Ecology

In 1859, 24 European rabbits were brought to Australia for In 1859, 24 European rabbits were brought to Australia for sport hunting. The rabbits had no natural predators, sport hunting. The rabbits had no natural predators, resulting in an exponential growth patter for the rabbits. resulting in an exponential growth patter for the rabbits. They ate crops and became a serious, destructive pest They ate crops and became a serious, destructive pest within a relatively short period of time. In an attempt to within a relatively short period of time. In an attempt to control the rabbit population, the myxoma virus was control the rabbit population, the myxoma virus was introduced into the rabbit population in 1950. Initially, the introduced into the rabbit population in 1950. Initially, the virus was highly effective reducing the rabbit population by virus was highly effective reducing the rabbit population by 99%. Currently, the myxoma virus mortality rate is less 99%. Currently, the myxoma virus mortality rate is less than 50%.than 50%.

Describe one scientifically probably change in the rabbit Describe one scientifically probably change in the rabbit population of Australia that resulted in the reduced population of Australia that resulted in the reduced effectiveness of the myxoma virus in controlling the number effectiveness of the myxoma virus in controlling the number of wild rabbits.of wild rabbits.

A)A) Describe one scientifically probable change in the myxoma Describe one scientifically probable change in the myxoma virus that resulted in the reduced effectiveness of the virus virus that resulted in the reduced effectiveness of the virus in controlling the number of wild rabbits.in controlling the number of wild rabbits.

A biologist analyzing a sample of organelles A biologist analyzing a sample of organelles obtained from plant cells found that they took obtained from plant cells found that they took up COup CO22 and gave off O and gave off O22. The organelles are . The organelles are most likely:most likely:

A) ribosomesA) ribosomes

B) chloroplastsB) chloroplasts

C) mitochondriaC) mitochondria

D) Golgi BodiesD) Golgi Bodies

Purple Loosestrife is an aggressive non-native Purple Loosestrife is an aggressive non-native flowering plant that is now destroying fields and flowering plant that is now destroying fields and wetlands across the country. What is the main wetlands across the country. What is the main way that an introduced species such as purple way that an introduced species such as purple loosestrife can harm the environment?loosestrife can harm the environment?

A) It pollutes the air.A) It pollutes the air.

B) It crowds out native plants.B) It crowds out native plants.

C) It interrupts the water cycle.C) It interrupts the water cycle.

D) it prevents insects from pollinating other D) it prevents insects from pollinating other plants.plants.

The number of trophic levels in a food web is The number of trophic levels in a food web is limited by…..limited by…..

A) the amount of biodiversity present.A) the amount of biodiversity present.

B) the number of days of sunshine.B) the number of days of sunshine.

C) the amount of available energyC) the amount of available energy

D) the number of non-native organisms.D) the number of non-native organisms.

Which of the following shows a necessary Which of the following shows a necessary relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in relationship between biotic and abiotic factors in the environment?the environment?

A) Plants break down stored energy.A) Plants break down stored energy.

B) Earthworms recycle soil nutrients.B) Earthworms recycle soil nutrients.

C) Rocks help break down moss.C) Rocks help break down moss.

D) Animals consume plants.D) Animals consume plants.

Which of these biomes has the greatest Which of these biomes has the greatest biodiversity?biodiversity?

A) TaigaA) Taiga

B) SavannaB) Savanna

C) Tropical RainforestC) Tropical Rainforest

D) Temperate Evergreen ForestD) Temperate Evergreen Forest

Which statement BEST characterizes a typical Which statement BEST characterizes a typical mature ecosystem unaffected by migration or mature ecosystem unaffected by migration or major environmental changes?major environmental changes?

A) Contant changes from one extreme to the other.A) Contant changes from one extreme to the other.

B) Constant state of balance with no changes at B) Constant state of balance with no changes at all.all.

C) Wide fluctuations followed by periods of C) Wide fluctuations followed by periods of stability.stability.

D) Slight changes around a relatively fixed state of D) Slight changes around a relatively fixed state of balance.balance.

One of the results of burning fossil fuels is the One of the results of burning fossil fuels is the release of……release of……

A.A. CFCsCFCs

B.B. NitrogenNitrogen

C.C. PhosphatesPhosphates

D.D. Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

Which statement is true about the flow of energy Which statement is true about the flow of energy through an ecosystem?through an ecosystem?

A.A. Energy is constantly recycled through an Energy is constantly recycled through an ecosystem.ecosystem.

B.B. Energy flows through and ecosystem in one Energy flows through and ecosystem in one direction.direction.

C.C. Consumers have more available energy than Consumers have more available energy than producers.producers.

D.D. Energy flow is dependent on the number of Energy flow is dependent on the number of consumers.consumers.

Why are people concerned about the introduction Why are people concerned about the introduction of non-native species?of non-native species?

A.A. They compete with native species.They compete with native species.

B.B. They are preferable to native species.They are preferable to native species.

C.C. They adapt quicker than native species.They adapt quicker than native species.

D.D. They cannot survive as well as native species.They cannot survive as well as native species.

One of the results of burning fossil fuels is the One of the results of burning fossil fuels is the release of……release of……

A.A. CFCsCFCs

B.B. NitrogenNitrogen

C.C. PhosphatesPhosphates

D.D. Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

In the diagram below, as matter and energy move In the diagram below, as matter and energy move from grass to coyote, the amount of available from grass to coyote, the amount of available energy _________.energy _________.

A.A. decreasesdecreases

B.B. increasesincreases

C.C. stays the samestays the same

D.D. decreases then increasesdecreases then increases

What is the difference between primary & What is the difference between primary & secondary succession in an ecosystem?secondary succession in an ecosystem?

A.A. Primary succession requires a soil substrate.Primary succession requires a soil substrate.

B.B. Primary succession colonizers devote a great Primary succession colonizers devote a great deal of energy to reproduction.deal of energy to reproduction.

C.C. Secondary succession occurs after a disaster.Secondary succession occurs after a disaster.

D.D. Secondary succession colonizers expend a Secondary succession colonizers expend a great deal of energy extracting resources.great deal of energy extracting resources.

The primary cause of acid rain is….The primary cause of acid rain is….

A.A. the hole in the ozone layer.the hole in the ozone layer.

B.B. excess chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)excess chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

C.C. burning fossil fuelsburning fossil fuels

D.D. melting of the polar ice caps.melting of the polar ice caps.

Imagine you are an ecologist studying two different Imagine you are an ecologist studying two different communities. One community has only a few individual communities. One community has only a few individual species, and the other has a great diversity of species. species, and the other has a great diversity of species. Which community do you think would have a greater risk of Which community do you think would have a greater risk of extinction due to disease, habitat destruction or other extinction due to disease, habitat destruction or other environmental changes?environmental changes?

A.A. The less diverse community would be at greater risk of The less diverse community would be at greater risk of complete extinction.complete extinction.

B.B. The more diverse community would be at greater risk of The more diverse community would be at greater risk of complete extinction.complete extinction.

C.C. The two communities would be at the same risk of The two communities would be at the same risk of complete extinction.complete extinction.

D.D. Environmental changes cannot cause extinction.Environmental changes cannot cause extinction.

Refer to the diagram:Refer to the diagram:

In going from one energy level to the next higher level, ……In going from one energy level to the next higher level, ……

A.A. The amount of useful energy increases.The amount of useful energy increases.

B.B. The amount of useful energy decreases.The amount of useful energy decreases.

C.C. The number of individuals increases.The number of individuals increases.

D.D. The diversity of individuals increases.The diversity of individuals increases.

Compare the biomass of herbivores to the Compare the biomass of herbivores to the biomass of carnivores in most communities.biomass of carnivores in most communities.

A.A. They are about the same.They are about the same.

B.B. The total biomass of the carnivores is The total biomass of the carnivores is greater.greater.

C.C. The total biomass of the herbivores in The total biomass of the herbivores in greater.greater.

