ecology exam 3
Which is an example of a diffuse species interaction? A) Removal of one beetle species from a community shows no effect. B) Canada lynx cause population cycling in snowshoe hares. C) Removal of sea otters results in kelp forest depletion. D) Loss of starfish results in mussel outcompeting other species.
A) Removal of one beetle species from a community shows no effect.
6.Which statement best describes a keystone species? C) a species that takes up a great deal of space in a community B) an abundant species that may or may not affect other species D) a common species that has a strong effect on its community A) a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community
A) a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community
Which statement best describes a keystone species? A) a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community B) an abundant species that may or may not affect other species C) a species that takes up a great deal of space in a community D) a common species that has a strong effect on its community
A) a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community
Removal of sea otters from a system results in a massive increase in sea urchins and subsequent loss of kelp beds. This is an example of A) a trophic cascade. B) apparent competition. C) bottom-up control. D) indirect mutualism.
A) a trophic cascade.
Which of the following is a potential response by a plant host to a parasite? C) increased production of lymphocytes B) allelopathy A) formation of a gall D) more rapid growth of tissues
A) formation of a gall
As the fertility of soil on the forest floor increases, the D) number of species of plants increases C) density of plants decreases. B) size of plants decreases. A) growth rate of plants increases.
A) growth rate of plants increases.
With increasing forest area in a patch, what is more likely to occur? 1/1 Point A) interior species B) edge species C) boundary species D) area-insensitive species
A) interior species
Which of the following symbiotic mutualisms involves a fungus? A) lichens B) legume-Rhizobium interactions C) corals and zooxanthellae D) gut microbe-ruminant interactions
A) lichens
Food webs are typically arranged into trophic levels with A) primary producers at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and carnivores at the top. B) herbivores at the bottom, carnivores in the middle, and primary producers at the top. C) carnivores at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and primary producers at the top. D) primary producers at the bottom, carnivores in the middle, and herbivores at the top.
A) primary producers at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and carnivores at the top
Food webs are typically arranged into trophic levels with C) carnivores at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and primary producers at the top. B) herbivores at the bottom, carnivores in the middle, and primary producers at the top. D) primary producers at the bottom, carnivores in the middle, and herbivores at the top. A) primary producers at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and carnivores at the top.
A) primary producers at the bottom, herbivores in the middle, and carnivores at the top.
5. Mosses colonizing a bare rock is A) primary succession. C) chronosequence. B) secondary succession. D) autogenic change.
A) primary succession.
14.Which of the following is an example of an allogenic change that drives succession? C) increased nitrogen availability in soil due to the presence of leguminous plants A) seasonal changes in temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity B) increased shading of seedlings by adult trees in a forest D) reduced salinity due to surface shading by grasses in a salt marsh
A) seasonal changes in temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity
Which of the following groups of species represents a guild? A) species of birds that feed on nectar B) species of plants that use the C3 pathway of photosynthesis C) species of plants that tolerate shade D) species of plants or animals that are iteroparous
A) species of birds that feed on nectar
Which of the following communities could exhibit apparent competition? A) species the share resources but not a predator B) species that share a predator but not resources C) species that do not share either resources or a predator D) species with diffuse interactions
A) species the share resources but not a predator
Changes in community composition and structure over time are called A) succession. B) stratification. C) zonation. D) characterization
A) succession
Changes in community composition and structure over time are called A) succession. C) zonation. D) characterization. B) stratification.
A) succession.
Which of the following are late successional species? D) forbs A) trees B) grass C) weeds
A) trees
Which of the following are late successional species? A) trees B) grass C) weeds D) forbs
A) trees
2.The relative abundance of a tree with 100 individuals in a community of 1000 would be B) 0.1. A) 10. C) 1. D) 100.
B) 0.1.
12) As succession proceeds, what occurs with animals living in the habitat? C) New animal species evolve in response to vegetation. A) Animals adapt to the new vegetation. B) Animals leave as their habitat disappears. D) Animal species diversity continually decreases.
B) Animals leave as their habitat disappears.
