Ecology Week 1 Book Quizzes

If a population has 250 births, 247 death, 12 immigrants, and 5 emigrants over 1 year, what is the population growth rate? a. 20 per year b. 10 per year c. ~14 per year d. ~10 per year

10 per year

Today's global extinction rate is _____ times greater than Earth's background extinction rate. a. 2 to 5 b. 17 to 80 c. 5 to 10 d. 100 to 1,000

100 to 1,000

In a system with three trophic levels starting with the input of 200 calories, roughly how many calories would be left by the top trophic level? a. 0.2 b. 50 c. 20 d. 2

2

The fossil record indicates the occurrence of how many mass extinction events? a. 5 b. 8 c. 23 d. 3

5

If there were 100 million species on Earth, how many species might we reasonably predict to become extinct annually assuming background extinction rates? a. 1-10 species b. 7,644 species c. 50 species d. 1 million species

50 species

Why is the following scenario wrong? A population of 100 grows by 3 in a year, resulting in an annual growth rate of 3%. In subsequent years, the population will continue to grow at a rate of 3% per year, yielding an additional 3 animals per year. a. This calculation does not account for animals that immigrate from other populations to join the original population. b. A growth rate of 3% will not add 3 animals per year to a population. It will add 3% of the existing population to the total. c. This calculation does not account for the animals that die or emigrate d. Nothing, it appears to be correct.

A growth rate of 3% will not add 3 animals per year to a population. It will add 3% of the existing population to the total

Which of the following cases best describes a resilient community? a. A population of squirrels is permanently displaced from its habitat by a forest fire; even when the squirrels relocate, there are significantly fewer that survive. b. A population of exotic plants is all but diminished by deforestation; however, it rebounds quickly the following spring, and within a year the population returns to approximately its original numbers. c. A population of fish live in a unique geothermal pool; the habitat is permanently damaged by a storm, and the population dies off. d. All of the above are examples of resilient communities.

A population of exotic plants is all but diminished by deforestation; however, it rebounds quickly the following spring, and within a year the population returns to approximately its original numbers

Environmental science often focuses on the study of complex systems. What does this mean for the generation of scientific theories related to environmental problems? a. A scientific theory can be generated in environmental science, but many studies must be conducted and these studies must provide support for the theory. b. It is virtually impossible to generate a scientific theory related to the environment because of the inherent uncertainty associated with environmental data. c. Scientific theories are more common in the hard sciences, such as physics, because environmental scientists have a hard time agreeing with one another. d. Scientific theories are common in environmental science because theories are created as explanations for the behavior of a complex system.

A scientific theory can be generated in environmental science, but many studies must be conducted and these studies must provide support for the theory

Which of the following invasions might cause important economic impacts? a. Zebra mussels from Russia have invaded global waterways around the world, causing damage to ships and boats as well as to wastewater treatment plants and power plants. b. It has been discovered that Asian oysters filter water better than the oysters native to the United States, so some people have proposed introducing this invasive oyster into areas in need of water filtration such as the Chesapeake Bay. c. A frog species that was introduced to Hawaii has such a loud call that people have begun to stop purchasing homes in the area where many of these frogs live in order to avoid the disturbance. d. All of the above.

All of the above

Removing a proton from an atom would automatically change its _____. a. element b. atomic number c. mass number d. All of these answers are correct

All of these answers are correct

Which of the following scenarios best represents a mutualistic interaction? a. Herbivorous animals eat plants that cover extensive amounts of land. b. Birds called cattle egrets follow around herds of cattle in order to eat the insects that are stirred up when cattle walk through vegetation. c. Birds called oxpeckers land on zebras and eat parasites off their backs, providing food for the oxpecker and pest protection for the zebra. d. Fleas gain a warm home and food from living on the skin of dogs, but they also bite the dogs and cause them to itch severely.

Birds called oxpeckers land on zebras and eat parasites off their backs, providing food for the oxpecker and pest protection for the zebra

Imagine walking into a store and seeing an advertisement stating a new product is produced sustainably and will cause no harm to the environment. If you were to go about testing the validity of these claims for a class, what would be a good approach? a. Examine the scientific peer reviewed literature to see if you can find evidence supporting the claims. b. Call a competing company and ask them for any information they have that might refute the claims made by the company you are investigating. c. Call the company and ask them why they feel their product is sustainable. d. Call the company and ask them for documentation on the claim, evaluate the documentation to see if the claim is based on peer reviewed research, and then determine whether that research was funded by the company

Call the company and ask them for documentation on the claim, evaluate the documentation to see if the claim is based on peer reviewed research, and then determine whether that research was funded by the company

In past major extinction events, something happened, and then many species disappeared. What actually caused the species to disappear? a. We're not sure because the geologic record is so poor and incomplete. b. Conditions changed faster than the organisms were able to adapt to, and, as a result, these species eventually disappeared. c. In each of these major events, the disruption to the Earth's environment was so large that most individuals simply died within a year or two, and whole species were lost in the process. d. In all of these events, there was so much habitat destroyed that no species could survive.

