Ecology Practice MC questions
In the early 1970s, researchers hypothesized that carbon was the limiting nutrient in many aquatic ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, the researchers divided a small lake in two roughly equal halves with an impermeable curtain that was fastened and sealed to the bedrock of the lake. Beginning in 1971 the researchers treated one side of the lake with sucrose and the other side with both sucrose and phosphate. From 1971 to 1983 the researchers monitored the phytoplankton biomass in both parts of the lake. The results are shown in Figure 1. The average growth rate of the phytoplankton population from 1971 to 1975 in the side of the lake treated with sucrose and phosphate is closest to which of the following?
1,500mgm3 per year
Figure 1. Change in the population size of sea lions over time. Error bars represent ±2SEx¯±2SEx¯. Which of the following best estimates the population size of the sea lions in 2000 based on the data shown in Figure 1?
175,000
In an investigation of interspecies competition, researchers grew the unicellular protozoan Paramecium aurelia in a 5 mL culture and Paramecium caudatum in a separate 5 mL culture. P. aurelia and P. caudatum were grown together in a third 5 mL culture. Each day a small sample of each culture was removed so the total number of individuals could be estimated, and the remainder of the population was transferred to fresh growth medium. The experimental results are represented in the graphs below. The difference in carrying capacity between the two species when cultured separately is closest to which of the following values?
350 individuals per 5.0 mL
A fish population of 250 in a pond has a maximum annual rate of increase of 0.8. If the carrying capacity of the pond is 1,500 for this species, what is the expected population size after one year?
417
A population of 250 birds inhabit the canopy of a tropical rain forest that has a carrying capacity of 400 birds. What is the maximum population growth rate (rmax)(rmax) if the population grows to 283 in one year?
0.35
Based on the information, an increase in the sea slug population would most likely be directly related to which of the following?
A decrease in the crab population
Which of the following predictions about the community is most likely true?
A decrease in the wolf population will lead to a decrease in the mean aspen height.
Certain reef-building corals contain photosynthetic, symbiotic algae that have the ability to make dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSPDMSP), a chemical involved in the marine sulfur cycle. DMSPDMSP is released into the surrounding water, where it is converted to the gas dimethyl sulfide (DMSDMS) by microorganisms and enters the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, it triggers the formation of sulfate aerosols, which induce cloud formation and block sunlight from heating up the water. The symbiotic algae produce DMSPDMSP when they are stressed by a high water temperature. If water temperature is too high, corals will expel the symbiotic algae that produce DMSPDMSP. Researchers measured the amount of DMSPDMSP produced by juvenile and adult coral and their symbionts under normal and thermally stressed conditions. The data are shown in the graphs in Figure 1. Figure 1: DMSPDMSP concentration in juvenile and adult corals and their symbionts in normal and thermally-stressed conditions. Error bars represent ±2SEx¯±2SEx¯. The researchers also measured the density of the symbiont as well as the photosynthetic yield in adult corals at the two temperatures. Photosynthetic yield is an index measure of energy output compared to sunlight energy input in which larger photosynthetic yield values represent photosynthetic organisms producing more energy. Figure 2: Variation in symbiont density and photosynthetic yield in adult corals grown in normal and thermally-stressed conditions. Error bars represent ±2SEx¯±2SEx¯. Which of the following best describes the difference between the total amount of DMSPDMSP produced by adults compared to juveniles at the start of the 32°C32°C trial?
Adult corals produced 55 times more DMSPDMSP than juveniles produced.
In the early 1970s, researchers hypothesized that carbon was the limiting nutrient in many aquatic ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, the researchers divided a small lake in two roughly equal halves with an impermeable curtain that was fastened and sealed to the bedrock of the lake. Beginning in 1971 the researchers treated one side of the lake with sucrose and the other side with both sucrose and phosphate. From 1971 to 1983 the researchers monitored the phytoplankton biomass in both parts of the lake. The results are shown in Figure 1. Which of the following treatments would have been the best control treatment for the experiment?
An untreated section of the lake
Which of the following is an example of a density-independent limitation on a population?
At higher temperatures, more tomato plants in a population become infested with nematodes than at lower temperatures.
Which of the following best justifies the use of the study area to investigate how one species influences the behavior of another?
Black stingrays were present in the study area in the presence and absence of blacktip reef sharks.
Certain reef-building corals contain photosynthetic, symbiotic algae that have the ability to make dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSPDMSP), a chemical involved in the marine sulfur cycle. DMSPDMSP is released into the surrounding water, where it is converted to the gas dimethyl sulfide (DMSDMS) by microorganisms and enters the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, it triggers the formation of sulfate aerosols, which induce cloud formation and block sunlight from heating up the water. The symbiotic algae produce DMSPDMSP when they are stressed by a high water temperature. If water temperature is too high, corals will expel the symbiotic algae that produce DMSPDMSP. Researchers measured the amount of DMSPDMSP produced by juvenile and adult coral and their symbionts under normal and thermally stressed conditions. The data are shown in the graphs in Figure 1. Figure 1: DMSPDMSP concentration in juvenile and adult corals and their symbionts in normal and thermally-stressed conditions. Error bars represent ±2SEx¯±2SEx¯. The researchers also measured the density of the symbiont as well as the photosynthetic yield in adult corals at the two temperatures. Photosynthetic yield is an index measure of energy output compared to sunlight energy input in which larger photosynthetic yield values represent photosynthetic organisms producing more energy. Figure 2: Variation in symbiont density and photosynthetic yield in adult corals grown in normal and thermally-stressed conditions. Error bars represent ±2SEx¯±2SEx¯. Which of the following best describes the effect of temperature on corals' ability to produce DMSPDMSP as shown in Figure 1?
Both juvenile and adult corals produce less DMSPDMSP at 27°C27°C than at 32°C32°C.
Scientists have found that the existing populations of a certain species of amphibian are small in number, lacking in genetic diversity, and separated from each other by wide areas of dry land. Which of the following human actions is most likely to improve the long-term survival of the amphibians?
Building ponds in the areas of dry land to promote interbreeding between the separated populations
The data from the temperature-controlled experimental plots can best be used to support which of the following conclusions about cicada development?
