Title: Ecology of Living Things
Course: Question Banks

Q: Ecologists studying ecosystems will examine ________.
- only abiotic components (Incorrect. Ecologists are not focused on the non-living portions of ecosystems alone.)
- only biotic components (Incorrect. Ecologists are not focused on the living portions of ecosystems alone.)
- abiotic and biotic components (Correct. Ecosystems are characterized by both nonliving and living parts; therefore ecologists study both.)
A: abiotic and biotic components

Q: Ecologists address questions across ________ level(s) of biological organization.
- one (Incorrect. Ecologists as a whole address more than one level of biological organization, though a single study may focus on only a single level.)
- all (Incorrect. Ecologists are generally not concerned with the “lower” levels of biological organization, such as macromolecules, organelles, or even cells.)
- four (Correct. Ecologists study organismal, population, community, and ecosystem level biological organization.)
A: four

Q: Understanding ecological issues addresses ________.
- medical advances (Incorrect. Ecology can have an impact on health care, but usually not through specific medical advances.)
- technological advances (Incorrect. Ecologists generally do not have a direct impact on technological advances.)
- basic human needs (Correct. Understanding ecological issues can help society meet the basic human needs: food, shelter, and health care.)
A: basic human needs

Q: Which of the following would an organismal ecologist studying frogs examine?
- the number of insect prey present in the frog range (Incorrect. This would be a community ecologist’s focus since it involves more than one species within an area.)
- temperature impacts on the sex distribution of the frogs (Incorrect. This would be an ecosystem ecologist’s focus as the entire population of frogs must be examined to determine sex distribution, but this is being looked at in relation to temperature, an abiotic feature.)
- preferred nesting locations of frogs (Correct. An organismal ecologist would study individual frogs and note nesting locations.)
A: preferred nesting locations of frogs

Q: When studying frogs, a(n) ________ ecologist would focus upon temperature impacts on the sex distribution of the frogs.
- biosphere (Incorrect. No one tackles the entire biosphere in a study.)
- community (Incorrect. A community ecologist might study the number of insect prey present in the frog range.)
- ecosystem (Correct. This would be an ecosystem ecologist’s focus as the entire population of frogs must be examined to determine sex distribution, but this is being looked at in relation to temperature, an abiotic feature.)
A: ecosystem

Q: When conducting field studies, ecologists classify members of the same species as ________ and members of different species as ________.
- homospecifics; heterospecifics (Incorrect. Ecologists do not use the term homospecifics.)
- homospecifics; conspecifics (Incorrect. Ecologists do not use these terms in this fashion.)
- conspecifics; heterospecifics (Correct. This is how an ecologist would broadly label individuals at the species level.)
A: conspecifics; heterospecifics

Q: ________ ecology attempts to solve real world problems, including conservation efforts.
- Microbial (Incorrect. Microbial ecology is focused on microorganisms in the world around us.)
- Restoration (Incorrect. Restoration ecology attempts to understand the ecological principles that will influence efforts to repair damaged ecosystems.)
- Applied (Correct. Frequently, scientific disciplines focused on real world problems are known as applied fields.)
A: Applied

Q: Which of these would fall under urban ecology?
- human impact on climate change (Incorrect. Human ecology is focused on the impact and interrelationships between humans and the world around us.)
- conservation efforts to increase biodiversity (Incorrect. Urban ecology is generally not focused on increasing biodiversity through conservation. There is often little natural environment left to conserve in an urban setting.)
- ecosystems within New York City (Correct. Urban ecology is the study of ecosystems in urban environments.)
A: ecosystems within New York City

Q: ________ focuses on changes in plant populations.
- Paleoecology (Incorrect. Paleoecology is focused on relationships between fossil assemblages.)
- Restoration ecology (Incorrect. Restoration ecology attempts to under the ecological principles that will influence efforts to repair damaged ecosystems.)
- Ecological succession (Correct. Ecological succession focuses on directed vegetative changes.)
A: Ecological succession

Q: ________ is the geographic distribution of life and the nonliving factors that influence that distribution.
- Bioecology (Incorrect. Bioecology is not the geographic distribution of living things as affected by abiotic factors.)
- Biogeochemical patterns (Incorrect. Biogeochemical generally refers to cycles of certain elements, such as carbon, through biological, geographic, and chemical forms and reservoirs.)
- Biogeography (Correct. Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of living things as affected by abiotic factors.)
A: Biogeography

Q: Abiotic factors vary mainly based on ________.
- temperature and rainfall (Incorrect. These are two abiotic factors.)
- elevation and rainfall (Incorrect. Rainfall is an abiotic factor.)
- latitude and elevation (Correct. Abiotic factors are influenced largely by latitude and elevation.)
A: latitude and elevation

Q: The vegetation that appears at the top of a high mountain is likely to be similar to the vegetation at ________.
- the equator (Incorrect. The vegetation at the equator will not resemble vegetation on a high mountain.)
- sea level (Incorrect. Elevation will be quite different at sea level versus on a high mountain; therefore the vegetation will be quite different.)
- high latitudes (Correct. Vegetation will be similar at high elevations and high latitudes.)
A: high latitudes

Q: ________ species are found in only a certain area, often of limited geographical size.
- Rare (Incorrect. Species do not necessarily have to be rare just because they have a restricted geographical distribution.)
- Restricted (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe these type of species.)
- Endemic (Correct. Endemic species are native to a specific area, usually one with restricted geographical size.)
A: Endemic

Q: Distinctive species can often be found in ________.
- physically small regions (Incorrect. The size of the geographical range of an animal does not influence how unique it is.)
- high stress environments (Incorrect. Environments change often, and the idea of stress is a hard one to define.)
- physically isolated geographies (Correct. Islands and isolated gorges, areas that are physically isolated, often have unique endemic species.)
A: physically isolated geographies

Q: To determine unique patterns of species distribution, ecologists will focus on ________.
- species presence (Incorrect. Ecologists will examine species presence but this is not the best answer.)
- species absence (Incorrect. Ecologists will examine species absence but this is not the best answer.)
- species presence and absence (Correct. Sometimes ecologists can learn as much from where a species is not found as they do from where it is found.)
A: species presence and absence

Q: Stratification is the process by which a freshwater lake develops ________.
- different sediment layers (Incorrect. Stratification in lakes does not refer to different sediment layers in lakes.)
- distinct species distributions (Incorrect. There are distinct areas where different species are found, but these are called zones. Stratification is not part of this distribution.)
- layers of different temperatures (Correct. Water in lakes will form distinct layers of different temperatures during the process of stratification.)
A: layers of different temperatures

Q: The process of ________ is responsible for moving nutrients from the bottom of the ocean to the higher levels where more organisms reside.
- seasonal turnover (Incorrect. Oceans are not as subject to seasonal changes as smaller bodies of water.)
- ocean stratification (Incorrect. Oceans do not stratify, or form distinct temperature layers, in quite the same way that freshwater systems do. Therefore this process does not influence nutrient movement.)
- ocean upwelling (Correct. As wind moves the upper ocean waters away from the shore, water from the nutrient-rich bottom rises to fill in that space. This replaces valuable nutrients.)
A: ocean upwelling

Q: Adaptations in photosynthesizers often relate to ________ availability.
- carbon dioxide (Incorrect. Carbon dioxide is rarely so consistently limited that photosynthesizer need to optimize its capture.)
- oxygen (Incorrect. Photosynthesizers release produce and release oxygen.)
- sunlight (Correct. Photosynthesizers will often develop adaptations to maximize the amount of solar energy they can capture.)
A: sunlight

Q: Many animals address seasonal temperature fluctuations by ________.
- changing their coat colors to reflect sunlight (Incorrect. Seasonal coat changes are due to camouflage more than reflecting sunlight.)
- enter hibernation to retain body heat (Incorrect. Hibernation is not designed specifically geared to retaining body heat.)
- migrating to leave seasonally cold areas (Correct. Quite a few animals, including types of birds, insects, and mammals, will migrate in response to winter temperatures.)
A: migrating to leave seasonally cold areas

Q: Animals will ________ to survive extreme hot, dry climates.
- migrate (Incorrect. Migration is usually a response to cold temperatures.)
- hibernate (Incorrect. Hibernation is a response to cold conditions.)
- estivate (Correct. Estivation allows animals to survive hostile conditions found in hot, dry climates.)
A: estivate

Q: Animals as a rule are found in living in temperatures ranging from ________.
- 32ºC to 100ºC (Incorrect. Few organisms can survive in temperatures this high.)
- −20ºC to 45ºC (Incorrect. Few organisms can survive in temperatures at the low end of this range.)
- 0ºC to 45ºC (Correct. This is the temperature range at which most living things survive.)
A: 0ºC to 45ºC

