Question 1

Which of the following is a measure of atmospheric energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plant respiration 
B)  Gamma diversity 
C)  Potential evapotranspiration 
D)  Solar plexus

Question 2

Which scientists are credited with the theory of island biogeography?

Accepted Answer

A)  Edward O. Wilson 
B)  Charles Darwin 
C)  Robert H. MacArthur 
D)  Sewall G. Wright

Question 3

Where mean annual temperatures are highest in China you see this level of vertebrate species richness compared to the rest of the country _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  Lowest. 
B)  Highest. 
C)  Intermediate.

Question 4

The number of species in a lake 300 m in diameter is greater than the number of species in a lake 150 m in diameter.Additionally,a lake that is 50 m in diameter has the least number of species of the three lakes.What term describes this relationship?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a quadratic relationship 
B)  It is a density-dependent relationship 
C)  It is a frequency-dependent relationship 
D)  It is a species-area relationship

Question 5

You are assigned the task of determining species richness in a given area.The lead researcher has told you that the number of samples you have to take is not limited.As you collect data,what pattern should you expect to see?

Accepted Answer

A)  All the species in this space will be identified by a time period that is related to the number of search hours divided by the area 
B)  As you collect data, species richness will decrease 
C)  The most common species in this space will likely be identified first, followed by more rare species. 
D)  All the species in this space will be identified by a time period that is related to the product of the square root of number of search and total area.

Question 6

The fact that there are more species of beetles in Florida than there are in Canada supports the concept of ______________?

Accepted Answer

A)  Latitudinal gradients. 
B)  Altitudinal gradients. 
C)  Community succession. 
D)  Niche breadth.

Question 7

The intermediate disturbance hypothesis was originally proposed to account for patterns of species richness where?

Accepted Answer

A)  In lakes and streams 
B)  In desserts and prairies 
C)  In tropical rain forests and coral reefs 
D)  In tropical rain forests and jungles

Question 8

When there is high diversity within a community it is referred to as _______ diversity.

Accepted Answer

A)  Beta 
B)  Alpha 
C)  Productivity based 
D)  Gamma

Question 9

In Figure 10.14b,which of the following statements is accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Between pH 5 to 7, the number of invertebrate taxa is positively associated with mean stream pH . 
B)  Between pH 5 to 7, the number of invertebrate taxa is negatively associated with mean stream pH. 
C)  Number of invertebrate taxa is not associated with mean stream pH. 
D)  Species richness is greatest at the lowest mean stream pH.

Question 10

Using a simple model of species richness based on a one dimensional continuum,what is one hypothetical way that species richness could increase?

Accepted Answer

A)  Each species overlaps less with its neighbors. 
B)  The range of resource in the community expands. 
C)  If each species is less specialized. 
D)  The complexity of community is low.

Question 11

You are fishing in a large lake.You are not after any particular species you just want to catch fish.You would choose a fishing lure that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Dives to the bottom of the lake. 
B)  Stays at the surface of the lake. 
C)  Goes to intermediate lake depths. 
D)  Goes to a depth where the lure would still be illuminated and thus visible to fish.

Question 12

For the most part,meadows in Europe are not very species rich because artificial additions of nutrients have allowed some species to ____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Alter microhabitats for other species. 
B)  Competitively exclude other species 
C)  Prey on other species. 
D)  Parasitize other species.

Question 13

You have counted the number of amphibians and reptiles in the same experimental 1 km by 1 km area over the last five years.You also have a control plot of the same size nearby that is part of your sampling each year.Every year you have reviewed your data to understand which species were common or rare,and whether equal numbers of individuals were counted in those categories.What your data show is that in the experimental plot more species become rare to encounter and a large percentage of species that you do encounter tends to be more common from year one to year five.However,this is not the case in the control plot,which shows no change from year one to year five.You now plan to plot these data for a presentation.You now plan to plot these data for a presentation.What will a graph of rank-abundance for the control and non-control plots look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will show species rank on the x axis and relative abundance on the y axis. The trend lines for each will be flat. 
B)  The graph will show a flat trend line for the control plot and a steep trend line for the non-control plot. 
C)  There are not enough data to determine what the graph will look like. 
D)  The graph will show a very steep line in the experimental plot by the end of year five and a much less steep line for the control plot for all five years.

Question 14

Under which scenario would the predicted number of resident species immigrating to an island be at the lowest according to the theory of island biogeography?

Accepted Answer

A)  An island that is 300 km from mainland 
B)  An island that is 3 km from the mainland 
C)  An island that is 30 km from the mainland 
D)  An island that is 3 m from the mainland

Question 15

You would expect to see the greatest species richness in reptiles at:

Accepted Answer

A)  10 degrees North latitude. 
B)  70 degrees South latitude. 
C)  10 degrees South latitude. 
D)  70 degrees North latitude.

Question 16

You have counted the number of amphibians and reptiles in the same experimental 1 km by 1 km area over the last five years.You also have a control plot of the same size nearby that is part of your sampling each year.Every year you have reviewed your data to understand which species were common or rare,and whether equal numbers of individuals were counted in those categories.What your data show is that in the experimental plot more species become rare to encounter and a large percentage of species that you do encounter tends to be more common from year one to year five.However,this is not the case in the control plot,which shows no change from year one to year five.You now plan to plot these data for a presentation.What will your diversity indices look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  The graphs will show that species diversity (H) is negatively associated with time in the control plot and positively associated with time in the 1 x 1 km plot. 
B)  You cannot graph these data. 
C)  The graphs will show that species diversity (H) is not affected by time in the control plot and negatively associated with time in the experimental plot. 
D)  Species rank will be on the x axis and species diversity will be on the y axis. The two lines will be parallel.

Question 17

Medium sized intertidal boulders are tumbled about by waves less than small boulders but more than large boulders.They also show the greatest diversity of intertidal invertebrates inhabiting them compared to small and large boulders.This illustrates the ____________________________ hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

A)  Cascade effect. 
B)  Predator mediated coexistence. 
C)  Niche width 
D)  Intermediate disturbance

Question 18

As vegetation productivity goes up in China,vertebrate richness _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  Increases. 
B)  Decreases. 
C)  Remains the same.

Question 19

What is one way to define a harsh environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  An environment that humans cannot survive 
B)  An environment where many organisms once occupied 
C)  An environment that is dominated by an extreme abiotic factor 
D)  None of the above.

Question 20

Which of the following explains what species richness is?

Accepted Answer

A)  Species richness is the number of species in a community and how evenly they are distributed amongst other species. 
B)  Species richness is the number of species in a community. 
C)  Species richness is the number of resources each species has in a community. 
D)  Species richness is the number of endangered species in a community.

Exam 10: Patterns in Species Richness