Deck 27: Community Interactions

Question 1

In the process called ________, species act as agents of natural selection on one another.

A)succession
B)mutualism
C)competition
D)symbiosis
E)coevolution

Answer 1

E

Question 2

If you find a brightly colored insect resting on a dead leaf, the insect is likely to:

A)be poisonous or distasteful.
B)be prey for birds.
C)be camouflaged.
D)have startle coloration.
E)have aggressive mimicry.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In ________, the interaction between two species harms both of them.

A)coevolution
B)competition
C)mutualism
D)parasitism
E)symbiosis

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The biologist who studies interactions at the community level investigates interactions among:

A)organisms of one species.
B)organisms of more than one species.
C)animals of one species.
D)social animals (like insects).
E)ecosystems.

Question 5

Over the course of their evolutionary histories, the timing of flowering, the spacing of plants, and the nectar rewards of flowering plants have influenced the foraging behavior of bees, which in turn has influenced the morphology of flowers. This process is an example of:

A)adaptive radiation.
B)coevolution.
C)competitive exclusion.
D)convergent evolution.
E)niche partitioning.

Question 6

Over the past century, sagebrush has dramatically expanded its range over the Colorado Plateau's grasslands. This development has been attributed to the overgrazing of the area's grasses by cattle and sheep. This example indicates that:

A)grazing has no effect on the distribution of plants.
B)sagebrush could not exist anywhere in the absence of cattle and sheep.
C)sagebrush is the dominant competitor over grasses.
D)the range of sagebrush is normally limited by competition with grasses.
E)the relationship between sagebrush and grasses is mutualistic.

Question 7

An effective, bright, and very distinct color pattern that a prey species can display suddenly to scare a predator is called:

A)modeling.
B)aggressive mimicry.
C)mimicry.
D)startle coloration.
E)camouflage.

Question 8

If an insect eats the lettuce seedlings in your yard, it is acting most like a(n):

A)omnivore.
B)host.
C)mutualist.
D)carnivore.
E)herbivore.

Question 9

Two species of buttercup are found in the same field in South Dakota, but they emerge at different times: One species emerges and flowers in early spring, and the other species does not emerge until late summer, after the first species has set seed. This is probably an example of:

A)habitat fragmentation.
B)niche fragmentation.
C)niche realignment.
D)resource partitioning.
E)intraspecific competition.

Question 10

Earthworms live in many grass and forest ecosystems, and they aerate the soil as they burrow. They also may mix soil layers as they ingest organic matter and travel between layers. These traits, taken collectively, make up the ________ of the earthworm.

A)niche
B)habitat
C)community profile
D)ecosystem profile
E)resource partition profile

Question 11

If similar species each occupy a smaller niche when they live together than they would if they lived alone, they are said to be:

A)involved in succession.
B)involved in intraspecific competition.
C)partitioning their resources.
D)coevolving.
E)increasing niche overlap.

Question 12

An ecological niche:

A)is formed by the physical environment only.
B)depends on the weather.
C)is a constantly changing place.
D)cannot be shared by two species.
E)is the same thing as a habitat.

Question 13

Predation is similar to ________ in that both types of relationship benefit one of the interacting species while harming the other.

A)coevolution
B)competition
C)mutualism
D)parasitism
E)symbiosis

Question 14

Two families of feral cats move into the same barn. One family preys on the mice; the other preys on the pigeons. This behavior is an example of:

A)parasitism.
B)interspecific competition.
C)mutualism.
D)ecosystem profile.
E)resource partitioning.

Question 15

The process by which two interacting species act as agents of natural selection on one another is called:

A)mutualism.
B)coevolution
C)parasitism.
D)mimicry.
E)symbiosis.

Question 16

A species that is a mimic may:

A)produce chemicals that deter predators.
B)have behavior similar to that of another species.
C)resemble their surroundings.
D)use bright colors to warn that they are harmful.
E)produce "smoke screens."

Question 17

Competition between the members of two species is:

A)always very intense and is referred to as intraspecific.
B)most intense when the species are most similar and is referred to as interspecific.
C)unusual and is referred to as interspecific.
D)very common and is referred to as intraspecific.
E)least intense between similar species and is referred to as interspecific.

Question 18

Two species that have a high degree of niche overlap will:

A)compete intensely.
B)speciate.
C)interbreed.
D)be in a predator -prey relationship.
E)coexist peacefully.

Question 19

The concept that two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche simultaneously and continuously is called:

A)coevolution.
B)mutualism.
C)succession.
D)the competitive exclusion principle.
E)predation

Question 20

Ornithologists visiting an island find two species of bird that appear nearly identical except for bill size. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for their discovery?

