Question 1

Coral reefs are found in tropical waters around the world,some on islands far from large landmasses.They are the most highly diverse ocean ecosystems,equivalent in their diversity to tropical rainforests on land.How might organisms arrive to build and colonize coral reefs,and how does coral reef diversity become so great?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Coral reefs are found in tropical waters...

Question 2

Refer to the diagram below.Briefly explain the similarities and differences in species diversity among communities A,B,and C,taking into account both species richness and species evenness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the diagram below.Briefly explain the...

Question 3

A study of arthropod species on a series of mangrove islands shows that two years after all arthropods were removed,the number of species on each island has returned to approximately its original number.However,the numbers are not constant-they vary from month to month as new censuses are taken.Explain why this might occur.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A study of arthropod species on a...

Question 4

The extinction of a predatory bird leads to an increase in the population of a small mammal,which in turn leads to a decrease in the population of the plants on which the mammal feeds.This series of changes is an example of a(n)_______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The extinction of a predatory bird leads...

Question 5

The diagram below shows changes in species composition for the first year after recolonization of mangrove islands that were defaunated (had their arthropod species removed).One hypothesis proposed for recolonization was that every island has a specific set of niches,and recolonization will be complete when the original set of species filling those niches has been reassembled.Do these data support that hypothesis? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The diagram below shows changes in species...

Question 6

Based on information in the graphs below,explain how species richness is related to number of functional groups in a community,and how they both relate to net primary productivity (measured as plant biomass per unit time).

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on information in the graphs below,explain...

Question 7

Suppose a business in an urban area is closed.Its buildings are torn down and the land is left abandoned.Describe what will happen to this area over time,and what ecological principles will be at work.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose a business in an urban area...

Question 8

Ecosystem services provided by a natural community are likely to be of higher quality if the natural community has _______ species diversity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ecosystem services provided by a natural community...

Question 9

Refer to the figure below.The graph at right shows the number of swallowtail butterfly species at various latitudes,with relative locations shown on the map at left.Using this information,briefly explain the relationship between species richness and latitude,and give at least two possible reasons for this relationship.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below.The graph at...

Question 10

The number of trophic levels in a community is limited-most communities have no more than four levels.Explain why this is the case.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The number of trophic levels in a...

Question 11

A large natural prairie that once had many native plants and pollinators has been reduced to small segments of prairie interspersed with agricultural fields.Native pollinators present in the original prairie have declined by nearly 90 percent.This area has undergone habitat _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A large natural prairie that once had...

Question 12

List as many ecosystem goods and services as you can think of that are active in your own life.Include goods and services that involve human intervention,as well as those that do not.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List as many ecosystem goods and services...

Question 13

The goods and services provided to humans from biological organisms and the communities in which they interact are known as _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The goods and services provided to humans...

Question 14

Design an experiment that a group of scientists could use to determine how climate change is affecting the species composition of pond communities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Design an experiment that a group of...

Question 15

In determining sizes of habitat patches,corridors,and other conservation techniques,ecologists should develop their plans around key species (such as wolves in Yellowstone National Park),whose removal from ecosystems may cause a(n)_______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In determining sizes of habitat patches,corridors,and other...

Question 16

Refer to the diagram below.If both the scorpion and the roadrunner were eliminated from this food web,how would population sizes of other members of the web be affected?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the diagram below.If both the...

Question 17

Consider two natural communities: a pond in the Midwest and a coral reef off the coast of Florida.Describe the boundaries for each of these ecosystems and how the boundaries might be different.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider two natural communities: a pond in...

Question 18

Suppose two islands form at the same time in the same tropical latitude.Island X is relatively large and near the mainland,while Island Y is much smaller and much farther from the mainland.Based on the theory of island biogeography,explain how the two islands would be expected to differ at equilibrium.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose two islands form at the same...

Question 19

Use the following to answer questions :
Refer to the graphs below. 
-As shown in graph A,numbers on an island or other isolated natural area become stabilized (reach equilibrium)when the rate of colonization by new species equals the rate of extinction.Based on graphs B and C,how does size of islands and distance from the mainland (near vs.far)affect the stabilization of species numbers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Use the following to answer questions :
Refer...

Question 20

To minimize ecosystem damage due to fragmentation,ecologists can increase colonization by locating habitat fragments close together,keeping some large patches,and creating _______ to connect patches.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To minimize ecosystem damage due to fragmentation,ecologists...

Quiz 44: Ecological Communities