Question 1

The ecological community of a pond comprises

Accepted Answer

A)   all the species living in the pond and the abiotic environment (water, sunlight, etc.)  that supports them.
B)   all the species living in the pond.
C)   the invertebrates and vertebrate animals living in the pond.
D)   all of the producers and consumers living in the pond, but not the decomposers.
E)   None of the aboveF) A) and E)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

The theory of _______ biogeography was developed to explain _______ relationships.

Accepted Answer

island; sp...

Question 3

Where do biomass pyramids like the one shown below occur, and what are the conditions that create them?

Accepted Answer

In most aquatic ecosystems, the dominant...

Question 4

Suppose that you are responsible for managing community succession to provide suitable habitat for an endangered animal species that is long-lived and has a low reproductive rate. Would you expect this species to be adapted to early or late successional stages?

Accepted Answer

As explained in Chapter 55, long life sp...

Question 5

Refer to the graph below showing the effect of species number on arrival and extinction rates. According to the theory of island biogeography, which of the following statements about the graph is true? 1. D)  The extinction rate is zero at n1. E)  Both a and b" class="answers-bank-image d-inline" rel="preload" >

Accepted Answer

A)   Curve a is the arrival rate curve.
B)   Curve b is the extinction rate curve.
C)   The arrival rate equals the extinction rate at n1.
D)   The extinction rate is zero at n1.
E)   Both a and bF) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 6

For most communities, species richness will _______ if fertilizer is added when productivity is low, and it will _______ if fertilizer is added when productivity is high.

Accepted Answer

A)   increase; increase
B)   increase; decrease
C)   remain the same; increase
D)   decrease; increase
E)   decrease; decreaseF) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 7

The first phase of decomposition is

Accepted Answer

A)   dry decay.
B)   autolysis.
C)   primary succession.
D)   wet decay.
E)   putrefaction.F) C) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 8

Which of the following is a primary consumer?

Accepted Answer

A)   A predatory fish
B)   A detritus-eating roundworm
C)   An oak tree
D)   A herbivorous beetle larva
E)   None of the aboveF) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 9

Which of the following is a hypothesis generated by biologists to explain species richness gradients?

Accepted Answer

A)   Greater competition in the tropics has led to narrower niches and thus more species in the tropics than elsewhere.
B)   The lack of mutualisms in the higher latitudes limits the number of species in high latitude communities.
C)   Intense predation in the polar regions limits the number of species that can live there.
D)   Both a and b
E)   Both b and cF) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 10

Species such as beavers, which create structures in the environment that serve as habitat for other species, are called _______.

Accepted Answer

ecosystem ...

Question 11

In comparison with temperate regions at higher latitudes, tropical communities show greater species richness. Which of the following is a hypothesis that has been proposed to explain this difference?

Accepted Answer

A)   Tropical regions have had more time to diversify under stable climatic conditions.
B)   Tropical regions have more habitat types.
C)   Higher levels of interspecific competition in the tropics have led to narrower niches and hence a greater number of more specialized species.
D)   Higher predation intensity in the tropics prevents interspecific competition among prey species and thus allows rare species to persist.
E)   All of the aboveF) B) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 12

Although ecologists often diagram the interactions of who eats whom by means of a food chain, depicting the complexity of real-life interactions often requires the construction of a _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although ecologists often diagram the interactions of...

Question 13

Beavers affect communities by

Accepted Answer

A)   what they eat.
B)   altering patterns of vegetation as they preferentially cut down certain trees.
C)   creating meadows and ponds by means of their dams.
D)   All of the above
E)   None of the aboveF) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 14

In the open ocean, the biomass of a community is usually highest at the _______ trophic level because the _______ have a high reproductive rate.

Accepted Answer

primary co...

Question 15

Cows, which eat grass and other plant materials, belong to the _______ trophic level.

Accepted Answer

primary co...

Question 16

Which of the following is not an example of succession?

