Deck 8: Community Ecology

Question 1

Which aspect(s) of the economy does the flying fox contribute to?

A)the production of antivenom
B)the production of antivenom and ecotourism
C)the production of fruits
D)ecotourism

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is one characteristic of amphibians?

A)Amphibians eat more insects than birds do.
B)Amphibians are often considered keystone species.
C)Amphibians are experiencing sharp population increases in a variety of habitats.
D)Amphibians are not an important indicator species.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What is associated with the term "richness"?

A)the number of edge effects
B)the number of ecotones in an area
C)the number of individuals of each species
D)the number of different species

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Why are flying foxes now listed as endangered?

A)they congregate and are easy to hunt
B)deforestation has destroyed their habitat
C)they are highly valued for insect control
D)pesticides blind their young

Question 5

What habitat would have relatively little species biodiversity?

A)a middle-latitude grassland
B)a low-latitude forest
C)the polar regions
D)a high-latitude forest

Question 6

Which term refers to a species whose role in an ecosystem is much more important than its abundance would suggest?

A)non-native species
B)specialist species
C)native species
D)keystone species

Question 7

Which term refers to a species that lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem?

A)specialist species
B)non-native species
C)keystone species
D)native species

Question 8

Which organism is a specialist?

A)a cockroach
B)a human
C)a fly
D)a giant panda

Question 9

Which term refers to a species that serves as an early warning of environmental damage?

A)non-native species
B)specialist species
C)native species
D)indicator species

Question 10

Which statement describes a cockroach's niche?

A)It is an indicator species.
B)It is a keystone species.
C)It is an alien species.
D)It is a generalist species.

Question 11

Which statement is characteristic of a specialist species?

A)It is very adaptable.
B)It eats a wide variety of food.
C)It is more likely to become extinct.
D)It tolerates a wide range of environments.

Question 12

What would a scientist predict to occur on large islands located near the mainland, based on the theory of island biogeography?

A)high immigration and low extinction rates
B)low immigration and low extinction rates
C)low immigration and high extinction rates
D)high immigration and high extinction rates

Question 13

What exemplifies the relationship between durian plants and flying foxes?

A)commensalism and coevolution
B)commensalism and convergent evolution
C)mutualism and coevolution
D)mutualism and convergent evolution

Question 14

What is a basis for classifying an organism as a specialist or generalist?

A)its range of tolerance
B)its niche
C)its range of tolerance and its niche
D)its size

Question 15

Why is the giant panda an endangered species?

A)It has a low birth rate and small litter size.
B)Its mating rituals are so complex it rarely mates.
C)It has a large litter size but a high death rate due to predation.
D)It is a generalized species that eats only evergreen leaves.

Question 16

Why are amphibians particularly sensitive to pollution?

A)Amphibians are habitat generalists and live in many habitats.
B)Amphibians lay so few eggs.
C)Amphibians' young are weakened and deformed by increased atmospheric CO₂ .
D)Amphibians live part of their life cycle in water and part on land.

Question 17

Which term refers to a species that migrates to, or is accidentally introduced into, an ecosystem?

A)specialist species
B)keystone species
C)non-native species
D)native species

Question 18

Which category of species does the flying fox belong to?

A)keystone species
B)thriving species
C)alien species
D)native species

Question 19

In what habitat would you find the greatest abundance of biodiversity?

A)in middle-latitude grassland
B)in low-latitude forest
C)in high-latitude forest
D)in polar grassland

Question 20

What is least likely to be included in ecosystem structure?

A)species abundance
B)species diversity
C)secondary productivity
D)physical appearance

Question 21

Which species category do wild African bees belong to?

A)native species
B)specialist species
C)keystone species
D)non-native species

Question 22

Which pair of predators both avoid competition by being active during different periods of the diurnal cycle?

A)hawks and owls
B)lions and tigers
C)hummingbirds and bees
D)zebras and antelopes

Question 23

Which relationship is an example of a positive feedback loop?

A)competition
B)co-operation
C)mutualism
D)predation

Question 24

Which category are sea otters, dung beetles, and gopher tortoises generally considered to belong to?

A)keystone species
B)native species
C)specialist species
D)non-native species

Question 25

Which statement correctly compares a generalist and a specialist?

A)When environmental conditions are changing rapidly, a generalist is usually better off than a specialist.
B)The generalist species typically have a narrower fundamental niche than that of a specialist species.
C)The competitive exclusion principle states that both generalist and specialist can occupy the same niche.
D)There is interspecific competition that occurs between two members of the same species.

Question 26

Which term describes the relationship between fire ant and native ant populations?

A)mutualism
B)interspecific competition
C)commensalisms
D)intraspecific competition

Question 27

What explains how species can avoid interspecific competition?

