Deck 1: Introduction to Ecology

Question 1

An ecological community

A) is less inclusive than the population.
B) consists of groups of interacting species.
C) is more inclusive than the ecosystem.
D) requires behavioral interactions among its components.
E) none of the above

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The most comprehensive level of biological organization is the

A) ecosystem.
B) species.
C) ecosphere.
D) hierarchical level.
E) none of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Natural history is important to ecology because it

A) requires keen observational skill.
B) is not driven by hypotheses.
C) answers key ecological questions.
D) focuses on ultimate questions.
E) none of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Ecological systems, unlike the organism,

A) do not exhibit homeostasis.
B) exhibit homeostasis.
C) are able to evolve.
D) are susceptible to selection pressure.
E) none of the above

Question 5

The essence of a good hypothesis is that it

A) answers proximate questions.
B) is the result of predictions.
C) is falsifiable.
D) applies to more than one level in the biological hierarchy.
E) none of the above

Question 6

How do the resource management sciences differ from ecology?

A) Ecology is an applied science.
B) The management sciences focus on natural history.
C) They are applied sciences.
D) They focus on human impacts on ecology.
E) none of the above

Question 7

How does an ultimate explanation differ from a proximate explanation?

Question 8

Why is it important that we can falsify a hypothesis?

Question 9

Can the hares of Swan Valley be studied at more than one level of the biological hierarchy?

Question 10

Why do some ecological systems not reach equilibrium?

Question 11

What are some characteristics of a model study organism or system in ecology?

Question 12

Explain the difference between ecology and environmental science.