Q: The ________ is the organic matter available as food.
- primary productivity (Incorrect. Primary productivity is the amount plants produce, but all of this is not available as food.)
- biomass (Incorrect. The total mass of biological life is not the amount of organic matter actually available for food.)
- net primary productivity (Correct. When determining how much food is actually available, the amount of loss due to cellular respiration must be factored out.)
A: net primary productivity

Q: The optimal environmental conditions that lead to maximum plant productivity require a ________ climate.
- warm and oxygen rich (Incorrect. Photosynthesizers like plants produce oxygen, so they don’t need it to be optimized.)
- wet and carbon rich (Incorrect. Photosynthesizers remove carbon from the atmosphere: there’s plenty there to go around.)
- warm and wet (Correct. Warm and wet environments optimize a number of environmental features that to maximal productivity from photosynthesizers.)
A: warm and wet

Q: It is particularly important for plants to obtain ________ from soils.
- calcium (Incorrect. Calcium is generally not a limiting nutrient influencing plant distributions.)
- carbon (Incorrect. Plants obtain carbon from the atmosphere, not soils.)
- nitrogen (Correct. Nitrogen is often a limiting nutrient; this is why most agriculture adds nitrogen fertilizers to soils.)
A: nitrogen

Q: Freshwater organisms maintain water balance by ________.
- having a water-impenetrable skin (Incorrect. Even if water cannot enter through the skin, it will enter every other orifice on a freshwater organism.)
- extruding salt crystals (Incorrect. Freshwater organisms need to retain their solutes, so they would not extrude any of them.)
- excreting dilute urine (Correct. With freshwater organisms the concern is excess water entering cells; one way water balance is maintained by excreting dilute urine.)
A: excreting dilute urine

Q: ________ influences the rate of evaporation and transpiration.
- Amount of sunlight (Incorrect. The amount of sunlight does not directly impact evaporation and transpiration.)
- Elevation (Incorrect. Elevation does not directly impact evaporation and transpiration.)
- Wind (Correct. Wind influences the rate of evaporation and transpiration.)
A: Wind

Q: ________ water has more dissolved oxygen.
- Warm (Incorrect. Warm water does not have more dissolved oxygen.)
- Temperate (Incorrect. Temperature water does not have more dissolved oxygen.)
- Cold (Correct. Cold water contains more dissolved oxygen than warm.)
A: Cold

Q: ________ is an important factor influencing the distribution of biomes.
- Volcanic activity (Incorrect. Volcanic activity will have a local impact on biomes, but not a widespread impact.)
- Soil pH (Incorrect. Soil pH will have an affect on the species within a biome, but does not influence overall biome distribution.)
- Precipitation (Correct. Precipitation is a key abiotic factor influencing the distribution of biomes.)
A: Precipitation

Q: ________ variation throughout the year will have a key impact on biome and vegetation distribution.
- Solar energy (Incorrect. Solar energy does change based on the tilt of the planet but this doesn’t have a key impact on biome distribution.)
- Agricultural (Incorrect. Human activities associated with agriculture are not able to have a global impact on biome distribution.)
- Temperature (Correct. Temperature variation, especially as a seasonal impact, has a major role in influencing biome distribution and vegetation within biomes.)
A: Temperature

Q: A biome ________.
- occurs in one unique location around the world (Incorrect. Biomes are not unique to a single location on the global.)
- is always restricted by latitude (Incorrect. Consider the savanna, which is found near the equator as well as in southern Africa.)
- may be present in different locations that have similar climates (Correct. If two locations have similar abiotic features, especially precipitation and temperature, they are likely to have a similar biome.)
A: may be present in different locations that have similar climates

Q: The ________ has the most stable temperature and precipitation profile year round.
- temperate forest (Incorrect. Temperate forests definitely have distinct seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation.)
- chaparral (Incorrect. The chaparral biome does experience seasonal fluctuations, especially in rainfall from summer and winter.)
- tropical rainforest (Correct. Since they are at the equator, tropical rainforests do not experience the seasonal fluctuation that most biomes do.)
A: tropical rainforest

Q: Why do steppe biomes have few trees?
- cold temperatures (Incorrect. Trees will grow in cold temperatures.)
- high altitudes (Incorrect. Trees will grow at high altitudes.)
- low rainfall (Correct. Steppes and prairies are both temperate grasslands: they do not receive enough annual rainfall to have trees that are not near a water source such as a river.)
A: low rainfall

Q: The ________ forest has defined growing seasons.
- tropical (Incorrect. Since they are at the equator, tropical rainforests do not experience the seasonal fluctuation that most biomes do. Therefore they grow year round.)
- boreal (Incorrect. Boreal forests are overall quite cold with lower annual precipitation. Therefore they do not have the distinct growing seasons observed in some biomes.)
- temperate (Correct. Temperate forests have distinct seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation, leading to distinct growing seasons.)
A: temperate

