Bio Exam 4

The Mojave Desert lies to the east of the coastal and Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Deserts in Chile lie to the west of the Andes mountains. Both the California and the Andes mountains run along the west coast of their respective continents. What probably accounts for the fact that one desert is on the east side of its neighboring mountain range, while the other is on the west side of its neighboring mountain range? A.Winds to the east of the Andes dry the air and create the deserts. B.Winds move from east to west along the Andes in the southern hemisphere. C.The Andes are very high, and block any wind that might move over. D.The Andes are a young mountain range and there hasn't been enough time for plants to colonize the range.

B.Winds move from east to west along the Andes in the southern hemisphere.

If you were studying the effects of climate change on the geographic ranges of species living in the mountains and your climate records showed that mean temperatures were increasing, which species would you be MOST concerned about from a conservation standpoint? A.a species that is a habitat generalist and lives at low elevations B.a species that is a habitat specialist and lives at the highest elevations C.a species that is a habitat specialist and lives at low elevations D.a species that is a habitat generalist and lives at middle elevations E.a species that is a habitat specialist and lives at middle elevations

B.a species that is a habitat specialist and lives at the highest elevations

Carbon dioxide combines with water to form a weak _____; this has caused the pH of seawater to go _____. A.acid; up B.acid; down C.base; down D.base; up E.antioxidant; up

B.acid; down

Characteristics used to describe biomes include precipitation and: A.number of grass species. B.average temperature. C.number of trophic levels in the communities. D.species richness

B.average temperature.

An ecological _____ is the set of all populations of all species found in a given place. A.ecosystem B.community C.population D.metapopulation E.interaction

B.community

Sustainable development plans are designed to allow: A.conservation of species used by humans so that decreases in population size can be easily monitored and reversed. B.conservation of species used by humans without causing the decline or extinction of that species. C.conservation of species only in the oceans because population sizes are easier to maintain in marine species. D.conservation of species in regions of high human populations because those are most likely to decline in population through human use.

B.conservation of species used by humans without causing the decline or extinction of that species.

The high specific heat of water means that land masses near the equator are: A.warmer than predicted because of all the heat in the water being released into the air. B.cooler than predicted because of all the heat carried by ocean waters from low to high latitudes. C.the same temperature regardless of the presence of water because it is only the amount of solar radiation on the land mass that affects temperature.

B.cooler than predicted because of all the heat carried by ocean waters from low to high latitudes.

Because tropical plants have very high species diversity, they also have very low population: A.richness. B.density. C.variation. D.numbers

B.density.

Both the land area (size) of an island and the _____ are the two factors that contribute most to species diversity. A.depth of the water surrounding the island B.distance of the island from neighboring land masses C.rock composition of the island D.climate of the islandE.proximity of the island to the equator

B.distance of the island from neighboring land masses

Phosphorus runoff leads to large increases in the populations of algae and cyanobacteria in lakes and oceans in a process known as: A.ocean acidification. B.eutrophication. C.the greenhouse effect. D.global warming

B.eutrophication.

The global carrying capacity of the human population will most likely and directly be determined by A.disease B.food supply C.population density D.water supply E.warfare

B.food supply

In general, a species' _____ niche will be larger than its _____ niche due to interactions with other organisms in the community. A.realized; fundamental B.fundamental; realized C.ecological; multidimensional D.realized; multidimensional E.multidimensional; fundamental

B.fundamental; realized

A scientist is studying a population of kangaroo rats in the southwestern deserts of the United States. For approximately 4 years the population remains at or near 125 individuals. In the fifth year, it falls to 30. This sharp decrease in population size is most likely the result of density-_____ factors. A.dependent B.independent

B.independent

A weather extreme is an example of a density-_____ factor that can influence population size. The availability of bird nest sites is an example of a density-_____ factor. A.dependent; independent B.independent; dependent C.dependent; dependent D.independent; independent

B.independent; dependent

The form of natural selection that promotes behaviors that help close relatives is called _____ selection. A.group B.kin C.natural D.sexual

B.kin

The area shaded gray in the figure in the center represents the _____ of species A. A.actual niche B.realized niche C.accessible niche D.fundamental niche

B.realized niche

You are MOST likely to observe succession in a terrestrial community where lichens were one of the first species to establish the area when you visit a(n): A.recently burned forest. B.recently created volcanic island. C.abandoned field. D.recently plowed field. E.tropical rain forest.

