chapter 6
Exam
Name___________________________________
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) Flying squirrels competing with each other for truffles is an example of ________.
A) exploitation competition
B) habitat competition
C) interference competition
D) interspecific competition
E) intraspecific competition
1)
2) What makes up an ecological community?
A) all the plants, animals, and organisms interacting in a specific area
B) all the plants, animals, and organisms in the biome
C) different species of the same type of animal within a specific area
D) species that use the same resources
E) all the plants, animals, and organisms in the ecosystem
2)
3) Chipmunks and flying squirrels competing for truffles is an example of ________.
A) exploitation competition
B) habitat competition
C) interference competition
D) intraspecific competition
E) interspecific competition
3)
4) What makes it possible for the coexistence of several warbler species that feed on the same insect
larvae?
A) The birds eat in the different portions of the forest canopy.
B) Some of the warblers are diurnal and some nocturnal.
C) The birds eat in the same portion of different evergreens.
D) The birds eat in the same area of different fir and spruce trees.
E) The warblers do not experience intraspecies competition.
4)
5) Several warbler species are able to coexist in the same forest because ________.
A) they feed in different parts of the fir and spruce trees
B) they feed on the same larvae
C) different birds eat different larvae from the soil
D) season change within the forest causing certain species of the birds to fly south in the winter
leaving more food for those that remain
E) the water they drink is the food source for the plankton they eat
5)
6) Herbivores feed on ________.
A) plants B) parasites C) fungi D) animals E) bacteria
6)
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7) Animals such as earthworms and millipedes that feed on dead organic matter are ________.
A) decomposers
B) consumers
C) carnivores
D) producers
E) herbivores
7)
8) Which of the following is the best approach to minimize the spread of parasitic beetles in a
pine-dominated forest?
A) planting additional pines once some trees die
B) releasing sterile wasps into the forest
C) using pesticides to kill the beetles
D) introducing maples, oaks, and other hardwood tree species
8)
9) Mutualism is ________.
A) a relationship between a beneficial predator and its prey
B) a relationship in which two species have a mutual predator
C) a relationship between two species in which only one benefits
D) a relationship with no benefits to either species
E) a relationship between two species in which both benefit
9)
10) Mutualistic relationships between bacteria and certain root nodules play an important role in the
global cycling of ________.
A) nitrogen
B) water
C) carbon
D) phosphorus
E) rock
10)
11) The monarch butterfly-milkweed relationship is best described as an example of ________.
A) succession
B) carnivory
C) parasitism
D) commensalism
E) coevolution
11)
12) Chestnut blight fungus kills U.S. chestnut trees because the trees ________.
A) release the fungus into the soil and it is drawn up in the roots
B) are hosts to the vectors of the fungus
C) have not matured long enough to survive
D) release the fungus in the leaves that fall to the ground and the fungus is absorbed in the soil
E) have not coevolved with the fungus
12)
13) The symbiosis between a fungus and the roots of a tree is an example of ________.
A) trophic cascade
B) commensalism
C) succession
D) mutualism
E) mutual dependency
13)
2
14) Primary producers transform energy from sunlight and certain inorganic chemicals into ________.
A) galactose
B) low-energy carbohydrates
C) biomass energy
D) high-energy carbohydrates
E) biomass fuel
14)
15) The feeding interactions among species in a community are best described as a(n) ________.
A) food web
B) succession
C) trophic cascade
D) trophic level
E) energy flow
15)
16) Consumers are ________.
A) organisms that feed on one another
B) organisms that feed on dead organic matter
C) organisms that feed on decomposers
D) organisms that feed on other living organisms
E) organisms that feed on soils and soil nutrients
16)
17) The approximate transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level is
________.
A) unable to be determined
B) a 50% decrease
C) increasing, the higher one goes in the food web
D) 1%
E) 10%
17)
18) Which of the following is an ecological legacy?
A) woody debris left after a fire
B) water
C) logging of forests
D) fire
E) hurricane
18)
19) Which of the following are pioneer species on recently glaciated rock?
A) evergreens and fir trees
B) lichens and mosses
C) maples and redwoods
D) spruce and fir trees
E) herbs and shrubs
19)
20) One of the longest field studies of predator-prey population cycles has been of ________.
A) moose and fox
B) bison and prairie grass
C) lynx and snowshoe hares
D) grizzly bear and humans
E) flying squirrels and grizzly bear
20)
3
21) A vector is an organism that ________.
A) carries a parasite but is never affected by it
B) is beneficial to parasitized organisms
C) preys upon vulnerable species
D) is always parasitic
E) a host species vulnerable to infection
21)
22) Fig species depend on ________ to transfer pollen from male to female flowers.
A) bees
B) ants
C) mosquitoes
D) butterflies
E) wasps
22)
23) Tertiary consumers are usually in which trophic level?
A) decomposers
B) 1st trophic level
C) 2nd trophic level
D) 3rd trophic level
E) 4th trophic level
23)
24) An organism occupying the 3rd trophic level is best described as a ________.
A) predator
B) top carnivore
C) keystone species
D) secondary consumer
E) tertiary consumer
24)
25) In succession, facilitation refers to ________.
A) species altering the environment around them in ways that make it more habitable for other
species
B) the migration of plant species
C) species sharing space, environment, and resources
D) species creating competition for food and water making it harder for species succession
E) competition for space by different populations of species
25)
26) Humans are a(n) ________-based life form.
A) oxygen
B) carbon
C) phosphorus
D) hydrogen
E) nitrogen
26)
27) Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the increased flux of carbon into the atmosphere
has been primarily because of ________.
A) addition of phosphate in detergents
B) addition of fertilizers to the soil
C) burning of fossil fuels
D) desertification
E) deforestation
27)
4
28) The total amount of CO2 that photosynthetic organisms convert to organic carbon each year is
called ________.
A) carbohydrate synthesis
B) NEP
C) organic carbon assimilation
D) NPP
E) GPP
28)
29) A large scale wildfire that clears a large area of forest would begin the process of ________
succession.
A) tertiary
B) secondary
C) climax
D) restoration
E) primary
29)
30) Demodex folliculorum are tiny mites that live in the pores of your face. Being that you were probably
unaware they existed until now this would be an example of ________.
A) parasitism
B) mutualism
C) commensalism
D) predation
E) assimilation
30)
31) Why might there be a lot of spacing between the desert plants shown growing in this photo?
A) The other plants around them have died because there is not enough space in the desert area
where they grow.
B) The roots of strong plants are established and force other plants out because they are more
mature.
C) The plants exploit the nitrogen produced in the atmosphere causing only stronger plants to
survive the harsh desert-like environment.
D) The plants need room to grow and expand as they mature.
E) The plants exploit water and nutrients preventing other shrubs from establishing in their
area.
31)
5
32) This figure best depicts ________.
A) the energy cycling consequences of the 10% law
B) nutrient cycling in an ecosystem
C) the consequences of decomposers in an ecosystem
D) the energy implications of the 10% law
E) the energy implications of increasing energy for ecosystem utilization
32)
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33) During old-field succession, the graph clearly shows that the number of species increases with
time. During what period of time is this rate of increase the greatest?
A) 40-60 years
B) 20-40 years
C) 60-100 years
D) 0-20 years
E) cannot be determined from this data
33)
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34) Using only the information provided by this figure, which species of warbler appears to have the
greatest competitive advantage?
A) Blackburnian warbler
B) black-throated warbler
C) myrtle warbler
D) bay Breasted warbler
E) Cape May warbler
34)
8
35) In this grassland ecosystem, where is the most chemical energy located?
A) decomposers
B) 1st trophic level
C) 2nd trophic level
D) 3rd trophic level
E) 4th trophic level
35)
9
36) The greatest terrestrial net primary production can be seen to occur ________.
A) in North America
B) in Africa
C) in South America
D) in equatorial latitudes
E) in Eurasia
36)
37) Net ecosystem production values (NEP) will always be positive as a result of ________.