As succession proceeds, what occurs with animals living in the habitat? A) Animals adapt to the new vegetation. B) Animals leave as their habitat disappears. C) New animal species evolve in response to vegetation. D) Animal species diversity continually decreases.
B) Animals leave as their habitat disappears.
Which of the following best explains the figure? D) Only infected individuals exhibit conspicuous behavior. A) Conspicuous behavior leads to high infection intensity. C) There is no relationship between conspicuous behavior and infection intensity. B) High intensity infection leads to more conspicuous behavior.
B) High intensity infection leads to more conspicuous behavior.
Which of the following statements is true? 1/1 Point A) Large patches of habitat usually contain fewer species than small patches. D) Small species are usually limited to small habitat patches. B) Large animals usually have larger home ranges than smaller animals. C) Carnivore home ranges are usually smaller than herbivore home ranges.
B) Large animals usually have larger home ranges than smaller animals.
Which of the following communities has the highest species richness? C) The community has 30 species with one species being the most abundant species A) The community has 30 species with the same relative abundance for each species D) The community has 30 species with two species being the most abundant species B) The community has 32 species with varying relative abundance
B) The community has 32 species with varying relative abundance
An old pine tree in the front yard is beginning to die as the neighborhood deciduous trees have grown. Why might this be? A) Deciduous trees have depleted the soil of nutrients. B) The pine tree is shade intolerant. C) The pine tree has depleted the soil of nutrients. ) Deciduous trees are shade intolerant.
B) The pine tree is shade intolerant
7. In succession, which type of environmental change occurs when the physical environment changes, such as an increase in temperature or salinity? D) autogenic A) allopatric C) autozygous B) allogenic
B) allogenic
In succession, which type of environmental change occurs when the physical environment changes, such as an increase in temperature or salinity? A) allopatric B) allogenic C) autozygous D) autogenic- means when the plants change light.
B) allogenic
Which of the following is an example of a fundamental niche? D) a lizard feeding on insects only at dawn when snakes are present C) a bird nesting on top of a tree in the presence of predators A) a mouse feeding on only small seeds in the presence of a competitor B) an amphibian laying eggs in all possible habitats
B) an amphibian laying eggs in all possible habitats
Which of the following is an example of a fundamental niche? A) a mouse feeding on only small seeds in the presence of a competitor B) an amphibian laying eggs in all possible habitats C) a bird nesting on top of a tree in the presence of predators D) a lizard feeding on insects only at dawn when snakes are present
B) an amphibian laying eggs in all possible habitats
In comparison to the upper intertidal zone, species in the lower intertidal zone are more apt to A) be desiccation tolerant. D) have a lower metabolic rate. B) be better competitors. C) have lower resource requirements.
B) be better competitors.
How do beavers maintain a landscape? (check all that apply) A) massive defoliation of shrubs B) damming streams to convert lowland forest areas into wetlands C) feeding on aspen, willow, and birch trees D) dispersing seeds of mesquite
B) damming streams to convert lowland forest areas into wetlands. C) feeding on aspen, willow, and birch trees
With decreasing forest area in a patch, what is more likely to occur? A) interior species B) edge species C) boundary species D) area-insensitive species
B) edge species
Organisms that live at or near boundaries are called 1/1 Point B) edge species. D) matrix species. A) boundary species. C) patch species
B) edge species.
9) Within a food web, herbivores are considered to be C) top predators. B) intermediate species. D) represented at any level. A) basal species.
B) intermediate species.
When infected by a parasite, an animal typically D) is less likely to be preyed on than a healthy individual. A) grows more rapidly than a healthy individual. B) produces fewer offspring than a healthy individual. C) behaves less conspicuously than a healthy individual.
B) produces fewer offspring than a healthy individual.
Early successional species are characterized by C) low degree of dispersal. B) smaller body size. A) low body growth rates. D) low per capita population growth rate.
B) smaller body size.
