Question 1

Which of the following would be most significant in understanding the structure of an ecological community?

Accepted Answer

A)  determining how many species are present overall 
B)  determining which particular species are present 
C)  determining the kinds of interactions that occur among organisms of different species 
D)  determining the relative abundance of species 
E)  determining how many species are present overall, which particular species are present, the kinds of interactions that occur among organisms of different species, and the relative abundance of species 
A)  determining how many species are present overall 
B)  determining which particular species are present 
C)  determining the kinds of interactions that occur among organisms of different species 
D)  determining the relative abundance of species 
E)  determining how many species are present overall, which particular species are present, the kinds of interactions that occur among organisms of different species, and the relative abundance of species

Question 2

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, species richness would be greatest on an island that is

Accepted Answer

A)  large and close to a mainland. 
B)  large and remote. 
C)  small and remote. 
D)  small and close to a mainland. 
E)  environmentally homogeneous. 
A)  large and close to a mainland. 
B)  large and remote. 
C)  small and remote. 
D)  small and close to a mainland. 
E)  environmentally homogeneous.

Question 3

Use the following diagram of five islands formed at around the same time near a particular mainland, as well as MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography principles, to answer the following questions.
   
Figure 54.4
-Which island would likely exhibit the most impoverished species diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 4

Use the following diagram to answer the next question
 
-Connell conducted this experiment to learn more about

Accepted Answer

A)  character displacement in the color of barnacles. 
B)  habitat preference in two different species of barnacles. 
C)  desiccation resistance and barnacle species. 
D)  how sea-level changes affect barnacle distribution. 
E)  competitive exclusion and distribution of barnacle species. 
A)  character displacement in the color of barnacles. 
B)  habitat preference in two different species of barnacles. 
C)  desiccation resistance and barnacle species. 
D)  how sea-level changes affect barnacle distribution. 
E)  competitive exclusion and distribution of barnacle species.

Question 5

The next series of questions presumes that you have at least once visited and have some knowledge of the fast-food restaurant McDonald's. Use your knowledge of McDonald's and your understanding of community ecology to answer the following questions about an ecological community, McDonaldland.
-Which of the following would be considered a keystone species in McDonaldland?

Accepted Answer

A)  Big Mac 
B)  Large French Fries 
C)  Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken 
D)  Filet-O-Fish 
E)  Chicken McNuggets 
A)  Big Mac 
B)  Large French Fries 
C)  Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken 
D)  Filet-O-Fish 
E)  Chicken McNuggets

Question 6

Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between

Accepted Answer

A)  sympatric populations of a predator and its prey. 
B)  sympatric populations of species with similar ecological niches. 
C)  sympatric populations of a flowering plant and its specialized insect pollinator. 
D)  allopatric populations of the same animal species. 
E)  allopatric populations of species with similar ecological niches. 
A)  sympatric populations of a predator and its prey. 
B)  sympatric populations of species with similar ecological niches. 
C)  sympatric populations of a flowering plant and its specialized insect pollinator. 
D)  allopatric populations of the same animal species. 
E)  allopatric populations of species with similar ecological niches.

Question 7

The oak tree pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, has migrated 650 km in 10 years. West Nile virus spread from New York State to 46 other states in 5 years. The difference in the rate of spread is probably related to

Accepted Answer

A)  the lethality of each pathogen. 
B)  the mobility of their hosts. 
C)  the fact that viruses are very small. 
D)  innate resistance. 
E)  dormancy viability. 
A)  the lethality of each pathogen. 
B)  the mobility of their hosts. 
C)  the fact that viruses are very small. 
D)  innate resistance. 
E)  dormancy viability.

Question 8

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-The feeding relationships among the species in a community determine the community's

Accepted Answer

A)  secondary succession. 
B)  ecological niche. 
C)  species richness. 
D)  species-area curve. 
E)  trophic structure. 
A)  secondary succession. 
B)  ecological niche. 
C)  species richness. 
D)  species-area curve. 
E)  trophic structure.

Question 9

Evidence shows that some grasses benefit from being grazed. Which of the following terms would best describe this plant-herbivore interaction?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

According to bottom-up and top-down control models of community organization, which of the following expressions would imply that an increase in the size of a carnivore (C)population would negatively impact on its prey (P)population, but not vice versa?

Accepted Answer

A)  P ← C 
B)  P → C 
C)  C ↔ P 
D)  P ← C → P 
E)  C ← P → 
A)  P ← C 
B)  P → C 
C)  C ↔ P 
D)  P ← C → P 
E)  C ← P →

Question 11

Use the following diagram of a hypothetical food web to answer the following questions. The arrows represent the transfer of food energy between the various trophic levels.
   
Figure 54.3
-Which letter represents an organism that could be a producer?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 12

Dwarf mistletoes are flowering plants that grow on certain forest trees. They obtain nutrients and water from the vascular tissues of the trees. The trees derive no known benefits from the dwarf mistletoes. Which of the following best describes the interactions between dwarf mistletoes and trees?

Accepted Answer

A)  mutualism 
B)  parasitism 
C)  commensalism 
D)  facilitation 
E)  competition 
A)  mutualism 
B)  parasitism 
C)  commensalism 
D)  facilitation 
E)  competition

Question 13

The 1988 Yellowstone National Park lodgepole pine forest fires were likely the result of

Accepted Answer

A)  overgrazing by elk. 
B)  infrequent rain episodes. 
C)  years of fire suppression by humans. 
D)  unextinguished campfires. 
E)  geysers. 
A)  overgrazing by elk. 
B)  infrequent rain episodes. 
C)  years of fire suppression by humans. 
D)  unextinguished campfires. 
E)  geysers.

Question 14

As you study two closely related predatory insect species, the two-spot and the three-spot avenger beetles, you notice that each species seeks prey at dawn in areas without the other species. However, where their ranges overlap, the two-spot avenger beetle hunts at night and the three-spot hunts in the morning. When you bring them into the laboratory and isolate the two different species, you discover that the offspring of both species are found to be nocturnal. You have discovered an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  mutualism. 
B)  character displacement. 
C)  Batesian mimicry. 
D)  facultative commensalism. 
E)  resource partitioning. 
A)  mutualism. 
B)  character displacement. 
C)  Batesian mimicry. 
D)  facultative commensalism. 
E)  resource partitioning.

Question 15

The most plausible hypothesis to explain why species richness is higher in tropical than in temperate regions is that

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical communities are younger. 
B)  tropical regions generally have more available water and higher levels of solar radiation. 
C)  higher temperatures cause more rapid speciation. 
D)  diversity increases as evapotranspiration decreases. 
E)  tropical regions have very high rates of immigration and very low rates of extinction. 
A)  tropical communities are younger. 
B)  tropical regions generally have more available water and higher levels of solar radiation. 
C)  higher temperatures cause more rapid speciation. 
D)  diversity increases as evapotranspiration decreases. 
E)  tropical regions have very high rates of immigration and very low rates of extinction.

Question 16

The next series of questions presumes that you have at least once visited and have some knowledge of the fast-food restaurant McDonald's. Use your knowledge of McDonald's and your understanding of community ecology to answer the following questions about an ecological community, McDonaldland.
-Which two "species" are likely to compete for the same ecological niche?

Accepted Answer

A)  Big Mac and Quarter Pounder 
B)  French Fries and Hash Browns 
C)  Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken and Premium Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich 
D)  Filet-O-Fish and Double Cheeseburger 
E)  No two species can ever occupy the same ecological niche. 
A)  Big Mac and Quarter Pounder 
B)  French Fries and Hash Browns 
C)  Premium Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken and Premium Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich 
D)  Filet-O-Fish and Double Cheeseburger 
E)  No two species can ever occupy the same ecological niche.

Question 17

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-What interactions exist between a bee and a flower?

Accepted Answer

A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/- 
A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/-

Question 18

Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

Accepted Answer

A)  competitive exclusion that results in the success of the superior species 
B)  slight variations in niche that allow similar species to coexist 
C)  two species that can coevolve to share identical niches 
D)  differential resource utilization that results in a decrease in community species diversity 
E)  a climax community that is reached when no new niches are available 
A)  competitive exclusion that results in the success of the superior species 
B)  slight variations in niche that allow similar species to coexist 
C)  two species that can coevolve to share identical niches 
D)  differential resource utilization that results in a decrease in community species diversity 
E)  a climax community that is reached when no new niches are available

Question 19

The symbols +, -, and o are to be used to show the results of interactions between individuals and groups of individuals in the examples that follow. The symbol + denotes a positive interaction, - denotes a negative interaction, and o denotes where individuals are not affected by interacting. The first symbol refers to the first organism mentioned.
-What interactions exist between a lion pride and a hyena pack?

Accepted Answer

A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/- 
A)  +/+ 
B)  +/o 
C)  +/- 
D)  o/o 
E)  -/-

Question 20

How might an ecologist test whether a species is occupying its realized or its fundamental niche?

Accepted Answer

A)  Study the temperature range and humidity requirements of the species. 
B)  Observe if the niche size changes after the addition of nutritional resources to the habitat. 
C)  Observe if the niche size changes after the introduction of a similar non-native species. 
D)  Measure the change in reproductive success when the species is subjected to environmental stress. 
E)  Remove a competitor species to see if the species expands its range. 
A)  Study the temperature range and humidity requirements of the species. 
B)  Observe if the niche size changes after the addition of nutritional resources to the habitat. 
C)  Observe if the niche size changes after the introduction of a similar non-native species. 
D)  Measure the change in reproductive success when the species is subjected to environmental stress. 
E)  Remove a competitor species to see if the species expands its range.

Exam 54: Community Ecology

Which of the following would be most significant in understanding the structure of an ecological community?

According to the equilibrium model of island biogeography, species richness would be greatest on an island that is

Use the following diagram of five islands formed at around the same time near a particular mainland, as well as MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography principles, to answer the following questions. Figure 54.4 -Which island would likely exhibit the most impoverished species diversity?

Use the following diagram to answer the next question -Connell conducted this experiment to learn more about

Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between

The oak tree pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, has migrated 650 km in 10 years. West Nile virus spread from New York State to 46 other states in 5 years. The difference in the rate of spread is probably related to

Evidence shows that some grasses benefit from being grazed. Which of the following terms would best describe this plant-herbivore interaction?

According to bottom-up and top-down control models of community organization, which of the following expressions would imply that an increase in the size of a carnivore (C)population would negatively impact on its prey (P)population, but not vice versa?

Use the following diagram of a hypothetical food web to answer the following questions. The arrows represent the transfer of food energy between the various trophic levels. Figure 54.3 -Which letter represents an organism that could be a producer?

Dwarf mistletoes are flowering plants that grow on certain forest trees. They obtain nutrients and water from the vascular tissues of the trees. The trees derive no known benefits from the dwarf mistletoes. Which of the following best describes the interactions between dwarf mistletoes and trees?

The 1988 Yellowstone National Park lodgepole pine forest fires were likely the result of

The most plausible hypothesis to explain why species richness is higher in tropical than in temperate regions is that

Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

How might an ecologist test whether a species is occupying its realized or its fundamental niche?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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