Question 1

Which of the following best describes a density-independent factor affecting population growth?

Accepted Answer

A flood that destroys a large portion of the habitat

Question 2

A population of rabbits in a field increases from 200 to 260 in one year. Using the formula $r = \frac{(N_{t+1} - N_t)}{N_t}$, what is the annual growth rate $r$?

Accepted Answer

$r = 0.30$

Question 3

Which survivorship curve is most likely to be observed in elephants, and why?

Accepted Answer

Type I, because most individuals survive to old age

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

Question 5

In a food chain, if the primary producers have 10,000 kcal of energy, how much energy would be available to the secondary consumers, assuming the 10% law applies at each trophic level?

Accepted Answer

$100$ kcal

Question 6

Which process in the nitrogen cycle converts atmospheric $N_2$ into a form usable by plants?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen fixation

Question 7

A scientist wants to test if a new fertilizer increases plant growth. Which of the following is the best example of a negative control for this experiment?

Accepted Answer

Plants given water only

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of stabilizing selection?

Accepted Answer

Birds with medium-sized beaks are favored over those with short or long beaks

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a prezygotic reproductive barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown

Question 10

A population of beetles is separated by a river, and over time, the two groups evolve into distinct species. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

A species whose removal causes a dramatic change in community structure

Question 12

Which of the following is a consequence of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Dense algal blooms that lead to oxygen depletion and fish kills

Question 13

Which of the following is true about homologous structures?

Accepted Answer

They have different functions but similar structural origins

Question 14

A scientist collects data on plant height and wants to determine if the difference between two groups is statistically significant. Which test should they use?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Question 15

Which of the following best explains the bottleneck effect?

Accepted Answer

A population is drastically reduced in size, leading to loss of genetic variation

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of resource partitioning?

Accepted Answer

Two bird species feeding on different parts of the same tree

Question 17

Which formula would you use to calculate net primary productivity ($NPP$) in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

$NPP = GPP - R$

Question 18

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown

Question 19

Which of the following best describes primary succession?

Accepted Answer

The development of a community in an area where soil has not yet formed

Question 20

Which of the following is the best example of directional selection?

Accepted Answer

A population of moths where only the darkest color is favored due to pollution

General Biology Study Guide: Scientific Method, Biostatistics, Ecology, Evolution, and Speciation

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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