Cicada nymphs mature to adults faster in warmer soil than in cooler soil.
In the American Southwest, annually emerging cicadas are dependent upon the cottonwood trees in the floodplain. Adult male cicadas perch in the cottonwood trees and chirp to attract females. Females lay their eggs in the branches of the cottonwoods, and, upon hatching, the cicada nymphs drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, feed on the tree roots, and later emerge as adults. Other organisms in the floodplain community prey on the cicadas, as shown in the food web. Figure 1. Food web in floodplain community Human activity has caused a decrease in the amount of flooding and an increase in the incidence of wildfires in the floodplain. In an investigation into the recent changes in the floodplain ecosystem, researchers monitored the soil temperature, amount of cottonwood ground coverage (i.e., area of the ground that is shaded by leaves), and cicada emergence for a period from mid-June until late July. The results of the investigation are represented in Figure 2 and Figure 3. To assess the impact of wildfires on soil temperature and cicada emergence, the researchers compared mean emergence dates for two natural sites where portions had been affected by wildfire. In addition, cicada emergence was monitored at an experimental site where the soil temperature was experimentally maintained. The data are shown in the table. MEAN CICADA EMERGENCE DATES AT SITES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES OR WITH EXPERIMENTALLY CONTROLLED SOIL TEMPERATURE Based upon the data, which of the following best describes the effect on the timing of cicada emergence if the cottonwood ground cover decreases from 50 percent to 25 percent?
Cicadas will emerge approximately 10 days earlier.
High levels of certain plant nutrients in runoff can lead to rapid growth of algae (an algal bloom) in aquatic ecosystems. These algal blooms are generally followed by algal death and decomposition, which consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water and results in oxygen levels insufficient to support aerobic respiration. This process is known as eutrophication. The amount of algae present in a body of water can be estimated from the amount of chlorophyll a in a sample of the water. A researcher studying eutrophication collected samples at different times of the year in a freshwater ecosystem. The samples were analyzed for total nitrogen and chlorophyll a concentration (Figure 1) as well as total phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentration (Figure 2). Figure 1. Amount of chlorophyll a in relation to the amount of total nitrogenFigure 2. Amount of chlorophyll a in relation to the amount of total phosphorous Which of the following investigations would enable researchers to test the claim that an increased concentration of algae has a negative effect on the number of aquatic invertebrates in the ecosystem?
Counting the number of aquatic invertebrates at different concentrations of chlorophyll a in the water
Thrips are insects that feed on rose pollen. Scientists noted that the thrips population increased in the spring and decreased dramatically during the summer. The researchers hypothesized that food abundance was the limiting factor for the population. Which of the following types of data would be most useful for the scientists to collect at regular intervals on a designated test plot of rose plants?
Density of rose pollen produced (g/m2)
In an experiment to determine the effect of light availability on species richness in an environment, a grassland was divided into 26 plots that were assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1. Clipped - plots were mowed to simulate the grazing of herbivores that maintain the low height of grasses. 2. Enclosure - plots were enclosed in fences, and grasses were allowed to grow undisturbed to their maximum height. After eight years, data was collected on the amount of light penetration to the soil (bottom light density) and the number of species in the two treatment groups. Figure 1 shows the averaged light penetration measurements, and Figure 2 shows the averaged number of species per plot type. Figure 1. Average bottom light intensity in clipped plots versus enclosed plots Figure 2. Richness comparison of two treatments Which of the following statements is consistent with the data shown in the figures?
Different patterns of energy availability in ecosystems will affect species richness.
Which of the following statements correctly describes a typical trend during the initial stages of succession in a terrestrial ecosystem?
Diversity of plant species increases.
The results for treatment groups V and VI could suggest which of the following questions about the design of the experiment?
Does the aquarium water contain living microorganisms?
Which point on the curve in the diagram above best represents the carrying capacity of the environment for the population shown?
E
In addition to the effect of temperature on DMSPDMSP produced by corals and their symbionts, which of the following relationships is also being considered in this experiment?
Effect of additional DMSPDMSP produced by symbionts and the corals' age
Wolves, a top predator, were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 after a 50-year absence. In a multiyear study, the numbers of wolves and elk were monitored. The data are shown in Figure 1. In two different environments scientists monitored the percent of aspen trees browsed by herbivores (Figure 2) as well as the growth of the trees (Figure 3). The upland environments consist mostly of flat forested areas. The riparian environments are areas along streams with steep, wooded banks. Based on the data, which of the following behaviors in elk could account for the differences between the percent of aspens browsed by herbivores and the height of aspen trees in riparian and upland environments?
Elk tend to avoid riparian areas where the steep, wooded riverbanks make it difficult to escape predators.
Which of the following best explains why there are seldom more than five trophic levels in a food chain?
Energy is lost from each trophic level.
Testosterone oxido-reductase is a liver enzyme that regulates testosterone levels in alligators. One study compared testosterone oxido-reductase activity between male and female alligators from Lake Woodruff, a relatively pristine environment, and from Lake Apopka, an area that has suffered severe contamination. The graph above depicts the findings of that study. The data in the graph best support which of the following claims?
Environmental contamination reduces total testosterone oxido-reductase activity in females.
The diagram above shows the progression of ecological events after a fire in a particular ecosystem. Based on the diagram, which of the following best explains why the oak trees are later replaced by other trees?
Eventually the other trees grow taller than the oak trees and form a dense canopy that shades the understory.
Which of the following observations best represents a mutualistic relationship?
Flowers produce nectar that bees gather to make honey, and in the process the bees pollinate the flowers.
