Question 1

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 2

Food chains are sometimes short because

Accepted Answer

A) only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species. 
B) local extinction of a species causes extinction of the other species in its food chain. 
C) most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as it passes to the next higher level. 
D) predator species tend to be less diverse and less abundant than prey species. 
E) most producers are inedible. 
A) only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species. 
B) local extinction of a species causes extinction of the other species in its food chain. 
C) most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as it passes to the next higher level. 
D) predator species tend to be less diverse and less abundant than prey species. 
E) most producers are inedible.

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.
  
-Which island would likely have the lowest extinction rate?

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 of a hypothetical food web to answer the following questions.The arrows represent the transfer of food energy between the various trophic levels.
  
-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 5

Which of the following statements does not describe a zoonotic pathogen?

Accepted Answer

A) pathogens that are transferred from other animals to humans 
B) pathogens that cannot cross the species barrier from other animals to humans 
C) transmission can occur by direct contact 
D) transmission can occur by means of vectors 
E) vectors that spread diseases are often parasites, such as biting insects 
A) pathogens that are transferred from other animals to humans 
B) pathogens that cannot cross the species barrier from other animals to humans 
C) transmission can occur by direct contact 
D) transmission can occur by means of vectors 
E) vectors that spread diseases are often parasites, such as biting insects

Question 6

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 7

Which of the following studies would a community ecologist undertake to learn about competitive interactions?

Accepted Answer

A) selectivity of nest sites among cavity-nesting songbirds 
B) the grass species preferred by grazing pronghorn antelope and bison 
C) nitrate and phosphate uptake by various hardwood forest tree species 
D) stomach analysis of brown trout and brook trout in streams where they coexist 
E) selectivity of nest sites among cavity-nesting songbirds, the grass species preferred by grazing pronghorn antelope and bison, nitrate and phosphate uptake by various hardwood forest tree species, and stomach analysis of brown trout and brook trout in streams where they coexist 
A) selectivity of nest sites among cavity-nesting songbirds 
B) the grass species preferred by grazing pronghorn antelope and bison 
C) nitrate and phosphate uptake by various hardwood forest tree species 
D) stomach analysis of brown trout and brook trout in streams where they coexist 
E) selectivity of nest sites among cavity-nesting songbirds, the grass species preferred by grazing pronghorn antelope and bison, nitrate and phosphate uptake by various hardwood forest tree species, and stomach analysis of brown trout and brook trout in streams where they coexist

Question 8

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.
-In McDonaldland,which of the following would be an example of an introduced species?

Accepted Answer

A) Big Mac 
B) Quarter Pounder 
C) BK Whopper 
D) Filet-O-Fish 
E) Double Cheeseburger 
A) Big Mac 
B) Quarter Pounder 
C) BK Whopper 
D) Filet-O-Fish 
E) Double Cheeseburger

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of Müllerian mimicry?

Accepted Answer

A) two species of unpalatable butterfly that have the same colour pattern 
B) a day-flying hawkmoth that looks like a wasp 
C) a chameleon that changes its colour to look like a dead leaf 
D) two species of rattlesnakes that both rattle their tails 
E) two species of moths with wing spots that look like owl's eyes 
A) two species of unpalatable butterfly that have the same colour pattern 
B) a day-flying hawkmoth that looks like a wasp 
C) a chameleon that changes its colour to look like a dead leaf 
D) two species of rattlesnakes that both rattle their tails 
E) two species of moths with wing spots that look like owl's eyes

Question 10

Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) Balanus can only survive in the lower intertidal zone, because it is unable to resist desiccation. 
B) Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on intertidal zone rocks. 
C) The two species of barnacles do not compete with each other because they feed at different times of day. 
D) When Balanus is removed, it can be observed that the realized niche of Chthamalus is smaller than its fundamental niche. 
E) These two species of barnacle do not show competitive exclusion. F)If Chthamalus were removed, Balanus's fundamental niche would become larger. 
A) Balanus can only survive in the lower intertidal zone, because it is unable to resist desiccation. 
B) Balanus is inferior to Chthamalus in competing for space on intertidal zone rocks. 
C) The two species of barnacles do not compete with each other because they feed at different times of day. 
D) When Balanus is removed, it can be observed that the realized niche of Chthamalus is smaller than its fundamental niche. 
E) These two species of barnacle do not show competitive exclusion. F)If Chthamalus were removed, Balanus's fundamental niche would become larger.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?

Accepted Answer

A) an insect that resembles a twig 
B) a butterfly that resembles a leaf 
C) a nonvenomous snake that looks like a venomous snake 
D) a fawn with fur colouring that camouflages it in the forest environment 
E) a snapping turtle that uses its tongue to mimic a worm, thus attracting fish 
A) an insect that resembles a twig 
B) a butterfly that resembles a leaf 
C) a nonvenomous snake that looks like a venomous snake 
D) a fawn with fur colouring that camouflages it in the forest environment 
E) a snapping turtle that uses its tongue to mimic a worm, thus attracting fish

Question 12

Monarch butterflies are protected from birds and other predators because of cardiac glycosides they incorporate into their tissues from eating milkweed when they were in their caterpillar stage.The wings of a different species of butterfly,the Viceroy,look nearly identical to the Monarch so predators that have learned not to eat the bad-tasting Monarch avoid Viceroys as well.This example best describes

Accepted Answer

A) aposmatic colouration. 
B) cryptic colouration. 
C) Batesian mimicry. 
D) Müllerian mimicry. 
E) mutualism. 
A) aposmatic colouration. 
B) cryptic colouration. 
C) Batesian mimicry. 
D) Müllerian mimicry. 
E) mutualism.

