Deck 41: Community Ecology

Question 1

An exotic species that negatively impacts its adoptive community by harming members in that new community is called a(n) ____ species.

A)mutualistic
B)endemic
C)pioneer
D)invasive
E)indicator

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Ideally (for a parasite), a host will live long enough to give a parasite time to produce ____.

A)nutrients
B)pathogenic proteins
C)local anesthetic
D)offspring
E)damage in the host's tissue

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The fastest land animal is the cheetah, which can run about 70 mph. The fact that its main prey species, the Thomson's gazelle, can run about 50 mph, which is also very fast, is likely the result of ____.

A)character displacement
B)mutualism
C)interference competition
D)predator-prey coevolution
E)mimicry

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Four of the five answers are reasons why larger islands will have more species. Select the exception.

A)Larger islands offer more habitats.
B)More colonists will happen upon a larger island simply by virtue of its size.
C)Larger islands are further away from mainland.
D)Big islands can support larger populations of species than small islands.
E)Larger populations on big islands are less likely to become extinct.

Question 5

Competitive exclusion is based on the idea that ____.

A)one species will voluntarily allow the other to survive
B)no two species can completely occupy the same niche
C)the larger species will always dominate the smaller
D)competition is overrated as a factor in species survival
E)two species can live together if they share the same niche but use it at different times

Question 6

A type of interaction between two species that has harmful effects on both species is ____.

A)commensalism
B)competition
C)mutualism
D)predation
E)parasitism

Question 7

The species richness of a community refers to the ____.

A)relative abundance of a species
B)number of different species present
C)number of individuals that belong to each species
D)effect of a species relative to its size
E)effect of a species relative to its abundance

Question 8

When one species actively prevents another from accessing a resource, it is called ____.

A)interference competition
B)exploitative competition
C)scavenging
D)character displacement
E)predation

Question 9

A species that evolved in one community and later dispersed from its home and became established elsewhere is called a(n) ____ species.

A)indicator
B)pioneer
C)keystone
D)exotic
E)endemic

Question 10

Gause's experiments with populations of different species of Paramecium show that ____.

A)competitive exclusion can result in the extinction of a species
B)species will always equally subdivide a limiting resource
C)character displacement will always prevent extinction of a species
D)niche theory does not always hold true
E)one species did not eat the same bacteria

Question 11

​The more similar the niches of two species are, the more intensely those species will ____.

A)​compete
B)​interbreed
C)​coevolve
D)​enter into a mutualistic relationship
E)​parasitize each other

Question 12

Lichens take up nutrients and pollutants from airborne dust, so many cannot survive where the level of air pollution is high. The U.S. Forest Service monitors lichens on tree trunks as part of its program to assess the health of forest communities. In this regard, lichens serve as a(n) ____.

A)pioneer species
B)indicator species
C)endemic species
D)keystone species
E)exotic species

Question 13

Snowshoe hares are brown for part of the year and turn white in winter, making it harder for predators to spot them. This is an example of ____.

A)competitive exclusion
B)character displacement
C)warning coloration
D)camouflage
E)mimicry

Question 14

Robert Paine conducted a study in which he removed sea stars, which prey mainly on mussels, from experimental plots in a rocky intertidal zone. With sea stars missing, mussels took over the plots, crowding out seven other species of invertebrates. In this community, sea stars function as ____.

A)endemic species
B)exotic species
C)pioneer species
D)keystone species
E)indicator species

Question 15

What term describes a species with a disproportionately large effect on a community relative to its abundance?

A)pioneer
B)indicator
C)keystone
D)exotic
E)invasive

Question 16

Escherichia coli bacteria in the human colon provide vitamin K in return for a steady food supply and warm place to live. This is an example of a ____ relationship.

A)mutualistic
B)predatory
C)commensal
D)parasitic
E)habitat

Question 17

In contrast to a predator, a parasite usually ____.

A)does not kill their host or does not kill it immediately
B)kills its host immediately
C)is a short-term visitor
D)is larger than its host
E)provides some benefit to the host

Question 18

A one-way relationship in which one species benefits at the expense of another is called ____.

A)commensalism
B)succession
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)competition

Question 19

Four of the five answers are common traits of pioneer plant species. Select the exception.

A)small size
B)effective seed dispersal
C)brief life cycles
D)opportunistic life history
E)requires nutrient rich soil

Question 20

Four of the five answers listed below are examples of prey defense. Select the exception.

A)display behavior
B)chemicals
C)camouflage
D)resource partitioning
E)mimicry

Question 21

Eight species of woodpeckers coexist in Oregon forests. All feed on insects and nest in hollow trees, but the details of their foraging behavior and nesting preferences vary. What does this best illustrate?

A)mutualism
B)brood parasitism
C)competitive exclusion
D)parasitoidism
E)resource partitioning

Question 22

European cuckoo birds lay their eggs in the nest of other bird species, allowing the other birds to raise their young. The cuckoo birds are therefore ____.

A)mutualists
B)commensals
C)endosymbionts
D)brood parasites
E)ectoparasites

Question 23

What do photosynthetic organisms often supply to their nonphotosynthetic partners in a mutualistic relationship?

