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Ecology Exam one study guide
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Questions in this quiz (108)
1Which of the following ions is NOT an important nutrient for plants?
- AK+
- BCa2+
- CNa+
- DH+
- EMg2+
2Organisms that use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis are
- Aautotrophs.
- Bconsumers.
- Cheterotrophs.
- Dherbivores
3You discover a small reef fish species in the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast. You study its ecology and discover that many midsized and large predatory fish consume the new species. Further, you find that this species consumes the same prey as many other species of similar-sized fish. However, many of those other small species tend to live in large schools, whereas individuals of this newly discovered species live alone. Propose a general ultimate hypothesis to explain what ecological conditions could cause a small species to live alone rather in a large school.
- ADid you research it?
- BDo not bull shit me
4Warmer and drier parts of the temperate seasonal forest biome are dominated by
- Arain forests.
- Bdeciduous forests.
- Cneedle-leaved forests.
- Dgrasslands.
- Ewoodlands
5Which is NOT a nutrient that plants obtain from the soil?
- Acarbon
- Bnitrogen
- Cphosphorous
- Dcalcium
6Which statement best describes the Red Queen hypothesis?
- AAsexual selection allows organisms to increase survival by keeping up with the evolution of parasites.
- BSexual selection allows organisms to increase survival by keeping up with the evolution of parasites.
- CParasites evolve at such a rapid a rate that organisms cannot evolve countermeasures.
- DOrganisms are able to survive parasites because they evolve at a more rapid rate than parasites.
7Which of the following is a necessary component of allopatric speciation?
- Ahybridization
- Bpolyploidy
- Ca geographic barrier
- Dkey innovations
8Which organ is responsible for removing salts from mammals?
- Aliver
- Bkidney
- Clower intestine
- Dthyroid
9Which of the following is an endotherm?
- Aant
- Bwhale
- Ctree
- Dsnake
10Which of the following is a primary sexual characteristic?
- Atesticles of males
- Bmanes of male lions
- Cantlers in male elk
- Dmale birds having more colorful feathers than females
11Explain how the definition of species has become more complicated. Give an example.
- Aproud of ya
- Bits your grade
12Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations?
- Aecosystem
- Bpopulation
- Cindividual
- Dcommunity
- Ebiosphere
13Different forms of a particular gene are known as
- Achromosomes
- Balleles
14Which photosynthesis method is best suited to warm, dry environments?Which photosynthesis method is best suited to warm, dry environments?
I. C3 fixation
II. C4 fixation
III. CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism)- AI only
- BI and II only
- CII only
- DII and III only
- EIII only
15Decreased temperature in adiabatic cooling is a result of
- Acondensation of water vapor.
- Ba decrease in volume.
- Cabsorption of sunlight.
- Da decrease in pressure.
16The error sum of squares in a regression is based on
- Athe difference between the observed and expected values of yi.
- Bthe degree of change in y per unit x.
- Con how close the y-intercept is relative to 0.
- Dhow much the best-fit line deviates from linearity.
17A type of dormancy found in insects in response to unfavorable environmental conditions is called
- Adiapause
- Bhibernation
- Ctorpor
- Daestivation.
18A process that occurs when genetic variation is lost because of random variation in mating, mortality, fecundity, and inheritance is known as
- Amutation
- Bgenetic drift.
- Cstabilizing selection.
- Ddisruptive selection.
19At what time of year does the Northern Hemisphere receive the most direct sunlight?
- ADecember solstice
- BJune solstice
- CSeptember equinox
- DMarch equinox
20Which of the following is NOT a benefit of a dominance hierarchy?
- Aorganization of conspecifics to reduce intraspecific competition
- Bquick resolution of conflicts
- Cgroup defense of ephemeral resources
- Daggregation of individuals to increase probability of mating
21Parthenogenesis occurs when offspring are produced
- Afrom a parent's gonad tissue.
- Bby a cell dividing into two identical cells.
- Cfrom an unfertilized embryo.
- Dfrom a parent's nonsexual tissue.
- Eclonally
22Which of the following pairs is an example of convergent evolution?
- Adogs and cats
- Bwolves and deer
- Cbirds and bats
- Dgiraffes and trees
23The rate at which allele frequencies change because of genetic drift is
- Ahighest in large populations.
- Bthe same regardless of population size.
- Chighest in intermediate-sized populations.
- Dhighest in small populations.
24Why is it surprising that some organisms are able to live at temperatures above 75°C?
- AHigh temperatures decrease the efficiency of glycoproteins.
- BHigh temperatures denature proteins.
- CHigh temperatures evaporate water in cells.
- DHigh temperatures increase the permeability of cell membranes.
25What process produces gametes for sexual reproduction?
- Amitosis
- Bbinary fission
- Cclonal duplication
- Dmeiosis
- Eparthenogenesis
26Altruism is likely to evolve when
- AB/C > r.
- BC/B > r.
- CC/B < r
- DC/B = r.
27Manure from a farming operation that enters into a stream would be considered?
- Aallochthonous
- Bautochthonous
- Cboth allochthonous and autochthonous
- Dneither allochthonous nor autochthonous as the input is not natural
28A moose, a monarch butterfly, and a wolf are all examples of
- Aautotrophs.
- Bproducers.
- Cheterotrophs
- Ddetritivores.
29One factor that drives the movement of water from roots to leaves is
- Agravity.
- Btension.
- Cconcentration differentials
- Dosmotic potential
30Consider a situation in which overharvesting causes the number of fish in a population to become drastically smaller, which causes genetic variation in that fish to decrease over a few generations. This is an example of
- Abottleneck effect.
- Bfounder effect.
- Cdirectional selection.
- Drecombination
31An organism that does not maintain a constant body temperature is a(n)
- Aectotherm.
- Bendotherm.
- Chomeotherm.
- Dpoikilotherm.
32Which of the following is a categorical variable?
- Acolor
- Bpressure
- Clight
- Denergy
33At what water potential does wilting begin to occur?
- A1 MPa
- B0.5 MPa
- C0 MPa
- D–0.01 MPa
- E–1.5 MPa
34The greenhouse effect occurs because of the absorption and re-emission of _______ radiation by the atmosphere.
- Avisible light
- Binfrared
- Cultraviolet
- Dshortwave
35Evolution favors hermaphrodism when fitness of the hermaphrodite is _____ the fitness of the _____.
- Aless than; male
- Bless than; female
- Cless than; male or female
- Dgreater than; male or female
- Eequal to; male or female
36Which is the correct hierarchy of ecological systems, from smallest to largest?
- Aecosystem, biosphere, community, population, individual
- Bindividual, community, population, ecosystem, biosphere
- Cindividual, population, ecosystem, biosphere, community
- Dindividual, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere
- Ebiosphere, community, ecosystem, population, individual
37If individuals in groups must compete with other group members for food, why would an individual be found in a group?
- AThe food items/unit of area of habitat is greater.
- BThe food items/unit of area of habitat is less.
- CThe costs of competition are greater than the benefits of group living.
- DThe costs of competition are less than the benefits of group living.
38Thermohaline circulation is driven by
- Aupwelling along the coast.
- Bhigh precipitation from the intertropical convergence zone.
- Csinking polar water with high salinity.
- Dincreased temperatures at the solar equator.
39Production of offspring from the nonsexual tissues of a parent is called
- Amitosis
- Bbinary fission.
- Cclonal duplication.
- Dvegetative reproduction.
- Eparthenogenesis
40Red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) occur simultaneously in several different color morphs in nature. Individuals may be red backed (having a red stripe down the back), lead backed (a blackish stripe) and erocrystic (a yellow stripe). If these color morphs conferred differing fitness levels in differing environments, this would be considered an example of
- Aphenotypic plasticity.
- Bphenotypic trade-off.
- Cspatial variation.
- Dtemporal variation.
41Which is TRUE about monogamy?
- AInsects often form monogamous relationships because males provide significant parental care to offspring.
- BMonogamous relationships are favored when males provide significant parental care to offspring.