To investigate the influence of predation risk on ray behavior, a student observed and counted the large marine animals swimming in a shallow, nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. The time of each observation was recorded relative to the time of high tide. The student noted that at low tide, when the water level is low, many of the large animals are forced out of the study area and into the deeper waters of the outer reef. During high tides, when the water level is high, the large animals are able to reenter the study area. Over a three-day period, the student observed a total of 604 individual rays belonging to three species: cowtail rays, giant shovelnose rays, and black stingrays. For each ray that was sighted, its body length was estimated and its status as either alone (ungrouped) or found with other rays (grouped) was noted. Occasionally, rays were observed sifting through the sandy substrate of the study area to capture food items such as molluscs and crustaceans. In one instance, an injured ray with bite marks that were likely sustained in a shark attack was sighted. In addition to the rays, the student observed lemon sharks (n = 46) and blacktip reef sharks (n = 39). The results of the study are presented in the figures below. Figure 1. Comparison of mean body lengths of the grouped and ungrouped rays that were observed in a nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. Error bars represent 2SEx̄ . Figure 2. Mean numbers of rays per group in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Figure 3. Relative proportions of rays in groups at different stages of the tide cycle for each of the three different populations. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Figure 4. Mean numbers of lemon sharks and blacktip reef sharks in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Which of the following scientific claims about interacting populations of giant shovelnose rays and blacktip reef sharks is best supported by the results shown in Figures 3 and 4?
Grow S. aureus in separate culture media containing one AIPAIP mimic each and measure the production of hemolysin toxin. The most effective AIPAIP mimic will be in the culture producing the lowest amount of hemolysin.
Hydrangea macrophylla is a species of plant with blue or pink flowers. Flower color in Hydrangea macrophylla plants is thought to be determined primarily by soil conditions rather than by inherited differences. Which of the following will provide the most direct evidence that flower color in Hydrangea macrophylla is due primarily to soil conditions?
Growing cuttings from the same Hydrangea macrophylla plant under controlled conditions that vary only with regard to soil pH
The California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) is a small marine fish that lives in shallow waters near the ocean shore. Grunions swim as far onto the beach as possible to mate and lay their eggs (spawn). A researcher proposes that the spawning behavior takes place when the nighttime tides are highest during the month. Which of the following pieces of evidence would best support the researcher's claim?
Grunion spawning occurs every two weeks during the spawning season.
Many fish species, such as fathead minnows, release a pheromone when their skin cells are damaged. Researchers placed pike, a predator of fathead minnows, in a choice chamber and released the minnow pheromone at one end of the chamber. The researchers observed that the pike oriented themselves toward the end of the chamber where the pheromone was released.
How do pike determine that the fathead minnow pheromone is present in the water?
To investigate whether an organism in the study is capable of both photosynthesis and respiration, a comparison of which treatment groups is most appropriate?
I and II
One model of a sustainable fisheries practice is for individual fish to be removed from a natural population at a rate equal to the highest possible growth rate of an ideal population. The graph above represents a population of bluefin tuna living along the Atlantic coast. At which labeled point in the graph is the population growth rate the highest?
III
In the American Southwest, annually emerging cicadas are dependent upon the cottonwood trees in the floodplain. Adult male cicadas perch in the cottonwood trees and chirp to attract females. Females lay their eggs in the branches of the cottonwoods, and, upon hatching, the cicada nymphs drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, feed on the tree roots, and later emerge as adults. Other organisms in the floodplain community prey on the cicadas, as shown in the food web. Figure 1. Food web in floodplain community Human activity has caused a decrease in the amount of flooding and an increase in the incidence of wildfires in the floodplain. In an investigation into the recent changes in the floodplain ecosystem, researchers monitored the soil temperature, amount of cottonwood ground coverage (i.e., area of the ground that is shaded by leaves), and cicada emergence for a period from mid-June until late July. The results of the investigation are represented in Figure 2 and Figure 3. To assess the impact of wildfires on soil temperature and cicada emergence, the researchers compared mean emergence dates for two natural sites where portions had been affected by wildfire. In addition, cicada emergence was monitored at an experimental site where the soil temperature was experimentally maintained. The data are shown in the table. MEAN CICADA EMERGENCE DATES AT SITES AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES OR WITH EXPERIMENTALLY CONTROLLED SOIL TEMPERATURE Which of the following statements best predicts the effect of increased cottonwood growth on the food web?
Increased cottonwood growth will provide more resources for cicadas, resulting in an increase in the kestrel population.
Which of the following modifications to the experimental design will best help reduce the standard errors of the means?
Increasing the sample size of each treatment group
Researchers studied the diversity of macroscopic invertebrates in different areas of watershed ecosystems. They collected samples from 58 sites along 11 streams in the same geographical area. Their data were classified by stream type and can be found in Figure 1. The stream-type classifications range from the perennial stream type, which always has water, to the intermittent stream type, which is dry for more than nine months during the year. Figure 1. Diversity of macroscopic invertebrates in different stream types. Error bars represent a 95% confidence interval (±±two Standard Errors from the mean). Which of the stream types had a statistically lower macroscopic invertebrate species diversity than the seasonal streams?
Intermittent streams only
Based on the data, which of the following most accurately matches a potential change with its predicted effects on the southern Florida ecosystem?
Introduction of a new top predator species that preys solely on Burmese pythons would cause an increase in the raccoon population.
In an investigation of interspecies competition, researchers grew the unicellular protozoan Paramecium aurelia in a 5 mL culture and Paramecium caudatum in a separate 5 mL culture. P. aurelia and P. caudatum were grown together in a third 5 mL culture. Each day a small sample of each culture was removed so the total number of individuals could be estimated, and the remainder of the population was transferred to fresh growth medium. The experimental results are represented in the graphs below. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the results of the experiment?
Neither population grows as large when cultured together as each does when cultured separately.
Pacific salmon and black bears have often been cited as examples of keystone species. Pacific salmon spawn in freshwater streams but spend most of their lives at sea. When mature salmon return to the freshwater streams to spawn, they are preyed upon by bears and other predators. When salmon migrate from their marine habitat to the freshwater streams, they bring nitrogen and other marine-derived nutrients that subsequently remain in the areas surrounding the streams—a process called nitrogen influx. In an investigation, the relationship between black bears, salmon, and influx of marine nitrogen into the area around a southwestern Alaskan stream was studied. The investigators established several test plots of the same size along the stream with the following species composition: no salmon or black bears (N), bears but not salmon (B), salmon but not bears (S), and a plot where salmon and bears interact (SB). Nitrogen influx in the different sampling areas was measured as a means of assessing the impact of the different species on the health of the ecosystem. The data are plotted in Figure 1. If a dam is built downstream and prevents salmon migration to the test sites, which of the following most accurately predicts the impact on nitrogen influx?