B.recently created volcanic island.

Which of the following would you expect to observe as you go from the summit to the base of a mountain? A.the same climate and biome from the base to the top of the mountain B.the same pattern of climate and biome change one would experience if hiking from high to low latitude C.the same pattern of climate and biome change one would experience if hiking from low to high latitude D.the same biome, but varying climate as you hike up the mountain

B.the same pattern of climate and biome change one would experience if hiking from high to low latitude

What is the approximate size of the human population today? A.2.7 billion people B.5.4 billion people C.7.7 billion people D.10.8 billion people E.25.3 billion people

C.7.7 billion people

Which of the following statements about the concept of an ecological footprint is FALSE? A.It is an estimate of how much land is required to provide the resources used by an individual. B.The total ecological footprint for humanity is less than the actual surface area of Earth. C.Countries with the largest population sizes have the largest ecological footprints. D.It encompasses the energy used to produce goods and the energy used to ship those goods to a store. E.Undeveloped countries have smaller ecological footprints than developed countries.

C.Countries with the largest population sizes have the largest ecological footprints.

In the classic fable of "the boy who cried wolf," the villagers who stopped listening to the shepherd boy who kept lying and telling them that a wolf was attacking the sheep were exhibiting the form of learning called: A.Imprinting B.Initiation C.Habituation D.Sensitization

C.Habituation

The sunfish population experiences relatively high mortality rates early in its life. It exhibits Type _____ survivorship. A.I B.II C.III

C.III

____ is a form of learning typically seen in young animals and involves acquiring specific behaviors in response to key experiences during critical times called sensitive periods. A.Conditioning B.Imitation C.Imprinting D.Learning

C.Imprinting

____ behavior corresponds to an animal's "nature"; _____ behavior corresponds to its "nurture." A.imprinted; innate B.Innate; imprinted C.Innate; learned D.Learned; innate

C.Innate; learned

Two people place flags simultaneously on the surface of the Earth: one flag just north of the South Pole (at approximately 85 degrees), and one flag at the equator (approximately 0 degrees). Which of the statements is a CORRECT reflection of their speed? A.Both flags travel at the same speed because the Earth spins on its axis. B.The flag at the pole travels at a faster speed than the flag at the equator, but it makes multiple revolutions in order to travel the same distance as the flag at the equator. C.The flag at the equator travels faster than the flag at the pole because it will go further in one day (i.e., one turn on its axis). D.None of the answer options is correct.

C.The flag at the equator travels faster than the flag at the pole because it will go further in one day (i.e., one turn on its axis).

The term (ΔN/Δt (where N denotes the size of a population and t represents time) is used to calculate: A.a habitat's carrying capacity. B.the "available" percentage of a habitat's carrying capacity. C.a population's growth rate. D.a population's specific growth rate.

C.a population's growth rate.

A behavior is shaped by: A.environmental factors B.genetic factors C.both environmental and genetic factors.

C.both environmental and genetic factors.

In addition to burning fossil fuels, humans return CO2 to the atmosphere faster than it can be removed by: A.polluting the oceans. B.generating nutrient pollution. C.clearing forests for agriculture. D.expanding rice production. E.expanding beef production.

C.clearing forests for agriculture.

In the late 1960s, Robert Paine conducted landmark studies on diversity in the rocky intertidal zone, comparing the species diversity in control plots with diversity in experimental plots from which he removed the top predator, sea stars. After 5 years, 15 species of intertidal invertebrates lived in the control plots, while the experimental plots were dominated by only two species, one mussel and one barnacle. The process MOST likely responsible for the loss of species diversity in the experimental plots was: A.mutualism. B.predation. C.competitive exclusion. D.parasitism. E.resource partitioning.

C.competitive exclusion.

The figures represent three hypothetical populations; each circle is an individual. Select the type of distribution where food is not limiting throughout the range. A.diagram A B.diagram B C.diagram C

C.diagram C

You decide to plant a garden in your backyard. You dig up a strip of grass in a sunny spot. When you have finished digging up the grass and planted wildflowers, you have created a(an) _____ in the lawn. A.ecological disturbance B.new community C.ecological disturbance and a new community D.None of the answer options is correct.

