Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main focus of ecology as a biological subdiscipline?

Accepted Answer

The study of how living organisms interact with their environment.

Question 2

Which level of ecological study would most likely investigate how a population of wolves changes in size over several decades?

Accepted Answer

Population ecology

Question 3

A conservation biologist is tasked with restoring a wetland that has lost most of its native plant species. Which of the following actions would best align with the goals of conservation biology?

Accepted Answer

Prescribing remedies to restore native species and manage land for clean water and productive soils.

Question 4

Which of the following is a key abiotic factor that determines the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Water depth and rate of water movement

Question 5

In lakes and ponds, which zone is defined as the region where enough light penetrates to support photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

Photic zone

Question 6

Which type of wetland is characterized by low or non-existent water flow and is typically acidic and non-productive?

Accepted Answer

Bog

Question 7

A stream’s headwaters are typically described as:

Accepted Answer

Cold, narrow, and fast-flowing

Question 8

Which of the following best explains why estuaries are among the most photosynthetically productive environments?

Accepted Answer

They experience rapid mixing of freshwater and saltwater, providing abundant nutrients and light.

Question 9

Which oceanic zone is most likely to contain coral reefs and the highest productivity?

Accepted Answer

Neritic zone

Question 10

Which of the following statements about terrestrial biomes is correct?

Accepted Answer

The type of biome present depends on average annual temperature and precipitation.

Question 11

Net primary productivity (NPP) in a terrestrial ecosystem is best estimated by:

Accepted Answer

Calculating the total amount of carbon fixed per year minus the amount oxidized during cellular respiration.

Question 12

Which terrestrial biome is characterized by high species diversity, high aboveground biomass, and little annual variation in temperature and precipitation?

Accepted Answer

Tropical wet forest

Question 13

Which adaptation would most likely be found in a plant living in a subtropical desert?

Accepted Answer

Rapid growth following seasonal rainfall

Question 14

Why do boreal forests (taiga) have high aboveground biomass but low productivity?

Accepted Answer

Tree species are long-lived and accumulate biomass slowly due to cold temperatures and short growing seasons.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why the tropics are warm and the poles are cold?

Accepted Answer

The earth is a sphere, so sunlight is more direct at the equator and more diffuse at the poles.

Question 16

What is the primary reason for high precipitation at the equator?

Accepted Answer

Warm air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rain.

Question 17

Seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation on Earth is primarily caused by:

Accepted Answer

Earth’s 23.5º tilt on its axis.

Question 18

A scientist measures the aboveground biomass in a temperate grassland and finds it is lower than in a tropical wet forest. What is the most likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

Temperate grasslands have lower average annual precipitation and shorter growing seasons.

Question 19

Which of the following equations correctly represents net primary productivity (NPP)?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{NPP} = 	ext{Gross Primary Productivity} - 	ext{Respiration}$$

Question 20

A student hypothesizes that increasing water depth in a lake will increase the rate of photosynthesis. Based on ecological principles, what is the most likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis rate will decrease because less light penetrates to greater depths.

4.1: Ecology

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