Human Ecology Module 2 Quiz

C

A grasshopper population in a prairie is limited in large part by the number of birds in the region. Following a terrible storm that killed many of the birds, the grasshopper population exhibits exponential growth. This happens because the grasshoppers experienced: A: a new biotic potential with steady environmental resistance. B: a new much lower biotic potential with decreased environmental resistance. C: a steady biotic potential but suddenly decreased environmental resistance. D: a decreased biotic potential and decreased environmental resistance.

A

A group of frogs in a rain forest represents a population if the frogs: A: live in the same region and can potentially reproduce with each other. B: look similar to each other and seem to be well adapted to the same region. C: are preyed upon by the same group of predators and seem to be camouflaged. D: live in the same region and feed on about the same types of food.

B

A population of bullfrogs in a pond produces many thousands of eggs each spring that hatch out into tadpoles. However, only about 1% of the tadpoles survive to reproduce. This population of frogs is experiencing: A: low environmental resistance. B: low levels of recruitment. C: unlimited population growth. D: exponential growth.

B

A population that is at equilibrium: A: is experiencing a slow rate of growth. B: is staying at about the same size. C: is slowly declining because of increases in environmental resistance. D: has most likely just lost a key predator.

A

A population would be expected to grow if: A: immigration increased and deaths and emigration decreased. B: immigration and emigration increased by the same number of organisms. C: emigration and death rates stayed the same and immigration decreased. D: births decreased by 1% and emigration increased by 8%.

C

A squirrel population in an oak forest in Indiana is limited by hawk predators, the amount of acorns produced annually, nesting sites in the trees, and cold winter temperatures. Which of the following is an abiotic factor limiting this squirrel population? A: the hawks in the region B: the number of acorns produced annually C: the stress of cold winter temperatures D: the number of available nesting sites

D

A stable population would remain at equilibrium if: A: the birth rate increased as the death rate decreased. B: emigration rates and death rates increased equally. C: births and immigration increased by the same number of organisms. D: births and deaths increased by the same number of organisms.

C

Adaptation takes place in response to: A: anticipated needs. B: selective pressures they have not yet experienced. C: only the selective pressures they experience. D: only selective pressures that favor survival.

C

Along the shoreline of a pond, Canadian geese, American toads, and grass frogs search for food while bluegill and bass prey on small fish in the shallow water. These species, living and feeding in this particular location, represent one: A: species. B: population. C: community. D: ecosystem.

B

Darwin and Wallace discovered natural selection without knowledge of an important field of biology that is very much a part of biological evolution. What essential part of biological evolution was poorly understood when they first presented natural selection to the world? A: anatomy B: genetics C: astronomy D: natural history

C

Density-independent factors such as earthquakes and hurricanes are: A: abiotic factors that maintain a population near equilibrium. B: biotic factors that maintain a population near equilibrium. C: abiotic factors that are not involved in maintaining a population near its equilibrium. D: biotic factors that are not involved in maintaining a population near its equilibrium.

B

If organisms are unable to generate enough genetic diversity to survive in a changing environment, they: A: may produce more offspring. B: sometimes go extinct. C: may evolve by non-genetic mechanisms. D: will start to reproduce asexually.

not A

In an ecosystem with many similar species, we typically find: A: intense interspecific competition mostly for food. B: competitors using different resources to minimize interspecific competition. C: intense interspecific competition mostly for nesting sites. D: adaptations for battles and interspecific competition.

B

In an ecosystem, the elimination of one new species by another because of direct competition for the same resources is an example of: A: intraspecific competition. B: the competitive exclusion principle. C: character displacement. D: resource partitioning.

B

In general, it is rare for a parasite to: A: feed on a host. B: kill its host. C: spread from one host to another. D: compete with other parasites for access to a host.

not B

In logistic growth (an S-shaped curve), how does population growth change as the population nears its carrying capacity? A: Population growth increases. B: Population growth remains steady. C: Population growth decreases. D: Population growth typically crashes when a population nears its carrying capacity.

C

Introduced alien species that cause the most harm are those that: A: struggle to fit into new ecosystems and eventually die out. B: eventually become naturalized. C: become invasive. D: become agricultural products.

A

Introduced species are a growing problem primarily because of: A: global trade and travel. B: plate tectonics. C: the speed at which new species form. D: global climate change.

