General Biology: Chapter 20 Study Questions

Identify the scenarios of immigration -butterflies are blown into an island during a storm -squirrels move out of a patch of forest after it becomes degraded -invasive zebra mussels arrive in US waters after being in advertently transported by boats -male prairie dogs leave the territory of their natal group after they mature -A new male lion takes over a territory with a corresponding pride of female lions -sycamore seeds dispersed by the wind out of a patch of Woodland

-butterflies are blown onto an island during a storm -invasive zebra mussels arrive in US waters after being inadvertently transported by boats -A new male lion takes over a territory with a corresponding pride of female lions

Identify the scenarios of immigration -butterflies are blown into an island during a storm -squirrels move out of a patch of forest after it becomes degraded -invasive zebra mussels arrive in US waters after being in advertently transported by boats -male prairie dogs leave the territory of their natal group after they mature -A new male lion takes over a territory with a corresponding pride of female lions -sycamore seeds dispersed by the wind out of a patch of Woodland

-squirrels move out of a patch of forest after it becomes degraded -male prairie dogs leave the territory of their natal group after they mature -sycamore seeds dispersed by wind out of a patch of woodland

A scientist is studying two different species in Central Park in New York City, and is interested in the interaction between a group of squirrels in a group of chipmunks. This scientist is studying:

A community

How is the community level different from the other levels of life?

A community is a collection of all the organisms living and potentially interacting in the same geographic area

The white organisms are distributed in geographic space is referred to as

A dispersion pattern

How is the population level different from the other levels of life?

A population is a group of interacting individuals from one species that inhabit the same geographic area.

Carrying capacity is the point at which

A population reaches the maximum number of individuals that an environment can support

Which of these statements regarding ecosystems is correct? A. All of these statements are correct B. Individuals, populations, and communities are all part of an ecosystem C. An ecosystem is composed of the living and nonliving components of an environment D. Studying an ecosystem can help scientists understand individual populations E. Moose and wolves are part of the Isle Royale ecosystem

A. All of these statements are correct

What is not something scientist on Isle Royale can learn from the remains of a moose kill? A. If the moose had any offspring B. How old the moose was when he died C. Whether or not the moose was killed by wolves D. Whether or not the moose died of starvation E. If the moose had any diseases

A. If the moose had any offspring

What description define population density? A. The number of individuals in a population, per unit area or volume B. The number of different taxonomic clades in a populations geographic range C. The number of offspring produced in a population, per unit time D. The pattern of spacing between individuals in a population

A. The number of individuals in a population, per unit area or volume

Which sentence best describes exponential population growth? A. The population growth rate is not limited by any external factors B. Each individual reproduces less when the population density is high C. The generation time of the population become shorter and shorter D. The population increases in size despite intense competition for food

A. The population growth rate is not limited by any external factors

How have warmer than normal climatic conditions affected moose populations on Isle Royale?

An increase in the tick population has resulted in weight loss for the moose, which increased their death rate. Moose escape the heat by resting in the shade, but then had less time for eating, which resulted in thinner moose that were not as prepared to survive winter temperatures. Tick populations have grown and they have fed on the moose, which resulted in blood loss and higher death rates for moose

Which ecological definition is correct? A. Two or more interacting populations of a different species constitutes a community B. All of these definitions are correct C. A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same region D. An ecosystem consists of individuals, populations, and communities E. An individual is a single organism of a particular species

B. All of these definitions are correct

Population dynamics are influenced by birth rates and death rates. Which situation is a factor that can cause early death for wolves on Isle Royale? A. A warmer than normal summer, causing tick populations that feed on wolves to increase dramatically, which causes wolves to become sterile B. Bone deformities causing impairments in hind leg use, probably from inbreeding C. None of these D. Warmer temperatures decreasing the frequency with which ice bridges form between Isle Royale and the mainland, which reduces the chances for emigration of moose from the island E. Obesity if wolves find and catch too much pray

B. Bone deformities causing impairments in hind leg use, probably from inbreeding

Which statement is true of distribution patterns in nature? A. Clumped distribution has no advantages and is rarely observed in nature B. Uniform distribution allows individual organisms to maximize space between them C. Species can always be categorized into one distinct type of distribution, the populations never vary from this categorization D. Four main types of distribution exist E. All of these

B. Uniform distribution allows individual organisms to maximize space between them

By studying the data collected from Isle Royale, ecologist have discovered that a large wolf population correlates to vigorous tree growth. Which statement best explains this pattern? A. The remains of moose carcasses fertilize the soil, which allows for increased tree growth B. Wolves decrease the moose population, which consumes trees as its main diet C. All of these D. Wolves increase the moose population, which consumes trees as its main diet E. None of these

B. Wolves decrease the moose population, which consumes trees as its main diet

Population growth is affected by a variety of limiting factors, such as the amount of food available. A factor that is density dependent A. Does not affect how large in size individuals grow B. Acts on heavier individuals more than smaller ones C. Affects populations to varying extents based on population size in an area D. Affects populations regardless of population size in an area

C. Affects populations to varying extents based on population size in an area

An eggplant farmer is very upset, because the crop has been decimated by abiotic, density independent factors. What factor would not have played a role in this eggplant crop? A. An abnormally hot growing season B. An unexpected frost, where temperatures dipped below freezing during the night C. Groundhog appetite and burrow digging D. A fire that burned in the farmers crop land E. A drought, which limited the farmers ability to water the crop

C. Groundhog appetite and burrow digging

One advantage of a clumped distribution pattern is A. It allows organisms to remain solitary B. All of these C. Organisms can match their distribution to resource rich areas D. It allows individuals to maximize space between them E. It makes organisms harder to find and does avoid predation

C. Organisms can match their distribution to resource rich areas

Once the carrying capacity of an environment is reached, the population generally

Cannot continue growing exponentially; may fluctuate by slightly exceeding the carrying capacity and then dropping below it; may experience cycles of "boom and bust"

Imagine a system where a finch feeds on thistle seeds and the finch population size is linked to the productivity of the thistle, the thistle population size is related to foraging pressure of the finch population. This is an example of population dynamics at the ___________ level.

