Question 1

At the basic level, an ecologist will study how an organism is adapted to its environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which of the following is a true statement about growth rate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The growth rate can be positive and a population can still be the same size year after year. 
B)  The growth rate has to be zero before a population can be the same size year after year. 
C)  Replacement reproduction automatically gives a growth rate of zero. 
D)  A growth rate of zero means the population is dying. 
E)  The growth rate can be negative and a population can still be the same size year after year. 
A)  The growth rate can be positive and a population can still be the same size year after year. 
B)  The growth rate has to be zero before a population can be the same size year after year. 
C)  Replacement reproduction automatically gives a growth rate of zero. 
D)  A growth rate of zero means the population is dying. 
E)  The growth rate can be negative and a population can still be the same size year after year.

Question 3

Which of the following is a parasitic relationship?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Dutch elm disease fungus infects and kills elm trees. 
B)  The yellow fever virus causes fever and sometimes kills humans. 
C)  A female tick fastens to the skin of a human host and draws blood for nutrition to make her eggs. 
D)  The trichina worm burrows into muscle tissue, forms a cyst, and waits to continue its cycle until a predator consumes the host. 
E)  All of the answer choices describe parasitic relationships. 
A)  The Dutch elm disease fungus infects and kills elm trees. 
B)  The yellow fever virus causes fever and sometimes kills humans. 
C)  A female tick fastens to the skin of a human host and draws blood for nutrition to make her eggs. 
D)  The trichina worm burrows into muscle tissue, forms a cyst, and waits to continue its cycle until a predator consumes the host. 
E)  All of the answer choices describe parasitic relationships.

Question 4

Explain the correct sequence of events that occurs during the secondary succession of a forest.

Accepted Answer

During secondary succession, there is al

Question 5

Interaction between two species in which one feeds on the other is

Accepted Answer

A)  competition. 
B)  mimicry. 
C)  mutualism. 
D)  predation. 
E)  symbiosis. 
A)  competition. 
B)  mimicry. 
C)  mutualism. 
D)  predation. 
E)  symbiosis.

Question 6

In a population of 10,000 organisms, over a one-year period, there are 750 births and 130 deaths. Calculate the growth rate for that year.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.062 
B)  0.055 
C)  0.088 
D)  0.013 
E)  0.075 
A)  0.062 
B)  0.055 
C)  0.088 
D)  0.013 
E)  0.075

Question 7

The climax community in a biome that receives a large amount of rainfall would include

Accepted Answer

A)  plants with high tolerance to full sun, limited water, and limited nutrients. 
B)  the pioneer community. 
C)  small native plants of the area such as grasses and herbs. 
D)  large plants such as shrubs and trees. 
E)  lichens, mosses, and ferns. 
A)  plants with high tolerance to full sun, limited water, and limited nutrients. 
B)  the pioneer community. 
C)  small native plants of the area such as grasses and herbs. 
D)  large plants such as shrubs and trees. 
E)  lichens, mosses, and ferns.

Question 8

The relatively thin layer on the earth's surface where life is possible is known as the

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystem. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  biome. 
D)  biopreserve. 
E)  lithosphere. 
A)  ecosystem. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  biome. 
D)  biopreserve. 
E)  lithosphere.

Question 9

A scientist observes a population of grasshoppers in a farm field several times over the summer. She notices that each time she visits, the population has doubled in size. The scientist's results indicate the grasshopper population is probably

Accepted Answer

A)  in the lag phase. 
B)  in the exponential growth phase. 
C)  decelerating. 
D)  in the stable equilibrium phase. 
E)  at carrying capacity. 
A)  in the lag phase. 
B)  in the exponential growth phase. 
C)  decelerating. 
D)  in the stable equilibrium phase. 
E)  at carrying capacity.

Question 10

The outbreak of a disease, such as the bubonic plague, that kills large numbers of people in a city is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a density-independent factor. 
B)  a density-dependent factor. 
C)  a commensalistic factor. 
D)  a symbiotic relationship. 
E)  predation. 
A)  a density-independent factor. 
B)  a density-dependent factor. 
C)  a commensalistic factor. 
D)  a symbiotic relationship. 
E)  predation.

Question 11

A population with rapidly expanding exponential growth would be best represented by a graph with a(n) ________-shaped curve.

Accepted Answer

A)  bell 
B)  bimodal 
C)  pyramid 
D)  S 
E)  J 
A)  bell 
B)  bimodal 
C)  pyramid 
D)  S 
E)  J

Question 12

Which of the following would allow optimal population growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  accumulation of waste products 
B)  predation 
C)  competition 
D)  limited access to food and water 
E)  unlimited resources 
A)  accumulation of waste products 
B)  predation 
C)  competition 
D)  limited access to food and water 
E)  unlimited resources

Question 13

Several species of grain beetles can live on dry meal, obtaining water from their metabolic reactions. Many of these beetle species are grain pests that do considerable damage to stored grain. You set up an experiment with a dozen jars of dry meal. In each jar you introduce 50 individuals from each of two species. The food supply is sufficient to last for a year, and the size of the jar is adequate to prevent toxic waste buildup. In 6 months, when you reexamine the jars, you will most likely find

Accepted Answer

A)  a totally random number of organisms from both beetle species. 
B)  only one species per jar, similar to the classic competitive exclusion principle experiment with paramecia. 
C)  the same ratio of beetles as when you started, about half from each species. 
D)  only dead beetles in all jars due to intense competition. 
E)  a new species of hybrid beetles in each of the jars. 
A)  a totally random number of organisms from both beetle species. 
B)  only one species per jar, similar to the classic competitive exclusion principle experiment with paramecia. 
C)  the same ratio of beetles as when you started, about half from each species. 
D)  only dead beetles in all jars due to intense competition. 
E)  a new species of hybrid beetles in each of the jars.

Question 14

Which of the following describes a type II survivorship curve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most individuals die of old age. 
B)  Many individuals die early in life. 
C)  Individuals die at a constant rate throughout time. 
D)  Most individuals die during their reproductive years. 
E)  Most individuals die before old age, but after their reproductive years. 
A)  Most individuals die of old age. 
B)  Many individuals die early in life. 
C)  Individuals die at a constant rate throughout time. 
D)  Most individuals die during their reproductive years. 
E)  Most individuals die before old age, but after their reproductive years.

Question 15

The maximum per capita rate of increase for a population that can occur under ideal conditions is the

Accepted Answer

A)  population growth. 
B)  biotic potential. 
C)  environmental resistance. 
D)  carrying capacity. 
E)  doubling time. 
A)  population growth. 
B)  biotic potential. 
C)  environmental resistance. 
D)  carrying capacity. 
E)  doubling time.

Question 16

Consider that a species of salmon lays 20,000 eggs per pair when it spawns and dies. At the end of five years, an average of one pair of mature salmon from this group of hatched eggs returns again to spawn in the parent stream (19,998 have died). What is the per capita rate of increase?

Accepted Answer

A)  10,000, because there were that many eggs produced per parent fish (r) 
B)  2,000, because this must be divided by five years 
C)  zero, because there is exact replacement of the previous generation 
D)  -2,000, because there was this much average die-off per year 
E)  -19,998, because there was this much total loss 
A)  10,000, because there were that many eggs produced per parent fish (r) 
B)  2,000, because this must be divided by five years 
C)  zero, because there is exact replacement of the previous generation 
D)  -2,000, because there was this much average die-off per year 
E)  -19,998, because there was this much total loss

Question 17

Which of the following describes a type I survivorship curve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most individuals die of old age. 
B)  Many individuals die early in life. 
C)  Individuals die at a constant rate throughout time. 
D)  Most individuals die during their reproductive years. 
E)  Most individuals die before old age, but after their reproductive years. 
A)  Most individuals die of old age. 
B)  Many individuals die early in life. 
C)  Individuals die at a constant rate throughout time. 
D)  Most individuals die during their reproductive years. 
E)  Most individuals die before old age, but after their reproductive years.

Question 18

There are two plowed fields that are both the same size, have the same soil composition and climate. Both fields are surrounded by woodland. In the first field, as succession begins, the pioneer species are pine trees and shrubs. In the second field, the pioneer species are weeds and shrubs. This provides evidence for which model of succession?

Accepted Answer

A)  the facilitation model 
B)  the tolerance model 
C)  the inhibition model 
D)  an opportunistic model 
E)  the climax model 
A)  the facilitation model 
B)  the tolerance model 
C)  the inhibition model 
D)  an opportunistic model 
E)  the climax model

Question 19

Population growth rate would be negative when

Accepted Answer

A)  birthrate is greater than death rate. 
B)  death rate is greater than birthrate. 
C)  all couples are married but average less than two children apiece. 
D)  a country becomes poorer, because it is related to economic growth. 
E)  better health care reduces the death rate and increases survivorship of newborns. 
A)  birthrate is greater than death rate. 
B)  death rate is greater than birthrate. 
C)  all couples are married but average less than two children apiece. 
D)  a country becomes poorer, because it is related to economic growth. 
E)  better health care reduces the death rate and increases survivorship of newborns.

Question 20

All the members of the same species that inhabit a particular area are termed a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystem. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  ecological niche. 
D)  population. 
E)  community. 
A)  ecosystem. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  ecological niche. 
D)  population. 
E)  community.

Exam 34: Population and Community Ecology

At the basic level, an ecologist will study how an organism is adapted to its environment.

Which of the following is a true statement about growth rate?

Which of the following is a parasitic relationship?

Explain the correct sequence of events that occurs during the secondary succession of a forest.

Interaction between two species in which one feeds on the other is

In a population of 10,000 organisms, over a one-year period, there are 750 births and 130 deaths. Calculate the growth rate for that year.

The climax community in a biome that receives a large amount of rainfall would include

The relatively thin layer on the earth's surface where life is possible is known as the

A scientist observes a population of grasshoppers in a farm field several times over the summer. She notices that each time she visits, the population has doubled in size. The scientist's results indicate the grasshopper population is probably

The outbreak of a disease, such as the bubonic plague, that kills large numbers of people in a city is an example of

A population with rapidly expanding exponential growth would be best represented by a graph with a(n) ________-shaped curve.

Which of the following would allow optimal population growth?

Which of the following describes a type II survivorship curve?

The maximum per capita rate of increase for a population that can occur under ideal conditions is the

Consider that a species of salmon lays 20,000 eggs per pair when it spawns and dies. At the end of five years, an average of one pair of mature salmon from this group of hatched eggs returns again to spawn in the parent stream (19,998 have died). What is the per capita rate of increase?

Which of the following describes a type I survivorship curve?

Population growth rate would be negative when

All the members of the same species that inhabit a particular area are termed a(n)

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