Deck 35: Interactions among Organisms

Question 1

Which of the following best illustrates behavioral mutualism?

A) Fruit seeds pass through a consumer's digestive system and are moved to a location distant from the parent plant.
B) Pollen from one plant is carried to another.
C) Small fish called cleaner wrasse remove parasites from the mouth and gills of predatory fish.
D) Infected individuals experience diarrhea that releases infectious organisms into the environment.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Some algae and fungi live in associations known as lichens, which allow both to survive in a harsher environment than either could normally live in alone. This association is an example of

A) parasitism.
B) mutualism.
C) consumerism.
D) competition.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Human cells contain mitochondria, which are responsible for processing the energy needed by our cells. Remember that the ancestors of mitochondria may once have been free-living prokaryotes. If mitochondria were still considered to be separate organisms within our cells, which of the following would best describe our relationship with them?

A) parasitic
B) mutualistic
C) competitive
D) pathogenic

Answer 3

B

Question 4

If an animal is an herbivore, does that mean it cannot have interactions with organisms other than the plants it eats?

A) No; an herbivore might also have a mutualistic relationship with, for instance, intestinal bacteria.
B) No; an herbivore could be prey in predator/prey interactions.
C) Yes; natural selection predicts a single relationship strategy will eventually emerge with the greatest fitness.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 5

Female ducks frequently deposit fertile eggs in the nests of unattended neighboring ducks. These eggs hatch and are then reared by the foster parent. What term best describes this behavior?

A) parasitism
B) behavioral mutualism
C) exploitative competition
D) nest mutualism

Question 6

In seed dispersal mutualism, plants produce _______ to entice consumers to disperse the plant's seeds.

A) attractive aromas
B) fleshy fruits
C) edible pollen
D) nectar

Question 7

Which of the following combinations of symbols represents an interaction where one species benefits and the other is exploited?

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

Question 8

Do humans exhibit any mutualistic relationships?

A) No, humans can only develop parasitic relationships with other organisms.
B) Yes, humans host disease pathogens that limit population growth and overcrowding.
C) No, humans are unable to form mutualistic relationships with other organisms.
D) Yes, humans host beneficial bacteria within our digestive systems.

Question 9

Every healthy human digestive system is home to countless microorganisms. In a normal digestive system, what type of relationship would you say this is?

A) parasitic
B) mutualistic
C) competitive
D) pathological

Question 10

In the pollinator mutualism between the yucca plant and the yucca moth, the yucca plant is able to abort the seeds in any given flower if the moth lays too many eggs in that flower. What is the advantage the yucca plant gains by aborting these seeds?

A) The yucca plant is responsible for keeping the yucca moth population at a reasonable size.
B) Seeds are energetically expensive to produce, and if the moth larvae are going to eat most of the seeds in one fruit, the plant is able to save energy by aborting those seeds.
C) The carrying capacity of the yucca moth is increased every time it lays an egg in a yucca plant's flower, so the fewer seeds that are produced by the plant, the higher the carrying capacity of the moth can be.
D) The carrying capacity of the yucca moth is reduced every time it lays an egg in a yucca plant's flower, so the fewer seeds that are produced by the plant, the higher the carrying capacity of the moth can be.

Question 11

The relationship between house pets and people would be best described as

A) parasitic.
B) mutualistic.
C) predatorial.
D) competitive.

Question 12

The corals in tropical reefs have a mutualistic relationship with

A) algae.
B) clown fish.
C) triggerfish.
D) shrimp.

Question 13

Relationships between different species often involve energy or lifestyle compromises. What best describes the compromises, if any, seen in mutualism?

A) no compromises to either organism
B) fatal to at least one of the organisms
C) a compromise to one organism but not the other
D) slight compromises to both organisms

Question 14

Antibiotic therapy sometimes reduces the population of gut-inhabiting microorganisms. Bloating and diarrhea often follow until the populations reestablish themselves. This observation suggests that these microorganisms participate in a ____ relationship with humans.

A) competitive
B) exploitative
C) mutualistic
D) pathogenic

Question 15

In what way(s) has mutualism influenced the distribution and abundance of organisms?

A) There has been a loss of host species due to the damage caused by their mutualistic partners.
B) There has been an increase in the number of parasites as mutualistic relationships evolve into parasitic relationships.
C) There has been an increase in biodiversity due to organisms' ability to live in habitats they could not otherwise colonize.
D) All of the above

Question 16

Which of the following symbols represents a mutualistic relationship?

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

Question 17

Which of the following animals would be most likely to simultaneously participate in seed dispersal and a gut inhabitant mutualism?

A) wolves
B) rattlesnakes
C) scorpions
D) deer

Question 18

Clown fish have evolved to live safely between the stinging tentacles of certain sea anemones. The fish receives protection from predators, while the anemone receives some food from the fish. This relationship is an example of

A) nutritional mutualism.
B) consumer interaction.
C) competitive limitation.
D) behavioral mutualism.

Question 19

What statement best describes a parasitic relationship?

A) Both the parasite and the host benefit.
B) Only the parasite benefits; the host is harmed.
C) Only the host benefits; the parasite is harmed.
D) Both the parasite and the host are harmed.

Question 20

An animal eats fruit from a plant and later deposits seed in its feces far from the plant. This is an example of a

A) pollinator mutualism.
B) gut inhabitant mutualism.
C) behavioral mutualism.
D) none of the above

Question 21

Beech drops are plants that no longer photosynthesize. They obtain nutrition by extending their roots into a beech tree and intercepting the flow of sap. Beech drops would be considered a _______ of beech trees.

A) parasite
B) predator
C) host
D) mutual partner

Question 22

The figure below shows that the cohabitating ground finches on Pinta Island experienced character displacement, with birds specializing in either smaller seeds or larger seeds.
Predict the outcome of this coinhabitation if large and small seeds had not been initially available.

A) The two species would have been in direct competition and one would have become extinct on the island.
B) It would proceed exactly as illustrated except that the range of beak sizes would have been less varied.
C) Coevolution would have caused the native plants to produce the necessary variety of seed sizes.
D) The less competitive species would have shifted its feeding preference to insects.

Question 23

A praying mantis captures and devours many pest insects. The relationship between the mantis and a grasshopper it is eating is one of

A) parasite/host.
B) pathogen/prey.
C) parasite/prey.
D) predator/prey.

Question 24

Pathogens are considered a special type of parasite because they

A) invariably kill their prey.
B) affect specific portions of the host.
C) cause disease in their hosts.
D) live on or in the host organism.

Question 25

In the course of observing cacti from several islands, researchers noted that on islands where cacti had been grazed by cows, they developed more spines per plant. This example shows that

A) neither cacti nor cows are native to these islands.
B) cows are not discouraged from eating spiny plants.
C) herbivory can be a selective force.
D) cacti on islands without cows are unable to produce spines.

Question 26

Which of the following symbols represents a competitive interaction?

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

Question 27

A deer and a caterpillar are peacefully munching on the leaves of the same apple tree. This is an example of

A) pollinator mutualism.
B) behavioral mutualism.
C) symbiosis.
D) competition.

Question 28

Coevolution often occurs when natural selection produces evolutionary change in predator and prey populations; a good example is

A) the exceptionally high toxicity of the rough-skinned newt.
B) the speed capacities of the cheetah and Thompson's gazelle.
C) hummingbird bill length and flower corolla lengths.
D) all of the above

Question 29

Which of the following could be an example of an induced response?

A) bright colors on a caterpillar
B) spines on a cactus
C) brightly colored flowers on a rosebush
D) color patterns on a poisonous snake

Question 30

In exploitation one species benefits at the expense of another; which group is least likely to benefit during exploitation?

A) plant
B) predator
C) parasite
D) herbivore

Question 31

Which example best illustrates interference competition?

A) Soil levels of potassium are gradually reduced by the hemlocks and cedars in a climax forest.
B) The growth of starling populations usually coincides with declines in song birds since both use abandoned cavities for nesting.
C) When larger animals become scarce, wolves often prey on mice, reducing their availability to coyotes.
D) Rough-skinned newts contain enough toxin in their skin glands to kill almost any predator.

Question 32

Suppose that two species of hummingbirds have very similar tongue lengths in regions where only one of the two species occurs, but that one species has a shorter tongue and the other a longer tongue in regions where both species occur. This would most likely be an example of

A) seed-dispersal mutualism.
B) parasitism.
C) character displacement.
D) a predator/prey interaction.

Question 33

Flies belonging to the family Phoridae inject their eggs into fire ants. A larva that hatches from the egg devours the ant from the inside. The larva would be called a

A) parasite.
B) gut mutualist.
C) predator.
D) pathogen.

Question 34

Examine the graph below.
Research indicates that goshawk predation is much less effective when prey species, like wood pigeons, are in large flocks. If this is true why do any small flocks exist at all?

A) They do not; small flocks are just birds transitioning from one large flock to another.
B) In large flocks newly discovered food resources must be shared while in small flocks there is more food per individual bird.
C) The natural genetic variability induces some birds to live alone.
D) Single birds are simply lost and are attempting to relocate the flock.

Question 35

The evolution of the animal immune system was probably driven by

A) herbivores pushing their predators toward extinction.
B) the selective pressures of parasitic and disease organisms.
C) competition between the animals and their habitats.
D) symbiosis between the animals and their predators.

Question 36

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Predators can drive their prey to extinction.
B) Predators can cause the abundance of their prey to rise.
C) Predators can alter the behavior of their prey.
D) Predators can restrict the distribution of their prey.

Question 37

The relationship between humans and domesticated livestock is

A) symbiotic and competitive.
B) parasitic and predatory.
C) competitive and symbiotic.
D) predator and prey.

Question 38

Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of smaller birds. The fast-developing cowbird chicks hatch first, then push the other baby chicks out of the nest as they hatch. Which interaction best describes cowbird behavior?

A) mutualism
B) parasitism
C) predation
D) exploitative competition

Question 39

A tapeworm is living in the intestine of a human and absorbing nutrients. The relationship is one of

A) pathogen/prey.
B) pathogen/host.
C) parasite/host.
D) predator/host.

Question 40

In ____ competition, species compete indirectly for a shared resource, each reducing the amount available to the other competitor.

A) exploitative
B) restrictive
C) interference
D) advantageous

Question 41

Which of the following statements about competition is false?

A) It can limit the distribution of a species.
B) It can limit the abundance of a species.
C) It can increase the differences between species.
D) It can make two species become more alike.

Question 42

If a bird eats a monarch butterfly, the bird will vomit. Monarchs are brightly colored. This example demonstrates _______ coloration.

Question 43

The activity of predators has caused their prey to evolve a variety of protective characteristics. How were the prey able to acquire these new features?

A) The prey selectively bred in order to increase the frequency of protective traits in their population.
B) The prey underwent a population explosion that allowed them to outnumber their predators and thus develop new protective features.
C) The prey organisms mated with other species in order to acquire new protective traits.
D) Natural selection acted on genetic variability already present in the prey population.

Question 44

Explain the relationship between the prevalence of schistosomiasis and the use of molluscicide in tropical regions like Nigeria.

A) The molluscicide kills snails that prey on the parasite; its use has caused an increase in the prevalence of the disease.
B) The molluscicide kills snails that are food for fish that also feed on the mosquito that spreads the disease; its use has caused an increase in the prevalence of the disease as fish populations have declined.
C) The molluscicide kills snails that are food for fish that now feed extensively on the mosquito that spreads the disease; its use has caused a decrease in the prevalence of the disease.
D) The molluscicide kills snails that are a vector for the parasite; its use has caused a decrease in the prevalence of the disease.

