Question 1

Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive?
A)community, ecosystem, individual, population
B)ecosystem, community, population, individual
C)population, ecosystem, individual, community
D)individual, population, community, ecosystem
E)individual, community, population, ecosystem

Accepted Answer

This sequence goes from the largest scale (ecosystem) to the smallest scale (individual).

Question 2

Studying species transplants is a way that ecologists
A)determine the abundance of a species in a specified area.
B)determine the distribution of a species in a specified area.
C)develop mathematical models for distribution and abundance of organisms.
D)determine if dispersal is a key factor in limiting distribution of organisms.
E)consolidate a landscape region into a single ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

Studying species transplants can help ecologists understand if dispersal is a key factor in limiting the distribution of organisms. By introducing a species into a new area and monitoring its success, ecologists can determine if the species is limited by its ability to disperse or if other factors (such as competition or environmental conditions) are limiting its distribution. Option A and B can be determined by other ecological methods, option C is not directly related to species transplants, and option E is not a goal of studying species transplants.

Question 3

Deserts typically occur in a band at 30 degrees north and south latitude because
A)descending air masses tend to be cool and dry.
B)trade winds have a little moisture.
C)water is heavier than air and is not carried far over land.
D)ascending air tends to be moist.
E)these locations get the most intense solar radiation of any location on Earth

Accepted Answer

Deserts occur in a band at 30 degrees north and south latitude because descending air masses tend to be cool and dry. As the air descends, it becomes compressed and warms, which causes moisture to evaporate and leads to dry conditions.

Question 4

Landscape ecology is best described as the study of
A)the flow of energy and materials between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
B)how the structure and function of species enable them to meet the challenges of their environment.
C)what factors affect the structure and size of a population over time.
D)the interactions between the different species that inhabit and ecosystem.
E)the factors controlling the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms among ecosystem patches.

Accepted Answer

Landscape ecology is specifically concerned with understanding the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms among ecosystem patches, which is best described by option E. Options A, B, C, and D are more related to the fields of ecology and population biology.

Question 5

Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological organization except
A)population.
B)cellular.
C)organismal.
D)ecosystem.
E)community.

Accepted Answer

Ecology primarily deals with interactions and relationships within and between populations, communities, ecosystems, and biospheres, and not with cellular processes.

Question 6

Which of the following abiotic factors has the greatest influence on the metabolic rates of plants and animals?
A)water
B)wind
C)temperature
D)rocks and soil
E)disturbances

Accepted Answer

Temperature has a direct impact on the metabolic rates of plants and animals. This is because temperature affects the enzymes that regulate metabolic reactions in organisms. Extreme temperatures can denature enzymes and impede metabolic reactions, leading to decreased metabolic rates. Conversely, optimal temperatures can enhance enzyme activity and promote efficient metabolism.

Question 7

Of the following examples of ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect (→), which is most correct?
A)When seeds are not plentiful → trees produce more seeds.
B)A few organisms of a larger population survive a drought → these survivors then emigrate to less arid environments.
C)A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age → the reproducing survivors all have long fur.
D)Fish that swim the fastest in running water → catch the most prey and more easily escape predation.
E)The insects that spend the most time exposed to sunlight → have the most mutations.

Accepted Answer

This example shows natural selection in action. Individuals with denser fur were better able to survive and reproduce during the ice age, passing on their advantageous trait to their offspring. Over time, the population evolved to have longer fur overall. The other examples do not necessarily involve genetic changes or selection pressures on a population.

Question 8

Rachel Carson would most likely have endorsed which of the following statements?
A)Conserving wildness will lead to the preservation of the Earth.
B)The greatest liberty humans have taken is with nature.
C)Humans have dominion over the Earth and all of its inhabitants.
D)All pesticides are unsafe and must be banned.
E)The environment can repair damage created by human activity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rachel Carson would most likely have endorsed...

