Deck 21: Community Ecology

Question 1

The relationship between the bee and the bacteria living in the bee's gut can be classified as _____.

A) parasitism
B) commensalism
C) a disease
D) mutualism
E) chemosynthetic

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which statement is true about energy transfer?

A) Vegetarianism is equally as energy efficient as eating meat.
B) All of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level.
C) Energy is lost between trophic levels as heat,metabolism,and waste.
D) Indigestible plant parts transfer energy to the next trophic level.
E) all of the above

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A rocky shoreline that is covered at high tide but exposed at low tide supports a community of mussels,algae,barnacles,and starfish.An ecologist systematically removes species from different areas of the beach.Removing the mussels or the barnacles doesn't substantially change the community,but removing the starfish dramatically changes the mix of species in the area.Which is the keystone species?

A) mussels
B) barnacles
C) algae
D) starfish
E) All of the answers are correct.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which statement is an example of a mutualistic interaction between species?

A) A large fish visits a cleaner fish that removes parasites by eating them off the affected areas.
B) Bees get a food resource by visiting flowers,and flowers get pollinated by bee activities.
C) A clown fish lives in a sea anemone;the clown fish gets protection and the anemone uses the clown fish as a lure to attract other fish that it will sting and eat.
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 5

Competition is most likely to occur

A) when one species eats another.
B) when two species occupy different niches.
C) when one species helps another.
D) when two species occupy overlapping niches.
E) when two species help each other.

Question 6

Which of the following characterizations best describes a symbiotic relationship?

A) Both organisms benefit.
B) The organisms live in close association.
C) Only one organism benefits.
D) The relationship is mutually harmful.
E) Neither organism benefits.

Question 7

Which species is NOT likely to be considered a keystone species?

A) a top predator,such as a wolf,whose diet choices serve to control the prey population size,which also indirectly affects the abundance and growth of vegetation
B) a fish species that specializes in eating only a few aquatic plant species and that does not form a main component of the diet of the carnivores in the system
C) an insect whose foraging movements result in the movement of pollen and the fertilization of many kinds of plant species
D) All of these are examples that describe keystone species.
E) None of these is an example that describes keystone species.

Question 8

In relation to a food chain,what do plants and photosynthetic algae have in common?

A) Plants and photosynthetic algae have nothing in common.
B) They are both producers.
C) They are both first-level consumers.
D) They are both top-level consumers.
E) Their numbers are limited by the energy they take in from heterotrophic food sources.

Question 9

Although they are not native to the United States,honey bees have successfully competed for resources with native bees and other pollinator species by _____.

A) colonizing new habitats
B) feeding year-round in warmer climates
C) feeding on a wide variety of flowers
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Question 10

Food chains are an important part of an ecosystem.A food chain shows _____.

A) which organisms are producers and which are consumers
B) the carrying capacity of the food chain
C) how much food each organism consumes
D) where organisms live
E) all of these

Question 11

Bees are a colonial species and live in hives with thousands of other bees.Which description is an example of commensalism?

A) a bee hive located in an attic space
B) a bee hive in a hollow tree
C) a bee hive built in the ground
D) a bee hive in a wall
E) a bee hive in a garage

Question 12

Which phrase does NOT describe a keystone species?

A) a species on which many other species depend
B) a species whose removal would have a dramatic effect on the community
C) a species that plays a central role in holding the community together
D) a species that always occupies the highest trophic level in a community
E) All of these describe a keystone species.

Question 13

Which statement is NOT a reason that pollinators are considered keystone species?

A) Many plant species rely on insects to successfully reproduce.
B) Pollinators maintain the integrity and productivity of natural communities.
C) Pollinators are a critical link in the food chain.
D) Pollinators have complex social structures and division of labor.
E) Pollinators are not considered keystone species.

Question 14

Which of these species in a community would NOT be affected by a decrease in bee populations?

A) deer
B) mice
C) birds
D) humans
E) All of these species would be affected.

Question 15

A decrease in which keystone species has recently impacted agriculture in North America,Europe,and Asia?

A) bats
B) bees
C) birds
D) ants
E) humans

Question 16

Which of these is NOT a correct statement about food chains?

A) The food-chain concept is an oversimplification of actual organism interactions.
B) Food webs show the relationships among multiple food chains.
C) Food webs are better than food chains for showing the position of omnivores within the community.
D) Food chains are often complex and intertwined.
E) All of these are correct statements about food chains.

Question 17

Which example does NOT describe a predation event?

A) A pollinator eats the pollen and nectar of a flower.
B) A carnivore catches and eats a deer.
C) An herbivore eats a few of the leaves from a tree.
D) A producer creates energy from sunlight.
E) All of these are examples of predation events.

Question 18

Which statement best explains why herbivorous organisms are more energetically efficient than those that consume meat?

A) Herbivorous organisms are slower and,therefore,burn fewer calories.
B) Herbivorous organisms obtain their energy directly from the sun.
C) Herbivorous organisms are at the top of the food chain.
D) Herbivorous eat nutrient-rich meat.
E) Herbivorous organisms are at the bottom of the food chain.

