Deck 41: Ecological Communities

Question 1

Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

A)competitive exclusion that results in the success of the superior species
B)slight variations in a species's niche that allow similar species to coexist
C)two species that can coevolve to share an identical fundamental niche
D)decreases in community species diversity due to differential resource use
E)climax community that is reached when no new niches are available

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between

A)sympatric populations of a predator and its prey.
B)sympatric populations of species with similar niches.
C)sympatric populations of a plant and its pollinator.
D)allopatric populations of the same animal species.
E)allopatric populations of species with similar niches.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In a tide pool,15 species of invertebrates were reduced to 8 after one species was removed.The species removed was likely a(n)

A)invasive species.
B)keystone species.
C)foundational species.
D)quaternary consumer.
E)tertiary consumer.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is a likely explanation for why invasive species take over communities into which they have been introduced?

A)Invasive species are less efficient than native species in competing for limited environmental resources.
B)Invasive species are not held in check by the predators and agents of disease that effect native species.
C)Invasive species reproduce at higher reproductive rates when compared to rates of native species.
D)Invasive species that were formerly isolated thrive when they are faced with competitive species.

Question 5

Which of the following most correctly represents biomanipulation through the top-down model?

A)removal of secondary consumers,so that tertiary consumers can increase
B)addition of primary producers,so that secondary consumers can increase
C)addition of quaternary consumers,so that tertiary consumers can decrease
D)removal of tertiary consumers,so that secondary consumers can increase

Question 6

According to top-down control model of community organization,which of the following expressions correctly represents a decrease in prey/secondary consumer (P)as a result of an increase in a predator/tertiary consumer (T),but not vice versa?

A)P ← T
B)P → T
C)T ↔ P
D)T → P
E)T ← P

Question 7

As you study two closely related predatory insect species,the two-spot and the three-spot avenger beetles,you notice that each species seeks prey at dawn in areas without the other species.However,where their ranges overlap,the two-spot avenger beetle hunts at night,and the three-spot hunts in the morning.When you bring them into the laboratory and isolate the two different species,you discover that the offspring of both species are nocturnal.You have discovered an example of

A)mutualistic interaction.
B)Batesian mimicry.
C)commensalism.
D)resource partitioning.

Question 8

Evidence shows that some grasses benefit from being grazed.Which of the following terms would best describe this plant-herbivore interaction?

A)mutualism
B)commensalism
C)parasitism
D)competition
E)predation

Question 9

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 toward 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?

A)competitive exclusion
B)resource partitioning
C)character displacement
D)exploitative interaction
E)Batesian mimicry

Question 10

Which of the following phrases best describes an ecological niche?

A)a specific location where an organism resides
B)the specific trophic level that an organism occupies
C)an organism's specific role in the community
D)the organism's role in recycling nutrients in its habitat
E)an organism's relations with other community members

Question 11

How might an ecologist test whether a species is occupying a fundamental niche or a realized niche?

A)Study the temperature range and humidity requirements of the species.
B)Observe the effect of variations in habitat resources on the niche size.
C)Introduce a similar non-native species,and record niche size changes.
D)Measure reproductive rates as a species is under environmental stress.
E)Examine changes in the species range upon removal of a competitor.

Question 12

Two species of bacteria with identical fundamental niches cannot permanently coexist together in a community.This phenomenon is best described as

A)character displacement.
B)competitive exclusion.
C)resource partitioning.
D)mutualistic interaction.
E)exploitative interaction.

Question 13

Which of the following is the most reasonable example of cryptic coloration?

A)a coral snake with red,yellow,and black contrasting bands living in a desert area
B)various species of birch trees with white or yellow bark rooted near a river's edge
C)a butterfly with dark orange and black vein patterned wings living in a wetland
D)a black-and-yellow-striped bumblebee living in a garden among tomato plants
E)a brownish twig-like bug living in a forest on the small branches of a willow tree

Question 14

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.If the elephants are taken away,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?

A)Elephants have a disparate influence on communities relative to their abundance.
B)Grazing animals depend upon the work of elephants to convert forests to grassland.
C)Elephants prevent droughts in African grasslands by uprooting shrubs and trees.
D)Elephants are the largest of all the herbivorous mammals in their communities.
E)Elephants help other populations survive by keeping out many large predators.

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?

A)a moth that resembles clumps of bird droppings on a green leaf
B)an Indian leaf butterfly that resembles a dead leaf in a rain forest
C)a non-poisonous gopher snake that looks like a venomous rattlesnake
D)a fawn with fur coloring that camouflages it in the forest environment
E)a snapping turtle that uses its tongue to mimic a worm and attract fish

Question 17

Which statement best describes the evolutionary significance of mutualism?

A)Mutualism offers more biodiversity to a community through positive interaction.
B)Individuals partaking in a mutualistic relationship are more resistant to parasites.
C)Interaction increases the survival and reproductive rates of mutualistic species.
D)Mutualistic interaction lessens competition in communities where it is present.
E)Mutualistic relationships allow organisms to synthesize and use energy efficiently.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of aposematic coloration?

