Question 1

Which of the following best describes a biotic factor that influences the distribution of organisms in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Competition for resources among species

Question 2

A population of rabbits in a meadow grows according to the exponential growth model. If the initial population is $$N_0 = 100$ and the per capita growth rate is r = 0.05$, what will the population be after 10 years? Use the formula N_t$$ = $$N_0$$ $$e^{rt}.$$

Accepted Answer

$$N_t = 100 e$$^{0.5}$$ \approx 164$$

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A disease spreading more rapidly in crowded populations

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why energy flow in ecosystems is not recycled but lost?

Accepted Answer

Energy is converted to heat during metabolic processes and cannot be reused by organisms

Question 5

A keystone species is best defined as:

Accepted Answer

A species whose impact on its community is disproportionately large relative to its abundance

Question 6

Which of the following equations correctly represents logistic population growth?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

In a food web, which organism is most likely to be affected first by a decrease in primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

Primary consumers

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Bees pollinating flowers while obtaining nectar

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the concept of carrying capacity ($$K) in $$population ecology?

Accepted Answer

The maximum number of individuals that can be supported indefinitely by the environment

Question 10

A population of fish in a lake is limited by both predation and food availability. Which type of limiting factors are these?

Accepted Answer

Biotic, density-dependent factors

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a primary producer in an aquatic ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Zooplankton

Question 12

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

A forest regrowing after a wildfire

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of cryptic coloration?

Accepted Answer

A butterfly with wing patterns that resemble leaves

Question 14

Which process is responsible for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen fixation

Question 15

If a population of deer is experiencing logistic growth and the population size ($$N) is $$currently half the carrying capacity ($$K$$), what is the value of $$\left(1 - \frac{N}{K}\right)$$?

Accepted Answer

$$0.5$$

Question 16

Which of the following is a plausible consequence of removing a keystone species from an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A dramatic shift in community structure and loss of biodiversity

Question 17

Which of the following best describes secondary production in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The amount of chemical energy in consumers' food that is converted to their own biomass

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of commensalism?

Accepted Answer

Barnacles attaching to a whale without harming it

Question 19

Which of the following is a plausible effect of increased nutrient runoff into a lake ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Increased primary productivity followed by algal blooms and oxygen depletion

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They recycle nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter

Ecology: Study Guide for General Biology (Chapters 52, 53, 54, 55)

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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