Community

Which level of ecology study focuses on interactions between members of different species?

Community

What are examples of an ecosystem?

Coral reef, forest, lake

When moose first arrived on Isle Royale and found a habitat without predators, the moose population

Could be categorized as going through a cycle of "boom and bust" population dynamics; grew exponentially, then crashed due to lack of food; was not regulated by predator;prey interactions; regrew after a starvation period that allowed the vegetation to recover

Which event or condition is a density independent factor that can influence population growth? A. A new predator that moves into an area with hunting tactics that prey species are not adapted to avoid B. All of these C. A sudden decrease in the food supply due to usually dry conditions D. A volcanic eruption that covers an island in a layer of lava E. A disease that spreads through direct physical contact

D. A volcanic eruption that covers an island in a layer of lava

Population growth is affected by a variety of limiting factors, such as the amount of food available. A factor that is density independent A. Affects heavier individuals before smaller ones B. Does not affect how large in size individuals grow C. Affects populations to varying extents based on population size in an area D. Affects populations regardless of population size in an area

D. Affects populations regardless of population size in an area

Which of these is a biotic factor affecting population growth of moose on Isle Royale? A. Infectious disease B. Food availability C. Wolf population size D. All of these are biotic factors affecting population growth of moose on Isle Royale E. Tick population growth

D. All of these are biotic factors affecting population growth of moose on Isle Royale

Which statement is true regarding the distribution patterns of the wolf and moose populations on Isle Royale? A. Both moose and wolves demonstrate uniform distribution patterns B. Both moose and wolves demonstrate random distribution patterns C. Moose demonstrate a uniform distribution pattern, and wolves demonstrate a random distribution pattern D. Moose demonstrate a random distribution pattern, while wolves demonstrate a clumped distribution pattern E. Moose demonstrate a clumped distribution pattern, whereas wolves demonstrate a uniform distribution pattern

D. Moose demonstrate a random distribution pattern, while wolves demonstrate a clumped distribution pattern

Which statement is false regarding the work of population ecologists? A. They often count organisms from an aerial vantage point B. They spend a lot of time counting C. They try to understand why there are more or less of any given species in any given place at any given time D. They find the exact number of each species they study

D. They find the exact number of each species they study

Which description is not an example of a community? A. Panda bears and eucalyptus plants in a forest B. Hawks and mice in a farm field C. Ticks living on a moose in the forest D. Dogs and cats living together in one household E. Two Chihuahuas and one German Shepherd playing in a dog park

E. Two Chihuahuas and one German Shepherd playing in a dog park

Which level of ecological study focuses on interactions between living things and their physical environment within a limited area?

Ecosystem

What are the levels of study in ecology from most comprehensive to least inclusive?

Ecosystem, community, population, organismal

When animals overpopulate in an area due to exponential growth, they do not always die to increase their population. What other options do they have?

Emigration

When moose first arrived on Isle Royale, there was an abundant food supply and no natural predators on the island. What type of population growth did this situation exemplify?

Exponential growth

What is an example of something that ecologist would generally study?

How predators, such as sharks, affect the population of prey, such as fish

Ecologist study organisms at a number of levels with different numbers of components. Which sequence correctly orders these levels from smallest to largest?

Individual, population, community, ecosystem

After the Isle Royale fire in 1936, trees began to regrow on the scorched 20% of the island. What type of growth pattern did the trees experience at this time?

Logistic

Which level of ecological study focuses on interactions between members of the same species?

Population

What type of ecologist is John Vucetich?

Population ecologist

Why are truly random distributions rare in nature?

Resources are unevenly distributed across most landscapes. Many species have social behaviors that promote clusters of individuals for increasing foraging success or for predator avoidance. Individuals of a particular species often need certain types of conditions to survive and grow, so more individuals are found in these areas

What does an abundance of large trees on Isle Royale suggest about moose and wolf populations?

Taller and bigger trees mean there have been fewer moose and more wolves

Growth rates are

The difference between birth and death rates in a population

What is an organisms habitat?

The location in the environment that provides the type of resources an organism requires

What is the definition of carrying capacity?

The maximum number of individuals that can be sustained in this environment

An ecologist is studying population sizes on Isle Royale. While performing this research, the ecologist notices that the winter months are atypically cold in there have been several blizzards in the area (snowfall is at a record high). How old is winter conditions (density independent factors) affect moose on Isle Royale?

The moose are less able to find food and will suffer from long-term exposure, so the moose population will decline

If a population that is growing exponentially reaches carrying capacity at the end of the third year, what will be the population size after five years?

The population will be about the same as the third year

What are demographic factors that affect the biotic potential of populations?

The probability of surviving until maturity and the frequency of reproductive events

What is an example of a density independent factor?

Weather

Why might wolves on Isle Royale be "easier" to count compared to moose?

Wolves demonstrate a clustered distribution pattern

Which level of ecological study focuses on the function of a single individual?

organismal