AP Biology Exam Prep Questions
A population of squirrels on an island has a carrying capacity of 350 individuals. If the maximum rate of increase is 1.0 per individual per year and the population size is 275, determine the population growth (Round to the nearest whole number). 1. 59 squirrels per year 2. -34 squirrels per year 3. 75 squirrels per year 4. 15 squirrels per year
1. 59 squirrels per year
Of the following statements about protected areas that have been established to preserve biodiversity, which one is not correct? 1. About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected. 2. National parks are one of many types of protected areas. 3. Most protected areas are too small to protect species. 4. Management of a protected area should be coordinated with management of the land surrounding the area. 5. It is especially important to protect biodiversity hot spots.
1. About 25% of Earth's land area is now protected.
Based on the climograph of six specific biomes illustrated here, which of the following shifts in biomes and their specific ecosystems would be most likely to result if global climate change continues to lead to a warmer Earth? 1. Coniferous forest to temperate forest 2. Grassland to Tundra 3. Coniferous forest to Tundra 4. Tropical Forest to Temperate Forest
1. Coniferous forest to temperate forest
Three lab groups carried out an experiment to identify the correct molarities for five solutions. Each unkown contained one of the following sucrose concentrations: 0.0M, 0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M, and 1.0M. Each data entry represents the average of 3 sample replications of 1cm^3 sweet potato cubes expressed as percentage change in mass after an overnight (24 hr.) soak in the unknown solutions. From the data given, which statement most accurately describes what is occurring in response to a particular unknown solution. 1. Osmosis of water molecules from unknown solution A likely caused the increase in mass observed. 2. Unknown solution C represents a sucrose molarity slightly lower than the molarity of sweet potato cells, thus water is transported out of the cells 3. Unknown solution E contains the hightest concentration of sucrose and the change in mass is due to the active transport of sucrose into the cell in exchange for water molecules. 4. Passive transport of sucrose out of the potato cells explains the change in mass observed for unknown solution F.
1. Osmosis of water molecules from unknown solution A likely caused the increase in mass observed.
Which of the following is not an observation or inference on which Darwin's theory of natural selection is based? 1. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring. 2. There is heritable variation among individuals. 3. Because of overproduction of offspring, there is competition for limited resources. 4. Individuals whose inherited characteristics best fit them to the environment will generally produce more offspring. 5. A population can become adapted to its environment over time.
1. Poorly adapted individuals never produce offspring.
If carbon dioxide levels continue to increase and climate change continues over the next century, which of the following would best predict the directional migration of the North American ecosystems from the biomes shown in this climograph? 1. The ecosystems will shift to the north as temperatures warm 2. The ecosystems will move to both the eastern and western coastlines as these areas will be more moderate 3. The ecosystems will move down mountains as the temperatures warm 4. The ecosystems will shift to the south due to decreasing transpiration rates
1. The ecosystems will shift to the north as temperatures warm
Scientists interested in how populations interact within communities are attempting to determine the species diversity of an island under study. What kind of data would be most helpful to the scientists in determining diversity? 1. The number of different species on the island and the size of the population of each species 2. The number of trophic levels on the island and the niche of each species 3. The relative biomass of each species on the island separated by trophic level 4. The number of species on the island that are consumers, producers, and decomposers
1. The number of different species on the island and the size of the population of each species
Which action could produce a carbonyl group 1. The replacement of the -OH of a carboxyl group with hydrogen 2. the addition of a thiol to a hydroxyl 3. the replacemement of the nitrogen of an amine with oxygen 4. the addition of a hydroxyl to a phosphate 5. the addition of a sulfhydryl to a carboxyl
1. The replacement of the -OH of a carboxyl group with hydrogen
Which structure is common to plant and animal cells? 1. chloroplast 2. wall made of cellulose 3. central vacuole 4. mitochondrion 5. centriole
4. mitochondrion
Which of the following is a consequence of biological magnification? 1. Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers. 2. Populations of top-level predators are generally smaller than populations of primary consumers. 3. The biomass of producers in an ecosystem is generally higher than the biomass of primary consumers. 4. Only a small portion of the energy captured by producers is transferred to consumers. 5. The amount of biomass in the producer level of an ecosystem decreases if the producer turnover time increases.
