Deck 4: Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Question 1

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below
Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming also can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to use a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce.
Global warming has been hypothesized to cause many plants to flower earlier. If bees search for food earlier in response to this, this would represent within the community.

A)extirpation
B)secondary succession
C)coevolution
D)climax
E)primary succession

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Blight fungus kills U.S. chestnut trees because the trees .

A)release the fungus into the soil and it is drawn up in the roots
B)release the fungus in the leaves that fall to the ground and the fungus is absorbed in the soil
C)have not coevolved with the fungus
D)are hosts to the vectors of the fungus
E)have not matured long enough to survive

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Zebra mussels .

A)excrete waste that facilitates algae blooms and subsequent eutrophication of lakes
B)are presently restricted to the Great Lakes and Hudson River, but they are expected to spread rapidly in the near future
C)were introduced into the United States in the early 1900s
D)are native to Canada
E)are an invasive exotic species that clogs water intake pipes at factories, power plants, and wastewater treatment facilities

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below
Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming also can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to use a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce.
Intense hurricanes resulting from global warming can directly lead to within communities.

A)coevolution
B)secondary succession
C)facilitation
D)primary succession
E)climax

Question 5

Which of the following are pioneer species?

A)lichens
B)zebra mussels
C)wolves and mountain lions
D)beavers
E)aspen trees

Question 6

Which of the following is true about top predators?

A)They include bacteria and fungi.
B)They are often keystone species.
C)They are likely to be herbivores.
D)Their removal increases biodiversity.
E)They are likely to be producers.

Question 7

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.
is/are greater at higher elevations than lower elevations.

A)Temperature
B)Air pressure
C)Ultraviolet radiation
D)Oxygen levels
E)Evaporation rates

Question 8

Taiga and tundra both .

A)lack many birds
B)have comparatively low temperatures throughout the year
C)lack trees
D)are found in the southeastern United States
E)have many burrowing rodents

Question 9

capture solar energy and use photosynthesis to produce sugars.

A)Detritivores
B)Primary consumers
C)Heterotrophs
D)Producers
E)Secondary consumers

Question 10

Zooplankton populations in Lake Erie and the Hudson River have declined by up to 70% or more since the arrival of zebra mussels because .

A)zebra mussels block sunlight penetration into lakes and thus prevent zooplankton from photosynthesizing
B)waste from zebra mussels promotes bacterial growth that kills zooplankton
C)zebra mussels prey on zooplankton
D)zebra mussels carry a parasite that kills zooplankton
E)zebra mussels feed on cyanobacteria, which zooplankton need as a food source

Question 11

Detritivores include .

A)wolves and lions
B)millipedes, soil insects, and many ants
C)algae and photosynthetic bacteria
D)species that can break down cellulose, bone, and other durable biopolymers
E)oak and poplar trees

Question 12

The statement, "hiking up a mountain in the southwestern United States is like walking from Mexico to Canada," refers to the fact that

A)levels of industrial air pollutants
B)human population density
C)oxygen levels
D)vegetation
E)carbon dioxide levels

Question 13

Techniques to eradicate zebra mussels .

A)are relatively simple and inexpensive
B)have not yet been attempted
C)are relatively simple
D)include introducing predators and diseases
E)are global and long- lived

Question 14

Grazing animals such as deer are _.

A)producers
B)detritivores
C)decomposers
D)secondary consumers
E)primary consumers

Question 15

Secondary succession . change(s)with altitude and latitude.

A)occurs after a volcano spreads lava across a landscape
B)is predictable because it always ends in the formation of a climax community
C)occurs after a fire or flood
D)typically begins with lichen or moss colonizing rock
E)requires primary succession to precede it

Question 16

Kelp .

A)is eaten by orcas
B)is eaten by sea otters
C)suffers intense herbivory from sea urchins
D)suffers intense herbivory from zebra mussels
E)is pollinated by sea urchins

Question 17

The Everglades restoration project in Florida .

A)will result in serious depletion of drinking water supplies for humans in south Florida
B)is a short- term restoration project with a two- year implementation plan
C)seeks to exterminate numerous invasive fish species and plants
D)will probably destroy much of the commercial fishing in the area
E)will restore natural levels of water flow by undoing numerous damming and drainage projects

Question 18

Desert and tundra both _ .

A)have wide temperature variations throughout the year
B)lack insects
C)have relatively low precipitation
D)lack shrubs
E)have lithosols

Question 19

Compared to a region of equal area all at the same altitude, the area shown in the diagram .

A)displays much less climatic variation
B)has much higher biodiversity and niche structure
C)supports more invasive exotic species
D)has mostly generalist endemic species
E)has much lower biodiversity

Question 20

A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when .

A)it has too many symbiotic relationships among species
B)it loses keystone species or suffer a major climatic change
C)pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations
D)it suffers a natural fire or flood
E)all invasive and exotic species are removed

Question 21

In the rain shadow effect, .

A)the dry region is on the windward side of a mountain
B)the wet region is determined by the location of jet stream
C)rainfall varies, but always falls in shadow areas
D)the dry region is on the leeward side of a mountain
E)rainfall fluctuates, arriving in equal amounts on both sides

Question 22

The energy content and biomass of is lowest in any food web.

A)detritivores and decomposers
B)small carnivores such as spiders and lizards
C)top carnivores
D)primary consumers
E)producers

Question 23

Temperature remains relatively stable through the seasons in what biome?

A)temperate deciduous forest
B)temperate grassland
C)boreal forest
D)chaparral
E)tropical rainforest

Question 24

Flying squirrels competing with each other for truffles is an example of .

A)intraspecific competition
B)habitat competition
C)interference competition
D)exploitation competition
E)interspecific competition

Question 25

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes Cairo, Egypt, and northwest Mexico; characterized by sparse rainfall and much variation in temperature

Question 26

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below
Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming also can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to use a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce.
Zooplankton- eating fish are .

A)secondary consumers
B)detritivores
C)producers
D)primary consumers
E)herbivores

Question 27

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below
Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming also can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to use a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce.
If the climate warms significantly, tundra permafrost may melt, which may lead to _ the community.

A)succession occurring in
B)pioneer species colonizing
C)facilitation occurring in
D)coevolution occurring in
E)climax occurring in

Question 28

A trophic cascade is the effect of the loss of _ on _ .

A)flooding; terrestrial ecosystems
B)top consumers; the abundance of lower consumers and producers
C)top consumers; one another
D)producers; the abundance of primary consumers
E)detritivores; the abundance of decomposers

Question 29

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes biome in the eastern United States, north central Europe, and eastern China; characterized by stable precipitation and seasonal temperature variation

Question 30

Which of the following is a biotic factor?

A)carbon and nitrogen levels
B)sunlight
C)bacteria
D)temperature
E)rainfall

Question 31

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below
Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming also can melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to use a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce.
The relationship between flowering plants and bees is best described as .

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

Question 32

A climax community .

A)describes aquatic biomes
B)describes terrestrial biomes
C)remains in place until a disturbance restarts succession
D)has the lowest biodiversity of all stages of succession
E)is typical of the first stages of secondary succession

Question 33

Global climate change may produce major shifts in biomes because .

A)many species may become extinct
B)soil chemistry, pH of precipitation, and the frequency of invasive species will change
C)food web dynamics will change
D)biodiversity and day length will change
E)mean temperature and precipitation will change

Question 34

Which terrestrial biome has the most biodiversity?

A)temperate rainforest
B)prairie
C)tropical rainforest
D)boreal forest
E)temperate deciduous forest

Question 35

By definition, parasites their host.

A)are much smaller than
B)kill
C)never kill
D)get nourishment from and harm
E)live on the external surface of

Question 36

Individuals of a single species fighting over access to a limiting resource would be an example of .

A)symbiosis
B)resource partitioning
C)interspecific competition
D)competitive exclusion
E)intraspecific competition

Question 37

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Nagasaki, Japan; characterized by heavy rainfall and moderate temperature variation between winter and summer

Question 38

Microbes in our digestive tract that help us digest food demonstrate a(n)association.

A)symbiotic
B)parasitic
C)homeopathic
D)benthic
E)allelopathic

Question 39

Which biome would be found primarily in the temperate zone?

A)boreal forest
B)tundra
C)desert
D)deciduous forest
E)savanna

Question 40

Benthic organisms in the Great Lakes .

A)include zebra mussels
B)benefit from the presence of zebra mussels
C)include phytoplankton
D)live near the water's surface
E)are harmed by the presence of zebra mussels

Question 41

Discuss the differences between intraspecific and interspecific competition.

Question 42

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes the terrestrial biome bordering the Mediterranean Sea; characterized by wet winters and warm dry summers

Question 43

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes an equatorial zone with moderate precipitation that fluctuates seasonally; characterized by warm temperatures year round

Question 44

Match the following.

A)tropical rainforest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)tropical dry forest
D)temperate grassland
E)boreal forest
F)savanna
G)chaparral
H)desert
I)temperate rainforest
Describes the region between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, characterized by limited precipitation, thick organic soils, and extreme temperature variation in winter and summer

Question 45

List the three major trophic categories in a food web. What types of organisms are found in each level? Where are the autotrophs and heterotrophs found in a food web? Discuss the significance of each level for the integral functioning of the food web.

Question 46

Describe the major factors that influence the process of change during primary succession on bare rock exposed by a retreating glacier.

Question 47

Give an example of how an invasive species can cause ecological or economic harm.

Question 48

Discuss the two factors that are most important in the distribution of biomes. Choose one biome and explain how these two factors impact the specific plants and animals found in this biome.

Question 49

Why do ecologists favor the term food web as opposed to food chain?

Question 50

What ecological traits do successful invasive species possess? How do these traits interact to make controlling them difficult?

Question 51

Briefly describe what is meant by the term pioneer species. Identify the general characteristics of pioneer species, and give examples of pioneer species.

Question 52

Define the term invasive species and give two examples from your textbook.

Question 53

Discuss ways to control invasive species.