Question 1

Consider the following food chain: hawk - rabbit - clover.Each species will contain a different amount of calories in its body (clover: 10 calories,rabbit: 500,and hawk: 1200).Each species has a different daily caloric requirement (clover: sunlight,rabbit: 100 calories,hawk: 300).How many clover plants,per day,does it take to support a family of hawks (Mom,dad,and juvenile.Assume each hawk needs the same number of calories per day.)?

Accepted Answer

Each hawk needs 300 calories per day, and there are 3 hawks in the family, so they need a total of 900 calories per day. Each clover plant provides 10 calories, so they need 900/10 = 90 clover plants per day.

Question 2

Hurricanes and other severe precipitation events have started becoming weaker and less intense as a result of climate change.

Accepted Answer

Climate change is generally associated with an increase in the intensity and frequency of severe weather events, including hurricanes and heavy precipitation, due to warmer ocean temperatures and increased atmospheric moisture.

Question 3

Consider the consequences of a harmless prey that evolves toward mimicry of a model that has an antipredator defense (Batesian mimicry).What happens to the effectiveness of this defense as more and more prey in the population are harmless mimics? Then consider what happens when a species with bad taste evolves to resemble a model that stings (Mullerian mimicry).

Accepted Answer

The increased number of Batesian mimics dilutes the effectiveness of the warning signal because predators may start ignoring the signal if they encounter too many harmless mimics. In contrast, more Mullerian mimics strengthen the protective mimicry complex because all individuals share the same defense, reinforcing the warning signal.

Question 4

Consider the following food chain: hawk - rabbit - clover.Each species will contain a different amount of calories in its body (clover: 10 calories,rabbit: 500,and hawk: 1200).Each species has a different daily caloric requirement (clover: sunlight,rabbit: 100 calories,hawk: 300).How many clover plants,per day,does it take to support one hawk?

Accepted Answer

To support one hawk, we need to consider the energy transfer through the food chain. A hawk requires 300 calories per day. A rabbit provides 500 calories, so a hawk needs 300/500 = 0.6 rabbits per day. Each rabbit requires 100 calories per day, which is equivalent to 100/10 = 10 clover plants. Therefore, 0.6 rabbits require 0.6 * 10 = 6 clover plants per day. However, since the hawk's caloric requirement is higher, we need to multiply by the energy transfer efficiency (typically around 10%), resulting in approximately 600 clover plants needed to support one hawk.

Question 5

What is the correct order of events during primary succession?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession begins with the establishment of pioneer species in a barren area. These species are adapted to harsh conditions and help to create soil. As the soil develops, shrubs and small trees begin to grow. Eventually, the area reaches climax status, which is a stable community of plants and animals.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

Accepted Answer

Carbon monoxide is not considered a greenhouse gas because it does not absorb and emit infrared radiation like other greenhouse gases.

Question 7

The first species to begin secondary succession are called pioneer species,or colonizers.

Accepted Answer

Pioneer species or colonizers are the first to inhabit an area during secondary succession, helping to prepare the environment for subsequent species.

Question 8

The frequent change in HIV surface proteins is a type of

Accepted Answer

The frequent change in HIV surface proteins is an example of coevolution, where the virus evolves rapidly to escape the host's immune response.

Question 9

Which of the following features is not part of the ecological niche of a white-tailed deer?

Accepted Answer

All the listed features are part of the ecological niche of a white-tailed deer, as they relate to its diet, habitat, and survival needs.

Question 10

As animals take in food energy,approximately 10% of it is made available to the next level in the food chain.Which of the following is one of the ways in which the energy is used by the organism and not passed along?

Accepted Answer

Energy is used by organisms for cellular respiration, defecation, excretion, and other life processes, and is not passed along to the next level in the food chain.

Question 11

The relationship between plants and their pollinators is a good example of parasitism.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between plants and their pollinators is an example of mutualism, where both parties benefit: plants get pollinated, and pollinators receive food.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about parasitism is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

An efficient parasite does not usually kill its host, as it relies on the host for survival and reproduction. Killing the host would be detrimental to the parasite's own survival.

Question 13

If there are 12,000 kg.in the base of an ecological pyramid,how many kg.will be found in the body tissue of the tertiary consumers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If there are 12,000 kg.in the base...

Question 14

_____ is the interaction between two species as both attempt to use the same environmental resources that are in limited supply.

Accepted Answer

Competition is the interaction between two species as both attempt to use the same environmental resources that are in limited supply.

Question 15

Clements proposed the climax-pattern model of succession.Governing factors for this model include

Accepted Answer

The climax-pattern model of succession proposed by Clements considers multiple factors such as climate, soil conditions, and the role of each community in preparing the environment for the next stage, making all the choices correct.

Quiz 45: Community and Ecosystem Ecology