1. Toxic chemicals in the environment pose greater risk to top-level predators than to primary consumers.
Which of the following factors would tend to increase membrane fluidity? 1. a greater proportion of unsaturated phospholipids 2. a greater proportion of saturated phospholipids 3. a lower temperature 4. a relatively high protein content in the membrane 5. a greater proportion of relatively large glycolipids compared with lipids having smaller molecule masses
1. a greater proportion of unsaturated phospholipids
Which of the following would be considered an example of bioremediation? 1. adding nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to a degraded ecosystem to increase nitrogen availability 2.using a bulldozer to regrade a strip mine 3. dredging a river bottom to remove contaminated sediments 4. reconfiguring the channel of a river 5. adding seeds of a chromium-accumulating plant to soil contaminated by chromium
1. adding nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to a degraded ecosystem to increase nitrogen availability
When climbing a mountain, we can observe transitions in biological communities that are analogous to the changes 1. in biomes at different latitudes. 2. at different depths in the ocean. 3. in a community through different seasons. 4. in an ecosystem as it evolves over time. 5. across the United States from east to west.
1. in biomes at different latitudes.
According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, species richness would be greatest on an island that is 1. large and close to a mainland. 2. large and remote. 3. small and remote. 4. small and close to a mainland. 5. environmentally homogeneous.
1. large and close to a mainland.
Cyanide binds with at least one molecule involved in producing ATP. If a cell is exposed to cyanide, most of the cyanide would be found within the 1. mitochondria. 2. ribosomes. 3. peroxisomes. 4. lysosomes. 5. endoplasmic reticulum.
1. mitochondria.
Which of the following is present in a prokaryotic cell? 1. mitochondrion 2. ribosome 3. nuclear envelope 4. chloroplast 5. ER
1. mitochondrion
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? 1. tropical rain forest 2. savanna 3. desert 4. temperate broadleaf forest 5. temperate grassland
1. tropical rain forest
If each of the water molecules in the diagram had all of its potential hydrogen bonding sites filled, like the water molecule in the center of the diagram, what would be the total number of water molecules represented? 1. 5 2. 17 3. 20 4. 8
2. 17
In what way do the membranes of a eukaryotic cell vary? 1. Phospholipids are found only in certain membranes 2. Certain proteins are unique to each membrane 3. Only certain membranes of the cell are selectively permeable 4. Only certain membranes are constructed from amphipathic molecules 5. Some membranes have hydrophobic surfaces exposed to the cytoplasm, while others have hydrophilic surfaces facing the cytoplasm
2. Certain proteins are unique to each membrane
Frye and Edidin labeled the membrane proteins of a mouse cell and a human cell with two different markers and fused the cells. These different markers are indicated with different colors. Based upon the results shown, which of the following scientific questions below provided conclusive evidence through this investigation? 1. When fused, do hum and mouse cells respond differently to their environment? 2. Do these proteins move specific small solutes across the membrane? 3. Do some membrane proteins move sideways within the phospholipid bilayer? 4. Does the cholesterol content of the cell membranes affect membrane protein movement differently in human and mouse cells?
2. Do these proteins move specific small solutes across the membrane?
In living systems molecules involved in hydrogen bonding almost always contain either oxygen or nitrogen or both. How do you explain this phenomenon? 1. Oxygen and nitrogen are elements found in both nucleic acids and proteins. 2. Oxygen and nitrogen are elements with very high attractions for their electrons. 3. Oxygen and nitrogen are elements found in fats and carbohydrates. 4. Oxygen and nitrogen were both components of gases that made up the early atmosphere on Earth.
2. Oxygen and nitrogen are elements with very high attractions for their electrons.
Acid precipitation lowered the pH of soil in a terrestrial ecosystem that supported a diverse community of plants and animals. The decrease in pH eliminated all nitrogenfixing bacteria populations in the area. Which prediction most accurately reflects the impact this will have on the community? 1. Since phosphorus can replace nitrogen as an essential nutrient, the impact will be minimal. 2. Primary producers will suffer from nitrogen deficiency and the entire community will experience a decrease in carrying capacity. 3. The decrease in pH actually increases the availability of soil nutrients, so other nutrients that were less available cause an increase in primary production and an increase in biomass at other trophic levels. 4. Plants can obtain the nitrogen necessary for growth from the atmosphere, but bacterial communities will be negatively impacted.
2. Primary producers will suffer from nitrogen deficiency and the entire community will experience a decrease in carrying capacity.
