Deck 12: Ecology

Question 1

A population in ecology is defined as ________.

A)a group of organisms, all from the same species
B)a group of organisms, some from the same species, some from other species
C)a group of organisms, some from the same species, some from other species, and their surrounding environment
D)one organism and its surrounding environment

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Ecology is best defined as the study of ________.

A)the relationships between parasites and their hosts
B)the interactions between living organisms and their environments
C)plant succession
D)interactions between predator and prey populations

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A dispersion pattern refers to ________.

A)the density of organisms in a habitat
B)the extinction rates of a species
C)the spacing of organism throughout a habitat
D)the diversity of species found in a habitat

Answer 3

C

Question 4

All of the following are abiotic factors within an ecosystem except ________.

A)energy
B)fire
C)nutrients
D)All of the above are abiotic factors.

Question 5

A wolf eats a rabbit that eats grass.The wolf is a(n) ________.

A)consumer
B)detritivore
C)producer
D)autotroph

Question 6

Ecology is a science that can be carried out by ________.

A)learning by observing
B)running experiments to test hypotheses
C)both learning by observing and running experiments to test hypotheses
D)neither participating in a march to demand actions on climate change

Question 7

Which of the following is not an example of goods and services provided by the environment?

A)Raw materials for goods we use every day, such as wood
B)Water treatment
C)The control of erosion
D)All of the above are examples of goods and services provided by the environment.

Question 8

What is the difference between a community and an ecosystem?

A)A community and an ecosystem are the same thing in ecology.
B)A community includes abiotic factors, while an ecosystem does not.
C)A community includes interacting populations with their surrounding environment, while an ecosystem does not include the surrounding environment.
D)A community includes interacting populations without their surrounding environment, while an ecosystem includes the surrounding environment.

Question 9

Environmentalism is ________.

A)the study of ecosystems
B)a philosophical and social movement concerned with preserving the environment
C)the same discipline as ecology
D)the study of how energy flows through an ecosystem

Question 10

What type of survivorship curves do humans typically display?

A)A curve that follows a linear (straight)line that keeps on decreasing as age increases.
B)A curve that is initially decreasing steeply, before stabilizing at low values until old age.
C)A curve that is initially quite flat, until it decreases steeply at old age.
D)A curve that follows a linear (straight)line that keeps on increasing as age increases.

Question 11

An age pyramid with a broad base that quickly slopes up to a narrow top would be indicative of ________.

A)an industrialized nation
B)a developing nation
C)a population with a high average age
D)a population with a high survivorship of older adults

Question 12

Compare the flow of energy and the flow of nutrients in ecosystems.

A)Both function in the same way, as both energy and nutrients get recycled in ecosystems.
B)Both function in the same way, as both energy and nutrients come in and out of ecosystems.
C)Energy comes in and out of ecosystems, while nutrients are recycled within ecosystems.
D)Energy is recycled within ecosystems, while nutrients come in and out of ecosystems.

Question 13

What do survivorship curves display?

A)The population size over time
B)The number of organisms in different age groups
C)The dispersion pattern of a population
D)The change that an individual will live to a particular age

Question 14

Ecology and environmentalism are the same scientific discipline.

Question 15

Bacteria populations grow at a really rapid pace, with their whole populations doubling within hours.What type of growth models do bacteria follow?

A)Logistic
B)Speculative
C)Factorial
D)Exponential

Question 16

A wolf eats a rabbit that eats grass.The grass is a ________.

A)consumer
B)detritivore
C)producer
D)heterotroph

Question 17

An ecosystem is a collection of all the ________ in a given area.

A)abiotic factors
B)plants
C)plants and animals
D)living and nonliving things

Question 18

Abiotic factors are ________.

A)living components of an ecosystem
B)nonliving components of an ecosystem
C)living and nonliving components of an ecosystem
D)None of the above

Question 19

A community in ecology is defined as ________.

A)a population and its surrounding environment
B)populations from multiple species interacting in the same place
C)populations from multiple species interacting in the same place, and their surrounding environment
D)living and nonliving things in one place

Question 20

Identify the biotic factor of an ecosystem among the following options.

A)Amount of nitrogen available for the moss to grow on cliffs
B)Nesting spots on the edge of a cliff that birds can use
C)Average wind forces that the cliffs withstand daily
D)Amount of moss available to the consumers

Question 21

The use of multiple forms of pest control including biological, chemical, and the planting of pest-resistant crops is a strategy commonly called ________.

A)intermediate species control
B)integrated pest management
C)multilevel systems approach
D)restoration ecology

Question 22

The buildup of soil on bare rock by the decomposition of early colonizers is characteristic of ________ succession.

A)primary
B)species-rich
C)opportunistic
D)secondary

Question 23

Which principle states that no two species competing for the exact same resources can coexist?

A)Complex community network principle
B)Resource partitioning principle
C)Dominance species principle
D)Competitive exclusion principle

Question 24

Human birth rate peaked in the 1980s and has been slowly declining ever since.How is this expected to affect our population size over the next several decades?

A)The human population size will begin to decline.
B)The human population size will continue to increase, but not as fast as before.
C)The human population size will level off.
D)The human population size will continue to increase at the same rate it has for the past 100 years.

Question 25

Primary consumers eat ________.

A)producers
B)other primary consumers
C)secondary consumers
D)tertiary consumers

Question 26

Which growth model would you expect to see in a stable population?

A)Logistic
B)Speculative
C)Factorial
D)Exponential

Question 27

Phytoplankton is an example of a ________.

A)producer
B)consumer
C)herbivore
D)decomposer

Question 28

What type of species, if removed from the community, could lead to the collapse of the entire community?

A)Invasive species
B)Keystone species
C)Indicator species
D)Flagship species

Question 29

To best assess the species diversity in one area, one should measure ________.

A)the number of species in the area
B)the relative abundance of the dominating species of the area
C)both the number of species and their relative abundance in the area
D)we cannot assess accurately the species diversity of one area

Question 30

At what level is biodiversity often studied and measured?

A)The diversity of genes in a population
B)The diversity of species in a community
C)The diversity of ecosystems on the planet
D)All of the above

Question 31

There are little birds that spend a great deal of time on the back of a rhinoceros and eat the blood-sucking ticks out of the rhino's ears.The rhino greatly benefits from the relationship, since it cannot remove the ticks itself.The tick-rhino relationship is an example of ________.

A)parasitism
B)mutualism
C)predator-prey
D)commensalism

Question 32

Cheetahs are specialized hunters that stalk Thompson gazelles.This is an example of a ________ relationship.

A)parasitic
B)mutualistic
C)predator-prey
D)commensalism

Question 33

An invasive species is a species that ________.

A)spreads rapidly outside its native range and causes damage
B)spreads rapidly within its native range and causes damage
C)spreads rapidly outside its native range and does not cause damage
D)spreads rapidly within, but not outside, its native range

Question 34

The Asian kudzu bug (Megacopta cribaria) arrived in Atlanta in 2009 and is quickly spreading across the South.In addition to eating kudzu, it also eats soybeans and can decimate entire crops.The kudzu bug is a type of ________ species.

A)control
B)keystone
C)umbrella
D)invasive

Question 35

The tendency of toxins to accumulate in top predators is called biological ________.

A)magnification
B)remediation
C)mitigation
D)concentration

Question 36

What can a human population's age pyramid tell you about current and future needs?

A)How many schools to build or to close down
B)How many workers will be needed to support retirees
C)How many resources would be needed for health care
D)All of the above

Question 37

A sudden natural catastrophe resulting in massive die-offs would be categorized as a density-________ limiting factor.

A)independent
B)dependent
C)reliant
D)autonomous

Question 38

Plants rely on pollinators to reproduce, while pollinators rely on plants to provide nutrients.This is an example of ________.

A)parasitism
B)mutualism
C)predator-prey
D)commensalism

Question 39

What is a population's carrying capacity?

A)Its maximum population size to remain stable
B)Its minimum population size to avoid extinction
C)Its exponential growth over time
D)Its density-independent growth

Question 40

Which of the following scenarios describe an ecological succession?

A)An old field left abandoned that transforms back into a forest over time
B)The site of a volcano eruption that is going back to its pre-eruption state
C)The regrowth of a forest after a fire
D)All of the above are examples of ecological succession

Question 41

Of the biomes listed, which is best adapted to seasonal fires?

A)Coniferous forests
B)Tundra
C)Broadleaf forests
D)Chaparral

Question 42

Aquatic biomes cover most of the Earth's surface.

Question 43

All living things need nitrogen.How does nitrogen enter the living portion of an ecosystem?

A)Atmospheric N₂ taken in by photosynthesis
B)Atmospheric N₂ taken in by soil bacteria
C)Elemental nitrogen taken in by plant roots
D)Elemental nitrogen taken in by plant leaves

Question 44

What are ecological reservoirs?

A)Nonliving components of ecosystems where chemicals accumulate
B)Nonliving components of ecosystems that require a constant input of chemicals
C)Living components of ecosystems that cycle chemicals
D)Living components of ecosystems that accumulate chemicals

Question 45

Imagine you were the manager of a national park with cheetahs.The cheetahs feed primarily on gazelles, while the gazelles eat grass.It takes an acre of grassland to feed one gazelle, and it takes ten gazelles to feed one cheetah.You have a maximum of ten cheetahs when the system is functioning optimally.You would like to increase the cheetah population because people pay money to see the cheetahs.How much grassland do you need to double the cheetah population supported by this grassland?

A)500 acres
B)200 acres
C)100 acres
D)10 acres

Question 46

What is an ecological footprint?

A)The amount of land taken up by cities
B)The amount of money required to support a human population
C)The ecological damage caused by humans
D)The estimate of land and water required to sustain one person

Question 47

How might the removal of a wetland affect a nearby city?

A)Wetlands cause flooding, so the removal of a wetland would decrease the likelihood of the city flooding.
B)Wetlands reduce flooding, so the removal of a wetland would increase the likelihood of the city flooding.
C)Wetlands reduce water quality, so the removal of a wetland would improve the water quality.
D)Wetlands support a rich supply of nutrients, so the removal of a wetland would decrease the water quality.