A) high levels of photosynthesis
B) high GPP and increases in biomass during succession
C) high GPP and a constant biomass
D) high levels of respiration
E) low NPP
37)
SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
38) Most organisms feed on something in their ecological community. Match the organism
with what they feed on or live on in the ecosystem.
I. Consumer
II. Predator
III. Herbivore
IV. Vector
V. Parasite
A. Carry a parasite to other organisms
B. Feed on other living organisms
C. Hunt and kill animals for food
D. Live on plants and animals but usually do not kill them
E. Feed on plants
38)
10
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Read the scenario and answer the accompanying questions.
In the late 1800s the federal government began eradicating the grey wolf from Yellowstone because of fear that the wolf
population would have a negative impact on the area’s elk, which were considered a more desirable species at that time. The
eradication of this keystone species continued until the 1930s, when wolves were effectively eliminated from the lower 48
states. In the absence of wolves, elk populations begin to explode and that, in turn, resulted in what has become known as a
trophic cascade. Use this information to answer the following questions on the effects of keystone species eradication and the
resulting trophic cascade.
39) With an overabundance of elk, the next population in the Yellowstone ecosystem to be directly
affected was/were ________.
A) plant species
B) songbird
C) beaver
D) wolves
E) mountain lion
39)
40) What was the primary reason that the beaver and songbird populations were also diminished from
the area?
A) The wolf population was feeding on the beaver and songbirds.
B) The elk population was feeding on the beaver and songbirds.
C) The rivers were full of sediment, making it difficult for beaver to swim and songbirds to drink
water.
D) The temperatures in the area were warming, making it difficult for the beavers and songbirds
to survive in warmer weather.
E) The plants that the beaver and songbirds ate were diminishing, because of the elk’s increased
herbivore pressure.
40)
ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
41) Describe the major factors that influence the process of change during primary succession on bare rock exposed
by a retreating glacier.
42) The distinguished ecologist G. Evelyn Hutchinson provided one of the most important explanations for how
competing species can coexist. Explain his fundamental niche concept, and how he would account for closely
related species coexisting.
43) Explain the two major processes that drive the normal functioning of the carbon cycle, and then discuss two
ways in which humans have negatively impacted this cycle.
11
Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED6
1) E
2) A
3) E
4) A
5) A
6) A
7) A
8) D
9) E
10) A
11) E
12) E
13) D
14) D
15) A
16) D
17) E
18) A
19) B
20) C
21) A
22) E
23) E
24) D
25) A
26) B
27) C
28) E
29) B
30) C
31) E
32) D
33) D
34) C
35) B
36) C
37) B
38) I. B, II. C, III. E, IV. A, V. D
39) A
40) E
41) Primary succession will result where a major disturbance has removed virtually all life, such as occurs with a
retreating glacier from bare rock. Within several years, pioneer species such as lichens and mosses are able to colonize
the rock surface, since these species are easily dispersed and able to tolerate the harsh conditions of this initial
environment. These pioneer species will release small amounts of organic matter as they grow and die, modifying the
rock surface, making it more favorable for other more complex species. Herbaceous plants and small shrubs begin to
replace the original lichens and mosses, out-competing them. These new species, too, modify the environment, and are
likewise replaced by other species such as woody plants and trees. Eventually, species become established which
create environments that favor their own survival, and are adapted to the specific temperature and rainfall in their
region. These species are known as the climax community and will likely be maintained until a major disturbance (i.e.
fire or flood) alters the community, possibly to an earlier stage of succession.
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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED6
42) Hutchinson suggested that each species has a fundamental niche, a range of environmental conditions (such as its
requirement for temperature, food, and water), over which the species might possibly exist. Hutchinson noted that few
species actually grow and reproduce in all parts of their theoretical range. Rather, each species usually exists only
where they are able to compete effectively against other species: its realized niche. In the 1930s, the biologist G. F.
Gause studied interspecific competition, ultimately postulating the competitive exclusion principle: when two species
directly compete for essential resources, one species will eventually displace the other. In other words, Hutchinson
explained that when the fundamental niche of two species significantly overlaps, these potential competitors are able
to coexist because they divide up the fundamental niche, as no two species can occupy the same realized niche.
43) Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are the key processes involved in carbon’s flux between the biosphere and the
atmosphere. Normally carbon (C) contributes only a miniscule amount (0.032%) to the total mass of the lithosphere
and atmosphere. During photosynthesis, CO2 is removed from the atmosphere by green plants, algae, and
cyanobacteria, where it enters into a series of chemical reactions using light energy to add hydrogen ions and electrons,
finally producing energy-rich carbohydrates. All organisms (photosynthetic as well as non-photosynthetic) access this
energy through the process of cellular respiration, during which the carbohydrate is broken down, releasing CO2 back
to the atmosphere. Deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels have greatly altered this dynamic that has existed
between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Scientists estimate that today, humans harvest approximately 32-40%
of global NPP, having replaced natural ecosystems with farmland, cities, and suburbs. This has significantly
diminished the amount of carbon stored in Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems. For example, when a tropical forest is cleared
and converted to pasture, a great amount of CO2 is released into the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels has also
had a profound effect on Earth’s carbon cycle. Between human land use and the burning of fossil fuels, human
activities are raising the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere by about 1% per year.
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chapter 7
Exam
Name___________________________________
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1) The landscape along interstate 70 was changed drastically over the last 175 years. What is now seen
on the landscape that was not seen in the past?
A) bunchgrasses
B) grasslands
C) herbs
D) sagebrush
E) dense woodlands
1)
2) Communities of similar organisms found in a particular climate are called ________.
A) ecosystems
B) pools
C) habitats
D) ecological communities
E) biomes
2)
3) What two main factors are most important in determining a particular biome?
A) temperature and soil type
B) vegetation and animal distribution
C) temperature and precipitation
D) transpiration and soil type
E) temperature and fire frequency
3)
4) Which biome is characterized by little rainfall, low grasses and shrubs, and cold temperatures?
A) tundra
B) savanna
C) grasslands
D) desert
E) deciduous forest
4)
5) Which biome would be found primarily in the temperate zone?
A) savanna
B) boreal forest
C) desert
D) deciduous forest
E) tundra
5)
6) The greatest threat to tropical rain forests is ________.
A) birds feeding in canopies of many trees
B) deforestation
C) lack of rainfall
D) pesticide use
E) high nitrogen levels in the soil
6)
1
7) Deforestation causes greenhouse gases to increase in the Earth’s atmosphere of the release of
________.
A) phosphorous
B) nitrogen
C) nitrous oxide
D) silicon
E) carbon dioxide
7)
8) The biome that is increasing significantly in size because of negative human activities is the
________.
A) savanna
B) desert
C) deciduous forest
D) evergreen forest
E) grassland
8)
9) When is the dormant season for most plants in the temperate zone?
A) fall B) winter C) summer D) late fall E) spring
9)
10) What one thing remains relatively constant through the seasons in tropical biomes?
A) greenhouse gas levels
B) temperature
C) moisture
D) precipitation
E) sunlight
10)
11) Which biome is home to more plant and animal species than any other?
A) evergreen forest
B) tropical rain forest
C) savanna
D) deciduous forest
E) grassland
11)
12) The biome with the greatest number of ecological niches and highest species diversity is ________.
A) boreal forest
B) chaparral
C) tropical rain forest
D) deciduous forest
E) desert
12)
13) The biome characterized by rapid nutrient cycling, high productivity, and very little organic matter
in the soil is the ________.
A) grassland
B) tundra
C) tropical rain forest
D) desert
E) taiga
13)
14) How much of Earth’s surface is desert?
A) 45% B) 40% C) 25% D) 30% E) 35%
14)
2
15) In which biome are most succulents most likely to grow?
A) chaparral
B) boreal forest
C) grasslands
D) tropical forest
E) desert
15)
16) Where are temperate rain forests most common?
A) coastal regions
B) tropical regions
C) polar region
D) desert regions
E) mountain regions
16)
17) Agriculture and cattle grazing have altered over 90% of this biome.
