Bio Chapter 27 Test Questions

If a couple was attempting to get pregnant, which foods should they eat to avoid ingesting high amounts of toxins? A) Organic grains, fruits, and vegetables B) High-fat salmon C) DDT-treated vegetables D) High-level carnivores such as tuna E) Meals microwaved in plastic bags

A) Organic grains, fruits, and vegetables

Which of the following terms correctly describes carnivores? A) Secondary consumers B) Primary consumers C) Autotrophs D) Detritus consumers E) Consumer producers

A) Secondary consumers

Why is the African elephant considered a keystone species? A) The removal of elephants from their community would result in drastic changes in the ecological structure of the community. B) It is the largest organism in its community. C) Elephants live in large cooperative herds that dominate other smaller groups within the community. D) Elephants eat more food than any other species in their community. E) Elephant populations are larger than the populations of any other organisms in their community.

A) The removal of elephants from their community would result in drastic changes in the ecological structure of the community.

As part of a research project, a graduate student creates an artificial environment in a sealed container. She sterilizes the soil and adds plants, snails, shrews, and a snake. After adding a small artificial pond, she seals the container. During the first several weeks, the plants are thriving and the animals are doing well. However, piles of dropping are beginning to accumulate, and the entire floor of the container becomes covered with a layer of plant debris several inches thick. One probable cause for the problems is that the graduate student didn't A) add any decomposers. B) put in enough plants. C) include any herbivores. D) include any carnivores. E) include any autotrophs.

A) add any decomposers.

If you find a brightly colored insect resting on a dead leaf, the insect is likely to A) be poisonous or distasteful. B) be prey for birds. C) be camouflaged. D) have startle coloration. E) have aggressive mimicry.

A) be poisonous or distasteful.

Two species that have a high degree of niche overlap will A) compete intensely. B) speciate. C) interbreed. D) be in a predator-prey relationship. E) coexist peacefully.

A) compete intensely.

The photosynthetic bacteria that form the basis of the food chain in Great Salt Lake are classified as A) omnivores. B) primary producers. C) herbivores. D) secondary consumers. E) carnivores.

B) primary producers.

An effective, bright, and very distinct color pattern that a prey species can display suddenly to scare a predator is called A) modeling. B) aggressive mimicry. C) mimicry. D) startle coloration. E) camouflage.

D) startle coloration.

The concept that two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche at the same time is called A) coevolution. B) mutualism. C) succession. D) the competitive exclusion principle. E) predation.

D) the competitive exclusion principle.

The caterpillar (looks like it has eyes in the back of it) in the illustration displays A) aggressive mimicry. B) warning coloration. C) camouflage. D) chemical defenses. E) startle coloration.

E) startle coloration.

A predator lures its prey nearby by looking like the prey's favorite food. This is referred to as ________ ________.

aggressive mimicry

The spotted brown and black coats of mountain lion cubs make it difficult for predators to find them. This is known as ________.

camouflage

The stable community that tends to persist in an area after succession is known as the ________ community.

climax

The productivity of an ecosystem usually ________ through succession.

increases

Grasses and phytoplankton are ________.

producers, or autotrophs

A lichen is a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and an alga. True or False?

true

Autotrophs use solar energy to build their own complex organic molecules from inorganic compounds such as water and carbon dioxide. True or False?

true

Horses and cows are primary consumers. True or False?

true

In a process called coevolution, two species exert natural selection pressures on each other. True or False?

true

Intraspecific competition limits population size. True or False?

true

Invasive species outcompete native species because they lack predators and have high reproductive rates. True or False?

true

Organisms introduced as biocontrols for an invasive species can harm native species. True or False?

true

Parasites are generally smaller than their host. True or False?

true

Parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits and the other does not benefit. True or False?

true

Some toxic animals are brightly colored, as a means of warning others of their danger. True or False?

true

The keystone species in the African savanna is the elephant. True or False?

true

The most common pioneer species are mosses and lichens. True or False?

true

The primary source of Earth's energy is the sun. True or False?