C

Invasive species are dangerous because: A: they are almost all predators, disturbing ecological relationships by eating other species. B: they carry viruses that spread disease in new ecosystems. C: the native species have not evolved and adapted to these organisms. D: they tend to be secretive, going unnoticed in their new ecosystems.

A

Keystone Species: A: has a disproportionately large impact on the stability of an ecosystem. B: typically reduces overall biodiversity of an ecosystem. C: is typically an herbivore. D: is an example of amensalism.

B

Kudzu vine, chestnut blight, fire ants, and Japanese beetles are all examples of: A: asexually reproducing species. B: invasive species. C: species that evolved because of recent geographic isolation. D: species that evolved on the Galápagos Islands.

A

Many predator-prey relationships do not result in the complete elimination of the prey because: A: predators cannot catch all of the healthy adults. B: the predator population is limited by the availability of territorial space. C: the prey do not provide enough nutrition. D: the prey populations are always far below carrying capacity.

not D

Note: Photo (a) = muscles; Photo (b) = jellyfish The species shown in photo (a) has: A: become invasive and threatens the species in photo (b). B: become naturalized and lives in equilibrium with the species in photo (b). C: evolved in the last 10,000 years and is now being threatened by the species in photo (b). D: a very small population and is the primary food of the animal in photo (b).

D

Note: Photo is of a bee on a flower. This photo best illustrates: A: amensalism. B: parasitism. C: commensalism. D: mutualism.

A

Note: Photos include tape worms, mistletoe, and athletes foot. These photos all illustrate examples of: A: parasitism. B: commensalism. C: amensalism. D: mutualism.

A

Over the last 100 years, the number of elk in Yellowstone has varied in part because of the limited availability of winter food sources and many types of predators, including wolves (eliminated in 1926 and reintroduced in 1995), grizzly bears, coyotes, black bears, and golden eagles. The following questions relate to the Yellowstone elk. The population of elk in Yellowstone: A: reflect top-down and bottom-up population regulation. B: have survived because of the elimination of a keystone species. C: would have been more stable if there had only been one predator species. D: would be better off if all predators were eliminated from the park.

D

Parasites: A: affect their hosts in a density-independent manner. B: and their hosts represent a type of intraspecific competition. C: occur in animals but not plants. D: may live inside or outside of their host.

B

Rabbits in Australia: A: have recently been eliminated by introducing a lethal rabbit virus. B: are an example of the disastrous potential of introduced species. C: evolved with marsupials and are a natural part of the Australian landscape. D: have now evolved into three new species as the rabbits have adapt to their new environments.

A

Resource partitioning: A: reduces interspecific competition and increases species diversity. B: reduces intraspecific competition and decreases species diversity. C: increases interspecific competition and decreases species diversity. D: increases intraspecific competition and increases species diversity.

A

Territoriality: A: reduces intraspecific fighting and ensures adequate resources for some members of a species. B: encourages interspecific fighting and helps share density-independent resources. C: encourages predation and reduces intraspecific competition. D: is more likely in r-selected species with short life spans and many offspring.

A

The most stable predator-prey relationships typically involve: A: a prey species and several natural predators. B: two species of carnivores eating each other. C: only bottom-up population regulation. D: only top-down population regulation.

not D

The risk of introducing a natural enemy to control an invasive species is that: A: it might drive the invasive species to extinction. B: the natural enemy might also become a pest. C: the natural enemy might evolve into a new species. D: the natural enemy may introduce genetic diversity into the invasive species.

C

The separate feeding locations of these five warbler species on different portions of the same tree illustrates: A: biotic transformation. B: competitive exclusion. C: resource partitioning. D: top-down population regulation.

not A

The unusual organisms living in Australia have evolved primarily because of: A: the unique position of Australia on the face of Earth. B: shifting ocean currents around the continent. C: long term isolation of the continent. D: the unusual climates of Australia.

D

Which of the following represents a type of mutualism? A: A red-tailed hawk pounces on a field mouse for dinner. B: A large herd of zebra graze lazily across the broad savannah. C: A mosquito draws a blood meal from the back of an elk. D: A honeybee feeds on nectar at a flower on an orange tree and pollinates the flower.

D

Which of the following represents a type of top-down regulation for rattlesnakes living in Arizona? A: the availability of fresh water B: the number of mice in the region C: abundance of rocks under which snakes can hide D: the number of snake-eating hawks in the region

C

Which one of the following is a trait that increases the chances of survival for an endangered species? A: large size B: long life span C: widespread distribution D: small number of offspring