Question 1

What habitat would have relatively little species biodiversity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a middle-latitude grassland&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a low-latitude forest&#160;&#10;C)&#160;the polar regions&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a high-latitude forest

Accepted Answer

The polar regions have relatively little species biodiversity due to extreme environmental conditions such as harsh climate, low productivity, and low species richness of the food web.

Question 2

Which term refers to a species that serves as an early warning of environmental damage?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;non-native species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;native species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;indicator species

Accepted Answer

Indicator species are used as early warnings for environmental damage because they can provide information on the health of an ecosystem. These species are particularly sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and their presence or absence can indicate the health of an ecosystem.

Question 3

Which statement is characteristic of an indicator species?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is very adaptable.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It eats a wide variety of food.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It is more likely to become extinct.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It tolerates a wide range of environments.

Accepted Answer

An indicator species is one whose presence, absence or abundance can indicate a particular environmental condition. They are often very sensitive to changes in their environment, which means they are more likely to become extinct if their habitat is degraded or destroyed. Therefore, statement C is characteristic of an indicator species. Statements A, B, and D do not necessarily describe characteristics of indicator species.

Question 4

Why are amphibians particularly sensitive to pollution?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Amphibians are habitat generalists and live in many habitats.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Amphibians lay so few eggs.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Amphibians' young are weakened and deformed by increased atmospheric CO&#8322; .&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Amphibians live part of their life cycle in water and part on land.

Accepted Answer

Amphibians live part of their life cycle in water and part on land, making them more vulnerable to pollution in both environments. Their permeable skin also makes them more susceptible to absorbing pollutants from the water and soil. Additionally, as they are considered an indicator species, any changes in their population or health can indicate larger ecosystem issues.

Question 5

Which term refers to a species whose role in an ecosystem is much more important than its abundance would suggest?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;non-native species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;native species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;keystone species

Accepted Answer

Keystone species are those whose role in the ecosystem is crucial and their presence affects the abundance of other species in the ecosystem. Even if they are low in abundance, their impact on the ecosystem is significant.

Question 6

Which category are sea stars,dung beetles,and beavers generally considered to belong to?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;keystone species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;native species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;non-native species

Accepted Answer

Keystone species are organisms that have an extremely high impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance. Sea stars, dung beetles, and beavers all play crucial roles in their respective environments that significantly influence other species and the ecosystem's structure and function, making them keystone species.

Question 7

What is one characteristic of amphibians?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Amphibians eat more insects than birds do.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Amphibians are often considered keystone species.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Amphibians are experiencing sharp population increases in a variety of habitats.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Amphibians are not an important indicator species.

Accepted Answer

Amphibians are often considered keystone species because they have an important role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems. They can control insect populations and serve as prey for larger animals.

Question 8

Which organism is an indicator?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a cockroach&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a human&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a fly&#160;&#10;D)&#160;trout

Accepted Answer

Trout is an indicator organism as it is a sensitive species that can be harmed by even small changes in water quality. Thus, its presence or absence can indicate the health of an aquatic ecosystem.

Question 9

What is least likely to be included in ecosystem structure?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;species abundance&#160;&#10;B)&#160;species diversity&#160;&#10;C)&#160;secondary productivity&#160;&#10;D)&#160;physical appearance

Accepted Answer

Secondary productivity refers to the generation of biomass by heterotrophic organisms (consumers) and is more related to ecosystem function rather than structure. Ecosystem structure typically includes aspects like species abundance, diversity, and physical appearance.

Question 10

Which term refers to a species that migrates to,or is accidentally introduced into,an ecosystem?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;keystone species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;non-native species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;native species

Accepted Answer

Non-native species are those that are not originally from the ecosystem they are found in, and can either be intentionally introduced or accidentally migrated into the area.

Question 11

Which statement describes a cockroach's niche?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is an indicator species.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It is a keystone species.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It is an alien species.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It is a generalist species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement describes a cockroach's niche?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It is...

Question 12

Which species category do both birds and trout belong to?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;non-native species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;indicator species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;native species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;keystone species

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which species category do both birds and...

Question 13

What is a basis for classifying an organism as an indicator?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;its range of tolerance&#160;&#10;B)&#160;its niche&#160;&#10;C)&#160;its range of tolerance and its niche&#160;&#10;D)&#160;its size

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a basis for classifying an...

Question 14

In what habitat would you find the greatest abundance of biodiversity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;in middle-latitude grassland&#160;&#10;B)&#160;in low-latitude forest&#160;&#10;C)&#160;in high-latitude forest&#160;&#10;D)&#160;in polar grassland

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what habitat would you find the...

