Deck 1: Introduction to Ecology Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers

Question 1

Ecology can be defined as the study of the impact of human activity on the environment.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Population ecologists do not study

A) reproductive ecology.
B) distribution and abundance.
C) energy flow.
D) extinction.
E) adaptation.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Field studies and laboratory studies are mutually exclusive.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Which of the following levels of organization is/are correctly ordered?

A) population, ecosystem, landscape, individual, interaction
B) individual, population, interaction, community, ecosystem
C) biosphere, landscape, individual, community, interaction
D) ecosystem, landscape, region, interaction, population
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 5

Nalini Nadkarni's study of tropical and temperate rain forests determined that

A) rain forests have nutrient rich soils.
B) the herbaceous layer determines the nutrient balance.
C) epiphyte mats contain a significant source of nutrients.
D) as one moves up the canopy, species richness decreases.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 6

Ecologists study

A) communities.
B) ecosystems.
C) individual organisms.
D) populations.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 7

The 'scientific method' includes

A) observations, experiments, and modeling.
B) posing questions and formulating testable hypotheses.
C) statistical analysis.
D) observations, experiments, and modeling; posing questions and formulating testable hypotheses; and statistical analysis.
E) both observations, experiments, and modeling, and posing questions and formulating testable hypotheses.

Question 8

The scientific method deals with absolute truths.

Question 9

Temperate and tropical rain forest trees extract nutrients from epiphytic mats.

Question 10

According to Margaret Davis, who studied pollen contained within lake sediments, the vegetation landscape of the Appalachian Mountains from 12,000 years ago until approximately 100 years ago changed as follows:

A) spruce $\rightarrow$ chestnut $\rightarrow$ beech.
B) chestnut $\rightarrow$ spruce $\rightarrow$ beech.
C) beech $\rightarrow$ spruce $\rightarrow$ chestnut.
D) spruce $\rightarrow$ beech $\rightarrow$ chestnut.
E) chestnut $\rightarrow$ beech $\rightarrow$ spruce.

Question 11

A population can be defined as

A) a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area.
B) an association of interacting species.
C) a group of individuals of a single species and all of the physical and chemical factors influencing them.
D) all of the organisms in a defined area.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 12

Stable isotope analysis uses variation in element masses to better understand ecological phenomena.

Question 13

Margaret Davis' studies on lake pollen sediments indicate that the forests of eastern North America did not change with the changing climate.

Question 14

Physiological ecologists study

A) nutrient cycling and energy flow through ecosystems.
B) exchanges of materials, energy, and organisms between communities.
C) physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their physical and chemical environment.
D) physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their social environment.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 15

An ecosystem is defined as

A) all the organisms that live in an area.
B) the physical environment with which organisms interact.
C) an association of interacting species.
D) all of the organisms that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.
E) all of the individuals of a single species that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.

Question 16

Robert MacArthur's observations on the Warblers of North America indicate that they

A) are fiercely competitive.
B) cannot coexist.
C) reduce competition by feeding during different times of the day.
D) reduce competition by feeding in different zones.
E) both are fiercely competitive and cannot coexist.

Question 17

What is ecology?

A) the study of relationships between organisms and the environment
B) the study of animal and plant population interactions
C) the study of the abiotic portion of the environment
D) the study of the biosphere
E) the study of environmental change

Question 18

Norris and colleagues found that warblers using different habitats did not have different carbon isotopes in the tissues.

Question 19

The pioneering work of Nalini Nadkarni in rain forest ecology revealed that

A) epiphyte mats in some tropical forests contain nutrient quantities equal to the nutrient content of the canopy foliage.
B) the epiphyte mass in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree.
C) in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats.
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) both the epiphyte mass in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree and, in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats.

Question 20

The highest level of ecological organization focuses on

A) the gene.
B) the biosphere.
C) warbler use of trees.
D) forests.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 21

Populations changing genetically over time in response to variation in its environment is termed ____________.

Question 22

Ecology is a modern science of which ancient man had no knowledge.

Question 23

____________ are aerial plants obtaining nutrient from trapped organic matter.