A)brightly colored skin patterns of poison dart frogs
B)black-and-white-striped skin patterns of a zebra
C)vibrant green colored leaves of a fern plant
D)yellow and orange colored petals of an insect-pollinated flower
E)a katydid whose wings look like a dead leaf

Question 19

Which of the following terms is most correct in describing any interaction in which one of two species benefits by feeding on the other species?

A)mutualism
B)competition
C)exploitation
D)+ interaction
E)commensalism

Question 20

Dwarf mistletoes are flowering plants that grow on certain forest trees.They obtain nutrients and water from the vascular tissues of the trees.The trees derive no known benefits from the dwarf mistletoes and can be harmed if nutrients and water are scarce in the environment.Which of the following best describes the interactions between dwarf mistletoes and trees?

A)mutualism
B)parasitism
C)commensalism
D)facilitation
E)competition

Question 21

Zoonotic diseases

A)are transmitted from one human to another human.
B)can be transmitted by means of an insect vector.
C)require direct contact between an animal and a human.
D)require an intermediate host between animals and humans.

Question 22

Why do moderate levels of disturbance result in an increase in community diversity?

A)Moderate levels of disturbance open up new habitats for less competitive species.
B)Dominant competitors increase in population at the exclusion of other species.
C)Environmental conditions are optimal after a disturbance,so native species thrive.
D)The resulting uniform habitat supports stability,which in turn supports diversity.
E)Less-competitive species evolve strategies to compete with the dominant species.

Question 23

In 1988,a severe drought contributed to a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park.Approximately one year later,herbaceous plants,unlike those in the original forest,covered the forest floor.Which of the following most correctly describes the process of this herbaceous growth?

A)low frequency disturbance
B)primary succession
C)secondary succession
D)intermediate disturbance

Question 24

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

A)Check for the virus in the feces and saliva of waterfowl that have migrated to Alaska.
B)Test fecal samples for H5N1 in Asian birds that live near domestic poultry farms in Asia.
C)Locate and destroy H5N1 infected birds in Asian open-air markets prior to migration.
D)Record the incidence of H5N1 infection in domestic poultry farms within Southeast Asia.

Question 25

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?

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 26

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

A)Small islands typically have greater species diversity with lower extinction rates.
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,a far distance from the mainland,receive few new immigrant species.
E)Islands closer to the mainland have higher extinction rates and lower species diversity.

Question 27

Tuberculosis is a human disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.When this pathogen is inhaled,it grows in lung cells,causing damage to the human host.Which of the following best describes the interaction between the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its human host?

A)mutualism
B)commensalism
C)competition
D)exploitation

Question 28

Which of the following is considered to be a pioneer species colonizing Glacier Bay during primary succession?

A)liverworts
B)hemlock trees
C)sphagnum moss
D)spruce trees
E)alder trees

Question 29

In a particular case of secondary succession,three species of wild grass invaded a field.A fourth species's seeds were also dispersed to this field,but despite being adapted to the abiotic conditions,this fourth species did not establish.A possible factor in this secondary succession was

A)equilibrium.
B)facilitation.
C)immigration.
D)inhibition.
E)parasitism.

Question 30

Which of the following factors influences the species richness of a community the most?

A)amount of sunlight
B)amount of precipitation
C)speciation rate
D)geographic size
E)distance to other communities

Question 31

The feeding relationships between species in a community is called

A)biomass chain.
B)trophic structure.
C)top-down control.
D)bottom-up control.

Question 32

Which of the following best describes a pathogen?

A)the bacteria that causes tuberculosis
B)the tick that causes Lyme disease
C)the pig that causes swine flu
D)the bird that causes avian flu

Question 33

Why do tropical communities tend to have greater species diversity than temperate or polar communities?

A)Tropical communities are less likely to be affected by human disturbance.
B)There are fewer parasites to negatively affect the health of tropical communities.
C)The tropics are lower in altitude as compared to temperate and polar regions.
D)Tropical communities are generally older than temperate and polar communities.
E)Competitive dominant species have evolved in temperate and polar communities.

Question 34

Zoonotic diseases,like West Nile virus,are concentrated in distinct regions and spread at different rates.The difference in the rate of spread is most directly related to

A)the type of pathogen.
B)the host's mobility.
C)the vector population.
D)the area temperature.
E)the regional rainfall.

Question 35

What are usually the first photosynthetic organisms to colonize during primary succession?

A)shrubs
B)lichens
C)trees
D)grasses

Question 36

According to the non-equilibrium model,

A)communities remain stable when competition is absent.
B)disturbances cause irreversible damage in communities.
C)native species-species contact alters communities in time.
D)communities are constantly changing due to disturbances.

Question 37

Evapotranspiration varies based on the latitude of a community and the area a community occupies.Which of the following would result in the highest degree of evapotranspiration?