A) temperate grasslands
B) deciduous forest
C) tropical forest
D) boreal forest
E) chaparral
17)
18) Mountains are a geographical feature found in many biomes. The rain shadow effect is where
________.
A) rainfall fluctuates, arriving in equal amounts on both sides
B) the dry region is on the leeward side of the mountain
C) the wet region is determined by the location of jet stream
D) the wet region is on the leeward side of the mountain
E) rainfall fluctuates, but always falls in shadow areas
18)
19) Along coastlines, sand dunes will most often begin to form and grow when ________.
A) birds carry tree seeds to the area, which then become established
B) perennial grasses become established
C) annual plants become established
D) diverse grasses and woody shrubs thrive
E) erosion and subsequent deposition bring in the necessary sand
19)
20) Places on Earth that have similar climates often support plants and animals with similar physical
and physiological traits. The best explanation of this phenomenon is ________.
A) convergent evolution
B) migration of species
C) divergent evolution
D) speciation
E) natural selection
20)
21) Where do most human populations live?
A) in the desert
B) in the temperate zone
C) in the tropical zone
D) in the savanna
E) in the mountainous zone
21)
3
22) Which group of organisms has been most impacted by the loss of both deciduous and tropical
forests?
A) insects
B) rabbits
C) flying squirrels
D) migratory birds
E) spotted owls
22)
23) Tropical savanna is being converted to ________ biome because of overgrazing, loss of grasses and
erosion.
A) paramo
B) taiga
C) tropical rain forest
D) desert
E) tundra
23)
24) Most of the tall grass prairie of North America has been converted to ________.
A) savannas
B) tropical rain forest
C) desert
D) farmland
E) tundra
24)
25) Which biome has been degraded the most by humans?
A) savannas
B) desert
C) tropical rain forest
D) tundra
E) temperate grasslands
25)
26) Natural bodies of fresh water that are flowing are described by scientists as ________.
A) aquifers
B) estuaries
C) tidal basins
D) lentic
E) lotic
26)
27) The difference between the wetland category of marsh and swamp is ________.
A) water flows in a swamp and not in a marsh
B) that water is much deeper in a marsh
C) the dominance of shrubs and trees in a swamp
D) water flows in a marsh and not in a swamp
E) the dominance of herbaceous plants in swamps
27)
28) Which of the following best describes a marsh?
A) wetland with peat deposits that support a variety of evergreen trees and shrubs
B) wetlands dominated by shrubs or trees that are fed by flowing water
C) wetlands that are periodically or continuously flooded and are dominated by herbaceous
plants
D) wetlands that are fed primarily by groundwater
E) wetlands that are fed primarily from lakes and rivers
28)
4
29) Abundant light and constant nutrient input make ________ among the most productive ecosystems
on Earth.
A) streams B) lakes C) estuaries D) bogs E) fens
29)
30) Lakes and ponds are bodies of freshwater that are not moving and referred to as ________.
A) lotic B) eutrophic C) open D) lentic E) stagnant
30)
31) The shallow, sloped area close to the shore of a lake that tends to be dominated by rooted plants is
the ________.
A) benthic zone
B) aphotic zone
C) thermocline
D) littoral zone
E) halocline
31)
32) The area along seacoasts that are dominated by tidal activity and go through cycles of exposure and
submergence are ________.
A) littoral zone
B) estuaries
C) aphotic zone
D) intertidal zone
E) pelagic zone
32)
33) Short grass prairie is being converted to ________ along 1-70.
A) woodlands
B) savanna
C) mixed-grass prairie
D) desert
E) tall-grass prairie
33)
5
34) The United States is in the ________ zone.
A) desert
B) temperate
C) continental
D) tropical
E) polar
34)
35) Where is it likely that forest and woodland cover will increase?
A) Arctic
B) Europe
C) South America
D) North America
E) Asia
35)
6
36) Which biome is diagrammed in the accompanying figure?
A) tundra
B) chaparral
C) boreal forest
D) tropical savanna
E) desert
36)
7
37) Abandonment of croplands has resulted in more forests covering the ________ part of the United
States.
A) eastern B) southern C) northern D) southwest E) western
37)
SHORT ANSWER. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question.
38) Match the forest with the description that best describes the biome.