C.ecological disturbance and a new community

When lichens grow on bare rock, they may eventually accumulate enough organic material around them to supply the foothold for later rooted vegetation. These early pioneering lichens can be said to do what for species arriving in a later successional stage? A.inhibit B.exclude C.facilitate D.tolerate E.concentrate

C.facilitate

When a population is close to its carrying capacity, its growth will be: A.geometric. B.exponential. C.logistic. D.both geometric and exponential. E.both geometric and logistic.

C.logistic.

A large population made up of smaller allopatric populations linked by migration is a: A.colonization. B.island founder event. C.metapopulation. D.habitat patch.

C.metapopulation.

'Fairy rings' of mushrooms are the result of A.niche construction B.niche maintenance C.niche destruction D.changes in niche requirement E.all of the above

C.niche destruction

Liebig's Law of the Minimum states that A.one chemical element limits plant growth rate B.many chemical elements limit plant growth rate C.one chemical element limits plant growth rate at any one time D.many chemical elements limit plant growth rate at any one time E.many chemical elements limit plant yield.

C.one chemical element limits plant growth rate at any one time

The _____ of bald eagles in the United States includes all of the individual bald eagles that could mate and reproduce within the 50 states. A.density B.growth rate C.population D.carrying capacity

C.population

Which of the following would result in a DECREASE in the size of your ecological footprint? A.constructing a new home from brick and stone B.setting the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter instead of 66 degrees C.purchasing produce from local farmers instead of produce shipped from overseas D.only purchasing clothing that was made overseas E.None of the answer options is correct.

C.purchasing produce from local farmers instead of produce shipped from overseas

In a pond, tadpoles eat algae and fish eat the tadpoles. Around the pond, grasshoppers eat grass and, at night, are preyed upon by bats. Other bats eat the fish that eat the tadpoles. In this community, the fish are: A.primary producers. B.primary consumers. C.secondary consumers. D.tertiary consumers. E.decomposers.

C.secondary consumers.

Generalista prosper when A.their hyperspace is broad and food is abundant B.their hyperspace is narrow and food is abundant C.their hyperspace is broad and food is scarce D.their hyperspace is narrow and food is scarce

C.their hyperspace is broad and food is scarce

Sunlight hits the Earth MOST directly at: A.the equator rather than at the North Pole because the North Pole tilts away from the sun. B.the higher latitudes rather than at the lower latitudes. C.times when the sun is directly overhead. D.the equator rather than at either of the poles.

C.times when the sun is directly overhead.

Biological clocks dependent on photoperiod may be used to detect: A.Daily cycles B.Seasons C.Annual cycles D.All of these

D.All of these

Giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are among the largest and longest-living organisms on Earth. These trees grow in weight by up to 1000 pounds of wood per year. As these trees are growing, they: A.incorporate CO2 into their biomass (wood, roots, and needles). B.are probably a net sink of CO2. C.generate some CO2 through cellular respiration. D.All of these choices are correct.

D.All of these choices are correct.

The ability to process information from the environment: A.Is unique to eukaryotes B.Is unique to multicellular organisms C.Is unique to primates D.Is characteristic of all types of organisms E.Requires a brain and spinal cord

D.Is characteristic of all types of organisms

As air moves from the summit down the side of a mountain, it warms. What is one consequence of this movement of air? A.Moisture will drop as rain as the air moves down the side of the mountain. B.The air is deflected and circles back up to the summit of the mountain. C.The air slows because cold air is less dense than warm air. D.The air picks up additional moisture.

D.The air picks up additional moisture.

Imagine a frog at a pond where multiple species are mating. Female frogs are able to discern males making their species-specific calls. How is she able to do this? A.Olfactory cues from a male frog of her species allows her to go directly to him. B.Visual cues of a male frog of her species allows her to go directly to him. C.The female only hears calls from a male frog of her species, so she goes directly to him. D.The female frog hears all of the calls at the pond but only responds the calls from a male frog of her species.

D.The female frog hears all of the calls at the pond but only responds the calls from a male frog of her species.