What is a primary focus of landscape ecology? 1/1 Point A) individual behavior B) spatial heterogeneity D) population growth C) species interactions
B) spatial heterogeneity
Which of the following are symbiotic with corals? A) polyps B) zooxanthellae C) silica D) clownfish
B) zooxanthellae
The relative abundance of a tree with 100 individuals in a community of 1000 would be A) 10. B) 1. C) 0.1. D) 100
C) 0.1
Why might increased soil fertility result in lower species diversity? A) There is no relationship between soil fertility and species diversity. B) Increased nutrients help more rare plants survive. C) Dominant species are better able to outcompete other species. D) Dominant species are less able to outcompete other species.
C) Dominant species are better able to outcompete other species.
Why might increased soil fertility result in lower species diversity? A) There is no relationship between soil fertility and species diversity. B) Increased nutrients help more rare plants survive. C) Dominant species are better able to outcompete other species. D) Dominant species are less able to outcompete other species.
C) Dominant species are better able to outcompete other species.
Which of the following is NOT a general relationship? 1/1 Point A) Increasing patch size is related to increased species diversity. C) Increasing patch size is related to increased edge-to-core ratio. D) Increased body size is related to increased home range. B) Increasing patch size is related to increased population size.
C) Increasing patch size is related to increased edge-to-core ratio
9) What would you predict would happen to a plant after being invaded by Rhizobium bacteria? A) It would die. C) It would grow better. D) It would wilt. B) It would grow worse.
C) It would grow better.
What does this figure suggest? D) Smaller number of patches increase extinction risk. A) Larger patch size increases extinction risk. C) Smaller patch size increases extinction risk. B) Larger number of patches increase extinction risk.
C) Smaller patch size increases extinction risk
10) How might ants on an acacia tree serve in a mutualistic relationship? D) The ants bring sugar to the tree. C) The ants fight off potential herbivores. B) The ants carry disease. A) The ants bring nitrogen to the tree.
C) The ants fight off potential herbivores.
10.The number of species within a community is usually greatest when A) no disturbance occurs. D) a high rate of disturbance occurs. B) a low frequency of disturbance occurs. C) an intermediate frequency of disturbance occurs.
C) an intermediate frequency of disturbance occurs.
11) Succession in a community involves C) both autotrophic and heterotrophic species. D) only detritivorous species. A) only autotrophic species. B) only heterotrophic species.
C) both autotrophic and heterotrophic species.
A species that has massive effects on an ecosystem but in proportion to its abundance is a B) basal species. C) dominant species. A) keystone species. D) top predator.
C) dominant species
A species that has massive effects on an ecosystem but in proportion to its abundance is a A) keystone species. B) basal species. C) dominant species. D) top predator.
C) dominant species
How do beavers maintain a landscape? 1/1 Point A) massive defoliation of shrubs C) feeding on aspen, willow, and birch trees D) dispersing seeds of mesquite B) feeding on roots of graminoid plants
C) feeding on aspen, willow, and birch trees
In a rank-abundance curve comparing two communities, the community with the greater species diversity is characterized by a A) lesser length of the curve and a more gradual slope. B) lesser length of the curve and a steeper slope. C) greater length of the curve and a more gradual slope. D) greater length of the curve and a steeper slope.
C) greater length of the curve and a more gradual slope.
Which of the following are always photosynthetic? A) macroparasites B) microparasites C) hemiparasites D) holoparasites
C) hemiparasites
6. Which of the following is a characteristic of a late successional plant species? D) high acclimation potential A) high photosynthetic rates C) high efficiency at low light B) high stomatal conductance
C) high efficiency at low light
As the degree of environmental heterogeneity of a community increases, the number of animal species tends to A) decrease. B) remain the same. C) increase. D) increase initially and then decrease.
C) increase.
11.Given large differences in moisture retention in soils, what would you predict? A) decreased community diversity D) more similar functional types in the community B) no effect on community diversity C) increased community diversity
C) increased community diversity
You see a killifish jumping around on the surface before it is consumed by a bird. You conclude the fish was A) trying to scare off the predator. B) hunting for flying insects. C) infected with a trematode. D) starving to death
C) infected with a trematode.