true

Woodpeckers and squirrels both nest in tree cavities. This is an example of interspecific competition. True or False?

true

The bright coloration of toxic tree frogs is an example of ________ ________.

warning coloration

The physical home of a species is its ________.

habitat

An animal that only eats plants is a(n) ________.

herbivore

Several ecology students were tracking the population ranges of two species of squirrels that live in the Cascade Range of Oregon. These students noted that when both species of squirrels were present in a region, species A could be found from sea level to about 900 feet above sea level, and species B could be found from about 900 feet to 1,500 feet above sea level. However, when species B was found alone, it had a range of about 500 feet to 1,500 feet above sea level. This is an example of A) competitive exclusion. B) parasitism. C) predator avoidance. D) coevolution. E) habitat fragmentation.

A) competitive exclusion.

Net primary production is A) energy that photosynthetic organisms make available to other organisms over a given period of time. B) energy stored by secondary consumers from primary biomass. C) energy made by autotrophs minus energy consumed by heterotrophs, and measured as biomass. D) heterotrophic production per unit of land per unit of time. E) heterotrophic production minus autotrophic production per unit of land per unit of time.

A) energy that photosynthetic organisms make available to other organisms over a given period of time.

Organisms that must rely on complex, high-energy molecules produced by other organisms for survival are A) heterotrophs. B) producers. C) autotrophs. D) denitrifying bacteria. E) cyanobacteria.

A) heterotrophs.

A rancher begins raising sheep on the land next to the habitat shown. After losing several lambs, he removes all the wolves. By the next year, he can expect to find a(n) A) increased hare population. B) decreased owl population. C) decreased antelope population. D) decreased pheasant population.

A) increased hare population.

Many plants are mycorrhizal: Their roots are infected with a specialized fungus. The plant supplies carbon to the fungus, and the fungus supplies nutrients to the plant. The relationship between these plants and the mycorrhizal fungi is an example of a ________ association. A) mutualistic B) competitive C) parasitic D) successional E) predator -prey

A) mutualistic

The amount of energy captured by plants and made available to consumers in an ecosystem is called A) net primary productivity. B) energy pyramid. C) biological magnification. D) nutrient cycling. E) secondary trophic level.

A) net primary productivity.

Earthworms live in many grass and forest ecosystems, and they aerate the soil as they burrow. They also may mix soil layers as they ingest organic matter and travel between layers. These traits, taken collectively, make up the ________ of the earthworm. A) niche B) physical home C) community profile D) ecosystem profile E) resource partition profile

A) niche

Succession that begins on bare rock after glaciers have passed, or on newly formed volcanic islands, is A) primary. B) secondary. C) allogenic. D) pioneer. E) autogenic.

A) primary.

The succession shown in the illustration is A) primary. B) secondary. C) subclimax. D) climax. E) biome.

A) primary.

A carnivorous plant, such as a sundew, may be considered both a ________ when it eats a carnivorous spider. A) producer and a tertiary consumer B) producer and a secondary consumer C) producer and a primary consumer D) primary consumer and a secondary consumer E) primary consumer and a tertiary consumer

A) producer and a tertiary consumer

The amount of energy lost as it passes from one trophic level to another is approximately A) 99%. B) 90%. C) 75%. D) 63%. E) 50%.

B) 90%.

Ornithologists visiting an island find two species of birds that appear nearly identical except for bill size. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for their discovery? A) There is natural random variability. B) Coevolution of the two species has resulted in resource partitioning between the species. C) Mutations have resulted in an inferior species with defective bills. D) They aren't separate species. E) The birds need camouflage for protection from predators.

B) Coevolution of the two species has resulted in resource partitioning between the species.