Per capita use of energy is highest in the United States, and is thought to be caused by differences in standard of living. The chart below shows total energy use by country. Which of the following statements explains why the United States is NOT listed first on the chart? A.The United States has a smaller power (electricity) supply than other countries. B.The United States provides better data than other countries. C.The United States has under reported population sizes compared to other countries. D.The table lists countries in order of decreasing population.

D.The table lists countries in order of decreasing population.

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, how might this affect latitudinal differences in incoming solar radiation? A.There would be no latitudinal difference if the axis of the Earth were perpendicular to the sun. B.There would be no latitudinal differences because all points on the Earth would be equidistant from the sun. C.There would still be latitudinal differences because latitude is not determined by the Earth's position on its axis. D.There would still be latitudinal differences because incoming solar radiation would be spread across a greater area at the poles than at the equator.

D.There would still be latitudinal differences because incoming solar radiation would be spreadacross a greater area at the poles than at the equator.

The prevailing wind over a mountain range travels from east to west. In this mountain range, rain shadows are located on the _________________ side of a mountain. A.South B.East C.North D.West

D.West

Temperature differences on Earth are caused primarily by the: A.different seasons at each latitude. B.amount of moisture in the air at each latitude. C.amount of ice covering the landmass at each latitude. D.amount of solar energy received per unit area at each latitude.

D.amount of solar energy received per unit area at each latitude.

A male cricket creates sounds that we call "chirps" by rubbing one wing against the other. When is this considered an act of communication? A.every time the cricket produces a chirp regardless of whether the signal is received by an organism B.every time a member of its own species hears a chirp regardless of its response to the signal C.every time a female member of its species hears a chirp and changes her behavior in response to the signal D.every time the chirp is heard by some other organism that changes its behavior in response to the signal

D.every time the chirp is heard by some other organism that changes its behavior in response to the signal

An airborne chemical that is used to communicate with members of the same species is called a: A.growth factor. B.neurotransmitter. C.paracrine signal. D.pheromone. E.supernormal stimulus.

D.pheromone.

Displays are patterns of behavior that are: A.Highly repeatable B.Species-specific C.Signals D.Species-specific and function as signals E.Are species-specific, highly stereotyped and function as signals

E.Are species-specific, highly stereotyped and function as signals

Cuckoo chicks manipulate the host parent by a number of strategies, one of which involves producing a call that mimics the call of an entire clutch of nestlings: This causes the host parent to feed it more. In this context, the call of the cuckoo is BEST described as a(n): A.Ancestral trait B.Associatively learned trait C.Feature detector D.Fixed action pattern E.Supernormal stimulus

E.Supernormal stimulus

Broad, ecologically uniform areas with stable and distinctive collections of species are called: A.interactions. B.habitats. C.communities. D.ecosystems. E.biomes.

E.biomes.

The niche of an ecospecies defined as a hyperspace has A.a predominant dimension with a range of suitability for a species B.a predominant dimension with a position of most suitability for a species C.two dimensions with a range of suitability for a species D.two dimensions with positions of most suitability for a species E.multiple dimensions with both ranges and positions of most suitability for a species

E.multiple dimensions with both ranges and positions of most suitability for a species

Primary productivity is affected by the availability of: A.sunlight. B.water. C.nutrients. D.sunlight and nutrients. E.sunlight, water, and nutrients.

E.sunlight, water, and nutrients.

A group of biologists want to estimate a population of beetles living in an area around a pond. They capture and mark 500 beetles, then release them on the first day. They return the following day and catch a total of 400 individuals, 20 of which are marked. What is the estimated population size for the beetles? A.10,000 B.1000 C.500 D.250

A.10,000

If bird song promotes an individual's ability to attract a mate and reproduce, then the song has a(n) _____ function. A.Adaptive B.Assumptive C.Causative D.Historical E.Mechanistic

A.Adaptive

Which of the following mechanisms is a causal explanation for bird song? A.Air passing through a bird's specialized singing organ, the syrinx, vibrates the surrounding organs. B.Songs are used by males to attract a mate. C.The ritualization of the vocalization became species-specific. D.Young males learned their song from their fathers.

A.Air passing through a bird's specialized singing organ, the syrinx, vibrates the surrounding organs.