What might be a result of hunting sea otters to extinction for their fur? A) loss of killer whales B) loss of sea urchins C) loss of kelp beds D) loss of barnacles
C) loss of kelp beds
8.The species at the top of a food web A) do not prey on other species and are not subject to predation. D) prey on other species and are subject to predation. C) prey on other species and are not subject to predation. B) do not prey on other species and are subject to predation.
C) prey on other species and are not subject to predation.
What might one expect to see in a graph depicting realized niche space in a community? D) each species utilizing its full resources C) reduced overlap between species resource use B) large overlap between species resource use A) one dominant species utilizing all of the resources
C) reduced overlap between species resource use
Experiments on competition among species within a community reveal that B) removing a single species has a stronger effect than removing a group of species from a community. D) removing a single species has relatively little effect on a community. C) removing a group of species has a stronger effect than removing a single species from a community. A) removing a group of species has relatively little effect on a community.
C) removing a group of species has a stronger effect than removing a single species from a community.
Organisms that live in moister shaded environment are more likely to be found in A) edge environment B) boundaries C) small patches D) large patches
C) small patches
When an ecologist compares the diversity of different communities by counting the number of species within each community, the measure of diversity being used is called A) species evenness. B) species diversity. D) relative abundance. C) species richness.
C) species richness.
When bass were removed from a stream, an algal bloom occurred. This is an example of B) bottom-up control. C) top-down control. A) the null model. D) apparent competition
C) top-down control.
When bass were removed from a stream, an algal bloom occurred. This is an example of A) Diffuse interaction B) bottom-up control. C) top-down control. D) apparent competition
C) top-down control.
4) Which of the following values of evenness represents a completely even distribution? C) 0 A) 100 D) 1 B) 10
D) 1
Which description is true for most communities? B) All species are rare. D) A few species are common and the remainder are rare. C) All species are common. A) All species have approximately equal abundances
D) A few species are common and the remainder are rare.
13) What is the timescale for succession to occur? A) years C) millennia B) decades D) All of the above are suitable timeframes.
D) All of the above are suitable timeframes.
Plant community structure along an environmental gradient can often be explained by A) differences among species in their competitive abilities. B) differences among species in their abilities to tolerate stress. C) differences among species in their resistance to herbivores. D) a trade-off among species with respect to competitive ability and stress tolerance
D) a trade-off among species with respect to competitive ability and stress tolerance
Plant community structure along an environmental gradient can often be explained by D) a trade-off among species with respect to competitive ability and stress tolerance. B) differences among species in their abilities to tolerate stress. C) differences among species in their resistance to herbivores. A) differences among species in their competitive abilities.
D) a trade-off among species with respect to competitive ability and stress tolerance.
Removal of sea otters from a system results in a massive increase in sea urchins and subsequent loss of kelp beds. This is an example of A) indirect mutualism. B) apparent competition. C) bottom-up control. D) a trophic cascade
D) a trophic cascade
What process is likely to be driving changes in landscape over time? 1/1 Point A) disturbance B) extinctions D) all of the above C) succession
D) all of the above
The production of antibodies that results from the entrance of a foreign object such as a virus or bacterium, into the bloodstream of a host is referred to as D) an immune response. B) a behavioral response. A) allelopathy. C) an inflammatory response.
D) an immune response.
Which of the following increase connectivity between patches? 1/1 Point B) matrixes D) corridors A) edge effects C) boundaries
D) corridors
4. An example of secondary succession is B) lichens colonizing a rock. A) grasses colonizing sand dunes. C) weeds colonizing a volcanic lava flow. D) crabgrass colonizing an abandoned corn field.
D) crabgrass colonizing an abandoned corn field.
An example of secondary succession is A) grasses colonizing sand dunes. B) lichens colonizing a rock. C) weeds colonizing a volcanic lava flow. D) crabgrass colonizing an abandoned wheat field.