Fleas feed on the blood of dogs, cats, and people. What is this ecological relationship called? A) Predation B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Resource partitioning E) Competition

B) Parasitism

Humans contract bacterial infections such as tuberculosis or syphilis. What is this ecological relationship called? A) Predation B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Resource partitioning E) Competition

B) Parasitism

Harmless king snakes mimic the color patterns of venomous coral snakes, which serve as models. If avoidance were based solely on prior predator experience with the model, what do you predict would happen in areas where coral snakes were never present? A) Predators would initially attack and eat king snakes but soon learn to avoid them. B) Predators would attack and eat king snakes. C) Predators would avoid king snakes. D) Predators would initially avoid king snakes but soon learn to attack and eat them. E) No predictions can be made based on the information given.

B) Predators would attack and eat king snakes.

Which trophic level has the LEAST biological magnification? A) Heterotrophs B) Primary producers C) Secondary consumers D) Primary consumers E) Tertiary consumers

B) Primary producers

Which level of the energy pyramid has the greatest biomass? A) Heterotrophs B) Producers C) Carnivores D) Primary consumers E) Secondary consumers

B) Producers

After a forested area such as a national forest is clear-cut, what type of succession occurs? A) Primary B) Secondary C) Subclimax D) Climax E) Biome

B) Secondary

The process by which two interacting species act as agents of natural selection on one another is called A) mutualism. B) coevolution C) parasitism. D) mimicry. E) symbiosis.

B) coevolution

Over the course of their evolutionary histories, the timing of flowering, the spacing of plants, and the nectar rewards of flowering plants have influenced the foraging behavior of bees, which in turn has influenced the morphology of flowers. This process is an example of A) adaptive radiation. B) coevolution. C) competitive exclusion. D) convergent evolution. E) niche partitioning.

B) coevolution.

In ________, the interaction between two species harms both of them. A) coevolution B) competition C) mutualism D) parasitism E) symbiosis

B) competition

A species that is a mimic may A) produce chemicals that deter predators. B) have behavior similar to that of another species. C) resemble its surroundings. D) use bright colors to warn that it is harmful. E) produce "smoke screens."

B) have behavior similar to that of another species.

The atoms that make up the molecules in our bodies A) cannot be rearranged to make different molecules under any circumstances. B) have nearly all been on Earth throughout its entire history. C) traveled to Earth as electromagnetic waves. D) were all formed recently by nuclear fusion on the sun. E) will be lost back to space soon after we die.

B) have nearly all been on Earth throughout its entire history.

Competition between the members of two species is A) always very intense and is referred to as intraspecific. B) most intense when the species are most similar and is referred to as interspecific. C) unusual and is referred to as interspecific. D) very common and is referred to as intraspecific. E) least intense between similar species and is referred to as interspecific.

B) most intense when the species are most similar and is referred to as interspecific.

The Masai people of Africa regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. The cattle derive a net benefit because the Masai also protect them from predators and help them find water and food. Based on this information, the relationship between the Masai and cattle is best classified as A) coevolution. B) mutualism. C) competition. D) parasitism. E) predation.

B) mutualism.

If the plants in a community produce 500 grams of organic matter per square meter per year that is available for animals in the community to eat, this amount of energy is known as the A) availability factor of the community. B) net primary productivity of the community. C) consumership of the community. D) secondary productivity of the community. E) trophic factor of the community.

B) net primary productivity of the community.

The amount of life that an ecosystem can support is determined primarily by the A) efficiency of the consumers. B) number of producers and their efficiency. C) number of heterotrophs. D) number of chemoautotrophs. E) efficiency of the heterotrophs.

B) number of producers and their efficiency.

The biologist who studies interactions at the community level investigates interactions among A) organisms of one species. B) organisms of more than one species. C) animals of one species. D) social animals (such as insects). E) ecosystems.

B) organisms of more than one species.

Fleas on a dog are an example of A) predators. B) parasites. C) hosts. D) mutualists. E) prey.

B) parasites.

In the rain forests of Panama, scientists found a colony of tree-dwelling black ants where some individuals had red abdomens. When examined, the scientists determined that the ants with red abdomens were infected with roundworm eggs. Birds would prey on these ants, mistaking their red bellies for berries. In the interactions among the tree-dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the roundworms are the A) predators. B) parasites. C) hosts. D) mutualists. E) prey.

