exam 1

1.

1 point

The relationship between ants and acacia trees:

Competition

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

predation

2.

1 point

Two small mammal species, the kangaroo rat and the pocket mouse occur sympatrically (together) in the Great Basin Desert. Both species forage primarily on the leaves and seeds produces in sagebrush.

Competition

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

predation

3.

1 point

All of the following phrases could characterize a population except

interacting individuals

dispersion

density

several species

boundaries

4.

1 point

which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?

an insect that resembles a twig

a butterfly that resemble a leaf

a non-venomouse snake that looks like a venomous snake

a fawn with fur coloring that camouflages it in the forest environment

a snapping turtle that uses its tongue to mimic a worm, thus attracting fish

5.

1 point

Dwarf mistletoes are flowering plants that grow on conifers of western North America. They obtain nutrias and water from the vascular tissues of the trees. The trees derive no known benefits from the dwarf mistletoes.

Competition

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

predation

6.

1 point

Remora fish have a small fin on their undersides that acts as a suction cup. These fish use this fin to attach themselves to whales, sharks and rays and eat the scraps of their hosts leave behind. The remora fish get a meal and the host is neither hatred more benefited.

Competition

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

predation

7.

1 point

many conservation biologist would argue that we

as a species, more in tough with out environment that we we 1000 years ago

in the list of the 4th great extinction event

in the mist of the 5th great extinction event

in the midst of the 6th great extinction event

in the midst of the 7th great extinction even

8.

1 point

which of the following best describe resource partitioning?

competitive exclusion results in success of superior species

slight variation allow similar species to coexist

two species can coevolve to share the same niche

different resource utilization results in the decrease in species diversity

a climax community is reached when no new niches are available

9.

1 point

How does phosphorus normally enter ecosystems?

cellular respiration

photosynthesis

rock weathering

geological uplifting (subduction and vulcanism)

atmospheric phosphorus dust

10.

1 point

In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to 8 after one species was removed. The species removes was likely a(n)...

community facilitator

keystone species

herbivore

resource partitioner

mutualistic organism

11.

1 point

How are matter and energy used in ecosystems?

matter is cycles through ecosystems; energy is not

energy is cycled through ecosystems; matter is no

energy can be converted into matter; matter cannot be converted to energy

matter can be converted into energy; energy cannot be converted into matter

matter is used in ecosystems; energy is not

12.

1 point

The most common type of dispersion in nature is:

clumped

random

uniform

indeterminate

dispersive

13.

1 point

introduces species can have deleterious effects on biological communities by

preying on native species

competing with native species for food or light

displacing native species

competing with native species for space or breeding/nesting habitat

a,b,c, and d

14.

1 point

An ecologist recorded 12 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus viginianus, per square mile in one woodlot and 20 per square mile on another woodlot. What was the ecologist comparing?

density

dispersion

carrying capacity

quadrats

range

15.

1 point

Demography is the study of:

the vital statistics of populations and how they change over time

death and emigration rates of a population at any moment in time

the survival patterns of a population

life expectancy of individuals within a population

reproductive rates of a population during a given year

16.

1 point

According to most conservation biologists, the single greatest threat to global biodiversity is

chemical pollution of water and air

stratospheric ozon depletion

insufficient recycling programs for nonrenewable resources

alteration of distracting of physical habitat

global climate change resulting from a variety of human activities

17.

1 point

which of the following terms includes all of the others

species diversity

biodiversity

genetic diversity

ecosystem diversity

species richness

18.

1 point

The dominant species in a community is

characterized by very large individuals with long lives

the best competitor in the community

the best predator in the community

the species that contributes the most biomass to the community

the most energetically efficient species in the community

19.

1 point

Why may territoriality be an adaptive behavior for songbirds maintaining populations at or near their carrying capacity?

songbird spend a tremendous amount of energy defending territories so that they spend less time feeding their young and fledgling mortality increases

only the fittest males defend territories and the attract the fittest females so the best genes are conveyed to the next generation

Songbird males defend territories commensurate with the size from which they can derive adequate resources for themselves, their mate, and their chicks

many individuals are killed in the ritualistic conflicts that go along with territorial defense

songbirds make improvements to the territories they inhibit so that they can all enjoy lager clutches and successfully fledged chicks

20.

1 point

Which of the following would be most likely to exhibit uniform dispersion?

red squirrels, which hide food and actively defend territories

cattails, which grow primarily at edges of lakes and streams

dwarf mistletoes, which parasitize particular species of forest trees

tassel-eared squirrels, which are non territorial

lake trout, which seek out deep water

21.

1 point

carrying capacity is:

seldom reached by marine producers and consumers because of the vase resources of the ocean

the maximum population size that a particular environment can support

fixed for most species over most of their range most of the time

determined by density and dispersion data

the term used to describe the stress a population undergoes due to limited resources

22.

1 point

For most terrestrial ecosystems, pyramids of numbers, biomass and energy are essentially the same- they have a broad base and a narrow top. The primary reason for this pattern is that

secondary consumers and top carnivores require less energy than producers

at each step, energy is lots from the system as a result of keeping the organisms alive

as matter passes through ecosystem, some of it is lost to the environment

biomagnification of toxic materials limits the secondary consumers and top carnivores

top carnivores and secondary consumers have a more general diet than primary consumers

23.

1 point

the main cause of the increase in amount of CO2 in the Earths atmosphere of the bas 150 years is

increased worldwide primary production

increased worldwide standing crop

an increase in amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the atmosphere

the burning of larger amounts of wood and fossil fuels

additional respiration by the rapidly growing human population

24.

1 point

Which ecological unit incorporates both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors?

community

ecosystem

population

species symbiosis

25.

1 point

In tropical regions of Africa, crocodiles lay with their mouths open. A species of bird known as an Egyptian plover, flies into their mouths and feeds on bits of decaying meat stuck in the crocodiles mouth. The crocodiles allow this to happen without eating the birds.

Competition

mutualism

commensalism

parasitism

predation