Domain - Ecology

In a typical food chain, about what percentage of energy is passed on to the next trophic level?

10%

_______________ has already caused the extinction of a large number of insect species on the tropical island of Madagascar. That, in turn, has lead to the near extinction of the lemur.

Deforestation

Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida in 1992 causing over $25 million in damages. Biscayne National Park in the Florida Keys. Most of the deciduous and evergreen trees in the area were uprooted and the area was left with only a few smaller trees and some grasses. What type of succession took place in Biscayne National Park after Hurricane Andrew?

Secondary succession

The desert can be a harsh environment, with extreme heat during the day and cold during the night. Also, there is very little rainfall, or water in general, in a desert environment. Knowing this, what adaptation would best help a desert animal?

The ability to burrow underground.

For many years, the rain forests throughout the world were cut down to make way for farms, roads, and new villages. The immediate result of clear cutting the forests was obvious. But this practice lead to other consequences. All BUT one is a long term consequence of clear cutting the rain forests. That is

a possible ice age.

This lizard looks just like another tree branch. This helps the lizard hide from predators and sneak up on the insects they hunt for food. What do we call the adaptation seen here?

camouflage

Suppose orange beetles and green beetles live in the same environment. Green beetles are harder to see on leaves, so birds eat primarily orange beetles. According to the theory of natural selection, in the future orange beetles will

decrease in population until they possibly become extinct.

This satellite image shows a decrease in vegetation along the shoreline of the Hudson Bay in central Canada. Scientists will MOST LIKELY study this image to predict future changes in the

environment

This male lizard displays his brightest colors, inflates a rust-colored throat sack, and bobs his head up and down, all in an attempt to

signal a female lizard for breeding.

Consider this northern site of primary succession following the retreat of a glacier. What characteristics would you expect to see among the plant comprising the pioneer species?

small, wind born seeds; survive in poor soils

This plant needs to grow high up in the canopy of the rainforest. It needs support as it moves up the stems and branches of larger trees. The tendrils here know when to cling to their support. This response by the climbing plant is called

thigmotropism.

In which habitat is one likely to find plants that have developed extremely large, broadleaf, evergreen leaves for gathering light, epiphytes, and climbing vines that strangle other plants?

tropical rainforest

Which biome contains many low growing plants that stay close to the ground for warmth?

tundra

Carbon is a major component of all organic compounds, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbon dioxide is continually exchanged between the atmosphere and oceans. What geological process returns carbon to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide?

volcanic activity

Snow, Hail, Sleet, and Rain are all a source of _____ on the Earth.

water

I. small and close to the ground II. dark color, sometimes red III. grow in clusters IV. hairy leaves and stems V. heliotropic Plant adaptations are suited to the habitat in which plants live. Which adaptation(s) found in tundra plants would BEST help them maximize the available sunlight?

II and V

Most successful parasites, such as this cat flea, weaken their host but do not kill it. Why is killing its host usually disadvantageous for a parasite?

If a parasite kills its host, it will then have to find a new host in order to survive.

The Eastern grey squirrel lives mostly in oak trees that have a medium gray bark. In some cities, oak tree bark is darkening due to air pollution. This Eastern grey squirrel shows melanism, or the increase in black pigment in its fur. What is MOST LIKELY the reason for the change in fur color?

It is a way to camouflage the squirrel in a changing habitat.

A scientist researching salamanders has obtained two different specimens. Under what conditions would he classify them as belonging to different species?

The two salamanders cannot mate a produce fertile offspring.

We use batteries every day to play radios, I-pods, video games, and even our car. But although batteries are a convenient technology, but they can cause problems for life on Earth. Batteries cause problems in all BUT one way. That is

They are easy to recycle