Conditions changed faster than the organisms were able to adapt to, and, as a result, these species eventually disappeared

_____ experiments are those that involve the use of observations on a group that receives the same manipulations as the treatment group except for the one factor being studied or varied. a. Observational b. Controlled c. Accurate d. Manipulative

Controlled

Which of the following accurately describes current trends in biodiversity and crop production? a. Populations of pollinating insects have declined globally. However, most of our food crops do not require pollination, so our food production would remain largely unaffected by the loss of pollinators. b. Crop diversity has declined, as have populations of pollinators needed to pollinate our crops. c. We have increased the diversity of crops used for food by genetically engineering crops that do not require pollinators. d. Humans have increased the diversity of crops used for food production in an attempt to offset the loss of global biodiversity.

Crop diversity has declined, as have populations of pollinators needed to pollinate our crops

Why does an ice cube float? a. Ice takes up less volume than liquid water. b. Ice is attracted to air. c. Ice is less dense than liquid water. d. There are air pockets in ice cubes.

Ice is less dense than liquid water

Which one of the following is true? a. Increasing the temperature of a gas will decrease the pressure and volume of the gas. b. If you increase the volume of a gas while keeping temperature constant, the pressure of the gas will decrease. c. If you double the number of moles of a gas, its temperature will double. d. Gases and liquids are easily compressed, while solids are not.

If you increase the volume of a gas while keeping temperature constant, the pressure of the gas will decrease

How is it possible that we don't currently know how many species are present on Earth? a. There has been little effort to collect and classify most plant and animal species. b. There are many amphibians (such as frogs) that have yet to be found, and these creatures are a major part of global biodiversity. c. It is very difficult to measure insect and microbiological diversity accurately. d. None of the above. We do know how many species are on the planet.

It is very difficult to measure insect and microbiological diversity accurately

A small population of coyotes live in a desert habitat. There is plenty of habitat and prey available for these coyotes, but they typically do not have much water available to them, especially during the hot summer months. However, at one point in time, a series of very wet years occurs, which increases all of the resources, including water, available to the coyotes. During this series of wet years, how is the coyote population likely change? a. It will stay the same. b. It will decline. c. It will grow exponentially. d. It will grow logistically.

It will grow exponentially

In 2001, a small population of mice in Colorado had 150 births, 110 death, 12 immigrants to the population, and 2 emigrants from the population. In 2002, Colorado experienced a severe drought. In this year, the birthrate for the population remained the same (150), but there were 140 deaths, 2 immigrants to the population, and 12 emigrants from the population. Keeping in mind the equation for growth rate, explain what the population curve would look like for the population during the period from 2001 to 2002. a. It would be a U-shaped curve because the population dropped and rebounded during these years. b. It would be flat because the population experience neither growth nor decline during these years. c. It would show an increase in the population in 2001 and a flat line in 2002. d. It would show an increase in the population in 2001 and a decrease in the population in 2002.

It would show an increase in the population in 2001 and a flat line in 2002

Of the following, which is the best research hypothesis for the question "Does flower color affect how attractive the flowers are to bees?" a. Light colored flowers will attract more bees than dark colored flowers. b. Flower odor has a greater effect on attraction by bees than does flower color. c. Bees can see light-colored flowers better than dark-colored flowers. d. Bees are attracted to flowers because they can drink the nectar and eat the pollen, and by visiting flowers, they help the flowers pollinate each other.

Light colored flowers will attract more bees than dark colored flowers.

A forestry company wants to carry out a sustainable harvest from a forest in the Pacific Northwest and needs to establish how many trees can be sustainably harvested each year. Which of the following statements is a scientifically valid approach to answering this question? a. Measure how many trees naturally regenerate each year, and then make sure the harvest removes no more than the number of trees that would naturally regenerate. b. Measure the number of trees in the forest, and divide the total number of trees by the number of years that the harvest will take place to come up with an average annual estimate of forest removal. c. The only scientifically valid answer to this question is that no trees can be removed because it is not possible to sustainably remove trees from a forest. d. Harvest trees for several years, and then measure the number of forest animals that are still living in the forest.

Measure how many trees naturally regenerate each year, and then make sure the harvest removes no more than the number of trees that would naturally regenerate

Mathematical and computer models are often used in environmental science. What is an accurate statement about the usefulness of these models? a. These models are useful but cannot generate peer-reviewed research and therefore cannot contribute to the generation of scientific theories. b. Models are the only way to examine the dynamics of complex ecological or physical systems. c. Models are best used as supporting evidence for scientific theories generated from observational data. d. Models are one of several ways that environmental science can test hypotheses that are otherwise too complex to examine in experiments.

Models are one of several ways that environmental science can test hypotheses that are otherwise too complex to examine in experiments

Many ecologists support the idea that more diverse ecosystems should be less affected by major environmental change than less diverse ecosystems. For example, a large drought would have a bigger negative impact on the life in a low-diversity ecosystem than it would on the life in a high-diversity ecosystem. Why would this be? a. More diverse ecosystems have a broader mix of species, including some that are more likely to be able to tolerate changes such as drought, floods, or other extreme environmental events. b. This idea is incorrect. Actually, low-diversity ecosystems are known to respond better to environmental change than high-diversity ecosystems. c. More diverse ecosystems usually have drought tolerant plants that can survive periods of low rainfall. d. When there is more diversity, evolution can occur very quickly, so new species rapidly appear and prevent the ecosystem from changing when there is a drought or similar event.

