Question 1

A community could be defined as

Accepted Answer

The definition of a community in ecology can vary depending on the perspective or ecological view one adopts. It can be broadly defined as a collection of species living together at the same location (A), but more specific definitions might emphasize strong interactions among species (B), co-evolution (C), or view it as an interacting ecological unit (D). Thus, "E" is correct because it acknowledges the variability in definitions based on different ecological viewpoints.

Question 2

Simpson's Index is one way to measure $\alpha$-diversity. It would be closest to 1 for which of the following communities?

Accepted Answer

Simpson's Index measures the diversity of a community, with values closer to 1 indicating higher diversity. Northern Australian rain forests are known for their high biodiversity, including a wide variety of plant and animal species, making them the most diverse option listed.

Question 3

$\alpha$-diversity and $\beta$-diversity differ in the following way.

Accepted Answer

The question seems to refer to alpha (α) diversity, which is the diversity within a community or habitat, and beta (β) diversity, which is the diversity between communities or habitats.

Question 4

A commercial plantation of Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) would have

Accepted Answer

Commercial plantations, especially of a single species like Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna), are designed for uniform growth and efficient harvesting, leading to low structural diversity (since the trees are often of similar age and size) and low species diversity (primarily one species is cultivated).

Question 5

Percentage projective foliage cover is the percentage of the ground surface

Accepted Answer

Percentage projective foliage cover refers to the proportion of the ground surface that is covered by the vertical projection of the foliage above it.

Question 6

A community consists of

Accepted Answer

A community in ecology refers to all organisms living in a particular area, encompassing various species, not limited to single species groups, sessile organisms, or specific interactions between animals and plants.

Question 7

All of the following match a major vegetation type with its appropriate climate or region EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Mallee is associated with semi-arid climates, not wet, cold climates.

Question 8

The relationship between the eastern grey kangaroo and the microbes that live in its foregut is most precisely described as

Accepted Answer

The answer of The relationship between the eastern grey kangaroo...

Question 9

As wildebeest move through grasslands feeding, their hooves stir up insects. The insects are caught and eaten by small birds that always follow the herd. The interaction between the birds and the wildebeest would be classified as

Accepted Answer

Commensalism describes a relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed, which fits the interaction between the birds and the wildebeest. The birds gain food without affecting the wildebeest.

Question 10

A parasitoid is

Accepted Answer

Parasitoids are organisms, typically insects, whose larvae live as parasites inside other insects and eventually kill them. The adult stages are free-living, which distinguishes parasitoids from true parasites, which do not generally kill their hosts directly.

Question 11

Symbiosis is a relationship between two organisms that is

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis encompasses various types of interactions between organisms, including those that are beneficial to one (parasitism), beneficial to both (mutualism), harmful to one (also parasitism), and those that are specific to two organisms (which can be seen in many symbiotic relationships). Therefore, all the provided options represent forms of symbiosis.

Question 12

A fig has evolved specialist structures that only allow one type of wasp to pollinate it. The wasp needs the fig, and the wasp and the fig have a relationship that is described as one to one. The wasp is said to

Accepted Answer

The answer of A fig has evolved specialist structures that...

Question 13

In myrmecotrophy (a specialised ant-plant relationship), the plant is thought to benefit from

Accepted Answer

In myrmecotrophy, plants benefit from nutrients in ant waste, as ants deposit waste materials that are rich in nutrients, which the plant can absorb.

Question 14

An ectoparasite

Accepted Answer

Ectoparasites live on the outside of their host, such as lice on humans or fleas on dogs, contrasting with endoparasites, which live inside their host.

Question 15

Predator-prey cycles are

Accepted Answer

Predator-prey cycles are not common in reality because they often require specific conditions to occur, such as a closed system with no external influences, which is rare in natural ecosystems.

Question 16

Which alternative best describes the Monarch butterfly's defence against predators?