A)food
B)hydrogen
C)oxygen
D)nitrogen
E)water

Question 24

Each species has a unique set of requirements and roles in an ecosystem, referred to as their ____.

A)habitat
B)community
C)species richness
D)species evenness
E)ecological niche

Question 25

What term best describes all of the species that live in a particular region?

A)population
B)habitat
C)niche
D)community
E)ecosystem

Question 26

Parasitoids are ____ that parasitize insects.

A)bacteria
B)insects
C)fungi
D)protists
E)viruses

Question 27

Niche overlap initially leads to ____.

A)mutualism
B)commensalism
C)predation
D)competition
E)parasitism

Question 28

Phorid flies are being used to combat the invasive red imported fire ants. How do phorid flies kill the ants?

A)They are predators of the ants.
B)They produce a poison in their lining which kills the ants when eaten.
C)They are parasitoids that lay their eggs in the ant's body.
D)They compete with the ants for food sources.
E)They kill ant eggs.

Question 29

Secondary succession is likely to occur ____.

A)in a newly formed volcanic island
B)in an abandoned field
C)in a mature forest
D)on land exposed by glacial retreat
E)on land with little to no soil

Question 30

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, which island would have the greatest number of species on it?

A)small island, near mainland
B)small island, further away from mainland
C)large island, near mainland
D)large island, further away from mainland
E)large island at any distance from mainland

Question 31

In mixed assemblages, baboons sometimes see predators that impalas do not hear, and impalas sometimes hear predators that baboons do not see. In both cases, the flight of one species alerts the other to danger. This interaction is an example of ____.

A)resource partitioning
B)commensalism
C)mutualism
D)competition
E)competitive exclusion

Question 32

A bison grazing on prairie grasses is an example of ____.

A)parasitism
B)herbivory
C)competition
D)commensalism
E)mutualism

Question 33

The evolutionary process by which species become adapted to use a shared limiting resource in a way that minimizes competition is known as ____.

A)competitive exclusion
B)brood parasitism
C)predation
D)mimicry
E)resource partitioning

Question 34

Competitive exclusion is the result of ____.

A)mutualism
B)commensalism
C)competition
D)predation
E)parasitism

Question 35

The interaction in which one species benefits and the second species is neither harmed nor benefited is known as ____.

A)mutualism
B)parasitism
C)commensalism
D)competition
E)predation

Question 36

Chemical defenses that some plant species employ to deter germination and growth of other plants are examples of ____.

A)exploitative competition
B)interference competition
C)competitive exclusion
D)character displacement
E)resource partitioning

Question 37

Wolf spiders and carnivorous sundew plants compete for insects in Florida swamps without actually fighting over the insects. What type of species interaction does this describe?

A)exploitative competition
B)mutualism
C)commensalism
D)interference competition
E)brood parasitism

Question 38

Species richness is generally higher on larger islands because ____.

A)more colonists from mainland areas will happen upon a larger island because of its size only
B)bigger islands offer a wider variety of different habitats only
C)larger islands can support larger populations of species than smaller islands only
D)more colonists from mainland areas will happen upon a larger island because of its size and bigger islands offer a wider variety of different habitats only
E)more colonists from mainland areas will happen upon a larger island because of its size, bigger islands offer a wider variety of different habitats, and larger islands can support larger populations of species than smaller islands

Question 39

Which is an example of warning coloration?

A)the dark brown mane of a lion
B)the bright green and blue feathers of a peacock
C)the black and yellow bands of a wasp
D)the black and white stripes of a zebra
E)the bright red color of roses

Question 40

Four of the five answers listed below are events that can lead to secondary succession. Select the exception.

A)a mudslide that destroys a section of a shrubland
B)torn down buildings leading to vacant lots
C)retreat of a glacier in Alaska
D)a fire
E)hurricane-damaged coastal marshes

Question 41

Red imported fire ants are an invasive species in the United States. How have they harmed the Texas horned lizard, which feeds on native ants?

A)They act as parasites on the lizards.
B)They are poisonous to the lizards.
C)They damage the lizard's breeding area.
D)They increase the amount of predatory birds, which eat lizards.
E)They have replaced many native ant populations, so the lizards have less food.

Question 42

Which organisms represent an early stage in primary succession?

A)pine trees
B)mosses and lichens on bare rock
C)weedy annual plants in an open field
D)ferns
E)deciduous trees

Question 43

Four of the five answers listed below are relationships in which at least one of the interacting organisms benefits. Select the exception.

A)competition
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)commensalism
E)predation

Question 44

​Four of the five answers are traits possessed by an ideal biological control agent. Select the exception.

A)​It targets only one specific host species.
B)​It has a population growth rate comparable to the host's.
C)​It attacks a wide variety of hosts, including nontarget species.
D)​It has offspring that disperse widely.
E)​It is the host's natural enemy.

Question 45

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, the eventual number of species living on any island reflects ____.

A)moderate levels in both frequency and intensity of disturbances
B)the number of species that initially arrive just after the island formed
C)an equal abundance of both endemic species and exotic species
D)a balance between immigration of new species and extinction of established ones
E)greater rates of immigration of new species than extinction of established ones

Question 46

During the process of successional change, ____.

A)the total mass of living things remains constant
B)pioneer species help build and improve the soil
C)the pioneer community gives way quickly to the climax community
D)nutrients cycle more rapidly with time
E)indicator species disappear

Question 47

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.herbivory
b.competitive exclusion
c.character displacement
d.interference competition
e.coevolution of predator and prey
Paramecium caudatum is driven to extinction in a habitat because it is less competitive than P. Aurelia

Question 48

Hoverflies are attracted to sweets at outdoor picnics. The reaction of humans is usually to flee because of the flies' uncanny resemblance to bees. The survival of hoverflies is enhanced by ____.

A)mimicry
B)camouflage
C)warning coloration
D)chemical defenses
E)display behavior

Question 49

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.competition
b.predation
c.mutualism
d.commensalism
e.parasitism
In this interaction between two species, both species are harmed in some way.

Question 50

Two species of birds that compete for the same size of seed eventually develop different beak sizes, allowing them to compete for different sizes of seeds. What has occurred?

A)competitive exclusion only
B)character displacement only
C)directional selection only
D)competitive exclusion and character displacement
E)directional selection and character displacement

Question 51

Certain species are very sensitive to disturbances to their environment, and therefore can be used as an early warning sign for environmental degradation that might not otherwise be noted. What are these species called?

A)keystone species
B)invasive species
C)indicator species
D)pioneer species
E)endemic species

Question 52

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.competition
b.predation
c.mutualism
d.commensalism
e.parasitism
In this interaction, both species benefit.

Question 53

An orchid benefits by growing on a tree trunk and the tree is unaffected by the orchid's presence. What term describes this relationship?

A)mutualism
B)commensalism
C)brood parasitism
D)parasitoidism
E)herbivory

Question 54

Two species that interact for generations through symbiosis often coevolve. How does this happen?

Question 55

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.herbivory
b.competitive exclusion
c.character displacement
d.interference competition
e.coevolution of predator and prey
a golden eagle attacks a fox to drive the fox away from a moose carcass for which they are both competing

Question 56

Red-billed oxpecker birds eat ticks off of impalas. What benefit do the birds provide for the impalas in this mutualistic relationship?

A)nutrients
B)grooming
C)protection from parasites
D)reproductive aid
E)living space improvements

Question 57

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.competition
b.predation
c.mutualism
d.commensalism
e.parasitism
In this interaction, one species benefits, while the other is neither harmed nor benefited.

Question 58

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.competition
b.predation
c.mutualism
d.commensalism
e.parasitism
In this interaction, one individual or species usually is killed, while the other benefits by eating the first.

Question 59

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.herbivory
b.competitive exclusion
c.character displacement
d.interference competition
e.coevolution of predator and prey
the beak sizes of different finch species change in response to competition

Question 60

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.competition
b.predation
c.mutualism
d.commensalism
e.parasitism
In this interaction, one species is harmed, but usually not killed, to the benefit of the other that lives on or in the first.

Question 61

Match the species' role in an ecosystem to the correct description.​
a.​exotic species
b.​indicator species
c.​endemic species
d.​keystone species
e.​pioneer species
​a species that evolved in one community and later became established in a different one

Question 62

What are two types of defenses that plants have evolved in response to herbivory?

Question 63

Match the species' role in an ecosystem to the correct description.​
a.​exotic species
b.​indicator species
c.​endemic species
d.​keystone species
e.​pioneer species
​a species found in the region where it evolved and nowhere else

Question 64

Match the species' role in an ecosystem to the correct description.​
a.​exotic species
b.​indicator species
c.​endemic species
d.​keystone species
e.​pioneer species
​a species that has a disproportionately large effect on community structure relative to its abundance

Question 65

What is an ecological niche?

Question 66

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.herbivory
b.competitive exclusion
c.character displacement
d.interference competition
e.coevolution of predator and prey
​deer feed on native shrubs

Question 67

Explain the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.

Question 68

Match the species' role in an ecosystem to the correct description.​
a.​exotic species
b.​indicator species
c.​endemic species
d.​keystone species
e.​pioneer species
​a species whose traits allow them to colonize new or newly vacated habitats

Question 69

Match the type of species interaction with the correct description.
a.herbivory
b.competitive exclusion
c.character displacement
d.interference competition
e.coevolution of predator and prey
​the faster the top speed of a lion, the faster its prey (zebra) need to be to survive

Question 70

How is mimicry helpful to organisms? Give an example.

Question 71

How does brood parasitism harm the hosts and benefit the parasite?

Question 72

Match the species' role in an ecosystem to the correct description.​
a.​exotic species
b.​indicator species
c.​endemic species
d.​keystone species
e.​pioneer species
​a species whose presence and abundance in a community provide information about conditions in the community

Question 73

Most invasive species have a far greater impact in their new home than they did in the community in which they evolved. Why is this?