Nitrogen influx will decrease because there will be less bear-salmon interaction.
The graph below shows a model of population changes over time in a predator and its prey. Which of the following data would be most helpful in predicting possible disruptions to the relationship between the predator and its prey?
Numbers of additional predator species, because additional predators will increase competition for prey
Climate change could affect the ecosystem of the Elkhorn Slough in many ways. From the information provided, which of the following predictions about the direct, local effects of climate change is most likely?
Ocean warming will favor population growth of nonnative species as their habitats shift northward.
To refine their model of deep-sea biological communities, the researchers investigated areas of the seafloor that are distant from any active hydrothermal vents. Which of the following is the best interpretation of the observation that some octopus species are only found near active hydrothermal vents?
Octopuses depend indirectly on inorganic compounds in the seawater surrounding hydrothermal vents.
If the mixed populations were cultured for an additional 25 days, which of the following predictions would be consistent with the data?
One population would stabilize at a large size, and the other population would be eliminated from the culture.
Which of the following communities is likely to be most stable?
One with high species diversity
Sea otters are native to the western coast of North America. Between 1750 and 1850, hunting had reduced the population from hundreds of thousands to only one thousand individuals. In the early 1900s, a small population of sea otters was discovered in Elkhorn Slough, an estuary in central California near a large human population center. The otters were then protected by the international fur seal treaty, which banned sea otter hunting. The sea otter population has rebounded to nearly three thousand individuals today. Otters live in kelp forests and eelgrass beds and feed on crabs and shellfish (Figure 1). Most herbivores in the habitat eat algae that grows on the eelgrass and not the eelgrass itself. If there is too much algae, the eelgrass does not receive enough light for photosynthesis. As the otter population has increased, the eelgrass habitat has increased. Figure 1. Partial food chain in eelgrass habitats Recently, however, scientists have noticed the presence of two nonnative, predatory invertebrate species that may be colonizing the Elkhorn Slough, which would have been too cold for them three decades ago. Scientists have also observed that otters in the area are experiencing increased mortality because of an increase in harmful algal blooms, which occur as a result of nutrient pollution. The harmful algae are ingested by shellfish, which the otters eat. As otters were removed during the hunting years, there was a large decrease in the catches of fish species from the eelgrass habitats. Which of the following best explains why this decrease happened?
Otters are a keystone species, so their disappearance from the area resulted in the collapse of an entire community.
In the early 1970s, researchers hypothesized that carbon was the limiting nutrient in many aquatic ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, the researchers divided a small lake in two roughly equal halves with an impermeable curtain that was fastened and sealed to the bedrock of the lake. Beginning in 1971 the researchers treated one side of the lake with sucrose and the other side with both sucrose and phosphate. From 1971 to 1983 the researchers monitored the phytoplankton biomass in both parts of the lake. The results are shown in Figure 1. Which of the following claims is best supported by the data?
Phosphate was a limiting factor for phytoplankton in the lake.
Water in a pond contaminated with the weed killer atrazine is suspected of inhibiting metamorphosis in northern leopard frogs. A team of scientists collected fertilized northern leopard frog eggs from a different pond that is not contaminated. Which of the following is the best experimental design to determine whether atrazine is responsible for inhibiting metamorphosis in northern leopard frogs?
Place half of the fertilized eggs in a pool of water with the same concentration of atrazine as the contaminated pond and place the other half of the fertilized eggs in a pool of water that has no atrazine. Monitor the development of the embryos through metamorphosis into adulthood.
The area covered by tropical rain forest is reduced by millions of hectares per year due to agriculture and logging. Which of the following best describes a likely result of tropical rain forest deforestation?
Populations of plants and animals will decrease as more rain forest disappears, leading to a decrease in biodiversity.
Wolves, a top predator, were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 after a 50-year absence. In a multiyear study, the numbers of wolves and elk were monitored. The data are shown in Figure 1. In two different environments scientists monitored the percent of aspen trees browsed by herbivores (Figure 2) as well as the growth of the trees (Figure 3). The upland environments consist mostly of flat forested areas. The riparian environments are areas along streams with steep, wooded banks. Based on the data, which of the following is the best explanation for the changes in the elk population size between 2000 and 2005 ?
Predation by wolves was higher than before 1995.
Phytoplankton (dashed line) are important because they occupy the bottom of the food web absorbing CO2CO2, functioning as a carbon sink. A scientist suggests that an El Niño event in early 1998 caused a significant decrease in the abundance of phytoplankton that year in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. Figure 1. Relative abundance of plankton over time in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean Which of the following observations would best support this alternative hypothesis?
Previous dips in plankton abundance coincided with other El Niño events.
In the Florida Everglades, Burmese pythons are an invasive species. They were introduced into southern Florida in 1992. These pythons feed on many of the native Florida species, establishing the pythons as the top predator in the environment. By the year 2000, their population had increased dramatically. Figures 1 and 2 display data collected by ecologists studying the results of the Burmese python invasion. Figure 1 shows counts of animals collected from nighttime road surveys in southern Florida, which are used to estimate population size. Figure 2 shows data collected from mosquitoes captured from the wild. DNADNA sequencing was used to identify the species of blood that the mosquitoes had in their stomachs, identifying various hosts used by the mosquitoes. Figure 1. Comparison of observations of selected mammals in 1996 and 2011 Figure 2. Change in host preference by Culex cedecei between 1979 and 2016. Numbers do not add up to one hundred percent because these represent a subset of all the host species. In 1996, the native Culex cedecei mosquitoes in southern Florida preferentially took blood meals from white-tailed deer and raccoons. It was predicted that changes in host population size would alter these host preferences. Additionally, it is known that cotton rats are often infected by the Everglades virus, which normally exists in animals, but is capable of infecting humans. Ecologists predict that increased feeding on cotton rats by C. cedecei may significantly increase the tendency of this virus to infect humans. Which of the following most accurately explains an impact of Burmese pythons on the Everglades community in southern Florida using the data provided?
Python predation has caused a trophic cascade that changed the mosquitoes' niche.