- CAnimals in monogamous relationships do not mate outside of the relationship.
- DBirds rarely form monogamous relationships because offspring require less parental care.
42Why are stomata necessary? What benefit do they provide, and how?
- Aget it together
- Bi got this
43Researchers have found that on coral reefs where fishing occurs, the fish have fewer parasites than fish on coral reefs where fishing is excluded. What explains this observation?
- AFishing eliminated fish with inferior genetics, which were more susceptible to parasites.
- BOn coral reefs that excluded fishing, larger populations of fish made them subject to more transmission of parasites.
- CThe sites where fishing was excluded had more parasites than the sites with fishing.
- DFishing removed the largest fish and the largest fish had the most parasites.
44A forager that selects food type based on a balance of the energy provided, handling time, and abundance displays
- Aoptimal diet composition.
- Bdiet mixing.
- Crisk-sensitive foraging.
- Dcentral-place foraging.
45One cost of self-fertilization in the absence of mates is
- Ainbreeding depression.
- Bphysiological acclimation.
- Cmigration.
- Dhandling time.
46Some have proposed that humans might, individually, attempt to combat climate change by replacing their roof shingles with light or white-colored shingles rather than dark or black-colored shingles when replacing the roof of their homes. The notion behind this idea is
- Adecreasing the albedo of Earth's surface.
- Bincreasing the albedo of Earth's surface.
- Cdecreasing the reflectivity of Earth's surface.
- Dincreasing the absorption of Earth's surface.
47What is the mean in the following data set?
17, 20, 26, 26, 27, 30, 31, 39- A26
- B26.5
- C27
- D28
48C/B describes the ratio of
- Adonor benefits to recipient costs.
- Bdonor costs to recipient benefits.
- Cindirect fitness costs to direct fitness benefits.
- Ddirect fitness costs to indirect fitness benefits.
49A symbiotic relationship with algae is central to
- Amangrove swamps.
- Bintertidal zones.
- Ccoral reefs.
- Dponds and lakes.
50Torpor is beneficial to animals because it
- Aallows them to move away from dangerous conditions.
- Ballows them to acquire additional food.
- Callows them to conserve energy.
- Dprevents them from freezing.
51Reproductive trade-offs that an organism might face include all of the following except
- Athe number of offspring produced versus the size and development of the offspring.
- Bthe number of offspring versus the level of parental care provided the offspring.
- Cthe energy expended by the parent in caring for the offspring versus energy available for the growth and survival of the parent.
- Dthe costs of hibernation during the nonbreeding season versus the costs of migration.
52An ecologist who studies populations would most likely be interested in
- Aadaptations that help individual organisms live in their environment.
- Bbirths and deaths of individuals belonging to a particular species in a particular place.
- Cthe number and relative abundance of species living in a particular place.
- Dphysical and chemical transformations of energy and materials in the soil, atmosphere, and water.
- Etransport of energy and materials at the global scale.
53To maintain a dynamic steady state in a community, which two factors must balance?
- Anew species arrivals and current species extinctions
- Bimmigration and emigration
- Cbirths and deaths
- Dfood consumed and energy expended
54In general terms, what type of habitat would one likely see territoriality and in what type of habitat would one not expect to see territoriality?
- ADO YOUR JOB GURRRRRLLLLL
- Bcunt
55Sexual traits that are disadvantageous to male survival may be attractive to a female because they suggest the male possesses a superior genotype to counteract the disadvantageous trait. This is known as
- Arunaway sexual selection.
- Bthe handicap principle.
- Cthe good genes hypothesis.
- Dthe good health hypothesis.
56For birds, age at maturity
- Avaries directly with annual survival rates of adults.
- Bvaries inversely with annual survival rates of adults.
- Cdeclines with increasing productivity of the environment.
- Dis not related to annual survival rates of adults.
57Based on the phylogeny of the Galápagos finches, which statement is correct?
- AThe ground finches and the tree finches have no common ancestor.
- BThe ancestor of the small tree finch and large tree finch probably ate insects.
- CThe ancestor of the large cactus finch and common cactus finch likely ate insects.
- DThe small tree finch is most closely related to the sharp-beaked finch.
58Natural selection will select for individuals that carry what genotype?
- Ahomozygous dominant
- Bheterozygous dominant
- Chomozygous recessives
- DThere is no way to determine without additional information.
59Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of increased resource availability?
- Afast growth
- Bearly development
- Clarge size at maturation
- Dreduced predation risk
60A heron, a large wading bird, is hunting in a pond that contains three types of prey: fish, frogs, and snakes. All three types of prey are abundant and provide the same amount of energy to the heron. The heron has the highest handling time capturing fish, an intermediate handling time capturing snakes, and the lowest handling time capturing frogs. What prey item would foraging theory predict that the heron should catch most frequently?
- Afish
- Bsnakes
- Cfrogs
- Dfish and frogs equally frequently
61In some perfect flowers, the receptiveness of the stigma is delayed until after its anthers have released pollen. This delay prevents
- Aoutcrossing.
- Bself-incompatibility.
- Cparthenogenesis
- Dself-fertilization.
62Which panel best illustrates the most direct effect of predation?
- Aa
- Bb
- Cc
- Dd
63As a result of group living, an individual living in a group might
- Abe less likely to be exposed to disease.
- Bbe less likely to migrate.
- Cbe larger in size.
- Dhave a higher rate of consumption.
64Consider a gene that affects fur color in mice. This gene has two alleles, A and a. If AA mice have white fur, Aa mice have gray fur, and aa mice have black fur, how would we describe the effect of these alleles?
- AA is dominant and a is recessive.
- BA is recessive and a is dominant.
- CA and a are codominant.
- DA and a are epistatic.
65The rate of biological processes increases two to four times for each _____ increase in temperature (c degrees)
- A12
- B10
- C8
- D5
66The parent material of a soil is the
- Aorganic matter from the vegetation on top of the soil.
- Barea from which the soil has been transported.
- Cbedrock underneath the soil.
- Dtype of erosion that contributed to soil formation.
67All of the following are benefits of sexual reproduction EXCEPT that
- Amutations are more likely to be purged.
- Boffspring are more likely to possess traits to help cope with future environmental challenges.
- Coffspring are likely to have greater fitness than asexually produced offspring.
- Doffspring are able to evolve to overcome the ever-evolving pathogens and parasites (i.e., fight the evolutionary arms race).
68Which of the following human activities is NOT a significant source of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
- Agenerating electricity
- Busing landfills
- Cusing refrigerants
- Dagriculture
- Ehunting
69What is meant by the principle of allocation and how is this concept related to fitness?
- AI like as porr favor
- Bpunta
70The equation C < B × r describes conditions under which a(n) _____ behavior will ______ in the population.
- Aaltruistic; increase
- Baltruistic; decrease
- Cselfish; increase
- Dselfish; decrease
71Photosynthesis primarily allows plants to produce
- Aglucose
- Boxygen
- Cnitrogen
- Dcarbon dioxide.
72Scientists have demonstrated that as herbivory on orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) flowers increases, the proportion of selfing to outcrossing flowers increases. This occurs because
- Aherbivores prefer the nectar of outcrossing flowers because of their increased sugar content.
- Bthe plant requires rapid reproduction to compensate for biomass loss due to herbivory.
- Cselfing flowers contain more phenolics and tannins that herbivores avoid.
- Dthe loss of resources due to herbivory causes plants to make less expensive selfing flowers.
73What is unusual about the physical properties of water?
- AYOU GOT THIS
- BCMON
74A smallmouth bass swimming in colder water of a springtime lake would likely expend _________ energy than when swimming in warmer water of the same lake during the summer (all things being equal).
- ALESS
- BMORE
- CTHE SAME
- DTHERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE
75Biomes are geographic regions
- Awith the same key species.
- Bwith species that have not evolved convergently.
- Cwith the same range of temperatures.
- Dwhose plant communities have similar adaptations.
76Which of the following is an example of weather?
- AThe average annual rainfall in a North American desert is 33 cm per year.
- BThe average summer temperature at a specific location has increased from 30°C in the 1950s to 32°C in the 1990s.
- CA single location received 10 cm of snow on January 1, 2011, but no snow on January 2, 2011.
- DThe composition of the soil differs between the coastal beaches and the eastern forests of North America.
77A scientist is studying a bird that forages for worms and takes them back to its nest. If the relation between search time and the number of prey caught remains constant but the scientist moves the food closer, what change in the bird's behavior would central place foraging predict?
- AMore worms would be brought back per trip.
- BThe number of worms brought back would not change.
- CFewer worms would be brought back per trip.
- DThe bird would enter torpor.
78The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate is its
- Acommunity
- Bhabitat
- Cniche
- Decosystem role
79What adaptation has occurred in species with limited access to fresh water?
- Amodified tear glands
- Bincreased skin surface area
- Cenlarged liver
- Dsmall loop of Henle
80Which is NOT an adaptation that plants may have to deal with hot, dry conditions?
- Awaxy cuticles on the leaf surface
- Bindividual leaves with large surface area
- Cfine hairs on the surface of the leaf
- Dno leaves on the plant
81This figure shows the tail shape developed by three tadpole genotypes (M, N, and O) when raised in an environment with predators and an environment without predators. In the presence of predators, tadpoles with large tails have high fitness and tadpoles with small tails have low fitness. When predators are not present, tadpoles with large tails have low fitness and tadpoles with small tails have high fitness. This figure shows the tail shape developed by three tadpole genotypes (M, N, and O) when raised in an environment with predators and an environment without predators. In the presence of predators, tadpoles with large tails have high fitness and tadpoles with small tails have low fitness. When predators are not present, tadpoles with large tails have low fitness and tadpoles with small tails have high fitness.
Which genotype(s) exhibit(s) phenotypic plasticity in response to predators?
- AM ONLY
- BN ONLY
- CO ONLY
- DM AND N
- EN AND O
82Why is altruistic behavior an evolutionary problem?
- AIt does not lead to an increase in direct fitness.
- BIt does not lead to an increase in indirect fitness.
- CIt does not lead to an increase in fitness.
- DIt decreases fitness.
83Consider three populations of a plant species, each isolated from other populations of the same species. Population X has contained approximately 100 individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. Population Y has contained approximately 10,000 individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. Population Z has contained approximately 1 million individuals in each generation for the past 200 generations. If genetic drift is the only evolutionary process acting on these populations, how can we expect the amount of genetic variation to differ among these populations?
- AX will have the highest variation, Y will have intermediate variation, and Z will have the lowest variation.
- BX will have the lowest variation, Y will have intermediate variation, and Z will have the highest variation.
- CX and Z will have high variation, while Z will have low variation.X and Z will have high variation, while Z will have low variation.
- DAll three populations will have the same amount of genetic variation.
84According to the handicap principle, if an honest signal, the perceived advantage linked to the disadvantageous trait is
- Adirectly beneficial to the female.
- Bgenetically linked to the sexual trait.
- Cinherited by offspring.
- Dnot inherited by offspring.
85Based on the phylogeny in the figure, which traits are shared by bony fishes and amphibians?
- Ajaws and lungs
- Bbony skeleton and lungs
- Cjaws and bony skeleton
- Dlegs and lungs
86What is the mode in the following data set?
What is the mode in the following data set?
17, 20, 26, 26, 27, 30, 31, 39- A26
- B26.5
- C27
- D28
87A peacock is significantly more colorful than a peahen and has a much larger tail. These traits allow the peacock to attract a mate but also make the peacock more visible to predators. This is an example of
- Arunaway sexual selection.
- Bsexual conflict.
- Cthe good health hypothesis.
- Dthe good genes hypothesis.
88Aquatic organisms have developed streamlined shapes to adapt to the
- Adensity of water.
- Bviscosity of water.
- Cpolar nature of water.
- Dbasic nature of water.
89The equation Y = mx + b is for a
- Aparabola
- Bhypotenuse
- Cstraight line
- Dintercept
90The field capacity of the soil is the
- Anumber of plants it can support.
