Question 1

The boundaries of communities are

Accepted Answer

A)  difficult for species to cross. 
B)  flexible. 
C)  clear and distinct. 
D)  never overlapping. 
A)  difficult for species to cross. 
B)  flexible. 
C)  clear and distinct. 
D)  never overlapping.

Question 2

Explain why a species with a very limited niche is particularly susceptible to human influences.

Accepted Answer

With a narrow niche a species has small

Question 3

Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations?

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystem 
B)  population 
C)  individual 
D)  community 
E)  biosphere 
A)  ecosystem 
B)  population 
C)  individual 
D)  community 
E)  biosphere

Question 4

To maintain a dynamic steady state in a community, which two factors must balance?

Accepted Answer

A)  new species and species extinctions 
B)  immigration and emigration 
C)  births and deaths 
D)  food consumed and energy expended 
A)  new species and species extinctions 
B)  immigration and emigration 
C)  births and deaths 
D)  food consumed and energy expended

Question 5

Which is the correct hierarchy of ecological systems, starting at the most general?

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystem, biosphere, community, population, individual 
B)  individual, community, population, ecosystem, biosphere 
C)  individual, population, ecosystem, biosphere, community 
D)  individual, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere 
E)  biosphere, community, ecosystem, population, individual 
A)  ecosystem, biosphere, community, population, individual 
B)  individual, community, population, ecosystem, biosphere 
C)  individual, population, ecosystem, biosphere, community 
D)  individual, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere 
E)  biosphere, community, ecosystem, population, individual

Question 6

Explain how the definition of species has become more complicated. Give an example.

Accepted Answer

Although species were originally conside

Question 7

The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate is its

Accepted Answer

A)  community. 
B)  habitat. 
C)  niche. 
D)  ecosystem role. 
A)  community. 
B)  habitat. 
C)  niche. 
D)  ecosystem role.

Question 8

If the number of fruits on 10 strawberry plants is sampled and E[χ] is found to be 6 and E[χ2] is 38, what is the sample variance?

Accepted Answer

A)  32 
B)  2 
C)  2.2 
D)  35.5 
E)  6.3 
A)  32 
B)  2 
C)  2.2 
D)  35.5 
E)  6.3

Question 9

An ultimate hypothesis

Accepted Answer

A)  explains how an organism has adapted its physiology. 
B)  addresses an organism's response to the environment. 
C)  has been tested and revised. 
D)  is a prediction about how an organism might adapt in the future. 
A)  explains how an organism has adapted its physiology. 
B)  addresses an organism's response to the environment. 
C)  has been tested and revised. 
D)  is a prediction about how an organism might adapt in the future.

Question 10

Many warm-blooded organisms must maintain a constant temperature that is commonly warmer than its surroundings. What is the cost associated with maintaining the dynamic steady state, and how is this cost met?

Accepted Answer

To maintain a system in disequilibrium w

Question 11

Ecologists using global carbon-balance models were overestimating the rate of increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This discovery led these ecologists to

Accepted Answer

A)  discard their models. 
B)  switch to modelling other phenomena. 
C)  conclude that increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is not a serious environmental problem. 
D)  search for evidence of other carbon dioxide sinks in the global cycle of carbon. 
A)  discard their models. 
B)  switch to modelling other phenomena. 
C)  conclude that increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is not a serious environmental problem. 
D)  search for evidence of other carbon dioxide sinks in the global cycle of carbon.

Question 12

There are many examples in nature of cooperation among organisms, such as the bacteria that inhabit the root nodules of leguminous plants. Partnerships between organisms that live in close association are called

Accepted Answer

A)  networks. 
B)  communities. 
C)  symbioses. 
D)  ecosystems. 
A)  networks. 
B)  communities. 
C)  symbioses. 
D)  ecosystems.