Question 48

Terrestrial biomes are defined in a large part by ________.

A)the dominant animals that live there
B)the dominant plants that live there
C)the altitude of the biome
D)the longitude of the biome

Question 49

Aquatic biomes are defined primarily by ________.

A)the dominant animals that live there
B)the dominant plants that live there
C)their temperature
D)their salinity

Question 50

All ecosystems need energy.What is the originating source for most of the energy that powers ecosystems on this planet?

A)Geothermal energy
B)Wind energy
C)Solar energy
D)Potential energy

Question 51

Where would a coral reef most likely be found?

A)In the oceanic benthic realm below the continental shelf
B)In an estuary
C)In the deep sea
D)In the warm tropical waters where the sun can penetrate

Question 52

Imagine you were the manager of a national park with cheetahs.The cheetahs feed primarily on gazelles, while the gazelles eat grass.It takes an acre of grassland to feed one gazelle, and it takes ten gazelles to feed one cheetah.How much grassland do you need to support a population of 10 cheetahs?

A)500 acres
B)200 acres
C)100 acres
D)10 acres

Question 53

What are the main causes of biodiversity loss?

A)Habitat destruction, overharvesting, and invasive species
B)Invasive species, pollution, and climate change
C)Habitat destruction, invasive species, and climate change
D)Habitat destruction, overharvesting, invasive species, pollution, and climate change

Question 54

All living things need carbon.How does most carbon enter the living portion of an ecosystem?

A)Atmospheric CO₂ taken in by photosynthesis
B)Atmospheric CO₂ taken in by soil bacteria
C)Elemental carbon taken in by plant roots
D)Elemental carbon taken in by plant leaves

Question 55

Although freshwater biomes cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface, they are important because ________.

A)we depend on them for drinking water
B)they are home to lots of species
C)they are the source of our irrigation for agriculture
D)All of the above are reasons why freshwater biomes are important.

Question 56

Which statement most likely explains the general upward trend of the data over the 2-year time period?

A)Evaporation exceeded transpiration.
B)Transpiration exceeded precipitation.
C)Precipitation exceeded evaporation.
D)None of these statements explains the upward trend.

Question 57

The distribution of terrestrial biomes on Earth depends mostly on ________.

A)temperature
B)rainfall
C)both temperature and rainfall
D)neither temperature nor rainfall; it depends on latitude and longitude

Question 58

A biome characterized by warm, fairly dry climate that primarily contains grasses with scattered, isolated trees is a ________.

A)savanna
B)chaparral
C)tundra
D)temperate grasslands

Question 59

Why is an estuary considered an intermediate biome?

A)It is the transition zone between freshwater and saltwater biomes.
B)It is intermediate in size, smaller than the largest biomes but larger than the smallest biomes.
C)It will seasonally dry up and cease to be a biome.
D)It is only a biome during high tide.

Question 60

Which month was the wettest?

A)Month 19
B)Month 16
C)Month 22
D)Month 15

Question 61

The practice of "eating down the food chain" refers to eating more plant material and less herbivores.Explain how this is a more efficient use of energy.

Question 62

What category describes a species that, while not presently at risk of extinction, could likely be at risk of extinction in the near future?

A)A species of concern
B)An invasive species
C)A threatened species
D)An endemic species

Question 63

Imagine a hypothetical population of elephants and rabbits in which both species remain at carrying capacity over many generations.Who would have more offspring that survive to be adults and reproduce during their lifetime, a mating pair of elephants or a mating pair of rabbits? Explain your answer.

Question 64

Describe two ways (immediate and long term) in which burning a forest leads to an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Question 65

Why do some nonnative species spread so quickly and inflict so much devastation when introduced to a new area?

Question 66

Which is the dominant greenhouse gas leading to global warming of the atmosphere?

A)CH₄
B)H₂O
C)NO₂
D)CO₂

Question 67

Some species require a large and diverse range.Although it may not significantly decrease the overall size of the range, how might fragmenting the range with a freeway or neighborhood lead to the extinction of the entire population, even if sufficient food is available in either region to sustain two smaller populations? Suggest a compromise that would allow the population to survive and allow for the road project or neighborhood.

Question 68

How does an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases increase global temperatures?

A)By preventing some of the heat from escaping the planet's surface
B)By decreasing the ozone layer in the atmosphere
C)By increasing the amount of heat from the sun that reaches the planet's surface
D)By reacting with each other

Question 69

The responsible management (use and conservation) of the earth's resources indefinitely is called ________.

A)the maximum sustainable yield
B)landscape ecology
C)carrying capacity
D)sustainable development

Question 70

Using sunflower plants to naturally remove heavy toxins from contaminated soil is an example of ________.

A)land conservancy
B)bioremediation
C)the green revolution
D)biomagnification

Question 71

Disturbances to an ecosystem, such as fires and floods, are often seen as negative.Describe a situation where regular disturbances are not only beneficial but are also required to sustain the ecosystem.