A)annual low solar radiation with little precipitation
B)annual high intensity sunlight with little rainfall
C)annual low intensity sunlight with much rainfall
D)annual high solar radiation with much precipitation

Question 38

Which of the following best describes the consequences of white-band disease in Caribbean coral reefs?

A)The population of staghorn coral has been decimated,but elkhorn coral has replaced it.
B)The coral reef community for lobsters,snappers,and other reef fish species has improved.
C)Fish herbivores have populated the area in response to increased algal population growth.
D)Increased populations of algal species have led to an overall increase in reef diversity.
E)Many other coral species have repopulated the habitats of the affected staghorn species.

Question 39

In a lake with three trophic levels (non-native fish,zooplankton,algae),how might an algal bloom be prevented?

A)Remove the non-native fish.
B)Remove the zooplankton.
C)Add nutrient fertilizers.
D)Add more non-native fish.

Question 40

Species richness increases

A)in latitudinal gradients with decreased evapotranspiration.
B)as we travel southward from the North Pole to the equator.
C)on small islands as distance from the mainland increases.
D)in communities experiencing frequent disturbance events.

Question 41

What interactions exist between a lion pride and a hyena pack if they utilize the same food sources?

A)+/+
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 42

What interactions exist between a tick on a dog and the dog?

A)+/+
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 43

What interactions exist between mycorrhizae (root fungus)and evergreen tree roots?

A)+/+
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 44

Which of the following most correctly describes the principle of relative abundance?

A)the variety of different types of organisms in a community
B)the quantity of different species found in a community
C)the proportion of each individual species within a community
D)the relative abundance is the same as the Shannon Diversity Index

Question 45

Figure 41.2
Examine Figure 41.2.Which block shows the greatest diversity?

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

Question 46

Use the diagram in Figure 41.4 of five islands formed at around the same time near a particular mainland,as well as MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography principles,to answer the following question(s).
Figure 41.4
Which island would likely have the greatest species diversity?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D
E)E

Question 47

Use the diagram in Figure 41.4 of five islands formed at around the same time near a particular mainland,as well as MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography principles,to answer the following question(s).
Figure 41.4
Which island would likely exhibit the least species diversity?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D
E)E

Question 48

Chthamalus and Balanus belong to the same trophic level.Based on this information and their distributions in the low tide zone in Connell's experiment,what is the best way to represent the interaction between the two species using the symbols for positive (+)and negative (-)interaction?

A)+/+
B)-/+
C)-/-
D)+/0

Question 49

Based on the intermediate disturbance hypothesis,a community's species diversity is increased by

A)frequent massive disturbance.
B)stable conditions with no disturbance.
C)moderate levels of disturbance.
D)human intervention to eliminate disturbance.

Question 50

What interactions exist between a bee and a flower?

A)+/+
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 51

Connell conducted this experiment to learn more about

A)character displacement in the color of barnacles.
B)habitat preference in two different species of barnacles.
C)desiccation resistance exhibited by barnacle species.
D)how sea-level changes affect barnacle distribution.
E)competitive exclusion and distribution of barnacle species.

Question 52

What interactions exist between cellulose-digesting organisms in the gut of a termite and the termite?

A)+/+
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 53

Use the diagram in Figure 41.4 of five islands formed at around the same time near a particular mainland,as well as MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography principles,to answer the following question(s).
Figure 41.4
Which island would likely have the lowest extinction rate?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D
E)E

Question 54

Please use the following information to answer the question(s)below.
The symbols +,-,and 0 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 0 denotes an interaction that has no effect on the individuals involved.The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
What interactions exist between the cattle egret and grazing cattle?

A)0/-
B)+/0
C)+/-
D)0/0
E)-/-

Question 55

Figure 41.3
Examine the diagram of a hypothetical food web in Figure 41.3.The arrows represent the transfer of energy between the various trophic levels.Which letter represents an organism that could be a primary producer?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D
E)E

Question 56

Based on the Shannon Diversity calculations,which of the following communities is most diverse?

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

Question 57

The feeding relationships among the species in a community determine the community's

A)secondary succession.
B)ecological niche.
C)species richness.
D)trophic structure.

Question 58

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

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

Question 59

Please use the following information to answer the question(s)below.
The effect of invasive species on the diversity of communities can be large,and protecting native communities from the invasion of non-native species is often a priority for conservation.You conduct an experiment to study how the impact of invasive plant species on the diversity of plant communities varies as a function of distance from the source of the invasive species.In this experiment,you create five communities with equal numbers of three native plant species at the beginning.Each of these communities is located at increasing distances from a large patch of an invasive species.You and your research assistant return 1 year later to measure the relative abundance of each species.The results are shown in the table.

The biological hypothesis for your experiment is based on the model of island biogeography.What is the independent variable of your experiment?

A)the native plant communities 1-5
B)the patch of the invasive species
C)the distance from the invasive species
D)the relative abundance of plant species
E)the duration of the experiment