Question 1

The potential ecological niche of an organism is its _______, while the niche an organism actually occupies is its ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  realized niche; fundamental niche 
B)  fundamental niche; realized niche 
C)  kinetic niche; latent niche 
D)  genuine niche; probable niche 
E)  competitive niche; passive niche 
A)  realized niche; fundamental niche 
B)  fundamental niche; realized niche 
C)  kinetic niche; latent niche 
D)  genuine niche; probable niche 
E)  competitive niche; passive niche

Question 2

Competition occurs when:

Accepted Answer

A)  one organism, the predator, attempts to consume another , the prey. 
B)  two species in different habitats have similar niches. 
C)  two or more species attempt to use an essential common resource. 
D)  two or more species have an ecological relationship. 
E)  symbiotic organisms interact. 
A)  one organism, the predator, attempts to consume another , the prey. 
B)  two species in different habitats have similar niches. 
C)  two or more species attempt to use an essential common resource. 
D)  two or more species have an ecological relationship. 
E)  symbiotic organisms interact.

Question 3

Compare and contrast the following terms: warning coloration and camouflage. Give examples of each.

Accepted Answer

Warning coloration causes animals to sta

Question 4

The ability of a community to withstand environmental disturbances (community stability) is correlated with:

Accepted Answer

A)  geographic size of community 
B)  power of keystone species 
C)  species richness 
D)  species poverty 
E)  sheer luck 
A)  geographic size of community 
B)  power of keystone species 
C)  species richness 
D)  species poverty 
E)  sheer luck

Question 5

Which term defines competition between species?

Accepted Answer

A)  commensalism 
B)  intraspecific competition 
C)  predation 
D)  competitive exclusion 
E)  interspecific competition 
A)  commensalism 
B)  intraspecific competition 
C)  predation 
D)  competitive exclusion 
E)  interspecific competition

Question 6

Define keystone species and discuss an example of an organism that is a keystone species.

Accepted Answer

A keystone species is vital in determini

Question 7

Define symbiosis. Identify and briefly describe the three different types of symbiotic relationships.

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis is the intimate relationship b

Question 8

An organism's role, or lifestyle, within the structure of an ecosystem is its:

Accepted Answer

A)  habitat. 
B)  trophic level. 
C)  symbiotic relationship. 
D)  ecological niche. 
E)  limiting resource. 
A)  habitat. 
B)  trophic level. 
C)  symbiotic relationship. 
D)  ecological niche. 
E)  limiting resource.

Question 9

What is the transitional zone where two or more communities meet?

Accepted Answer

A)  edge effect 
B)  ecotone 
C)  resource partition 
D)  keystone habitat 
E)  competitive exclusion 
A)  edge effect 
B)  ecotone 
C)  resource partition 
D)  keystone habitat 
E)  competitive exclusion

Question 10

What are the basic requirements for natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Evolution by natural selection consists

Question 11

Compare and contrast density-dependent and density-independent factors that affect population size. Include two examples of each type of factor.

Accepted Answer

Certain natural mechanisms influence pop

Question 12

All of the following are examples of a density-independent factor affecting population growth EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  fire. 
B)  blizzard. 
C)  hurricane. 
D)  food availability. 
E)  none of these choices is correct 
A)  fire. 
B)  blizzard. 
C)  hurricane. 
D)  food availability. 
E)  none of these choices is correct

Question 13

How did the discovery of genetic mutation contribute to the modern synthesis of evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  It explained patterns of inheritance 
B)  It demonstrated the true structure of DNA 
C)  It provided a mechanism by which genetic variation could be generated 
D)  It showed why reproductive success can vary among individuals 
E)  It illustrated that many more young are produced than can survive 
A)  It explained patterns of inheritance 
B)  It demonstrated the true structure of DNA 
C)  It provided a mechanism by which genetic variation could be generated 
D)  It showed why reproductive success can vary among individuals 
E)  It illustrated that many more young are produced than can survive

Question 14

Which of the following traits is not a defense used by plants against herbivores?

Accepted Answer

A)  assembling in groups 
B)  toxins 
C)  spines or thorns 
D)  thick wax layer 
E)  noxious chemicals 
A)  assembling in groups 
B)  toxins 
C)  spines or thorns 
D)  thick wax layer 
E)  noxious chemicals

Question 15

Which of the following is the best example of primary succession?

Accepted Answer

A)  a forest develops on abandoned farmland 
B)  a forest develops on the edge of a retreating glacier 
C)  a forest develops in the area of a forest fire 
D)  a forest develops in the area of a devastating flood 
E)  a forest develops on the site of a logging operation 
A)  a forest develops on abandoned farmland 
B)  a forest develops on the edge of a retreating glacier 
C)  a forest develops in the area of a forest fire 
D)  a forest develops in the area of a devastating flood 
E)  a forest develops on the site of a logging operation

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of coevolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  plants and carnivores 
B)  fig trees and insect-eating birds 
C)  sea urchins and orcas 
D)  flowering plants and their pollinators 
E)  None of these choices is correct 
A)  plants and carnivores 
B)  fig trees and insect-eating birds 
C)  sea urchins and orcas 
D)  flowering plants and their pollinators 
E)  None of these choices is correct

Question 17

Which of the following scenarios is (are) likely to lead to creation of a metapopulation? The type of organism is listed first, followed by the change to its habitat.
1) Forest bird species; Large sections of a forest are cleared to construct residential subdivisions
2) Grassland small mammal species; Large areas of grassland are cleared and plowed for agriculture
3) River fish species; An industrial chemical spill causes a massive fish kill on the river

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1 and 2 
E)  All of the scenarios are likely to lead to a metapopulation 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  1 and 2 
E)  All of the scenarios are likely to lead to a metapopulation

Question 18

Define ecological niche and explain the role of limiting resources in the determination of an organism's ecological niche.

Accepted Answer

Every organism is thought to have its ow

Question 19

The number of species in a community can depend on:

Accepted Answer

A)  the geological history of the region. 
B)  the productivity of the ecosystem. 
C)  the abundance of ecological niches. 
D)  the stability of the ecosystem. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  the geological history of the region. 
B)  the productivity of the ecosystem. 
C)  the abundance of ecological niches. 
D)  the stability of the ecosystem. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 20

Features that are typical of r-selected species include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  late reproduction. 
B)  small body size. 
C)  early maturity. 
D)  short life span. 
E)  large broods 
A)  late reproduction. 
B)  small body size. 
C)  early maturity. 
D)  short life span. 
E)  large broods

Exam 5: Ecosystems and Living Organisms

The potential ecological niche of an organism is its _______, while the niche an organism actually occupies is its ________.

Competition occurs when:

Compare and contrast the following terms: warning coloration and camouflage. Give examples of each.

The ability of a community to withstand environmental disturbances (community stability) is correlated with:

Which term defines competition between species?

Define keystone species and discuss an example of an organism that is a keystone species.

Define symbiosis. Identify and briefly describe the three different types of symbiotic relationships.

An organism's role, or lifestyle, within the structure of an ecosystem is its:

What is the transitional zone where two or more communities meet?

What are the basic requirements for natural selection?

Compare and contrast density-dependent and density-independent factors that affect population size. Include two examples of each type of factor.

All of the following are examples of a density-independent factor affecting population growth EXCEPT:

How did the discovery of genetic mutation contribute to the modern synthesis of evolution?

Which of the following traits is not a defense used by plants against herbivores?

Which of the following is the best example of primary succession?

Which of the following is an example of coevolution?

Define ecological niche and explain the role of limiting resources in the determination of an organism's ecological niche.

The number of species in a community can depend on:

Features that are typical of r-selected species include all of the following except:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and Energy

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

The Urban World

Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

Biological Resources

Land Resources

Food Resources

Air Pollution

Global Climate Change

Water Pollution

Pest Management

Solid and Hazardous Waste

Tomorrows Word

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The potential ecological niche of an organism is its _, while the niche an organism actually occupies is its __.