Midterm 3

The Asian kudzu bug arrived in Atlanta in 2009 and is quickly spreading across the South. In addition to eating kudzu, it also eats soybeans and decimate entire crops. The kudzu bug is a type of _________ species A.) umbrella B.) control C.) keystone D.) Invasive

C; Invasive

Evolution can best be defined as ____________. A.) always taking a very long time to occur B.) the production of new species C.) change in allele frequency in a population D.) not involving humans

C; change in allele frequency in a population

A sudden natural catastrophe resulting in massive die-offs would be categorized as a density- ________ limiting factor. A.) autonomous B.) reliant C.) independent D.) dependent

C; independent

Individuals with variations that make them best suited to their environment will, on average, be more likely to ________. A.) evolve B.) be larger C.) survive and reproduce D.) change over time

C; survive and reproduce

An animal will preferentially feed on: A.) the smallest prey it can find. B.) the prey that provides the most calories relative to the size of the prey C.) the prey that provides the most energy relative to effort D.) the prey that provides the most calories relative to the size of the predators.

C; the prey that provides the most energy relative to effort

At what level is biodiversity often studied and measured? A.) The diversity of species in a community B.) The diversity of genes in a population C.) The diversity of ecosystems on the planet D.) All of the above

D; All of the above

Which of the following mechanisms can drive evolution? A.) Mutations B.) Genetic Drift C.) Natural Selection' D.) All of the above

D; All of the above

All of the following are abiotic factors within an ecosystem EXCEPT A.) nutrients B.) energy C.) fire D.) All of the above are abiotic factors

D; All of the above are abiotic factors

What is an exception to the standard biological species concept used to define a species? A.) species that do not resemble one another cannot be distinguished using this concept B.) Natural interbreeding populations cannot be distinguished using this concept C.) Species that co-evolved cannot be distinguished using this concept D.) Asexual species cannot be distinguished using this concept

D; Asexual species cannot be distinguished using this concept

What can a human population's age pyramid tell you about current and future needs? A.) How many schools to build or to close down B.) How many workers will be needed to support retirees C.) Neither of those D.) Both of these

D; Both of these

What term describes the failure of one species' sperm to fertilize the egg of a different species? A.) Hybrid weakness B.) Mating time differences C.) Mechanical incompatibility D.) Gametic incompatibility

D; Gametic incompatibility

Which of the following is the best way to distinguish male from female? A.) Males are larger B.) Males are more brightly colored C.) Males are more aggressive D.) Males produce motile gametes

D; Males produce motile gametes

What defines evolution? A.) Multiple species interacting together B.) Interbreeding members of the same species C.) Members of a single species D.) Members of the same group that share a common ancestor

D; Members of the same group that share a common ancestor

The modern evolutionary synthesis of the 1930s and 1940s melded together Darwin's findings with _____________ A.) chemistry B.) sociology C.) psychology D.) genetics

D; genetics

There are little birds that spend a great deal of time on the back of a rhinoceros and eat the blood sucking ticks out of the rhino's ears. Answer the following question regarding these creatures' relationships. The tick-rhino relationship is an example of ________. A.) commsensalism B.) mutualism C.) predator-prey D.) parasitism

D; parasitism

The energy that a parent puts into the growth, feeding and care of offspring is called: A.) the mating system B.) reproductive success C.) total reproductive output D.) reproductive investment

D; reproductive investment

What is the smallest unit that can evolve? A.) the cell B.) the community C.) the individual D.) the population

D; the population

In many ways a mule is a superior animal to the horse or donkey. They are often stronger and can jump higher than either of their parents. Why then are they considered to be a "weak hybrid"? A.) they are prone to disease B.) they do not live as long C.) their offspring are progressively weaker D.) they are sterile

D; they are sterile

(T/F) Ecology and environmentalism are the same scientific discipline

False

Which theorem states that no two species competing for the exact same resources can coexist? A.) Competitive exclusion principle B.) Resource partitioning principle C.) Complex community network principle D.) Dominance species principle

A; Competitive exclusion principle

Which two observations led Darwin to conclude that there is competition for survival? A.) Overproduction and limited resources B.) Fossils and mutations C.) Gene and allele differences in organisms D.) Natural selection and descent with modification

A; Overproduction and limited resources

__________ selection favors organisms that have character values at both extremes of phenotypic distribution. A.) disruptive B.) directional C.) stabilizing D.) Intermittent

A; disruptive

Natural selection acts on _____, and ______ evolve. A.) individuals; populations B.) populations; populations C.) individuals; individuals D.) populations, individuals

A; individuals; populations

What is the original source of variation that natural selection can act upon? A.) mutation B.) gene flow C.) genetic drift D.) all of the above

A; mutation

There are little birds that spend a great deal of time on the back of a rhinoceros and eat the blood sucking ticks out of the rhino's ears. Answer the following question regarding these creatures' relationships. The bird-rhino relationship is an example of ________. A.) mutualism B.) predator-prey C.) parasitism D.) commensalism

A; mutualism

In a species such as elephant seals, in which males are significantly larger than females, the most likely mating system is: A.) polygyny B.) polyandry C.) promiscuity D.) It is impossible to predict the mating system with only this information.

A; polygyny

Which of the following most often should lead to allopatric speciation? A.) Behavioral isolation B.) Habitat isolation C.) Mating time differences D.) Gametic incompatibility

B; Habitat isolation

An age pyramid with a broad base that quickly slopes up to a narrow top would be indicative of ________. A.) an industrialized nation B.) a developing nation C.) a population with a low survivorship of children D.) a population with a high average age

B; a developing nation

Because it is possible for a female to mate with multiple males, any of whom could be the father, male mammals and birds will always: A.) invest more in the care of the offspring B.) have some degree of paternity uncertainty C.) be the choosier sex in mating D.) invest less in the care of the offspring

B; have some degree of paternity uncertainty

What is the name of the model maximum rate of population growth? A.) exponential B.) logistic C.) factorial D.) speculative

B; logistic

The sex with the greater energetic investment in reproduction will be _________________________ when it comes to mating. A.) less discriminating B.) more discriminating C.) more competitive D.) more exhausted

B; more discriminating

A wolf eats a rabbit that eats grass. The grass is a ________. A.) heterotroph B.) producer C.) consumer D.) detrivore

B; producer

Male guarding is a reproductive tactic that functions to: A.) reduce the male's reproductive investment B.) reduce paternity uncertainty C.) reduce the female's fitness D.) increase the number of males to which a male has access

B; reduce paternity uncertainty