Question 13

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 14

According to the McDonaldland scenario,which of the following would best define an ecological community?

Accepted Answer

A) all of the sandwiches sold at McDonaldland 
B) the entire menu at McDonaldland 
C) all of the fast-food restaurants in North America 
D) the condiments served at McDonaldland 
E) the breakfast menu at McDonaldland 
A) all of the sandwiches sold at McDonaldland 
B) the entire menu at McDonaldland 
C) all of the fast-food restaurants in North America 
D) the condiments served at McDonaldland 
E) the breakfast menu at McDonaldland

Question 15

White-breasted nuthatches and Downy woodpeckers both eat insects that hide in the furrows of bark in hardwood trees.The Downy woodpecker searches for insects by hunting from the bottom of the tree trunk to the top,whereas the white-breasted nuthatch searches from the top of the trunk down.These hunting behaviours best illustrate which of the following ecological concepts?

Accepted Answer

A) competitive exclusion 
B) resource partitioning 
C) character displacement 
D) keystone species 
E) bottom-up and top-down hypotheses 
A) competitive exclusion 
B) resource partitioning 
C) character displacement 
D) keystone species 
E) bottom-up and top-down hypotheses

Question 16

Why are food chains relatively short?

Accepted Answer

A) Top-level feeders tend to be more numerous than lower-trophic-level species. 
B) Top-level feeders tend to be small but are capable of conserving more energy. 
C) Longer chains are less stable and energy transfer between levels is inefficient. 
D) There are only so many organisms that are adapted to feed on other types of organisms. 
E) Food chain length is ultimately determined by the photosynthetic efficiency of producers. 
A) Top-level feeders tend to be more numerous than lower-trophic-level species. 
B) Top-level feeders tend to be small but are capable of conserving more energy. 
C) Longer chains are less stable and energy transfer between levels is inefficient. 
D) There are only so many organisms that are adapted to feed on other types of organisms. 
E) Food chain length is ultimately determined by the photosynthetic efficiency of producers.

Question 17

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.
  
-Which letter represents an organism that could be a carnivore?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

A community's actual evapotranspiration is a reflection of

Accepted Answer

A) solar radiation, temperature, and water availability. 
B) the number of plants and how much moisture they lose. 
C) the depth of the water table. 
D) wind speed and the frequency of wind gusts. 
E) plant biomass and plant water content. 
A) solar radiation, temperature, and water availability. 
B) the number of plants and how much moisture they lose. 
C) the depth of the water table. 
D) wind speed and the frequency of wind gusts. 
E) plant biomass and plant water content.

Question 19

As you are watching dairy cattle grazing in a field you notice a flock of starlings following them and eating insects that were disturbed by the cattle's hooves.Name the kind of species interaction you have observed and the benefit,if any.

Accepted Answer

A) Mutualism; birds and cattle benefit. 
B) Commensalism; birds benefit and cattle are unaffected. 
C) Predation; birds benefit and cattle don't. 
D) Competition; birds benefit and cattle are disturbed. 
E) Consumption; both benefit from obtaining food. 
A) Mutualism; birds and cattle benefit. 
B) Commensalism; birds benefit and cattle are unaffected. 
C) Predation; birds benefit and cattle don't. 
D) Competition; birds benefit and cattle are disturbed. 
E) Consumption; both benefit from obtaining food.

Question 20

Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?

Accepted Answer

A) limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount 
B) influence of temperature on competition among plants 
C) influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers 
D) effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity 
E) effect of humidity on plant growth rates 
A) limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount 
B) influence of temperature on competition among plants 
C) influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers 
D) effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity 
E) effect of humidity on plant growth rates

Exam 54: Community Ecology

The feeding relationships among the species in a community determine the community's

Food chains are sometimes short because

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. -Which island would likely have the lowest extinction rate?

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. -Which letter represents an organism that could be a producer?

Which of the following statements does not describe a zoonotic pathogen?

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

Which of the following studies would a community ecologist undertake to learn about competitive interactions?

Which of the following is an example of Müllerian mimicry?

Which of the following statements is a valid conclusion of this experiment?

Which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?

According to the McDonaldland scenario,which of the following would best define an ecological community?

Why are food chains relatively short?

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. -Which letter represents an organism that could be a carnivore?

A community's actual evapotranspiration is a reflection of

As you are watching dairy cattle grazing in a field you notice a flock of starlings following them and eating insects that were disturbed by the cattle's hooves.Name the kind of species interaction you have observed and the benefit,if any.

Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?

Introduction: Evolution and Themes of Biology

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

DNA Tools and 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 Signalling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behaviour

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters