Question 1

An earthworm eats primarily detritus. A robin that then eats the earthworm is operating on a trophic level _______ that of a rabbit that eats grass.

Accepted Answer

A)  two levels above 
B)  one level above 
C)  that is the same as 
D)  one level below 
A)  two levels above 
B)  one level above 
C)  that is the same as 
D)  one level below

Question 2

Decreases in _______ tend to increase the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

A)  NPP 
B)  trophic efficiency 
C)  disturbance frequency 
D)  ecosystem area 
A)  NPP 
B)  trophic efficiency 
C)  disturbance frequency 
D)  ecosystem area

Question 3

Refer to the figure.
  Which figure shows the most likely relationship between the total amount of production and the amount of resources allocated to defense in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Figure A 
B)  Figure B 
C)  Figure C 
D)  Figure A in aquatic ecosystems; Figure B in terrestrial ecosystems 
A)  Figure A 
B)  Figure B 
C)  Figure C 
D)  Figure A in aquatic ecosystems; Figure B in terrestrial ecosystems

Question 4

Haddad's arthropod experiment showed that

Accepted Answer

A)  arthropod communities were more stable in plots with higher plant diversity. 
B)  arthropod communities were less stable in plots with higher plant diversity. 
C)  arthropod communities were more stable in plots with lower plant diversity. 
D)  there was no correlation between arthropod communities and plant diversity. 
A)  arthropod communities were more stable in plots with higher plant diversity. 
B)  arthropod communities were less stable in plots with higher plant diversity. 
C)  arthropod communities were more stable in plots with lower plant diversity. 
D)  there was no correlation between arthropod communities and plant diversity.

Question 5

Hairston and colleagues argued that terrestrial ecosystems have a _______ proportion of autotroph biomass consumption compared to aquatic ecosystems because _______ is stronger in terrestrial ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

A)  higher; competition 
B)  higher; predation 
C)  lower; competition 
D)  lower; predation 
A)  higher; competition 
B)  higher; predation 
C)  lower; competition 
D)  lower; predation

Question 6

In an inverted trophic pyramid, _______ biomass is present in the secondary carnivores than in the primary producers. Compared to terrestrial systems, aquatic systems are _______ likely to feature inverted pyramids.

Accepted Answer

A)  more; much more 
B)  more; about as 
C)  more; much less 
D)  less; much more 
A)  more; much more 
B)  more; about as 
C)  more; much less 
D)  less; much more

Question 7

What links animals together in the context of ecological function is

Accepted Answer

A)  their size. 
B)  their evolutionary relationships. 
C)  their roles in moving energy through the ecosystem. 
D)  morphology. 
A)  their size. 
B)  their evolutionary relationships. 
C)  their roles in moving energy through the ecosystem. 
D)  morphology.

Question 8

If a robin with an assimilation efficiency of 30% and a production efficiency of 20% consumes 200 grams of worms, the expected increase in biomass of the bird will be _______ grams.

Accepted Answer

A)  6 
B)  12 
C)  20 
D)  40 
A)  6 
B)  12 
C)  20 
D)  40

Question 9

Which statement about PCBs is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can remain in the environment for long periods of time. 
B)  They cause a variety of health ailments in humans. 
C)  They are found at highest concentrations in Inuit women who eat herbivorous caribou. 
D)  They originate from industrial and agricultural production. 
A)  They can remain in the environment for long periods of time. 
B)  They cause a variety of health ailments in humans. 
C)  They are found at highest concentrations in Inuit women who eat herbivorous caribou. 
D)  They originate from industrial and agricultural production.

Question 10

According to the studies by Dyer and Letourneau, high densities of Tarsobaenus beetles in a lowland wet tropical forest led to _______ herbivory and _______ production.

Accepted Answer

A)  higher; higher 
B)  higher; lower 
C)  lower; higher 
D)  lower; lower 
A)  higher; higher 
B)  higher; lower 
C)  lower; higher 
D)  lower; lower

Question 11

Which trophic level generates the most dead organic material in most ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  First 
B)  Second 
C)  Third 
D)  Fourth 
A)  First 
B)  Second 
C)  Third 
D)  Fourth

Question 12

Refer to the figure.
  An ecosystem of 103.5 m2 would be expected to have _______ trophic levels.

Accepted Answer

A)  2.5 
B)  2.8 
C)  3 
D)  3.5 
A)  2.5 
B)  2.8 
C)  3 
D)  3.5

Question 13

In Paine's studies of ecosystems in the rocky intertidal zone, removal of Pisaster sea stars led to a long-term

Accepted Answer

A)  decrease in mussels of the genus Mytilus. 
B)  increase in mussels of the genus Mytilus. 
C)  increase in species diversity. 
D)  increase in gooseneck barnacles. 
A)  decrease in mussels of the genus Mytilus. 
B)  increase in mussels of the genus Mytilus. 
C)  increase in species diversity. 
D)  increase in gooseneck barnacles.

Question 14

The devastating effects of DDT and other pesticides on nontarget birds and mammals were described by _______ in the book Silent Spring.

Accepted Answer

A)  Robert May 
B)  Sharon Lawler 
C)  Barbara Kingsolver 
D)  Rachel Carson 
A)  Robert May 
B)  Sharon Lawler 
C)  Barbara Kingsolver 
D)  Rachel Carson

Question 15

In Paine's studies of the rocky intertidal zone, which species or group of species acted most like a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mussels of the genus Mytilus 
B)  Acorn barnacles (Balanus glandula) 
C)  Gooseberry barnacles (genus Pollicipes) 
D)  Pisaster sea stars 
A)  Mussels of the genus Mytilus 
B)  Acorn barnacles (Balanus glandula) 
C)  Gooseberry barnacles (genus Pollicipes) 
D)  Pisaster sea stars

Question 16

In which human communities would one be most likely to find the highest concentrations of PCBs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly whale meat 
B)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly herbivorous caribou 
C)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly a vegetarian diet 
D)  Communities in southern Canada that eat mainly a vegetarian diet 
A)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly whale meat 
B)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly herbivorous caribou 
C)  Communities in the Arctic that eat mainly a vegetarian diet 
D)  Communities in southern Canada that eat mainly a vegetarian diet

Exam 21: Energy Flow and Food Webs

An earthworm eats primarily detritus. A robin that then eats the earthworm is operating on a trophic level _______ that of a rabbit that eats grass.

Decreases in _______ tend to increase the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Refer to the figure. Which figure shows the most likely relationship between the total amount of production and the amount of resources allocated to defense in an ecosystem?

Haddad's arthropod experiment showed that

Hairston and colleagues argued that terrestrial ecosystems have a _______ proportion of autotroph biomass consumption compared to aquatic ecosystems because _______ is stronger in terrestrial ecosystems.

In an inverted trophic pyramid, _______ biomass is present in the secondary carnivores than in the primary producers. Compared to terrestrial systems, aquatic systems are _______ likely to feature inverted pyramids.

What links animals together in the context of ecological function is

If a robin with an assimilation efficiency of 30% and a production efficiency of 20% consumes 200 grams of worms, the expected increase in biomass of the bird will be _______ grams.

Which statement about PCBs is false?

According to the studies by Dyer and Letourneau, high densities of Tarsobaenus beetles in a lowland wet tropical forest led to _______ herbivory and _______ production.

Which trophic level generates the most dead organic material in most ecosystems?

Refer to the figure. An ecosystem of 103.5 m2 would be expected to have _______ trophic levels.

In Paine's studies of ecosystems in the rocky intertidal zone, removal of Pisaster sea stars led to a long-term

The devastating effects of DDT and other pesticides on nontarget birds and mammals were described by _______ in the book Silent Spring.

In Paine's studies of the rocky intertidal zone, which species or group of species acted most like a keystone species?

In which human communities would one be most likely to find the highest concentrations of PCBs?

The Web of Life

The Physical Environment

The Biosphere

Coping With Environmental Variation:

Coping With Environmental Variation: Energy

Evolution and Ecology

Life History

Behavioral Ecology

Population Distribution and Abundance

Population Dynamics

Population Growth and Regulation

Predation

Parasitism

Competition

Mutualism and Commensalism

The Nature of Communities

Change in Communities

Biogeography

Species Diversity in Communities

Production

Nutrient Supply and Cycling

Conservation Biology

Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Management

Global Ecology

Filters

Hairston and colleagues argued that terrestrial ecosystems have a _ proportion of autotroph biomass consumption compared to aquatic ecosystems because _ is stronger in terrestrial ecosystems.

In an inverted trophic pyramid, _ biomass is present in the secondary carnivores than in the primary producers. Compared to terrestrial systems, aquatic systems are _ likely to feature inverted pyramids.

According to the studies by Dyer and Letourneau, high densities of Tarsobaenus beetles in a lowland wet tropical forest led to _ herbivory and _ production.

Refer to the figure. An ecosystem of 10^3.5 m² would be expected to have _______ trophic levels.