More diverse ecosystems have a broader mix of species, including some that are more likely to be able to tolerate changes such as drought, floods, or other extreme environmental events

Which of the following statements about mutations and natural selection is true? a. Changes in the environment cause beneficial mutations to occur, resulting in natural selection for the mutant genes. b. Mutations typically result in genes that are more favorable to the environment. c. Most genetic mutations have little to no effect on an organism. d. When a mutation occurs in an organism's DNA, that organism will become better adapted to its environment.

Most genetic mutations have little to no effect on an organism.

Which one of the following metabolic process is 100% efficient? a. anaerobic cellular respiration b. protein synthesis c. No metabolic process is 100% efficient. d. aerobic cellular respiration

No metabolic process is 100% efficient

Do natural disturbances harm ecosystems? a. We do not have a good idea of the role disturbance plays in ecosystems. b. Yes, once a disturbance occurs, an ecosystems will never be the same and often degrades quickly. c. Yes, during a disturbance, all of the most important species die. d. No, a disturbance is often essential to the long-term health and functioning of an ecosystem.

No, a disturbance is often essential to the long-term health and functioning of an ecosystem

Which of the following statements accurately describes how traits are passed to future generations? a. Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel determined that DNA is the molecule of inheritance. b. An organism's traits are an average or a blending of the traits passed down from its parents. c. Only traits that are a result of genetics can be passed down to the next generation. d. Both genetic traits and traits acquired by an organism during its lifetime can be passed down to the next generation.

Only traits that are a result of genetics can be passed down to the next generation

Which of the following statements is true? a. Plants that look different can never interbreed with each other. b. Organisms that are similar in appearance generally have genomes that are more similar than organisms that look quite different. c. Two organisms can have genomes that are completely different and yet be the same species. d. Animals that look similar to each other can always interbreed and produce fertile offspring, and therefore are always classified as one species.

Organisms that are similar in appearance generally have genomes that are more similar than organisms that look quite different

Which of the following roles do plants play in an intact ecosystem? a. Plants provide energy to ecosystems in the form of sugars. b. Plants convert sunlight into heat energy for use by other organisms. c. The presence of plant roots tends to increase erosion. d. Plants create energy from carbon dioxide and water.

Plants provide energy to ecosystems in the form of sugars

Which of the following statements about evolution is true? a. Both populations and individual organisms in the populations can evolve. b. The genes of an individual can evolve as the individual ages. c. Individual organisms can evolve, whereas populations remain genetically stable from one generation to the next. d. Populations evolve, but individual members of the population do not.

Populations evolve, but individual members of the population do not

Which one of the following best describes the scientific peer review process? a. Scientists anonymously evaluate the research of another scientist. b. It is the only known process by which certain species of birds can be monitored without affecting the birds' behavior. c. Other scientists oversee the collection of data for an experiment to verify that a researcher is not making up results. d. A scientist's friends vouch for the scientist's honesty in order for the scientist's research to be published.

Scientists anonymously evaluate the research of another scientist

What is the role of creativity in science? a. Scientists must be creative in order to design appropriate experiments and think critically about unexpected results. b. Scientists are not supposed to be creative because creativity is subject to human emotions and desires, and scientists are supposed to be objective. c. Scientists must be creative in order to design experiments that will give them the results that they predict. d. Scientists must be creative in order to get the statistical results that support their hypothesis.

Scientists must be creative in order to design appropriate experiments and think critically about unexpected results

Of the following examples, which one best represents a state change in an ecosystem? a. Water vapor (gas) in the ecosystem changes to rain (liquid). b. An intermittent stream dries up for the season. c. A population of animals migrates to a warmer location during the winter. d. Soil becomes increasingly sandy over many years of grazing.

Soil becomes increasingly sandy over many years of grazing

Which of the following is an example of the use of biocontrol? a. South American weevils are introduced to Lake Victoria to help eradicate the invasive water hyacinth. b. A herd of goats grazes on a native species of goldenrod, preventing the goldenrod from flowering and producing seeds. c. Rats are implanted with acetaminophen (Tylenol) as bait to help control invasive brown tree snakes in Guam. d. All of these are correct.

South American weevils are introduced to Lake Victoria to help eradicate the invasive water hyacinth

_____ is the process by which geographic isolation results in the formation of multiple species from a common ancestor. a. Speciation b. Gene flow c. Isolationism d. Genetic drift

Speciation

What is the role of statistics in science? a. Statistics are used to prove that a theory is true. b. Statistics are used to create results in an experiment. c. Statistics are used to determine whether results of an experiment are meaningful. d. Statistics are used to collect data in an experiment.

Statistics are used to determine whether results of an experiment are meaningful

Which of the following statements is true? a. A substance that reduces the H+ concentration of a solution is called an acid. b. A solution of pH 5 is half as acidic as a solution of pH 4. c. Sulfuric acid has a pH of <7. d. Baking soda is a common household acid.

Sulfuric acid has a pH of <7

The background extinction rate is about 1 extinction per 1 million species per year. How does the current rate of extinction compare to the background extinction rate? a. The current extinction rate is somewhat higher (2 times) than the background rate. b. The current extinction rate is considerably higher (100 times or more) than the background rate. c. The current extinction rate is half the background rate. d. The current extinction rate is about the same as the background rate.

