Ecology energy relations

22. The base of an ecological pyramid represents the A. producer trophic level. B. primary consumer trophic level. C. secondary consumer trophic level. D. top predator trophic level.

A. producer trophic level.

49. In large natural ecosystems, competition between two species over time will usually result in A. death of all the members of one species within a short time. B. equal numbers of each species C. each species occupying a slightly different niche. D. hybridization between the two species

C. each species occupying a slightly different niche.

61. A form of symbiosis in which one participant benefits and the other apparently is not benefited nor harmed is A. commensalism. B. parasitism. C. mutualism. D. coevolution.

A. commensalism.

36. Which type of organism produces food in an ecosystem? A. heterotroph B. autotroph C. consumer D. carnivore

B. autotroph

38. Which eats only plant foods? A. omnivore B. herbivore C. decomposer D. autotroph E. carnivore

B. herbivore

72. Limiting factors of food and space will first be observed in Figure at number A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4. E. 5. F. 6.

D. 4

33. How are omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores similar? They all A. are producers. B. are consumers and produce oxygen. C. produce their own food. D. produce oxygen. E. are consumers and produce carbon dioxide.

E. are consumers and produce carbon dioxide

41. Which may be a secondary or tertiary consumer? A. producer B. herbivore C. photoautotrophs D. autotroph E. carnivore

E. carnivore

2. The study of the interrelationships of plants and animals with each other and with their environment is known as A. a trophic level. B. a food web. C. a habitat. D. a biosphere. E. ecology.

E. ecology.

40. Which of the following organisms would be considered a decomposer? A. green algae B. green plant C. caterpillar D. bird E. mushroom

E. mushroom

1. Ecology is best defined as the study of A. populations. B. rate of population changes. C. communities. D. how populations are restricted by environmental resistance. E. organisms as they interact with other organisms and with their physical surroundings.

E. organisms as they interact with other organisms and with their physical surroundings.

71. In Figure, the carrying capacity of the environment occurs at number A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4. E. 5. F. 6.

A. 1.

45. Which of the following is NOT necessary to keep a balanced (stable) ecosystem going? A. Matter (i.e., elements) has to cycle. B. There must be an outside energy source. C. Various producers and consumers must be proportional. D. Bacteria & fungi be eliminated.

A. Matter (i.e., elements) has to cycle

21. Which sequence correctly illustrates the most plausible food chain? A. algae, insect larvae, fish, humans B. algae, fish, insect larvae, humans C. insect larvae, algae, fish, humans D. fish, insect larvae, algae, humans

A. algae, insect larvae, fish, humans

48. Interaction between two species as both attempt to use the same environmental resources is A. competition. B. a community. C. an ecosystem. D. predation. E. symbiosis.

A. competition.

52. Which term describes the concept that no two species can have the same "job" in the community at the same time? A. competitive exclusion B. habitat C. density-dependent factor D. mimicry

A. competitive exclusion

25. In an ecosystem, caterpillars eat grass. Field mice eat the caterpillars and seeds from the grass. Snakes eat the mice. Hawks eat both snakes and mice. This would be considered a(n) A. food web. B. food chain. C. ecosystem. D. first trophic level.

A. food web.

23. In a grassland biome, which organism would most likely be at the highest trophic level? A. hawk B. big bluestem grass C. sparrow D. caterpillar E. mouse

A. hawk

42. Animals that feed on both plants and other animals are called A. herbivores. B. carnivores. C. omnivores. D. decomposers. E. detritivores.

A. herbivores.

57. Overall, the most scientifically correct viewpoint toward predators is A. predators help keep prey populations from overexploiting limited food resources. B. ecosystems support more populations when the large carnivores are eliminated from the system. C. there is a high level of cruelty and indiscriminate killing among larger predators. D. predators eliminated harm us, we improve conditions for other animal populations.

A. predators help keep prey populations from overexploiting limited food resources.

11. Which of the following is a biotic factor in an ecosystem? A. the food chain B. inorganic nutrients C. water availability D. temperature

A. the food chain

16. In an experiment carried out to study the energy flow through an ecosystem, scientists measured the total solar energy captured by plants to be 10,000 kilocalories. The portion of this available to the next trophic level will be A. 10,000 kilocalories. B. 1,000 kcal C. 100 kcal D. 10 kilocalories.

B. 1,000 kcal

14. What percentage of the energy in one trophic level becomes incorporated into the next level? A. 1% B. 10% C. 30% D. 60% E. 100%

B. 10%

56. Which of the following is correct when describing a predator-prey cycle? A. A decline in the number of predators causes a decline in the number of prey. B. A decline in the number of prey causes a decline in the number of predators. C. An increase in the number of predators triggers an increase in the number of prey. D. An up-and-down cycle will be seen for the prey animal.

B. A decline in the number of prey causes a decline in the number of predators.

29. What happens to the amount of available energy as you progress up the food pyramid? A. The amount of energy decreases. B. The amount of energy increases. C. The amount of energy stays the same D. amount of energy decreases and then finally increases.

B. The amount of energy increases.

6. A number of populations of different species interacting with one another is called A. competition. B. a community. C. an ecosystem. D. predation.

B. a community.

7. A number of populations of different species interacting with one another in a natural environment, such as a rotten log, is called A. competition. B. a community. C. a biome. D. predation.

B. a community.

37. Which is NOT a consumer? A. omnivore B. herbivore C. detritivores D. autotroph E. carnivore

B. autotroph

12. The relatively thin layer on the earth's surface where life is possible is known as the A. ecosystem. B. biosphere. C. biome. D. biopreserve.

B. biosphere.

74. The outbreak of a disease, as bubonic plague, that kills many people is an example of factor A. density-independent B. density-dependent C. a commensalistic D. a symbiotic relationship.

B. density-dependent

75. A population of 100 butterflies living on an acre of land loses three-quarters of its members when a sudden freeze in the spring occurs just after they emerge as caterpillars. This population has undergone a reduction in population size due to a factor A. an intrinsic B. density-independent C. a density-dependent D. natural selection.

B. density-independent

3. The role a species plays in the community is called its A. habitat. B. ecological niche. C. biotic role. D. abiotic role.

B. ecological niche.

18. Most natural food chains are only four or five links long, rarely more. The number of trophic levels is limited because A. more predators than herbivores. B. efficiency of energy transfer is very low, about 10 percent. C. winter kills off most insects D. This is not correct

B. efficiency of energy transfer is very low, about 10 percent.

66. A scientist observes a population of grasshoppers in a farmer's field several times over the summer. She notices that after each application of an insecticide the grasshopper population increases to its pre-pesticide levels very rapidly. This finding indicate the grasshopper population is A. in the lag phase. B. in the exponential growth phase. C. in the deceleration phase. D. in the stable equilibrium phase.

B. in the exponential growth phase.

54. Species of grain beetles can live on dry meal, obtaining water as metabolic water. Many of these beetle species are grain pests that do considerable damage to stored grain. You set up a dozen jars of dry meal and introduce 50 individuals of each species to each jar, being careful to have half of each species from each sex. The food supply is sufficient to last for a year and the size is adequate so that wastes do not become toxic. The examination of the jars in six months will find A. a totally random variation in numbers of both beetles. B. only one species per jar, similar to competitive exclusion principle experiment with paramecia. C. the same ratio of beetles as when you started, about half from each species. D. only dead beetles in all jars due to intense competition for the niche.

B. only one species per jar, similar to competitive exclusion principle experiment with paramecia.

24. In a grazing food chain, A. all consumers are primary consumers. B. primary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms. C. primary consumers eat detritus. D. secondary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms.

B. primary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms.

47. Settlers move into an area and harvest most of the foxes for fur. They are likely to see A. hawks die out. B. squirrel populations increase. C. grasshopper populations increase. D. hawk populations immediately increase.

B. squirrel populations increase.

73. Which is NOT a density-dependent factor? A. food supply B. weather C. shelter or nest space D. disease

B. weather

27. How is a carnivore like a herbivore? A. Both pass on all energy received to next trophic level. B. Both produce nutrients for plants. C. Both pass less energy to next trophic level D. Both produce ATP without loss of energy.

C. Both pass less energy to next trophic level

13. Which is NOT true about a complex food web? A. It remains stable. B. Populations tend to remain about the same size. C. Energy levels remain about the same D. Inputs are constant and outputs minimal except for heat.

C. Energy levels remain about the same

10. An ecosystem consists of what two components? A. grazing and detritus food chains B. habitat and niches C. biotic & abiotic D. light and water

C. biotic & abiotic

70. The maximum population that the environment can support for an indefinite period of time is A. biotic potential. B. environmental resistance. C. carrying capacity. D. replacement

C. carrying capacity.

62. A small marine amphipod has recently been discovered that carries another organism on its back. The "backpack" organism tastes bad. If a fish ingests the pair, it immediately spits them back out. If the amphipod is alone, however, it is readily eaten and swallowed. There is no apparent benefit in this relationship for the "backpack" organism, which appears to be neither helped nor harmed. This is therefore a case of A. mutualism. B. parasitism. C. commensalism. D. competitive exclusion. E. predation.

C. commensalism

50. Similar species occupying slightly different niches in the same community is shown by A. the presence of carp in polluted waters in the United States. B. fluctuation of the snowshoe hare and lynx populations in Canada. C. competition between two species of barnacles in Scotland, resulting in one living in the intertidal zone and the other living below this species. D. removal of a starfish species from intertidal communities in Washington.

C. competition between two species of barnacles in Scotland, resulting in one living in the intertidal zone and the other living below this species.

51. There are two organisms with overlapping ranges and filling a similar niche. We find that where their niches overlap, there is twice the competition for resources. This leads to A. speciation. B. hypervolume. C. competitive exclusion. D. total extinction

C. competitive exclusion.

43. Fungi and bacteria are detritus-feeders, also known as A. omnivores. B. herbivores. C. decomposers. D. autotrophs. E. carnivores.

C. decomposers

44. The only heterotrophs required for an ecosystem to function are A. omnivores. B. herbivores. C. decomposers D. autotrophs E. carnivores.

C. decomposers

67. When growth proceeds at a rate similar to 2 4 8 16 32 64...etc., it is called A. arithmetic growth. B. additive growth. C. exponential growth. D. zero population growth.

C. exponential growth.

17. Compared to the numbers of grasshoppers or deer, there are few mountain lions. The reason that large and fierce animals, such as the mountain lion, are rare in an ecosystem is that A. such animals do not tolerate other members like them. B. through evolution, most fierce animals have been killed off by others. C. food chains are 10-20% efficient at each step, top carnivores require large amounts of calories D. only a few such animals are permitted by succession in a biome and there are only a few biomes.

C. food chains are 10-20% efficient at each step, top carnivores require large amounts of calories

46. When settlers move into a wooded area, they slash and burn the woods, increasing grass production. Initially, they are likely to see A. foxes increase. B. squirrels increase. C. grasshoppers increase. D. hawks decrease.

C. grasshoppers increase.

39. The primary consumers that feed directly on green plants are called A. omnivores. B. decomposers. C. herbivores. D. carnivores. E. producers.

C. herbivores

28. Which of the following is NOT true about a food web? It A. contains many food chains. B. contains many trophic levels. C. is stable. D. uses only C cycle.

C. is stable.

64. A form of symbiosis in which both participants benefit is A. commensalism. B. parasitism. C. mutualism. D. predation. E. competition.

C. mutualism

15. Less energy is available at the next trophic level because A. food is captured and eaten before reaches next trophic level. B. food eaten is digested C. only a portion of the food that is digested can be used to make ATP. D. all of the absorbed food molecules are used as an energy source for ATP buildup in mitochondria.

C. only a portion of the food that is digested can be used to make ATP.

31. The ultimate source of energy for the majority of organisms on Earth, including humans, is A. heat from burning fuels. B. heat from muscle contraction. C. sunlight. D. electric light.

C. sunlight.

20. Consider the components of a four-step food chain: producers, herbivores, carnivores, top predators. If everything is eaten at each level, how much of the energy stored by a producer is passed to the top predator? A. 100% B. 10% C. 1% D. 0.1%

D. 0.1%

30. When a plant produces food by photosynthesis, what is the fate of food stored as sugars? A. All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by animal consumers. B. All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by either animals or decomposers. C. Most of the plant is consumed by animals and very little is consumed by decomposers. D. A % of the food is used by plant itself in cellular respiration and rest is consumed by animals

D. A % of the food is used by plant itself in cellular respiration and rest is consumed by animals

19. What happens to the energy that is passed from one trophic level to the next in a food chain? A. It recycles back to the producers. B. It results in a much larger decomposer population. C. It is dissipated into the atmosphere in heat. D. It is recaptured by another food chain.

D. It is recaptured by another food chain.

58. Which of the following is NOT an anti-predator defense mechanism? A. Plant chemicals, including coffee and tea caffeine, make caterpillars sick or jittery. B. The large eyespots on a moth's wing are exposed abruptly to startle a hungry bird. C. Many trees, vines, and shrubs have stems lines with long thorns. D. Many plants have brightly colored fruit and flowers.

D. Many plants have brightly colored fruit and flowers.

35. Which kind of organism would be most likely to perform photosynthesis? A. omnivore B. herbivore C. decomposer D. autotroph E. carnivore

D. autotroph

32. Energy flow in an ecosystem begins with A. omnivores. B. herbivores. C. decomposers. D. autotrophs. E. carnivores.

D. autotrophs.

8. An ecosystem contains A. only the biotic (living) components of the environment. B. only abiotic components C. only energy flow D. both the living organisms and the abiotic components of the environment.

D. both the living organisms and the abiotic components of the environment.

69. Population size is believed to level off at the _______ of an environment. A. population growth B. biotic potential C. environmental resistance D. carrying capacity

D. carrying capacity

63. An example of commensalism is A. mycorrhizal fungal roots on the roots of plants. B. ants living on the bullhorn acacia tree. C. termites with protozoa in their digestive tracts. D. clown fishes in sea anemones.

D. clown fishes in sea anemones.

5. All of the organisms living in your front yard represent a(n) _______, while the blue jays represent a(n) ______. A. population; community B. population; biome C. ecosystem; biome D. community; population

D. community; population

9. The ____ is made of a community of organisms, plus its physical environment. A. food chain B. habitat C. niche D. ecosystem

D. ecosystem

26. In the following food chain, which organism is at the third trophic level? grass rabbits snakes hawks foxes A. grass B. rabbits C. snakes D. hawks E. foxes

D. hawks

60. Parasites are found A. only as viruses, bacteria, and protists. B. only as viruses, bacteria, protists, and animals C. only on host animals. D. in all kingdoms, sometimes a parasite uses more than one host

D. in all kingdoms, sometimes a parasite uses more than one host

53. In an Asian rice paddy, carp eat decaying material from around the base of rice plants while a snail scrapes algae from the leaves, stems, and roots of the same plant. They can survive at the same time in the same rice paddy because they A. use the resources differently. B. use the same resources. C. use the different resources D. occupy different habitats and use the resources differently.

D. occupy different habitats and use the resources differently.

34. The primary producers in terrestrial ecosystems are the ____, whereas in freshwater and saltwater ecosystems it is ____. A. autotrophs; heterotrophs B. herbivore; carnivore C. consumers; producers D. plants; algae

D. plants; algae

4. All the members of the same species that inhabit a particular area are termed a(n) A. ecosystem. B. biosphere. C. niche. D. population. E. community.

D. population.

55. Interaction between two species in which one feeds on the other is A. competition. B. a community. C. an ecosystem. D. predation.

D. predation.

59. Which statement about parasitism is true? A. The host is generally smaller than the parasite. B. Parasites are always severe and kill the host. C. All parasites require a single host D. There are examples of parasites in every kingdom of life.

D. symbiosis.

68. A population with rapidly expanding exponential growth would be best represented by a graph with a(n) ______-shaped curve. A. bell B. urn C. pyramid D. S E. J

E. J

65. Which of the following would allow optimal population growth? A. accumulation of waste products B. predation C. competition D. limited access to food and water E. unlimited resources

E. unlimited resources