Deck 4: Life: What Shapes Biodiversity

Question 1

All the wolves in Yellowstone Park represent a(n)

A) population.
B) community.
C) ecosystem.
D) biome.

Answer 1

population.

Question 2

On a farm, owls and cats feed on mice. Which scale of life do these interactions represent?

A) population
B) community
C) ecosystem
D) biome

Answer 2

community

Question 3

A creek provides habitat and breeding sites for several different amphibian species. Which scale of life represents the interactions between the amphibians and the creek?

A) population
B) community
C) ecosystem
D) biome

Answer 3

ecosystem

Question 4

Which scale of life encompasses all of the others listed?

A) population
B) community
C) ecosystem
D) biosphere

Question 5

Members of the same species are each other.

A) closely related to
B) able to interbreed in nature with
C) capable of producing fertile offspring with
D) All of these are correct.

Question 6

A temperate grassland is dominated by grasses. Its climate features cold winters, hot summers, relatively minimal precipitation, and seasonal drought.

A) biosphere
B) biome
C) biodiversity hot spot
D) None of these are correct.

Question 7

Alternate forms of a gene are produced by

A) adaptive radiation.
B) natural selection.
C) gene flow.
D) mutation.

Question 8

In desert areas covered with black rock from ancient lava flows, rock pocket mice with darker fur are common. In other areas of habitat with lighter-colored rock, the rock pocket mice tend to have lighter-colored fur. For rock pocket mice, fur color is an example of

A) phenotype.
B) genotype.
C) negative selection.
D) convergence.

Question 9

Select the true statement regarding Earth's biodiversity.

A) Vertebrate species are the dominant group making up more than 90% of all identified species.
B) Estimates of Earth's total number of species range widely from 5 to 15 billion.
C) Tropical regions have greater species richness than other areas of the globe.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 10

Select the hypothetical forest with the greatest species evenness.

A) 25 oak trees, 25 maple trees, 25 hickory trees, 25 pine trees
B) 50 ash trees, 75 walnut trees, 50 oak trees, 75 red bud trees
C) 5 fir trees, 30 sycamore trees, 50 birch trees, 10 cedar trees, 5 maple trees
D) 1,000 oak trees

Question 11

The spiny anteater in Australia and the giant anteater in South America are unrelated species located in different parts of the world, but they share similar traits and exist in similar environmental conditions. The resemblance between these anteater species is due to evolution.

A) divergent
B) adaptive
C) convergent
D) isolation

Question 12

Terrestrial biomes are identified by

A) temperature range.
B) precipitation patterns.
C) dominant vegetation.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 13

Grazing zebras of the species Equus quagga reduce the grass available for each other on the savanna. What is this type of interaction called?

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

Question 14

On Isle Royale in Lake Superior, moose are prey for wolves and hosts for a parasite known as the moose tick that causes them to lose fur. In this community, how does predation differ from the parasitic relationship?

A) Predators do not kill their prey, whereas parasites immediately kill their hosts.
B) Predators kill their prey, whereas parasites do not immediately kill their hosts.
C) Predator and prey populations coevolve, whereas parasite and host populations do not.
D) Parasite and host populations coevolve, whereas predator and prey populations do not.

Question 15

Select the example mutualism in a community.

A) Orchids carry out photosynthesis while growing on tree limbs.
B) Barnacles attached to whales gain transportation to food sources.
C) Bacteria sheltered in the human digestive tract break down foodstuffs.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 16

Five different warbler species can coexist on the same spruce tree because each species

A) requires a distinct habitat.
B) competes equally with the others.
C) mutually benefits the other species.
D) occupies its own ecological niche.

Question 17

Select the description of exponential growth.

A) Density-dependent factors limit the rate of population growth.
B) A graph of population size over time shows an S-shaped curve.
C) Growth rate slows as the population approaches carrying capacity.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 18

Select the term that defines the maximum number of individuals of a species that a habitat can sustainably support.

A) biotic potential
B) carrying capacity
C) species richness
D) S-curve limit

Question 19

Which reproductive strategy is correctly paired with its example or description?

A) r-strategist; elephants
B) k-strategist; many offspring
C) r-strategist; high mortality rates
D) k-strategist; rabbits

Question 20

Select the mechanism that tends to reduce genetic differences between populations.

A) gene flow
B) reproductive isolation
C) genetic drift
D) inbreeding

Question 21

Which of answer choice describes genetic drift?

A) It is most significant in extremely small populations.
B) Chance events alter allele frequencies.
C) It can reduce genetic diversity within a population.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 22

The formation of the Isthmus of Panama prevented gene flow between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean populations of snapping shrimp. This reproductive isolation allowed the populations to diverge enough genetically that they were no longer capable of interbreeding. What is this process called?

A) speciation
B) extinction
C) inbreeding
D) genetic drift

Question 23

The population size of American bison decreased from tens of millions in the 1800s to just a few thousand currently. The bison population today is especially susceptible to

A) outbreeding.
B) inbreeding.
C) speciation.
D) convergence.

Question 24

Which process increases the genetic diversity of a population by introducing new alleles?

A) gene flow
B) genetic drift
C) natural selection
D) All of these are correct.

Question 25

Biodiversity hot spots have a relatively high number of

A) endemic species.
B) keystone species.
C) generalist species.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 26

In a community, sea otters prey on sea urchins, which in turn consume kelp. Kelp forests make up the habitat for many types of fish, such as rockfish, and a wide range of other species. Identify the keystone species in this community.

A) kelp
B) sea urchins
C) rockfish
D) sea otter

Question 27

Select the main effect of conserving biodiversity hotspots.

A) restoring remnant populations of large mammals
B) increasing speciation through gene flow
C) preserving species richness
D) preventing the functional extinction of biomes

Question 28

List five characteristics that all living things share. Which of these characteristics does a car display? Why is a car not considered to be alive?

Question 29

Ramon applies a chemical pesticide to his corn crop to help protect against yield loss due to insect pests. Initially, the treatment is successful as most of the insect pests are killed off. However, after a few seasons of growing the same crop and applying the same pesticide, Ramon observes that the treatment is losing its effectiveness against these pests. Use your understanding of evolutionary principles to explain to Ramon what has happened.

Question 30

The invasive emerald ash borer selectively feeds on and kills ash trees. At your campus, several infected trees have been cut down and a decision is made to remove all of the ash trees as a way to slow the spread of this invasive species. You join a committee tasked with selecting replacement trees. The group favors replacing the ash trees with maple trees because the autumn leaf colors would be stunning in a group of such large numbers. What advice can you offer this committee, based on what you've learned in this chapter?

Question 31

In 1935, cane toads were brought to Australia to prey upon beetles that damage sugar cane crops. Cane toads produce a toxin that protects them against Australian predators. The current population of cane toads is 200 million and the animals continue to expand their range. Identify the type of population growth exhibited by the cane toads and describe the environmental conditions that allow for this growth.

Question 32

As a member of your school's environmental science club, you are concerned about the widespread loss of wildlife habitat and the corresponding population declines of pollinators such as monarch butterflies. You learn that monarch butterflies are found throughout North America and pollinate many types of wildflowers. Monarchs require milkweed to lay their eggs, and the loss of milkweed plants has contributed to steep declines in monarch populations. Milkweed seeds are inexpensive and can be purchased in bulk. Develop an action plan to raise awareness and create habitat at your school and surrounding community. Don't forget that creativity increases engagement and participation.