Question 1

A model is used by ecologists to

Accepted Answer

A) prove how nature works by demonstrating cause-and-effect relationships. 
B) analyze data that have been collected during an experiment. 
C) make predictions about how nature works using a set of explicit assumptions. 
D) observe how nature works in an experimental setting. 
A) prove how nature works by demonstrating cause-and-effect relationships. 
B) analyze data that have been collected during an experiment. 
C) make predictions about how nature works using a set of explicit assumptions. 
D) observe how nature works in an experimental setting. C

Question 2

Which economist influenced Darwin's conception of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A) Charles Elton 
B) Gregor Mendel 
C) Thomas Malthus 
D) Frederic Clements 
A) Charles Elton 
B) Gregor Mendel 
C) Thomas Malthus 
D) Frederic Clements C

Question 3

The number of seeds produced by a single flower affects the birthrate of that population of flowers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

An integrated set of hypotheses that together explain a broader set of observations is considered a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) experiment. 
B) educated guess. 
C) fact. 
D) theory. 
A) experiment. 
B) educated guess. 
C) fact. 
D) theory.

Question 5

At the ________ level,an ecologist might focus on the factors that affect the relative abundance of various populations in the area.

Accepted Answer

The answer of At the ________ level,an ecologist might focus...

Question 6

A hypothesis refers to a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) phenomenon that is observed but is not yet understood. 
B) testable explanation for an observed phenomenon. 
C) untestable explanation for an observed phenomenon. 
D) falsified explanation for an observed phenomenon. 
A) phenomenon that is observed but is not yet understood. 
B) testable explanation for an observed phenomenon. 
C) untestable explanation for an observed phenomenon. 
D) falsified explanation for an observed phenomenon.

Question 7

Science can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A) a search for the ultimate truth. 
B) a search for evidence that proves our concepts wrong. 
C) proving facts. 
D) a complete lack of dissent amongst ideas to obtain the truth. 
A) a search for the ultimate truth. 
B) a search for evidence that proves our concepts wrong. 
C) proving facts. 
D) a complete lack of dissent amongst ideas to obtain the truth.

Question 8

If x and y have a positive relationship as shown by a scatter plot,then the value of y will

Accepted Answer

A) increase as the value of x decreases. 
B) increase as the value of x increases. 
C) decrease as the value of x increases. 
D) stay the same as the value of x decreases. 
A) increase as the value of x decreases. 
B) increase as the value of x increases. 
C) decrease as the value of x increases. 
D) stay the same as the value of x decreases.

Question 9

Microbes are considered an abiotic factor within an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Consider the question: "Why do tropical rain forests support a greater diversity of species than temperate forests?" At which level of organization would this be addressed?

Accepted Answer

A) individual 
B) population 
C) landscape 
D) global 
A) individual 
B) population 
C) landscape 
D) global

Question 11

A predator consuming prey would occur at the organizational level of the

Accepted Answer

A) community. 
B) biome. 
C) population. 
D) ecosystem. 
A) community. 
B) biome. 
C) population. 
D) ecosystem.

Question 12

A community includes both living and nonliving components.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Science is a process of testing and correcting concepts in order to explain the world around us.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The interaction of a biotic community and its abiotic environment is referred to as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) biosphere. 
B) ecosystem. 
C) population. 
D) biome. 
A) biosphere. 
B) ecosystem. 
C) population. 
D) biome.

Question 15

The correct sequence of the scientific method is

Accepted Answer

A) ask a question,observation,form a hypothesis,test a hypothesis,form a theory. 
B) form a hypothesis,ask a question,observation,test a hypothesis,form a theory. 
C) form a theory,ask a question,form a hypothesis,observation,test a hypothesis. 
D) observation,ask a question,form a hypothesis,test a hypothesis,form a theory. 
A) ask a question,observation,form a hypothesis,test a hypothesis,form a theory. 
B) form a hypothesis,ask a question,observation,test a hypothesis,form a theory. 
C) form a theory,ask a question,form a hypothesis,observation,test a hypothesis. 
D) observation,ask a question,form a hypothesis,test a hypothesis,form a theory.

Question 16

There is generally only one valid explanation for an observation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

An ecologist conducts a greenhouse experiment to study the effect of nitrogen concentration on the productivity of sunflower seedlings.What is the independent variable in this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A) productivity of sunflowers 
B) concentration of nitrogen 
C) the number of sunflower seeds planted 
D) the daily amount of water given to each sunflower seed 
A) productivity of sunflowers 
B) concentration of nitrogen 
C) the number of sunflower seeds planted 
D) the daily amount of water given to each sunflower seed

Question 18

________ is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the scientific study of the...

Question 19

Ecological models can be mathematical or they can be verbally descriptive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following best represents the flow of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

A) question,hypothesis,hypothesis testing,observation,predictions 
B) predictions,question,observation,hypothesis,hypothesis testing 
C) observation,hypothesis,hypothesis testing,question,predictions 
D) observation,question,hypothesis,predictions,hypothesis testing 
A) question,hypothesis,hypothesis testing,observation,predictions 
B) predictions,question,observation,hypothesis,hypothesis testing 
C) observation,hypothesis,hypothesis testing,question,predictions 
D) observation,question,hypothesis,predictions,hypothesis testing

Exam 1: The Nature of Ecology

A model is used by ecologists to

Which economist influenced Darwin's conception of natural selection?

The number of seeds produced by a single flower affects the birthrate of that population of flowers.

An integrated set of hypotheses that together explain a broader set of observations is considered a(n)

At the ________ level,an ecologist might focus on the factors that affect the relative abundance of various populations in the area.

A hypothesis refers to a(n)

Science can best be described as

If x and y have a positive relationship as shown by a scatter plot,then the value of y will

Microbes are considered an abiotic factor within an ecosystem.

Consider the question: "Why do tropical rain forests support a greater diversity of species than temperate forests?" At which level of organization would this be addressed?

A predator consuming prey would occur at the organizational level of the

A community includes both living and nonliving components.

Science is a process of testing and correcting concepts in order to explain the world around us.

The interaction of a biotic community and its abiotic environment is referred to as a(n)

The correct sequence of the scientific method is

There is generally only one valid explanation for an observation.

An ecologist conducts a greenhouse experiment to study the effect of nitrogen concentration on the productivity of sunflower seedlings.What is the independent variable in this experiment?

________ is the scientific study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Ecological models can be mathematical or they can be verbally descriptive.

Which of the following best represents the flow of the scientific method?

Climate

The Aquatic Environment

The Terrestrial Environment

Adaptation and Natural Selection

Plant Adaptations to the Environment

Animal Adaptations to the Environment

Properties of Populations

Population Growth

Life History

Intraspecific Population Regulation

Species Interactions, population Dynamics, and Natural Selection

Interspecific Competition

Predation

Parasitism and Mutualism

Community Structure

Factors Influencing the Structure of Communities

Community Dynamics

Landscape Dynamics

Ecosystem Energetics

Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling

Biogeochemical Cycles

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems

Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

Large-Scale Patterns of Biological Diversity

The Ecology of Climate Change

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