Question 1

The theory of island biogeography can best be applied to ecosystems damaged by

Accepted Answer

A)  erosion. 
B)  pollution. 
C)  a sudden disturbance. 
D)  habitat fragmentation. 
E)  loss of net primary productivity. 
A)  erosion. 
B)  pollution. 
C)  a sudden disturbance. 
D)  habitat fragmentation. 
E)  loss of net primary productivity.

Question 2

If gross primary productivity (GPP)is 120 units per day,and the respiration rate (R)of primary producers is 30 units per day,net primary productivity (NPP)is _______ units per day.[Note: Use the formula NPP = GPP - R.]

Accepted Answer

A)  4 
B)  30 
C)  90 
D)  120 
E)  150 
A)  4 
B)  30 
C)  90 
D)  120 
E)  150

Question 3

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 4

Mountaintop plant communities in central and northern Europe are becoming more species-rich as the warming climate allows lower-altitude plants to move up toward the peaks.If this trend continues,the most likely outcome will be that

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing richness eventually will lower overall community productivity. 
B)  all species will evolve by partitioning their niches so that a lower but stable diversity level can be maintained. 
C)  increasing richness will increase competition,which could eliminate some original mountain peak species. 
D)  one of the new arrivals will eventually drive out all the others,resulting in virtual monocultures on the peaks. 
E)  the original mountaintop species will move down the mountainsides,increasing the homogeneity of the mountain's plant communities. 
A)  increasing richness eventually will lower overall community productivity. 
B)  all species will evolve by partitioning their niches so that a lower but stable diversity level can be maintained. 
C)  increasing richness will increase competition,which could eliminate some original mountain peak species. 
D)  one of the new arrivals will eventually drive out all the others,resulting in virtual monocultures on the peaks. 
E)  the original mountaintop species will move down the mountainsides,increasing the homogeneity of the mountain's plant communities.

Question 5

Beavers live near streams and gnaw down many trees,using branches to construct dams.This eventually changes wooded streams into ponds surrounded by second-growth shrubby forest.Beavers feed on various plants during the summer and inner tree bark during the winter.This information describes the beaver's _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Beavers live near streams and gnaw down...

Question 6

On Krakatau,the tallest trees are most likely to be found

Accepted Answer

A)  along the beaches. 
B)  on gentle inland slopes. 
C)  at or near the summit. 
D)  scattered over the whole island. 
E)  exposed to the highest winds. 
A)  along the beaches. 
B)  on gentle inland slopes. 
C)  at or near the summit. 
D)  scattered over the whole island. 
E)  exposed to the highest winds.

Question 7

The theory of island biogeography is most concerned with the

Accepted Answer

A)  relationships between species diversity and area. 
B)  latitudinal gradient of species richness. 
C)  effects of human colonization on diversity. 
D)  diversity on volcanic versus coral reef islands. 
E)  evolution of endemic species. 
A)  relationships between species diversity and area. 
B)  latitudinal gradient of species richness. 
C)  effects of human colonization on diversity. 
D)  diversity on volcanic versus coral reef islands. 
E)  evolution of endemic species.

Question 8

The total amount of energy captured and converted to chemical energy per unit time in an ecosystem is measured by the rate at which primary consumers take up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.This rate is called _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The total amount of energy captured and...

Question 9

A small wooded area,once surrounded by pastures and shrubby areas,gradually became enclosed by housing developments.Ecologists studying the area noticed that,as housing developments encroached,some species disappeared from the woodland,but no new species entered.What is the most likely reason for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  The housing developments were damaging the woodland by causing erosion. 
B)  The housing developments were damaging the woodland by causing air and water pollution. 
C)  The housing developments acted as a barrier to dispersal into and out of the woodland. 
D)  Extinction rates increased in the small area,while dispersal rates were unchanged. 
E)  Colonization rates increased in the small area,while extinction rates remained stable. 
A)  The housing developments were damaging the woodland by causing erosion. 
B)  The housing developments were damaging the woodland by causing air and water pollution. 
C)  The housing developments acted as a barrier to dispersal into and out of the woodland. 
D)  Extinction rates increased in the small area,while dispersal rates were unchanged. 
E)  Colonization rates increased in the small area,while extinction rates remained stable.

Question 10

A grassland is composed primarily of a single type of grass,with small amounts of three other grasses and several forbs.How will this species composition be likely to affect the function of this community?

Accepted Answer

A)  All species will have an approximately equal effect on function. 
B)  The dominant grass will mostly define the function of the community. 
C)  The forbs will have the greatest effect on function because they are unique. 
D)  All grasses will have an approximately equal effect on function;forbs will have a lesser effect. 
E)  The species having the greatest effect on function may vary,depending on the abiotic environment. 
A)  All species will have an approximately equal effect on function. 
B)  The dominant grass will mostly define the function of the community. 
C)  The forbs will have the greatest effect on function because they are unique. 
D)  All grasses will have an approximately equal effect on function;forbs will have a lesser effect. 
E)  The species having the greatest effect on function may vary,depending on the abiotic environment.

Question 11

Based on the principles of island biogeography,one practical step restoration ecologists could take to limit the negative effects of fragmentation is to leave dispersal corridors.A second step is to

Accepted Answer

A)  decrease colonization. 
B)  decrease average patch size. 
C)  remove nonessential species from patches. 
D)  keep average patch size as large as possible. 
E)  keep patches as far from each other as possible. 
A)  decrease colonization. 
B)  decrease average patch size. 
C)  remove nonessential species from patches. 
D)  keep average patch size as large as possible. 
E)  keep patches as far from each other as possible.

Question 12

According to the theory of island biogeography,if the colonization rate is equal to the extinction rate,the species richness is

Accepted Answer

A)  low. 
B)  high. 
C)  increasing. 
D)  decreasing. 
E)  at equilibrium. 
A)  low. 
B)  high. 
C)  increasing. 
D)  decreasing. 
E)  at equilibrium.

Question 13

Which ecological studies have documented the effects of climate change on communities?

Accepted Answer

A)  Studies of the effects of wolves on aspens 
B)  Observations from Krakatau 
C)  Observations of rodent middens 
D)  Studies of island biogeography 
E)  Tillman's experiments on productivity and species richness 
A)  Studies of the effects of wolves on aspens 
B)  Observations from Krakatau 
C)  Observations of rodent middens 
D)  Studies of island biogeography 
E)  Tillman's experiments on productivity and species richness

Question 14

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

Island X,because it is large and near th

Question 15

Which group is the best example of an ecological community?

Accepted Answer

A)  All animals in a local grassland 
B)  All field mice in a local grassland 
C)  All living organisms in all grasslands 
D)  All living organisms in a local grassland 
E)  All living organisms and abiotic factors in a local grassland 
A)  All animals in a local grassland 
B)  All field mice in a local grassland 
C)  All living organisms in all grasslands 
D)  All living organisms in a local grassland 
E)  All living organisms and abiotic factors in a local grassland

Question 16

A prairie community plowed 150 years ago to make farmland has recently been abandoned.Species will now reestablish themselves in this area following a predictable pattern called _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A prairie community plowed 150 years ago...

Question 17

Niche complementarity is most closely related to which ecological community function?

Accepted Answer

A)  Resource partitioning 
B)  Trophic cascades 
C)  Mutualism 
D)  Habitat fragmentation 
E)  Intraspecific competition 
A)  Resource partitioning 
B)  Trophic cascades 
C)  Mutualism 
D)  Habitat fragmentation 
E)  Intraspecific competition

Question 18

Biologists working to improve the functioning of a highly disturbed aquatic community are engaged in the practice of _______ ecology.

Accepted Answer

A)  natural 
B)  restoration 
C)  succession 
D)  sustainable 
E)  experimental 
A)  natural 
B)  restoration 
C)  succession 
D)  sustainable 
E)  experimental

Question 19

The environmental conditions that determine where a species can or cannot live-including its environmental tolerances,its interactions with other species,and the way it obtains energy and materials-define its _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The environmental conditions that determine where a...

Question 20

Earth could support a larger human population if more people

Accepted Answer

A)  became vegetarians. 
B)  became omnivores. 
C)  became carnivores. 
D)  hunted their own food. 
E)  metabolized more of the energy they consume. 
A)  became vegetarians. 
B)  became omnivores. 
C)  became carnivores. 
D)  hunted their own food. 
E)  metabolized more of the energy they consume.

Exam 44: Ecological Communities

The theory of island biogeography can best be applied to ecosystems damaged by

If gross primary productivity (GPP)is 120 units per day,and the respiration rate (R)of primary producers is 30 units per day,net primary productivity (NPP)is _______ units per day.[Note: Use the formula NPP = GPP - R.]

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 _______.

Mountaintop plant communities in central and northern Europe are becoming more species-rich as the warming climate allows lower-altitude plants to move up toward the peaks.If this trend continues,the most likely outcome will be that

On Krakatau,the tallest trees are most likely to be found

The theory of island biogeography is most concerned with the

The total amount of energy captured and converted to chemical energy per unit time in an ecosystem is measured by the rate at which primary consumers take up carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.This rate is called _______.

A grassland is composed primarily of a single type of grass,with small amounts of three other grasses and several forbs.How will this species composition be likely to affect the function of this community?

Based on the principles of island biogeography,one practical step restoration ecologists could take to limit the negative effects of fragmentation is to leave dispersal corridors.A second step is to

According to the theory of island biogeography,if the colonization rate is equal to the extinction rate,the species richness is

Which ecological studies have documented the effects of climate change on communities?

Which group is the best example of an ecological community?

A prairie community plowed 150 years ago to make farmland has recently been abandoned.Species will now reestablish themselves in this area following a predictable pattern called _______.

Niche complementarity is most closely related to which ecological community function?

Biologists working to improve the functioning of a highly disturbed aquatic community are engaged in the practice of _______ ecology.

The environmental conditions that determine where a species can or cannot live-including its environmental tolerances,its interactions with other species,and the way it obtains energy and materials-define its _______.

Earth could support a larger human population if more people

Introduction

The Chemistry and Energy of Life

Nucleic Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes

Cells: the Working Units of Life

Cell Membranes and Signaling

Pathways That Harvest and Store Chemical Energy

The Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes

DNA and Its Role in Heredity

From Dna to Protein: Gene Expression

Regulation of Gene Expression

Genomes

Biotechnology

Genes, Development, and Evolution

Processes of Evolution

Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Speciation

The History of Life on Earth

Bacteria, Archaea, and Viruses

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Evolution of Plants

The Evolution and Diversity of Fungi

Animal Origins and Diversity

The Plant Body

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Plant Growth and Development

Reproduction of Flowering Plants

Plants in the Environment

Fundamentals of Animal Function

Nutrition and Digestion

Breathing

Circulation

Muscle and Movement

Neurons, Sense Organs, and Nervous Systems

Nervous and Endocrine Control

Water and Salts: Excretion

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Immunology: Animal Defense Systems

Animal Behavior

The Distribution of Earths Ecological Systems

Populations

Ecological and Evolutionary Consequences of Interactions Within and Among Species

The Global Ecosystem

Filters