Question 1

In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to eight after one species was removed. The species removed was likely a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) pathogen. 
B) keystone species. 
C) herbivore. 
D) resource partitioner. 
E) mutualistic organism. 
A) pathogen. 
B) keystone species. 
C) herbivore. 
D) resource partitioner. 
E) mutualistic organism. B

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. A

Question 3

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 primary consumer?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

Of the following zoonotic diseases, which is most likely to be studied by a community ecologist?

Accepted Answer

A) mad cow disease 
B) hantavirus 
C) AIDS 
D) avian flu 
E) trichinosis 
A) mad cow disease 
B) hantavirus 
C) AIDS 
D) avian flu 
E) trichinosis

Question 5

Which of the following studies would shed light on the mechanism of spread of H5N1 from Asia?

Accepted Answer

A) Perform cloacal or saliva smears of migrating waterfowl to monitor whether any infected birds show up in Alaska. 
B) Test fecal samples for H5N1 in Asian waterfowl that live near domestic poultry farms in Asia. 
C) Test for the presence of H5N1 in poultry used for human consumption worldwide. 
D) Locate and destroy birds infected with H5N1 in Asian open-air poultry markets. 
E) Keep domestic and wild fowl from interacting with each other to minimize the probability that wild fowl could get infected and migrate out of Asia. 
A) Perform cloacal or saliva smears of migrating waterfowl to monitor whether any infected birds show up in Alaska. 
B) Test fecal samples for H5N1 in Asian waterfowl that live near domestic poultry farms in Asia. 
C) Test for the presence of H5N1 in poultry used for human consumption worldwide. 
D) Locate and destroy birds infected with H5N1 in Asian open-air poultry markets. 
E) Keep domestic and wild fowl from interacting with each other to minimize the probability that wild fowl could get infected and migrate out of Asia.

Question 6

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 7

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 greatest 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 8

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 9

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 a two-week marketing analysis, McDonald's was interested in finding out the popularity of the Big Mac. Using the realized/fundamental niche concept of community ecology, what should the marketing researchers do?

Accepted Answer

A) Study the sales of McDonald's restaurants that are in close proximity to other fast-food restaurants. 
B) Serve only Big Macs at McDonald's and analyze the sales. 
C) Remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu and see if Big Mac sales increase. 
D) Serve Big Macs without the special sauce to see if sales go down. 
E) Serve Big Macs during breakfast hours. 
A) Study the sales of McDonald's restaurants that are in close proximity to other fast-food restaurants. 
B) Serve only Big Macs at McDonald's and analyze the sales. 
C) Remove the Quarter Pounder from the menu and see if Big Mac sales increase. 
D) Serve Big Macs without the special sauce to see if sales go down. 
E) Serve Big Macs during breakfast hours.

Question 10

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 cellulose-digesting organisms in the gut of a termite and the termite?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

During the course of the formation of a parasite/host relationship, a critical first step in this evolution would be

Accepted Answer

A) changing the behaviour of the host or intermediate host. 
B) developing asexual reproduction. 
C) deriving nourishment without killing the host. 
D) starting as an ectoparasite and then later becoming an endoparasite. 
E) utilizing heterotropic nutrition during infection and autotrophic nutrition during dormancy. 
A) changing the behaviour of the host or intermediate host. 
B) developing asexual reproduction. 
C) deriving nourishment without killing the host. 
D) starting as an ectoparasite and then later becoming an endoparasite. 
E) utilizing heterotropic nutrition during infection and autotrophic nutrition during dormancy.

Question 12

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 13

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 tick on a dog and the dog?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

The principle of competitive exclusion states that

Accepted Answer

A) two species cannot coexist in the same habitat. 
B) competition between two species always causes extinction or emigration of one species. 
C) competition in a population promotes survival of the best-adapted individuals. 
D) two species that have exactly the same niche cannot coexist in a community. 
E) two species will stop reproducing until one species leaves the habitat. 
A) two species cannot coexist in the same habitat. 
B) competition between two species always causes extinction or emigration of one species. 
C) competition in a population promotes survival of the best-adapted individuals. 
D) two species that have exactly the same niche cannot coexist in a community. 
E) two species will stop reproducing until one species leaves the habitat.

Question 15

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 16

Which of the following is an example of aposematic colouration?

Accepted Answer

A) stripes of a skunk 
B) eye colour in humans 
C) green colour of a plant 
D) colours of an insect-pollinated flower 
E) a katydid whose wings look like a dead leaf 
A) stripes of a skunk 
B) eye colour in humans 
C) green colour of a plant 
D) colours of an insect-pollinated flower 
E) a katydid whose wings look like a dead leaf

Question 17

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 18

An event that changes resource availability and removes individuals from a community is a

Accepted Answer

A) predator effect. 
B) competitor effect. 
C) disturbance. 
D) disease. 
E) disaster. 
A) predator effect. 
B) competitor effect. 
C) disturbance. 
D) disease. 
E) disaster.

Question 19

Which of the following terms is used by ecologists to describe the community interaction where one organism makes the environment more suitable for another organism?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

The following statements about community structure and interactions are correct, with the exception of which one?

Accepted Answer

A) The trophic cascade model suggests that the lower trophic levels influence/control the higher trophic levels. 
B) High-diversity communities are often more resilient to invasive species than low-diversity communities. 
C) Communities show variation in the top-down and bottom-down community control. 
D) The dynamic stability hypothesis suggests that long food chains are less stable than low food chains. 
E) An organism that influences a community by changing its physical environment is referred to as an ecosystem engineer. 
A) The trophic cascade model suggests that the lower trophic levels influence/control the higher trophic levels. 
B) High-diversity communities are often more resilient to invasive species than low-diversity communities. 
C) Communities show variation in the top-down and bottom-down community control. 
D) The dynamic stability hypothesis suggests that long food chains are less stable than low food chains. 
E) An organism that influences a community by changing its physical environment is referred to as an ecosystem engineer.

Exam 54: Community Ecology

In a tide pool, 15 species of invertebrates were reduced to eight after one species was removed. The species removed was likely a(n)

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

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 primary consumer?

Of the following zoonotic diseases, which is most likely to be studied by a community ecologist?

Which of the following studies would shed light on the mechanism of spread of H5N1 from Asia?

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?

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 greatest species diversity?

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

During the course of the formation of a parasite/host relationship, a critical first step in this evolution would be

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

The principle of competitive exclusion states that

Resource partitioning would be most likely to occur between

Which of the following is an example of aposematic colouration?

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?

An event that changes resource availability and removes individuals from a community is a

Which of the following terms is used by ecologists to describe the community interaction where one organism makes the environment more suitable for another organism?

The following statements about community structure and interactions are correct, with the exception of which one?

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

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