The current extinction rate is considerably higher (100 times or more) than the background rate

A herd of deer are introduced to an isolated island, where they survive by grazing on the grasses growing on the island. The island experiences a period of drought, during which the grasses that the deer are grazing on do not regrow at a normal rate, and soon the deer population has exceeded the carrying capacity of the island. Assuming the drought continues, what is likely to happen to the ecosystem during this period? a. The deer will continue to stay in the area until they all eventually die, which will allow the grasses in the area to regrow. b. The deer will move quickly to another island, which will allow the grasses in the original area to regrow. c. The grass will naturally regrow; it is probably just experiencing a natural cycle that it can rebound from on its own. d. The deer will continue to stay in the area until they all eventually die; by that point, the soil will have experienced significant erosion as a result of overgrazing, and the ecosystem is likely to be permanently changed.

The deer will continue to stay in the area until they all eventually die; by that point, the soil will have experienced significant erosion as a result of overgrazing, and the ecosystem is likely to be permanently changed

An invasive plant is introduced to a small stream ecosystem that originally had a number of different plant species within it. The invasive plant uses a lot of water and soon outcompetes the other plants in the ecosystem. If this newly-changed ecosystem is faced with a major ecological disturbance, such a pest infestation that affects a number of species, including the invasive trees, what is likely to happen? a. The ecosystem will stay the same because pest infestations rarely cause permanent harm. b. The ecosystem will return to a healthy pre-invasion state once all of the invasive trees have been wiped out by the pest infestation. c. The ecosystem will be less resilient (and likely degraded to some degree) because it is now less diverse due to the effects of the invasive species. d. The ecosystem is likely to be more resilient because the pests couldn't possibly affect all individuals of the invasive species.

The ecosystem will be less resilient (and likely degraded to some degree) because it is now less diverse due to the effects of the invasive species

An ecosystem ecologist is most likely to study which of the following? a. the composition of the atmosphere b. the effects of soil nutrients on plant growth c. population trends in European starlings since their introduction to the eastern United States d. the interaction between wolves and coyotes in Yellowstone National Parl

The effects of soil nutrients on plant growth

While most major U.S. conservation policy focuses on species diversity, scientists also look at other levels of diversity, such as genetic diversity. Why would genetic diversity be an important factor to consider when investigating the biodiversity of a group of organisms? a. The genes of individuals within the same species can vary greatly, making some members of the same species more successful than others in certain situations. b. Our definition of a species is solely based on genetics, so understanding genetic diversity actually dictates how we define species diversity. c. Genetic diversity is actually a measure of all of the genes within an ecosystem, and based on this, we can classify different types of ecosystems. d. Genetic diversity is not na important factor; all members of a species are genetically identical, and we can obviously tell one species from another.

The genes of individuals within the same species can vary greatly, making some members of the same species more successful than others in certain situations

Marine sponges and a microbe called cyanobacteria have a unique relationship. The sponge provides protection for the bacteria, and, in return, the bacteria provide nutrients for the sponge through the process of photosynthesis. Because both organisms benefit, their symbiotic interaction is mutualists. However, if the environment suddenly changed to a point where the cyanobacteria did not have access to light and thus could no longer photosynthesize, how would the symbiotic association change? a. The interaction would likely become commensalistic because the cyanobacteria would continue to benefit from living on the sponge, but the sponge would not gain anything or be hurt by the bacteria (aside from the loss the nutrients that the sponges had been receiving). b. The association would fall apart and no longer be symbiotic in any way because neither of the organisms benefit if the cyanobacteria cannot photosynthesize. c. The interaction would become parasitic because the cyanobacteria would continue living on the sponge, and this would actually suck excess nutrients from the sponge. d. The interaction would remain mutualistic because the cyanobacteria would likely find some other thing to provide for the sponge.

The interaction would likely become commensalistic because the cyanobacteria would continue to benefit from living on the sponge, but the sponge would not gain anything or be hurt by the bacteria (aside from the loss the nutrients that the sponges had been receiving)

Why would life in the tropical regions being less affected by the major glacial cycles (during which ice sheets cover the northern section of the planet) lead to higher biodiversity in those regions? a. The lack of ice sheets means that there has been more uninterrupted time for speciation to occur, therefore leading to higher biodiversity. b. There has been less land use change in the tropics than in the other regions listed above c. The physical characteristics of the tropics, including climate and energy, are less favorable to life than we see in other regions, so there is more opportunity for natural selection to occur. d. Animals are forced to migrate to the tropics during the glacial cycles, where they then adapt to the warm conditions.

The lack of ice sheets means that there has been more uninterrupted time for speciation to occur, therefore leading to higher biodiversity.

Why does the Amazon rain forest generally have higher species diversity than temperate North American rain forests? a. The temperature has been relatively stable over long periods of time in the tropics (where the Amazon rain forest is located) in comparison to other areas of the world. b. There is more land area in the Amazon in comparison to other rain forests, so it has room for more species. c. Globally, people spend more money on conserving species in the Amazon rain forest than in other rain forests. d. Most species simply prefer warm temperatures to cold temperatures.

