Question 1

Which of the following studies would shed light on the mechanism of spread of H5N1 from Asia?

Accepted Answer

A)  Perform cloacal or saliva smears of migrating waterfowl to monitor whether any infected birds show up in Alaska. 
B)  Test fecal samples for H5N1 in Asian waterfowl that live near domestic poultry farms in Asia. 
C)  Test for the presence of H5N1 in poultry used for human consumption worldwide. 
D)  Locate and destroy birds infected with H5N1 in Asian open-air poultry markets. 
E)  Keep domestic and wild fowl from interacting with each other to minimize the probability that wild fowl could get infected and migrate out of Asia. 
A)  Perform cloacal or saliva smears of migrating waterfowl to monitor whether any infected birds show up in Alaska. 
B)  Test fecal samples for H5N1 in Asian waterfowl that live near domestic poultry farms in Asia. 
C)  Test for the presence of H5N1 in poultry used for human consumption worldwide. 
D)  Locate and destroy birds infected with H5N1 in Asian open-air poultry markets. 
E)  Keep domestic and wild fowl from interacting with each other to minimize the probability that wild fowl could get infected and migrate out of Asia. A

Question 2

There are more species in tropical areas than in places more distant from the equator. This is probably a result of

Accepted Answer

A)  fewer predators. 
B)  more intense annual solar radiation. 
C)  more frequent ecological disturbances. 
D)  fewer agents of disease. 
E)  fewer predators, more intense annual solar radiation, more frequent ecological disturbances, and fewer agents of disease. 
A)  fewer predators. 
B)  more intense annual solar radiation. 
C)  more frequent ecological disturbances. 
D)  fewer agents of disease. 
E)  fewer predators, more intense annual solar radiation, more frequent ecological disturbances, and fewer agents of disease. B

Question 3

White-breasted nuthatches and Downy woodpeckers both eat insects that hide in the furrows of bark in hardwood trees. The Downy woodpecker searches for insects by hunting from the bottom of the tree trunk to the top, whereas the white-breasted nuthatch searches from the top of the trunk down. These hunting behaviors best illustrate which of the following ecological concepts?

Accepted Answer

A)  competitive exclusion 
B)  resource partitioning 
C)  character displacement 
D)  keystone species 
E)  bottom-up and top-down hypotheses 
A)  competitive exclusion 
B)  resource partitioning 
C)  character displacement 
D)  keystone species 
E)  bottom-up and top-down hypotheses B

Question 4

Use the following diagram to answer the next question
 
-Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Balanus can only survive in the lower intertidal zone, because it is unable to resist desiccation. 
B)  Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on intertidal zone rocks. 
C)  The two species of barnacles do not compete with each other because they feed at different times of day. 
D)  When Balanus is removed, it can be observed that the realized niche of Chthamalus is smaller than its fundamental niche. 
E)  These two species of barnacle do not show competitive exclusion.
F) If Chthamalus were removed, Balanus's fundamental niche would become larger. 
A)  Balanus can only survive in the lower intertidal zone, because it is unable to resist desiccation. 
B)  Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on intertidal zone rocks. 
C)  The two species of barnacles do not compete with each other because they feed at different times of day. 
D)  When Balanus is removed, it can be observed that the realized niche of Chthamalus is smaller than its fundamental niche. 
E)  These two species of barnacle do not show competitive exclusion.
F) If Chthamalus were removed, Balanus's fundamental niche would become larger.

Question 5

In terms of community ecology, why are pathogens more virulent now than ever before?

Accepted Answer

A)  More new pathogens have recently evolved. 
B)  Host organisms have become more susceptible because of weakened immune systems. 
C)  Human activities are transporting pathogens globally at an unprecedented rate. 
D)  Medicines for treating pathogenic disease are in short supply. 
E)  Sequencing of genes in pathogenic organisms is particularly difficult. 
A)  More new pathogens have recently evolved. 
B)  Host organisms have become more susceptible because of weakened immune systems. 
C)  Human activities are transporting pathogens globally at an unprecedented rate. 
D)  Medicines for treating pathogenic disease are in short supply. 
E)  Sequencing of genes in pathogenic organisms is particularly difficult.

Question 6

According to the competitive exclusion principle, two species cannot continue to occupy the same

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat. 
B)  niche. 
C)  territory. 
D)  range. 
E)  biome. 
A)  habitat. 
B)  niche. 
C)  territory. 
D)  range. 
E)  biome.