Q: ________ is central to the distribution of species within aquatic biomes.
- Water movement (Incorrect. Water movement is important in ocean biomes, but less so in freshwater.)
- Stratification (Incorrect. Stratification is important in freshwater biomes, but less so in ocean.)
- Light (Correct. The importance of light, and light penetration, is central to the community structure of aquatic biomes.)
A: Light

Q: One of the most important abiotic features in freshwater biomes is ________.
- particulate matter (Incorrect. Particulate matter can and does influence aquatic systems, but is not a critical factor influencing freshwater systems.)
- water movement (Incorrect. Water movement is important in ocean biomes, but less so in freshwater.)
- stratification (Correct. Stratification is critical in freshwater biomes, but less so in ocean.)
A: stratification

Q: Sunlight is always available in the ________ zone.
- pelagic (Incorrect. Large portions of the pelagic zone do not experience sunlight.)
- benthic (Incorrect. Large portions of the pelagic zone do not experience sunlight.)
- neritic (Correct. The neritic zone is always illuminated by sunlight, assuming the sun is shining.)
A: neritic

Q: The ________ is the largest aquatic biome.
- freshwater system (Incorrect. Relatively little of the overall aquatic biome is freshwater.)
- coral reef (Incorrect. Coral reefs are small in number and size overall.)
- ocean (Correct. The ocean covers the majority of the planet and is overall uniform: this makes “the ocean” the largest biome period.)
A: ocean

Q: The organisms that are found within the coral calcium carbonate structure are ________.
- plankton (Incorrect. Plankton are microscopic free-floating organisms within the water.)
- cnidarians (Incorrect. Cnidarians are the actual animals that form the coral structure by secreting the calcium carbonate covering.)
- cryptofauna (Correct. Cryptofauna are the small invertebrates that live within the hard coral structure.)
A: cryptofauna

Q: No plants can be found within the ________ zone.
- neritic (Incorrect. The neritic zone is abundant with plant life, as light can fully penetrate it.)
- intertidal (Incorrect. The intertidal zone is closest to the land, so there are definitely plants here.)
- abyssal (Correct. There are no plants in the abyssal zone because it has no light. There are lifeforms in this zone however.)
A: abyssal

Q: Lakes and ponds are heavily influenced by ________.
- light (Incorrect. Light is readily available in most lakes and ponds, though not all.)
- channel size (Incorrect. Lakes and ponds do not have channels, only rivers and streams.)
- stratification (Correct. Temperature layers within lakes and ponds have a major impact on these freshwater systems.)
A: stratification

Q: A(n) ________ can have a drastic, and often detrimental, impact on freshwater biomes.
- flood (Incorrect. Natural ecosystems exposed to periodic floods have evolved response mechanisms to handle this phenomenon.)
- bleaching (Incorrect. “Bleaching” is used to refer to the death of coral, which are found in saltwater biomes.)
- algal bloom (Correct. Excess nutrients, frequently from human sources, can cause a sudden growth of algal species. This can block sunlight, resulting in the death of photosynthesizer, which leads to animal deaths as well.)
A: algal bloom

Q: Moving water is always ________ closer to the source.
- warmer (Incorrect. Water is colder near the source of a river or stream.)
- murkier (Incorrect. Water near the source of a river or stream has fewer particles, so it is clearer.)
- faster-flowing (Correct. Water moves faster at the source, usually due to the narrow channel. Further away, the channel widens and the flow of water slows.)
A: faster-flowing

Q: In general, smaller organisms are ________ distributed compared to larger organisms.
- less densely (Incorrect. Smaller organisms are not less densely distributed than larger.)
- equally (Incorrect. Smaller organisms are not equally distributed with larger ones.)
- more densely (Correct. Smaller organisms are usually more densely distributed than larger ones.)
A: more densely

Q: Population ecologists will study population ________.
- size (Incorrect. Population studies will determine size but not size alone is insufficient information.)
- density (Incorrect. Population studies will determine density but not that alone is insufficient information.)
- size and density (Correct. Population studies involve determining both the number of individuals as well as their distribution within a specific area.)
A: size and density