The temperature has been relatively stable over long periods of time in the tropics (where the Amazon rain forest is located) in comparison to other areas of the world

Which of the following statements about biodiversity is true? a. The loss of pollinators will have little effect on crop production, since most of our crops are wind-pollinated and do not need insect pollinators. b. Ecotourism is not affected by biodiversity loss, since people are more interested in other forms of entertainment than they are in visiting areas that are high in biodiversity. c. The use of only a handful of species for the vast majority of our crops has made our food supply more vulnerable to pests and disease. d. The production of new kinds of pharmaceuticals is largely unaffected by biodiversity loss, since most known species have been tested for biologically active compounds that could be used as drugs.

The use of only a handful of species for the vast majority of our crops has made our food supply more vulnerable to pests and disease

What major impacts did photosynthetic bacteria have on Earth's atmosphere? a. They began to produce oxygen, which accumulated in the atmosphere. b. They began to produce CO2, which is now contributing to global climate change. c. They began to release harmful bacteria into the atmosphere, which now make humans very sick. d. They began to take in sunlight and consequently trap heat in the atmosphere.

They began to produce oxygen, which accumulated in the atmosphere

A small mouse population found in the Front Range of Colorado looks and acts very much like most other mice in the area; yet, this particular group of mice is thought by many to deserve protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. How could this be? a. This particular group of mice appears to be a genetically distinct (sub)species and therefore would qualify for protection under the ESA. b. This particular mouse has special characteristics, such as the ability to jump high, that make it important to protect. c. Most field mice are threatened with extinction in Colorado. d. The mouse species lives only in ecosystems that have become very rare.

This particular group of mice appears to be a genetically distinct (sub)species and therefore would qualify for protection under the ESA

Which of the following statements regarding the benefits of biodiversity is true? a. Traditional cost and benefit analyses of economic activities heavily weigh consideration of the services of ecosystems and biodiversity, and therefore humans have made the protection of biodiversity the primary focus of the 21st century. b. Traditional cost and benefit analyses of economic activity largely ignore the benefits of ecosystems and biodiversity, and therefore global ecosystems and biodiversity are in serious peril. c. Although traditional economic cost and benefit analysis indicate a high value of biodiversity, humans ignore such analyses and continue to cause declines in biodiversity. d. Cost and benefit analyses indicate that economic activities provide more benefit than protecting biodiversity, which is why global ecosystems and biodiversity are in serious peril.

Traditional cost and benefit analyses of economic activity largely ignore the benefits of ecosystems and biodiversity, and therefore global ecosystems and biodiversity are in serious peril

Explain what is wrong with the following statement: Giraffes have developed long necks over many generations because they keep stretching higher and higher to reach the highest leaves on trees. a. Giraffes actually have long necks because they have to reach the ground when they drink water. b. Traits, such as long necks, are developed over many generations through the process of natural selection; they are not the result of a lifetime of activity. c. There is nothing wrong with the statement. d. You can't really "stretch" a neck.

Traits, such as long necks, are developed over many generations through the process of natural selection; they are not the result of a lifetime of activity

What are the major differences between a population that is experiencing logistic growth and one that is experiencing exponential growth? a. When a population experiences logistic growth, it will increase by 10% each year; when a population experiences exponential growth, it can increase by any exponent. b. When a population experiences logistic growth, the increases are always followed by large decreases; when a population experiences exponential growth, it will continue growing until a major devastating event. c. When a population experiences logistic growth, it will eventually level off as it reaches carrying capacity; when a population experiences exponential growth, it will increase at a steady rate indefinitely. d. When a population experiences logistic growth, it will increase at a steady rate indefinitely; when a population experiences exponential growth, it will eventually level off as it reaches carrying capacity.

When a population experiences logistic growth, it will eventually level off as it reaches carrying capacity; when a population experiences exponential growth, it will increase at a steady rate indefinitely

What differentiates a non-native species from an invasive species? a. There is no important distinction between these two terms. b. Once a species has been brought to a place where it had not existed in the past (non-native) and it completely takes over the ecological niche of another species, it is officially called invasive. c. When humans introduce a species to a new place, it is called non-native; when the species manages to get into a new place on its own, it is called invasive. d. When a species has been introduced to a new place but causes little damage, it is called non-native; when the non-native species begins to outcompete native species and cause ecological or economic impacts, it is deemed invasive.

When a species has been introduced to a new place but causes little damage, it is called non-native; when the non-native species begins to outcompete native species and cause ecological or economic impacts, it is deemed invasive

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of entropy? a. Coal is not a 100% efficient power source because the coal has to be transported to the plant, which requires energy. b. When coal is burned in a power plant, the heat produced is used to produce steam that is used to rotate a turbine, producing electricity. c. When coal is burned in a power plant, some of the heat is lost out of the smokestacks into the atmosphere. d. The burning of coal in a power plant is not 100% efficient because some of the coal is not completely combusted.

