Q: According to the 10% rule in energy pyramids, if the producers in an ecosystem have 500 calories of energy, how much energy is available to the primary consumers?

$$500 \times 0.1 = 50$$ calories

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between a population and a community in ecological terms?

Accepted Answer

A population is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area, while a community is all the living things in an area.

Question 2

In the water cycle, which process is responsible for returning water from plants to the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Transpiration

Question 3

A plant bends toward a light source due to the uneven distribution of auxin molecules. What is this phenomenon called?

Accepted Answer

Phototropism

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent limiting factor affecting population growth?

Accepted Answer

Competition for food

Question 5

In a food chain, the arrows point from one organism to another. What do these arrows represent?

Accepted Answer

The direction of energy flow

Question 6

According to the 10% rule in energy pyramids, if the producers in an ecosystem have 500 calories of energy, how much energy is available to the primary consumers?

Accepted Answer

$$500 	imes 0.1 = 50$$ calories

Question 7

Which of the following organisms would most likely be affected first by biomagnification of toxins in an aquatic food chain?

Accepted Answer

Primary producer algae

Question 8

Which process in the nitrogen cycle is responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen ($$N_2) $$into a form usable by plants?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen fixation

Question 9

A population of penguins is distributed evenly across their habitat. What type of dispersal pattern does this represent?

Accepted Answer

Uniform

Question 10

Which of the following is a real-world example of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

Question 11

Which survivorship curve is characterized by high mortality early in life, but those that survive live long lives?

Accepted Answer

Type III

Question 12

Which reproductive strategy is associated with late reproduction, few offspring, and high parental investment?

Accepted Answer

K-selected

Question 13

Which of the following best explains why invasive species often outcompete native species?

Accepted Answer

They lack natural predators in the new environment

Question 14

In the carbon cycle, which process returns carbon to the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Respiration

Question 15

Which of the following is a keystone species, and why?

Accepted Answer

Beavers, because they build dams that create new habitats and increase biodiversity.

Question 16

Which stage of ecological succession is characterized by the greatest biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate stage

Question 17

A plant growing in a tilted pot shows roots growing downward and stems growing upward. Which tropisms are being demonstrated?

Accepted Answer

Positive phototropism and positive gravitropism

Question 18

Which equation is used to calculate Simpson’s Diversity Index for a community with three species (A, B, C) and population sizes of 325, 305, and 370 respectively?

Accepted Answer

$$D = 1 - \left(\left(\frac{325}{1000}\$$right)^2$$ + \left(\frac{305}{1000}\$$right)^2$$ + \left(\frac{370}{1000}\$$right)^2$$\right)$$

Question 19

Which of the following is a consequence of eutrophication caused by fertilizer runoff?

Accepted Answer

Decreased biodiversity due to algal blooms and fish kills

Ecology: Interactions, Energy Flow, and Population Dynamics

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