B) parasites.

Insects that feed on plants without consuming them completely may be classified as A) predators. B) parasites. C) hosts. D) mutualists. E) prey.

B) parasites.

Mosquitoes are A) predators. B) parasites. C) hosts. D) mutualists. E) prey.

B) parasites.

On the slopes of the Washington Cascades, ecologists have studied some closely related vole species for decades. Many of these vole species, when they occur on separate mountains, tend to choose very similar seed sizes for food. However, when these species occur together on the same mountain slope, their food choices tend to differ, with some species selecting small seeds and others feeding exclusively on larger seeds. This behavior may be an example of A) niche fragmentation. B) resource partitioning. C) habitat fragmentation. D) intraspecific competition. E) intraspecific range diversion.

B) resource partitioning.

When a community like the tallgrass prairie is maintained by recurring disturbances such as periodic fires set by Native Americans or by lightning, a ________ community exists. A) pine forest B) subclimax C) climax D) pioneer E) deciduous

B) subclimax

The next time you need to mow the grass, you can excuse yourself, saying that by mowing you are helping to maintain a man-made A) climax community. B) subclimax community. C) biome. D) ecosystem. E) population.

B) subclimax community.

In a grassland of Kansas, 1,000 grams of grass are produced per square meter per year by all the different grass species. A theoretical upper limit to the biomass of secondary consumers that can be supported in this ecosystem is A) 1,000 grams. B) 100 grams. C) 10 grams. D) 1 gram. E) 0.1 gram.

C) 10 grams.

Birds follow a herd of water buffalo to catch insects that are disturbed as the large herbivores walk through the grass. When large predators are near, the birds fly into the air and make warning calls. What is the ecological relationship between the birds and the herbivores called? A) Predation B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Resource partitioning E) Competition

C) Mutualism

Plants called legumes have chambers in their roots that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria get both a place to live and energy while supplying nitrogen to a plant. What is this ecological relationship called? A) Predation B) Parasitism C) Mutualism D) Succession E) Competition

C) Mutualism

What ecological process causes a lake to change into a marsh over a long period of time? A) Eutrophication B) Competitive exclusion C) Succession D) Extinction E) Coevolution

C) Succession

A predator might use ________ to enable it to catch its prey. A) startle coloration B) warning coloration C) camouflage D) symbiosis E) coevolution

C) camouflage

In the Australian outback, emus (a relative of the ostrich) feeding in the open brush lands have coloration similar to the surrounding bushes. This is an example of A) warning coloration. B) mimicry. C) camouflage. D) coevolution. E) interspecies competition.

C) camouflage.

The sea dragon in the illustration displays A) aggressive mimicry. B) warning coloration. C) camouflage. D) chemical defenses. E) startle coloration.

C) camouflage.

A certain species of animal represents just 3% of the biomass in its ecosystem. We might classify this as a keystone species if its removal A) allowed an even rarer species to increase in numbers and take its place. B) caused 2% of the other species in the community to disappear. C) caused the diversity of the plant community to decline by 40%. D) caused plant biomass to increase by 5%. E) had no effect on the community whatsoever.

C) caused the diversity of the plant community to decline by 40%.

Trees often produce secondary chemicals to deter herbivores from feeding on their leaves; in turn, many herbivores have developed ways of avoiding or detoxifying these chemicals. This is an example of A) competitive exclusion. B) predatory avoidance. C) coevolution. D) parasitic evolution. E) parasite predation.

C) coevolution.

The ________ are an important and often overlooked group of organisms that release nutrients into the soil or water. A) producers B) heterotrophs C) decomposers D) tertiary consumers E) autotrophs

C) decomposers

The community of detritivores, such as earthworms, millipeds, slugs, and pseudoscorpions, living in the leaf litter on the shady floor of a deciduous forest obtains its energy and nutrients primarily from A) carbohydrates formed in the roots of the trees that leach out into the surrounding soil. B) chemosynthesis by green and purple sulfur bacteria living on the surface of the leaves. C) decomposition of the leaves of deciduous trees that fall on the surface of the soil. D) photosynthesis or algae living in the soil beneath the leaves. E) predation on one another.