Interactions among populations determine how they access resources within a community. In Costa Rica, two different species of mites, Rhinoseius colwelli and Rhinoseius richardsoni, exhibit a high degree of interspecies competition. Both mite species live within the flowers of plants, and adult male mites tend to kill mites if they belong to a different species. An experiment was carried out to determine whether these aggressive interactions have resulted in niche partitioning by R. colwelli and R. richardsoni, of different flower species, with each mite species living in different plant species. The results are summarized in Figure 1. Figure 1. Mite Habitat Preferences Which of the following is an accurate interpretation of the data in Figure 1 ?
R. richardsoni is found significantly more frequently on Species 3 and Species 4 compared to Species 1 and Species 2.
Based on the results of the study, which of the following is the most likely connection between behavior and evolutionary fitness in a nearshore coral reef environment?
Rays that join groups during rising tides are reproductively more successful than are rays that do not join groups.
On the basis of the food web, which of the following members of a deep-sea biological community is most likely to also have a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic organisms?
Shrimp
To investigate the influence of predation risk on ray behavior, a student observed and counted the large marine animals swimming in a shallow, nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. The time of each observation was recorded relative to the time of high tide. The student noted that at low tide, when the water level is low, many of the large animals are forced out of the study area and into the deeper waters of the outer reef. During high tides, when the water level is high, the large animals are able to reenter the study area. Over a three-day period, the student observed a total of 604 individual rays belonging to three species: cowtail rays, giant shovelnose rays, and black stingrays. For each ray that was sighted, its body length was estimated and its status as either alone (ungrouped) or found with other rays (grouped) was noted. Occasionally, rays were observed sifting through the sandy substrate of the study area to capture food items such as molluscs and crustaceans. In one instance, an injured ray with bite marks that were likely sustained in a shark attack was sighted. In addition to the rays, the student observed lemon sharks (n = 46) and blacktip reef sharks (n = 39). The results of the study are presented in the figures below. Figure 1. Comparison of mean body lengths of the grouped and ungrouped rays that were observed in a nearshore section of a coral reef ecosystem. Error bars represent 2SEx̄ . Figure 2. Mean numbers of rays per group in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Figure 3. Relative proportions of rays in groups at different stages of the tide cycle for each of the three different populations. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Figure 4. Mean numbers of lemon sharks and blacktip reef sharks in the study area at different stages of the tide cycle. High tide occurs at T = 0 hours. Which of the following scientific claims about the survival strategies used by organisms in a coral reef ecosystem is best supported by the data presented in Figure 1?
Smaller members of a vulnerable population are more likely to act collectively.
Based on the data presented in Figure 2, which of the following behavioral patterns do rays in a coral reef ecosystem typically exhibit three hours before high tide?
Solitary foraging
Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by four suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding circle on the answer sheet. The food web above represents feeding relationships in a biological community near a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Hydrothermal vents are geysers on the seafloor that gush super-heated, mineral-rich water. The seawater surrounding hydrothermal vents typically contains carbon dioxide (CO2), molecular hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and methane (CH4). Sunlight, however, fails to reach the seafloor where deep-sea hydrothermal vents are located. As part of an investigation, researchers collected living specimens from an area near a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Mussels in the collection were found to be dependent on molecular hydrogen in seawater. Also, the researchers discovered multiple species of bacteria living in the gills of the mussels. Mussels use gills for filter-feeding and gas exchange with the surrounding seawater. On the basis of their experimental results, the researchers hypothesized that some bacteria living in the gills of the mussels are capable of chemosynthesis. Based on an analysis of the food web, an observation that deep-sea bacteria consume molecular hydrogen (H2) is most relevant to resolving which of the following apparent contradictions?
Some deep-sea organisms appear to be primary consumers, but no plants live near the hydrothermal vents.
Directions: Each of the questions or incomplete statements below is followed by four suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case and then fill in the corresponding circle on the answer sheet. The food web above represents feeding relationships in a biological community near a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Hydrothermal vents are geysers on the seafloor that gush super-heated, mineral-rich water. The seawater surrounding hydrothermal vents typically contains carbon dioxide (CO2), molecular hydrogen (H2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and methane (CH4). Sunlight, however, fails to reach the seafloor where deep-sea hydrothermal vents are located. As part of an investigation, researchers collected living specimens from an area near a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Mussels in the collection were found to be dependent on molecular hydrogen in seawater. Also, the researchers discovered multiple species of bacteria living in the gills of the mussels. Mussels use gills for filter-feeding and gas exchange with the surrounding seawater. On the basis of their experimental results, the researchers hypothesized that some bacteria living in the gills of the mussels are capable of chemosynthesis. Which of the following best explains how biological communities near deep-sea hydrothermal vents can exist in a habitat lacking sunlight?
Some organisms rely on energy captured from inorganic compounds to drive basic biological processes.
Which of the following scientific claims about interacting populations of giant shovelnose rays and blacktip reef sharks is best supported by the results shown in Figures 3 and 4?
Some prey species form protective groups in the presence of predators.
A biologist is studying territoriality in three related species of birds found in the same section of a forest. For each observed pair of nesting adults, the biologist measured the distance to the next closest nesting pair of the same species (nearest-neighbor distance). An analysis of the results is shown in the table below. Which of the following would be most appropriate for identifying the species with the most even distribution of nests?
Standard deviation of the nearest-neighbor distances for each species
Scientists hypothesize that the invasive Burmese pythons are responsible for recent increases in human Everglades virus infections. Evaluate this alternate hypothesis using the data provided.
The alternate hypothesis is supported because the invasive Burmese pythons caused mosquitoes to switch to feeding on cotton rats. This means that mosquitoes are more likely to carry the Everglades virus when they bite humans.
In the early 1970s, researchers hypothesized that carbon was the limiting nutrient in many aquatic ecosystems. To test this hypothesis, the researchers divided a small lake in two roughly equal halves with an impermeable curtain that was fastened and sealed to the bedrock of the lake. Beginning in 1971 the researchers treated one side of the lake with sucrose and the other side with both sucrose and phosphate. From 1971 to 1983 the researchers monitored the phytoplankton biomass in both parts of the lake. The results are shown in Figure 1. Which of the following was most likely a direct consequence of the addition of phosphate to the lake?
The amount of energy available to consumers in the lake increased.
