Question 1

In a typical prairie food web, energy moves from grass to grasshopper to field mouse to fox. Which organism is the primary consumer?

Accepted Answer

A)  the grass 
B)  the grasshopper 
C)  the mouse 
D)  the fox 
A)  the grass 
B)  the grasshopper 
C)  the mouse 
D)  the fox

Question 2

_________ are those organisms obtaining energy by eating all or portions of other organisms or their remains.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _________ are those organisms obtaining energy by...

Question 3

The climate of a given location can change over time for two reasons: global climate change and

Accepted Answer

A)  continental drift. 
B)  agricultural activities. 
C)  change in the makeup of the local communities. 
D)  the effect of introduced species. 
A)  continental drift. 
B)  agricultural activities. 
C)  change in the makeup of the local communities. 
D)  the effect of introduced species.

Question 4

Which of the following experiments would help to identify a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Introduce more of the suspected species into the area and observe the effects on other community members. 
B)  Remove the suspected species from the area and observe the effects on other community members. 
C)  Introduce an invasive species related to the suspected species into the area and observe the effects on the suspected species. 
D)  Introduce additional individuals of the suspected species' food source into the area and observe the effects on community members. 
A)  Introduce more of the suspected species into the area and observe the effects on other community members. 
B)  Remove the suspected species from the area and observe the effects on other community members. 
C)  Introduce an invasive species related to the suspected species into the area and observe the effects on the suspected species. 
D)  Introduce additional individuals of the suspected species' food source into the area and observe the effects on community members.

Question 5

A _______ is an association of populations of different species that live in the same area.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A _______ is an association of populations...

Question 6

Communities change with respect to several timescales; an example of long-term change would be

Accepted Answer

A)  the annual variability in population size. 
B)  the presence or absence of a migrant species. 
C)  the species composition of the community. 
D)  the decline in prey abundance during a harsh winter. 
A)  the annual variability in population size. 
B)  the presence or absence of a migrant species. 
C)  the species composition of the community. 
D)  the decline in prey abundance during a harsh winter.

Question 7

Which of the following can occur when the climate of an area changes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural selection usually causes the community to adapt and survive the change with little visible effect. 
B)  That area becomes uninhabitable to all species and is abandoned. 
C)  That community may relocate to an area with a climate similar to that of the original location. 
D)  Continental drift restores communities to climates similar to those from which the communities came. 
A)  Natural selection usually causes the community to adapt and survive the change with little visible effect. 
B)  That area becomes uninhabitable to all species and is abandoned. 
C)  That community may relocate to an area with a climate similar to that of the original location. 
D)  Continental drift restores communities to climates similar to those from which the communities came.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a producer in an aquatic biome?

Accepted Answer

A)  algae 
B)  mussels 
C)  phytoplankton 
D)  bacteria 
A)  algae 
B)  mussels 
C)  phytoplankton 
D)  bacteria

Question 9

__________ consumers feed on primary consumers as part or all of their diet.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ consumers feed on primary consumers as...

Question 10

Communities always recover quickly from disturbances caused by humans.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Because island communities evolve in isolation, one of the most serious threats to their biodiversity is

Accepted Answer

A)  native predators. 
B)  climate change. 
C)  succession. 
D)  introduced species. 
A)  native predators. 
B)  climate change. 
C)  succession. 
D)  introduced species.

Question 12

Once a climax community develops, is it likely to remain that way indefinitely?

Accepted Answer

A)  No; over long-term timescales climate change will probably occur, causing the community to eventually change. 
B)  No; once a climax community develops, the lack of biotic variability eventually degrades the habitat. 
C)  Yes; once a climax community develops, it will always remain undisturbed 
D)  Yes; climax communities become so stable that they prevent disturbances from occurring. 
A)  No; over long-term timescales climate change will probably occur, causing the community to eventually change. 
B)  No; once a climax community develops, the lack of biotic variability eventually degrades the habitat. 
C)  Yes; once a climax community develops, it will always remain undisturbed 
D)  Yes; climax communities become so stable that they prevent disturbances from occurring.

Question 13

Human-caused changes in ecological communities can be considered unique because

Accepted Answer

A)  humans have control over the actions that might cause the changes. 
B)  human-caused changes are always more severe than natural changes. 
C)  human-caused changes almost always benefit the existing community. 
D)  human-caused changes almost always modify the regional climate. 
A)  humans have control over the actions that might cause the changes. 
B)  human-caused changes are always more severe than natural changes. 
C)  human-caused changes almost always benefit the existing community. 
D)  human-caused changes almost always modify the regional climate.