Question 15

What is associated with the term &#34;richness&#34;?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the number of edge effects&#160;&#10;B)&#160;the number of ecotones in an area&#160;&#10;C)&#160;the number of individuals of each species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;the number of different species

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is associated with the term &#34;richness&#34;?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;the...

Question 16

What would a scientist predict to occur on large islands located near the mainland,based on the theory of island biogeography?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;high immigration and low extinction rates&#160;&#10;B)&#160;low immigration and low extinction rates&#160;&#10;C)&#160;low immigration and high extinction rates&#160;&#10;D)&#160;high immigration and high extinction rates

Accepted Answer

The answer of What would a scientist predict to occur...

Question 17

Which pair of predators exemplify resource partitioning by being active during different periods of time?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;hawks and owls&#160;&#10;B)&#160;lions and tigers&#160;&#10;C)&#160;hummingbirds and bees&#160;&#10;D)&#160;zebras and antelopes

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which pair of predators exemplify resource partitioning...

Question 18

Which term refers to a species that lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;non-native species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;keystone species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;native species

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term refers to a species that...

Question 19

Why have amphibian populations declined?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;habitat loss&#160;&#10;B)&#160;pollution&#160;&#10;C)&#160;habitat loss and pollution&#160;&#10;D)&#160;decreased UV radiation

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why have amphibian populations declined?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;habitat loss&#160;&#10;B)&#160;pollution&#160;&#10;C)&#160;habitat loss...

Question 20

Which species category do wild African bees belong to?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;native species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;specialist species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;keystone species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;non-native species

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which species category do wild African bees...

Question 21

Which term refers to the win-win relationship of animal behaviour?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;commensalism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;co-operation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mutualism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;benefitism

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term refers to the win-win relationship...

Question 22

A new kitten is added to a home with an established older cat.The older cat hisses and swats at the younger kitten in the kitchen where they are fed.Which term refers to the behaviour of the older cat?

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of A new kitten is added to a...

Question 23

What explains how species can avoid or reduce interspecific competition?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;by eating at the same times&#160;&#10;B)&#160;by foraging in close proximity to competing species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;by specializing in different food items&#160;&#10;D)&#160;by employing similar hunting tactics

Accepted Answer

The answer of What explains how species can avoid or...

Question 24

Which term is defined as a relationship in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed to any significant degree?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;competition&#160;&#10;B)&#160;commensalism&#160;&#10;C)&#160;parasitism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;predation

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term is defined as a relationship...

Question 25

Which situation is the least likely death of a shark?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It was eaten by an apex predator.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;It provided food for humans.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;It was attacked by a human bent on destroying the shark.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;It was caught by a sport fisher.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which situation is the least likely death...

Question 26

Which term defines the relationship between redwood trees and redwood sorrel?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;commensalism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;predation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;parasitism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;competition

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term defines the relationship between redwood...

Question 27

Which term refers to a relationship in which both species benefit?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;benefitism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;commensalism&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mutualism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;co-operation

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term refers to a relationship in...

Question 28

While observing beetles that can raise their abdomens and give off a defensive chemical that repels predators,an entomologist discovers a different species of beetle that also raises its abdomen but gives off no defensive chemical.What is the second beetles' defensive behaviour called?

A) chemical warfare
B) camouflage
C) flight mechanism
D) mimicry

Accepted Answer

The answer of While observing beetles that can raise their...

Question 29

Which organism is referred to as an endoparasite?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a mosquito&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a flea&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mistletoe&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a tapeworm

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which organism is referred to as an...

Question 30

Which term defines the relationship between clownfish and sea anemones?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;parasitism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;predation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;competition&#160;&#10;D)&#160;mutualism

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term defines the relationship between clownfish...

Question 31

Which term is defined by a relationship in which a member of one species obtains its nourishment by living on,in,or near a member of another species over an extended time?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;parasitism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;predation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;competition&#160;&#10;D)&#160;mutualism

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term is defined by a relationship...

Question 32

Which method would a prey species avoid using in self-defence?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;protective shells&#160;&#10;B)&#160;acute senses of sight and smell&#160;&#10;C)&#160;pursuit and ambush&#160;&#10;D)&#160;camouflage

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which method would a prey species avoid...

Question 33

Which relationship is an example of a positive feedback loop?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;competition&#160;&#10;B)&#160;co-operation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mutualism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;predation

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which relationship is an example of a...

