Ecology and Climate Change Quiz

How does the concept of carrying capacity relate to the competitive exclusion principle in an ecosystem?

• Carrying capacity determines the number of species that can coexist without competition.

• Carrying capacity limits the population size, while competitive exclusion ensures only one species occupies a niche.

• Both concepts suggest that multiple species can share the same niche indefinitely.

• Competitive exclusion increases carrying capacity by reducing competition.

Analyze how density-dependent and density-independent factors might interact to influence the population size of a species in a biome.

• Density-dependent factors always override density-independent factors.

• Density-independent factors set a baseline population size, while density-dependent factors cause fluctuations around this baseline.

• Both factors work independently and do not interact.

• Density-dependent factors are only significant in small populations, while density-independent factors affect large populations.

Evaluate the role of keystone species in maintaining the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

• Keystone species have no impact on carrying capacity.

• Keystone species increase carrying capacity by providing additional resources.

• Keystone species help maintain carrying capacity by regulating population sizes of other species.

• Keystone species decrease carrying capacity by increasing competition.

How might resource partitioning contribute to the realized niche of a species in a competitive environment?

• Resource partitioning eliminates the need for a realized niche.

• Resource partitioning allows species to expand their fundamental niche.

• Resource partitioning enables species to occupy a realized niche by reducing direct competition.

• Resource partitioning forces species to abandon their realized niche.

Discuss the potential impact of climate change on the carbon sequestration capacity of oceans.

• Climate change has no effect on oceanic carbon sequestration.

• Warmer ocean temperatures increase carbon sequestration capacity.

• Climate change reduces carbon sequestration capacity by increasing ocean temperatures, leading to more CO2 release.

• Climate change enhances carbon sequestration by increasing oceanic plant growth.

How does the enhanced greenhouse effect differ from the natural greenhouse effect in terms of its impact on global temperatures?

• The enhanced greenhouse effect cools the Earth, while the natural greenhouse effect warms it.

• The enhanced greenhouse effect results in a more rapid increase in global temperatures compared to the natural greenhouse effect.

• Both effects have the same impact on global temperatures.

• The enhanced greenhouse effect stabilizes global temperatures.

Analyze the relationship between the Keeling Curve and global temperature graphs in the context of climate change.

• The Keeling Curve shows a decrease in CO2 levels, while temperature graphs show an increase in global temperatures.

• Both the Keeling Curve and temperature graphs show a steady increase, indicating a correlation between CO2 levels and global temperatures.

• The Keeling Curve and temperature graphs are unrelated.

• The Keeling Curve shows fluctuations in CO2 levels, while temperature graphs remain constant.

Evaluate the role of infrared radiation in the greenhouse effect and its contribution to global warming.

• Infrared radiation cools the Earth by reflecting sunlight.

• Infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, contributing to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere.

• Infrared radiation has no role in the greenhouse effect.

• Infrared radiation is only significant in the absence of greenhouse gases.

How might positive feedback cycles exacerbate the effects of global warming?

• Positive feedback cycles reduce the impact of global warming by stabilizing temperatures.

• Positive feedback cycles amplify global warming by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, leading to further temperature rises.

• Positive feedback cycles have no effect on global warming.

• Positive feedback cycles only occur in the absence of greenhouse gases.

Discuss how the concept of ecological niches can be used to explain the impact of invasive species on native populations.

• Invasive species create new niches for native populations.

• Invasive species often occupy the same niche as native species, leading to competition and potential displacement of native populations.

• Invasive species have no impact on the niches of native populations.

• Invasive species help native populations by reducing competition for resources.