Question 45

_______ is an interaction between two species that benefits both species.

Question 46

_______ competition occurs when one organism directly keeps another organism from using a resource; for example, two species of birds attempting to use an abandoned woodpecker cavity.

Question 47

Due to competition, forms of competing species may evolve to become more different from each other over time. This change is known as character _______.

Question 48

The geographic area over which a species is found is called its ____________.

Question 49

As the figure below illustrates, the distribution of numerous intertidal organisms is restricted to bands or zones. The upper limit to the zone is determined by tolerance to physical factors like desiccation while the lower boundary is determined by a biological interaction such as competition.
What could account for the lower limit for Semibalanus?

A) competition from adult Chthamalus living in deeper water
B) the force of the waves on the lower portions of the rock
C) predation from less tolerant predators like sea stars
D) overheating during low tide exposure

Question 50

_______ kills their prey directly and immediately, in contrast to parasites, which weaken their hosts or cause illness.

Question 51

The fact that some organisms live in herds or flocks in order to protect themselves from predators is an example of _______ modification.

Question 52

When two similar species inhabit in the same area, they may over time evolve to become more different and

A) drive the other species to extinction.
B) reduce direct competition.
C) use up the other species' resources.
D) reduce their genetic variation.

Question 53

_______ are organisms consumed by other organisms.

Question 54

The bacteria in yogurt can colonize the human intestine and participate in a symbiotic relationship called ______.

Question 55

Responses that are directly stimulated by an attack from herbivores are _______ responses.

Question 56

The release of a parasitic wasp in California helped control the infestation of scale insects on citrus trees. However, it also caused the near-extinction of a different species of parasitic wasp. Should we consider this experiment an unqualified success?

A) Yes; the scale insects are controlled, and the extinct wasp wasn't ecologically important.
B) Yes; as long as we get a result that helps humans, it does not matter what the effect is on other species.
C) No; the effect of the loss of the original species of wasp cannot be predicted and may be more significant than the benefits to the citrus tree crop.
D) No; the citrus tree population in California will now be able to rise to unmanageable numbers.

Question 57

Fungi called _________ are often found in association with plant roots where they contribute nutrients and water to the plant and receive carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis.

Question 58

Certain species of squirrels and acorn woodpeckers both eat acorns. In forests without squirrels, the density of acorn woodpeckers averages 100 per square kilometer, whereas in forests with squirrels the density of acorn woodpeckers is roughly halved. This reduced density most probably results from

A) interference competition.
B) herbivory.
C) character displacement.
D) exploitative competition.

Question 59

The relationship among plants growing in a woodland and living in high density with limited resources can best be described as

A) pollinator mutualistic.
B) parasitic.
C) symbiotic.
D) competitive.

Question 60

A _______ is an organism that transfers one plant's male reproductive cells to the female reproductive organs of another plant.

Question 61

The consumer in a predator/prey interaction can be a selective force in the evolution of the prey species.

Question 62

During exploitation, consumer organisms never cause their prey to become extinct.

Question 63

Mutualism is rare in nature.

Question 64

The terms mutualistic and symbiotic can be used interchangeably; any mutualistic relationship is an example of symbiosis while any symbiotic relationship is also mutualistic.

Question 65

A species can participate in several symbiotic relationships simultaneously; for example, the invasive fire tree competes with native vegetation for soil nutrients and maintains a mutualistic relationship with root bacteria.

Question 66

The interactions among organisms that reside in the same community or ecosystem are unlikely to have much effect on the physical aspects of those systems.

Question 67

Without pollinator mutualism, agricultural productivity could fall significantly.

Question 68

Mutualistic relationships can have an effect on the distribution and abundance of the species involved.

Question 69

Interactions among organisms are always mutually beneficial.

Question 70

Pollinators carry seeds in their digestive tracts and later deposit them far from the plant that they fed on.