Question 1

Temperate and tropical rain forest trees extract nutrients from epiphytic mats.

Accepted Answer

Many temperate and tropical rain forest trees have epiphytic mats (layers of vegetation) growing on their trunks and branches. These mats can contain a wide range of organisms, including mosses, ferns, and lichens, which can fix nitrogen and other nutrients from the atmosphere. Some trees are able to extract these nutrients from the epiphytic mats, which can help them to grow and thrive in nutrient-poor environments.

Question 2

What is ecology?
A) The study of relationships between organisms and the environment
B) The study of animal and plant population interactions
C) The study of the abiotic portion of the environment
D) The study of the biosphere
E) The study of environmental change

Accepted Answer

Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components. Therefore, option A is the best choice as it accurately defines ecology. Option B only focuses on animal and plant populations while ecology also includes non-living parts of the environment. Option C only focuses on the abiotic portion of the environment while ecology also includes living organisms. Option D is too broad as it only implies the study of the entire biosphere and not specifically the interactions between organisms and their environment. Option E is also too narrow as it only focuses on environmental change and not the broader scope of ecology.

Question 3

Margaret Davis' studies on lake pollen sediments indicate that the forests of eastern North America did not change with the changing climate.

Accepted Answer

Margaret Davis' studies on lake pollen sediments actually show that the forests of eastern North America did change with the changing climate.

Question 4

Robert MacArthur's observations on the Warblers of North America indicate that they
A) are fiercely competitive.
B) cannot coexist.
C) reduce competition by feeding during different times of the day.
D) reduce competition by feeding in different zones.
E) both are fiercely competitive and cannot coexist.

Accepted Answer

Robert MacArthur observed that Warblers reduce competition by feeding in different zones. They have different feeding strategies and habitat preferences which allows them to coexist without competing with one another. They avoid competition by dividing up their resources through feeding in different parts of the same tree or different parts of different trees.

Question 5

According to Margaret Davis, who studied pollen contained within lake sediments, the vegetation landscape of the Appalachian Mountains from 12,000 years ago until approximately 100 years ago changed from
A) spruce→chestnut→beech.
B) chestnut→spruce→beech.
C) beech→spruce→chestnut.
D) spruce→beech→chestnut.
E) chestnut→beech→spruce.

Accepted Answer

According to Margaret Davis, the vegetation landscape of the Appalachian Mountains changed from spruce to beech to chestnut over the span of 12,000 years until approximately 100 years ago. Therefore, the correct answer is D (spruce → beech → chestnut).

Question 6

Norris and colleagues found that warblers using different habitats did not have different carbon isotopes in the tissues.

Accepted Answer

Norris and colleagues found that warblers using different habitats did have different carbon isotopes in their tissues, which helped in determining the habitats they used during migration by analyzing the carbon isotopes present in their tissues.

Question 7

________ are aerial plants that obtain nutrients from trapped organic matter.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ are aerial plants that obtain nutrients...

Question 8

Field studies and laboratory studies are mutually exclusive.

Accepted Answer

Field studies and laboratory studies are not mutually exclusive. They are two different types of research methods that can be complementary to each other. Laboratory studies involve controlled experiments conducted in a laboratory setting, while field studies involve observations and data collection in real-world settings. Both types of studies have their own strengths and weaknesses, and researchers may choose to use one or both depending on their research question and objectives.

Question 9

Stable isotope analysis uses variation in element masses to better understand ecological phenomena.

Accepted Answer

Stable isotope analysis measures the ratio of stable isotopes of elements that occur naturally in ecological systems, and these ratios can provide insights into food webs, migration patterns, and other ecological processes. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 10

Ecology can be defined as the study of the impact of human activity on the environment.

Accepted Answer

Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment, including the ways in which they interact with each other and with non-living things. While human impact on the environment is certainly a topic of study within ecology, it is not the sole focus.

Question 11

Ecologists study
A) communities.
B) ecosystems.
C) individual organisms.
D) populations.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Ecologists study all levels of biological organization, including communities, ecosystems, individual organisms, and populations.

Question 12

Population ecologists do not study
A) reproductive ecology.
B) distribution and abundance.
C) energy flow.
D) extinction.
E) adaptation.

Accepted Answer

Population ecologists are primarily concerned with studying the distribution and abundance of populations, as well as factors that influence population growth and dynamics. Other aspects of biology, such as reproductive ecology, energy flow, extinction, and adaptation, may be relevant to population ecology but are not the primary focus.