- Bamount of water held against gravity.
- Camount of nutrients the soil can hold.
- Dnutrients accessible to plants.
91Although precipitation is fairly low in boreal forests, soils are often saturated because of
- Agroundwater recharge.
- Bfrequent flooding
- Cprevalence of succulent plants.
- Dreduced evaporation rates
92Where is the solar equator?
- Aat the Tropic of Cancer
- Bbetween the equator and 23.5° N, depending on the season
- Cbetween 23.5° S and 23.5° N of the equator, depending on the season
- Dalong the equator
- Ebetween the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn
93Consider the figure, which shows how Virginia pepperweed responds to herbivores. Which of the following conclusions can we make solely using the data shown?
- AI only
- BII Only
- CIII Only
- DI and II only
- EI, II, and III only
94Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
- Amethane
- Bozone
- Ccarbon monoxide
- Dnitrous oxide
95Explain how studying a community can provide insight into population changes.
- APlease for the love of god
- Bmainstreet for forever?
96Based on fitness effects on donors and recipients, which type of social interaction is expected to occur LEAST often or not at all?
- Aaltruism
- Bcooperation
- Cselfishness
- Dspitefulness
97You are studying flocks of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). You notice that flock size varies quite a bit from just a few individuals to hundreds within the same flock. What might you expect when observing starling feeding behavior in open fields and lawns between individuals in the small flocks and those in the large flocks?
- AIndividuals in the small flocks have more offspring.
- BIndividuals in the large flocks have more offspring.
- CIndividuals in small flocks spend more time looking for predators.
- DIndividuals in large flocks spend more time looking for predators.
98What is the median in the following data set?
17, 20, 26, 26, 27, 30, 31, 39- A26
- B26.5
- C27
- D28
99Many animals undergo a dramatic metamorphosis from larval to adult form. Poorly nourished animals cannot grow as fast as well-nourished animals and therefore do not reach a given mass as quickly as their well-nourished counterparts. If metamorphosis occurs when a specific minimum body mass is reached, which of the following costs is most likely incurred by a poorly nourished animal?
- Alonger period of risk of predation prior to reproduction
- Breduced reproductive output as an adult
- Cdeformed offspring
- Doffspring with poor competitive ability
- Ereduced parental care
100Phenotypic plasticity
- Arefers to an environment that varies.
- Boccurs when a single phenotype has different fitness in different environments.
- Cis a type of environmental cue.
- Dis the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes.
101Which would be the most informative about the reliability of data gathered in an experiment?
- Alow mean
- Bhigh mean
- Clow variance
- Dhigh variance
102Why is it important for organisms to osmoregulate?
- AOrganisms cannot survive in hyposmotic conditions.
- BActive transport requires large amounts of energy.
- CAn imbalance in solutes disrupts cell functions.
- DHigh osmotic pressure can burst cell walls.
103What environmental factor would likely lead to later maturation with an iteroparous reproductive strategy?
- Afewer interspecific competitors
- Bhigher rainfall over several years
- Ca lower severity and frequency of disturbance
- Dglobal warming
104Explain how the C4 pathway reduces reliance on water.
- AHow?
- BHow not?
105All things being equal, which organism would potentially lose body heat at a greater rate?
- Amoose
- Belephant
- Cfox
- Dmouse
106Fecundity is the
- Anumber of reproductive episodes of an organism.
- Bamount of overall energy expended to reproduction over the life of an organism.
- Cnumber of offspring produced by an organism per reproductive episode.
- Dperiod in the life of an organism when it can produce offspring.
107Which is NOT an adaptation that exploits the density of water?
- Aa gas-filled swim bladder
- Bdroplets of oil on algae
- Clong, filamentous appendages
- Dhigh percentages of fat
108Environmentally induced changes in an individual's physiology are called
- Aacclimation.
- Benvironmental cues.
- Cphenotypic trade-offs.
- Dnonplastic genotypes.
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- Quiz on Ecology Exam one study guide, created by Abigail Mellon on 02/03/2019.
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- Abigail Mellon
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