I. Tropical rain forest
II. Temperate deciduous forest
III. Temperate rain forest
IV. Boreal forest
V. Temperate evergreen forest
A. Annual rainfall is greater than 80 inches; rainfall an warm climate support an
enormous diversity of plants and animals.
B. Coniferous forests that grow in a short season with long, dry and bitterly cold winter
days
C. Dominated by broad-leaved trees that lose their leaves in the fall and grow a new set in
the spring
D. Dominated by trees that keep their leaves throughout the year
E. Lush evergreen forests where heavy rains and year round moisture provide ideal
conditions along coastal areas
38)
8
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
Read the scenario and answer the accompanying questions.
Scientists are currently using data from satellite images and climate simulation models to predict the effects of global
warming on the distribution of biomes. Results from this research are being used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change to predict how global warming will cause biomes to shift. On some continents, these scientists are predicting forests
spreading; however, when it comes to deserts and tropical biomes, they are finding predictions much more challenging, as it
is uncertain how warmer temperatures will affect rainfall.
39) Understanding the basics of global climate change effects, the findings of this research on shifting
biomes is most likely to predict ________.
A) tundra regions shifting north to polar ice caps
B) temperate deciduous forests moving south
C) boreal forests shifting north to tundra regions
D) deserts shrinking globally
E) boreal forests shifting south
39)
40) The satellite remote sensing involved in this biome project is most likely measuring what specific
parameter of Earth’s surface?
A) extent of continental ice cover
B) El Niño effects
C) geology
D) sea-level rise
E) leaf cover
40)
ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
41) Discuss the two factors that are most important in the distribution of biomes? Choose one biome and explain
how these two factors impact the specific plants and animals found in this biome.
42) Discuss three specific environmental consequences of tropical rain forest destruction. Be sure to include why we
should be concerned about each of these environmental consequences.
9
Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED7
1) E
2) E
3) C
4) A
5) D
6) B
7) E
8) B
9) B
10) B
11) B
12) C
13) C
14) C
15) E
16) A
17) A
18) B
19) B
20) A
21) B
22) D
23) D
24) D
25) E
26) E
27) C
28) C
29) C
30) D
31) D
32) D
33) D
34) B
35) A
36) C
37) A
38) I. A, II. C, III. E, IV. B, V. D
39) C
40) E
41) Temperature and precipitation are the two factors that determine the distribution of biomes. As average precipitation
and temperature increase, the growing season is often longer, and with more water, photosynthetic rates increase, and
vegetation becomes more lush and varied. For example, in the desert, with very little rainfall, the growing season is
short, sometimes lasting less than a month. The plants that do thrive have evolved specialized adaptations to conserve
water (reduced leaf surfaces, thorns/spines rather than leaves, and waxy leaf surfaces). Animal species have also
evolved water conserving behaviors (nocturnal activity rather than diurnal feeding behavior and hibernation during
the time of year with the highest temperatures). Many desert rodents also use water so efficiently that they are able to
survive on the water generated from their food alone.
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Answer Key
Testname: UNTITLED7
42) One environmental consequence of tropical rain forest destruction includes potential extinction of species. Much of the
high species diversity in tropical rain forests is a consequence of evolution that has produced very specialized
ecological niches. Many of these specialized species thrive within very restricted geographic ranges, making them
extremely vulnerable to permanent elimination. Since many of these species have not been identified/studied, we are
possibly eliminating species helpful to medicine and/or potential food sources. A second environmental consequence
is the elimination of the natural nutrient cycling and productivity, which this great diversity of tropical forest plants
represents. When forests are removed, the thin nutrient-poor tropical soils are exposed to the high levels of rainfall,
and erosion results. The croplands that often replace the forests are able to grow food for only a short period of time,
and when abandoned, results in even further soil erosion. A third consequence of tropical forest destruction is the
elimination of their potential to take up and store carbon (in the form of CO2 during photosynthesis). This last concern
is of particular issue for climate change, as deforestation is contributing to the increase in the greenhouse gas, CO2, in
Earth’s atmosphere. Increases in atmospheric CO2 have been directly linked with global temperature increases.