Question 9

Which of the following is responsible for the summer and winter stratification of deep temperate lakes?
A)Water is densest at 4°C.
B)Oxygen is most abundant in deeper waters.
C)Winter ice sinks in the summer.
D)Stratification is caused by a thermocline.
E)Stratification always follows the fall and spring turnovers.

Accepted Answer

Water is densest at 4°C, causing it to sink and create layers in the lake, leading to stratification.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about ecology is incorrect?
A)Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms.
B)Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers.
C)Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and evolutionary history.
D)Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from individuals to ecosystems.
E)Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of the environment.

Accepted Answer

Ecology is deeply connected to natural selection and evolutionary history, as it seeks to understand how organisms have evolved to interact with their environment and how those interactions have shaped the diversity of life on Earth.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about light in aquatic environments is correct?
A)Water selectively reflects and absorbs certain wavelengths of light.
B)Photosynthetic organisms that live in deep water probably use red light.
C)Longer wavelengths penetrate to greater depths.
D)Light penetration seldom limits the distribution of photosynthetic species.
E)Most photosynthetic organisms avoid the surface where the light is not too intense.

Accepted Answer

Water absorbs longer wavelengths like red and orange more quickly, allowing shorter wavelengths like blue and green to penetrate deeper. This selective absorption affects the light available for photosynthesis in aquatic environments.

Question 12

In mountainous areas of western North America, north-facing slopes would be expected to
A)receive more sunlight than similar southern exposures
B)be warmer and drier than comparable southern exposed slopes
C)consistently steeper than southern exposures
D)support biological communities similar to those found lower elevations on similar south-facing slopes.
E)support biological communities similar to those found at higher elevations on similar south-facing slopes.

Accepted Answer

North-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere receive less direct sunlight, making them cooler and moister. This allows them to support biological communities similar to those found at higher elevations on south-facing slopes, which are cooler due to higher altitude.

Question 13

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?
A)precipitation, wind
B)nutrient availability, soil pH
C)predation, competition
D)temperature, water
E)light intensity, seasonality

Accepted Answer

Predation and competition are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities by influencing population sizes and distributions, altering species interactions, and driving evolutionary changes. Precipitation, wind, nutrient availability, soil pH, temperature, water, light intensity, and seasonality are important abiotic factors that can also affect the structure and organization of biological communities.

Question 14

"How does the foraging of animals on tree seeds affect the distribution and abundance of the trees? " This question
A)would require an elaborate experimental design to answer.
B)is difficult to answer because a large experimental area would be required.
C)is difficult to answer because a long-term experiment would be required.
D)is a question that a present-day ecologist would be likely to ask.
E)A, B, C and D are correct.

Accepted Answer

This question involves complex ecological interactions that require detailed experimental design (A), large areas to observe natural behaviors (B), and long-term studies to understand effects over time (C). It is also a relevant question for modern ecologists (D).

Question 15

Turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by which of the following?
A)warm, less dense water layered at the top
B)cold, more dense water layered at the bottom
C)a distinct thermocline between less dense warm water and cold, dense water.
D)the density of water changes as seasonal temperatures change.
E)currents generated by nektonic animals

Accepted Answer

The turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by the change in density of water as seasonal temperatures change. As the water cools or warms, its density changes, allowing the layers to mix and turnover. This is known as seasonal overturn.

Question 16

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?
A)sunlight intensity
B)precipitation
C)day length
D)ocean currents
E)salinity

Accepted Answer

Ocean currents play a crucial role in the distribution of coral reefs. The eastern coast of the United States is influenced by the Gulf Stream and other warm-water currents that support the growth of coral reefs, whereas the western coast is influenced by cold-water currents that do not support coral growth.

Question 17

In temperate lakes, the surface water is replenished with nutrients during turnovers that occur in the
A)autumn and spring.
B)autumn and winter.
C)spring and summer.
D)summer and winter.
E)summer and autumn.

