LS 7B Week 9 LaunchPad Questions

Increased rate of photosynthesis is the most likely explanation as to why atmospheric CO2 levels appear lowest during glacial periods of Earth's history. T/F

False

Predator/prey relationships are always linear, with one species affecting only one other in the community. T/F

False

The sequence of species that colonize a recently disturbed area through succession is unpredictable. T/F

False

In the example of the giant kelp forests on the Pacific coast, a rise in the otter population would have what effect on the kelp populations? -Kelp populations would decrease due to increased predation by otters. -Kelp populations would be totally unaffected by the otter population. -Kelp populations would increase due to an increase in sea urchins. -Kelp populations would decrease due to an increase in sea urchins. -Kelp populations would increase due to a decrease in sea urchins.

Kelp populations would increase due to a decrease in sea urchins

What is generally true about biomass and energy as we move from one trophic level to the next? -Organisms at one trophic level always consume all of the resources from the level below them. -All of the energy stored initially in organic molecules by the primary producers will be available to the secondary consumers. -They both increase. -Biomass increases but energy decreases. -Not all energy is transferred to the next trophic level.

Not all energy is transferred to the next trophic level.

Recall that during the Paleozoic Era, atmospheric CO2 levels decreased. Why? -Photosynthetic, woody plants first appeared during this period. -Volcanism decreased during this period. -New, extensive mountain ranges formed and chemical weathering decreased. -Earth's plate tectonics changed dramatically, and subduction increased.

Photosynthetic, woody plants first appeared during this period.

A gardener treats his plants with pesticides, killing any aphids. Once the aphids die, what likely happens to the mutualistic bacteria inhabiting their digestive tracts? -The bacteria would contribute to the decomposition of dead aphids. -The bacteria would likely die without their mutualistic aphids, as this is an example of a facultative relationship. -The bacteria would migrate outside of the digestive tract, and survive on the leaves of garden plants. -The bacteria would likely die without their mutualistic aphids, as this is an example of an obligate relationship.

The bacteria would likely die without their mutualistic aphids, as this is an example of an obligate relationship.

Niches are dynamic, and are affected by interactions among species. T/F

True

Symbiotic relationships are subject to natural selection. T/F

True

The fact that diverse types of Anolis lizards inhabit (or hunt in) different levels of the tree canopy is the result of the effects of resource partitioning. T/F

True

The long-term and short-term carbon cycles are connected by the fact that some of the carbon contained in C6H12O6 (or other organic molecules) in plants is incorporated into sedimentary rocks or oil; it is not immediately reintroduced back into the atmosphere. T/F

True

While food chains show linear energy transfer between organisms, food webs depict more realistically what occurs in an ecosystem. T/F

True

Which factors contribute MOST to intraspecific competition? -a species' rate of reproduction and the carrying capacity of the environment -a species' fundamental niche and abiotic surroundings -predation and parasitism -mutualistic relationships -population size

a species' rate of reproduction and the carrying capacity of the environment

Recall that photosynthetic rates remain relatively constant in regions near the equator. Imagine that tropical environments persisted throughout Earth's northern and southern hemispheres (i.e., Earth's entire climate mirrored that near the equator). If Keeling had collected his atmospheric CO2 data on such an Earth, what would you expect the Keeling Curve to look like? -a sinusoidal curve sloping upward (atmospheric CO2 levels would fluctuate seasonally, but would increase over time) -a sinusoidal curve sloping downward (atmospheric CO2 levels would fluctuate seasonally, but would have decreased over time) -a straight line without a slope (atmospheric CO2 levels would have remained constant over time) -a straight line sloping upward (atmospheric CO2 levels would not seasonally oscillate, but would have increased over time) -a straight line sloping downward (atmospheric CO2 levels would not seasonally oscillate, but would have decreased over time)

a straight line sloping upward (atmospheric CO2 levels would not seasonally oscillate, but would have increased over time)

When would a researcher be MOST likely to observe resource partitioning? -between two species, one predator and one prey -between two sympatric species that eat similar-sized seeds -between two sympatric species, one herbivore and one carnivore -between two allopatric populations that eat the same thing

between two sympatric species that eat similar-sized seeds

When two species compete for resources, the fitness of: -both competitors will remain the same. -both species will decline. -only the poor competitor will decrease. -only the better competitor will increase.

both species will decline.

