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Pre-AP Biology Ecology Review

Total questions: 78

Worksheet time: 54mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
When two species of cattails are grown together, they grow at different water depths and coexist.  When grown alone, they grow at similar water depths.  Which of the following is best demonstrated by the data?
a)
natural selection
b)
character displacement
c)
resource partitioning
d)
ecological succession
2.
All of the following statements concerning characteristics of predator-prey relationship are correct EXCEPT:
a)
Camouflage is an adaptation that protects prey.
b)
A rise in the population of predators is followed by a decreased in the population of prey.
c)
A rise in the population of prey is often followed by a rise in the population of predators.
d)
The population of predators most often eliminates the population of prey
3.

Why does increasing producers increase the populations of all trophic levels?

a)

Producers increase the size of a habitat

b)

Producers help keep predator populations in check

c)

With more energy available the carrying capacity increases

d)

Producers do not have a large impact on population sizes

4.

What causes trophic cascades?

a)

Increasing the number of producers

b)

Pollution

c)

The removal of a keystone species

d)

Introducing a new species to an ecosystem

5.

What are limiting factors?

a)

The maximum number of organisms an area can sustain

b)

Scarce resources that limit the size of a population

c)

Conditions that limit how much energy flows to the next trophic level

d)

How diverse the populations of a community are

6.

If the producer level of an ecosystem has 750,000 J of energy, how much energy would be passed on to the secondary consumers?

a)

75,000 J

b)

7,500 J

c)

750 J

d)

75 J

7.

What type of graph represents exponential population growth?

a)

A fluctuating graph

b)

W - shaped curve

c)

S-shaped curve

d)

J - shaped curve

8.

Which of the following would be a density independent limiting factor?

a)

A virus spreading through a population

b)

A forest fire burning down a forest

c)

Birds competing for a limited amount of seeds

d)

A new predator moving to an area

9.

Frogs lay ~4000 eggs at a time. Based on this frogs would be classified as -

a)

R-strategists

b)

K-strategists

10.

The carrying capacity for a population of lizards is 2700. If the current population is 1340 and the rmax for the population was found to be 0.83, what would the population size be after 1 year?

Answer is 1900

a)

2356

b)

2100

c)

1825

d)

1900

11.

There is a population of 75 wolves in a forest that has a carrying capacity of 120. What is the maximum population growth rate if the population grows to 92 in one year? Answer is 0.6

a)

0.833

b)

1.00

c)

0.604

d)

0.523

12.

Which of these describes a mutualistic relationship?

a)

When one organism is harmed, but the other is benefitted

b)

When one organism is unaffected, and the other is harmed

c)

When one organism benefits, and the other is unaffected

d)

When both organisms involved benefit

13.

What is a niche?

a)

A species that outcompetes others in an area

b)

The level on a food chain an organism occupies

c)

An organisms role in an ecosystem and the resources they obtain

d)

A species that disproportionately affects an ecosystem

14.

What will happen if two species occupy the same niche in an ecosystem?

a)

The ecosystem will be stressed and could collapse

b)

One species will either alter their niche or be eliminated

c)

The niche will expand to accommodate both species

d)

The species will share the niche

15.

How does competition affect population?

a)

Most populations do not have competition

b)

It maximizes the carrying capacity of an ecosystem

c)

It limits population sizes and drives natural selection

d)

It benefits both species and increases their populations

16.

How do ecosystems obtain energy in environments that have no light?

a)

Through chemosynthetic organisms

b)

Without light the organisms will need to move or they may go extinct

c)

Through photosynthetic organisms

d)

All ecosystems have some light

17.

What are keystone species?

a)

Non-native species that have adapted to a new environment

b)

Species that have disproportionate effects on ecosystem stability

c)

The first species to return to an area after a natural disaster

d)

Organisms that can collapse an ecosystem if they overpopulate an area

18.

Why does increasing producers increase the populations of all trophic levels?

a)

Producers increase the size of a habitat

b)

Producers help keep predator populations in check

c)

With more energy available the carrying capacity increases

d)

Producers do not have a large impact on population sizes

19.
Which point on the graph represents carrying capacity?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
20.
During the carbon cycle, which of the following carbon compounds would be utilized as an energy source by heterotrophs? 
a)
carbonic acid
b)
organic molecules
c)
carbon dioxide
d)
carbon monoxide
21.
Which letter shows the the exponential growth of a population?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
22.
The two species, Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum, which do not prey upon each other, fighting to grow in the same test tube is an example of which of the following?
a)
Competition
b)
Predation
c)
Emigration
d)
Immigration
23.
Refer to the diagram of the survivorship curve.
Which curve best describes an organism that invests a lot of energy in parenting?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
this is not a survivorship curve
24.