Accepted Answer

A)   A pond changing to a meadow
B)   The self-perpetuation of a climax community
C)   Shrubs filling in a forest gap
D)   The recolonization of Mount St. Helens after its eruption
E)   A forest being clear-cutF) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 17

Early stages of succession are characterized by

Accepted Answer

A)   species that are good dispersers.
B)   species with high intrinsic rates of reproduction.
C)   simple food webs.
D)   nutrients that are available primarily in abiotic sources.
E)   All of the aboveF) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 18

In which of the following ecosystems would you expect to observe the lowest biomass of primary consumers relative to the biomass of the primary producers?

Accepted Answer

A)   Tropical evergreen forest
B)   Temperate grassland
C)   Freshwater lake
D)   Open ocean
E)   Both c and dF) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

Which of the following represents the correct chronological order (from earliest to latest)  in which the organisms below appear on a dead body?

Accepted Answer

A)   Spider beetles, blowflies, flesh flies
B)   Spider beetles, flesh flies, blowflies
C)   Blowflies, flesh flies, spider beetles
D)   Flesh flies, blowflies, spider beetles
E)   Flesh flies, spider beetles, blowfliesF) A) and B)
G) B) and C)

Question 20

David Tilman's experiments showed that as species richness increases, productivity _______ and the variation in productivity _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   decreases; increases
B)   decreases; remains constant
C)   decreases; decreases
D)   increases; increases
E)   increases; decreasesF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Exam 57: Community Ecology

In comparison with temperate regions at higher latitudes, tropical communities show greater species richness. Which of the following is a hypothesis that has been proposed to explain this difference?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose that you are responsible for managing community succession to provide suitable habitat for an endangered animal species that is long-lived and has a low reproductive rate. Would you expect this species to be adapted to early or late successional stages?

Correct AnswerverifiedAs explained in Chapter 55, long life sp...View AnswerShow Answer

Species such as beavers, which create structures in the environment that serve as habitat for other species, are called _______.

Correct Answerverifiedecosystem ...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following is a hypothesis generated by biologists to explain species richness gradients?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Cows, which eat grass and other plant materials, belong to the _______ trophic level.

Correct Answerverifiedprimary co...View AnswerShow Answer

Refer to the graph below showing the effect of species number on arrival and extinction rates. According to the theory of island biogeography, which of the following statements about the graph is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following represents the correct chronological order (from earliest to latest) in which the organisms below appear on a dead body?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the open ocean, the biomass of a community is usually highest at the _______ trophic level because the _______ have a high reproductive rate.

Correct Answerverifiedprimary co...View AnswerShow Answer

The theory of _______ biogeography was developed to explain _______ relationships.

Correct Answerverifiedisland; sp...View AnswerShow Answer

For most communities, species richness will _______ if fertilizer is added when productivity is low, and it will _______ if fertilizer is added when productivity is high.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is a primary consumer?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The ecological community of a pond comprises

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The first phase of decomposition is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

David Tilman's experiments showed that as species richness increases, productivity _______ and the variation in productivity _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Early stages of succession are characterized by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Although ecologists often diagram the interactions of who eats whom by means of a food chain, depicting the complexity of real-life interactions often requires the construction of a _______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not an example of succession?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Beavers affect communities by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of the following ecosystems would you expect to observe the lowest biomass of primary consumers relative to the biomass of the primary producers?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Where do biomass pyramids like the one shown below occur, and what are the conditions that create them?

Correct AnswerverifiedIn most aquatic ecosystems, the dominant...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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As explained in Chapter 55, long life sp...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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ecosystem ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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primary co...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

In the open ocean, the biomass of a community is usually highest at the _ trophic level because the _ have a high reproductive rate.

Correct Answer
verified
primary co...
View Answer

The theory of _ biogeography was developed to explain _ relationships.

Correct Answer
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island; sp...
View Answer

For most communities, species richness will _ if fertilizer is added when productivity is low, and it will _ if fertilizer is added when productivity is high.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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David Tilman's experiments showed that as species richness increases, productivity _ and the variation in productivity _.

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
In most aquatic ecosystems, the dominant...
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