Question 7

Approximately how many kg of carnivore biomass can be supported by a field plot containing 1,000 kg of plant material?

Accepted Answer

A)  10,000 
B)  1,000 
C)  100 
D)  10 
E)  1 
A)  10,000 
B)  1,000 
C)  100 
D)  10 
E)  1

Question 8

Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?

Accepted Answer

A)  limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount 
B)  influence of temperature on competition among plants 
C)  influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers 
D)  effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity 
E)  effect of humidity on plant growth rates 
A)  limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount 
B)  influence of temperature on competition among plants 
C)  influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers 
D)  effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity 
E)  effect of humidity on plant growth rates

Question 9

Monarch butterflies are protected from birds and other predators because of cardiac glycosides they incorporate into their tissues from eating milkweed when they were in their caterpillar stage. The wings of a different species of butterfly, the Viceroy, look nearly identical to the Monarch so predators that have learned not to eat the bad-tasting Monarch avoid Viceroys as well. This example best describes

Accepted Answer

A)  aposmatic coloration. 
B)  cryptic coloration. 
C)  Batesian mimicry. 
D)  Müllerian mimicry. 
E)  mutualism. 
A)  aposmatic coloration. 
B)  cryptic coloration. 
C)  Batesian mimicry. 
D)  Müllerian mimicry. 
E)  mutualism.

Question 10

Which of the following is a correct statement about the McArthur/Wilson Island Equilibrium Model?

Accepted Answer

A)  The more species that inhabit an island, the lower the extinction rate. 
B)  As the number of species on an island increases, the emigration rate decreases. 
C)  Competitive exclusion is less likely on an island that has large numbers of species. 
D)  Small islands receive few new immigrant species. 
E)  Islands closer to the mainland have higher extinction rates. 
A)  The more species that inhabit an island, the lower the extinction rate. 
B)  As the number of species on an island increases, the emigration rate decreases. 
C)  Competitive exclusion is less likely on an island that has large numbers of species. 
D)  Small islands receive few new immigrant species. 
E)  Islands closer to the mainland have higher extinction rates.

Question 11

The next series of questions presumes that you have at least once visited and have some knowledge of the fast-food restaurant McDonald's. Use your knowledge of McDonald's and your understanding of community ecology to answer the following questions about an ecological community, McDonaldland.
-In a two-week marketing analysis, McDonald's was interested in finding out the popularity of the Big Mac. Using the realized/fundamental niche concept of community ecology, what should the marketing researchers do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Study the sales of McDonald's restaurants that are in close proximity to other fast-food restaurants. 
B)  Serve only Big Macs at McDonald's and analyze the sales. 
C)  Remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu and see if Big Mac sales increase. 
D)  Serve Big Macs without the special sauce to see if sales go down. 
E)  Serve Big Macs during breakfast hours. 
A)  Study the sales of McDonald's restaurants that are in close proximity to other fast-food restaurants. 
B)  Serve only Big Macs at McDonald's and analyze the sales. 
C)  Remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu and see if Big Mac sales increase. 
D)  Serve Big Macs without the special sauce to see if sales go down. 
E)  Serve Big Macs during breakfast hours.

Question 12

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-What interactions exist between a "carrier crab" and "sea urchin hitch-hiker"?

Accepted Answer

A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/- 
A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/-

Question 13

How did Eugene Odum describe an ecological niche?

Accepted Answer

A)  the "address" of an organism 
B)  an entity that is synonymous with an organism's specific trophic level 
C)  an organism's "profession" in the community 
D)  the organism's role in recycling nutrients in its habitat 
E)  the interactions of the organism with other members of the community 
A)  the "address" of an organism 
B)  an entity that is synonymous with an organism's specific trophic level 
C)  an organism's "profession" in the community 
D)  the organism's role in recycling nutrients in its habitat 
E)  the interactions of the organism with other members of the community

Question 14

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-What interactions exist between cellulose-digesting organisms in the gut of a termite and the termite?