Question 19

Which organism would NOT be classified as a consumer in a food chain?

A) a bee
B) a deer
C) grass
D) a wolf
E) a human

Question 20

Just as cows consume grass for nourishment,bees consume _____.

A) pollen only
B) nectar and/or pollen
C) seeds
D) flowers
E) all of these

Question 21

Which might NOT be considered a keystone species in its habitat?

A) a prey species
B) a predator species
C) plants that feed insects
D) insects that pollinate plants
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 22

If honey bees become extinct,which food supply will NOT be negatively affected?

A) broccoli
B) avocado
C) asparagus
D) almonds
E) wind or self-pollinated plants

Question 23

Which crop relies exclusively on honey bee pollination?

A) cantaloupe
B) wheat
C) cotton
D) almond
E) soybean

Question 24

Where does pollination occur?

A) on bees
B) on flowers
C) on fruit
D) in hives
E) in air

Question 25

What percentage of global food crops are pollinated by insects?

A) 15%
B) 25%
C) 35%
D) 45%
E) 55%

Question 26

Why have honey bees become the most useful pollinators to farmers?

A) They do not stray too far from their hives.
B) They are the most efficient pollinators.
C) They can be transported easily to farms.
D) Over 40,000 bees can live in one hive.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 27

In the United States,how many crops are dependent on bees for pollination?

A) 100
B) < 100
C) $\approx$ 50
D) < 50
E) < 25

Question 28

The economic value of crops pollinated by honey bees was estimated to be

A) $15 billion.
B) $15 million.
C) $1 million.
D) $5 billion.
E) $5 million.

Question 29

Which food crop would not be affected by colony collapse disorder?

A) melons
B) apples
C) broccoli
D) alfalfa
E) corn

Question 30

All of the following are true of honey bees,EXCEPT

A) they pollinate more than 100 different crops.
B) the crops they pollinate are worth $15 billion annually.
C) they are a keystone species.
D) they help pollinate angiosperms.
E) the workers are all male.

Question 31

Without honey bees humans would lose all of the following foods,EXCEPT

A) apples.
B) broccoli.
C) carrots.
D) corn.
E) onions.

Question 32

What makes an organism a keystone species?

A) Its loss would increase the population of other species.
B) It is important for pollination.
C) Its loss would negatively impact the community and ecosystem.
D) It is important for the survival of angiosperms.
E) It is the most abundant species in a community.

Question 33

Which crop is LEAST likely to be pollinated by bees?

A) onions
B) oranges
C) soybeans
D) sunflower
E) almonds

Question 34

Which is NOT necessarily true of a keystone species?

A) Its loss would decrease the population of other species.
B) Its removal negatively impacts the community.
C) Its loss would harm the ecosystem.
D) It is the most abundant species in the community.
E) Its biomass may not be great in the community.

Question 35

A scientist wishes to examine a beehive for information about where forager bees have been.What would be a key factor in this research?

A) the color of the honey
B) the texture of the honey
C) the pollen in the honey/hive
D) the clarity of the honey
E) the smell of the honey

Question 36

What percentage of the total energy in a food chain is passed from one organism to the next?

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 50%
D) 90%
E) <90%

Question 37

Why are angiosperms important to honey bees?

A) They are a keystone species.
B) Pollen is a food source.
C) Flowers are a source of food.
D) The cones are sources of nectar and pollen.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 38

Which would NOT be considered a keystone species in its habitat?

A) Tiger shark
B) A predator
C) Salamander
D) Human
E) Sea otter

Question 39

If honey bees become extinct,which food supply would also be negatively impacted?

A) apples
B) oranges
C) melons
D) pears
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 40

Which plant grouping relies heavily on bee or insect pollination?

A) ferns
B) gymnosperms
C) bryophytes
D) angiosperms
E) mosses

Question 41

Which of the following lists members of a food chain in order from bottom to top?

A) grass -> salmon -> grasshopper -> bear
B) grass -> grasshopper -> salmon -> bear
C) grasshopper -> salmon -> grass -> bear
D) salmon -> bear -> grass -> grasshopper
E) bear -> salmon -> grass -> grasshopper

Question 42

Which is NOT true of consumers?

A) They are higher up the food chain.
B) They are heterotrophs.
C) They are photosynthetic.
D) Some are herbivores.
E) Some are carnivores.

Question 43

An omnivore is

A) an herbivore.
B) a carnivore.
C) an animal eater.
D) a plant eater.
E) a plant and animal eater.

Question 44

Pollinators select flowers based on

A) flower scent.
B) flower color.
C) petal size.
D) flower shape.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 45

Competition for resources by two species occupying the same or similar niches is usually alleviated by

A) mutualism.
B) commensalism.
C) extinction of one species.
D) resource partitioning.
E) symbiosis.

Question 46

Mice eat fruits and nuts,and snakes eat mice.Which of the following is most likely to happen if snakes are removed from the community?