Use the graph above to identify a mature, well-established population in favorable conditions.

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

25.

Use the graph above to identify the carrying capacity of the environment.

a)

B

b)

C

c)

D

d)

E

26.

Use the graph above to identify a population in unfavorable conditions.

a)

B

b)

C

c)

D

d)

E

27.

Use the graph above to identify the exponential growth phase of a new population.

a)

A

b)

B

c)

D

d)

E

28.
__________ growth shows growth of a population under environmental constraints (carrying capacity-K) that sets a maximum population size 
a)
logistic
b)
exponential
c)
niche
d)
uniform
29.

What is the carrying capacity of the following population?

a)

1000

b)

8000

c)

800

d)

600

30.

What is the rate of change for the population grown without a parasite from day 200 to day 400?

a)

200 days

b)

a loss of approximately 15 beetles/200 days

c)

a loss of approximately 30 beetles/200 days

d)

30 beetles

31.
Which kind of dispersion is #1?
a)
clumped
b)
random
c)
uniform
32.

Dispersal pattern 1 is one of the most common in nature because...

a)

there is power in numbers

b)

its easier for organisms to fight diseases with this pattern

c)

its easier to obtain resources

d)

there is less competition

33.

Volcanic eruptions may change global climate because...

a)

large amounts of CO2 is released, adding to the greenhouse gas layer

b)

large amounts of N2 is released, adding to the greenhouse gas layer

c)

debris from the eruption block the sun which decreases primary productivity

d)

the eruption results in the eutrophication of lakes and the ocean

34.

What type of growth are humans in?

a)

exponential growth

b)

logistic growth

35.

Which of the following are causes of habitat destruction by humans?

a)

agriculture/

farming

b)

urbanization/ building homes

c)

deforestation/ mining

d)

pollution

36.

The image above represents

a)

the carbon cycle

b)

eutrophication

c)

biological magnification

d)

spread of disease

37.

How does habitat fragmentation as seen in the image above showing agricultural fragmentation, affect biodiversity?

a)

increases biodiversity

b)

decreases biodiversity

c)

has not effect on biodiversity

38.

Chemical pesticides tend to be used in terrestrial ecosystems, but they are commonly found in the tissues of aquatic organisms. Because of this, birds and other animals with a diet high in fish commonly suffer the effects of biological magnification. How do these pesticides end up in these aquatic ecosystems?

a)

Pesticides evaporate and are delivered to water sources by rainfall

b)

Land animals containing pollutants die and decompose in waterways

c)

Pesticides are carried to water sources by freshwater runoff.

d)

Human fishing practices add pesticides to water sources.

39.

Most health experts recommend only eating tuna a few times a week and only eating shark a few times a month. Why would health experts have this view of eating these fish?

a)

Most fish are low in protein and high in saturated fats which can cause health problems

b)

People with diets high in fish tend to have high blood pressure and heart issues

c)

These fish are endangered species, and eating them contributes to their decline

d)

Eating these fish could result in the buildup of pollutants in the fat tissue of humans

40.

What causes ozone depletion?

a)

Faster trade winds and cooler waters off of the Americas coasts

b)

Pollution of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere destroys the ozone gases

c)

Pollution of CO2 and methane into the atmosphere destroys the ozone gasses

d)

Pollution of CFCs into the atmosphere destroys the ozone gases

41.

The ozone layer

a)

helps maintain the temperature of the planet

b)

helps protect organisms from harmful UV radiation

c)

helps reflect heat

d)

helps maintain oxygen gas levels in the atmospher

42.

The two main causes of climate change are (choose 2)

a)

sulfer dioxide

b)

deforestation

c)

burning of fossil fuels

d)

production of CFCs

43.

Which of the following are the 3 main effects of climate change?

a)

Increased global temperatures due to thicker greenhouse gas layer

b)

Increased acid rain due to productions of sulfur dioxides

c)

Increased water temperatures

d)

Ocean acidification due to higher amounts of CO2 dissolved into the ocean

44.

What causes ocean acidification?

a)

Burning of fossil fuels by humans that increases sulfur dioxides

b)

Extra CO2 being absorbed by the ocean and converted into carbonic acid which splits to release H+ ions

c)

Biological Magnification

d)

The release of high amounts of CFCs into the atmosphere which dissolve into the ocean

45.

The lines on the diagram above represent three species within a single isolated ecosystem as observed by a team of qualified researchers. What relationship between two populations can you reasonably deduce when comparing curves I and II?

a)

There is strong evidence of competition but with resource

partitioning.

b)

The population designated II appears to be an invasive species

that outcompetes the other.

c)

The population designated I appears to be an invasive species

that could not survive in a new niche.

d)

The population designated II appears to be a parasitic species

that uses the other as its host.