The bacterial species <i>Staphylococus</i> <i>aureus</i> is found on the skin and in the nasal passages of about 20% of the human population. In healthy individuals, <i>S. aureus</i> is benign (does not cause harm) in these locations. However, if it is introduced into the bloodstream through, for example, a wound, it can make a person gravely ill. Thus, the ecological relationship of <i>S. aureus</i> with a human: -can be mutualistic or antagonistic. -is always antagonistic. -is always mutualistic. -is fixed or unchanging. -is benign.

can be mutualistic or antagonistic.

A species that is involved in a facultative mutualism with another: -can utilize a variety of different resources. -can only interact with that particular species. -is reliant on the relationship for survival. -should quickly develop adaptations in direct response to the other species.

can utilize a variety of different resources.

When both participants in a species interaction develop adaptations in direct response to one another, in the long term this could progress into: -coevolution. -intraspecific competition. -resource partitioning. -competitive exclusion. -extinction of one species.

coevolution.

The human body has about 10 bacterial cells for every eukaryotic cell. Bacteria coat our skin, gut, and mouth. Also present are protists, Archaeans, and viruses. Collectively, these organisms are our microbiota. For most members of our microbiota, our body provides their environment (or space to live). They, in turn, have no effect on us. This is an example of: -mutualism. -an antagonistic relationship. -commensalism. -predation.

commensalism.

The sum total of the populations that live in a given area is called a(n): -habitat. -ecosystem. -community. -interaction.

community.

Which of the following is a type of interaction in which BOTH parties are harmed? -commensalism -mutualism -amensalism -competition -predation

competition

Benefits associated with symbiotic relationships might include all of the following EXCEPT: -assistance in reproduction. -nutrients. -competitive exclusion. -shelter. -protection.

competitive exclusion.

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: -mutualism. -predation. -competitive exclusion. -parasitism. -resource partitioning.

competitive exclusion.

Which group in a food web is responsible for returning inorganic compounds back to the environment? -tertiary consumers -secondary consumers -primary producers -primary consumers -decomposers

decomposers

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, but you haven't planted anything, you have created a(an) _____ in the lawn. -ecological disturbance -new community -ecological disturbance and a new community -None of the answer options is correct.

ecological disturbance

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

ecosystem

Keystone species can have significant influences over several populations in a community through their: -avoidance of antagonistic interactions. -large body sizes. -roles as prey species for predator populations in the community. -effect on high amounts of biomass and energy transfer between populations. -ability to leave their environment relatively unchanged.

effect on high amounts of biomass and energy transfer between populations.

The bacterial species <i>Staphylococus</i> <i>aureus</i> is found on the skin and in the nasal passages of about 20% of the human population. It can survive on polyester for 3 months and can also infect cows and chickens. Thus, its relationship with humans is: -obligate. -facultative.

facultative.

The rate of exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and the oceans represents a carbon: -reservoir. -biomass. -sink. -precipitation. -flux.

flux.

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

food web; trophic pyramid

Imagine that a scientist takes a group of Anolis lizards and introduces them into an enclosure at a research facility in continental South America. He notes that the lizards thrive in this new environment. The fact that Anolis lizards could survive in habitats outside of the Caribbean is a reflection of their _____ niche; their _____ niche is determined by predation and resource availability. -fundamental; fundamental -realized; fundamental -fundamental; realized -realized; realized

fundamental; realized

Competition for resources occurs often within communities. The black line represents the change in fitness for one species, and the gray line represents the change in fitness for another species. Which of the following graphs represents the change in fitness when there is competition between these species for the same resource? http://www.macmillanhighered.com/brainhoney/Resource/10611843,8,0,1C,1/Assets/resources/chapter_47/47_37.jpg -graph M -graph H -graph K

graph H

The CO2 level is _____ during winter in the northern hemisphere compared to levels in the summer. -higher -the same -lower

higher

Measuring the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 shows that the burning of fossil fuels has led to _____ CO2 levels over the last 200 years. -decreasing -increasing

increasing

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on a community is called a _____ species. -engineer -linchpin -producer -keystone -central

keystone

The _____ cycle deals with geological processes and carbon reservoirs, some of which have been built up (or take place) over a period of millennia. In contrast, the _____ cycle involves biological processes that are carried out on a daily and/or seasonal basis. -short-term carbon; rapid carbon -long-term carbon; short-term carbon -long-term carbon; intermediate carbon -short-term carbon; long-term carbon

long-term carbon; short-term carbon

Some species of ant "farm" aphids by protecting them from predators. In return, the ants feed on a sugar-rich liquid (called honeydew) secreted by the aphids. The ecological relationship between the ants and the aphids is: -mutualism. -parasitism. -competition. -None of the answer options is correct.

mutualism.

A mutualism in which the survival of one or both participants is dependent on the other is: -obligate. -facultative. -antagonistic. -parasitic. -competitive.

obligate

Which of the following is a good predictor of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems? -pollinator species in a community -plant species in a community -prey species in a community -predator species in a community

plant species in a community

Measuring its costs and benefits in terms of energy spent and/or gained, which interaction(s) involve(s) one individual gaining and one individual losing? -facultative mutualism -predation -obligate mutualism -commensalism -competition

predation

Organisms that take up inorganic nutrients and convert them to organic molecules such as carbohydrates and proteins are called: -herbivores. -primary producers. -heterotrophs. -consumers. -predators.

primary producers.

The broadest level in a trophic pyramid is primarily composed of: -primary producers. -primary consumers. -tertiary consumers. -secondary consumers.

primary producers.

The _____ of a species is usually the result of predation, competition, and other types of interaction between species. -resource partitioning -abiotic environment -fundamental niche -habitat -realized niche

realized niche

Which of the following is expected to reduce competition among individuals? -a shortened mating season -the disappearance of a predator from an area -resource partitioning -destruction of habitat space -a decrease in the carrying capacity of an environment

resource partitioning

Overlap of niches can be minimized through: -species evolving similar adaptations over time. -an increase in the similarity of species occupying an area. -increased population growth. -reduction in the size of the fundamental niche. -resource partitioning.

resource partitioning.

Which of the following processes are typically associated with the short-term carbon cycle? (Select all that apply.) -respiration -chemical weathering -photosynthesis -plate tectonics

respiration; photosynthesis

Measuring its costs and benefits in terms of energy spent and/or gained, mutualism: -is a lose-lose interaction. -None of the answer options is correct. -results in gain for both individuals. -results in a gain for one individual and a loss for the other. -results in a gain for one individual and neither a gain nor a loss for the other.

results in gain for both individuals.

Following a disturbance, the process by which species replace each other over time is/are called: -ecosystem engineers. -disturbances. -competition. -succession. -keystone species.

succession.

Close interactions that have evolved over time between species are called: -symbioses. -metapopulations. -niches. -interspecific competition. -resource partitioning.

symbioses.

Energy flow through ecosystems can be depicted using a(n): -Calvin cycle. -ecosystem. -trophic pyramid. -food chain. -food web

trophic pyramid.

While biodiversity includes the number of species in a given area, it also includes: -overall number of trophic levels in a food web. -unique phylogenetic lineages. -amount of primary productivity. -abiotic factors that define the community.

unique phylogenetic lineages.