Question 13

At what ecological level does evolution occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  individual 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  community 
E)  biosphere 
A)  individual 
B)  population 
C)  ecosystem 
D)  community 
E)  biosphere

Question 14

Because it is difficult to experiment on large ecological systems, researchers often replicate the essential features of a system in smaller, simplified laboratory or field settings known as

Accepted Answer

A)  microcosms. 
B)  approximate systems. 
C)  natural treatments. 
D)  experimental units. 
A)  microcosms. 
B)  approximate systems. 
C)  natural treatments. 
D)  experimental units.

Question 15

Which interaction is characterized by negative effects for both species?

Accepted Answer

A)  predation 
B)  herbivory 
C)  commensalism 
D)  competition 
A)  predation 
B)  herbivory 
C)  commensalism 
D)  competition

Question 16

Blue-green algae are

Accepted Answer

A)  protists. 
B)  bacteria. 
C)  plants. 
D)  fungi. 
A)  protists. 
B)  bacteria. 
C)  plants. 
D)  fungi.

Question 17

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be destroyed. Why, then, are we concerned about the depletion of resources?

Accepted Answer

Although matter cannot be dest

Question 18

Who gave the word ecology its current broad meaning?

Accepted Answer

A)  the German zoologist Ernst Haeckel 
B)  the English naturalist Charles Darwin 
C)  the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus 
D)  the American ecologist Rachel Carson 
A)  the German zoologist Ernst Haeckel 
B)  the English naturalist Charles Darwin 
C)  the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus 
D)  the American ecologist Rachel Carson

Question 19

Which evolved first?

Accepted Answer

A)  plants 
B)  fungi 
C)  protists 
D)  bacteria 
A)  plants 
B)  fungi 
C)  protists 
D)  bacteria

Question 20

Hyphae are structures found in

Accepted Answer

A)  plants. 
B)  animals. 
C)  fungi. 
D)  protists. 
A)  plants. 
B)  animals. 
C)  fungi. 
D)  protists.

Exam 1: Introduction: Ecology, Evolution, and the Scientific Method

The boundaries of communities are

Explain why a species with a very limited niche is particularly susceptible to human influences.

Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations?

To maintain a dynamic steady state in a community, which two factors must balance?

Which is the correct hierarchy of ecological systems, starting at the most general?

Explain how the definition of species has become more complicated. Give an example.

The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate is its

If the number of fruits on 10 strawberry plants is sampled and E[χ] is found to be 6 and E[χ2] is 38, what is the sample variance?

An ultimate hypothesis

Many warm-blooded organisms must maintain a constant temperature that is commonly warmer than its surroundings. What is the cost associated with maintaining the dynamic steady state, and how is this cost met?

Ecologists using global carbon-balance models were overestimating the rate of increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This discovery led these ecologists to

There are many examples in nature of cooperation among organisms, such as the bacteria that inhabit the root nodules of leguminous plants. Partnerships between organisms that live in close association are called

At what ecological level does evolution occur?

Because it is difficult to experiment on large ecological systems, researchers often replicate the essential features of a system in smaller, simplified laboratory or field settings known as

Which interaction is characterized by negative effects for both species?

Blue-green algae are

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be destroyed. Why, then, are we concerned about the depletion of resources?

Who gave the word ecology its current broad meaning?

Which evolved first?

Hyphae are structures found in

Adaptations to Aquatic Environments

Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments

Adaptations to Variable Environments

Climates and Soils

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes

Evolution and Adaptation

Life Histories

Reproductive Strategies

Social Behaviours

Population Distributions

Population Growth and Regulation

Population Dynamics Over Space and Time

Predation and Herbivory

Parasitism and Infectious Diseases

Competition

Community Structure

Community Succession

Movement of Energy in Ecosystems

Movement of Elements in Ecosystems

Landscape Ecology, Biogeography, and Global Biodiversity

Global Conservation of Biodiversity

Filters

If the number of fruits on 10 strawberry plants is sampled and E[χ] is found to be 6 and E[χ²] is 38, what is the sample variance?