APES Pre Quiz
Aardvarks are a keystone species and their decline could have a trophic cascade effect on the ecosystem.
"Study Finds aardvarks suffering as African climate heats up," Christopher Torchia, Phys.org, July 31, 2017. Which of the following best identifies the author's claim? A Aardvarks are shifting the location of their territories as a response to global climate change. B Aardvarks are a keystone species and their decline could have a trophic cascade effect on the ecosystem. C The loss of aardvarks described in the study was an isolated incident because most aardvark populations are increasing globally. D Providing aardvarks with more burrows will help them maintain their body temperature and increase survival rates.
Oak and hickory are late-successional species; pioneer species will dominate for many decades before the oaks and hickories are reestablished.
A North Carolina timber company proposes to clear-cut 45 hectares of oak-hickory deciduous forest in the Appalachian Mountains. The company has said that the forest will regrow naturally, and 50 years after the clear-cutting the company plans to harvest again, cutting all the oaks and hickories that have at least a 40-centimeter diameter. A local citizens' group claims that this is not a realistic plan. Which of the following, if true, best supports the claim of the citizens' group? A Harvesting oak and hickory will disrupt the soil in the first year after clear-cutting; oaks and hickories cannot germinate that first year. B Oak and hickory are late-successional species; pioneer species will dominate for many decades before the oaks and hickories are reestablished. C Coniferous forests can regrow after having been clear-cut; the biome will change to a boreal forest after clear-cutting. D Populations of large carnivores in the forest will decline after clear-cutting occurs; deer hunting will suffer as a result. E Erosion rates on the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains will decrease after clear-cutting; many new species will move into the forest.
Indicator species
A research team monitoring a local freshwater ecosystem noticed that over the past few years the otter population had declined significantly, while the populations of other species remained fairly constant. After running tests, the research team determined that mercury levels in invertebrates and small fish in the ecosystem were very high. In this ecosystem, what role did the otters occupy? A Pioneer species B Indicator species C Primary consumer D r-selected species
Record the number and type of producers present every year after the eruption
Based on the data shown in the graph, which of the following best describes how ecologists could determine when this ecosystem is approaching a climax community? A Determine if the keystone species in the ecosystem is present two years after the volcanic eruption B Measure the biomass of the pioneer species present before and after the volcanic eruption C Record the number and type of producers present every year after the eruption D Calculate the net primary productivity of a specific indicator species every year after the eruption
Primary succession
Based on the data shown in the graph, which of the following events occurred after the glacial retreat? A Primary succession B Flooding C Sea level rise D Global climate change
The pupfish are well adapted to the habitat of Devils Hole and can thrive in conditions that are outside of the range of tolerance for most other species.
The Devils Hole pupfish is one of the world's rarest fishes, spending most of its life in the top few meters of very warm waters of a cavern located in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Devils Hole, a geologic pool, is the only naturally occurring habitat for the endangered Devils Hole pupfish. This fish's habitat is one of the smallest natural ranges known for any vertebrate. Devils Hole is an extreme environment, with water temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations near the lethal limits for most fish species. Which of the following statements best explains why the Devils Hole pupfish are able to live in this environment? A Climate change led to the death of other organisms at Devils Hole, reducing competition for the pupfish. B Thermal inversions have limited the species diversity at Devils Hole, and only a few fish species can survive the high temperatures. C A trophic cascade in the Devils Hole food chain decreased the number of pupfish predators. D The pupfish are well adapted to the habitat of Devils Hole and can thrive in conditions that are outside of the range of tolerance for most other species.
9.5 M
The graphs above show the population size and distribution of beak sizes in a finch population on the island of Daphne Major in the Galapagos in 1976 and 1978. Smaller-beaked finches are better suited for eating grasses and small seeds. Larger-beaked finches are better suited for cracking larger seeds and nuts. In 1977 a drought took place and the vegetation of the island was affected by the lack of rain. Which of the following was the average beak size of finches on the island of Daphne Major in 1976? A 8.8 mm B 9.5 mm C 10.2 mm D 13.8 mm
The types of food found on the two islands exert selective pressure on beak size.
The table below shows measurements of the beak size of a sample of ten ground finches on each of two islands in the Galápagos archipelago. The two islands are about ten kilometers apart, and all the birds are the same species. Given that beak size is genetically determined, which of the following hypotheses is the most likely explanation for the differences in data between the islands? A Egg mortality differs on the islands. B Beak size exerts selective pressure on prey size. C Birds on Daphne Island live longer than birds on Santa Cruz Island. D Large-beaked birds move to Santa Cruz Island and small-beaked birds move to Daphne Island. E The types of food found on the two islands exert selective pressure on beak size.
A population of mosquitoes develops resistance to a pesticide.
Which of the following best shows the process of evolution? A A lizard's color becomes brown as it sits on a log. B A bear goes into hibernation. C A plant loses its leaves in a drought. D A population of mosquitoes develops resistance to a pesticide. E A population of foxes increases as more prey becomes available.