A scientist is evaluating a proposal for raising large numbers of fish in ocean pens for human consumption. As part of the evaluation, the scientist is designing a plan for investigating how the fish in the ocean pens might affect nearby ecosystems. Which of the following is the most appropriate factor to use as the dependent variable in the experimental investigation?
The amount of metabolic wastes in the water where the fish are being raised
The deep ocean floor communities contain very little life. In constant darkness, the water at these depths hovers around 2°C2°C. Sparsely distributed in this environment are hydrothermal vent ecosystems. Superheated water streams out of the vents at temperatures approaching 400°C400°C. These waters are rich in inorganic materials, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrothermal vent zones have a density of organisms 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than found on the surrounding seafloor. Scientists have studied these vents to determine the energy source for these communities and the identity of the primary producers in the perpetual darkness of the ocean floor. As expected, they found a total absence of photosynthetic organisms at all vents, identifying mats of bacteria as the producers of the carbon compounds that are used by the rest of the community for growth, repair, and as an energy source. Which of the following describes how the vent bacteria harvest energy to produce organic compounds for use by the vent community?
The bacteria function as chemoautotrophs, extracting energy from hydrogen-rich inorganic molecules.
All of the following statements about the pyramid of biomass are correct EXCEPT:
The base of the pyramid generally represents primary consumers.
cooperative interactions between the termites and the protozoa allow termites to extract energy from wood to survive
The behavior of the guard squirrels increases the survival of close relatives that share the genes of the guard squirrels.
Different species of bumblebee compete for flower nectar in their ecosystem. While the flowers vary in the length of their petals, bumblebees vary in the length of a mouth part called a proboscis. Bumblebees demonstrate a preference for flowers that correspond to the length of their proboscis. Species with proboscises of similar length tend to occupy different areas. Species that live in the same area tend to have proboscises of different lengths. Which of the following best explains the relationship between the different bumblebee species living in the same area?
The bumblebees have undergone niche partitioning due to competition.
A group of students designed an experiment to determine the effect of compost on the germination and growth of plants. The students set up experimental plots by mixing different ratios of soil and compost. They planted 20 pea and 20 melon seeds in each plot and watered each plot regularly. The students recorded the number of seeds that germinated, and as the plants grew, they recorded plant length, number and size of leaves, and general health observations. The following observations were recorded. In all treatments, more pea seeds germinated than melon seeds. There was a week of rainy weather at three weeks. Melon plants developed a fungal growth at four weeks. Melon plants grew longer than pea plants, but many melon leaves showed signs of yellowing as the weeks passed. The students concluded that pea plants grew better in compost than did melon plants. Which of the following best addresses the validity of the conclusion made by the students?
The conclusion is invalid because other variables in the experiment (both biotic and abiotic) affected the results.
Pacific salmon and black bears have often been cited as examples of keystone species. Pacific salmon spawn in freshwater streams but spend most of their lives at sea. When mature salmon return to the freshwater streams to spawn, they are preyed upon by bears and other predators. When salmon migrate from their marine habitat to the freshwater streams, they bring nitrogen and other marine-derived nutrients that subsequently remain in the areas surrounding the streams—a process called nitrogen influx. In an investigation, the relationship between black bears, salmon, and influx of marine nitrogen into the area around a southwestern Alaskan stream was studied. The investigators established several test plots of the same size along the stream with the following species composition: no salmon or black bears (N), bears but not salmon (B), salmon but not bears (S), and a plot where salmon and bears interact (SB). Nitrogen influx in the different sampling areas was measured as a means of assessing the impact of the different species on the health of the ecosystem. The data are plotted in Figure 1. Which of the following pieces of additional data would help further investigate the relationship between bears, salmon, and influx of nitrogen into the local environment?
The experimenters should remove the remains of salmon carcasses immediately after the salmon are eaten by the bears and determine the nitrogen content of the carcasses.
The graph above represents the proportions of hatchlings of certain types of reptiles that are male at different egg incubation temperatures. Which of the following claims is best supported by the data?
The expression of sex-determination genes in certain reptiles is influenced by temperature.
As depicted in the diagram, honeybees communicate the location of flower patches to members of their hives with waggle dances that give information about the direction and distance to the flowers. Which of the following statements about how honeybees communicate the position of flower patches is most consistent with the model?
The farther the target flowers from the hive, the longer the waggle phase.
A massive increase in the growth of a specific species of algae resulted in record-breaking levels of a potentially dangerous toxin being released into the water. A researcher hypothesizes that the unusual growth of this algal species was caused by an increase in water temperature. The researcher designs an experiment to test the hypothesis. Which of the following is the dependent variable in the researcher's experiment?
The growth of the algae
Researchers were studying species diversity in a savanna rangeland community in southwest Queensland, Australia. Researchers counted the numbers of plants species in four different categories at two nearby sites within the savanna rangeland; one lightly grazed by herbivores and one heavily grazed by herbivores (Figure 1). Figure 1. Plant species richness in lightly and heavily grazed savanna communities. Which of the following best predicts the results of a drought in the savanna research area with regards to community resilience to this environmental change?
The lightly grazed area is likely to recover more quickly from the drought due to greater biodiversity.
Which of the following observations provides the best evidence that photosynthesis occurred in treatment group I?
The mean pH of the samples increased after one hour.
Potatoes as a food crop originated in South America. There are over 4,000 variations of potato grown there. Potatoes were brought to Europe by Spanish colonists in the late 1500s. One variety became the chief crop grown in much of Ireland by the early 1800s. Table 1 summarizes the spread of potatoes as a food crop. Table 1. Spread of potatoes as food crop from origin in South America Time PeriodLocationNumber of Potato Varieties Grown (approximate)Pre-1567South America4,0001567-1800Europe121840-1850Ireland1 The Irish Lumper variety of potato was introduced into Ireland in the early 1800s. The Lumper soon became the only variety of potato grown in much of Ireland. The potato blight destroyed most of the Lumper crop between 1845 and 1852 resulting in the death of about 1 million Irish from starvation. A researcher suggests that the Irish monoculture (growing a single crop) of the Lumper potato did not significantly change the overall resistance of the potato crop in Ireland to diseases. Which of the following observations best refutes this null hypothesis?