46.

The lionfish is a venomous fish found primarily in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. In the 1990s, lionfish were accidentally released into the Atlantic Ocean, where they found abundant resources and favorable environmental conditions. Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in the lionfish having a major impact on the communities into which they were introduced?

a)

With no natural predators, the lionfish population will become very large.

b)

Some native species of invertebrates will develop a resistance to lionfish venom.

c)

Random mating will allow the lionfish population to reach Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

d)

A virus that specifically infects lionfish will become more prevalent.

47.

The lines on the diagram above represent three species within a single isolated ecosystem as observed by a team of qualified researchers. What relationship does the population designated as III reasonably have with the other two populations?

a)

The population designated III is a competitor of both of the

other populations.

b)

The population designated III is a predator of population II but

not I.

c)

The population designated III is a predator of population I but

not II.

d)

The population designated III is a predator of both populations

II and I.

48.

The lines on the diagram above represent three species within a single isolated ecosystem as observed by a team of qualified researchers. To what might you reasonably attribute the loss of population III within the ecosystem?

a)

Population III was a prey of population I, which completely

consumed all its members within the ecosystem.

b)

Population III was a prey of population II, which completely

consumed all its members within the ecosystem.

c)

Population III was a predator of population II, but it could not

survive in the ecosystem.

d)

Population III was a predator of population I but it could not

survive in the ecosystem.

49.

Which of the following pairs the correct biome with some of its characteristics?

a)

grassland, modern winter temps and dry summers

b)

taiga, very cold winters, short growing season

c)

savannah, long cold winters, abundant precipitation

d)

desert, cold winters, wet and dry seasons

50.

Of these biomes, a vertical stratification (layer of plants) is most pronounced in a __

a)

desert

b)

tundra

c)

grassland

d)

tropical rain forest

51.

A herd of elephants living in the same area make up a(n)

a)

community

b)

population

c)

ecosystem

d)

biosphere

52.

What term would describe all the living factors in an ecosystem?

a)

abiotic

b)

biology

c)

biotic

d)

community

53.
All of the following statements concerning characteristics of predator-prey relationship are correct EXCEPT:
a)
Camouflage is an adaptation that protects prey.
b)
A rise in the population of predators is followed by a decreased in the population of prey.
c)
A rise in the population of prey is often followed by a rise in the population of predators.
d)
The population of predators most often eliminates the population of prey
54.
Which of the following best explains why there are seldom more than five trophic levels in a food chain?
a)
Most carnivores function at more than one trophic level
b)
Trophic levels about this numbers contain too many individuals
c)
Energy is lost from each trophic level
d)
The ecosystem contains too much biomass
55.
Which organism contains the most energy?
a)
Rabbit
b)
Grains
c)
Birds
d)
Mice
56.

How many times more wolves are there compared to moose in 1990? answer is 80

a)

80

b)

24

c)

10

d)

60

57.

Bird Species A is small while bird species B is large. Scientists believe that they have been living together in the same type of pine tree for hundreds of years. Which of the following statements is most likely to be true?

a)

Species B will eventually out-compete Species A.

b)

They both eat the same type of food, but species A can survive because it needs less.

c)

There is considerable niche overlap

d)

Species A and Species B occupy different niches

58.

Use the above food web. Which option pairs the organisms with their correct trophic levels?

a)

Grasses: 1st level consumer, Birds: 2nd level consumer

b)

Grasses: Primary Producer, Birds: 3rd level consumer

c)

Mice: 2nd Level Consumer, Birds: 3rd level consumer

d)

Rabbits: 1st level consumer, Owl: 2nd level consumer

59.

On average, how much of the energy in one trophic level is transferred to the level above it?

a)

50%

b)

25%

c)

10%

d)

1%

60.

In 1997, the sea otter population plummeted. What effect did this have on the kelp?

a)

Kelp density increased due to decreased sea urchin biomass.

b)

Kelp density increased due to increased sea urchin grazing intensity.

c)

Kelp density decreased due to increased sea urchin grazing intensity.

d)

Kelp density decreased due to decreased sea urchin biomass.

61.
A team of ecologists observed feeding patterns of several populations in the desert. The energy pyramid shown below depicts the feeding patterns the ecologists observed. Which of the following best explains the difference in the amount of available energy in the trophic levels of the desert ecosystem?
a)
There is less energy available in the producers because their tissues are less dense than those at higher trophic levels. 
b)
There is more energy available in the second trophic level because less energy is needed for hunting compared to the higher trophic levels. 
c)
There is less available energy in the fourth trophic level because of the loss of energy through metabolism in each of the lower trophic levels. 
d)
There is more available energy in the birds of prey because they have greater muscle mass for storing energy than organisms in lower trophic levels have. 
62.