Scientists in Australia wanted to know the relationship between sea urchins, limpets, and the distribution of seaweed. Both sea urchins and limpets are herbivores that graze on seaweed. What do the data shown in this figure indicate about the patter and distribution of seaweeds? 1. Both species influence seaweed distribution, but limpets have the primary effect 2. Sea urchins have the greatest influence on seaweed distribution 3. Seaweed distribution is determined by global sea temperatures, not predators 4. The influence on seaweed distribution is roughly equal in impact form both
2. Sea urchins have the greatest influence on seaweed distribution
Which statement correctly identifies the result that the optimum pH for amylase function is 7? 1. The pH with the lowest absorbance values would indicate the optimum pH for amlase since this pH does not affect the structure or function of the protein. 2. The pH with the highest absorbance values would indicate the optimum pH for amylase since this pH does not affect the structure or function of the protein. 3. At pH 4, the structure of the enzyme will be altered, and the enzyme would not be able to catalyze the reaction. 4. At pH 9, the enzyme is denatured and will lose its function, but not its structure.
2. The pH with the highest absorbance values would indicate the optimum pH for amylase since this pH does not affect the structure or function of the protein.
Enzymes that break down DNA catalyze the hydrolysis of the covalent bonds that join nucleotides together. What would happen to DNA molecules treated with these enzymes? 1. The purines would be separated from the deoxyribose sugar 2. The phosphodiester linkages of the polynucleotide backbone would be broken 3. The two strands of the double helix would separate 4. The pyrimidines would be separated from the deoxyribose sugars 5. All bases would be separated from the deoxyribose sugars
2. The phosphodiester linkages of the polynucleotide backbone would be broken
All the organisms on your campus make up 1. an ecosystem. 2. a community. 3. a population. 4. an experimental group. 5. a taxonomic domain.
2. a community.
Which chemical group is most likely to be responsible for an organic molecule behaving as a base 1. carboxyl 2. amino 3. hydroxyl 4. carbonyl 5. phosphate
2. amino
Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square meter? 1. a salt marsh 2. an open ocean 3. a coral reef 4. a grassland 5. a tropical rain forest
2. an open ocean
Which lake zone would be absent in a very shallow lake? 1. benthic zone 2. aphotic zone 3. pelagic zone 4. littoral zone 5. limnetic zone
2. aphotic zone
In what way to the membranes of a Eukaryotic cell vary? 1. only certain membranes are constructed from amphipathic molecules 2. certain proteins are unique to each membrane 3. some membranes have hydrophobic surfaces exposed to the cytoplasm, while others have hydrophilic surfaces facing the cytoplasm 4.Phospholipids are found only in certain membranes 5.Only certain membranes of the cell are selectively permeable
2. certain proteins are unique to each membrane
Which structure is not part of the endomembrane system? 1. nuclear envelope 2. chloroplast 3. Golgi apparatus 4. plasma membrane 5. ER
2. chloroplast
The principle of competitive exclusion states that 1. two species cannot coexist in the same habitat. 2. competition between two species always causes extinction or emigration of one species. 3. competition in a population promotes survival of the best-adapted individuals. 4. two species that have exactly the same niche cannot coexist in a community. 5. two species will stop reproducing until one species leaves the habitat.
2. competition between two species always causes extinction or emigration of one species.
Based on Figure 7.21 in your textbook, which of these experimental treatments would increase the rate of sucrose transport into the cell? 1. decreasing extracellular sucrose concentration 2. decreasing extracellular pH 3. decreasing cytoplasmic pH 4. adding an inhibitor that blocks the regeneration of ATP 5. adding a substance that makes the membrane more permeable to hydrogen ions
2. decreasing extracellular pH
A controlled experiment is one that 1. proceeds slowly enough that a scientist can make careful records of the results. 2. may include experimental groups and control groups tested in parallel. 3. is repeated many times to make sure the results are accurate. 4. keeps all environmental variables constant. 5. is supervised by an experienced scientist.
2. may include experimental groups and control groups tested in parallel. (tests experimental and control groups in parallel)
Keystone predators can maintain species diversity in a community if they 1. competitively exclude other predators. 2. prey on the community's dominant species. 3. allow immigration of other predators. 4. reduce the number of disruptions in the community. 5. prey only on the least abundant species in the community.
2. prey on the community's dominant species.
The most plausible hypothesis to explain why species richness is higher in tropical than in temperate regions is that 1. tropical communities are younger. 2. tropical regions generally have more available water and higher levels of solar radiation. 3. higher temperatures cause more rapid speciation. 4. diversity increases as evapotranspiration decreases. 5. tropical regions have very high rates of immigration and very low rates of extinction.
2. tropical regions generally have more available water and higher levels of solar radiation.
Which of the following hydrocarbons has a double bond in its carbon skeleton 1. C3H8 2. CH4 3. C2H4 4. C2H6 5. C2H2
3. C2H4
The molecular formula for glucose is C6H12O6. What would be the molecular formula for a polymer made by linking ten glucose molecules together by dehydration reactions? 1. C60H120O60 2. C6H12O6 3. C60H102O51 4. C60H100O50 5. C60H111O51
3. C60H102O51
The water molecules in this diagram are attracted to the cell walls of water-conducting cells by adhesion due to hydrogen bonds. What conclusion is supported by this information? 1. Cell walls of plants contain molecular grooves that physically hold the water molecule 2. Cell walls of plants are formed from the products of photosynthesis 3. Cell walls of plants contain oxygen and/or nitrogen and are therefor polar 4. Cell walls of plants are composed of non-polar molecules
3. Cell walls of plants contain oxygen and/or nitrogen and are therefor polar
Eutrophication is often caused by excess limiting nutrient runoff from agricultural fields into aquatic ecosystems. This results in massive algal blooms, which eventually die and decompose, ultimately depleting the dissolved oxygen and killing large numbers of fish and other aquatic organism. Predict which of the following human actions would best address the problem of eutrophication near agricultural areas? 1. Removal of algae before it dies and decomposes to prevent eutrophication from occuring 2. Determine which limiting nutrient is responsible for the algal bloom and use other fertilizers to apply to crops 3. Determine critical nutrient loads required for certain crops and do not exceed this amount during fertilizer application. 4. After each eutrophication event, remove the dead fish and invertebrates to place on agricultural fields instead of fertilizer
3. Determine critical nutrient loads required for certain crops and do not exceed this amount during fertilizer application.
Which of the following statements best distinguishes hypotheses from theories in science? 1. Theories are hypotheses that have been proved. 2. Hypotheses are guesses; theories are correct answers. 3. Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power. 4. Hypotheses and theories are essentially the same thing. 5. Theories are proved true in all cases; hypotheses are usually falsified by tests.
3. Hypotheses usually are relatively narrow in scope; theories have broad explanatory power.
A parasitic fungus, Geomyces destructans, has decimated millions of bats in the United States since it was first observed in upstate New York in 2006. The disease has been named White-nose syndrome because of the white fungal hyphae that cover the bat upon infection. It is believed that this fungus was introduced from Europe by into caves with hibernating bat populations. Which prediction most likely reflects changes that will occur in natural communities as a result of massive bat mortality? Select one: 1. Increased animal populations as a result of niche availability. 2. Increased rodent populations as a result of an increase in flying insect populations. 3. Increased flying insect populations and decreased populations of bat-pollinated plants 4. Decreased bird populations as the fungus infects other flying animals.
3. Increased flying insect populations and decreased populations of bat-pollinated plants
Which of the following strategies would most rapidly increase the genetic diversity of a population in an extinction vortex? 1. Capture all remaining individuals in the population for captive breeding followed by reintroduction to the wild. 2. Establish a reserve that protects the population's habitat. 3. Introduce new individuals transported from other populations of the same species. 4. Sterilize the least fit individuals in the population. 5. Control populations of the endangered population's predators and competitors.
3. Introduce new individuals transported from other populations of the same species.
Which of the following is an example of qualitative data? 1. The temperature decreased from 20°C to 15°C. 2. The plant's height is 25 centimeters (cm). 3. The fish swam in a zig-zag motion. 4. The six pairs of robins hatched an average of three chicks. 5. The contents of the stomach are mixed every 20 seconds.
3. The fish swam in a zig-zag motion.
Gaucher disease is the most common of lipid storage diseases in humans. It is caused by a deficiency of an enzyme necessary for lipid metabolism. This leads to a collection of fatty material in organs of the body including the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, and bone marrow. Using your knowledge of the structure of eukaryotic cells, identify the statement below that best explains how internal membranes and the organelles of cells would be involved in Gaucher disease 1.The mitochondria are most likely defective and do not produce adequate amounts of ATP needed for cellular respiration. 2. The rough endoplasmic reticulum contains too many ribosomes which results in an overproduction of the enzyme involved in carbohydrate catalysis. 3. The lysosomes lack sufficient amounts of enzymes necessary for the metabolism of lipids. 4. The Golgi apparatus produces vesicles with faulty membranes that leak their contents into the cytoplasm of the cell.
3. The lysosomes lack sufficient amounts of enzymes necessary for the metabolism of lipids.
Red-cheeked salamanders are partially protected from predators because of cardiac glycosides they produce from glands on their back. When ingested, cardiac glycosides disrupt normal heart rhythms. A different salamander species, the imitator salamander, also has red cheek patches, but does not produce cardiac glycosides. It does gain protection from predators that have learned to avoid red cheeked salamanders. How does this relationship affect the population dynamics of both species? 1. Both species are positively affected 2. Both species are negatively affected 3. The red cheeked salamander is negatively affected, the imitator is positively affected 4. The red cheeked salamander is positively affected, the imitator is negatively affected
3. The red cheeked salamander is negatively affected, the imitator is positively affected
Which statement best explains the connection between the sequence and subcomponents of a protein and its properties? 1. A renatured protein will not function properly since proteins cannot regain their original sequence of amino acids after denaturation. 2. The unique shape of a protein provides that protein with the ability to carry on several different functions. 3. The specific shape of a protein is naturally known to the original sequence of amino acids so the protein will function properly after renaturation. 4. A denatured protein will continue to have the same function since only the structure of the protein is affected.
3. The specific shape of a protein is naturally known to the original sequence of amino acids so the protein will function properly after renaturation.
Which of the following statements concerning unsaturated fats is true? 1. They generally solidify at room temperature 2. They are more common in animals than in plants 3. They have double bonds in the carbon chains of their fatty acids 4. They have fewer fatty acid molecules per fat molecule 5. They contain more hydrogen than do saturated fats having the same number of carbon atoms
3. They have double bonds in the carbon chains of their fatty acids
Which of the following is a correct sequence of levels in life's hierarchy, proceeding downward from an individual animal? 1. brain, organ system, nerve cell, nervous tissue 2. organ system, nervous tissue, brain 3. organism, organ system, tissue, cell, organ 4. nervous system, brain, nervous tissue, nerve cell 5. organ system, tissue, molecule, cell
4. nervous system, brain, nervous tissue, nerve cell
Which of the following processes includes all others? 1. osmosis 2. diffusion of a solute across a membrane 3. facilitated diffusion 4. passive transport 5. transport of an ion down its electrochemical gradient
4. passive transport
The loss of water from a plant by transpiration cools the leaf. Movement of water in transpiration requires both adhesion to the conducting walls and wood fibers of the plant and cohesion of the molecules to each other. A scientist wanted to increase the rate of transpiration of a crop species to extend its range into warmer climates. The scientist substituted a nonpolar solution with an atomic mass similar to that of water for hydrating the plants. What do you expect the scientist's data will indicate from this experiment? 1. The rate of transpiration will be the same for both water and the nonpolar substance. 2. The rate of transpiration will be slightly lower with the nonpolar substance as the plant will not have evolved with the nonpolar compound. 3. Transpiration rates will fall to zero as nonpolar compounds do not have the properties necessary for adhesion and cohesion. 4. Transpiration rates will increase as nonpolar compounds undergo adhesion and cohesion with wood fibers more readily than water.
3. Transpiration rates will fall to zero as nonpolar compounds do not have the properties necessary for adhesion and cohesion.
Systems biology is mainly an attempt to 1. understand the integration of all levels of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere. 2. simplify complex problems by reducing the system into smaller, less complex units. 3. construct models of the behavior of entire biological systems. 4. build high-throughput machines for the rapid acquisition of biological data. 5. speed up the technological application of scientific knowledge.
3. construct models (understand) of the behavior of entire biological systems.
According to the fluid mosaic model of membrane structure, proteins of the membrane are mostly ______ 1. spread in a continuous layer over the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane 2. confined to the hydrophobic core of the membrane 3. embedded in a lipid bilayer 4. randomly oriented in the membrane, with no inside-outside polarity 5. free to depart from the fluid membrane and dissolve in the surrounding solution
3. embedded in a lipid bilayer
Which of the following areas of study focuses on the exchange of energy, organisms, and materials between ecosystems? 1. population ecology 2. organismal ecology 3. landscape ecology 4. ecosystem ecology 4. community ecology
3. landscape ecology
Based on the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, a community's species diversity is increased by 1. frequent massive disturbance. 2. stable conditions with no disturbance. 3. moderate levels of disturbance. 4. human intervention to eliminate disturbance. 5. intensive disturbance by humans.
3. moderate levels of disturbance.
Food chains are sometimes short because 1. only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species. 2. local extinction of a species causes extinction of the other species in its food chain. 3. most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as it passes to the next higher level. 4. predator species tend to be less diverse and less abundant than prey species. 5. most producers are inedible. C
3. most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as it passes to the next higher level.
Compared with 31p, the radioactive isotope 32p has 1. a different charge 2. one more electron 3. one more neutron 4. a different atomic number 5. one more proton
3. one more neutron
Which cell would be best for studying lyosomes? 1. muscle cell 2. nerve cell 3. phagocytic white blood cell 4. leaf cell of a plant 5. bacterial cell
3. phagocytic white blood cell
Protists and bacteria are grouped into different domains because 1. protists eat bacteria. 2. bacteria are not made of cells. 3. protists have a membrane-bounded nucleus, which bacterial cells lack. 4. bacteria decompose protists. 5. protists are photosynthetic.
3. protists have a membrane-bounded nucleus, which bacterial cells lack.
Which of the following has the greatest effect on the rate of chemical cycling in an ecosystem? 1. the ecosystem's rate of primary production 2. the production efficiency of the ecosystem's consumers 3. the rate of decomposition in the ecosystem 4. the trophic efficiency of the ecosystem 5. the location of the nutrient reservoirs in the ecosystem
3. the rate of decomposition in the ecosystem
Which of the following best demonstrates the unity among all organisms? 1. matching DNA nucleotide sequences 2. descent with modification 3. the structure and function of DNA 4. natural selection 5. emergent properties
3. the structure and function of DNA
Which of the following organisms is incorrectly paired with its trophic level? 1. cyanobacterium ->primary producer 2. grasshopper->primary consumer 3. zooplankton->primary producer 4. eagle->tertiary consumer 5. fungus->detritivore
3. zooplankton->primary producer
Which of the following pairs of base sequences could form a short stretch of a normal double helix of DNA? 1. 5ʹ-purine-pyrimidine-purine-pyrimidine-3ʹ with 3ʹ-purine-pyrimidine-purine-pyrimidine-5ʹ 2. 5ʹ-A-G-C-T-3ʹ with 5ʹ-T-C-G-A-3ʹ 3. 5ʹ-G-C-G-C-3ʹ with 5ʹ-T-A-T-A-3ʹ 4. 5ʹ-A-T-G-C-3ʹ with 5ʹ-G-C-A-T-3ʹ 5. All of these pairs are correct.
4. 5ʹ-A-T-G-C-3ʹ with 5ʹ-G-C-A-T-3ʹ
Illinois had millions of prairie chickens in the 19th century, but fewer than 50 by 1992. Researchers discovered that the decline in the Illinois population was due to reduced fertility that resulted from loss of genetic variability. Based on the accompanying figure, which statement most accurately reflects the ultimate effect of importing 271 prairie chickens from other areas in 1992? 1. An increase in hatching rate in Illinois prairie chickens caused the number of females to outnumber males in the population 2. Hatching rate was increased due to hybridization with different species of chicken 3. Genetic variability decreased as a result of importing superior breeds of prairie chickens from other areas 4. A rebound in Illinois prairie chicken population resulted from increased genetic variation and egg viability following importing chickens from other populations
4. A rebound in Illinois prairie chicken population resulted from increased genetic variation and egg viability following importing chickens from other populations
Which of the following biomes is correctly paired with the description of its climate? 1. savanna-low temperature, precipitation uniform during the year 2. tundra-long summers, mild winters 3. temperate broadleaf forest-relatively short growing season, mild winters 4. temperate grasslands-relatively warm winters, most rainfall in summer 5. tropical forests-nearly constant day length and temperature
5. tropical forests-nearly constant day length and temperature
Age structure pyramids such as those shown in the accompanying figure show the percent of males and females in age groups or cohorts. These can indicate potential societal issues that help us plan for the future. Which statement most accurately describes potential societal problems that can be inferred by the data shown here? 1. Italians are likely to face intense competition for educational and employment opportunities. 2. In Afghanistan, young people will rapidly face a significant financial burden for supporting the country's increasing elderly population. 3. In the United States there will be a decreasing need for social services for the elderly in the next 20 years and greater demand for more primary schools. 4. Afghanistan is likely to face intense competition for educational and employment opportunities due to the large number of people entering reproductive age.
4. Afghanistan is likely to face intense competition for educational and employment opportunities due to the large number of people entering reproductive age.
Using data from the table above, select the best explanation for why that cell will be able to eliminate waste most efficiently? 1. Cell 3 because it is big enough to allow wastes to easily diffuse through the plasma membrane. 2. Cell 1 since it has the smallest volume and will not produce as much waste as the other cells. 3. Cell 3 since it has the largest surface area which will enable it to eliminate all of its wastes quickly. 4. Cell 2 since it has the highest surface area-to-volume ratio which facilitates the exchange of materials between a cell and its environment.
4. Cell 2 since it has the highest surface area-to-volume ratio which facilitates the exchange of materials between a cell and its environment.