The number of fatalities from the Irish potato famine was greater than the rest of the European countries combined.
All of the following statements concerning characteristics of predator-prey relationships are correct EXCEPT:
The population of predators most often eliminates the population of prey.
Scientists studying a wild population of mantled howler monkeys found the average birth rate to be 0.220.22 and the average death rate to be 0.120.12. At the start of the study, the population consisted of 1313 monkeys. Assuming no immigration or emigration, which of the following best describes the change in population size that will occur over the next year?
The population will increase because more monkeys are being born each year than are dying.
Based on the experimental results, which of the following statements best describes the relationship of the two populations that were studied in the investigation?
The populations have a competitive relationship in which each species limits the ability of the other to reproduce.
Pacific salmon and black bears have often been cited as examples of keystone species. Pacific salmon spawn in freshwater streams but spend most of their lives at sea. When mature salmon return to the freshwater streams to spawn, they are preyed upon by bears and other predators. When salmon migrate from their marine habitat to the freshwater streams, they bring nitrogen and other marine-derived nutrients that subsequently remain in the areas surrounding the streams—a process called nitrogen influx. In an investigation, the relationship between black bears, salmon, and influx of marine nitrogen into the area around a southwestern Alaskan stream was studied. The investigators established several test plots of the same size along the stream with the following species composition: no salmon or black bears (N), bears but not salmon (B), salmon but not bears (S), and a plot where salmon and bears interact (SB). Nitrogen influx in the different sampling areas was measured as a means of assessing the impact of the different species on the health of the ecosystem. The data are plotted in Figure 1. Which of the following statements is best supported by the data?
The presence of black bears and salmon correlates with a significant increase in nitrogen influx
Zebra mussels are an invasive species that has become widely established throughout the United States. Figure 1 shows the percent change in the population sizes of selected groups of organisms in the Hudson River since the introduction of zebra mussels. In this study chlorophyll-containing bacteria are considered phytoplankton and all other bacteria are considered bacterioplankton. Figure 1. Change in biomass of selected Hudson River organisms after the introduction of zebra mussels Which of the following hypotheses about the effect of zebra mussels on the Hudson River community is best supported by the data in Figure 1 ?
The reduction in primary productivity has resulted in an unstable community that will eventually collapse.
Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that grow in areas where the soil contains low levels of key nutrients such as nitrogen. To obtain these nutrients, most pitcher plants capture prey using traps containing a digestive fluid. The captured prey are then broken down and digested, and the pitcher plant absorbs the nutrients. The traps of one species of pitcher plant, Nepenthes hemsleyana, do not contain digestive fluid. Instead they provide a suitable place for woolly bats (Kerivoula hardwickii) to sleep. The feces from the bat are released into the trap where nutrients in the feces are absorbed and provide the plant with the nitrogen it needs. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the pitcher plant and the woolly bat?
The relationship is an example of mutualism because both the plant and the bat benefit.
Beaked whales feed at various depths, but they defecate at the ocean's surface. Nitrogen-rich whale feces deposited in surface waters supply nutrients for algae that are eaten by surface dwelling fish. Which of the following best predicts what would happen if the whale population decreased?
The surface fish populations would decline due to reduced populations of algae.
There is strong evidence that two species of cliff-dwelling birds have nested in the same environment and fed in the same water for thousands of years, with each having stable population sizes. Based on this information, which of the following statements is the best conclusion?
The two birds have different ecological niches that allow coexistence.
Prairie dogs are small mammals that live in large colonies in burrows in the ground. Prairie dogs that are near their own relatives when a predator approaches are much more likely to issue a warning bark than those that are near unrelated prairie dogs. The prairie dogs that hear a warning bark are more likely to hide in their burrows than to remain above ground. However, the prairie dog that gives the warning bark is putting itself at increased risk of being identified and killed by the predator. Which of the following presents the most likely evolutionary explanation for the behaviors described?
The warning bark changes the behavior of the related prairie dogs nearby, allowing the prairie dog's family to have increased survival and reproductive success.
Yellow-billed cuckoos typically hatch in midJuly. Emerging cicadas are a primary food source for nesting cuckoos. Which of the following best predicts the effect of wildfires on yellow-billed cuckoo populations?
The yellow-billed cuckoo population will decline because the cicadas will emerge before the hatching season begins.
High concentrations of cadmium in the water negatively affect steelhead trout. In a river community, steelhead trout are part of the trophic structure shown in Figure 1. Figure 1. The trophic structure of a river community Which of the following is the most likely immediate effect of an increase in runoff containing cadmium on the trophic structure of the river community?
There will be a large decrease in the trout population, resulting in an increase in damselfly nymphs.
Sea otters are native to the western coast of North America. Between 1750 and 1850, hunting had reduced the population from hundreds of thousands to only one thousand individuals. In the early 1900s, a small population of sea otters was discovered in Elkhorn Slough, an estuary in central California near a large human population center. The otters were then protected by the international fur seal treaty, which banned sea otter hunting. The sea otter population has rebounded to nearly three thousand individuals today. Otters live in kelp forests and eelgrass beds and feed on crabs and shellfish (Figure 1). Most herbivores in the habitat eat algae that grows on the eelgrass and not the eelgrass itself. If there is too much algae, the eelgrass does not receive enough light for photosynthesis. As the otter population has increased, the eelgrass habitat has increased. Figure 1. Partial food chain in eelgrass habitats Recently, however, scientists have noticed the presence of two nonnative, predatory invertebrate species that may be colonizing the Elkhorn Slough, which would have been too cold for them three decades ago. Scientists have also observed that otters in the area are experiencing increased mortality because of an increase in harmful algal blooms, which occur as a result of nutrient pollution. The harmful algae are ingested by shellfish, which the otters eat. Based on the information provided in the passage, which of the following best describes the effect of harmful algal blooms on otter populations?
They are a density-independent factor that negatively affects the otter population regardless of its size.
Which of the following best explains the result of adult corals being exposed to elevated temperatures for extended periods?
They are able to obtain less energy from their symbionts because the algae have been expelled.
Which of the following best describes opportunistic, or r-strategy, organisms?
They reach sexual maturity rapidly.
