Question 1

A type of beetle feeds on the growing stems of young plants. What type of plant-early-succession or late-succession-would it most likely specialize on and why?

Accepted Answer

It would specialize on late-succession plants, because the young plants in those stages grow slowly and would thus be more palatable for a longer period than early-succession plants, which mature and reproduce much more quickly.

Question 2

Stream succession is rapid because

Accepted Answer

A)  disturbed sites receive constant inputs of nutrients via runoff. 
B)  organisms that live in streams have rapid growth rates. 
C)  organisms can move downstream from less disturbed sites. 
D)  disturbances that occur in stream communities are often not severe. 
A)  disturbed sites receive constant inputs of nutrients via runoff. 
B)  organisms that live in streams have rapid growth rates. 
C)  organisms can move downstream from less disturbed sites. 
D)  disturbances that occur in stream communities are often not severe. C

Question 3

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a common invasive species in the eastern United States. One mechanism that allows it to dominate in some areas is the production of chemicals that interfere with the ability of other plants to gain nutrients through mutualistic fungi. This mechanism is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  tolerance. 
B)  inhibition. 
C)  the priority effect. 
D)  facilitation. 
A)  tolerance. 
B)  inhibition. 
C)  the priority effect. 
D)  facilitation. B

Question 4

What kinds of disturbances might change climax communities on the steep slopes of the Rocky Mountains?

Accepted Answer

A)  tornadoes 
B)  avalanches 
C)  snowstorms 
D)  human hunting of bears 
A)  tornadoes 
B)  avalanches 
C)  snowstorms 
D)  human hunting of bears

Question 5

What causes variation in climax communities over space?

Accepted Answer

A)  variation in predators 
B)  shifting biomes 
C)  environmental gradients 
D)  all of the above 
A)  variation in predators 
B)  shifting biomes 
C)  environmental gradients 
D)  all of the above

Question 6

Why were wind- and sea-dispersed seeds the first to colonize and survive on Krakatau?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seeds of these plants were more resistant to dry conditions than those of animal-dispersed plants. 
B)  In the early days of colonization, there were no forests to attract animals that could disperse seeds. 
C)  Plants with wind-dispersed seeds were able to survive the volcanic blast better than animal-dispersed plants 
D)  Animal-dispersed plant seeds are more likely to be digested than wind- and sea-dispersed plants. 
A)  The seeds of these plants were more resistant to dry conditions than those of animal-dispersed plants. 
B)  In the early days of colonization, there were no forests to attract animals that could disperse seeds. 
C)  Plants with wind-dispersed seeds were able to survive the volcanic blast better than animal-dispersed plants 
D)  Animal-dispersed plant seeds are more likely to be digested than wind- and sea-dispersed plants.

Question 7

Which type of succession would be expected to be the slowest?

Accepted Answer

A)  intertidal 
B)  lake 
C)  stream 
D)  All of these types of succession are equally slow. 
A)  intertidal 
B)  lake 
C)  stream 
D)  All of these types of succession are equally slow.

Question 8

Why do plants in early seral stages exhibit high levels of tolerance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Early plants cannot inhibit the growth of other plants. 
B)  Early plants must deal with harsh conditions, such as fluctuating temperatures. 
C)  Early plants are poor competitors and thus must tolerate other plants. 
D)  Early plants have small and light seeds that germinate well under shade. 
A)  Early plants cannot inhibit the growth of other plants. 
B)  Early plants must deal with harsh conditions, such as fluctuating temperatures. 
C)  Early plants are poor competitors and thus must tolerate other plants. 
D)  Early plants have small and light seeds that germinate well under shade.

Question 9

Experimental removal of a single species in a succession would:

Accepted Answer

A)  help determine whether that species facilitated the growth of a later-succession species. 
B)  usually have very little effect on succession. 
C)  can happen only in the intertidal zones. 
D)  always increase the energy available for climax species. 
A)  help determine whether that species facilitated the growth of a later-succession species. 
B)  usually have very little effect on succession. 
C)  can happen only in the intertidal zones. 
D)  always increase the energy available for climax species.

Question 10

The priority effect occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  the first species to arrive at a site have a greater probability of becoming established than subsequent species. 
B)  the first species to arrive at a site have a lower probability of becoming established than subsequent species. 
C)  the arrival of one species at a site affects the subsequent colonization of other species. 
D)  the arrival of one species at a site improves conditions so there is an increased probability of subsequent species becoming established. 
A)  the first species to arrive at a site have a greater probability of becoming established than subsequent species. 
B)  the first species to arrive at a site have a lower probability of becoming established than subsequent species. 
C)  the arrival of one species at a site affects the subsequent colonization of other species. 
D)  the arrival of one species at a site improves conditions so there is an increased probability of subsequent species becoming established.

Question 11

A sequence of communities that exist over time at a given location is

Accepted Answer

A)  a transient climax community. 
B)  never found without soil or organic material. 
C)  a chronosequence. 
D)  an example of secondary succession. 
E)  always showing the same sequence in intertidal areas. 
A)  a transient climax community. 
B)  never found without soil or organic material. 
C)  a chronosequence. 
D)  an example of secondary succession. 
E)  always showing the same sequence in intertidal areas.

