Question 1

Which of the following best explains why tropical rainforests are found near the equator, while deserts are commonly found at approximately 30° latitude north and south?

Accepted Answer

Hadley cell circulation causes rising moist air at the equator (low pressure, high rainfall) and descending dry air at 30° (high pressure, low rainfall), creating rainforests and deserts, respectively.

Question 2

A population of fish in a lake is estimated using the mark-recapture method. In the first capture, 40 fish are marked and released. In the second capture, 50 fish are caught, 10 of which are marked. What is the estimated total population size ($$N$$)? Use the formula $$\frac{M}{N} = \frac{R}{C}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$N = 200$$

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent factor that limits population growth?

Accepted Answer

An outbreak of disease that spreads more rapidly in crowded populations

Question 4

Which aquatic zone is found only in lakes and not in oceans?

Accepted Answer

Littoral zone

Question 5

A population of rabbits has an initial size ($$N_0) of 100 $$and a per capita growth rate ($$r) of 0.2 $$per year. Using the exponential growth equation $$N_t = N_0$ e$$^{rt}$$, what will the population size be after 5 years? (Round to the nearest whole number, e$$^{1}$$ \approx 2.72)$$

Accepted Answer

$$N_t = 271$$

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the difference between primary and secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession begins on bare rock with no soil, while secondary succession begins where soil remains after a disturbance.

Question 7

Which survivorship curve is most likely to be exhibited by a species that produces many offspring at once, most of which die before reaching adulthood?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Question 8

Which of the following is a real-world example of top-down control in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

An increase in wolf population leads to a decrease in deer population, which in turn allows more vegetation to grow.

Question 9

Which equation describes the logistic population growth model, accounting for carrying capacity ($$K$$)?

Accepted Answer

$$\frac{dN}{dt} = rN(1 - \frac{N}{K})$$

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why regular small fires can prevent large, more destructive fires in some forest ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Small fires remove accumulated fuel, reducing the risk of large, intense fires.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of character displacement?

Accepted Answer

Two bird species evolve different beak sizes when living on the same island, reducing competition for food.

Question 12

Which of the following is a chemical abiotic factor that can influence aquatic biomes?

Accepted Answer

Salinity

Question 13

Which population dispersion pattern is most likely for a plant species whose seeds are dispersed by wind?

Accepted Answer

Random

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the realized niche of a species?

Accepted Answer

The actual set of conditions and resources a species uses in the presence of competition.

Question 15

Which of the following is a key difference between r-selected and K-selected species?

Accepted Answer

r-selected species produce many offspring with low parental investment, while K-selected species produce few offspring with high parental investment.

Question 16

Which of the following is the best example of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

A bee pollinating a flower while collecting nectar

Question 17

Which process is responsible for bringing nutrient-rich deep water to the surface along coastlines, supporting high primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

Ocean upwelling

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct statement about the intermediate disturbance hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Moderate levels of disturbance foster the greatest species diversity.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the effect of latitude on species diversity?

Accepted Answer

Species diversity decreases with increasing latitude, being highest near the equator.

Question 20

Which of the following is the correct formula for per capita population growth rate ($$r) in $$the exponential and logistic models?

Accepted Answer

$$r = b - d$$

Ecology: Biomes, Population Dynamics, and Community Interactions

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