Ecology Quizs Review

One species of Galapagos finches, the cactus finch, eats insects off cactus plants. A disease kills off most of the cacti in the Galapagos islands. Which of these most likely would happen to the carrying capacity of the island?

• It would increase a small amount since the insect population would decrease

• it would remain about the same since the finches would change to a different diet

• it would increase exponentially since the insects would have limited places to hide.

• it would decrease considerably since the finches are specifically adapted to their niche.

Orchids grow high in the branches of rain forest trees where they have access to abundant sunshine and rainwater, while the trees receive no benefit and are not harmed. This relationship is:

• Competition
  

• 
  Parasitism
  

• 
  Mutualism
  

• 
  Commensalism

Referring to the figure, as matter and energy move from grasses to coyotes, the amount of available energy _________________.

• increases

• decreases

• decrease, then increase

Tapeworms sometimes live in the human intestines where they benefit from a constant supply of nutrients and a protected place to live.  Humans, however, become quite sick as they cannot get enough nutrients from the food they eat.  What type of relationship is this?

• parasitism

• mutualism

• commensalism

• competiton

Polar bears swim across long expanses of ocean while hunting for seals, their main source of food. The bears use sea ice as resting spots during their long swims. However, the sea ice is rapidly melting as a result of global warming. Which statement describes what most likely will happen if global warming continues at its present rate?

• Polar bear and seal populations will both increase.

• Polar bear populations will decrease and seal populations will increase.

• Polar bear populations will increase, and seal populations will decrease.

• Polar bear populations will decrease and seal populations will remain the same. single quote is not allowed here, please use double quotes instead for string values

What will happen to the populations of predators if there is a sudden increase in the food for the prey?

• The population of predators will decrease because of a decrease in their food source

• The population of predators will increase because of an increase in their food source.

• The prey would remain the same because of carrying capacity

• The population of predators will stay the same.

For a particular species the carrying capacity is the maximum number of individual organisms that:

• the species could reach in a given time period if all the offspring survive and reproduce

• could be supported by a given environment indefinitely

• are in their post reproductive years

• could be supported by any environment over a period of one year.

Ants keep herbivores away from acacia trees in Africa. Acacia trees provide ants with food and shelter.  What type of relationship is this?

• Parasitism

•  

  Mutualism

   

• Commensalism

•  Competition

Results when members of the same species require the same food and space.

• Parasitism
  

• Competition

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

A new species of snake was introduced to a tropical region. Scientists then noticed a steady decline in the presence of field mice and an increase in the number of snakes. Which of these is the most likely explanation about why the population size of each animal changed?

• the snakes introduced to the region dominated the habitat, forcing the mic to find another place to live.

• the mice became prey to the introduced snakes, allowing the snake population in increase but decreasing the mice population.

• the snakes introduced to the region competed with the mice for food, allowing the snake population to increase but decreasing the mice population.

• the people in the surrounding area set traps that killed the mice, allowing the snakes to live without any predators and therefore to increase in number.