C) decomposition of the leaves of deciduous trees that fall on the surface of the soil.

A deer that gets its energy from eating plants is a(n) A) omnivore. B) primary producer. C) herbivore. D) tertiary consumer. E) carnivore.

C) herbivore.

In the rain forests of Panama, scientists found a colony of tree-dwelling black ants where some individuals had red abdomens. When examined, the scientists determined that the ants with red abdomens were infected with roundworm eggs. Birds would prey on these ants, mistaking their red bellies for berries. In the interactions among the tree-dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the ants are the ________ for the roundworms. A) predators B) parasites C) hosts D) mutualists E) prey

C) hosts

An example of ________ is when birds feed on parasitic insects they pick off the skin of large animals such as elephants or bison. A) predation B) parasitism C) mutualism D) resource partitioning E) competition

C) mutualism

Clownfish live within the tentacles of sea anemones. The anemone protects the fish from predators, and the clownfish cleans the anemone. This relationship is an example of A) succession. B) competition. C) mutualism. D) parasitism. E) predation.

C) mutualism.

If similar species each occupy a smaller niche when they live together than they would if they lived alone, they are said to be A) involved in succession. B) involved in intraspecific competition. C) partitioning their resources. D) coevolving. E) increasing niche overlap.

C) partitioning their resources.

Bacteria that live in deep-sea thermal vents use energy from inorganic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to make organic molecules from carbon dioxide and are thus A) decomposers. B) primary consumers. C) producers. D) secondary consumers. E) tertiary consumers.

C) producers.

A snake that eats a small rabbit that feeds on grass is classified as a(n) A) autotroph. B) primary producer. C) secondary consumer. D) primary consumer. E) tertiary consumer.

C) secondary consumer.

In the illustration above, the shrubby blueberry and juniper are classified as a ________ community. A) primary B) secondary C) subclimax D) climax E) biome

C) subclimax

In his 1961 paper "The Paradox of the Plankton," ecologist G. E. Hutchinson noted that several species of algae coexist, sharing the same few mineral nutrient resources in homogeneous open-water systems. Because there is little chance of resource partitioning and niche differentiation in such a situation, the paradox of their coexistence is an apparent violation of A) Darwin's theory of evolution by means of natural selection. B) the climax theory of succession. C) the competitive exclusion principle. D) the law of mass action. E) the second law of thermodynamics.

C) the competitive exclusion principle.

A storm strips an island in Lake Superior down to bare rock. The first organisms to recolonize the island are most likely A) balsam firs. B) junipers. C) blueberries. D) lichens. E) yarrow.

D) lichens.

Only a small percentage of the energy produced by the sun is actually used by living organisms. What percentage of energy produced by the sun is captured by photosynthetic organisms? A) 5% B) 3% C) 1% D) 0.03% E) 0.0001%

D) 0.03%

A species that plays a major role in determining the structure of its ecological community is A) a predator. B) a dominator species. C) the most abundant species in the community. D) a keystone species. E) the species with the largest size.

D) a keystone species.

7) An ecological niche A) is formed by the physical environment only. B) depends on the weather. C) is a constantly changing place. D) cannot be shared by two species. E) is the same thing as a habitat.

D) cannot be shared by two species.

Detritus feeders consume A) herbivores. B) plants and plant debris. C) secondary consumers and primary debris. D) dead organic matter. E) fungi and bacteria.

D) dead organic matter

Certain bacteria and fungi that are important in nutrient recycling because they release nutrients from dead organisms back into the ecosystem are A) autotrophs. B) carnivores. C) detritus feeders. D) decomposers. E) recyclers.

D) decomposers.

The first community that forms on bare rock often has organisms such as A) herbs and conifers. B) grasses and weeds. C) broad-leaf trees and conifers. D) lichens and mosses. E) woody shrubs and conifers.

D) lichens and mosses.

