Deck 28: Community Interactions

Question 1

In the process called , interactions between species can limit population size, but can also influence the physical characteristics and behaviors of the interacting populations.

A) camouflage
B) coevolution
C) symbiosis
D) mutualism
E) succession

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The concept that two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche at the same time is called

A) mutualism.
B) the competitive exclusion principle.
C) predation.
D) coevolution.
E) succession.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

If similar species each occupy a smaller niche when they live together than they would if they lived alone, they are said to be

A) increasing niche overlap.
B) involved in intraspecific competition.
C) partitioning their resources.
D) coevolving.
E) involved in succession.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Over the past century, sagebrush has dramatically expanded its range over the Colorado plateau's grasslands. This development has been attributed to the overgrazing of the area's grasses by cattle and sheep. This example indicates that

A) sagebrush is the dominant competitor over grasses.
B) the relationship between sagebrush and grasses is mutualistic.
C) sagebrush could not exist anywhere in the absence of cattle and sheep.
D) the range of sagebrush is normally limited by competition with grasses.
E) grazing has no effect on the distribution of plants.

Question 5

Ornithologists visiting an island find two species of birds that appear nearly identical except for bill size. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for their discovery?

A) Mutations have resulted in an inferior species with defective bills.
B) Coevolution of the two species has resulted in resource partitioning between the species.
C) They are not separate species.
D) There is natural random variability.
E) The birds need camouflage for protection from predators.

Question 6

The biologist who studies interactions at the community level investigates interactions among

A) organisms of more than one species.
B) social animals (such as honey bees).
C) animals of one species.
D) ecosystems.
E) organisms of one species.

Question 7

Predation is similar to _ _ in that both types of relationship benefit one of the interacting species while harming the other.

A) parasitism
B) mutualism
C) coevolution
D) competition
E) symbiosis

Question 8

If an insect eats the lettuce seedlings in your yard, it is acting most like a(n)

A) omnivore.
B) herbivore.
C) carnivore.
D) host.
E) mutualist.

Question 9

In , the interaction between two species harms both of them.

A) coevolution
B) competition
C) mutualism
D) symbiosis
E) parasitism

Question 10

Two species of buttercup are found in the same field in South Dakota, but they emerge at different times: One species emerges and flowers in early spring, and the other species does not emerge until late summer, after the first species has set seed. This is an example of

A) intraspecific competition.
B) habitat fragmentation.
C) niche realignment.
D) niche fragmentation.
E) resource partitioning.

Question 11

A species that is a mimic will most likely

A) resemble its surroundings.
B) produce "smoke screens."
C) produce chemicals that deter predators.
D) use bright colors to warn that it is harmful.
E) have a behavior similar to that of a more toxic species.

Question 12

Earthworms live in many grass and forest ecosystems, and they aerate the soil as they burrow. They also may mix soil layers as they ingest organic matter and travel between layers. These traits, taken collectively, make up the of the earthworm.

A) physical home
B) resource partition profile
C) ecosystem profile
D) niche
E) community profile

Question 13

An effective, bright, and very distinct color pattern that a prey species can display suddenly to scare a predator is called

A) mimicry.
B) camouflage.
C) aggressive mimicry.
D) startle coloration.
E) modeling.

Question 14

If you find a brightly colored insect resting on a dead leaf, the insect is likely to

A) be poisonous or distasteful.
B) have aggressive mimicry.
C) have startle coloration.
D) be camouflaged.
E) be prey for birds.

Question 15

Two species that have a high degree of niche overlap will

A) split into two separate species.
B) interbreed.
C) coexist peacefully.
D) compete intensely.
E) be in a predator- prey relationship.

Question 16

The process by which two interacting species act as agents of natural selection on one another is called

A) mutualism.
B) coevolution
C) parasitism.
D) symbiosis.
E) mimicry.

Question 17

Two families of feral cats move into the same barn. One family preys on the mice; the other preys on the pigeons. This behavior is an example of

A) interspecific competition.
B) parasitism.
C) ecosystem profile.
D) resource partitioning.
E) mutualism.

Question 18

Competition between the members of two species is

A) always very intense and is referred to as intraspecific.
B) most intense when the species are most similar and is referred to as interspecific.
C) very common and is referred to as intraspecific.
D) unusual and is referred to as interspecific.
E) least intense between similar species and is referred to as interspecific.

Question 19

Over the course of their evolutionary histories, the timing of flowering, the spacing of plants, and the nectar rewards of flowering plants have influenced the foraging behavior of bees, which in turn has influenced the morphology of flowers. This process is an example of

A) coevolution.
B) adaptive radiation.
C) convergent evolution.
D) niche partitioning.
E) competitive exclusion.

Question 20

An ecological niche

A) is a constantly changing place.
B) cannot be shared by two species.
C) is the same thing as a habitat.
D) depends on the weather.
E) is formed by the physical environment only.

