the older Victorian idea that birds and dinosaurs were linked and suggested a cursorial model for the origin of flight. d) Nopcsa was one of the first to emphasize the ecology of dinosaurs and essentially created the field now known as paleobiology. e) Nopcsa was one of the first to argue that dinosaurs were sexually dimorphic, and he even proposed that dinosaurs were warm blooded.
a) Nopcsa was the first to study the fossil record of Indonesian islands and to recognize that hominins were smaller in the past than they are now.
Which of the following statements concerning larger 'prosauropods' like Plateosaurus or Massopondylus is FALSE? a) The larger 'prosauropods' were already too large to have communal nesting grounds as they would crush one another's nest or young. b) The larger 'prosauropods' were the first high browsing land animals known in the fossil record that could feed on the leaves of tall trees. c) The larger 'prosauropods' appear to have had remarkably fast growth rates, going from egg to adult size within a relatively short time. d) The larger 'prosauropods' relied primarily on their size and large gut area for digestion as their mouths were not designed to chew food. e) The larger 'prosauropods' still apparently moved as bipeds, at least as adults. Their young though may have walked on all four limbs.
a) The larger 'prosauropods' were already too large to have communal nesting grounds as they would crush one another's nest or young.
Which of the following statements concerning arguments over the lifestyle of juvenile and adult Tyrannosaurus rexes (T. rex) is FALSE? a) The short forelimbs characteristic of all life stages of Tyrannosaurus rex arose early in the tyrannosaur line as one of its defining features. b) T. rex had large deeply rooted teeth, but their teeth were not blade-like and lacked the cutting edges of most predatory theropod teeth. c) While T. rex had large nostrils like some scavengers do, it's more forward-facing eyes are more typical of a predator than a scavenger. d) The different body proportions and skull designs of young and old Tyrannosaurus rexes suggest they may have targeted different prey. e) The rear limb proportions of young T. rex were bettered designed for rapid running than the leg proportions of the adult T. rex were.
a) The short forelimbs characteristic of all life stages of Tyrannosaurus rex arose early in the tyrannosaur line as one of its defining features.
Which of the following statements concerning the 'prosauropods' (the basal members of the Sauropodomorpha) is FALSE? a) 'Prosauropods' could not be the direct ancestors of sauropods, as 'prosauropods' had already begun to lose digits that sauropods still had. b) Although the Cardiff Giant was a hoax, people rushing out to try to find more 'giant bones' instead discovered the first prosauropod fossils. c) 'Prosauropods' are not considered a true clade in terms of cladistics but are an informal grouping of various basal Sauropodomorpha lines. d) The long necks and small heads of 'prosauropods' may have been inherited from a predatory ancestor who hunted small quick prey. e) 'Prosauropods' had a very widespread geographic range because they arose at a time when Pangea was still connected together.
b) Although the Cardiff Giant was a hoax, people rushing out to try to find more 'giant bones' instead discovered the first prosauropod fossils.
Which of the following statements concerning sauropod taphonomy, nesting, reproduction, parental care, or growth rates is FALSE? a) Sauropod eggs tended to be spherical rather than elongated because the mother's body so large that it could easily lay spherical eggs. b) Beyond egg laying, we have no evidence of sauropods engaging in parental care and their size differences would make such care unlikely. c) Sauropods arose on a connected Pangea but by the Cretaceous, they were more common on the southern continents than the northern ones. d) Because of their size, sauropod skeletons show little evidence of healed injuries as they would be unlikely to survive any serious injury. e) Sauropods had remarkably fast growth rates, with many lines possibly reaching most of their adult size in as little as a decade (ten years).
b) Beyond egg laying, we have no evidence of sauropods engaging in parental care and their size differences would make such care unlikely.
Which of the following statements concerning non-native species, past acclimatization societies, or their impacts on ecosystems is FALSE? a) Acclimatization societies were not a fringe groups, but well-established organizations supported by many of the leading citizens of the time. b) It took acclimatization societies many attempts over decades to finally create a stable, reproducing population of starlings in North America. c) The goal of an acclimatization society was the deliberate introduction of 'beneficial' non-native species to 'improve' natural ecosystems. d) The introduction of rabbits to Australia not only led to the loss of many native species, but increased soil erosion as ground cover was lost. e) Regardless of how you personally view dandelions, they were deliberately brought to this country very early during its European settlement.
b) It took acclimatization societies many attempts over decades to finally create a stable, reproducing population of starlings in North America.
Which of the following statements concerning the different theropod dinosaur groups is FALSE? a) Having a stiff tail allowed some smaller theropods to shift their weight rapidly from side-to-side to increase their speed while running. b) Therizinosaurs had large powerful hips modified for fast running and huge deadly claws that would have made them deadly predators. c) Retractable talons on the rear limbs did not occur in all theropod lines and were not present in some of the earliest theropod groups. d) The loss of teeth and development of a keratin-covered beak in some theropod lines may have allowed those theropods to be omnivores. e) Although oviraptors were originally assumed to be egg-eaters, their short powerful beaks could have been used for a variety of foods.
b) Therizinosaurs had large powerful hips modified for fast running and huge deadly claws that would have made them deadly predators.