Which of the following is true with respect to oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes? 1. Oligotrophic lakes are more subject to oxygen depletion. 2. Rates of photosynthesis are lower in eutrophic lakes. 3. Eutrophic lake water contains lower concentrations of nutrients. 4. Eutrophic lakes are richer in nutrients. 5. Sediments in oligotrophic lakes contain larger amounts of decomposable organic matter.
4. Eutrophic lakes are richer in nutrients.
Which of the following best describes the logic of scientific inquiry? 1. If I generate a testable hypothesis, tests and observations will support it. 2. If my prediction is correct, it will lead to a testable hypothesis. 3. If my observations are accurate, they will support my hypothesis. 4. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results. 5. If my experiments are set up right, they will lead to a testable hypothesis.
4. If my hypothesis is correct, I can expect certain test results.
Elevated carbon dioxide levels have been shown to contribute to the greenhouse effect, resulting in an increase in mean global temperature. Ecosystems where the largest warming has already occurred include snow-covered northern coniferous forests, tundra, and arctic sea ice habitats. Which statement best explains how the elimination of ice-covered ecosystems affects the rise or fall in global temperature? 1. Large-scale ice melts actually contribute toward lowering global temperatures by decreasing salinity of the oceans. 2. Melting ice releases dissolved ozone gas, which adds to the greenhouse effect. 3. Carbon dioxide levels are lowered as a result of greater volume of water to accommodate greater dissolved gas. 4. More reflective surfaces of ice are replaced with darker, more absorptive surfaces, thereby contributing to the warming trend. 5. More reflective surfaces of ice are replaced with darker, more absorptive surfaces, thereby contributing to the warming trend.
4. More reflective surfaces of ice are replaced with darker, more absorptive surfaces, thereby contributing to the warming trend.
Organic Chemistry is currently defined as 1. The study of hydrocarbons 2. the study of vital forces 3. the study of natural (as opposed to synthetic) compounds 4. The study of carbon compounds 5. the study of compounds made only by living cells
4. The study of carbon compounds
In this figure, notice that it indicates seaweed cover was greatest when both sea urchins and limpets were removed. The data indicate that seaweed cover was greater than expected by the addition of just the removal of limpets, or just the removal of urchins. Which of the proposals explain how the removal of both limpets and urchins together could be greater than their individual affect on seaweed cover? 1. With their sea urchin competitors removed, limpet populations were able to increase causing an increased loss of seaweed cover. 2. Limpets are the primary consumers of seaweed, so the removal of sea urchins allowed their population to consume a variety of algae and plants. 3. The data indicate that sea urchins are stimulated to eat more seaweed in the presence of limpets. 4. With the loss of sea urchins, limpet populations also declined, as shown in the graph as the difference between the green and blue lines.
4. With the loss of sea urchins, limpet populations also declined, as shown in the graph as the difference between the green and blue lines.
Which of the following categories includes all others in the list? 1. polysaccharide 2. starch 3. monosaccharide 4. carbohydrate 5. disaccharide
4. carbohydrate
Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by 1. converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. 2. releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. 3. converting ammonia to nitrogen gas, which returns to the atmosphere. 4. converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 5. incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds.
4. converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb.
Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community? 1. limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount 2. influence of temperature on competition among plants 3. influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers 4. effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity 5. effect of humidity on plant growth rates
4. effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity
The enzyme amylase can break glycosidic linkages between glucose monomers only if the monomers are in the a form. Which of the following could amylase break down? 1. Starch and chitin 2. cellulose and chitin 3. glycogen and cellulose 4. glycogen, starch, and amylopectin 5. starch, amylopectin, and cellulose
4. glycogen, starch, and amylopectin
One characteristic that distinguishes a population in an extinction vortex from most other populations is that 1. its habitat is fragmented. 2. it is a rare, top-level predator. 3. its effective population size is much lower than its total population size. 4. its genetic diversity is very low. 5. it is not well adapted to edge conditions.
4. its genetic diversity is very low.
Suppose that a cell is secreting insulin, a protein hormone, via exocytosis. Which statement most accurately describes why this mechanism of transport is ideal for insulin secretion? 1. Small molecules such as polypeptides are transported much more efficiently via bulky transport 2. Proteins are small and diffuse readily through the phospholipid bilayer 3. Exocytosis provides a mechanism for the passive transport of large proteins 4. proteins are large molecules that cannot be transported efficiently across the membrane via transport proteins
4. proteins are large molecules that cannot be transported efficiently across the membrane via transport proteins
The oceans affect the biosphere in all of the following ways except 1. producing a substantial amount of the biosphereʹs oxygen. 2. removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 3. moderating the climate of terrestrial biomes. 4. regulating the pH of freshwater biomes and terrestrial groundwater. 5. being the source of most of Earthʹs rainfall.