Question 21

Plants called legumes have chambers in their roots that house nitrogen- fixing bacteria. Nitrogen- fixing bacteria get both a place to live and energy while supplying nitrogen to a plant. What is this ecological relationship called?

A) Mutualism
B) Predation
C) Competition
D) Parasitism
E) Succession

Question 22

In the Australian outback, emus (a relative of the ostrich) feeding in the open brush lands have coloration similar to the surrounding bushes. This is an example of

A) camouflage.
B) mimicry.
C) coevolution.
D) interspecies competition.
E) warning coloration.

Question 23

Which behavioral response to the threat of predation is most likely to be selected for in a species that uses camouflage for protection from predators?

A) Motionless behavior
B) Sudden display to startle the predator
C) Cooperative behavior
D) A quick escape response
E) Behavior that mimics the behavior of the predator

Question 24

Harmless king snakes mimic the color patterns of venomous coral snakes, which serve as models. If avoidance were based solely on prior predator experience with the model, what do you predict would happen in areas where coral snakes were never present?

A) No predictions can be made based on the information given.
B) Predators would initially avoid king snakes but soon learn to attack and eat them.
C) Predators would avoid king snakes.
D) Predators would attack and eat king snakes.
E) Predators would initially attack and eat king snakes but soon learn to avoid them.

Question 25

The Masai people of Kenya, in east Africa, regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. Based on this information alone, we might classify the relationship between the Masai and cattle as

A) mutualism.
B) coevolution.
C) predation.
D) competition.
E) parasitism.

Question 26

In the rain forests of Panama, scientists found a colony of tree- dwelling black ants where some individuals had red abdomens. When examined, the scientists determined that the ants with red abdomens were infected with roundworm eggs. Birds would prey on these ants, mistaking their red bellies for berries. In the interactions among the tree- dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the ants are the _ for the roundworms.

A) predators
B) parasites
C) hosts
D) mutualists
E) prey

Question 27

A species of caterpillar develops toxic spikes that deter the birds that prey on it. Over time, the genetics of the bird population shifts so that an allele for a digestive enzyme that neutralizes the toxin becomes more common. This is an example of

A) coevolution.
B) mutualism.
C) parasitism.
D) mimicry.
E) an invasive species.

Question 28

In the rain forests of Panama, scientists found a colony of tree- dwelling black ants where some individuals had red abdomens. When examined, the scientists determined that the ants with red abdomens were infected with roundworm eggs. Birds would prey on these ants, mistaking their red bellies for berries. In the interactions among the tree- dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the roundworms are the

A) predators.
B) parasites.
C) hosts.
D) mutualists.
E) prey.

Question 29

Trees often produce secondary chemicals to deter herbivores from feeding on their leaves; in turn, many herbivores have developed ways of avoiding or detoxifying these chemicals. This is an example of

A) predatory avoidance.
B) parasitic evolution.
C) coevolution.
D) parasite predation.
E) competitive exclusion.

Question 30

Fleas feed on the blood of dogs, cats, and people. What is this ecological relationship called?

A) Parasitism
B) Competition
C) Predation
D) Mutualism
E) Resource partitioning

Question 31

The Masai people of Kenya, in east Africa, regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. The cattle derive a net benefit because the Masai also protect them from predators and help them find water and food. Based on this information, the relationship between the Masai and cattle is best classified as

A) parasitism.
B) mutualism.
C) predation.
D) competition.
E) coevolution.

Question 32

Fleas on a dog are an example of

A) predators.
B) parasites.
C) hosts.
D) mutualists.
E) prey.

Question 33

Mosquitoes are

A) predators.
B) parasites.
C) hosts.
D) mutualists.
E) prey.

Question 34

Humans contract bacterial infections such as tuberculosis or syphilis. What is this ecological relationship called?

A) Competition
B) Parasitism
C) Resource partitioning
D) Mutualism
E) Predation

Question 35

Many plants are mycorrhizal: Their roots are infected with a specialized fungus. The plant supplies carbon to the fungus, and the fungus supplies nutrients to the plant. The relationship between these plants and the mycorrhizal fungi is an example of a _ association.

A) parasitic
B) successional
C) predator- prey
D) mutualistic
E) competitive

Question 36

A predator might use to enable it to catch its prey.

A) camouflage
B) coevolution
C) startle coloration
D) symbiosis
E) warning coloration

Question 37

Insects that feed on plants without completely consuming them may be classified as

A) predators.
B) parasites.
C) hosts.
D) mutualists.
E) prey.

Question 38

Clownfish live within the tentacles of sea anemones. The anemone protects the fish from predators, and the clownfish cleans the anemone. This relationship is an example of

A) mutualism.
B) competition.
C) parasitism.
D) predation.
E) succession.

Question 39

An example of is when birds feed on parasitic insects that they pick off the skin of large animals such as elephants or bison.

A) mutualism
B) resource partitioning
C) parasitism
D) competition
E) predation

Question 40

Birds follow a herd of water buffalo to catch insects that are disturbed as the large herbivores walk through the grass. When large predators are near, the birds fly into the air and make warning calls. What is the ecological relationship between the birds and the herbivores called?

A) Predation
B) Mutualism
C) Resource partitioning
D) Parasitism
E) Competition

Question 41

In a stable ecosystem, the number of predators is greater than the number of prey.

Question 42

Woodpeckers and squirrels both nest in tree cavities. This is an example of interspecific competition.

Question 43

The biotic portion of an ecosystem includes the plants, animals, and water.

Question 44

The next time you need to mow the grass, you can excuse yourself, saying that by mowing you are helping to maintain a man- made

A) subclimax community.
B) ecosystem.
C) biome.
D) population.
E) climax community.

Question 45

A certain species of animal represents just 3% of the biomass in its ecosystem. We might classify this as a keystone species if its removal

A) had no effect on the community.
B) caused plant biomass to increase by 5%.
C) allowed an even rarer species to increase in number and take its place.
D) caused the diversity of the plant community to decline by 40%.
E) caused 2% of the other species in the community to disappear.

Question 46

Intraspecific competition limits population size.

Question 47

Some toxic animals are brightly colored, as a means of warning others of their danger.

Question 48

When a community like the tallgrass prairie is maintained by recurring disturbances such as periodic fires set by Native Americans or by lightning, a community exists.

A) pine forest
B) climax
C) deciduous
D) subclimax
E) pioneer

Question 49

What ecological process causes a lake to change into a marsh over a long period of time?

A) Extinction
B) Coevolution
C) Competitive exclusion
D) Eutrophication
E) Succession

Question 50

Birds follow a herd of water buffalo to catch insects that are disturbed as the large herbivores walk through the grass. When large predators are near, the birds fly into the air and make warning calls. Who are the birds warning?

A) The water buffalo's prey, because they need to escape
B) The predators, so they know their prey, the water buffalo, is near
C) The water buffalo, so they can avoid attack
D) Their competitors
E) Other birds, who also catch insects stirred up by the water buffalo

Question 51

A species that plays a major role in determining the structure of its ecological community is

A) a predator.
B) the species with the largest size.
C) a dominator species.
D) the most abundant species in the community.
E) a keystone species.

Question 52

Why is the African elephant considered a keystone species?

A) Elephants eat more food than any other species in their community.
B) Elephants live in large cooperative herds that dominate other smaller groups within the community.
C) The removal of elephants from their community would result in drastic changes in the ecological structure of the community.
D) Elephant populations are larger than the populations of any other organisms in their community.
E) It is the largest organism in its community.

Question 53

In a process called coevolution, two species exert natural selection pressures on each other.

Question 54

A storm strips an island in Lake Superior down to bare rock. The first organisms to recolonize the island are most likely

A) balsam firs.
B) blueberries.
C) yarrow.
D) lichens.
E) junipers.

Question 55

Invasive species outcompete native species because they lack predators and have high reproductive rates.

Question 56

The first community that forms on bare rock often has organisms such as

A) broad- leaf trees and conifers.
B) grasses and weeds.
C) herbs and conifers.
D) woody shrubs and conifers.
E) lichens and mosses.

Question 57

In mutualistic interactions, one species is harmed and one benefits.

Question 58

In most environments, two or more organisms occupy identical niches.

Question 59

Succession that begins on bare rock after glaciers have passed, or on newly formed volcanic islands, is

A) pioneer.
B) primary.
C) allogenic.
D) secondary.
E) autogenic.

Question 60

After a forested area such as a national forest is clear- cut, what type of succession occurs?

A) Climax
B) Subclimax
C) Primary
D) Secondary
E) Biome

Question 61

The most common pioneer species are mosses and lichens.

Question 62

Lichens represent a symbiotic association between a fungus and a plant.

Question 63

Startle coloration is used to attract mates.

Question 64

An animal that only eats plants is a(n) .

Question 65

In all symbiotic relationships, both species involved benefit from the association.

Question 66

Parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits and the other does not benefit.

Question 67

Hawks that eat field mice are practicing mutualism.

Question 68

Parasites are generally smaller than their host.

Question 69

Every species occupies a unique ecological that encompasses all aspects of its way of life.

Question 70

Parasites kill their hosts, but predators do not kill their prey.

Question 71

Organisms introduced as biocontrols for an invasive species can harm native species.

Question 72

The principle states that two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

Question 73

The keystone species in the African savanna is the elephant.

Question 74

Shade- tolerant plant species are generally found early in succession and are replaced by hardier, shade- intolerant species.

Question 75

The first organisms to colonize a disturbed ecosystem are the climax species.

Question 76

In a mutualistic relationship, one species benefits and the other is harmed.

Question 77

A keystone species is the most numerous species in an ecosystem.

Question 78

The physical home of a species is its .

Question 79

Two weed species live in the same patch of ground. One has deep roots to tap into ground water. The other has broad, shallow roots to take advantage of the frequent light rains that do not penetrate very deeply into the soil. This is an example of _.

Question 80

A lichen is a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and an alga.