Question 1

Which of the following statements about communities is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  They can vary tremendously in size and scope. 
B)  An important factor in determining their species richness is the amount of energy available. 
C)  Energy enters communities through primary consumers. 
D)  An ecological community comprises a group of species that coexist and interact within a defined area. 
E)  All of the above are true; none is false. 
A)  They can vary tremendously in size and scope. 
B)  An important factor in determining their species richness is the amount of energy available. 
C)  Energy enters communities through primary consumers. 
D)  An ecological community comprises a group of species that coexist and interact within a defined area. 
E)  All of the above are true; none is false.

Question 2

Species diversity

Accepted Answer

A)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone. 
B)  decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone. 
C)  shows no consistent pattern from the equator to the temperate zone. 
D)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for terrestrial organisms and decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for aquatic organisms. 
E)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for animals and decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for plants. 
A)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone. 
B)  decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone. 
C)  shows no consistent pattern from the equator to the temperate zone. 
D)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for terrestrial organisms and decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for aquatic organisms. 
E)  increases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for animals and decreases with latitude from the equator to the temperate zone for plants.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about the relationship between species richness and productivity in ecological communities is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Species richness is usually highest in the most productive communities. 
B)  Species richness is usually highest in the least productive communities. 
C)  Species richness is frequently highest at an intermediate level of productivity. 
D)  Species richness is frequently lowest at an intermediate level of productivity. 
E)  Species richness is not correlated with productivity. 
A)  Species richness is usually highest in the most productive communities. 
B)  Species richness is usually highest in the least productive communities. 
C)  Species richness is frequently highest at an intermediate level of productivity. 
D)  Species richness is frequently lowest at an intermediate level of productivity. 
E)  Species richness is not correlated with productivity.

Question 4

In a trophic level, primary producers

Accepted Answer

A)  receive their energy from the sun. 
B)  receive their energy by consuming animals. 
C)  receive their energy by consuming plants. 
D)  receive their energy from minerals in the soil. 
E)  decompose waste products. 
A)  receive their energy from the sun. 
B)  receive their energy by consuming animals. 
C)  receive their energy by consuming plants. 
D)  receive their energy from minerals in the soil. 
E)  decompose waste products.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about succession is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Primary succession proceeds more rapidly than secondary succession. 
B)  Species that are early colonists may either facilitate or inhibit colonization by later-arriving species. 
C)  As succession proceeds, a lower proportion of the nutrients in a community are found in abiotic forms. 
D)  As succession proceeds, food webs become more complex. 
E)  The endpoint of directional succession is the establishment of a self-perpetuating climax community. 
A)  Primary succession proceeds more rapidly than secondary succession. 
B)  Species that are early colonists may either facilitate or inhibit colonization by later-arriving species. 
C)  As succession proceeds, a lower proportion of the nutrients in a community are found in abiotic forms. 
D)  As succession proceeds, food webs become more complex. 
E)  The endpoint of directional succession is the establishment of a self-perpetuating climax community.

Question 6

A freak cold spell in October 2009 in the northeastern United States dramatically reduced the survival of several small mammal species. In this regard, the cold spell was acting as a _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A freak cold spell in October 2009...

Question 7

The Shannon Index is a mathematical expression used to measure diversity that takes both species richness and species evenness into account. A higher H value

Accepted Answer

A)  indicates a higher certainty about species composition and greater diversity. 
B)  indicates a lower certainty about species composition and less diversity. 
C)  indicates a lower certainty about species composition and greater diversity. 
D)  indicates a higher certainty about species composition and less diversity. 
E)  None of the above 
A)  indicates a higher certainty about species composition and greater diversity. 
B)  indicates a lower certainty about species composition and less diversity. 
C)  indicates a lower certainty about species composition and greater diversity. 
D)  indicates a higher certainty about species composition and less diversity. 
E)  None of the above

Question 8

If the net primary productivity of a community is 2,000 kcal/m2/yr, what would be the best estimate of the productivity (in kcal/m2/yr) of the secondary consumers in that community?

Accepted Answer

A)  4,000 
B)  2,000 
C)  200 
D)  20 
E)  2 
A)  4,000 
B)  2,000 
C)  200 
D)  20 
E)  2

Question 9

Which of the following would be most useful for calculating alpha diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sorenson's index 
B)  The Spicoli index 
C)  The Shannon index 
D)  The species-area relationship 
E)  The successional integral 
A)  Sorenson's index 
B)  The Spicoli index 
C)  The Shannon index 
D)  The species-area relationship 
E)  The successional integral

Question 10

The theory of island biogeography makes predictions about the effects of species number on the rate of extinction. Refer to the figure below, in which the solid curve shows this relationship for a large island. Which of the curves shows the expected relationship for a small island?

Accepted Answer

A)  Curve a 
B)  Curve b 
C)  Curve c 
D)  Curve d 
A)  Curve a 
B)  Curve b 
C)  Curve c 
D)  Curve d

Question 11

The species composition of grasses changes little across communities in a grassland biome; thus, the _______ diversity of grasses for this region is _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The species composition of grasses changes little...

Question 12

The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 had _______ effect on aspen and _______ effect on elk.

Accepted Answer

A)  a direct; a direct 
B)  a direct; an indirect 
C)  a direct; no 
D)  an indirect; a direct 
E)  an indirect; an indirect 
A)  a direct; a direct 
B)  a direct; an indirect 
C)  a direct; no 
D)  an indirect; a direct 
E)  an indirect; an indirect

Question 13

Suppose the productivity of several test plots is artificially increased by adding fertilizer to the soil. On the graph below, draw the expected relationship between productivity and species diversity on these test plots.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose the productivity of several test plots...

Question 14

Which of the following statements about keystone species is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are very abundant. 
B)  Their removal has a great effect on community structure. 
C)  They practice herbivory. 
D)  They have regular dispersion patterns. 
E)  They have clumped dispersion patterns. 
A)  They are very abundant. 
B)  Their removal has a great effect on community structure. 
C)  They practice herbivory. 
D)  They have regular dispersion patterns. 
E)  They have clumped dispersion patterns.

Question 15

Organisms that are _______ acquire their energy from eating primary consumers.

Accepted Answer

A)  primary producers 
B)  secondary consumers 
C)  herbivores 
D)  autotrophs 
E)  None of the above 
A)  primary producers 
B)  secondary consumers 
C)  herbivores 
D)  autotrophs 
E)  None of the above

Question 16

As productivity increases, species richness in a community

Accepted Answer

A)  generally increases. 
B)  generally decreases. 
C)  stays relatively flat. 
D)  increases at first and then decreases. 
E)  decreases at first and then increases. 
A)  generally increases. 
B)  generally decreases. 
C)  stays relatively flat. 
D)  increases at first and then decreases. 
E)  decreases at first and then increases.

Question 17

Generations of Americans have been instructed by Smokey Bear that fires are always harmful to the environment and should be prevented under all circumstances. What are some communities adapted to periodic fires? Explain why fires are beneficial to these communities.

Accepted Answer

The lodgepole pine forests discussed in

Question 18

Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Describe the ecological effects within the park of this politically controversial decision.

Accepted Answer

In the Lamar Valley of the park, the rei

Question 19

Refer to the figure below. What can you conclude about the results of the experiment shown?

Accepted Answer

A)  Recolonization occurred fastest on islands closest to the mainland. 
B)  Recolonization of the arthropods reached pre-experimental levels and stabilized. 
C)  Recolonization was random and the distance from the mainland was not a factor. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Recolonization occurred fastest on islands closest to the mainland. 
B)  Recolonization of the arthropods reached pre-experimental levels and stabilized. 
C)  Recolonization was random and the distance from the mainland was not a factor. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  All of the above

Question 20

The presence of soil fauna increases the likelihood that many plants will be established during succession. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  disturbance. 
B)  facilitation. 
C)  recruitment. 
D)  reinforcement. 
E)  inhibition. 
A)  disturbance. 
B)  facilitation. 
C)  recruitment. 
D)  reinforcement. 
E)  inhibition.

Exam 57: Community Ecology

Which of the following statements about communities is false?

Species diversity

Which of the following statements about the relationship between species richness and productivity in ecological communities is true?

In a trophic level, primary producers

Which of the following statements about succession is false?

A freak cold spell in October 2009 in the northeastern United States dramatically reduced the survival of several small mammal species. In this regard, the cold spell was acting as a _______.

The Shannon Index is a mathematical expression used to measure diversity that takes both species richness and species evenness into account. A higher H value

If the net primary productivity of a community is 2,000 kcal/m2/yr, what would be the best estimate of the productivity (in kcal/m2/yr) of the secondary consumers in that community?

Which of the following would be most useful for calculating alpha diversity?

The theory of island biogeography makes predictions about the effects of species number on the rate of extinction. Refer to the figure below, in which the solid curve shows this relationship for a large island. Which of the curves shows the expected relationship for a small island?

The species composition of grasses changes little across communities in a grassland biome; thus, the _______ diversity of grasses for this region is _______.

The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 had _______ effect on aspen and _______ effect on elk.

Suppose the productivity of several test plots is artificially increased by adding fertilizer to the soil. On the graph below, draw the expected relationship between productivity and species diversity on these test plots.

Which of the following statements about keystone species is true?

Organisms that are _______ acquire their energy from eating primary consumers.

As productivity increases, species richness in a community

Generations of Americans have been instructed by Smokey Bear that fires are always harmful to the environment and should be prevented under all circumstances. What are some communities adapted to periodic fires? Explain why fires are beneficial to these communities.

Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Describe the ecological effects within the park of this politically controversial decision.

Refer to the figure below. What can you conclude about the results of the experiment shown?

The presence of soil fauna increases the likelihood that many plants will be established during succession. This is an example of

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If the net primary productivity of a community is 2,000 kcal/m²/yr, what would be the best estimate of the productivity (in kcal/m²/yr) of the secondary consumers in that community?

The species composition of grasses changes little across communities in a grassland biome; thus, the _ diversity of grasses for this region is _.

The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone in 1995 had _ effect on aspen and _ effect on elk.