When coal is burned in a power plant, some of the heat is lost out of the smokestacks into the atmosphere

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of a negative feedback loop? a. Global warming causes permafrost to melt, releasing tons of trapped methane (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere, causing further warming. b. When your body overheats you begin to sweat, which causes evaporative cooling, which cools you down. c. You get a bad grade on a paper, causing you do become distraught about your grade, leading to stress and more bad grades. d. A forest fire denudes a mountain landscape, leading to erosion because of the lack of vegetation, causing the loss of the soil needed by plants that can colonize recently burned landscaped.

When your body overheats you begin to sweat, which causes evaporative cooling, which cools you down

Why is mutation an important aspect of how evolution occurs? a. Mutation creates superorganisms. b. Without mutations in genes, there would be no variation in traits that could be selected for. c. Mutation almost always results in genes that create positive or beneficial traits in organisms. d. Mutation helps to weed out the weakest species.

Without mutations in genes, there would be no variation in traits that could be selected for

There are many different definitions of a species. These include the capacity to interbreed, physical similarities, genetic similarities and others. Biologists spend a fairly large amount of time worrying about this definition, but does it make any difference for biodiversity conservation policy? a. No, it really doesn't matter because even though biologists argue about what a species is, most people, including government officials, can figure it out pretty easily. b. Yes, because nearly all private conservation efforts such as those of the World Wildlife Fund only work on species conservation and largely ignore habitat conservation. c. Yes, because laws such as those in the U.S. Endangered Species Act focus on species-level conservation of threatened or endangered species. d. No, this is just an academic debate.

Yes, because laws such as those in the U.S. Endangered Species Act focus on species-level conservation of threatened or endangered species

There are numerous satellites that circle Earth generating images of the planet and measuring the composition of the atmosphere. Is this information important to environmental science and, if so, why? a. Yes, this information is important because observation of change is the only legitimate way to do environmental science. b. No, it is not important to environmental science, but it is important for making decisions about how to respond to human impacts on land and in the oceans. c. Yes, it is important to environmental science because these observations provide the information needed to generate hypotheses. d. No, these observations are not important to environmental science but are important to other areas of research such as atmospheric chemistry, oceanography, and geography.

Yes, it is important to environmental science because these observations provide the information needed to generate hypotheses.

Which of the following best describes a population? a. a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific area in a given geological period b. all of the species that live in one particular ecosystem at one point in time c. a group of different species that all inhabit the same ecological niche d. the number of organisms of the same species that have lived in a certain area over many generations and geological periods

a group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific area in a given geological period

All the following are examples of biological limiting factors that can constrain the growth of an organism except: a. hunting by humans b. a predator c. a lack of sunlight d. pest infestation

a lack of sunlight

Which of the following best describes an endemic species? a. a native species found in only one specific location b. a species that is found in almost every ecosystem around the world c. a species that has invaded a habitat in which it is non-native d. a species that is particularly significant to a specific ecosystem

a native species found in only one specific location

A prokaryotic cell lacks _____. a. a nucleoid region b. DNA c. plasmids d. a nucleus

a nucleus

Of the following populations, which one best demonstrates a high degree of ecological resistance after a hurricane along a coast? a. a population of birds that successfully migrated to another location further inland to find new habitat b. a population of shrubs that was badly damaged and had a high overall mortality rate but shows promise of rebounding in the future c. a population of amphibians that was completely wiped out by the storm in one specific location d. a population of trees that was slightly damaged but had a very low overall mortality rate

a population of amphibians that was completely wiped out by the storm in one specific location d. a population of trees that was slightly damaged but had a very low overall mortality rate

Which of the following best describes genetic drift? a. a process through which genes from one plant drift with pollen to another plant, causing a mutation in the next generation of the second plant b. the result of any adaptation that is successfully passed on to the next generation c. the phenomenon that occurs when two people from different families spend a good deal of time together and begin to act similarly d. a random change in the genetic makeup of a population

a random change in the genetic makeup of a population

What is the best definition of a keystone species? a. a species that has a disproportionately important role in the food web b. the species that is at the top of the food web in a specific ecosystem c. a specific that holds the most important reproductive role in a population d. the species that is most endangered in an ecosystem

a species that has a disproportionately important role in the food web

A biodiversity hotspot is a. a volcanic region characterized by the formation of mountainous islands far from a continental mainland b. a threatened habitat that has high levels of species diversity and a large number of endemic species c. an area such as Yellowstone National Park with a greater than average amount of geothermal activity near the surface of the Earth d. an area with high levels of ecotourism

a threatened habitat that has high levels of species diversity and a large number of endemic species

If you had $1 million and could buy 1 square kilometer of land somewhere in the world in order to preserve species diversity, which of the following locations would be the best investment (that is, would preserve the most species)? a. a tropical rain forest b. the arctic c. a grassland in the United States d. a forest in the eastern half of the United States

a tropical rain forest

To be valid, a scientific observation needs to be _____. a. performed over a period of several years b. performed in a controlled laboratory setting c. performed by multiple researchers to make sure the observations were not made up d. accurate and repeatable

accurate and repeatable

What are the major types of physical limiting factors to life? a. extreme temperatures b. lack of moisture c. lack of nutrients d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following are characteristics of an organism that gives birth to a small number of offspring? a. The young are dependent on their parents early in life. b. Most of the young survive into adulthood. c. They are described as "K-selected" animals. d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following characteristics describe a type I survivorship curve? a. low death rate at younger ages b. most individuals survive until adulthood c. characteristic of humans d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following resources could influence carrying capacity? a. space available for grazing b. availability of water c. presence of prey d. all of the above

all of the above

Domain Eukarya includes all of the following except: a. fungi b. humans c. slime molds d. bacteria

bacteria

An activity that is sustainable is best described as one that _____. a. is a net positive activity (does more good than harm) b. does not involve resource extraction or produce pollution c. does not negatively impact the lives of others d. can be carried out indefinitely into the future

can be carried out indefinitely into the future

Which one of the following is produced during the process of aerobic cellular respiration? a. sugars b. cytosol c. carbon dioxide d. oxygen

carbon dioxide

Which of the following would be considered a renewable resource? a. uranium b. coal c. cattle d. aluminum

cattle

The oxygen and hydrogen atoms within a water molecule are held together by _____ bonds. a. covalent b. hydrogen c. ionic d. iambic

covalent

A gene is a sequence of compounds found within what kind of molecule? a. ribonucleic acid b. carbohydrate c. deoxyribonucleic acid d. protein

deoxyribonucleic acid

Which of the following examples is a good description of a community? a. different populations living close enough together to interact b. various populations of the same species that live in one ecosystem c. the organisms within a specific population that depend on one another to survive d. all of the above

different populations living close enough together to interact

The Brundtland Commission attempted to _____. a. spread wealth and resources more evenly across the globe in order to alleviate perceived economic inequities b. encourage more sustainable paths for economic development c. classify countries into categories according to their wealth and level of industrialization d. place restrictions on development that used resources in an unsustainable manner

encourage more sustainable paths for economic development

Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy being converted into potential energy? a. gasoline being used to turn the wheels of an automobile b. a rollercoaster rolling downhill after being carried to the top of the hill by a conveyor belt c. water held behind a dam being allowed to flow through the dam's turbines d. energy from a wind turbine being used to charge a rechargeable battery

energy from a wind turbine being used to charge a rechargeable battery

Evolutionarily speaking, which of the following groups of organisms appeared most recently? a. prokaryotes b. eukaryotes c. archaea d. bacteria

eukaryotes

Migration of organisms contributes to which of the following causes of evolution? a. genetic drift b. natural selection c. genetic mutation d. gene flow

gene flow

Mass extinction events are characterized by the disappearance of 20% of the _____ in the fossil record. a. genera b. species c. organisms d. animals

genera

Read the following definition of niche utilization and choose the term that best describes this organism: lives in a forest, grassland, or human-dominated setting and feeds on a variety of different food types. a. herbivore b. generalist c. specialist d. all of the above

generalist

Biodiversity is a measure of the diversity of life at what levels? a. molecular, cellular, and organismal b. domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species c. ecological, biological, chemical, and physical d. genetic, species, and ecosystem

genetic, species, and ecosystem

All of the following would result in secondary succession except: a. global warming uncovering a boulder field in the arctic that has been covered with ice for thousands of years b. a fire ravaging a forest in Rocky Mountain National Park c. an ATV driver riding through a pristine forest, smashing small trees and other vegetation in its path d. an avalanche that knocks down all the trees on a steep mountainside in Colorado

global warming uncovering a boulder field in the arctic that has been covered with ice for thousands of years

What's the primary (most important) cause of species extinction on Earth? a. pollution b. habitat loss c. overexploitation d. invasive species

habitat loss

Which of the following is the major cause of biodiversity loss on land? a. overexploitation b. pollution c. habitat loss d. invasive species

habitat loss

A scientist is said to be "uncertain" when _____. a. he/she is more uncertain than certain b. he/she is pretty sure that his/her hypothesis is incorrect c. his/her statistical results are weak d. he/she is less than 100% certain

he/she is less than 100% certain

Which of the following groups comprises the largest group of known species on the planet? a. spiders and their kin b. insects and their kin c. fungi d. vertebrates

insects and their kin

Environmental science is the study of the ______ of the environment. a. biological components b. physical components c. interactions between the biological, chemical, and physical components d. chemical components

interactions between the biological, chemical, and physical components

Which one of the following is the basic energy unit of the metric system? a. Calorie b. calorie c. joule d. BTU

joule

If two species are members of the same class, they would also have to be members of the same _____. a. species b. order c. kingdom d. family

kingdom

A densely-forested area provides enough shelter and water for approximately 50 bears. If 30 bears move into this region and the population grows to 50, which of the following would be the best description of that growth pattern? a. exponential b. logistic c. It is impossible to predict. d. None of the above. It will actually decline over time.

logistic

Which of the following organisms would you most likely find on a Hawaiian lava field? a. microbes that need few nutrients b. tropical birds that blend in with the dark background c. reptiles that can survive very hot temperatures d. No organisms can survive on a lava field.

microbes that need few nutrients

The species of what organisms are best characterized by genetic analysis? a. animals b. plants c. microorganisms d. None of the above; Genetic analysis is not a useful way to characterize species.

microorganisms

What pair correctly matches an organelle with its function? a. golgi apparatus; synthesis of membranes b. nuclei region; modifying, sorting, and secreting cell products c. mitochondrion; cellular respiration d. endoplasmic reticulum; photosynthesis

mitochondrion; cellular respiration

Pseudoscience is _____. a. valid if its findings are supported by a scientist with a PhD b. not published in peer-review journals c. an alternative form of science that is becoming more popular in the scientific community d. a punk rock band from the 1980s

not published in peer-reviewed journals

A gene is made up of _____. a. RNA b. nucleotides c. polypeptides d. proteins

nucleotides

Which of the following is not an organism "level" in the trophic structure? a. decomposers b. obtainers c. producers d. consumers

obtainers

Which of the following is the major cause of biodiversity loss in Earth's oceans? a. overexploitation b. pollution c. invasive species d. habitat loss

overexploitation

Which one of the following is produced during the process of photosynthesis? a. chlorophyll pigment molecules b. carbon dioxide c. light energy d. oxygen

oxygen

Which of the following groups of organisms has the greatest percent of species at risk of extinction today? a. plants b. birds c. insects d. mammals

plants

A cation has more _____. a. electrons than neutrons b. protons than electrons c. electrons than protons d. protons than neutrons

protons than electrons

Some coral reefs are protected from being overrun with algae by a sea urchin that grazes on the algae. In one of these reefs, a disturbance event severely damages the coral reef; however, enough sea urchins live in the system to keep the algal growth under control while the coral rebuild themselves. Which of the following terms best characterizes this ecosystem and why? a. resilient, because this ecosystem was able to return to its predisturbance state fairly quickly b. weak, because a new species invaded the environment after the disturbance event c. unchanged, because it doesn't really matter what the ecosystem went through as long as it looks the same in the end d. resistant, because the ecosystem did not change after the disturbance event

resilient, because this ecosystem was able to return to its predisturbance state fairly quickly

Fossils generally form in what kind of rock? a. metamorphic b. sedimentary c. igneous d. molten lava

sedimentary

Which of the following can be used to help untangle patterns in complex data sets? a. experiments b. statistics c. observations d. feedback analysis

statistics

Models are used in scientific research in order to _____. a. study systems that would be too complicated or too large to manipulate b. acquire research grant money from rich donors c. determine the best research design for testing a hypothesis d. study systems that would be too expensive to manipulate

study systems that would be too complicated or too large to manipulate

Which of the following ecosystems is likely to have the largest carrying capacity (that is, can support the largest number of organisms)? a. the Sahara, the world's hottest desert b. the arctic, a polar region at the northernmost part of Earth c. the Serengeti Plain, in Southern Africa d. the Tibetan Plateau, a high elevation grassland area

the Serengeti Plain, in Southern Africa

Which one of the following would be an emergent property of a vegetable garden? a. the need for water b. the changing nutrient levels in the garden's soil during the growing season c. the tomatoes and green beans grown in the garden d. the soil, the plants, and the earthworms living in the garden

the changing nutrient levels in the garden's soil during the growing season

What would you need to know to estimate when a fossilized fish lived? a. the characteristics of the rock in which the fossil was found b. what type of modern fish looks most like the fossilized fish c. whether or not you can extract genetic material from the fossil d. how large the whole fossil is

the characteristics of the rock in which the fossil was found

The northern-most area to which birds migrate is typically limited by the minimum nighttime temperature of the area. As the climate changes, the northern latitudes are likely to become warmer, allowing birds to migrate further north. What process is this an example of? a. the imposition of a limiting factor on an organism b. an increase in a population's growth rate c. the effects of an area reaching carrying capacity d. the removal of a constraint on a group of organisms

the removal of a constraint on a group of organisms

Fill in the blanks: Intraspecific competition occurs when members of _____ species compete for _____ resource(s). a. the same; the same b. different; the same c. the same; different d. different; different

the same; the same

You should be skeptical of scientific claims if _____. a. you don't want to believe them or do not think they can possibly be true b. the person making the claims has no financial stake in the matter c. they are supported by the findings of several studies d. they have not been published in peer-reviewed journals

they have not been published in peer-reviewed journals

The cones of some coniferous trees are serotinous, which means they need heat in order to open. When forests of these trees experience a fire, the cones become reproductively viable. When coupled with the extra sunlight available to the new plants after the understory of the forest has burned, these plants can thrive. Which of the following processes is this an example of? a. an area of forest reaching carrying capacity as new trees are added b. trees exploiting resources after competition is removed c. a forest experiencing a state change in which the land is permanently degraded d. the difference between K-selected and r-selected species

trees exploiting resources after competition is removed

A species classified as _____ by the IUCN is likely to become endangered unless threats to its existence are reduced. a. vulnerable b. critically endangered c. extinct d. extirpated

vulnerable

Which of the following would stress an organism that lives in a warm desert environment? a. weather that is much hotter or colder than usual b. weather that is much hotter than usual c. weather that does not change much throughout the year d. weather that is much colder than usual

weather that is much hotter or colder than usual

A scientific theory is best described as a(n) _____. a. hypothesis that has not yet been thoroughly tested b. widely-supported scientific explanation c. hunch d. educated guess

widely-supported scientific explanation

Which of the following best illustrates quantitative data? a. your IQ b. whether you like this class c. your dorm room number d. your gender

your IQ