Question 1

The relationship between clownfish and sea anemone is called ____.
A)interspecific competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

The relationship between clownfish and sea anemone is a mutualism. The clownfish receives protection from predators by living among the stinging tentacles of the sea anemone and in return, the clownfish removes parasites and provides nutrients for the sea anemone.

Question 2

Kelp forests help reduce ____ by blunting the force of incoming waves and trapping some of the outgoing sand.
A)runoff
B)shore erosion
C)coastal pollution
D)tidal waves
E)tidal pools

Accepted Answer

Kelp forests help reduce shore erosion by blunting the force of incoming waves and trapping some of the outgoing sand.

Question 3

Parasites ____.
A)rarely kill their hosts
B)are usually larger than their hosts
C)must be internal to their hosts
D)may strengthen their hosts over a long period of time
E)are usually microscopic

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

What occurs when an interaction benefits one species but has little, if any, effect on the other?
A)interspecific competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

In commensalism, one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. Therefore, if an interaction benefits one species but has little effect on the other, it is an example of commensalism.

Question 5

Some prey species discourage predators with chemicals that are poisonous, irritating, foul smelling, or bad tasting. What is this called?
A)chemotoxicity
B)biological warfare
C)chemical warfare
D)behavioral warfare
E)behavioral strategies

Accepted Answer

Prey species that deter predators with chemicals use chemical warfare as a defense mechanism.

Question 6

Bats prey on certain species of moths by using high frequency echolocation to locate their prey. Certain moths have evolved ears that can hear these frequencies allowing them to escape. This is an example of ____.
A)mimicry
B)coevolution
C)a behavioral strategy
D)commensalism
E)mutualism

Accepted Answer

This is an example of coevolution because the bats and the moths have evolved together in response to each other’s abilities. The bats’ ability to use high frequency echolocation has driven the evolution of certain moth species to have ears that can hear those frequencies, which allows them to avoid predation.

Question 7

The primary reason why southern sea otter recovery is important is because they ____.
A)are educational
B)are a keystone species
C)encourage tourism
D)eliminate common pests
E)have luxurious, thick fur

Accepted Answer

Southern sea otters are considered a keystone species because they help to maintain the health and productivity of the nearshore ecosystem. As a predator, they help control the population of sea urchins, which in turn can help protect kelp forests and other important marine habitats. Their presence can also support the recovery of other species, such as abalone and rockfish. Therefore, their recovery is important for the overall health of the ecosystem.

Question 8

What occurs when members of two or more species interact to gain access to the same limited resources?
A)interspecific competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

Interspecific competition occurs when members of two or more species interact to gain access to the same limited resources, such as food, water, or habitat. This can result in a decrease in population size or changes in behavior for one or both species involved. Predation involves one species (the predator) feeding on another species (the prey), while parasitism involves one species (the parasite) living off of and harming another species (the host). Mutualism is a type of interaction where both species involved benefit, while commensalism is when one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Question 9

What was the primary reason the southern sea otter nearly went extinct by the early 1900s?
A)They scared the tourists.
B)They have thick, luxurious fur.
C)They were ruining the kelp beds.
D)They were eating all the shellfish.
E)They raided valuable bird nests.

Accepted Answer

The southern sea otter was heavily hunted for its thick, luxurious fur, which was highly valued in the fur trade. This led to a drastic decline in their population, nearly causing their extinction by the early 1900s.

Question 10

When two species behave in ways that benefit both by providing each with food, shelter, or some other resource, it is called ____.
A)mimicry
B)coevolution
C)parasitism
D)commensalism
E)mutualism

Accepted Answer

Mutualism is the interaction between two species in which both species benefit from each other by getting food, shelter, or other resources. This type of interaction is important for ecological balance as it helps in maintaining the populations of both species involved. Mimicry is a form of adaptation where one species imitates the appearance or behavior of another species for protection or other advantages. Coevolution is the process by which two or more species evolve together in response to changes in each other. Parasitism is an interaction in which one species benefits at the expense of the other. Commensalism is an interaction in which one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Question 11

The relationship between bacteria that live in the digestive systems of animals, such as humans, is ____.
A)interspecific competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

The relationship between bacteria that live in the digestive systems of animals like humans is mutualism. The bacteria in our gut help break down food and produce essential vitamins, while we provide them with a habitat to live in.

Question 12

When populations of two different species interact over long periods of time, changes in the gene pool of one species can lead to changes in the gene pool of the other. What is this called?
A)competition
B)coevolution
C)coincidence
D)commensalism
E)predation

Accepted Answer

This is known as coevolution, a process in which two or more species reciprocally affect each other's evolution through natural selection.

Question 13

Species can, over a long period of time, develop adaptations that allow them to reduce or avoid competition by sharing resources. This is called ____.
A)competitive exclusion principle
B)resource partitioning
C)population distribution
D)interspecific competition
E)mimicry

Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning refers to the process through which species evolve to reduce competition by sharing or dividing resources such as food, space, and other necessities. This allows them to coexist in the same habitat without excessively competing with each other. The other options, such as competitive exclusion principle, population distribution, interspecific competition, and mimicry, are related to different ecological concepts but do not specifically capture the idea of species adapting to avoid competition through resource partitioning.