Q: Animal populations are often studied with a ________ method.
- quadrat (Incorrect. A quadrat is used to study immobile or slow-moving populations usually.)
- spot sampling (Incorrect. Spot sampling alone will not work because animals move, so the same specimen could be “spot sampled” twice.)
- mark and recapture (Correct. Most animal population studies utilize a capture, tag (or mark) and release approach. Recapture of marked animals allows for population estimates to be calculated.)
A: mark and recapture

Q: Scientists employ ________ to study dynamic changes in populations.
- dispersion patterns (Incorrect. Dispersion patterns just address how individuals in a population are spaced within a geographic area. Dispersion patterns do not really change.)
- mortality rate (Incorrect. Scientists do factor in mortality rates but this is not a comprehensive picture of a population or associated changes over time.)
- demographics (Correct. Scientists will utilize demographic studies of changes in birth rates, death rates, and life expectancies to study changes in populations over time.)
A: demographics

Q: A ________ will divide a population into age and usually sex groups.
- population pyramid (Incorrect. A population pyramid is a graphical representation of this information but the data must be organized first before a pyramid can be drawn.)
- survivorship curve (Incorrect. A survivorship curve is the number of individuals surviving at each age interval over time.)
- life table (Correct. A life table provides information about the life history of an organism, including dividing a population into age groups and often sex groups.)
A: life table

Q: Species in which a high percentage of offspring survive to middle “age” have a ________ survivorship curve.
- Type III (Incorrect. A Type III curve shows a high number of deaths at young ages; the few survivors to reach adulthood often live long periods of time.)
- Type II (Incorrect. A Type II curve shows roughly equal numbers of deaths at each age interval. So this would be a straight line on a graph, not really a curve.)
- Type I (Correct. A Type I survivorship curve shows most offspring surviving through early and middle years, with death occurring mostly in older individuals.)
A: Type I

Q: ________ is the potential reproductive capacity of an individual.
- Reproductive potential (Incorrect. This is not the correct term.)
- Semelparity (Incorrect. This refers to organisms that reproduce once and then die.)
- Fecundity (Correct. Fecundity is the potential number of offspring an individual could have.)
A: Fecundity

Q: ________ species reproduce repeatedly during their lives.
- Semelparous (Incorrect. This refers to organisms that reproduce once and then die.)
- Perennial (Incorrect. Perennial refers specifically to plants that live for more than one season; they may or may not reproduce multiple times during that span.)
- Iteroparous (Correct. Species that display iteroparity can reproduce multiple times during their lifespans.)
A: Iteroparous

Q: Organisms that reproduce at an early age risk their own ________.
- fecundity (Incorrect. Reproductive age influences overall fecundity.)
- parental support (Incorrect. Parental support is usually influenced by overall reproductive patterns already; age of first reproduction does not change that for one individual.)
- health (Correct. If an organism puts early resources into reproduction, there are less available for growth and health maintenance.)
A: health

Q: An accelerating pattern of increasing population size is ________ growth.
- logistic (Incorrect. Logistic growth is growth in the real world of limited resources, with an initially steep rate of population increase that then quickly levels off.)
- logarithmic (Incorrect. Logarithmic is the opposite of this, with very slow increases in population size.)
- exponential (Correct. An accelerating rate of increasing population size is described as exponential growth.)
A: exponential

Q: Phenotypic variation among individuals of a population impacts ________ most.
- fecundity (Incorrect. Since fecundity is potential reproduction, phenotypic variation can influence it but not often.)
- biotic potential (Incorrect. Biotic potential is the maximal growth rate for a species; it would be influenced by variations present in the population but this is not the best answer.)
- intraspecific competition (Correct. Competition between members of the same population would be “decided” by phenotypic variations.)
A: intraspecific competition

Q: The maximum population an environment can support is the ________.
- biotic potential (Incorrect. This is the maximal growth rate for a species.)
- growth curve (Incorrect. The growth curve is just a graph representing changes in population size over time.)
- carrying capacity (Correct. The maximum population size that a particular environment can support is its carrying capacity.)
A: carrying capacity

Q: Most ________ factors are biotic in nature.
- density-independent (Incorrect. Density-independent factors are often abiotic: they occur regardless of the population size. Consider a volcanic eruption as an example.)
- carrying capacity (Incorrect. There are not really carrying capacity factors per se, though there are factors that influence the population that can be supported by an environment. But these factors would be a mix of biotic and abiotic.)
- density-dependent (Correct. Density-dependent factors that keep population size in check are usually biological factors, including competitors, predators, or parasites.)
A: density-dependent