D.D. Either could be greater depending on the Either could be greater depending on the specific community.specific community.

Many years ago, a fire destroyed a wooded Many years ago, a fire destroyed a wooded area. All that remained was bare rock. After area. All that remained was bare rock. After a few years, blue-green plants began a few years, blue-green plants began growing on the rock. This growth continued growing on the rock. This growth continued despite the lack of soil and the harsh living despite the lack of soil and the harsh living conditions. Seeds from other kinds of plants conditions. Seeds from other kinds of plants fell in the area, but due to the lack of soil, fell in the area, but due to the lack of soil, they did not grow. After a long time, many of they did not grow. After a long time, many of the blue-green plants died, providing organic the blue-green plants died, providing organic matter. As time went on, small plants began matter. As time went on, small plants began to live, grow and die. Their remains further to live, grow and die. Their remains further added to the soil.added to the soil.

The soil became richer. After a long The soil became richer. After a long while, shrubs began to replace the while, shrubs began to replace the small plants. Birds and other animals small plants. Birds and other animals passing through dropped seeds. The passing through dropped seeds. The wind also carried in other seeds. wind also carried in other seeds. Trees started to grow, and many Trees started to grow, and many other plants and animals started other plants and animals started living in the area. For several years living in the area. For several years following, the community remained following, the community remained fairly stable.fairly stable.

The process described in the above passage is an example The process described in the above passage is an example of…..of…..

A.A. decompositiondecomposition

B.B. successionsuccession

C.C. parasitismparasitism

D.D. none of thesenone of these

The blue-green plants that first grew on the rock were The blue-green plants that first grew on the rock were probably…..probably…..

A.A. symbiotic such as lichens or mossessymbiotic such as lichens or mosses

B.B. coralcoral

C.C. syntheticsynthetic

D.D. conifersconifers

The last community described is called a _______ The last community described is called a _______ community.community.

A.A. secondarysecondary

B.B. pioneeringpioneering

C.C. climaxclimax

D.D. primaryprimary

The problem: Weeds were taking over a The problem: Weeds were taking over a family pond. The owner treated the water family pond. The owner treated the water with a herbicide that was supposed to be with a herbicide that was supposed to be non-toxic to animals. The weeds died but non-toxic to animals. The weeds died but within 2 weeks, a large number of the fish within 2 weeks, a large number of the fish also died. The owner suspects that the also died. The owner suspects that the chemical is toxic to fish and consults his chemical is toxic to fish and consults his layer about a possible law suit.layer about a possible law suit.

You are an environmental scientist hired by You are an environmental scientist hired by the attorney. Provide 2 different hypotheses the attorney. Provide 2 different hypotheses for the cause of the fish kill.for the cause of the fish kill.

• The biome that has the greatist diversity is the_________.

A. desert B. tropical rainforest C. tundra D. temperate deciduous forest

• The two biomes that are most alike in the amount of average rainfall are____________.

• Which is not one of the Earth’s three main climate zones:

• A. Polar• B. Desert• C. Tropical • D. Temperate

Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range creating a ______________ ________.

• What defines a species niche?• I. Abiotic factors• II. Biotic factors• III. Food web• a. I only c. I and III only• b. III only d. II and III only• e. I, II and III

• Generally, which has the greatest effect on determining the climate of a region?

• A. Longitude• B. Dominant plant species• C. Distance from the equator• D. Prevailing winds

• Which is NOT an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

• A. Microorganisms• B. Light• C. Temperature• D. Rainfall• E. pH

• The water in an estuary is • A. Salt water only.• B. Poor in nutrients• C. Fresh water only.• D. In the aphotic zone.• E. A mixture of fresh water and salt water.

• Name the two types of estuaries.

• Which of the following are based on depth and distance from shore?

• A. Intertidal zone• B. Coastal ocean• C. Open ocean• D. All of the above

• Organisms that live near or on the ocean floor are called

• A. Parasites• B. Benthos• C. Plankton• D. Mangroves

Ecology

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