Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between oxpecker birds and African ungulates, according to Nunn et al. (2011)?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism, because oxpeckers primarily consume ticks, benefiting both themselves and the mammals.

Question 2

In the context of defensive symbionts, which term best describes the relationship where one organism protects another from parasites or predators?

Accepted Answer

Protection mutualism

Question 3

Sea turtles graze on seagrasses such as Thalassia. According to Leemans et al. (2020), what effect does colonization by coralline algae have on this interaction?

Accepted Answer

It decreases grazing by sea turtles.

Question 4

Ant plants such as Myrmecodia and Acacia provide ants with shelter and sometimes food. What do ants provide in return?

Accepted Answer

Defense against herbivores and parasites

Question 5

Which of the following parameters is NOT typically used to evaluate the evolutionary success of a parasitic lineage?

Accepted Answer

Rate of photosynthesis

Question 6

Based on the phylogenetic diagrams provided, which animal group contains the highest proportion of parasitic species?

Accepted Answer

Arthropoda

Question 7

Orchids are highly successful when parasitic as seedlings, but less so when fully parasitic. Which factor is suggested as a possible reason for the lack of long-term success in fully parasitic orchids?

Accepted Answer

Unstable fungal parasitism

Question 8

Leafless orchids often parasitize an ectomycorrhizal mutualism. What term best describes their ecological role?

Accepted Answer

Cheaters

Question 9

Which plant family contains the largest number of holoparasitic root parasites, as discussed in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Orobanchaceae

Question 10

Zeng and Wiens (2021a) found that mutualistic associations generally last longer than antagonistic ones. Which group is an exception to this trend?

Accepted Answer

Animals

Question 11

According to Zeng & Wiens (2021b), what is the general effect of positive interactions (mutualism) on diversification rates?

Accepted Answer

Increase diversification

Question 12

Which equation best represents the concept of fitness in evolutionary biology?

Accepted Answer

$$W = \frac{N_{offspring}}{N_{parents}}$$

Question 13

If a lineage has 1000 species and 10% are parasitic, which color would represent it in the phylogenetic diagrams provided?

Accepted Answer

Light gray

Question 14

Which of the following is a plausible reason why holomycotrophic plants (those parasitizing fungi) rarely form large groups?

Accepted Answer

Fungal hosts are unstable or unreliable

Question 15

Which group of parasitic plants is noted for having unconstrained diversification, according to Hardy & Cook (2012)?

Accepted Answer

Arbutoids

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why animals are an exception to the trend that mutualistic relationships last longer than antagonistic ones?

Accepted Answer

Animals are fundamentally antagonists due to their heterotrophic nature.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of a protection mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Oxpecker birds removing ticks from ungulates

Question 18

Which equation would you use to estimate the proportion of parasitic species in a lineage?

Accepted Answer

$$P = \frac{N_{parasitic}}{N_{total}}$$

Question 19

Which group contains the largest number of leafless, lifelong parasitic orchid species?

Accepted Answer

Epidendroideae

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Leafless orchids parasitizing ectomycorrhizal fungi

Parasites lec 13

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards