Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between proximate and ultimate questions in behavioral biology?

Accepted Answer

Proximate questions focus on how a behavior occurs, while ultimate questions address why a behavior evolved.

Question 2

A researcher observes that a certain fish species always performs a specific sequence of movements when a red object is placed in its tank. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Fixed action pattern (FAP)

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A dog salivates when it hears a bell that has been repeatedly paired with food.

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why food chains are typically limited to 4–5 trophic levels?

Accepted Answer

Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level, so little remains for higher levels.

Question 5

Which equation correctly represents logistic population growth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

A population of rabbits in a field grows rapidly at first, then levels off as resources become limited. This pattern is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Logistic growth

Question 7

Which of the following is a density-dependent factor that can regulate population growth?

Accepted Answer

A contagious disease

Question 8

Which of the following best describes Batesian mimicry?

Accepted Answer

A harmless species mimics a harmful one.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

Question 10

Which of the following best explains the 10% rule in energy transfer between trophic levels?

Accepted Answer

Only about 10% of the energy at one trophic level is passed to the next level.

Question 11

Which of the following is a real-world example of a density-independent factor affecting a population?

Accepted Answer

A flood wiping out a population of ground squirrels

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the difference between a food chain and a food web?

Accepted Answer

A food chain is linear, while a food web is a complex network of feeding relationships.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a K-selected species?

Accepted Answer

An elephant that produces few offspring with high parental investment

Question 14

Which of the following is a likely consequence of cultural eutrophication in a freshwater lake?

Accepted Answer

Algal blooms followed by fish kills due to low oxygen

Question 15

Which formula correctly calculates net primary production (NPP)?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{NPP} = 	ext{GPP} - R$$

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the process of secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

Succession that occurs after a disturbance in an area with existing soil

Question 17

Which of the following is a characteristic of r-selected species?

Accepted Answer

High reproductive rate and rapid population growth

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of resource partitioning?

Accepted Answer

Two bird species feeding at different heights in the same tree

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why the certainty of paternity affects mating systems in animals?

Accepted Answer

Males are more likely to invest in offspring when they are certain of their paternity.

Question 20

Which of the following is a real-world example of reciprocal altruism?

Accepted Answer

Vampire bats sharing blood meals with unrelated individuals who have shared with them in the past

Ecology: Population, Community, and Ecosystem Dynamics – AP Biology Unit 8 Study Guide

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards