Question 1

Which of the following is TRUE about top predators?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are often keystone species. 
B)  Their removal increases biodiversity. 
C)  They are likely to be producers. 
D)  They include bacteria and fungi. 
E)  They are likely to be herbivores. 
A)  They are often keystone species. 
B)  Their removal increases biodiversity. 
C)  They are likely to be producers. 
D)  They include bacteria and fungi. 
E)  They are likely to be herbivores. A

Question 2

Desert and tundra both .

Accepted Answer

A)  have relatively low precipitation 
B)  lack insects 
C)  lack shrubs 
D)  have rich soils, although the climate is such that very little grows 
E)  have permafrost deep underground 
A)  have relatively low precipitation 
B)  lack insects 
C)  lack shrubs 
D)  have rich soils, although the climate is such that very little grows 
E)  have permafrost deep underground A

Question 3

Detritivores include .

Accepted Answer

A)  species that can break down cellulose, bone, and other durable biopolymers 
B)  algae and photosynthetic bacteria 
C)  millipedes and soil insects 
D)  wolves and lions 
E)  oak and poplar trees 
A)  species that can break down cellulose, bone, and other durable biopolymers 
B)  algae and photosynthetic bacteria 
C)  millipedes and soil insects 
D)  wolves and lions 
E)  oak and poplar trees C

Question 4

Because of the rainshadow effect, .

Accepted Answer

A)  a dry region occurs on the downwind side of a mountain 
B)  rainfall fluctuates, arriving in equal amounts on both sides 
C)  the wet region is determined by the location of jet stream 
D)  a dry region occurs on the windward side of a mountain 
E)  rainfall varies, but always falls in shadow areas 
A)  a dry region occurs on the downwind side of a mountain 
B)  rainfall fluctuates, arriving in equal amounts on both sides 
C)  the wet region is determined by the location of jet stream 
D)  a dry region occurs on the windward side of a mountain 
E)  rainfall varies, but always falls in shadow areas

Question 5

Which of the following biomes is experiencing the greatest temperature increases resulting from global climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  chaparral 
B)  tropical rainforest 
C)  Arctic tundra 
D)  temperature deciduous forest 
E)  temperate grassland 
A)  chaparral 
B)  tropical rainforest 
C)  Arctic tundra 
D)  temperature deciduous forest 
E)  temperate grassland

Question 6

capture solar energy and use photosynthesis to produce sugars.

Accepted Answer

A)  Detritivores 
B)  Heterotrophs 
C)  Secondary consumers 
D)  Primary consumers 
E)  Producers 
A)  Detritivores 
B)  Heterotrophs 
C)  Secondary consumers 
D)  Primary consumers 
E)  Producers

Question 7

A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when .

Accepted Answer

A)  pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations 
B)  it loses a keystone species or suffers a major climatic change 
C)  it has too many symbiotic relationships among species 
D)  it suffers a natural fire or flood 
E)  all invasive and exotic species are removed 
A)  pollutants cause a rapid rise in mutations 
B)  it loses a keystone species or suffers a major climatic change 
C)  it has too many symbiotic relationships among species 
D)  it suffers a natural fire or flood 
E)  all invasive and exotic species are removed

Question 8

Secondary succession _.

Accepted Answer

A)  requires primary succession to precede it 
B)  typically begins with lichen or moss colonizing rock 
C)  occurs after a fire or flood 
D)  is predictable because it always ends in the formation of a climax community 
E)  occurs after a volcano spreads lava across a landscape 
A)  requires primary succession to precede it 
B)  typically begins with lichen or moss colonizing rock 
C)  occurs after a fire or flood 
D)  is predictable because it always ends in the formation of a climax community 
E)  occurs after a volcano spreads lava across a landscape

Question 9

By definition, parasites

Accepted Answer

A)  never kill 
B)  kill 
C)  are much smaller than their host. 
D)  get nourishment from and harm 
E)  live on the external surface of 
A)  never kill 
B)  kill 
C)  are much smaller than their host. 
D)  get nourishment from and harm 
E)  live on the external surface of

Question 10

Character displacement can result from all of the following EXCEPT .

Accepted Answer

A)  intraspecific competition 
B)  natural selection 
C)  resource partitioning 
D)  interspecific competition 
E)  the use of limited resources by multiple species 
A)  intraspecific competition 
B)  natural selection 
C)  resource partitioning 
D)  interspecific competition 
E)  the use of limited resources by multiple species

Question 11

A trophic cascade is the effect of the loss of

Accepted Answer

A)  detritivores; the abundance of decomposers
_ on _ _. 
B)  top consumers; the abundance of lower consumers and producers 
C)  producers; the abundance of primary consumers 
D)  top consumers; one another 
E)  flooding; terrestrial ecosystems 
A)  detritivores; the abundance of decomposers
_ on _ _. 
B)  top consumers; the abundance of lower consumers and producers 
C)  producers; the abundance of primary consumers 
D)  top consumers; one another 
E)  flooding; terrestrial ecosystems

Question 12

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below

Human activities, including fossil fuel combustion, farming, and deforestation, are known to increase the levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in our atmosphere. Measurable warming of Earth due to these greenhouse gases can alter ecosystem dynamics. In addition to the direct climatic effects on organisms within biomes, warming can lower levels of sea ice and increase precipitation in Arctic areas. Global warming can also melt permafrost in the tundra and increase sea surface temperatures, which could increase the intensity of hurricanes in vulnerable areas. Within communities, climatic change can shift interdependent species "out of sync," potentially causing indirect loss of species. For example, if pollinators and the plants they pollinate become out of synch, the pollinators may not be able to switch to a different food source, and the plants may not be able to reproduce

-The relationship between flowering plants and bees is best described as .

Accepted Answer

A)  herbivory 
B)  parasitism 
C)  mutualism 
D)  competition 
E)  predation 
A)  herbivory 
B)  parasitism 
C)  mutualism 
D)  competition 
E)  predation

Question 13

Temperature remains relatively stable through the year in what biome?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperate grassland 
B)  temperate deciduous forest 
C)  boreal forest 
D)  tropical rainforest 
E)  chaparral 
A)  temperate grassland 
B)  temperate deciduous forest 
C)  boreal forest 
D)  tropical rainforest 
E)  chaparral

Question 14

A species' realized niche .

Accepted Answer

A)  is never really realized because it isn't real 
B)  is the portion of a species' niche that is "taken over" by competing species 
C)  cannot be smaller than its fundamental niche 
D)  is the niche that a species realizes/experiences in the absence of competition 
E)  cannot be larger than its fundamental niche 
A)  is never really realized because it isn't real 
B)  is the portion of a species' niche that is "taken over" by competing species 
C)  cannot be smaller than its fundamental niche 
D)  is the niche that a species realizes/experiences in the absence of competition 
E)  cannot be larger than its fundamental niche

Question 15

Ticks serve what role in this food web?

Accepted Answer

A)  secondary consumers 
B)  top predators 
C)  primary consumers 
D)  autotrophs 
E)  parasites 
A)  secondary consumers 
B)  top predators 
C)  primary consumers 
D)  autotrophs 
E)  parasites

Question 16

Benthic organisms in the Great Lakes .

Accepted Answer

A)  include phytoplankton 
B)  live near the water's surface 
C)  are harmed by the presence of zebra mussels 
D)  benefit from the presence of zebra mussels 
E)  include zooplankton but not phytoplankton 
A)  include phytoplankton 
B)  live near the water's surface 
C)  are harmed by the presence of zebra mussels 
D)  benefit from the presence of zebra mussels 
E)  include zooplankton but not phytoplankton

Question 17

Fish that eat zooplankton are _ _.

Accepted Answer

A)  primary consumers 
B)  detritivores 
C)  secondary consumers 
D)  producers 
E)  herbivores 
A)  primary consumers 
B)  detritivores 
C)  secondary consumers 
D)  producers 
E)  herbivores

Question 18

Microbes in our digestive tract that help us digest food demonstrate a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  benthic 
B)  homeopathic 
C)  allelopathic 
D)  parasitic 
E)  symbiotic 
A)  benthic 
B)  homeopathic 
C)  allelopathic 
D)  parasitic 
E)  symbiotic

Question 19

The energy content and biomass of

Accepted Answer

A)  top carnivores 
B)  primary consumers is lowest in a terrestrial food web. 
C)  small carnivores such as spiders and lizards 
D)  detritivores and decomposers 
E)  producers 
A)  top carnivores 
B)  primary consumers is lowest in a terrestrial food web. 
C)  small carnivores such as spiders and lizards 
D)  detritivores and decomposers 
E)  producers

Question 20

The Everglades restoration project in Florida _.

Accepted Answer

A)  seeks to exterminate numerous invasive fish species and plants 
B)  is a short -term restoration project with a two -year implementation plan 
C)  will probably destroy much of the commercial fishing in the area 
D)  is restoring natural levels of water flow by undoing numerous channeling and drainage projects 
E)  will result in serious depletion of drinking water supplies for humans in south Florida 
A)  seeks to exterminate numerous invasive fish species and plants 
B)  is a short -term restoration project with a two -year implementation plan 
C)  will probably destroy much of the commercial fishing in the area 
D)  is restoring natural levels of water flow by undoing numerous channeling and drainage projects 
E)  will result in serious depletion of drinking water supplies for humans in south Florida

Exam 4: Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Which of the following is TRUE about top predators?

Desert and tundra both .

Detritivores include .

Because of the rainshadow effect, .

Which of the following biomes is experiencing the greatest temperature increases resulting from global climate change?

capture solar energy and use photosynthesis to produce sugars.

A community may undergo a regime shift or a phase shift when .

Secondary succession _.

By definition, parasites

Character displacement can result from all of the following EXCEPT .

A trophic cascade is the effect of the loss of

Temperature remains relatively stable through the year in what biome?

A species' realized niche .

Ticks serve what role in this food web?

Benthic organisms in the Great Lakes .

Fish that eat zooplankton are _ _.

Microbes in our digestive tract that help us digest food demonstrate a(n)

The energy content and biomass of

The Everglades restoration project in Florida _.

Science and Sustainability: an Introduction to Environmental Science

Environmental Systems: Matter, Energy, and Ecosystems

Evolution, Biodiversity, and Population Ecology

Economics, Policy, and Sustainable Development

Human Population

Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Forests, Forest Management, and Protected Areas

Environmental Health and Toxicology

Geology, Minerals, and Mining

Fresh Water, Oceans, and Coasts

Atmospheric Science, Air Quality, and Pollution Control

Global Climate Change

Nonrenewable Energy Sources, Their Impacts, and Energy Conservation

Renewable Energy Alternatives

Managing Our Waste

The Urban Environment: Creating Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Solutions

Answers to Data Analysis Questions

How to Interpret Graphs

Metric System

Periodic Table of the Elements

Geologic Time Scale Glossary Credits Index

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