Question 12

If a legume inhibits the growth of other plants around it by using noxious chemicals,

Accepted Answer

A)  the plant will eventually kill itself with the chemicals. 
B)  nitrogen will build up in the soil over time. 
C)  no birds will come to the area to help distribute the legume's seeds. 
D)  the legume's bacteria will die off, killing the plant. 
A)  the plant will eventually kill itself with the chemicals. 
B)  nitrogen will build up in the soil over time. 
C)  no birds will come to the area to help distribute the legume's seeds. 
D)  the legume's bacteria will die off, killing the plant.

Question 13

Transient climax communities can occur when a site

Accepted Answer

A)  undergoes rapid environmental change. 
B)  is frequently disturbed. 
C)  is attacked by a pathogen. 
D)  is colonized by invasive species. 
A)  undergoes rapid environmental change. 
B)  is frequently disturbed. 
C)  is attacked by a pathogen. 
D)  is colonized by invasive species.

Question 14

What are the characteristics of plants found immediately after a drought in a pond?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have few large seeds. 
B)  They have low root-to-shoot ratios. 
C)  They are large and have high tolerance to shade. 
D)  They have extremely slow growth rates. 
A)  They have few large seeds. 
B)  They have low root-to-shoot ratios. 
C)  They are large and have high tolerance to shade. 
D)  They have extremely slow growth rates.

Question 15

(Figure 19.11) Given the results in the figure, what might prevent a tree with large seeds, like a chestnut, from establishing in a forest with high densities of sweet birch seeds, an early-succession species?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sweet birch seeds would germinate and grow faster, crowding out the chestnut saplings. 
B)  A chestnut seed would never be transported a large distance to the sweet birch forest. 
C)  Sweet birch seedlings exude chemicals that block the germination of chestnut seeds. 
D)  Chestnut seeds, being large, are more likely to be attacked by insects than sweet birch seeds. 
A)  The sweet birch seeds would germinate and grow faster, crowding out the chestnut saplings. 
B)  A chestnut seed would never be transported a large distance to the sweet birch forest. 
C)  Sweet birch seedlings exude chemicals that block the germination of chestnut seeds. 
D)  Chestnut seeds, being large, are more likely to be attacked by insects than sweet birch seeds.

Question 16

Succession in aquatic environments

Accepted Answer

A)  is often faster than succession in terrestrial environments. 
B)  is often slower than succession in terrestrial environments. 
C)  has more seral stages than succession in terrestrial environments. 
D)  never reaches a climax community. 
A)  is often faster than succession in terrestrial environments. 
B)  is often slower than succession in terrestrial environments. 
C)  has more seral stages than succession in terrestrial environments. 
D)  never reaches a climax community.

Question 17

How could you tell for certain if a plant lived 2000 years ago in a pond sediment sample?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dating of pollen 
B)  tree rings 
C)  construction of a pond followed by direct observation. 
D)  observation of a chronosequence near the pond 
A)  carbon dating of pollen 
B)  tree rings 
C)  construction of a pond followed by direct observation. 
D)  observation of a chronosequence near the pond

Question 18

Development of communities in habitats that are initially devoid of plants and organic soil is known as _____ succession.

Accepted Answer

A)  climax 
B)  initial 
C)  secondary 
D)  primary 
A)  climax 
B)  initial 
C)  secondary 
D)  primary

Question 19

Why don't climax species colonize gaps in the forest?

Accepted Answer

Most climax species do not hav

Question 20

Legumes contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots that increase soil nitrogen for use by other species. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  inhibition. 
B)  tolerance. 
C)  suppression. 
D)  facilitation. 
A)  inhibition. 
B)  tolerance. 
C)  suppression. 
D)  facilitation.

Exam 19: Community Succession

A type of beetle feeds on the growing stems of young plants. What type of plant-early-succession or late-succession-would it most likely specialize on and why?

Stream succession is rapid because

What kinds of disturbances might change climax communities on the steep slopes of the Rocky Mountains?

What causes variation in climax communities over space?

Why were wind- and sea-dispersed seeds the first to colonize and survive on Krakatau?

Which type of succession would be expected to be the slowest?

Why do plants in early seral stages exhibit high levels of tolerance?

Experimental removal of a single species in a succession would:

The priority effect occurs when

A sequence of communities that exist over time at a given location is

If a legume inhibits the growth of other plants around it by using noxious chemicals,

Transient climax communities can occur when a site

What are the characteristics of plants found immediately after a drought in a pond?

(Figure 19.11) Given the results in the figure, what might prevent a tree with large seeds, like a chestnut, from establishing in a forest with high densities of sweet birch seeds, an early-succession species?

Succession in aquatic environments

How could you tell for certain if a plant lived 2000 years ago in a pond sediment sample?

Development of communities in habitats that are initially devoid of plants and organic soil is known as _____ succession.

Why don't climax species colonize gaps in the forest?

Legumes contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots that increase soil nitrogen for use by other species. This is an example of

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 Behaviours

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Biogeography, and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

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