Question 14

If multiple species find themselves competing for the same resource, the competition can be reduced by which of the following?
A)camouflage
B)cooperation
C)resource partitioning
D)resource expansion
E)mimicry

Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning involves dividing a resource to avoid competition. This reduces the intensity of competition between the species. Camouflage and mimicry are adaptations to avoid predation, while cooperation and resource expansion do not directly address competition between species for the same resource.

Question 15

What is said to occur when one organism feeds on another organism by living on or in the other organism?
A)interspecific competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of parasitism. The parasite benefits from the relationship by obtaining nutrients or shelter from the host organism, but the host is harmed in the process.

Question 16

What is the most common interaction between species?
A)competition
B)predation
C)parasitism
D)mutualism
E)commensalism

Accepted Answer

Competition is the most common interaction between species, as it occurs when two or more species vie for the same essential resources within an environment, such as food, water, or territory.

Question 17

Which of the following is not considered a form of nondestructive behavior ?
A)reducing competition by foraging at different times
B)reducing competition by foraging in different places
C)orchids attached to branches of forest trees
D)using the energy or body of another organisms as a food source
E)bacteria breaking down food for a host and having a sheltered habitat

Accepted Answer

Using the energy or body of another organism as a food source is a form of predatory behavior, which is not considered nondestructive. The other options (A, B, C, and E) are all examples of nondestructive behavior.

Question 18

Plants such as bromeliads share a commensalism interaction with large trees in tropical and subtropical forests by attaching to the trunks or branches of the trees. The bromeliads are an example of ____.
A)parasites
B)opportunistic parasites
C)epiphytes
D)prey
E)herbivores

Accepted Answer

Bromeliads, which attach to the trunks or branches of trees, are an example of epiphytes, which are plants that grow on other plants without harming them. This is a type of commensalism interaction, where the bromeliads benefit from being raised off the ground and receiving access to more sunlight, while the trees are neither helped nor harmed. Therefore, the best choice is C) epiphytes.

Question 19

From the ____ point of view, parasites are harmful, but from the ____ perspective, parasites can promote diversity.
A)population's; host's
B)host's; population's
C)predator's; prey's
D)prey's; predator's
E)community's; individual's

Accepted Answer

Parasites are harmful to the host because they consume resources from the host, which can lead to a decrease in fitness. However, from the perspective of the population, parasites can promote diversity because they can maintain genetic variation by selecting for hosts with different immune responses, which leads to greater genetic diversity in the population. Therefore, the host's perspective is that parasites are harmful, while the population's perspective is that parasites can be beneficial. Choice B reflects this contrast in perspectives.

Question 20

Kelp forests are a very important ecosystem in marine waters by supporting important biodiversity. These kelp forests are threatened by all of the following except _____.
A)water pollution containing herbicides
B)sea urchins
C)southern sea otters
D)global warming
E)water pollution containing fertilizers

Accepted Answer

Southern sea otters actually benefit kelp forests by preying on sea urchins which would otherwise overgraze kelp populations. The other options all pose threats to kelp forests.

Quiz 5: Biodiversity, Species Interactions, and Population Control

The relationship between clownfish and sea anemone is called ____.

Kelp forests help reduce ____ by blunting the force of incoming waves and trapping some of the outgoing sand.

Parasites ____.

What occurs when an interaction benefits one species but has little, if any, effect on the other?

Some prey species discourage predators with chemicals that are poisonous, irritating, foul smelling, or bad tasting. What is this called?

Bats prey on certain species of moths by using high frequency echolocation to locate their prey. Certain moths have evolved ears that can hear these frequencies allowing them to escape. This is an example of ____.

The primary reason why southern sea otter recovery is important is because they ____.

What occurs when members of two or more species interact to gain access to the same limited resources?

What was the primary reason the southern sea otter nearly went extinct by the early 1900s?

When two species behave in ways that benefit both by providing each with food, shelter, or some other resource, it is called ____.

The relationship between bacteria that live in the digestive systems of animals, such as humans, is ____.

When populations of two different species interact over long periods of time, changes in the gene pool of one species can lead to changes in the gene pool of the other. What is this called?

Species can, over a long period of time, develop adaptations that allow them to reduce or avoid competition by sharing resources. This is called ____.

If multiple species find themselves competing for the same resource, the competition can be reduced by which of the following?

What is said to occur when one organism feeds on another organism by living on or in the other organism?

What is the most common interaction between species?

Which of the following is not considered a form of nondestructive behavior ?

Plants such as bromeliads share a commensalism interaction with large trees in tropical and subtropical forests by attaching to the trunks or branches of the trees. The bromeliads are an example of ____.

From the point of view, parasites are harmful, but from the perspective, parasites can promote diversity.

Kelp forests are a very important ecosystem in marine waters by supporting important biodiversity. These kelp forests are threatened by all of the following except _____.