4. regulating the pH of freshwater biomes and terrestrial groundwater.
The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as 1. population viability analysis. 2. landscape ecology. 3. conservation ecology. 4. restoration ecology. 5. resource conservation.
4. restoration ecology.
The main cause of the increase in the amount of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere over the past 150 years is 1. increased worldwide primary production. 2. increased worldwide standing crop. 3. an increase in the amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere. 4. the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels. 5. additional respiration by the rapidly growing human population.
4. the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels.
Which of the following is characteristic of most terrestrial biomes? 1. annual average rainfall in excess of 250 cm 2. a distribution predicted almost entirely by rock and soil patterns 3. clear boundaries between adjacent biomes 4. vegetation demonstrating stratification 5. cold winter months
4. vegetation demonstrating stratification
WHAT IF? If the direction of Earth's rotation reversed, the most predictable effect would be 1. the elimination of ocean currents 2. a loss of seasonal variation at high latitudes 3. a big change in the length of the year 4. winds blowing from west to east along the equator 5. no more night and day
4. winds blowing from west to east along the equator
The Hubbard Brook watershed deforestation experiment yielded all of the following results except: 1. Most minerals were recycled within a forest ecosystem. 2. The flow of minerals out of a natural watershed was offset by minerals flowing in. 3. Deforestation increased water runoff. 4. The nitrate concentration in waters draining the deforested area became dangerously high. 5. Calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas.
5. Calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas.
If you applied a fungicide to a cornfield, what would you expect to happen to the rate of decomposition and net ecosystem production (NEP)? 1. Both decomposition rate and NEP would decrease. 2. Both decomposition rate and NEP would increase. 3. Neither would change. 4. Decomposition rate would increase and NEP would decrease. 5. Decomposition rate would decrease and NEP would increase.
5. Decomposition rate would decrease and NEP would increase.
Which statement about dispersal is false? 1. The ability to disperse can expand the geographic distribution of a species 2. Colonization of devastated areas after floods or volcanic eruptions depends on dispersal 3. Dispersal is a common component of the life cycles of plants and animals 4. Seeds are important dispersal stages in the life cycles of most flowering plants 5. Dispersal occurs only on an evolutionary time scale
5. Dispersal occurs only on an evolutionary time scale
What is the most likely pathway taken by a newly synthesized protein that will be secreted by a cell? 1. ER → Golgi → nucleus 2. Golgi →ER →lysosome 3. nucleus →ER →Golgi 4. ER →Golgi →vesicles that fuse with plasma membrane 5. ER →lysosomes →vesicles that fuse with plasma membrane
5. ER →lysosomes →vesicles that fuse with plasma membrane
Which of the following statements concerning unsaturated fats is true? 1. They contain more hydrogen than do saturated fats having the same number of carbon atoms 2. They generally solidify at room temperature 3. They have fewer fatty acid molecules per fat molecule 4. They are more common in animals than in plants 5. They have double bonds in the carbon chains of their fatty acids.
5. They have double bonds in the carbon chains of their fatty acids.
What is the single greatest threat to biodiversity? 1. overharvesting of commercially important species 2. introduced species that compete with native species 3. pollution of Earth's air, water, and soil 4. disruption of trophic relationships as more and more prey species become extinct 5. habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction.
5. habitat alteration, fragmentation, and destruction.
Which structure-function pair is mismatched? 1. nucleolus; production of ribosomal subunits 2. lysosome; intracellular digestion 3. ribosome; protein synthesis 4. Golgi; protein trafficking 5. microtubule; muscle contraction
5. microtubule; muscle contraction
The structural level of a protein least affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding is the 1 . secondary level 2. tertiary level 3. quaternary level 4. All structural levels are equally affected 5. primary level
5. primary level
In the term trace element, the modifier trace means 1. the element passes rapidly through the organism 2. the element enhances health but is not essential for the organism's long-term survival 3. the element can be used as a label to trace atoms through an organism's metabolism 4. the element is very rare on Earth 5. the element is required in very small amounts
5. the element is required in very small amounts
The feeding relationships among the species in a community determine the community's 1. secondary succession. 2. ecological niche. 3. species richness. 4. species-area curve. 5. trophic structure.
5. trophic structure.