Question 1

A single algal species competes for a required resource,silicate.As the number of individuals increases,there is less silicate available for the original individuals.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes exploitation competition, where individuals compete indirectly through the consumption of a shared resource, in this case, silicate. As more individuals consume the silicate, less is available for others, impacting their ability to thrive.

Question 2

According to Figure 3.24,a major distinction between the food sources of herbivores and carnivores is that:

Accepted Answer

Figure 3.24 shows that herbivores primarily consume carbohydrates from plant sources, while carnivores primarily consume protein from animal sources.

Question 3

If a plant is prevented from transpiring,what do you expect the outcome will be?

Accepted Answer

Transpiration is the process by which plants release excess water vapor through tiny pores called stomata in their leaves. This process helps to cool the plant and maintain a proper water balance. If a plant is prevented from transpiring, it will likely become overheated because it cannot release excess water vapor to cool itself down.

Question 4

According to Figure 3.7a,the abundance of protoplasts:

Accepted Answer

According to Figure 3.7a, the abundance of protoplasts increases more rapidly in the first five days when temperatures are between 25-30 degrees Celsius, but not as rapidly when at 15 degrees Celsius. There is no clear trend of increase or decrease over time or between temperature treatments.

Question 5

According to Figure 3.4,Lasiommata maera larvae in the fall

Accepted Answer

According to Figure 3.4, the development rate of Lasiommata maera larvae increases as the hours of daylight decrease towards fall. Therefore, the correct choice is B, as the larvae develop more quickly when there are fewer hours of daylight per day.

Question 6

There is evidence that some plants respond to herbivore attacks by increasing the production of chemicals known to deter herbivory.What would this be an example of?

Accepted Answer

The described behavior is an example of an inducible defense mechanism, where the plant increases production of chemicals to deter herbivores in response to an attack.

Question 7

According to Figure 3.7b,when grasshoppers spend more time at 40 degree Celsius temperatures

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Figure 3.7b,when grasshoppers spend more...

Question 8

Figure 3.8 shows the competitive interaction of two salmonids,Salvelinus malma and S.leucomaenis.This figure shows:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Figure 3.8 shows the competitive interaction of...

Question 9

A species of bacteria is known to live in the skin and other organs of puffer fish.These bacteria produce a toxin that the puffer fish use to poison predators.The bacteria benefit from living on the puffer fish by receiving a host.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of mutualism as both the bacteria and the puffer fish benefit from their association. The bacteria receive a host to live on and the puffer fish have a defense mechanism to deter predators.

Question 10

Competition between individuals of the same species is which type of competition?

Accepted Answer

Intraspecific competition refers to the competition between individuals of the same species, while interspecific competition refers to competition between individuals of different species. Heterotrophic competition is not a common term used in ecology, and disruptive competition refers to a specific type of intraspecific competition where two extreme phenotypes are favored over intermediate phenotypes. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Question 11

You want to test how water temperature affects the size of adult frogs.You have two temperature treatments,one at 5 degrees Celsius (5 C)and the other at 15 degrees Celsius (15 C).You hatch and rear tadpoles at both of these temperatures.According to your knowledge of how temperature affects the final size of an organism,your prediction should be that:

Accepted Answer

Tadpoles in warmer water (15 C) tend to develop faster, but faster development often results in smaller adult sizes due to the shorter growth period.

Question 12

You are doing research throughout Death Valley,CA,USA.It is a very dry and hot environment,and you are interested in understanding how plants can grow in conditions where the temperature has reached above 50 degrees Celsius in the past.Currently,the temperature is 48 degrees Celsius and nothing is dying.Why might plants be able to survive here?

Accepted Answer

Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates from the leaves of plants, cooling them down in the process. This helps the plants survive in the high temperature environment of Death Valley. While options A, C, and D may also be possible explanations, they are not necessary to explain the survival of plants in this environment.

Question 13

Seeds of the lodgepole pine do not germinate unless:

Accepted Answer

Lodgepole pine seeds have a tough seed coat that requires heat to soften and open. Fire clears the ground of competitors and also provides mineral-rich ash that the seedlings can use for nutrients. Therefore, the stimulation by fire is necessary for the seeds to germinate and establish themselves as new lodgepole pine forests.

Question 14

You are on a desert hike and notice that many of the surrounding plants have very small hairs on them and some even have a waxy appearance.These features likely serve:

Accepted Answer

The small hairs and waxy appearance are likely adaptations to prevent overheating and reflect radiation in the desert environment. These features help the plant to conserve water by reducing water loss through transpiration. It is not likely for these features to serve as a way to attract pollinators or increase radiation.

Question 15

You learn that an organism is using abiotic environmental resources to assemble carbohydrates and proteins,and then forming them into tissues and organs.This organism is likely a:

Accepted Answer

This organism is likely an autotroph because it is using abiotic environmental resources to assemble carbohydrates and proteins, which is characteristic of autotrophs. Heterotrophs, on the other hand, obtain their food by consuming other organisms. The answer cannot be C or D, as mammals are a specific group of organisms and being a mammal does not necessarily mean that the organism is an autotroph using abiotic resources for energy.

Question 16

Which type of organism feeds on already dead material?

Accepted Answer

Decomposers are organisms that feed on dead organic matter and break it down into simpler forms, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem. Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own food, while heterotrophs are organisms that feed on other living organisms. Grazers are organisms that feed on living plants, and homotrophs are not a recognized scientific term.

Question 17

You learn that a plant species has evolved to deal with year-round drought conditions by reducing their rate of photosynthesis.One trait that may be associated with such a response is:

Accepted Answer

Long-lived leaves that transpire slowly would be an adaptation to year-round drought conditions since it would reduce water loss through transpiration. Having many stomata (B) would increase water loss, and having long-lived leaves that transpire quickly (A) would also increase water loss. D cannot be chosen as it is not a valid choice.

Question 18

Growth and developmental rates are known to affect what trait in organisms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Growth and developmental rates are known to...

Question 19

A niche for a species of salamander is determined by the density of individuals in the area,soil temperature,amounts of precipitation,and food availability.Thus,the niche would be modeled as a:

Accepted Answer

The niche of a species is determined by multiple environmental factors, which makes it multidimensional. In this case, the niche is described by four dimensions: density of individuals, soil temperature, precipitation, and food availability. Therefore, the niche would be modeled as a four-dimensional niche volume.

Question 20

Snowy plovers,a coastal bird species,are found to live only on sandy beaches.Where snowy plovers live is referred to as their:

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the physical location where a species lives is its habitat. Snowy plovers are found only on sandy beaches, which is their habitat. A niche refers to the role a species plays in its environment, including the resources it uses and how it interacts with other species. Ecological niche is a broader term that includes both the physical and biological aspects of a species' habitat. Acclimate refers to an individual organism's ability to adjust to changes in its environment.

Quiz 3: Physical Conditions and the Availability of Resources