Question 1

Some mutualists are said to be generalists, while other mutualists are said to be specialists. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a generalist versus a specialist.

Accepted Answer

Mutualists that are considered generalis

Question 2

A group of biologists are studying an interaction between coral and three species of crab (crab 1, crab 2, and crab 3). They discover that all three species of crab benefit from the coral by feeding on lipid-rich coral mucus. They conduct an experiment in which they remove each species of crab from the coral and then measure the extent to which the coral were overgrown by noxious algae. Based on the data in the figure, explain whether or not each of the three crab species is a mutualist with coral.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group of biologists are studying an...

Question 3

Which of the plots would be consistent with cleaner fish switching from a mutualistic to a parasitic relationship with damselfish when the cleaner fish does not obtain fitness benefits?

Accepted Answer

A)  panel a 
B)  panel b 
C)  panel c 
D)  panel d 
A)  panel a 
B)  panel b 
C)  panel c 
D)  panel d

Question 4

What benefit do mammals and birds provide to a plant when they eat its fruit?

Accepted Answer

A)  They disperse the seeds in the fruit to new areas. 
B)  They allow the seeds to fix atmospheric nitrogen. 
C)  They provide the seeds with defense against herbivores. 
D)  They provide seeds with sugars produced by photosynthesis. 
A)  They disperse the seeds in the fruit to new areas. 
B)  They allow the seeds to fix atmospheric nitrogen. 
C)  They provide the seeds with defense against herbivores. 
D)  They provide seeds with sugars produced by photosynthesis.

Question 5

Whitebark pine seeds are dispersed through a mutualism with Clark's nutcracker birds. If Clark's nutcracker went extinct, what is the most likely immediate outcome for pines?

Accepted Answer

A)  increased competition between seedlings and parents 
B)  increased photosynthesis by pines 
C)  reduced pollination of pines 
D)  reduced benefits from mycorrhizal fungi 
A)  increased competition between seedlings and parents 
B)  increased photosynthesis by pines 
C)  reduced pollination of pines 
D)  reduced benefits from mycorrhizal fungi

Question 6

The association between bees and flowering plants is a well-known mutualism. What benefit do bees provide flowering plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bees spread pollen from one flower to the next. 
B)  Bees lay eggs on the flowers. 
C)  Bees disperse the plant's seeds. 
D)  Bees allow plants to fix nitrogen. 
A)  Bees spread pollen from one flower to the next. 
B)  Bees lay eggs on the flowers. 
C)  Bees disperse the plant's seeds. 
D)  Bees allow plants to fix nitrogen.

Question 7

(Figure 17.9) Two species of ant that live on acacia are Pseudomyrmex ferruginea and P. gracilis. The figure shows how the presence or absence of each species of ant affects the abundance of pathogenic bacteria on acacia leaves. What conclusion can you draw from this figure?

Accepted Answer

A)  Neither ant is mutualistic with acacia. 
B)  Only P. ferruginea is mutualistic with acacia. 
C)  Only P. gracilis is mutualistic with acacia. 
D)  Both ant species are mutualistic with acacia. 
A)  Neither ant is mutualistic with acacia. 
B)  Only P. ferruginea is mutualistic with acacia. 
C)  Only P. gracilis is mutualistic with acacia. 
D)  Both ant species are mutualistic with acacia.

Question 8

Many animals disperse seeds away from parent plants. What benefits do animals gain from this mutualism? Give a specific example.

Accepted Answer

Many animals benefit from dispersing see

Some mutualists are said to be generalists, while other mutualists are said to be specialists. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a generalist versus a specialist.

Which of the plots would be consistent with cleaner fish switching from a mutualistic to a parasitic relationship with damselfish when the cleaner fish does not obtain fitness benefits?

What benefit do mammals and birds provide to a plant when they eat its fruit?

Whitebark pine seeds are dispersed through a mutualism with Clark's nutcracker birds. If Clark's nutcracker went extinct, what is the most likely immediate outcome for pines?

The association between bees and flowering plants is a well-known mutualism. What benefit do bees provide flowering plants?

(Figure 17.9) Two species of ant that live on acacia are Pseudomyrmex ferruginea and P. gracilis. The figure shows how the presence or absence of each species of ant affects the abundance of pathogenic bacteria on acacia leaves. What conclusion can you draw from this figure?

Many animals disperse seeds away from parent plants. What benefits do animals gain from this mutualism? Give a specific example.

Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Climates and Soils

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviors

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

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Exam 17: Mutualism

Some mutualists are said to be generalists, while other mutualists are said to be specialists. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a generalist versus a specialist.

Which of the plots would be consistent with cleaner fish switching from a mutualistic to a parasitic relationship with damselfish when the cleaner fish does not obtain fitness benefits?

What benefit do mammals and birds provide to a plant when they eat its fruit?

Whitebark pine seeds are dispersed through a mutualism with Clark's nutcracker birds. If Clark's nutcracker went extinct, what is the most likely immediate outcome for pines?

The association between bees and flowering plants is a well-known mutualism. What benefit do bees provide flowering plants?

(Figure 17.9) Two species of ant that live on acacia are Pseudomyrmex ferruginea and P. gracilis. The figure shows how the presence or absence of each species of ant affects the abundance of pathogenic bacteria on acacia leaves. What conclusion can you draw from this figure?

Many animals disperse seeds away from parent plants. What benefits do animals gain from this mutualism? Give a specific example.

Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Climates and Soils

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviors

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

Filters