Q: The key factor to consider with density-independent factors is that they ________.
- can be mitigated by small populations (Incorrect. Density-independent factors cannot be mitigated.)
- can be avoided (Incorrect. Density-independent factors cannot really be avoided; they can be overcome through phenotypic or genotypic variation within a population though.)
- have the same impact regardless of total population size (Correct. This is why they are independent: a volcanic eruption will kill 5 trees as easily as 500.)
A: have the same impact regardless of total population size

Q: Competition of any type will ________ reproductive rates.
- increase (Incorrect. Survival of the fittest doesn’t mean survival of the mostest.)
- not influence (Incorrect. Competition always influences reproductive rates.)
- decrease (Correct. Competition is only present when there are limited resources; struggling to obtain enough of a limited resource involves expending energy that cannot then go to reproduction.)
A: decrease

Q: Stable predictable environments lead to ________ species populations.
- r-selected (Incorrect. r-selected species are more common in changing environments.)
- J-selected (Incorrect. There are no J-selected species; a J-shaped growth curve is produced by exponential growth.)
- K-selected (Correct. These species have few, large offspring and often give long-term care to those offspring.)
A: K-selected

Q: Dandelions, which disperse small seeds long distances on wind currents, are a ________ species.
- K-selected (Incorrect. These species have few, large offspring and often give long-term care to those offspring.)
- J-selected (Incorrect. There are no J-selected species; a J-shaped growth curve is produced by exponential growth. Dandelions actually do not grow exponentially though sometimes it does seem like they pop up overnight.)
- r-selected (Correct. r-selected species are more common in changing or unpredictable environments; entrusting the next generation to the wind is definitely an uncertain prospect.)
A: r-selected

Q: Which of the following is a K-selected species?
- Dandelions, which disperse small seeds long distances on wind currents (Incorrect. r-selected species are more common in changing or unpredictable environments.)
- Jellyfish, which produce many offspring that do not receive parental care (Incorrect. r-selected species are more common in changing or unpredictable environments.)
- Oak trees, which produce many offspring and mature late (Correct. This is a K-selected species.)
A: Oak trees, which produce many offspring and mature late

Q: Humans have an unmatched ability to alter ________.
- density-independent factors (Incorrect. We can mitigate but not totally circumvent density-independent factors like hurricanes or earthquakes.)
- fecundity (Incorrect. We can influence reproductive success in both ourselves and other species, but we cannot really change the maximal potential reproduction. In other words, we cannot make cows have litters of calves for example.)
- carrying capacity (Correct. More than any other species, we develop means to force more resources from the environment, at least temporarily.)
A: carrying capacity

Q: Human population worldwide is currently experiencing ________ growth.
- logistic (Incorrect. Logistic growth is typical growth in the real world of limited resources, with an initially steep rate of population increase that then quickly levels off. However, human population growth has not yet leveled off.)
- logarithmic (Incorrect. Logarithmic is the opposite of human population growth, with very slow increases in population size.)
- exponential (Correct. An accelerating rate of increasing population size is described as exponential growth, which is exactly what we currently observe in the global human population.)
A: exponential

Q: We observe the highest rate of human population growth in ________.
- developed countries (Incorrect. Developed countries typically show the lowest rate of population growth.)
- primitive societies (Incorrect. Primitive societies tend to be influenced heavily by density-dependent factors, keeping their overall growth rate down.)
- underdeveloped countries (Correct. Less economically developed countries often show the highest rate of population growth, especially as advances and assistance arrives from developed nations.)
A: underdeveloped countries

Q: In most cases, the populations of ________ cycle in a way that appears to be related or interdependent.
- host and parasite (Incorrect. There is not data that supports cycling of host and parasite populations in related ways.)
- mimics and models (Incorrect. Populations of species that mimic other organisms do not appear to cycle in relation to the organism they model.)
- predator and prey (Correct. While the exact mechanisms are unknown, predator and prey populations do appear to cycle in relation to each other.)
A: predator and prey

Q: ________ is the use of color patterns to warn off predators.
- Camouflage (Incorrect. Camouflage is the use of color and shape to blend in with the background.)
- Batesian mimicry (Incorrect. Batesian mimicry involves a harmless species imitating the warning coloration of another.)
- Aposematic coloration (Correct. Often this type of warning involves the use of bright colors (poison dart frogs) but not always (skunks).)
A: Aposematic coloration

