Question 1

High nitrogen retention early in stream succession is probably due to

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen fixation by aquatic fungi. 
B)  increasing biomass of algal and animal populations. 
C)  increasing nitrogen inputs from surrounding terrestrial soils. 
D)  increasing binding of nitrogen to developing organic sediments. 
E)  reduced denitrification following disturbance. 
A)  nitrogen fixation by aquatic fungi. 
B)  increasing biomass of algal and animal populations. 
C)  increasing nitrogen inputs from surrounding terrestrial soils. 
D)  increasing binding of nitrogen to developing organic sediments. 
E)  reduced denitrification following disturbance. B

Question 2

Research by Dias on a former bauxite mine showed that plots that were seeded with preferred plant species had a higher mean seedling density than control plots.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

The mechanisms of facilitation and inhibition alternate during the four stages of succession (pioneer, Dryas, Alder, and Spruce) in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Wayne Sousa's studies of succession on intertidal boulders demonstrated which elements of the inhibition hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inhibition of mid- and late-successional species by pioneers 
B)  Inhibition of late-successional species by mid-successional ones 
C)  Higher mortality of pioneer species 
D)  All of the choices are correct. 
E)  None of the choices are correct. 
A)  Inhibition of mid- and late-successional species by pioneers 
B)  Inhibition of late-successional species by mid-successional ones 
C)  Higher mortality of pioneer species 
D)  All of the choices are correct. 
E)  None of the choices are correct.

Question 5

As Hawaiian lava flows age over 4 million years,

Accepted Answer

A)  total soil phosphorous levels decrease. 
B)  total soil phosphorous levels increase. 
C)  total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes refractory. 
D)  total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes weatherable. 
E)  phosphorous limitation of primary production becomes less important. 
A)  total soil phosphorous levels decrease. 
B)  total soil phosphorous levels increase. 
C)  total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes refractory. 
D)  total soil phosphorous stays about the same, but more phosphorous becomes weatherable. 
E)  phosphorous limitation of primary production becomes less important.

Question 6

In the Piedmont of North Carolina, as plant diversity increases through secondary succession, bird diversity

Accepted Answer

A)  increases at first, but then declines late in succession. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, but then rapidly late in succession. 
D)  increases rapidly at first, then plateaus late in succession. 
E)  first decreases, but later increases. 
A)  increases at first, but then declines late in succession. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, but then rapidly late in succession. 
D)  increases rapidly at first, then plateaus late in succession. 
E)  first decreases, but later increases.

Question 7

On intertidal boulders in California, the climax community is dominated by perennial red algae.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What result(s) from the Park Grass Experiment support the idea of community stability? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Virtually no new species have been added to the plant community since 1862. 
B)  The proportions of three plant groups (legumes, grasses, and other species) remained fairly stable over the interval of the study. 
C)  The proportion of grasses, legumes, and other plants in the study plots varied from year to year, mainly in response to variation in precipitation. 
D)  The application of fertilizer produced significantly different proportions of grasses, legumes, and other plant species. 
A)  Virtually no new species have been added to the plant community since 1862. 
B)  The proportions of three plant groups (legumes, grasses, and other species) remained fairly stable over the interval of the study. 
C)  The proportion of grasses, legumes, and other plants in the study plots varied from year to year, mainly in response to variation in precipitation. 
D)  The application of fertilizer produced significantly different proportions of grasses, legumes, and other plant species.

Question 9

In secondary succession on abandoned fields in the Piedmont of North Carolina, important pioneer species include

Accepted Answer

A)  horsetails. 
B)  Dryas. 
C)  broomsedge (Andropogon). 
D)  pine seedlings. 
E)  crabgrass and horseweed. 
A)  horsetails. 
B)  Dryas. 
C)  broomsedge (Andropogon). 
D)  pine seedlings. 
E)  crabgrass and horseweed.