A) The number of fruits and nuts will increase,but mice populations will be unchanged.
B) The number of fruits and nuts will increase,and mice populations will also increase.
C) The number of fruits and nuts will be unchanged,and mice populations will also be unchanged.
D) The number of fruits and nuts will be unchanged,but mice populations will decrease.
E) The number of fruits and nuts will decrease,but mice populations will increase.

Question 47

Which is NOT a top-level consumer in a food chain?

A) hawk
B) coyote
C) wolves
D) human carnivore
E) human vegetarian

Question 48

Food chains are overly simplistic,as they do not consider

A) carnivores.
B) herbivores.
C) omnivores.
D) producers.
E) consumers.

Question 49

All of the following statements about niches is true,EXCEPT

A) a niche includes everything a species needs to survive and reproduce.
B) no two species can share identical niches.
C) species with overlapping niches experience competition.
D) species in competition partition resources and both coexist.
E) species with narrow niches never coexist with species having broad niches.

Question 50

Red flowers with horizontal petals are generally pollinated by _________,whereas yellow,blue,and purple flowers are pollinated by _________,and pale or white flowers with a strong fragrance are pollinated by _________.

A) butterflies;bees;moths
B) butterflies;moths;bees
C) bees;butterflies;moths
D) moths;bees;butterflies
E) moths;butterflies;bees

Question 51

Flowers of different colors or scents have different

A) reproductive organs.
B) habitats.
C) pollinators.
D) petals.
E) nectar.

Question 52

Symbiosis describes

A) an interaction where one organism feeds on another.
B) feeding levels based on positions in a food chain.
C) interconnection of feeding relationships in a community.
D) species living in close association with each other.
E) a relationship where one member benefits and the other is unharmed.

Question 53

__________ occurs when one species benefits while another species is harmed,whereas __________ is when one species benefits while another species is unharmed.

A) Mutualism;commensalism
B) Commensalism;mutualism
C) Commensalism;parasitism
D) Parasitism;commensalism
E) Parasitism;mutualism

Question 54

A niche describes

A) the habitat occupied by a species.
B) the space,environment,and resources necessary for a species fitness.
C) the community's place in an ecosystem.
D) the environment that an organism lives in.
E) the place where a population lives.

Question 55

A food web describes

A) the food chain in addition to predator-prey relationships.
B) the intersection of multiple food chains in a community.
C) parasitism in a food chain.
D) the addition of omnivores to a food chain.
E) symbiosis in a food chain.

Question 56

An ecological niche is best defined as

A) the space a species requires.
B) the environmental conditions a species requires.
C) the food a species requires.
D) the other organisms on which the species depends.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 57

What is a detailed and complex analysis of the feeding relationships in a community?

A) trophic levels
B) symbiosis
C) food chain
D) food web
E) keystone analysis

Question 58

What percentage of energy in a food chain comprising a blueberry bush,a mouse,and a hawk does the top consumer actually receive from the producer?

A) 10%
B) 1%
C) 50%
D) 100%
E) 0%

Question 59

When a coyote eats a mouse,approximately how much of the mouse's energy is converted into coyote tissue?

A) 1%
B) 5%
C) 10%
D) 15%
E) 20%

Question 60

What percentage of the total energy is lost due to metabolism,heat,and waste between trophic levels in a food chain?

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 50%
D) 90%
E) 1%

Question 61

Why is it important to investigate and prevent the spread of colony collapse disorder (CCD)?

A) to protect our food chain
B) to support the economy
C) to enhance diversity of bees
D) to prevent killer bee infestation
E) to protect bees because they are a keystone species

Question 62

What may an individual do to help combat CCD?

A) plant bee-friendly plants
B) limit pesticide use
C) avoid spraying pesticides during the day
D) become a beekeeper
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 63

Introduction of non-native species of bees to the United States may cause

A) competition for limited resources.
B) a decline in native species.
C) migration of native bees.
D) partitioning of food resources.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 64

Where did the killer bee originate?

A) Africa
B) Brazil
C) Central America
D) New Guinea
E) Australia

Question 65

Which has been observed in killer bees?

A) swarming
B) chasing away other pollinators from food sources
C) stinging animals near their hives
D) aggressive behavior
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 66

As a result of competition,

A) one species may go extinct.
B) both species may divide resources and survive.
C) one or both populations are likely to decline.
D) biodiversity may increase.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 67

What strategy does the African honey bee use when competing for resources?

A) migration
B) generalist foraging behavior
C) defensive behavior
D) resource partitioning
E) sharing of resources

Question 68

What do scientists think is the cause of CCD?

A) a virus
B) pesticides.
C) a parasite
D) stress and nutrition
E) a combination of many factors;possibly,all of the answers are correct.

Question 69

What strategy does the imported honey bee,Apis mellifera,use when competing for resources?

A) migration
B) generalist foraging behavior
C) defensive behavior
D) resource partitioning
E) sharing of resources