Q: Mertensian mimicry involves ________.
- a harmless animal mimicking a more dangerous organism (Incorrect. Batesian mimicry involves a harmless species imitating the warning coloration of another.)
- a number of species all having similar warning coloration (Incorrect. Mullerian mimicry involves a number of species having similar warning coloration; all species still have their own defenses.)
- a deadly prey mimicking a less dangerous organism (Correct. In this case, it is important there still be a “bad” effect associated with eating the less dangerous organism, such as a bad taste or otherwise non-fatal consequence.)
A: a deadly prey mimicking a less dangerous organism

Q: The competitive exclusion principle tells us that ________.
- only the strong survive (Incorrect. This is not the focus of the competitive exclusion principle.)
- species will work together to exclude invaders (Incorrect. The competitive exclusion principle is not about any species working together.)
- two species cannot share the same niche in a habitat (Correct. Competition for this niche will exclude at least one of the species.)
A: two species cannot share the same niche in a habitat

Q: Under resource ________, two similar species will develop slightly different and non-overlapping needs.
- allocation (Incorrect. There is no resource allocation in biology.)
- gerrymandering (Incorrect. This is a political science concept, not an ecological one.)
- partitioning (Correct. The two organisms divide the available resources by needing non-overlapping versions of it (such as a shady spot versus a sunny spot).)
A: partitioning

Q: Species acquire resources and interact with other species through their specific ________.
- specialization (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe this process and interaction.)
- hierarchy (Incorrect. Hierarchies are only found within a single population; they do not cross species boundaries.)
- niche (Correct. An ecological niche describes the way in which species acquire needed resources and interact with other species in the community.)
A: niche

Q: In a ________ relationship, one species benefits while the other is not really impacted.
- mutualistic (Incorrect. In mutualism, both species involved benefit from the relationship.)
- parasitic (Incorrect. In parasitism, only the parasite benefits. The host is harmed.)
- commensal (Correct. In a commensal relationship, one species, such as a bird, benefits (gains a nesting site) but another, such as a tree, is neither harmed nor helped (doesn’t lose or gain anything).)
A: commensal

Q: The relationship between a termite and the protozoa that live in its gut is an example of ________.
- commensal (Incorrect. In a commensal relationship, one species, such as a bird, benefits (gains a nesting site) but another, such as a tree, is neither harmed nor helped (doesn’t lose or gain anything).)
- parasitism (Incorrect. In parasitism, only the parasite benefits. The host is harmed.)
- mutualism (Correct. In mutualism, both species involved benefit from the relationship. In this case, the termite is able to “eat” cellulose while the protozoa has a safe and happy home.)
A: mutualism

Q: In a parasitic relationship, ________.
- one species benefits while the other is not really impacted (Incorrect. In a commensal relationship, one species, such as a bird, benefits (gains a nesting site) but another, such as a tree, is neither harmed nor helped (doesn’t lose or gain anything).)
- both species benefit from the relationship (Incorrect. In mutualism, both species involved benefit from the relationship.)
- one species benefits while the other is harmed (Correct. In parasitism, only the parasite benefits. The host is harmed.)
A: one species benefits while the other is harmed

Q: ________ species have the greatest influence on community structure.
- Keystone (Incorrect. Keystone species are key to maintaining biodiversity and upholding the structure, but they do not have the greatest influence on overall structure.)
- Pioneer (Incorrect. Pioneer species are the first to grow on new land.)
- Foundation (Correct. Foundation species are the base on which community structure is built; they are usually primary producers.)
A: Foundation

Q: Keystone species ________.
- have the greatest influence on community structure (Incorrect. Foundation species are the base on which community structure is built.)
- are the first to grow on new land (Incorrect. Pioneer species are the first to grow on new land.)
- are key to maintaining ecological community structure (Correct. Keystone species are key to maintaining biodiversity and upholding the structure.)
A: are key to maintaining ecological community structure

Q: Island ________ attempts to explain why certain isolated island chains are particularly species rich.
- diversity (Incorrect. This is not the term used to study why island chains may be species rich.)
- hotbeds (Incorrect. Scientists may refer to islands as species hotbeds, but this isn’t really an official term or study.)
- biogeography (Correct. The study of island biogeography attempts to explain the relatively high species richness of some isolated island chains.)
A: biogeography

Q: The first organisms to colonize new, emergent land are the ________ species.
- keystone (Incorrect. Keystone species are key to maintaining biodiversity and upholding the structure, but they do not colonize new land.)
- foundation (Incorrect. Foundation species are the base on which community structure is built, but this term is not used for the first colonizers of new land.)
- pioneer (Correct. Pioneer species are the first to appear and grow on new land.)
A: pioneer