Which of the following statements concerning feathers or the evolution of feathers is FALSE? a) Long feathers with flat vanes of interlocking hooked barbules appear to have arisen well before any theropods became active flyers. b) Having long feathers on their forelimbs may have helped small theropods to run faster, run up slopes, or balance on struggling prey. c) Although they arose for insulation, the earliest known feathers had asymmetric vanes which later allowed them to be used for flight. d) Long feathers may have helped small theropods to brood (incubate) their eggs by trapping the adult's body heat over the eggs and nest. e) Social display, courtship or sex identification may have been more important to the evolution of the earliest feathers than flight was
c) Although they arose for insulation, the earliest known feathers had asymmetric vanes which later allowed them to be used for flight.
What is the MOST important problem facing non-insect animals in becoming an arboreal (tree-dwelling) animal that feeds on leaves? a) An arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle requires complex adaptations for balance and depth perception that few animals have. b) An arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle makes you far more vulnerable to a number of flying predators like hawks or eagles. c) Leaves are so low in calories and nutrients that most animals large enough to digest leaves are too large for an arboreal lifestyle. d) Because of insect browsing, most trees have developed leaves that now are much too toxic (poisonous) for animals to eat. e) Because of the tremendous number and variety of leaf-eating insects, there is not much biomass left for other animals to survive on.
c) Leaves are so low in calories and nutrients that most animals large enough to digest leaves are too large for an arboreal lifestyle.
Which of the following statements concerning the Permian mass extinction or its probable causes is FALSE? a) The Permian mass extinction devastated both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the time, greatly decreasing global biodiversity. b) The Permian mass extinction was triggered by immense volcanic eruptions that ejected immense amounts of gas into the atmosphere. c) The Permian mass extinction would have been worse if Pangea had already separated, as isolated communities are more vulnerable to stress. d) Gases ejected into the atmosphere created acid rain that harmed land plants and acidified the oceans to harm marine phytoplankton. e) Burning of widespread Carboniferous coal deposits contributed to the rapid greenhouse warming that occurred at the end of the Permian.
c) The Permian mass extinction would have been worse if Pangea had already separated, as isolated communities are more vulnerable to stress.
Which of the following statements concerning non-native (invasive) species or their introduction to native ecosystems is FALSE? a) American chestnuts declined because of a fungus introduced to North America that can linger in their root systems or be spread by animals. b) The brown tree snake was not deliberately introduced to Guam but arrived as an overlooked 'hitchhiker' on cargo flights to the island. c) When invasive species replace native ones, local diversity stays the same but global diversity decreases as ecosystems become more similar. d) Ring-necked pheasants were deliberately brought to North America as game birds and are now viewed as an important game (hunting) bird. e) The vast majority of introduced species fail to take hold in a new environment, but those that do can have tremendous impacts.
c) When invasive species replace native ones, local diversity stays the same but global diversity decreases as ecosystems become more similar.
Which of the following was NOT an adaptation of sauropods' skeletons or their behavior to help them deal with their immense size? a) Sauropods tended to have highly sculpted neck vertebrae with air sacs that reduced their overall mass and helped support their necks. b) Sauropods tended to have large hips with four or more fused sacral vertebrae and relatively light skulls with frequent tooth replacement. c) Sauropods tended to have relatively straight elephant-like limbs with few angles and had limb bones that lacked marrow cavities. d) Sauropods tended to use a plantigrade foot stance, using the whole bottom of their foot in order to support their large body mass. e) Sauropods tended to have hollow (pneumatic) ribs and vertebrae that reduced their mass and served as part of their respiratory system.
d) Sauropods tended to use a plantigrade foot stance, using the whole bottom of their foot in order to support their large body mass
Which of the following statements concerning the ways in which Spinosaurus' skeleton was adapted for a fish-eating diet is FALSE? a) The sail on Spinosaurus' back may have been useful in herding fish or making it easier for the head and tail to slash sideways to catch fish. b) The tail vertebrae of Spinosaurus had large lateral processes for powerful muscles that could sweep the tail from side to side while swimming. c) The teeth of Spinosaurus were large, sharp, and conical with a similar design to the teeth seen in the jaws of large modern crocodiles. d) The hands of Spinosaurus were highly modified into webbed, paddle-like shapes that could be used to propel the animal through water. e) The jaws of Spinosaurus were long and slender which meant that it probably did not have as powerful a bite as Tyrannosaurus rex did.
d) The hands of Spinosaurus were highly modified into webbed, paddle-like shapes that could be used to propel the animal through water.
Which of the following statements concerning Mesozoic predation or the larger theropod dinosaur lines is FALSE? a) Theropods did not really represent a new stage in the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems as predators dominated early land communities. b) Although we only have weak evidence that Allosaurus exhibited parental care, we do know from trackways that it was a pack predator. c) The different body proportions and skull designs of young and old Tyrannosaurus rexes suggest they may have targeted different prey. d) The middle Cretaceous was a stable unbroken interval of high biodiversity that allowed T. rex to arise alongside other large theropods. e) North America's Tyrannosaur rexes appear to have been descended from a line of small theropods that originally came from Eurasia.
d) The middle Cretaceous was a stable unbroken interval of high biodiversity that allowed T. rex to arise alongside other large theropods.
Which of the following statements concerning invasive species in the Florida Everglades or Minnesota is FALSE? a) Many of the more destructive invasive species in the Florida Everglades ecosystem were introduced into the Everglades as released pets. b) Like purple loosestrife and the cholera bacterium, zebra mussels can arrive in new areas by traveling in the ballast of sea-going ships. c) Zebra mussels not only adversely impact natural lake ecosystems but also clog water intake pipes and affect human water supplies. d) White-nose syndrome arrived in North American bat populations because climate change altered the migration of Central American bats. e) The loss of bats to white-nose syndrome could lead to the need for increased pesticide use as well as a reduction in plant pollination.
d) White-nose syndrome arrived in North American bat populations because climate change altered the migration of Central American bats.
Which of the following statements concerning animal sizes or the problems of being a large animal is FALSE? a) As body size increases, an animal's surface area to volume ratio decreases and shedding heat becomes more difficult. b) Although we presently only have a few very large animals, before human hunting began there were many other large mammals. c) Although it seems as if getting food would be difficult for a large animal, getting food is often a driving force for becoming large. d) As body size increases, the amount of stress on the supporting bones will increase and bone strength becomes a crucial limiting factor. e) Although we had large mammals in the past, no mammal has ever approached the size of even the smallest non-island sauropod.
e) Although we had large mammals in the past, no mammal has ever approached the size of even the smallest non-island sauropod.
Which of the following statements concerning the impacts of earthworms on northern boreal forests is FALSE? a) Earthworms introduced into northern forests break down the forest floor cover's nutrients and moved them deeper down into the soil. b) The introduction of earthworms into northern forests can lead to a loss of understory plants and the animals that relied on those plants. c) Northern boreal forests evolved in earthworm-free conditions because northern earthworms had been wiped out by a recent ice sheet. d) Purple loosestrife could spread unchecked through North American ecosystems because its natural predators did not exist on this continent. e) Purple loosestrife was deliberately introduced to North America by an acclimatization society as a decorative plant and to feed livestock.
e) Purple loosestrife was deliberately introduced to North America by an acclimatization society as a decorative plant and to feed livestock.
Which of the following statements concerning the discovery and impacts of the Tyrannosaurus rex known as 'Sue' is TRUE? a) Sue was one of the earliest Tyrannosaurus rexes finds and its immense size greatly increased the public's interest in dinosaurs. b) Sue was killed by another Tyrannosaurus rex, which provided the first proof of a predator-against-predator dinosaur fight. c) Sue's skeleton was scavenged by another Tyrannosaurus rex's teeth, which provided the first proof of dinosaur cannibal activity. d) Sue was the first dinosaur find whose gender (male or female) could be definitely determined as it contained developing eggs. e) Sue's high-profile auction and record-setting price for a time reduced dinosaur research efforts by universities and museums.
e) Sue's high-profile auction and record-setting price for a time reduced dinosaur research efforts by universities and museums.
Which of the following statements concerning differences between theropod dinosaur predators and mammalian predators is FALSE? a) The difference between fur and feathers was significant because feathers can be adapted to be used in other ways besides insulation. b) The difference between egg laying and live birth was significant as the style of birth also affects the adult animals' social behavior. c) The difference between quadruped and bipedal locomotion was significant as a bipedal mode allows the forelimbs to be used in other ways. d) The difference in size between the largest theropods and largest mammals was relatively minor as many prey dinosaurs were also large. e) The difference between theropod and mammal respiratory systems was not significant as both methods succeeded in oxygenating blood.
e) The difference between theropod and mammal respiratory systems was not significant as both methods succeeded in oxygenating blood.
Which of the following statements concerning Plateosaurus (a large 'prosauropod' or basal sauropodomorpha) is FALSE? a) Plateosaurus eyes were set more to the side than the eyes of theropod skulls, which gave Plateosaurus a wider range of peripheral vision. b) Plateosaurus jaws had no recessed areas for cheek-equivalent structures, so most of its food processing probably took place in its gut. c) Although Plateosaurus was one of the largest land animals of its time, it was smaller than many large Jurassic and Cretaceous dinosaurs. d) German Plateosaurus bone beds probably accumulated over time as individual large adult plateosaurs became trapped in mud and died. e) To better digest plants, Plateosaurus evolved a bird-like hip design to increase its gut area and swallowed gastroliths to grind up its food.
e) To better digest plants, Plateosaurus evolved a bird-like hip design to increase its gut area and swallowed gastroliths to grind up its food.