Question 14

Burning of fossil fuels may affect climate but not communities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The only source of energy for life on Earth is the sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Into which category would a human be assigned when eating pepperoni pizza?

Accepted Answer

A)  producers and primary consumers. 
B)  primary and secondary consumers. 
C)  secondary and tertiary consumers. 
D)  producers and primary consumers 
A)  producers and primary consumers. 
B)  primary and secondary consumers. 
C)  secondary and tertiary consumers. 
D)  producers and primary consumers

Question 17

Pancake batter consists of flour, eggs, butter, salt, baking powder, sugar, and milk. When we eat pancakes, we are acting as

Accepted Answer

A)  secondary and tertiary consumers. 
B)  producers and secondary consumers. 
C)  primary and tertiary consumers. 
D)  primary and secondary consumers. 
A)  secondary and tertiary consumers. 
B)  producers and secondary consumers. 
C)  primary and tertiary consumers. 
D)  primary and secondary consumers.

Question 18

The figure below illustrates how, although pines first established themselves as the dominant tree in the Lake Michigan sand dune community, black oaks ultimately become the dominant species.  
What best explains the gradual reduction of the pine?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oaks trap sand, causing the dune to level out; pines can only survive in the low, protected areas between the dunes. 
B)  Pine needles and the shade from existing pines improve the soil composition and moisture, allowing oaks to become established and preventing new pines from surviving. 
C)  Pines replace the grasses but this destabilizes the dune and increases the amount of moving sand; the loss of pines is not related to the presence of the oaks. 
D)  Actually oak seeds were always present in the sand; they simply require more time to germinate. 
A)  Oaks trap sand, causing the dune to level out; pines can only survive in the low, protected areas between the dunes. 
B)  Pine needles and the shade from existing pines improve the soil composition and moisture, allowing oaks to become established and preventing new pines from surviving. 
C)  Pines replace the grasses but this destabilizes the dune and increases the amount of moving sand; the loss of pines is not related to the presence of the oaks. 
D)  Actually oak seeds were always present in the sand; they simply require more time to germinate.

Question 19

If initially present, a climax community will reform immediately after a habitat disturbance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Anthropogenic, or human-caused, changes to ecological communities typically

Accepted Answer

A)  improve those habitats for other organisms. 
B)  cause long-term damage and reduce the complexity of existing communities. 
C)  do not influence the natural interactions between organisms. 
D)  generally increase the diversity of life on Earth. 
A)  improve those habitats for other organisms. 
B)  cause long-term damage and reduce the complexity of existing communities. 
C)  do not influence the natural interactions between organisms. 
D)  generally increase the diversity of life on Earth.

Exam 36: Communities of Organisms

In a typical prairie food web, energy moves from grass to grasshopper to field mouse to fox. Which organism is the primary consumer?

_________ are those organisms obtaining energy by eating all or portions of other organisms or their remains.

The climate of a given location can change over time for two reasons: global climate change and

Which of the following experiments would help to identify a keystone species?

A _______ is an association of populations of different species that live in the same area.

Communities change with respect to several timescales; an example of long-term change would be

Which of the following can occur when the climate of an area changes?

Which of the following is not a producer in an aquatic biome?

__________ consumers feed on primary consumers as part or all of their diet.

Communities always recover quickly from disturbances caused by humans.

Because island communities evolve in isolation, one of the most serious threats to their biodiversity is

Once a climax community develops, is it likely to remain that way indefinitely?

Human-caused changes in ecological communities can be considered unique because

Burning of fossil fuels may affect climate but not communities.

The only source of energy for life on Earth is the sun.

Into which category would a human be assigned when eating pepperoni pizza?

Pancake batter consists of flour, eggs, butter, salt, baking powder, sugar, and milk. When we eat pancakes, we are acting as

The figure below illustrates how, although pines first established themselves as the dominant tree in the Lake Michigan sand dune community, black oaks ultimately become the dominant species. What best explains the gradual reduction of the pine?

If initially present, a climax community will reform immediately after a habitat disturbance.

Anthropogenic, or human-caused, changes to ecological communities typically

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

The Evolutionary History of Life

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Ecosystems

Global Change

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Building a Sustainable Society

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