A)There is natural random variability.
B)Coevolution of the two species has resulted in resource partitioning between the species.
C)Mutations and natural selection have resulted in an inferior species with defective bills.
D)Sexual selection has taken place.
E)The birds need camouflage for protection from predators.

Question 21

Tapeworms in the human gut are an example of:

A)predators.
B)parasites.
C)hosts.
D)mutualists.
E)prey.

Question 22

Birds follow animal herds to catch insects that are disturbed as the large herbivores like water buffalo walk through the grass. The birds fly into the air and make warning calls when large predators like lions are near. What is the ecological relationship between the birds and the herbivores called?

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)resource partitioning
E)competition

Question 23

In the interactions among the tree-dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the roundworms are the:

A)predators.
B)parasites.
C)hosts.
D)mutualists.
E)prey.

Question 24

In the interactions among the tree-dwelling black ants, the roundworms, and the birds, the ants are the ________ for the roundworms.

A)predators
B)parasites
C)hosts
D)mutualists
E)prey

Question 25

An example of ________ is when birds feed on parasitic insects they pick off the skin of large animals such as elephants or bison.

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)resource partitioning
E)competition

Question 26

A caterpillar develops toxic spikes to deter the bird that preys on it. Over time the bird develops a digestive enzyme that neutralizes the toxin. This is an example of:

A)an invasive species.
B)parasitism.
C)mutualism.
D)mimicry.
E)coevolution.

Question 27

Fleas feed on the blood of dogs, cats, and people. What is this ecological relationship called?

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)resource partitioning
E)competition

Question 28

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria get both a place to live and energy while supplying nitrogen to a plant. What is this ecological relationship called?

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)succession
E)competition

Question 29

Many plants are mycorrhizal: Their roots are infected with a specialized fungus. The plant supplies carbon to the fungus, and the fungus supplies nutrients to the plant. The relationship between these plants and the mycorrhizal fungi is an example of a ________ association.

A)mutualistic
B)competitive
C)parasitic
D)successional
E)predator -prey

Question 30

The Masai people of Africa regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. The cattle derive a net benefit because the Masai also protect them from predators and help them find water and food. Given this additional information, the relationship is best classified as:

A)coevolution.
B)mutualism.
C)competition.
D)parasitism.
E)predation.

Question 31

Humans contract bacterial infections such as tuberculosis or syphilis. What is this ecological relationship called?

A)predation
B)parasitism
C)mutualism
D)resource partitioning
E)competition

Question 32

Which behavioral response to the threat of predation is most likely to be selected for in a species that uses camouflage for protection from predators?

A)a quick escape response
B)sudden display to startle the predator
C)cooperative behavior
D)behavior that mimics the behavior of the predator
E)motionless behavior

Question 33

Trees often produce secondary chemicals to deter herbivores from feeding on their leaves; in turn, many herbivores have developed ways of avoiding or detoxifying these chemicals. This is an example of:

A)competitive exclusion.
B)predatory avoidance.
C)coevolution.
D)parasitic evolution.
E)parasite predation.

Question 34

A predator might use ________ to enable it to catch its prey.

A)startle coloration
B)warning coloration
C)camouflage
D)symbiosis
E)coevolution

Question 35

Mosquitoes are:

A)predators.
B)parasites.
C)hosts.
D)mutualists.
E)prey.

Question 36

In the Australian outback, emus feeding in the open brush lands resemble the bushes. This is an example of:

A)warning coloration.
B)mimicry.
C)camouflage.
D)coevolution.
E)interspecies competition.

Question 37

Sap-feeding insects that feed on plants without consuming them completely may be classified as:

A)predators.
B)parasites.
C)hosts.
D)mutualists.
E)prey.

Question 38

Clownfish live within the tentacles of sea anemones. The anemone protects the fish from predators, and the clownfish cleans the anemone. This relationship is an example of:

A)succession.
B)competition.
C)mutualism.
D)parasitism.
E)predation.

Question 39

Harmless king snakes mimic the color patterns of venomous coral snakes, which serve as models. If avoidance were based solely on prior predator experience with the model, what do you predict would happen in areas where coral snakes were never present?

A)Predators would initially attack and eat king snakes but soon learn to avoid them.
B)Predators would attack and eat king snakes.
C)Predators would avoid king snakes.
D)Predators would initially avoid king snakes but soon learn to attack and eat them.
E)No predictions can be made based on the information given.

Question 40

The Masai people of Africa regularly consume the blood and milk of their cattle. Based on this information alone, we might classify the relationship between the Masai and cattle as:

A)coevolution.
B)mutualism.
C)competition.
D)parasitism.
E)predation.

Question 41

In a stable ecosystem, there are more predators than prey. True or False?