In open-water marine ecosystems, the ________ occupy the same trophic level as the giant sequoias (redwoods) in the forests of California. A) fast-swimming, fish-eating tuna B) giant, squid-eating whales C) microscopic bacteria that decompose all the other organisms once they have died D) microscopic, single-celled algae (protists) called phytoplankton ("plant-like drifters") E) tiny, multicellular zooplankton ("animal drifters") that feed on phytoplankton

D) microscopic, single-celled algae (protists) called phytoplankton ("plant-like drifters")

Aphids pierce the tissues of plants with their tubular mouthparts and suck out the phloem juices. Because this food is mostly sugar water with a low concentration of protein, the aphids have to process large volumes of it to obtain sufficient protein. Most of the excess sugar and water passes right through the aphids' digestive tracts and is defecated as "honeydew," which is actively sought out and eaten by some ants. The ants will even "milk" honeydew by stroking the aphids. In return, ants protect their aphids from predators, even going so far as taking them inside overnight! The relationship between the aphids and ants is called A) predation. B) competition. C) parasitism. D) mutualism.

D) mutualism.

Predation is similar to ________ in that both types of relationship benefit one of the interacting species while harming the other. A) coevolution B) competition C) mutualism D) parasitism E) symbiosis

D) parasitism

The Masai people of Africa regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. Based on this information alone, we might classify the relationship between the Masai and cattle as A) coevolution. B) mutualism. C) competition. D) parasitism. E) predation.

D) parasitism.

The tiny wasp Ooencyrtus kuvanae lays its eggs inside the egg masses of gypsy moths. When the wasp larvae hatch, they burrow into the gypsy moth caterpillars and eat them from the inside. After they have completed their development, the adult wasps emerge from the bodies of the moth caterpillars, killing them in the process. Although this relationship has several of the characteristics of parasitism, it is more properly classified as A) coevolution. B) competition. C) mutualism. D) predation. E) resource partitioning.

D) predation.

The first trophic level of an ecosystem consists of A) primary consumers. B) detritus feeders. C) secondary consumers. D) producers. E) heterotrophs.

D) producers.

In his study of the foraging behavior of bumblebees, D. W. Inouye noted that both Bombus appositus and Bombus flavifrons feed from both larkspur and monkshood flowers when each is the only bumblebee species present. However, when both species are present, B. appositus feeds on only larkspur and B. flavifrons specializes on monkshood. This behavior is an example of A) aggressive mimicry. B) predation. C) intraspecific competition. D) resource partitioning. E) habitat fragmentation.

D) resource partitioning.

Two species of buttercup are found in the same field in South Dakota, but they emerge at different times: One species emerges and flowers in early spring, and the other species does not emerge until late summer, after the first species has set seed. This is probably an example of A) habitat fragmentation. B) niche fragmentation. C) niche realignment. D) resource partitioning. E) intraspecific competition.

D) resource partitioning.

A carnivore is usually a(n) A) primary producer. B) secondary producer. C) primary consumer. D) secondary consumer. E) autotroph.

D) secondary consumer.

If a bird eats an insect that ate a plant, the bird is considered a(n) A) autotroph. B) primary producer. C) primary consumer. D) secondary consumer. E) tertiary consumer.

D) secondary consumer.

Over the past century, sagebrush has dramatically expanded its range over the Colorado plateau's grasslands. This development has been attributed to the overgrazing of the area's grasses by cattle and sheep. This example indicates that A) grazing has no effect on the distribution of plants. B) sagebrush could not exist anywhere in the absence of cattle and sheep. C) sagebrush is the dominant competitor over grasses. D) the range of sagebrush is normally limited by competition with grasses. E) the relationship between sagebrush and grasses is mutualistic.

D) the range of sagebrush is normally limited by competition with grasses.

The ultimate source of energy for every living organism on Earth is A) coal. B) nuclear sources. C) volcanoes. D) the sun. E) oil.

D) the sun.

Based on the illustration, the most productive biome is the A) estuary. B) continental shelf. C) coniferous forest. D) tropical rain forest. E) grassland.