A)by eating at the same times
B)through resource partitioning
C)through resource partitioning and character displacement
D)through character displacement

Question 28

A new kitten is added to a home with an established older cat.The older cat hisses and swats at the younger kitten in the kitchen where they are fed.Which term refers to the behaviour of the older cat?

A)exploitation competition
B)predation
C)mutualism
D)interference competition

Question 29

Why have amphibian populations declined?

A)habitat loss
B)pollution
C)habitat loss and pollution
D)decreased UV radiation

Question 30

Which term reflects the obvious relationship demonstrated by a food chain?

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)competition

Question 31

Which term refers to a relationship in which both species benefit?

A)benefitism
B)commensalism
C)mutualism
D)co-operation

Question 32

Which statement describes resource partitioning?

A)Resource partitioning occurs when one species preys on another species.
B)Resource partitioning occurs when species share resources at the same time.
C)Resource partitioning occurs when one species is a parasite of the other.
D)Resource partitioning occurs when a species evolves adaptations that allow it to reduce or avoid competition.

Question 33

Which situation is the least likely death of a shark?

A)It was eaten by an apex predator.
B)It provided food for humans.
C)It was attacked by a threatened human.
D)It was caught by a sport fisher.

Question 34

Which term refers to the win-win relationship of animal behaviour?

A)commensalism
B)co-operation
C)mutualism
D)benefitism

Question 35

A new kitten is added to a home with an established older cat.The older cat gobbles up its food as well as that of the younger cat.Which term refers to the behaviour of the older cat?

A)interference competition
B)predation
C)exploitation competition
D)mutualism

Question 36

Which term is defined as a relationship in which one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed to any significant degree?

A)competition
B)commensalism
C)parasitism
D)predation

Question 37

Which species category do both birds and trout belong to?

A)non-native species
B)indicator species
C)native species
D)keystone species

Question 38

Which term is defined by 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?

A)parasitism
B)predation
C)competition
D)mutualism

Question 39

While observing beetles that can raise their abdomens and give off a defensive chemical that repels predators, an entomologist discovers a different species of beetle that also raises its abdomen but gives off no defensive chemical.What is the second beetles' defensive behaviour called?

A)chemical warfare
B)camouflage
C)flight mechanism
D)mimicry

Question 40

Which method would a prey species avoid using in self-defence?

A)protective shells
B)acute senses of sight and smell
C)pursuit and ambush
D)camouflage

Question 41

Which of the following is a natural disturbance?

A)a lightning strike resulting in a forest fire
B)an open pit mine
C)deforestation
D)slash and burn agriculture

Question 42

Which stage of succession likely refers to an ecosystem in which grizzly bears and caribou have been observed?

A)maturity
B)late succession
C)early succession
D)mid succession

Question 43

Which of the following would exhibit primary succession?

A)an area recently flooded to create a reservoir
B)a forest that had been clear-cut
C)an abandoned farm
D)a rock exposed by a retreating glacier

Question 44

Which of the following would undergo secondary succession?

A)cooled volcanic lava
B)a heavily polluted stream that has been cleaned up
C)an abandoned parking lot
D)a bare rock outcrop

Question 45

What is among the immediate effects of a natural disturbance?

A)maintaining the status quo and releasing resources
B)changing conditions and releasing resources
C)changing conditions and uptake of resources
D)maintaining the status quo and uptake of resources

Question 46

Which stage of succession likely refers to an ecosystem in which rabbit, quail, and pheasant have been observed?

A)late succession
B)early succession
C)maturity
D)mid succession

Question 47

Which of the following is an outcome of primary succession?

A)Primary succession generally results in more simple, more self-sustaining stages than the preceding stages.
B)Primary succession often results in a keystone species stabilizing the environment so that it can thrive indefinitely.
C)Primary succession often leads to a more simple, unsustainable stage.
D)Primary succession often involves a species changing its environment such that it can no longer thrive and must be replaced by other species.

Question 48

Which organism is referred to as an endoparasite?

A)a mosquito
B)a flea
C)mistletoe
D)a tapeworm

Question 49

Which characteristic do immature ecosystems have?

A)simple food webs
B)high species diversity
C)many specialized niches
D)numerous decomposers

Question 50

Which stage of succession likely refers to an ecosystem in which turkeys and grey squirrels have been observed?

A)early succession
B)late succession
C)maturity
D)mid succession

Question 51

An ecologist observes that squirrels from an adjacent area have brought pine cones to a stand of dense hemlock, but no pine seedlings have sprouted.Which term describes what the ecologist has observed?