Question 42

Why is the African elephant considered a keystone species?

A)The removal of elephants from their community would result in drastic changes in the ecological structure of the community.
B)It is the largest organism in its community.
C)Elephants live in large cooperative herds that dominate other smaller groups within the community.
D)Elephants eat more food than any other species in their community.
E)Elephant populations are larger than the populations of any other organisms in their community.

Question 43

A storm strips an island in Lake Superior down to bare rock. The first organisms to recolonize the island are most likely:

A)balsam firs.
B)junipers.
C)blueberries.
D)lichens.
E)yarrow.

Question 44

What ecological process changes a lake to a marsh over a long period of time?

A)eutrophication
B)competitive exclusion
C)succession
D)extinction
E)coevolution

Question 45

In mutualistic interactions, one species is harmed and one benefits. True or False?

Question 46

The first community that forms on bare rock often has organisms such as:

A)herbs and conifers.
B)grasses and weeds.
C)broad-leaf trees and conifers.
D)lichens and mosses.
E)woody shrubs and conifers.

Question 47

Many brightly colored tree frogs are toxic. True or False?

Question 48

When a community like the tallgrass prairie is maintained by regular disturbances such as periodic fires set by Native Americans or by lightning, a ________ community exists.

A)pine forest
B)subclimax
C)climax
D)pioneer
E)deciduous

Question 49

Organisms introduced as biocontrols for an invasive species can themselves become invasive. True or False?

Question 50

Woodpeckers and squirrels both nest in tree cavities. This is an example of interspecific competition. True or False?

Question 51

One of the major factors limiting the size of a population is intraspecific competition. True or False?

Question 52

In a process called coevolution, two species exert natural selection pressures on each other. True or False?

Question 53

A species that plays a major role in determining the structure of its ecological community is:

A)a predator.
B)a dominator species.
C)the most abundant species in the community.
D)a keystone species.
E)the species with the largest size.

Question 54

The biotic portion of an ecosystem includes the plants, animals, and microbes. True or False?

Question 55

A certain species of animal represents just 3% of the biomass in its ecosystem. We might classify this as a keystone species if its removal:

A)allowed an even rarer species to increase in numbers and take its place.
B)caused 2% of the other species in the community to disappear.
C)caused the diversity of the plant community to decline by 40%.
D)caused plant biomass to increase by 5%.
E)had no effect on the community whatsoever.

Question 56

After a forested area such as a national forest is clear-cut, what type of succession occurs?

A)primary
B)secondary
C)subclimax
D)climax
E)biome

Question 57

Succession that begins on bare rock after glaciers have passed, or on newly formed volcanic islands, is:

A)primary.
B)secondary.
C)allogenic.
D)pioneer.
E)autogenic.

Question 58

Invasive species outcompete native species because they lack predators and have high reproductive rates. True or False?

Question 59

In most environments, two or more organisms occupy identical niches. True or False?

Question 60

The next time you need to mow the grass, you can excuse yourself, saying that by mowing you are helping to maintain a man-made:

A)climax community.
B)subclimax community.
C)biome.
D)ecosystem.
E)population.

Question 61

A lichen is a mutualistic relationship between a fungus and an alga. True or False?

Question 62

The ________ principle states that two species cannot occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time.

Question 63

The physical home of a species is its ________.

Question 64

Parasitism is a relationship in which one species benefits and one species is harmed. True or False?

Question 65

Parasites are generally smaller than their host. True or False?

Question 66

Startle coloration is used to attract mates. True or False?

Question 67

In all symbiotic relationships, both species involved benefit from the association. True or False?

Question 68

________ are organisms that eat plant material.

Question 69

The keystone species in the African savanna is the elephant. True or False?

Question 70

The roles that a species plays in its community are known as its ________.

Question 71

Lichens are a symbiosis between a fungus and a plant. True or False?

Question 72

The first organisms to colonize a disturbed ecosystem are the climax species. True or False?

Question 73

Parasites kill their hosts, but predators do not. True or False?

Question 74

A keystone species is the most numerous species in an ecosystem. True or False?

Question 75

In a mutualistic relationship, one species benefits and the other is harmed. True or False?

Question 76

The bright coloration of toxic tree frogs is an example of ________.

Question 77

The most common pioneer species are mosses and lichens. True or False?

Question 78

Shade-tolerant plant species are generally found early in succession and are replaced by hardier, shade-intolerant species. True or False?

Question 79

Hawks that eat field mice are practicing mutualism. True or False?

Question 80

Two weed species live in the same patch of ground. One has very deep roots to tap into ground water. The other has broad, shallow roots to take advantage of the frequent light rains that don't penetrate very deeply into the soil. This is an example of ________.