Accepted Answer

A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/- 
A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/-

Question 15

Zoonotic disease

Accepted Answer

A)  is caused by suborganismal pathogens such as viruses, viroids, and prions only. 
B)  is caused by pathogens that are transferred from other animals to humans by direct contact or by means of a vector. 
C)  can only be spread from animals to humans through direct contact. 
D)  can only be transferred from animals to humans by means of an intermediate host. 
E)  is too specific to study at the community level, and studies of zoonotic pathogens are relegated to organismal biology. 
A)  is caused by suborganismal pathogens such as viruses, viroids, and prions only. 
B)  is caused by pathogens that are transferred from other animals to humans by direct contact or by means of a vector. 
C)  can only be spread from animals to humans through direct contact. 
D)  can only be transferred from animals to humans by means of an intermediate host. 
E)  is too specific to study at the community level, and studies of zoonotic pathogens are relegated to organismal biology.

Question 16

Elephants are not the most dominant species in African grasslands, yet they influence community structure. The grasslands contain scattered woody plants, but they are kept in check by the uprooting activities of the elephants. Take away the elephants, and the grasslands convert to forests or to shrublands. The newly growing forests support fewer species than the previous grasslands. Which of the following describes why elephants are the keystone species in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

A)  Essentially all of the other species depend on the presence of the elephants to maintain the community. 
B)  Grazing animals depend upon the elephants to convert forests to grassland. 
C)  Elephants prevent drought in African grasslands. 
D)  Elephants are the biggest herbivore in this community. 
E)  Elephants help other populations survive by keeping out many of the large African predators. 
A)  Essentially all of the other species depend on the presence of the elephants to maintain the community. 
B)  Grazing animals depend upon the elephants to convert forests to grassland. 
C)  Elephants prevent drought in African grasslands. 
D)  Elephants are the biggest herbivore in this community. 
E)  Elephants help other populations survive by keeping out many of the large African predators.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is consistent with the principle of competitive exclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bird species generally do not compete for nesting sites. 
B)  The random distribution of one competing species will have a positive impact on the population growth of the other competing species. 
C)  Two species with the same fundamental niche will exclude other competing species. 
D)  Even a slight reproductive advantage will eventually lead to the elimination of the less well adapted of two competing species. 
E)  Natural selection tends to increase competition between related species. 
A)  Bird species generally do not compete for nesting sites. 
B)  The random distribution of one competing species will have a positive impact on the population growth of the other competing species. 
C)  Two species with the same fundamental niche will exclude other competing species. 
D)  Even a slight reproductive advantage will eventually lead to the elimination of the less well adapted of two competing species. 
E)  Natural selection tends to increase competition between related species.

Question 18

Imagine five forest communities, each with 100 individuals distributed among four different tree species (W, X, Y, and Z). Which forest community would be most diverse?

Accepted Answer

A)  25W, 25X, 25Y, 25Z 
B)  40W, 30X, 20Y, 10Z 
C)  50W, 25X, 15Y, 10Z 
D)  70W, 10X, 10Y, 10Z 
E)  100W, 0X, 0Y, 0Z 
A)  25W, 25X, 25Y, 25Z 
B)  40W, 30X, 20Y, 10Z 
C)  50W, 25X, 15Y, 10Z 
D)  70W, 10X, 10Y, 10Z 
E)  100W, 0X, 0Y, 0Z

Question 19

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-What interactions exist between mycorrhizae and evergreen tree roots?

Accepted Answer

A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/- 
A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/-

Question 20

Please refer to the art below to answer the following question.
   
Figure 54.2
-According to the Shannon Diversity Index, which block would show the greatest diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  5

Exam 54: Community Ecology

Which of the following studies would shed light on the mechanism of spread of H5N1 from Asia?

There are more species in tropical areas than in places more distant from the equator. This is probably a result of

Use the following diagram to answer the next question -Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?

In terms of community ecology, why are pathogens more virulent now than ever before?

According to the competitive exclusion principle, two species cannot continue to occupy the same

Approximately how many kg of carnivore biomass can be supported by a field plot containing 1,000 kg of plant material?

Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?

Which of the following is a correct statement about the McArthur/Wilson Island Equilibrium Model?

How did Eugene Odum describe an ecological niche?

Zoonotic disease

Which of the following statements is consistent with the principle of competitive exclusion?

Imagine five forest communities, each with 100 individuals distributed among four different tree species (W, X, Y, and Z). Which forest community would be most diverse?

Please refer to the art below to answer the following question. Figure 54.2 -According to the Shannon Diversity Index, which block would show the greatest diversity?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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