Exam Ecology 1

Each winter in the Appalachian mountains, some of the salt applied to roadways gets washed into lakes or streams.

The increase in salt levels in areas where frogs breed has resulted in more male frogs hatching than females.

This is an example of:

• asexual reproduction in frogs

• an abiotic factor affecting gene expression

• the normal expression of a gene for female frogs

• loss of genetic information for male frogs

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Maintaining stability in an ecosystem most likely depends on:

• High level of diversity and few resources

• little diversity and rapid ecological succession

• a high level of diversity and multiple ecological niches

• little diversity and multiple extinctions

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The element Carbon and its compounds are constantly cycled between living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem.

The cycling is important because:

• without carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,

  the ozone shield would break down completely

• carbon is a component of DNA, proteins, and other compounds essential for living organisms

• the process of photosynthesis releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where it can be taken in by animals for the process of respiration

• carbon is required by humans to make all of the same proteins that all other mammals synthesize

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Which statement most accurately describes the expected effect on carrying capacity of a population if a change in a factor occurs?

• The number of snowshoe hares would increase if the population of Canadian lynx, a predator also increased

• The population of green algae would increase if chemical weed killers used on lawns entered the lake

• The population of deer in Virginia would decrease if they overgrazed the plants

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Forest ecosystems help regulate climate, prevent soil erosion, and play a role in the cycling of water.

Since the 18th century, humans have cleared nearly half of the Earth's forest.

Which statement best describes the effects of this deforestation?

• It effects only the species of animals that live there

• It disrupts many natural processes that humans depend on

• It increases plant diversity in nearby ecosystems

• It increases human reliance on renewable resources

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Powassan is a rare, tick borne virus that is found in areas near the Great Lakes and the Northeastern United States.

The tick is not affected by the virus, but humans bitten by a tick carrying the virus will develop a serious illness.

The risk of getting the Powassan virus is greatest in June and July.

This information supports the concept that:

• all viruses around the Great lakes are spread by infected ticks

• this virus is harmful to all living organisms that it infects

• relationships between organisms may have negative, neutral, or positive effects

• time of year alone, determines if infection with the Powassan virus is possible

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Which statement best describes what would most likely happen if some of the owls from location B moved to location A?

• The mountain lion population in location B will move to location A

• The deer population in location A will decrease due to lack of resources

• The hawk population in location A will decrease due to competition for food

• The owl population in location B will increase due to a decrease in genetic variation

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Owls periodically expel a mass of undigested material known as a pellet.

A student obtained several owl pellets from the same location and examined the animal remains in the pellets.

He then recorded the number of different prey animal remains in the pellets.

The student was most likely studying:

• evolution of the owl

• social structure of the local owl population

• role of the owl in the local ecosystem

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The size of plant populations can be influenced by the:

• molecular structure of available oxygen

• size of the cells of decomposers

• number of chemical bonds in glucose molecule

• types of minerals present in the soil

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Which statement best describes one of the stages represented in the diagram

• The mature forest will most likely be stable over a long period of time

• If all the weeds and grasses are destroyed,

  the number of carnivores will increase

• The young forest will eventually invade the mature forest

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