D) tropical rain forest.

________ are organisms such as earthworms, millipedes, and other scavengers that eat waste products and dead organic matter.

Detritivores

4) How much of the energy that reaches Earth's outer atmosphere from the sun is available for photosynthesis in plants at Earth's surface? A) 25% B) 21% C) 14% D) 5% E) 1%

E) 1%

If a field contains approximately 1,000 kilocalories of energy in grass, which is eaten by crickets, which are eaten by birds, then approximately how many kilocalories of energy could be in the birds that live in this field? A) 1,000 B) 900 C) 100 D) 90 E) 10

E) 10

What happens to 99% of the energy that reaches Earth's atmosphere? A) It is captured by plants and used in photosynthesis. B) It is destroyed by the atmosphere. C) It is used as heat by animals. D) It is absorbed by rocks on Earth's crust. E) It is reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, and Earth's surface.

E) It is reflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, clouds, and Earth's surface.

Which behavioral response to the threat of predation is most likely to be selected for in a species that uses camouflage for protection from predators? A) A quick escape response B) Sudden display to startle the predator C) Cooperative behavior D) Behavior that mimics the behavior of the predator E) Motionless behavior

E) Motionless behavior

What is biological magnification? A) The abnormal growth of organisms. B) The process of making small living organisms larger. C) The breakdown of macromolecules into harmless substances. D) An increase in the size of a population. E) The accumulation of toxic substances in a living organism.

E) The accumulation of toxic substances in a living organism.

In 1956, people in Minamata, Japan, began to exhibit severe neurological disorders and birth defects. This problem was eventually attributed to methylmercury, a water-insoluble and breakdown-resistant chemical formed from mercury dumped into the adjacent bay by a local factory. Which of the following types of seafood would have the highest levels of methylmercury, and therefore cause the severest effects? A) Kelp (large, multicellular, photosynthetic protists) B) Krill (small crustaceans that eat tiny microscopic algae) C) Mussels that feed on tiny microscopic algae D) Sea urchins that feed on kelp E) Tuna that feed on smaller fish that feed on krill that feed on algae

E) Tuna that feed on smaller fish that feed on krill that feed on algae

A caterpillar develops toxic spikes to deter the bird that preys on it. Over time the bird develops a digestive enzyme that neutralizes the toxin. This is an example of A) an invasive species. B) parasitism. C) mutualism. D) mimicry. E) coevolution.

E) coevolution.

If an insect eats the lettuce seedlings in your yard, it is acting most like a(n) A) omnivore. B) host. C) mutualist. D) carnivore. E) herbivore.

E) herbivore.

Two species of buttercup are found in a field in North Dakota, and they tend to flower at approximately the same time in early spring. When some ecology students decide to conduct an experiment in community dynamics, they selectively remove one species from the field by hand- picking all emergent plants. When the one species is removed, the other species shows a significant increase in its population size the next season. This study demonstrates A) habitat fragmentation. B) niche fragmentation. C) niche realignment. D) intraspecific competition. E) interspecific competition.

E) interspecific competition.

If you are attempting to minimize the amount of mercury in your diet, you should eat A) omnivores such as hogs. B) low-level carnivores such as tilapia. C) herbivores such as cattle. D) high-level carnivores such as tuna. E) producers such as fruits and vegetables.

E) producers such as fruits and vegetables.

Two families of feral cats move into the same barn. One family preys on the mice; the other preys on the pigeons. This behavior is an example of A) parasitism. B) interspecific competition. C) mutualism. D) ecosystem profile. E) resource partitioning.

E) resource partitioning.

If a fox eats a rodent that ate a smaller insect that ate a plant, the fox is a(n) A) autotroph. B) primary producer. C) primary consumer. D) secondary consumer. E) tertiary consumer.

E) tertiary consumer.

Autotrophs gain energy from A) primary producers. B) secondary consumers. C) secondary producers. D) omnivores. E) the sun and inorganic nutrients.

E) the sun and inorganic nutrients.

