AP Biology 8.6 Biodiversity

Which type of community is more resilient to chance?

• Less diversity & fewer parts

• Lass diversity & more parts

• More diversity & fewer points

• More diversity & more parts

Answer explanation

Chance are random environmental changes that might occur. The more diversity allows for the favorable characteristic to be present in the ecosystem.

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Keystone species have a…

• Disproportionate affect relative to abundance

• Proportionate affect relative to abundance

Answer explanation

A keystone species is a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Example: The sea otter maintains the kelp forest

What happens if a keystone species is removed…

• Community becomes more diverse

• Ecosystem collapses

• No effect due to minor role

• Population becomes less diverse

Answer explanation

A keystone species is a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically which affects the existing food web and the ecosystem could collapse.

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Which of these does not contribute to maintain diversity?

• Decomposer

• Essential abiotic/biotic factor

• Keystone species

• Producer

Answer explanation

This is directly from the CED. Diversity refers to the species richness and the relative abundance. A decomposer will break down detritus (decomposing materials).

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What type of environment is resistant to change?

• Low diversity, low component parts

• High diversity, low component parts

• Low diversity, high component parts

• High diversity, high component parts

Answer explanation

A high diversity will allow for the favorable characteristic to be present in the ecosystem.

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If the keystone species is removed what happens?

• Their predator population increases

• Their predator population decreases

• The ecosystem collapses

• The ecosystem stabilizes

Answer explanation

The sea otter is a keystone species. When the sea otter is removed, the sea urchins that the sea otters prey upon increases in population which destroys the kelp forest. The sea otter keeps the sea urchin population in check so the kelp forest can be maintained.

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Abiotic factors

• Factor that causes living organism to die

• Factor that causes living  organisms to reproduce

• Living factor

• Nonliving factor

Answer explanation

Abiotic factors are nonliving factors while biotic factors are living factors.

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Predators are an example of

• Abiotic factors

• Biotic factors

Answer explanation

Predators prey upon the other organisms. Since the predators are living and affect the prey population, they would be considered a biotic factor.

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What happens if sea otters decrease?

• Sea urchins increase, kelp increases

• Sea urchins decrease, kelp increases

• Sea urchins increase, kelp decreases

• Sea urchins decrease, kelp decreases

Answer explanation

Sea otters eat sea urchins and sea urchins eat kelp. If the sea otter population decreases, the sea urchin population will increase which will decrease the kelp population.

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