Q: When an existing ecological community is disturbed, ________ describes the sequential reappearance of species in the community.
- primary succession (Incorrect. Primary succession occurs when new land is formed and species first colonize that land.)
- resiliency (Incorrect. Resiliency describes how well an ecosystem responds to disturbances.)
- secondary succession (Correct. Secondary succession is the re-colonization of an ecosystem that has been disturbed.)
A: secondary succession

Q: When an ecosystem reaches equilibrium, species composition stops at the ________.
- intermediate structure (Incorrect. The intermediate species are those that appear “midway” through a secondary succession cycle.)
- stability community (Incorrect. While an ecosystem in equilibrium is stable, it is not referred to as a stability community.)
- climax community (Correct. Ecosystems will stay as climax communities until a disturbance results in a secondary succession cycle again.)
A: climax community

Q: Behavioral biology is concerned about the ________ basis for activity changes in an organism in response to a stimulus.
- environmental (Incorrect. Environment may influence behaviors but it is not the basis for a behavior.)
- philosophical (Incorrect. No organism other than a human is driven by anything philosophical.)
- evolutionary (Correct. Behavioral biology focuses on the biological and evolutionary bases for behaviors.)
A: evolutionary

Q: Biologists use the science of ________ to study animal behavior.
- comparative psychology (Incorrect. Comparative psychology is only used by psychologists to study humans.)
- field ecology (Incorrect. Field ecology usually just indicates a study is being done outside the lab; it isn’t necessarily about behavior.)
- ethology (Correct. Ethology is focused on animal behaviors, usually in natural environments.)
A: ethology

Q: ________ behaviors do not change, whereas ________ behaviors may.
- Instinctive; inherent (Incorrect. Instinctive and inherent are not the correct terms.)
- Reflex; environmental (Incorrect. These are not the correct terms.)
- Innate; learned (Correct. Innate behaviors have a strong genetic component and generally do not change; learned behaviors are influenced by the environment and may be altered.)
A: Innate; learned

Q: ________ is the undirected movement in response to a stimulus.
- Taxis (Incorrect. Taxis is a directed movement in response to a stimulus.)
- A reflex (Incorrect. A reflex is an involuntary and rapid response to a stimulus.)
- Kinesis (Correct. Kinesis is undirected movement in response to a stimulus.)
A: Kinesis

Q: ________ is an innate behavior, but not necessarily a “required” one.
- Foraging (Incorrect. Animals that feed by foraging will always forage to maximize energy gain and minimize energy expenditures.)
- A fixed action pattern (Incorrect. A fixed action pattern is a series of movements elicited by a stimulus that will complete even if the stimulus stops. Once the pattern begins, it will complete.)
- Migration (Correct. Not all species that migrate will migrate every year, or parts of a population may not migrate.)
A: Migration

Q: ________ displays are used to protect offspring.
- Courtship (Incorrect. Courtship displays are used to attract a mate.)
- Aggressive (Incorrect. Aggressive displays are used to protect the individual, by possibly bluffing out of a fight. Sometimes they do have to fight though.)
- Distraction (Correct. This altruistic behavior puts the individual at risk in order to protect the young.)
A: Distraction

Q: ________ is a learned behavior in which prolonged exposure to a stimulus makes an animal stop responding.
- Imprinting (Incorrect. Imprinting is associated with a particular age or life stage and is usually very important to the maturation of that particular animal.)
- Operant conditioning (Incorrect. Operant conditioning involves gradually modifying a behavior in response to a stimulus.)
- Habituation (Correct. This is non-associative learning: there is no punishment or reward in responding to the stimulus, so animals eventually stop responding.)
A: Habituation

Q: Which of the following is an example of imprinting?
- Chickens running to be fed when they see the farmer emerge from the barn. (Incorrect. This is not imprinting.)
- A dog drooling when it hears the kitchen cabinet open. (Incorrect. This is not imprinting.)
- Ducklings becoming attached to the first animal they see after birth (Correct. Usually this is the mother duck; the behavior helps protect ducklings in the wild as the mother watches over them. However, they will imprint on the first animal they see after birth, such as a human.)
A: Ducklings becoming attached to the first animal they see after birth

Q: The most prominent method of human learning is ________.
- operant conditioning (Incorrect. Operant conditioning involves gradually modifying a behavior in response to a stimulus. It is not how humans generally learn.)
- habituation (Incorrect. Humans can and will become habituation to a stimulus, but this is not how we learn most often.)
- cognitive learning (Correct. Humans use their minds to manipulation information: this is how we generally learn.)
A: cognitive learning