Question 34

Which statement is indicative of a true parasite?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;They may strengthen their hosts over a long period of time.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;They rarely kill their hosts.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;They are internal to their hosts.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;They are usually larger than their hosts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement is indicative of a true...

Question 35

Which statement describes resource partitioning?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Resource partitioning occurs when one species preys on another species.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Resource partitioning occurs when species share resources at the same time.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Resource partitioning occurs when one species is a parasite of the other.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Resource partitioning occurs when a species evolves adaptations that allow it to reduce or avoid competition.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which statement describes resource partitioning?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Resource partitioning occurs...

Question 36

Which term describes the relationship between fire ant and native ant populations?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;mutualism&#160;&#10;B)&#160;interspecific competition&#160;&#10;C)&#160;commensalisms&#160;&#10;D)&#160;intraspecific competition

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term describes the relationship between fire...

Question 37

Which term reflects the obvious relationship demonstrated by a food chain?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;predation&#160;&#10;B)&#160;parasitism&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mutualism&#160;&#10;D)&#160;competition

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term reflects the obvious relationship demonstrated...

Question 38

A new kitten is added to a home with an established older cat.The older cat hisses and swats at the younger kitten in the kitchen where they are fed.Which term refers to the behaviour of the older cat?

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of A new kitten is added to a...

Question 39

Which of the following is an outcome of primary succession?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;Primary succession generally results in more simple, more self-sustaining stages than the preceding stages.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Primary succession often results in a keystone species stabilizing the environment so that it can thrive indefinitely.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Primary succession often leads to a more simple, unsustainable stage.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Primary succession often involves a species changing its environment such that it can no longer thrive and must be replaced by other species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an outcome...

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a mutualistic relationship?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;lichens&#160;&#10;B)&#160;clownfish and sea anemones&#160;&#10;C)&#160;epiphytes&#160;&#10;D)&#160;mycorrhizal fungi and the roots of tree seedlings

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT a...

Question 41

Which pair of terms applies to changes such as drought and earthquakes?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;natural and catastrophic&#160;&#10;B)&#160;human caused and catastrophic&#160;&#10;C)&#160;natural and gradual&#160;&#10;D)&#160;human caused and gradual

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which pair of terms applies to changes...

Question 42

Which of the following would undergo secondary succession?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;cooled volcanic lava&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a heavily polluted stream that has been cleaned up&#160;&#10;C)&#160;an abandoned parking lot&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a bare rock outcrop

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would undergo secondary...

Question 43

Which of the following communities can survive,and actually be aided,by the frequent occurrence of fires?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a giant sequoia forest&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a temperate grassland&#160;&#10;C)&#160;a hot desert&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a maple forest

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following communities can survive,and...

Question 44

Which human-caused change might be considered a catastrophic change rather than a gradual change?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;compaction of the soil by continued exposure to heavy farm machinery&#160;&#10;B)&#160;salinization of the soil though evaporation of water and deposition of salt&#160;&#10;C)&#160;plowing of prairie soil to commence agriculture&#160;&#10;D)&#160;human-caused changes associated with wind and water erosion

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which human-caused change might be considered a...

Question 45

What encourages soil formation in primary succession?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;secretion of acids by lichens&#160;&#10;B)&#160;trapping of nitrogen particles by lichens and mosses&#160;&#10;C)&#160;fluctuating phosphorous levels in soil&#160;&#10;D)&#160;secretion of bases by lichens

Accepted Answer

The answer of What encourages soil formation in primary succession?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;secretion...

Question 46

Which pair of human activities is likely to lead to the establishment of extremely low plant diversity?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;plantation forestry and ecosystem restoration&#160;&#10;B)&#160;agriculture and plantation forestry&#160;&#10;C)&#160;agriculture and ecosystem rehabilitation&#160;&#10;D)&#160;agriculture and ecosystem restoration

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which pair of human activities is likely...

Question 47

A forester observes a maple seedling grow successfully in a birch stand.Both species thrive.Which is the accepted term for what the forester observed?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;tolerance&#160;&#10;B)&#160;inhibition&#160;&#10;C)&#160;primary succession&#160;&#10;D)&#160;tertiary succession

Accepted Answer

The answer of A forester observes a maple seedling grow...

Question 48

Which pair of terms applies to changes such as depletion of underground aquifers and water logging of irrigated soils?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;natural and gradual&#160;&#10;B)&#160;human caused and catastrophic&#160;&#10;C)&#160;human caused and gradual&#160;&#10;D)&#160;natural and catastrophic

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which pair of terms applies to changes...