Accepted Answer

Turnovers occur in temperate lakes during the autumn and spring, when the temperature of the water at the surface becomes equal to the temperature of the water at the bottom. When this occurs, the water at the surface sinks and the water at the bottom rises to the surface. This process helps to mix the lake water and replenish the surface with nutrients.

Question 18

Which statement best contrasts environmentalism with ecology?
A)Ecology is the study of the environment; environmentalism is the study of ecology.
B)Ecology provides scientific understanding of living things and their environment; environmentalism is more about conservation and preservation of life on Earth.
C)Environmentalists are only involved in politics and advocating for protecting nature; ecologists are only involved in scientific investigations of the environment.
D)Ecologists study organisms in environments that have been undisturbed by human activities; environmentalists study the effects of human activities on organisms.
E)Environmentalism is devoted to applied ecological science; ecology is concerned with basic/theoretical ecological science.

Accepted Answer

Ecology is the study of the interactions between living things and their environment, while environmentalism is a social and political movement that advocates for the conservation and preservation of ecosystems and species. While there is some overlap between the two, environmentalism tends to focus more on the practical aspects of protecting the environment, while ecology is more concerned with understanding the underlying science.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best describes the difference in approach to studying the environment by early naturalists compared to present-day ecologists?
A)Early naturalists employed a descriptive approach; present-day ecologists generate hypotheses, design experiments, and draw conclusions from their observations.
B)Early naturalists manipulated the environment and observed changes in plant and animal populations, while modern ecology focuses on population dynamics.
C)Early naturalists systematically recorded what they observed in their environment; modern ecology is only concerned with man's impact on the environment.
D)Early naturalists were interested with man's interaction with the natural world; present-day ecologists seek to link ecology to developmental biology.
E)Early naturalists were interested in interactions between organisms and their environment; present day ecologists are interested in interactions between organisms.

Accepted Answer

Early naturalists focused on descriptive observation and often did not generate hypotheses or design experiments. Modern ecologists conduct rigorous experimental design and hypothesis testing in their research.

Question 20

You are working for the Environmental Protection Agency and researching the effect of a potentially toxic chemical in drinking water. There is no documented scientific evidence showing that the chemical is toxic, but many suspect it to be a health hazard. Using the precautionary principle, what would be a reasonable environmental policy?
A)Establish no regulations until there are conclusive scientific studies.
B)Set the acceptable levels of the chemical conservatively low, and keep them there unless future studies show that they can be safely raised.
C)Set the acceptable levels at the highest levels encountered, and keep them there unless future studies demonstrate negative health effects.
D)Caution individuals to use their own judgment in deciding whether to drink water from a potentially contaminated area.
E)Establish a contingency fund to handle insurance claims in the event that the chemical turns out to produce negative health effects.

Accepted Answer

Using the precautionary principle, it is important to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential health hazards, even in the absence of conclusive scientific evidence. Setting acceptable levels conservatively low and keeping them there until further studies can demonstrate the safety of higher levels would be a reasonable environmental policy. This approach prioritizes the health and safety of the public over potential economic or industrial interests.

Quiz 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive?

Studying species transplants is a way that ecologists

Deserts typically occur in a band at 30 degrees north and south latitude because

Landscape ecology is best described as the study of

Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological organization except

Which of the following abiotic factors has the greatest influence on the metabolic rates of plants and animals?

Of the following examples of ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect (→) , which is most correct?

Rachel Carson would most likely have endorsed which of the following statements?

Which of the following is responsible for the summer and winter stratification of deep temperate lakes?

Which of the following statements about ecology is incorrect?

Which of the following statements about light in aquatic environments is correct?

In mountainous areas of western North America, north-facing slopes would be expected to

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?

"How does the foraging of animals on tree seeds affect the distribution and abundance of the trees? " This question

Turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by which of the following?

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?

In temperate lakes, the surface water is replenished with nutrients during turnovers that occur in the

Which statement best contrasts environmentalism with ecology?

Which of the following statements best describes the difference in approach to studying the environment by early naturalists compared to present-day ecologists?