In 1987, 18 black-footed ferrets, the last known individuals of this species, were captured and brought into a captive breeding program in Wyoming. In 1989, the total ferret population, still in captivity, was 120 animals. These 120 animals in 1989 represented: A.N, the total population size. B.ΔN, the change in population size from 1987 to 1989. C.ΔN/Δt, the rate of change in population size. D.r, the per capita change in population size. E.r, the exponential rate of growth of the population.

A.N, the total population size.

____ are close interactions between species that have evolved over long periods of time. When these interactions enhance the reproduction and population growth of both species, they are called _____. A.Symbioses; mutualisms B.Mutualisms; symbioses C.Symbioses; antagonisms D.Antagonisms; symbioses E.Antagonisms; mutualisms F.Mutualisms; antagonisms

A.Symbioses; mutualisms

If you stand at the equator and shoot an arrow, which direction will it deflect relative to where you were standing when you threw the ball? A.The ball will deflect east. B.The ball will deflect west. C.The ball will move at the same speed as you and come right back to you. D.None of the answer options is correct.

A.The ball will deflect east.

A group of scientists in Alaska notices that not only have atmospheric CO2 levels increased at their sampling site but so too have methane levels. What could account for this increase in methane levels? A.The melting of permafrost and increase in methane-producing archaea. B.A decrease in beef production near the sampling area. C.The failure of rice paddies in Alaska, given its climate.

A.The melting of permafrost and increase in methane-producing archaea.

A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a sequence of behaviors that, once triggered, is followed to completion. A.True B.False

A.True

A researcher hopes to estimate the size of an E. coli population in a liter of seawater. To do this, he can count the number of E. coli bacteria in a milliliter of seawater and multiply this number by 1000. A.True B.False

A.True

Which of the following results from a mark-recapture study done on mice would reflect a larger population size? A.When taking the second sample, 200 individuals are caught and 20 are marked from the first sample. B.When taking the second sample, 200 individuals are caught and 80 are marked from the first sample. C.Both of these scenarios would result in the same population estimate.

A.When taking the second sample, 200 individuals are caught and 20 are marked from the first sample.

An individual's ecological footprint is equivalent to the: A.amount of land required to provide all the resources used by that individual. B.total amount of energy used by that individual. C.total amount of food consumed by that individual. D.total amount of carbon emissions from that individual's car.

A.amount of land required to provide all the resources used by that individual.

Consider a population undergoing logistic growth. When (K - N)/K > 0, what does that imply about the birth rate (b) and death rate (d)? A.b > d B.b < d C.b = d D.It is not possible to make an inference about b and d from this information.

A.b > d

The maximum number of individuals of a given population the environment can support is the environment's _____ for that population. A.carrying capacity B.effect on the intrinsic growth rate C.population size D.effect on the exponential growth rate

A.carrying capacity

Once a hemlock-spruce forest is established in Glacier Bay (Alaska), it tends to remain relatively unchanged unless disturbed. This makes it the _____ for the region. A.climax community B.ecosystem C.food web D.primary producer

A.climax community

Humans have a nearly ubiquitous influence on physical environments throughout the world. Looking back through geologic history, which type of organism can claim a comparable impact on physical environments? A.cyanobacteria B.trilobites C.dinosaurs D.birds

A.cyanobacteria

A(n) _____ is a community of organisms and the physical environment it occupies. A.ecosystem B.community C.population D.metapopulation E.interaction

A.ecosystem

What pattern of growth are humans currently exhibiting? A.exponential growth B.logistic growth C.intrinsic growth D.geometric growth E.None of the answer options is correct.

A.exponential growth

Competitive exclusion describes A.failure of similar ecospecies to coexist B.failure of distantly related ecospecies to coexist C.the mechanism of niche overlap D.the reason for allopatric speciation E.the reason for sympatric speciation

A.failure of similar ecospecies to coexist

A _____ depicts the flow of carbon through an ecosystem, whereas a _____ depicts the transfer of energy. A.food web; trophic pyramid B.trophic pyramid, food web C.food web; niche D.niche; food web

A.food web; trophic pyramid

The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) occurs naturally in a habitat about 450 miles long and 5-35 miles wide, from southwest Oregon along the coast to just south of Monterey, California. What aspect of the population ecology of the coast redwood does this statement describe? A.geographic range B.population density C.population size D.type of distribution

A.geographic range

If you were studying the effects of climate change on the geographic ranges of species living in the mountains and your climate records showed that mean temperatures were increasing, you would predict that species ranges would show a shift toward: A.higher elevations. B.lower elevations. C.intermediate elevations. D.unpredictable elevations—the precise response would depend on individual species, with no clear trends or averages. E.None of the answer options is correct.