Question 10

On intertidal boulders in California, the diversity of diatoms and algae

Accepted Answer

A)  increases at first, but then declines late in succession. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, but then rapidly late in succession. 
D)  increases rapidly at first, then plateaus late in succession. 
E)  first decreases, but later increases. 
A)  increases at first, but then declines late in succession. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, but then rapidly late in succession. 
D)  increases rapidly at first, then plateaus late in succession. 
E)  first decreases, but later increases.

Question 11

How does canopy shading influence succession of pines and deciduous trees in the Piedmont of North Carolina?

Accepted Answer

A)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees is required for growth of pines. 
B)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees prevents establishment of pines until late in succession. 
C)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees prevents persistence of pines in late successional stages. 
D)  Canopy shading by pines prevents establishment of deciduous trees. 
E)  Canopy shading by pines kills deciduous trees that were established early in succession. 
A)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees is required for growth of pines. 
B)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees prevents establishment of pines until late in succession. 
C)  Canopy shading by deciduous trees prevents persistence of pines in late successional stages. 
D)  Canopy shading by pines prevents establishment of deciduous trees. 
E)  Canopy shading by pines kills deciduous trees that were established early in succession.

Question 12

In the area of Glacier Bay, Alaska, the climax community is

Accepted Answer

A)  hemlock forest. 
B)  muskeg. 
C)  hemlock forest on steep slopes and muskeg on shallower slopes. 
D)  hemlock forest on shallow slopes and muskeg on steeper slopes. 
E)  Dryas mats with scattered alders and cottonwoods. 
A)  hemlock forest. 
B)  muskeg. 
C)  hemlock forest on steep slopes and muskeg on shallower slopes. 
D)  hemlock forest on shallow slopes and muskeg on steeper slopes. 
E)  Dryas mats with scattered alders and cottonwoods.

Question 13

________ occurs in areas where disturbance destroyed the previous community without destroying the soil.

Accepted Answer

A)  Pioneer succession 
B)  Climax succession 
C)  Secondary succession 
D)  Primary succession 
E)  Disturbance succession 
A)  Pioneer succession 
B)  Climax succession 
C)  Secondary succession 
D)  Primary succession 
E)  Disturbance succession

Question 14

Pine communities are eventually replaced by oak-hickory communities after about 150 years of old field succession on the Piedmont Plateau of North Carolina because

Accepted Answer

A)  mature pines are susceptible to a fungal disease called pine blight. 
B)  juvenile pines are susceptible to a fungal disease called pine blight. 
C)  juvenile pines cannot grow in the low pH soil that results as pine litter decomposes. 
D)  juvenile pines cannot grow in the shade of mature pines. 
E)  mature pines require an association with mycorrhizal fungi which are excluded from this area by low pH soils. 
A)  mature pines are susceptible to a fungal disease called pine blight. 
B)  juvenile pines are susceptible to a fungal disease called pine blight. 
C)  juvenile pines cannot grow in the low pH soil that results as pine litter decomposes. 
D)  juvenile pines cannot grow in the shade of mature pines. 
E)  mature pines require an association with mycorrhizal fungi which are excluded from this area by low pH soils.

Question 15

Match the level of taxonomic resolution with the result it supports in the Park Grass Experiment.

-Individual plant species

Accepted Answer

A)  Not stable 
B)  Stable 
C)  Absolutely stable 
A)  Not stable 
B)  Stable 
C)  Absolutely stable

Question 16

According to the "facilitation" hypothesis, pioneer species modify the environment in ways that

Accepted Answer

A)  make it more suitable for their own survival, and less suitable for other species. 
B)  make it less suitable for their own survival, but more suitable for survival of other pioneer species. 
C)  make it less suitable for their own survival, but more suitable for survival of late-successional species. 
D)  make it less suitable for survival of all species. 
E)  make it more suitable for survival of all species. 
A)  make it more suitable for their own survival, and less suitable for other species. 
B)  make it less suitable for their own survival, but more suitable for survival of other pioneer species. 
C)  make it less suitable for their own survival, but more suitable for survival of late-successional species. 
D)  make it less suitable for survival of all species. 
E)  make it more suitable for survival of all species.