D) crabgrass colonizing an abandoned wheat field
8) Which of the following is an autogenic change? C) global climate change due to increased CO2 emissions B) increase in salinity due to tides D) decreased light due to canopy cover A) decrease in water depth due to seismic shift
D) decreased light due to canopy cover
Which of the following is an autogenic change? A) decrease in water depth due to seismic shift B) increase in salinity due to tides C) global climate change due to increased CO2 emissions D) decreased light due to canopy cover
D) decreased light due to canopy cover
When a forest gradually merges into a grassland over a wide area, the border between the two landscape patches is referred to as a(n) A) narrow border. B) convoluted border. C) perforated border. D) ecotone
D) ecotone
A mutualism in which two species benefit when living together but can survive when apart is referred to as a(n) A) obligatory mutualism. B) trophic mutualism. C) dispersive mutualism. D) facultative mutualism.
D) facultative mutualism.
10. The layer of a forest in which decomposition takes place and mineral nutrients are released for reuse by plants is called the C) herb layer. A) canopy. D) forest floor. B) understory.
D) forest floor
Plant parasites that are photosynthetic but draw water and nutrients from their host plant are referred to as D) hemiparasites. B) vectors. A) mycorrhizae. C) parasitoids.
D) hemiparasites.
9. Which of the following best describes diversity change through time in succession? A) steady increase over time C) starting and ending with high diversity B) steady decrease over time D) highest diversity in middle successional stages
D) highest diversity in middle successional stages
Which of the following best describes diversity change through time in succession? A) steady increase over time B) steady decrease over time C) starting and ending with high diversity D) highest diversity in middle successional stages
D) highest diversity in middle successional stages
What is a potential danger of edge habitat? A) increased connectivity B) decreased colonization rates C) increased extinction risk D) increased predation risk
D) increased predation risk
Following infection, a typical first-line defense of the host's immune system is A) reduction in white blood cell count. B) release of antibodies. C) forming cysts. D) inflammation.
D) inflammation
Following infection, a typical first-line defense of the host's immune system is B) release of antibodies. C) forming cysts. A) reduction in white blood cell count. D) inflammation.
D) inflammation.
Plants adapted to edge environments tend to be 1/1 Point A) tolerant of shade and prefer moisture. D) intolerant of shade and tolerant of dry conditions B) tolerant of shade and dry conditions. C) intolerant of shade and prefer moisture
D) intolerant of shade and tolerant of dry conditions
A competitive plant growing in wet conditions would be predicted to have A) a larger root system. B) high tolerance to water stress. D) many leaves and stems. C) low metabolic rate.
D) many leaves and stems.
8) Which of the following mutualists cannot survive without the mutualistic interaction? D) obligate C) dependent A) facultative B) subordinate
D) obligate
Which of the following mutualists cannot survive without the mutualistic interaction? A) facultative B) subordinate C) dependent D) obligate
D) obligate
11. Zonation within a community is typically the result of differences in the D) physical characteristics of the environment across a spatial gradient. A) patterns of predation among species within a community. B) rates of reproduction among species within a community. C) patterns of competition among species within a community.
D) physical characteristics of the environment across a spatial gradient.
Beach grass colonizing newly formed sand dunes is A) autogenic change. B) secondary succession. C) chronosequence. D) primary succession
D) primary succession
When top-down control occurs within an intertidal zone along the rocky coastline of the Pacific Ocean, which of the following species controls the abundance of other species? C) barnacles B) mussels A) kelp D) starfish
D) starfish
The intimate and protracted association between two or more organisms of different species is referred to as B) parasitism. C) commensalism. A) mutualism. D) symbiosis.
D) symbiosis.
The intimate and protracted association between two or more organisms of different species is referred to as A) mutualism. B) parasitism. C) commensalism. D) symbiosis.
D) symbiosis.
Within a landscape mosaic, patches 1/1 Point A) are composed of relatively heterogeneous communities. D) tend to vary in shape. C) tend to be similar in size. B) typically lack a distinct boundary
D) tend to vary in shape.
Communities with low evenness will have rank-abundance curves A) that are flat. B) that are 1:1. C) that are very shallow. D) that are very steep.
D) that are very steep
The ________ effect refers to the rich diversity of life that occurs along the border between adjacent habitat patches, represented by species from both adjacent patches and species adapted to edge habitats.
edge
Within a mosaic, a(n) ________ is a relatively homogeneous community type, differing from its surroundings in both structure and species composition
patch