Based on the figure you can conclude that interspecific competition

a)

allows for both rock barnacles and stellate barnacles to inhabit the same area.

b)

causes the stellate barnacles to grow more slowly than they would normally grow.

c)

restricts stellate barnacles to a smaller portion of the intertidal zone.

d)

causes the rock barnacles to grow more slowly than they would normally grow.

e)

causes the stellate barnacles to grow more quickly than they would normally grow.

63.
Many poisonous animals are brightly colored (red or orange) as a warning to predators.  The special coloration is called
a)
Mullerian mimicry
b)
Batesian mimicry
c)
aposematic coloration 
d)
mutualistic coloration
64.
Which of these populations is experiencing the fastest growth?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
65.

The giant octopus lays 20,000 to 100,000 fertilized eggs. After hatching, most octopuses become prey to larger marine organisms, and less than 5% will reach adulthood to reproduce. One benefit of the giant octopus laying many eggs is to — 

a)

 increase the average body size for surviving individuals to avoid predation 

b)

decrease competition between different octopus species to maintain resources in the population

c)

 increase the chance that more individuals will survive to maintain the population

d)

decrease the likelihood of offspring being consumed by predators

66.

Leaf-cutter ants harvest leaves and carry them to fungi that convert plant material into a usable form for the ants to digest. The fungi depend on the leaves for nutrients. The ants also produce an antibiotic on their bodies that helps protect the fungi from harmful bacteria. Which of these explains the relationship between the leaf-cutter ants and the fungi?

a)

Predation, because the ants feed on the fungi 

b)

Mutualism, because both the ants and the fungi benefit from each other 

c)

Competition, because both organisms consume the same resource for energy

d)

Commensalism, because the ants receive energy from the fungi and the fungi are unaffected

67.

Which statement provides the best explanation for the difference in biomass of organisms found at each trophic level?

a)

Organisms at higher trophic level have less energy available to them than organism at lower trophic levels.

b)

Organisms at higher trophic levels require smaller habitats that organisms at lower trophic levels.

c)

Organisms at lower trophic levels provide less energy than organisms at higher trophic levels.

d)

Organisms at lower trophic levels outcompete organisms at higher trophic levels.

68.

The San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nana, is a light reddish-brown translucent salamander about 2–5 cm in length. E. nana is found only in Spring Lake and a portion of the San Marcos River.

Which human activity would most likely decrease the ability of the salamanders to survive?

a)

Increasing water consumption that decreases the flow of clean water from the springs that

feed the river

b)

Public transportation that reduces the number of automobiles that contribute to pollution

runoff into the river

c)

Tourism that helps fund the educational programs related to river ecosystem conservation

d)

The addition of a new food source into the river that limits competition for resources

69.

A remora is a fish that has an adhesive disk on the back of its head that it uses to attach to a large shark. When food floats away from the shark's mouth as it feeds. Drawings of a shark with a remora attached and a remora's adhesive disk are shown. The relationship of the remora and the shark is........

a)

Predation

b)

Parasitism

c)

Commensalism

d)

Competition

70.
a)
b)
c)
d)
71.

In a Central Texas grassland, the producers incorporate 12,000 kJ of energy from the sun into their tissues. About how much energy would be incorporated into the tissues of herbivores?

a)

12,000 kJ

b)

1,200 kJ

c)

10,800 kJ

d)

1,080 kJ

72.
a)
b)
c)
d)
73.

After a wheat field is cleared, wild grasses and weeds begin growing. This process is considered —

a)

primary succession because pioneer species appear 

b)

primary succession because there are no large trees

c)

secondary succession because soil is already present

d)

secondary succession because the field contains inorganic matter

74.
a)
b)
c)
d)
75.
a)

Biosphere

b)

Organelle

c)

Ecosystem

d)

Community

76.

The energy pyramid below shows the energy made available by producers.

Based on the energy flow between trophic levels in an energy pyramid, how much energy would be expected to be found at the secondary consumer level in this pyramid?

a)

100 Joules

b)

500 Joules

c)

1,000 Joules

d)

50 Joules

77.

Students construct a graphic organizer to illustrate the different levels of biological organization.

Which terms does the X represent?

a)

cell

b)

organism

c)

ecosystem

d)

biosphere

78.

Which statement is an example of how carbon moves through a food chain as part of the carbon cycle? 

a)

 Producers release carbon dioxide, and consumers take it in. 

b)

Producers take in carbon dioxide, and consumers release it.

c)

Producers take in carbon from the soil, and they release it when they decompose.

d)

Producers release carbon into the soil, and consumers take it in from the soil.