A.higher elevations.

As the standard of living of a country increases, the ecological footprint usually A.increases. B.decreases. C.is not affected.

A.increases.

A general trend in global biodiversity is a gradient of: A.increasing diversity moving from the poles toward the equator. B.decreasing diversity moving from the poles toward the equator. C.increasing diversity moving out from continental margins to the interior. D.decreasing diversity moving from continental margins to the interior.

A.increasing diversity moving from the poles toward the equator.

Cold air is _____ dense than warm air, and cold air holds _____ moisture than warm air. A.more; less B.more; more C.less; more D.less; less

A.more; less

We think of termites as insects that "eat" wood. In fact, however, termites rely on a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic gut microbes to digest cellulose—without the microbes, the termites will ingest wood, but will starve. This, then, is an example of a(n); A.obligate mutualism. B.obligate antagonism. C.facultative mutualism. D.facultative antagonism. E.None of the answer options is correct.

A.obligate mutualism.

Prairie dogs are rodents that live in colonies. Black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies typically have around 12 adult animals per hectare. What aspect of the population ecology of the black-tailed prairie dog does this statement describe? A.population density B.population size C.population growth D.life history

A.population density

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator: A.there would be no seasonality in climate. B.seasonality would increase at high latitudes. C.seasonality would increase at low latitudes. D.summers would be warmer in the Northern Hemisphere.

A.there would be no seasonality in climate.

Humans add about 150,000,000 tons of fixed nitrogen to the biosphere each year, primarily: A.through the use of fertilizer. B.as nitrogen emissions from burning fossil fuels. C.through the nonagricultural use of ammonia. D.as nitrogen emissions from industry. E.through urination

A.through the use of fertilizer.

What type of biome would you expect to find in an area where the average annual precipitation is 150 cm and the average annual temperature is 25 C? A. temperate grassland/desert B. tropical seasonal forest/savanna C. tundra D. woodland/shrubland E. temperate seasonal forest

B. tropical seasonal forest/savanna

Male Australian bowerbirds build and decorate elaborate structures, called bowers, out of grasses and other vegetation. If we want to understand the physiological mechanism behind this behavior, we want to understand its: A.Adaptive function B.Causation C.Causation and Development D.Development E.Evolutionary history

B.Causation

An individual E. coli bacterium, much like a population of E. coli, can evolve antibiotic resistance. A.True B.False

B.False

At the poles, the Coriolis effect is much smaller than at the equator. A.True B.False

B.False

From the moment that a behavior appears in a population, that behavior is always used for a certain function or purpose. A.True B.False

B.False

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, then the poles would receive the same amount of solar energy as the equator. A.True B.False

B.False

If the receptors for pheromones are activated, a mating will be guaranteed. A.True B.False

B.False

Seasons are caused by the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun. A.True B.False

B.False

When the ecological footprints of every human on Earth are summed, this number corresponds exactly to the land area of Earth. A.True B.False

B.False

_____ behaviors are instinctive and carried out regardless of earlier experience. A.Imitated B.Innate C.Imprinted D.Learned

B.Innate

Many squirrel species cache food for consumption later. Even squirrels of a young age are able to dig and bury food, even if they have never watched another member of their species bury food. They are able to retrieve food that is buried very well, and it is thought they use landmarks around the burial site of the food to return to that spot and find their food. Based on this description, the burial of food is a(n) _____ behavior, and the retrieval of food is _____. A.Innate; innate B.Innate; learned C.Learned; learned D.Learned; innate E.Innate; a conditioned response

B.Innate; learned

____ is the proportion of individuals of an initial cohort that dies at each successive age or stage of the life cycle. A.Survivorship B.Mortality C.Age structure D.Demography

B.Mortality