Assume there are 50,000 joules (J) of energy available in trophic level II in the figure. According to the conventional model of energy flow in ecosystems, which of the following statements correctly describes the flow of energy in the system?
Trophic level IV has approximately 500 J of available energy.
Figure 1 shows the changing pattern of human population sizes in rural and urban areas from 1960 to 2016 with regard to the global population. Figure 1. Comparison of population size in urban and rural areas from 1960 to 2016 A scientist interested in investigating how human population trends might affect local animal species' richness stipulates a null hypothesis that animal biodiversity in rural areas will be unaffected in the future by the human population trends shown in Figure 1. Which of the following would best refute this null hypothesis?
Urbanization causes habitat fragmentation.
Pacific salmon and black bears have often been cited as examples of keystone species. Pacific salmon spawn in freshwater streams but spend most of their lives at sea. When mature salmon return to the freshwater streams to spawn, they are preyed upon by bears and other predators. When salmon migrate from their marine habitat to the freshwater streams, they bring nitrogen and other marine-derived nutrients that subsequently remain in the areas surrounding the streams—a process called nitrogen influx. In an investigation, the relationship between black bears, salmon, and influx of marine nitrogen into the area around a southwestern Alaskan stream was studied. The investigators established several test plots of the same size along the stream with the following species composition: no salmon or black bears (N), bears but not salmon (B), salmon but not bears (S), and a plot where salmon and bears interact (SB). Nitrogen influx in the different sampling areas was measured as a means of assessing the impact of the different species on the health of the ecosystem. The data are plotted in Figure 1. Which of the following most likely describes how the interaction between bears and salmon influences nitrogen dynamics in the environment?
When bears consume salmon, they leave parts of the carcasses on the ground, which decompose, releasing nitrogen into the environment.
In an investigation of interspecies competition, researchers grew the unicellular protozoan Paramecium aurelia in a 5 mL culture and Paramecium caudatum in a separate 5 mL culture. P. aurelia and P. caudatum were grown together in a third 5 mL culture. Each day a small sample of each culture was removed so the total number of individuals could be estimated, and the remainder of the population was transferred to fresh growth medium. The experimental results are represented in the graphs below. Which of the following statements best justifies the use of the experimental results in an investigation of interspecies competition?
When two populations use the same sources of energy, resource availability in a shared environment limits the growth of both populations.
Which of the following populations have significantly decreased in size between 1996 and 2011 ?
White-tailed deer and raccoons only
Based on the data, which of the following describes the most likely relationship between wildfires, soil temperature, and the timing of cicada emergence in the same year?
Wildfires caused a reduction in ground cover, which in turn caused increased soil temperatures leading to earlier emergence of cicadas.
The lionfish is a venomous fish found primarily in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. In the 1990s, lionfish were accidentally released into the Atlantic Ocean, where they found abundant resources and favorable environmental conditions. Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in the lionfish having a major impact on the communities into which they were introduced?
With no natural predators, the lionfish population will become very large.
In the year 2000, specimens of Caulerpa taxifolia,a green alga used in tropical aquariums, were found off the coast of California. Native to the Indian Ocean, C. taxifolia is known for aggressive growth and an ability to compete with sea grasses.It is currently on an international list of invasive species. Which of the following best predicts the consequences of the introduction of C. taxifolia to the California coast?
Without natural herbivores or competitors,C. taxifolia will grow rapidly and crowd out native species of producers.
Wolves, once native to Yellowstone National Park, were hunted to the point of complete extinction in the park. As a result, the elk population in the park flourished, putting extra demands on the carrying capacity of the park. Many other species, such as certain trees and beavers, were negatively affected by the increase in elk. Years later, wolves were reintroduced into the park. While the elk population decreased after the wolves returned, the beaver and songbird populations began to increase as did the populations of various plant species. Which of the following best explains how wolves are a keystone species in this ecosystem?
Wolves help balance the population sizes of other species, allowing more species to thrive in the wolves' presence than in their absence.
A colony of termites was exposed to an atmosphere of 100 percent oxygen for three days. The insects were not immediately harmed by the treatment, but the protozoa that lived in the termites' guts were eliminated. The treated termites continued to behave normally and to eat wood, but they began to starve after a short time. When the treated termites were instead fed wood contaminated with the feces of untreated termites, the treated termites regained the ability to digest wood and no longer starved. The best analysis of the results of the experiment is that
cooperative interactions between the termites and the protozoa allow termites to extract energy from wood to survive
A parasite may be described as an organism that derives nourishment from another living organism and
harms the host in the process
An overlap in the niches of two species will most frequently result in
interspecific competition
A researcher is investigating the relationship between the existing species diversity in a community and the ability of an introduced nonnative species to destabilize the community. Which of the following graphs is most consistent with the claim that communities with high diversity are more resistant to change than are communities with low diversity?
negative linear
Figure I shows the growth of an algal species in a flask of sterilized pond water. If phosphate is added as indicated, the growth curve changes as shown in Figure II. Which of the following is the best prediction of the algal growth if nitrate is added instead of phosphate?
nitrate added flat line
In a simple ecosystem, a census of the populations in four successive trophic levels was taken as shown above. If level 1 is composed of photosynthetic autotrophs, then the trophic level with 780 individuals will most likely represent
primary consumers
In the Arctic Ocean, the predominant primary producers are phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are consumed by zooplankton, which in turn are eaten by codfish. In years when there is more open water (less ice coverage), there are more zooplankton and fish than in years with less open water (more ice coverage). Based on the graph above, the difference is most likely because
the ice blocks the light, so in years with more ice coverage, there is less photosynthesis by the phytoplankton
All of the following are density-dependent factors that limit animal populations EXCEPT
weather
Wolves, a top predator, were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 after a 50-year absence. In a multiyear study, the numbers of wolves and elk were monitored. The data are shown in Figure 1. In two different environments scientists monitored the percent of aspen trees browsed by herbivores (Figure 2) as well as the growth of the trees (Figure 3). The upland environments consist mostly of flat forested areas. The riparian environments are areas along streams with steep, wooded banks. Which of the following models best predicts the effect on the ecosystem if a deadly communicable disease is introduced into the wolf population?
wolf drop elk goes up switch