Question 13

An ecosystem is defined as
A) all the organisms that live in an area.
B) the physical environment with which organisms interact.
C) an association of interacting species.
D) all of the organisms that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.
E) all of the individuals of a single species that live in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem includes both the biotic (all organisms) and abiotic (physical environment) components of an area, and the interactions between them. Therefore, option D is the correct definition of an ecosystem.

Question 14

The pioneering work of Nalini Nadkarni in rain forest ecology revealed that
A) epiphyte mats in some tropical forests contain nutrient quantities equal to the nutrient content of the canopy foliage.
B) the epiphyte mass in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree.
C) in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats.
D) the epiphyte mass in temperate rain forests may be four times the mass of leaves on their host tree and in both temperate and tropical rain forests, trees obtain nutrients by extending roots into epiphyte mats.
E) All of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

This choice includes both statements A and B, which are both accurate and supported by Nadkarni's research. However, statement C is not entirely correct, as trees in tropical rain forests can obtain nutrients from epiphyte mats through other means such as through their bark.

Question 15

Nalini Nadkarni's study of tropical and temperate rain forests determined that
A) rain forests have nutrient rich soils.
B) the herbaceous layer determines the nutrient balance.
C) epiphyte mats contain a significant source of nutrients.
D) as one moves up the canopy, species richness decreases.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Nalini Nadkarni's study determined that epiphyte mats, which are dense communities of plants that grow on other plants, contain a significant source of nutrients in both tropical and temperate rain forests.

Question 16

Physiological ecologists study
A) nutrient cycling and energy flow through ecosystems.
B) exchanges of materials, energy, and organisms between communities.
C) physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their physical and chemical environment.
D) physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their social environment.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Physiological ecologists study the physiological and anatomical mechanisms by which organisms deal with variation in their physical and chemical environment, such as temperature, water availability, and nutrient availability.

Question 17

The highest level of ecological organization focuses on
A) the gene.
B) the biosphere.
C) warbler use of trees.
D) forests.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

The biosphere is the highest level of ecological organization, as it encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with the environment on a global scale. The other choices are at lower levels of organization.

Question 18

Which of the following levels of organization is/are correctly ordered?
A) Population, ecosystem, landscape, individual, interaction
B) Individual, population, interaction, community, ecosystem
C) Biosphere, landscape, individual, community, interaction
D) Ecosystem, landscape, region, interaction, population
E) None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

The correct order of organization from smallest to largest is individual, population, community, ecosystem, and finally biosphere. "Interaction" is not a level of organization but rather a process that occurs between different levels. Therefore, option B is the only correct ordering.

Question 19

Ecology is a modern science of which ancient man had no knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Ancient civilizations had an understanding of ecological principles; they practiced agriculture, animal husbandry, and forest management, which required knowledge of the relationships between organisms and their environment.

Question 20

A population can be defined as
A) a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area.
B) an association of interacting species.
C) a group of individuals of a single species and all of the physical and chemical factors influencing them.
D) all of the organisms in a defined area.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

A population is specifically defined as a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area. The other answer choices either include additional components, such as other species (B), or are too broad (D) or incorrect (E).

Quiz 1: Introduction to Ecology: Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers

Temperate and tropical rain forest trees extract nutrients from epiphytic mats.

What is ecology?

Margaret Davis' studies on lake pollen sediments indicate that the forests of eastern North America did not change with the changing climate.

Robert MacArthur's observations on the Warblers of North America indicate that they

According to Margaret Davis, who studied pollen contained within lake sediments, the vegetation landscape of the Appalachian Mountains from 12,000 years ago until approximately 100 years ago changed from

Norris and colleagues found that warblers using different habitats did not have different carbon isotopes in the tissues.

________ are aerial plants that obtain nutrients from trapped organic matter.

Field studies and laboratory studies are mutually exclusive.

Stable isotope analysis uses variation in element masses to better understand ecological phenomena.

Ecology can be defined as the study of the impact of human activity on the environment.

Ecologists study

Population ecologists do not study

An ecosystem is defined as

The pioneering work of Nalini Nadkarni in rain forest ecology revealed that

Nalini Nadkarni's study of tropical and temperate rain forests determined that

Physiological ecologists study

The highest level of ecological organization focuses on

Which of the following levels of organization is/are correctly ordered?

Ecology is a modern science of which ancient man had no knowledge.

A population can be defined as