Accepted Answer

Monarch butterflies sequester toxic compounds from the milkweed plants they consume as larvae, making them unpalatable to predators. This is their primary defense mechanism.

Question 17

Predation is

Accepted Answer

Predation is a direct interaction between species where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, the prey.

Question 18

Plants often contain chemicals to deter herbivores. These are known as

Accepted Answer

Plant secondary compounds are chemicals produced by plants specifically for defense against herbivores and other threats, distinguishing them from primary compounds which are essential for basic cellular functions.

Question 19

Predator-prey cycles in nature

Accepted Answer

Predator-prey cycles in nature are complex and can be influenced by a variety of factors, making them not always predictable, not uniformly oscillating, not always tightly coupled, and not solely dependent on herbivores, as other factors can also play significant roles.

Question 20

The introduction of the Cactoblastis moth to eat introduced prickly pear in Australia is an example of

Accepted Answer

The introduction of the Cactoblastis moth to Australia was an example of biological control, where a natural predator (the moth) was introduced to control the population of an invasive species (the prickly pear cactus), without the need for chemicals.

Quiz 44: Living in Communities

A community could be defined as

Simpson's Index is one way to measure $\alpha$ -diversity. It would be closest to 1 for which of the following communities?

$\alpha$ -diversity and $\beta$ -diversity differ in the following way.

A commercial plantation of Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) would have

Percentage projective foliage cover is the percentage of the ground surface

A community consists of

All of the following match a major vegetation type with its appropriate climate or region EXCEPT

The relationship between the eastern grey kangaroo and the microbes that live in its foregut is most precisely described as

As wildebeest move through grasslands feeding, their hooves stir up insects. The insects are caught and eaten by small birds that always follow the herd. The interaction between the birds and the wildebeest would be classified as

A parasitoid is

Symbiosis is a relationship between two organisms that is

A fig has evolved specialist structures that only allow one type of wasp to pollinate it. The wasp needs the fig, and the wasp and the fig have a relationship that is described as one to one. The wasp is said to

In myrmecotrophy (a specialised ant-plant relationship) , the plant is thought to benefit from

An ectoparasite

Predator-prey cycles are

Which alternative best describes the Monarch butterfly's defence against predators?

Predation is

Plants often contain chemicals to deter herbivores. These are known as

Predator-prey cycles in nature

The introduction of the Cactoblastis moth to eat introduced prickly pear in Australia is an example of

Quiz 44: Living in Communities

A community could be defined as

Simpson's Index is one way to measure α\alphaα -diversity. It would be closest to 1 for which of the following communities?

α\alphaα -diversity and β\betaβ -diversity differ in the following way.

A commercial plantation of Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) would have

Percentage projective foliage cover is the percentage of the ground surface

A community consists of

All of the following match a major vegetation type with its appropriate climate or region EXCEPT

The relationship between the eastern grey kangaroo and the microbes that live in its foregut is most precisely described as

As wildebeest move through grasslands feeding, their hooves stir up insects. The insects are caught and eaten by small birds that always follow the herd. The interaction between the birds and the wildebeest would be classified as

A parasitoid is

Symbiosis is a relationship between two organisms that is

A fig has evolved specialist structures that only allow one type of wasp to pollinate it. The wasp needs the fig, and the wasp and the fig have a relationship that is described as one to one. The wasp is said to

In myrmecotrophy (a specialised ant-plant relationship) , the plant is thought to benefit from

An ectoparasite

Predator-prey cycles are

Which alternative best describes the Monarch butterfly's defence against predators?

Predation is

Plants often contain chemicals to deter herbivores. These are known as

Predator-prey cycles in nature

The introduction of the Cactoblastis moth to eat introduced prickly pear in Australia is an example of

Simpson's Index is one way to measure $\alpha$ -diversity. It would be closest to 1 for which of the following communities?

$\alpha$ -diversity and $\beta$ -diversity differ in the following way.