Question 1

Prey are least likely to defend themselves against predators by

Accepted Answer

Prey are least likely to defend themselves by pursuit and ambush, as these are typically strategies used by predators rather than prey.

Question 2

A relationship in which both species benefit is best labeled

Accepted Answer

Mutualism is the only choice that describes a relationship in which both species benefit. Competition is a relationship in which both species are harmed, predation is a relationship in which one species benefits while the other is harmed, parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits while the other is harmed, and commensalism is a relationship in which one species benefits while the other is unaffected.

Question 3

The key reason we should care about recovery of the southern sea otter population is

Accepted Answer

Southern sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their presence and behavior in their ecosystem has a significant impact on other species and the overall balance of the ecosystem. The recovery of the southern sea otter population is crucial for maintaining a healthy, diverse ecosystem.

Question 4

All of the following are external parasites except

Accepted Answer

Tapeworms are internal parasites that live inside the intestines of their hosts, unlike the other options which are external parasites.

Question 5

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 is best labeled

Accepted Answer

A relationship in which one organism obtains its nourishment by living on or in another organism over an extended period is best labeled parasitism. In parasitism, the organism that is being used for nourishment is referred to as the host, while the organism benefiting from the host is called the parasite. The parasite benefits from the relationship by receiving nutrients from the host, while the host is harmed or negatively affected by the relationship.

Question 6

Sea otters play a role in maintaining the biodiversity of which ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Sea otters are a keystone species in coastal kelp forests, as they are top predators that feed on herbivorous sea urchins. By doing so, they prevent sea urchins from overgrazing on kelp, which provides habitat for numerous other species, increasing the overall biodiversity of the ecosystem. Without sea otters, the kelp forest ecosystem can collapse into an urchin barren, which has low diversity and productivity.

Question 7

Carrying capacity refers to

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity refers to the maximum size of population the environment will support.

Question 8

Which of the following factors have contributed to the expansion of the earth's carrying capacity for humans?

Accepted Answer

All of the given factors have contributed to the expansion of the earth's carrying capacity for humans. Increased food production has been possible through advances in agriculture, technology, and distribution. Control of competing populations has been achieved through advancements in medicine and disease control, reducing the impact of infections and epidemics. Expanding into formerly uninhabitable areas has been possible through advancements in transportation, communication, and infrastructure. The combination of these factors has led to an increase in the earth's carrying capacity for humans.

Question 9

A logistic growth curve depicting a population that is limited by a definite carrying capacity is shaped like the letter ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A logistic growth curve depicting a population...

Question 10

Which of the following are ways that humans benefit from kelp forests?

Accepted Answer

Kelp forests provide multiple benefits to humans. They reduce shore erosion by absorbing wave energy, provide a source of algin which is used in various products such as cosmetics and ice cream, and are one of the most diverse ecosystems in marine waters, providing habitat for a variety of species.

Question 11

Which of the following best categorizes the most common form of interspecific species interactions?

Accepted Answer

Competition is the most common form of interspecific species interaction, where individuals compete with each other for resources like food, water, and shelter. Mutualism, parasitism, commensalism, and predation are also forms of interspecific interactions, but they are not as common as competition.

Question 12

The obvious relationship demonstrated by a food chain is

Accepted Answer

A food chain represents the transfer of energy and nutrients from one organism to another through predation.

Question 13

You are an evolutionary entomologist. a.You have observed beetles that can raise their abdomens and give off a defensive chemical that generally repels predators.
You discover a new species of beetle that raises its abdomen in a threatening way similar to the first species, but no defensive chemical is given off.
You are most likely to characterize this defensive strategy as a form of

Accepted Answer

The new species mimics the threatening behavior of the first species without actually having the chemical defense, which is a form of mimicry.

Question 14

A relationship in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed to any significant degree is best labeled

Accepted Answer

Commensalism is a type of relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed significantly. In contrast, competition involves both species being negatively affected, predation involves one species benefiting while the other is harmed, parasitism involves one species benefiting at the expense of the other, and mutualism involves both species benefiting.

Question 15

Insect-eating warblers reduce interspecific competition by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

By spending a significant portion of their time foraging for insects in different parts of the same trees, insect-eating warblers reduce competition for food resources within their shared habitat. This helps to alleviate competition and allows for the coexistence of multiple species.

Question 16

The southern sea otter population, although hunted to near extinction, recovered during the years

Accepted Answer

The southern sea otter population began to recover after being protected by law in 1911, with significant recovery efforts and population growth occurring from 1938 to 2008.

Question 17

Hawks typically forage for their rodent prey species during the daytime. a.While owls may eat similar prey species, and live in the same area, they forage during the night.
This is best described as an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of resource partitioning, where two species that utilize the same resources (prey species) have evolved to use those resources at different times (day vs night) to reduce competition and allow for coexistence. This reduces the likelihood of interspecific competition, predation, or parasitism between the two species.

Question 18

The relationship between clownfish and sea anemones is

Accepted Answer

Clownfish and sea anemones have a mutualistic relationship, where both species benefit from each other. The clownfish gain protection from predators by living within the sea anemones' tentacles, while the sea anemones receive protection and food from the clownfish's waste and by scaring away potential predators.

Question 19

All of the following illustrate the relationship of mutualism except

Accepted Answer

Epiphytes are not an example of mutualism. They are plants that grow harmlessly on other plants or trees and obtain their nutrients from the air and rainwater, but do not provide any benefit to the host plant. Therefore, there is no mutualistic relationship involved.

Question 20

A mechanism that similar species are known to use in their interactions with each to reduce competition is called

Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning refers to the division of resources among different species in order to reduce competition. This is a known mechanism used by similar species to coexist in an ecosystem, while still meeting their individual needs for resources such as food and habitat. Predation and extinction are not mechanisms for reducing competition between similar species, and niche modification may occur but is not a commonly known mechanism for reducing competition. Therefore, the best choice is D, resource partitioning.

Quiz 5: Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control