A)primary succession
B)tolerance
C)inhibition
D)tertiary succession

Question 52

Which statement is indicative of a true parasite?

A)They may strengthen their hosts over a long period of time.
B)They rarely kill their hosts.
C)They are internal to their hosts.
D)They are usually larger than their hosts.

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT a mutualistic relationship?

A)lichens
B)ants and acacias
C)epiphytes
D)rhizobium bacteria in root nodules of legumes

Question 54

A forester observes a maple seedling grow successfully in a birch stand.Both species thrive.Which is the accepted term for what the forester observed?

A)tolerance
B)inhibition
C)primary succession
D)tertiary succession

Question 55

Which term defines the relationship between clownfish and sea anemones?

A)parasitism
B)predation
C)competition
D)mutualism

Question 56

Which process is likely guiding primary succession in an ecosystem where, over a period of years, bare rock was colonized by lichens that gave way to moss that in turn gave way to ferns?

A)tolerance
B)facilitation
C)inhibition
D)interspecific competition

Question 57

What is found in a mature ecosystem?
a.low efficiency of nutrient recycling
b.high efficiency of energy use
c.mainly annual plants
d.low species diversity

Question 58

Which term defines the relationship between redwood trees and redwood sorrel?

A)commensalism
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)competition

Question 59

How long does it take for natural processes to produce fertile soil?

A)weeks to months
B)months to years
C)decades to a few centuries
D)several centuries to several thousands of years

Question 60

What encourages soil formation in primary succession?

A)secretion of acids by lichens
B)trapping of nitrogen particles by lichens and mosses
C)fluctuating phosphorous levels in soil
D)secretion of bases by lichens

Question 61

One precautionary principle for environmental protection is: prevent harm once a cause-and-effect relationship has been established.

Question 62

Compared to forests, which set of characteristics do grasslands have?

A)more diversity and more resilience
B)more diversity and more inertia
C)less diversity and more inertia
D)less diversity and more resilience

Question 63

Which pair of terms applies to changes such as drought and earthquakes?

A)natural and catastrophic
B)human caused and catastrophic
C)natural and gradual
D)human caused and gradual

Question 64

People who believe that ecosystems are independent of each other do not understand ecological facts.

Question 65

One result of a low throughput economy is the reduction of unnecessary consumption.

Question 66

Mutualistic associations are exchanged benefits and fortified weaknesses of species' adaptive strategies.

Question 67

What is provided by most terrestrial ecosystems?

A)great biodiversity and sites that favour late successional species
B)moderate biodiversity and sites for early successional species to gain a foothold
C)great biodiversity and sites for early successional species to gain a foothold
D)moderate biodiversity and sites for all successional species

Question 68

Which of the following is a characteristic of a forest maintained by intermittent fire?

A)It takes up to a decade for new vegetation to grow.
B)Some species release seeds only after exposure to intense heat.
C)Fire burns the tree crowns but not the low vegetation.
D)The large trees are fire proof.

Question 69

Which pair of human activities is likely to lead to the establishment of monocultures?

A)plantation forestry and ecosystem restoration
B)agriculture and plantation forestry
C)agriculture and ecosystem rehabilitation
D)agriculture and ecosystem restoration

Question 70

Which human-caused change is appropriately classified as a catastrophic change rather than a gradual change?

A)compaction
B)salinization
C)plowing
D)water logging

Question 71

Which of the following is a fire-maintained community?

A)a giant sequoia forest
B)a temperate grassland
C)a hot desert
D)an oak-hickory forest

Question 72

Different types of species in a community, whether native or non-native, may play similar roles in the community's ecology.

Question 73

What characterizes a tropical rain forest?

A)low constancy
B)high resilience
C)low diversity
D)low inertia

Question 74

Which pair of terms applies to changes such as depletion of underground aquifers and water logging of irrigated soils?

A)natural and gradual
B)human caused and catastrophic
C)human caused and gradual
D)natural and catastrophic

Question 75

Which condition is likely to result in communities having the greatest diversity of species, according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?

A)infrequent disturbances of any kind
B)somewhat frequent, moderate disturbances
C)very frequent, large disturbances
D)somewhat frequent, large disturbances

Question 76

Which natural change would be considered gradual rather than catastrophic?

A)fire
B)drought
C)climate change
D)landslide

Question 77

Which term refers to the ability of a population to maintain a certain size?

A)constancy
B)inertia
C)resilience
D)stability

Question 78

Which term refers to the ability of an organism to return to its former condition after a period of stress?

A)inertia
B)constancy
C)stability
D)resilience

Question 79

Resource partitioning is one solution to the problems associated with ecological succession.

Question 80

Man's overharvesting of natural resources has contributed to reducing the Earth's net primary productivity.