ecology quiz study guide

The graph represents the populations of two different species in an ecosystem over a period of several years. Which statement is a possible explanation for the changes shown?

• Species A is better adapted to this environment

• Species A is a predator of species B

• Species B is better adapted to this environment

• Species B is a parasite that has benefited species A

In a particular ecosystem, squirrels make up a large portion of the diet of coyotes. A fatal disease in the squirrel population begins to reduce their population over a period of months. Which graph best represents the expected changes in a population

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

a scientist was studying a population of fish in a pond over a period of 10 years. He observed that the population increased each year for 3 years, and then remained nearly constant for the rest of the study. The best explanation for this observation is that the population had

• stopped reproducing

• mutated into a different species

• reached carrying capacity

• run out of food and migrated to a different pond

a finite resource in the environment that keeps a population from steadily increasing is known as

• dynamic equilibrium

• a reproductive enzyme

• a limiting factor

• ecological succession

which statement best describes bat populations in a stable ecosystem?

• they are held in check by environmental factors

• they are producers that rely indirectly on other producers

• they are not limited to natural predators

• they are not dependent on other species

changes in a deer population are shown in the graph. which statement best explains section X?

• the population the population has reached the carrying capacity of its environment

• energy is used for interbreeding between members of different species

• a predator recycles the remains of dead organisms

• competition does not occur between members of different species in the same habitat

a graph is shown. the graph contains information about

• finite resources

• limiting factors

• biotic factors

• mineral availability

the final consumers in many food webs are

• autotrophs

• hosts

• herbivores

• carnivores

a researcher concludes from a 10-year study that the biodiversity of an ecosystem had increased. which set of observations represents evidence for this claim?

• there were more niches and greater stability in the ecosystem

• there were more niches and less energy lost as heat in the ecosystem

• there were fewer niches for decomposers and less stability

• there were fewer niches for consumers and greater cycling of materials

which statement best describes a situation where competition occurs in an ecosystem?

• a deer outruns an attacking wolf

• a deer, during the winter, consumes tree bark

• a deer and a rabbit consume grass in a field

• a deer and a rabbit are both startled by a hawk flying overhead