The rocks and weather that influence succession are examples of ________ factors.

abiotic

Organisms that produce their own food in photosynthesis are known as producers, or ________ ("self-feeders").

autotrophs

Succession after a catastrophic disturbance such as a volcanic eruption is referred to as ________ succession.

primary

Similar climax communities distributed over a very large geographical area are known as ________.

biomes

The ________ ________ principle states that two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

competitive exclusion

Bacteria and fungi that secrete enzymes into the surrounding environment to break down wastes and dead organic matter are ________.

decomposers

In the process called ___________, interactions between species can limit population size, but can also influence the physical characteristics and behaviors of the interacting populations. a. succession b. mutualism c. camouflage d. symbiosis e. coevolution

e. coevolution

One of the basic principles of ecosystems is that ________ moves through the ecosystems in a continuous one-way flow.

energy

A keystone species is the most numerous species in an ecosystem. True or False?

false

Detritus feeders remove nutrients from the food chain. True or False?

false

Hawks that eat field mice are practicing mutualism. True or False?

false

In a mutualistic relationship, one species benefits and the other is harmed. True or False?

false

In a stable ecosystem, the number of predators is greater than the number of prey. True or False?

false

In all symbiotic relationships, both species involved benefit from the association. True or

false

In most environments, two or more organisms occupy identical niches. True or False?

false

In mutualistic interactions, one species is harmed and one benefits. True or False?

false

Iron is a limiting factor in many aquatic ecosystems. If the iron level is increased, the amount of phytoplankton (which feed on iron) decreases. True or False?

false

Lichens are a symbiosis between a fungus and a plant. True or False?

false

Once used by an organism, carbon- and nitrogen-based nutrients are unavailable for other organisms. True or False?

false

Organisms that produce their own food from inorganic compounds through reactions powered by sunlight are heterotrophs. True or False?

false

Parasites kill their hosts, but predators do not kill their prey. True or False?

false

Shade-tolerant plant species are generally found early in succession and are replaced by hardier, shade-intolerant species. True or False?

false

Startle coloration is used to attract mates. True or False?

false

The biotic portion of an ecosystem includes the plants, animals, and water. True or False?

false

The first organisms to colonize a disturbed ecosystem are the climax species. True or False?

false

The level of environmental toxins such as DDT decreases as you move into the higher trophic levels. True or False?

false

The primary consumers in marine food chains are phytoplanktons. True or False?

false

When a rabbit eats the lettuce in your garden, the rabbit uses all of the energy in the lettuce. True or False?

false

Bison are a ________ species in the prairie, helping to maintain the grasses, opening water holes and wallows, and creating the ecological framework for the prairie ecosystem.

keystone

A bat pollinates a plant while obtaining nectar from it. This behavior is an example of ________.

mutualism

A protist lives in the gut of a termite, breaking down the cellulose that the termite ingests and providing glucose to benefit both of them. This kind of relationship is called ________.

mutualism

Parasites act as agents of ________ ________, leading to changes in the host population that make it more resistant to the parasite.

natural selection

Every species occupies a unique ecological ________ that encompasses all aspects of its way of life.

niche

One of the basic principles of ecosystems is that ________ cycle within the ecosystems.

nutrients

Succession in small ponds and lakes is usually dependent on the input of ________ from outside the ecosystem.

nutrients

A ________ feeds on another organism without killing it.

parasite

When all vegetation is removed from a site by human activity or by natural forces such as volcanic activity, ________ species are the first to recolonize the site.

pioneer

Herbivores occupy the trophic level of ________ consumer.

primary

Two weed species live in the same patch of ground. One has very deep roots to tap into ground water. The other has broad, shallow roots to take advantage of the frequent light rains that don't penetrate very deeply into the soil. This is an example of ________ ________.

resource partitioning

Along many southern bayous you can see the remnants of old plantations that have been reclaimed by the forest and swamp in a process known as ________ succession.

secondary

Succession after a disturbance such as forest harvest or a landslide is referred to as ________ succession.

secondary