Deck 28: Community Interactions

Question 1

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

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

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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

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

Answer 2

E

Question 3

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

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

Answer 3

parasitism

Question 4

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

Question 5

Two species that have a high degree of niche overlap will

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

Question 6

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

Question 7

A species that is a mimic will most likely

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

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

Competition between the members of two species is

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

Question 13

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

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

Question 14

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

Question 15

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) mutualism
C) symbiosis
D) coevolution
E) succession

Question 16

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

Question 17

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

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

Question 18

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

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

An ecological niche

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

Question 21

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 22

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

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

Question 23

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) predation.
C) competition.
D) coevolution.
E) mutualism.

Question 24

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

Question 25

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

Question 26

Mosquitoes are

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

Question 27

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

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

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

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

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

Question 30

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

Question 31

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

Question 32

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

Question 33

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

Question 34

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

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

Question 35

Fleas on a dog are an example of

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

Question 36

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

Question 37

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

Question 38

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

Question 39

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

Question 40

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

Question 41

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

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

Question 42

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

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

Question 43

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

Question 44

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

Question 45

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

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

Question 46

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

Question 47

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

Question 48

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

Question 49

Intraspecific competition limits population size.

Question 50

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

Question 51

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

Question 52

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

Question 53

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

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

Question 54

Why is the African elephant considered a keystone species?

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

Question 55

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

Question 56

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

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

Question 57

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

Question 58

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

Question 59

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

Question 60

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

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

Question 61

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

Question 62

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 63

The most common pioneer species are mosses and lichens.

Question 64

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

Question 65

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

Question 66

The keystone species in the African savanna is the elephant.

Question 67

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

Question 68

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

Question 69

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

Question 70

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

Question 71

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

Question 72

Parasites are generally smaller than their host.

Question 73

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

Question 74

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

Question 75

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

Question 76

The physical home of a species is its_________ .

Question 77

Hawks that eat field mice are practicing mutualism.

Question 78

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

Question 79

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

Question 80

Startle coloration is used to attract mates.