Question 17

During primary succession at Glacier Bay, species diversity continues to increase throughout succession for which group(s) of plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tall shrubs and trees 
B)  Low shrubs and herbs 
C)  Mosses 
D)  Lichens 
E)  All groups of plants 
A)  Tall shrubs and trees 
B)  Low shrubs and herbs 
C)  Mosses 
D)  Lichens 
E)  All groups of plants

Question 18

The first plants in a successional sequence are called the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first plants in a successional sequence...

Question 19

During primary succession at Glacier Bay, overall plant species diversity

Accepted Answer

A)  first increases rapidly, then levels off. 
B)  increases steadily throughout succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, then more rapidly after a few hundred years. 
D)  peaks at intermediate successional stages. 
E)  decreases steadily throughout succession. 
A)  first increases rapidly, then levels off. 
B)  increases steadily throughout succession. 
C)  increases slowly at first, then more rapidly after a few hundred years. 
D)  peaks at intermediate successional stages. 
E)  decreases steadily throughout succession.

Question 20

During succession in Hawaiian Island forest ecosystems, nitrogen retention

Accepted Answer

A)  increases for the first 20,000 years, then declines. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases for the first 2,000 years, then declines. 
D)  decreases steadily through succession. 
E)  decreases for the first 2,000 years, then increases. 
A)  increases for the first 20,000 years, then declines. 
B)  increases steadily through succession. 
C)  increases for the first 2,000 years, then declines. 
D)  decreases steadily through succession. 
E)  decreases for the first 2,000 years, then increases.

Exam 20: Succession and Stability

High nitrogen retention early in stream succession is probably due to

Research by Dias on a former bauxite mine showed that plots that were seeded with preferred plant species had a higher mean seedling density than control plots.

The mechanisms of facilitation and inhibition alternate during the four stages of succession (pioneer, Dryas, Alder, and Spruce) in Glacier Bay, Alaska.

Wayne Sousa's studies of succession on intertidal boulders demonstrated which elements of the inhibition hypothesis?

As Hawaiian lava flows age over 4 million years,

In the Piedmont of North Carolina, as plant diversity increases through secondary succession, bird diversity

On intertidal boulders in California, the climax community is dominated by perennial red algae.

What result(s) from the Park Grass Experiment support the idea of community stability? (Select all that apply.)

In secondary succession on abandoned fields in the Piedmont of North Carolina, important pioneer species include

On intertidal boulders in California, the diversity of diatoms and algae

How does canopy shading influence succession of pines and deciduous trees in the Piedmont of North Carolina?

In the area of Glacier Bay, Alaska, the climax community is

________ occurs in areas where disturbance destroyed the previous community without destroying the soil.

Pine communities are eventually replaced by oak-hickory communities after about 150 years of old field succession on the Piedmont Plateau of North Carolina because

Match the level of taxonomic resolution with the result it supports in the Park Grass Experiment. -Individual plant species

According to the "facilitation" hypothesis, pioneer species modify the environment in ways that

During primary succession at Glacier Bay, species diversity continues to increase throughout succession for which group(s) of plants?

The first plants in a successional sequence are called the ________.

During primary succession at Glacier Bay, overall plant species diversity

During succession in Hawaiian Island forest ecosystems, nitrogen retention

Introduction to Ecology: Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers

Life on Land

Life in Water

Population Genetics and Natural Selection

Temperature Relations

Water Relations

Energy and Nutrient Relations

Social Relations

Population Distribution and Abundance

Population Dynamics

Population Growth

Life Histories

Competition

Exploitative Interactions: Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, and Disease

Mutualism

Species Abundance and Diversity

Species Interactions and Community Structure

Primary Production and Energy Flow

Nutrient Cycling and Retention

Landscape Ecology

Geographic Ecology

Global Ecology

Filters