Question 49

Which condition is likely to result in communities having the greatest diversity of species,according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;infrequent disturbances of any kind&#160;&#10;B)&#160;somewhat frequent, moderate disturbances&#160;&#10;C)&#160;very frequent, large disturbances&#160;&#10;D)&#160;somewhat frequent, large disturbances

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which condition is likely to result in...

Question 50

How long does it take for natural processes to produce fertile soil?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;weeks to months&#160;&#10;B)&#160;months to years&#160;&#10;C)&#160;decades to a few centuries&#160;&#10;D)&#160;several centuries to several thousands of years

Accepted Answer

The answer of How long does it take for natural...

Question 51

What is among the immediate effects of a natural disturbance?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;maintaining the status quo and releasing resources&#160;&#10;B)&#160;changing conditions and releasing nutrients&#160;&#10;C)&#160;changing conditions and uptake of resources&#160;&#10;D)&#160;maintaining the status quo and uptake of resources

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is among the immediate effects of...

Question 52

Which natural change would be considered gradual rather than catastrophic?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;fire&#160;&#10;B)&#160;drought&#160;&#10;C)&#160;climate change&#160;&#10;D)&#160;landslide

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which natural change would be considered gradual...

Question 53

Which of the following is a natural disturbance?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;a lightning strike resulting in a forest fire&#160;&#10;B)&#160;an open pit mine&#160;&#10;C)&#160;deforestation&#160;&#10;D)&#160;slash and burn agriculture

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a natural...

Question 54

An ecologist observes that squirrels from an adjacent area have brought pine cones to a stand of dense hemlock,but no pine seedlings have sprouted.Which term describes what the ecologist has observed?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;primary succession&#160;&#10;B)&#160;tolerance&#160;&#10;C)&#160;inhibition&#160;&#10;D)&#160;tertiary succession

Accepted Answer

The answer of An ecologist observes that squirrels from an...

Question 55

Which process is likely guiding primary succession in an ecosystem where,over a period of years,bare rock was colonized by lichens that gave way to moss that in turn gave way to ferns?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;tolerance&#160;&#10;B)&#160;facilitation&#160;&#10;C)&#160;inhibition&#160;&#10;D)&#160;interspecific competition

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which process is likely guiding primary succession...

Question 56

Which characteristic do immature ecosystems have?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;simple food webs&#160;&#10;B)&#160;high species diversity&#160;&#10;C)&#160;many specialized niches&#160;&#10;D)&#160;numerous decomposers

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which characteristic do immature ecosystems have?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;simple food...

Question 57

What is provided by disturbances of most terrestrial ecosystems?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;increased biodiversity and opportunities for late successional species&#160;&#10;B)&#160;stabilized biodiversity and opportunities for early successional species&#160;&#10;C)&#160;increased biodiversity and opportunities for early successional species&#160;&#10;D)&#160;stabilized biodiversity and opportunities for late successional species

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is provided by disturbances of most...

Question 58

Which of the following is a characteristic of a forest maintained by intermittent fire?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;It takes up to a decade for new vegetation to grow.&#160;&#10;B)&#160;Some species release seeds only after exposure to intense heat.&#160;&#10;C)&#160;Fire burns the tree crowns but not the low vegetation.&#160;&#10;D)&#160;Large and small trees of this forest tend to have fire-proof bark.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a characteristic...

Question 59

Which of the following would exhibit primary succession?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;an area recently flooded to create a reservoir&#160;&#10;B)&#160;a forest that had been clear-cut&#160;&#10;C)&#160;an abandoned farm&#160;&#10;D)&#160;a rock exposed by a retreating glacier

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would exhibit primary...

Question 60

What is found in a mature ecosystem?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;low efficiency of nutrient recycling&#160;&#10;B)&#160;high efficiency of energy use&#160;&#10;C)&#160;mainly annual plants&#160;&#10;D)&#160;low species diversity

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is found in a mature ecosystem?&#160;&#10;A)&#160;low...

Question 61

Human overharvesting of natural resources has contributed to reducing the Earth's net primary productivity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Human overharvesting of natural resources has contributed...

Question 62

Many sharks are predators near the top of ocean food chains and thus play an important role in their ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many sharks are predators near the top...

Question 63

Invasive species tend to be generalists in nature.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Invasive species tend to be generalists in...

Question 64

Latitude affects species diversity in communities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Latitude affects species diversity in communities....

Deck 8: Community Ecology