- What type of symbiotic relationship exists when one organism benefits and the other is unaffected?
A) Parasitism
B) Mutualism
C) Commensalism
D) Competition
Answer: C) Commensalism
Explanation:
In commensalism, one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. An example is barnacles on a whale.
- In an ecological pyramid, which trophic level has the highest energy?
A) Primary producers
B) Primary consumers
C) Secondary consumers
D) Tertiary consumers
Answer: A) Primary producers
Explanation:
Primary producers, such as plants and algae, have the highest energy because they convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, which is passed up the food chain.
- What is an example of a density-dependent factor that can limit the growth of a population?
A) Natural disasters
B) Temperature
C) Predation
D) Human activity
Answer: C) Predation
Explanation:
Predation is a density-dependent factor because its effect on the population is greater as the population density increases, leading to a higher rate of predation.
- The process by which species evolve in response to each other is called:
A) Coevolution
B) Genetic drift
C) Speciation
D) Natural selection
Answer: A) Coevolution
Explanation:
Coevolution occurs when two species evolve in response to selective pressures imposed by each other. For example, plants and their pollinators often evolve together.
- Which of the following is an example of “resource partitioning”?
A) Two species using the same resources in different ways or at different times.
B) A species using all available resources, leading to its extinction.
C) One species evolving into another species over time.
D) Species competing for the same resources until one is eliminated.
Answer: A) Two species using the same resources in different ways or at different times.
Explanation:
Resource partitioning is when species divide the resources they both need, reducing competition and allowing both to coexist.
- What is the term for the interaction between two species where both species benefit?
A) Commensalism
B) Mutualism
C) Parasitism
D) Competition
Answer: B) Mutualism
Explanation:
Mutualism is a relationship where both species benefit, such as the relationship between bees and flowers.
- What is the “biotic potential” of a population?
A) The maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support.
B) The maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimal conditions.
C) The average lifespan of an organism in a population.
D) The number of predators in a population.
Answer: B) The maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under optimal conditions.
Explanation:
Biotic potential refers to the maximum rate at which a population can reproduce when resources are unlimited and environmental factors are ideal.
- What is the primary cause of the loss of biodiversity in an ecosystem?
A) Natural selection
B) Habitat destruction and fragmentation
C) Symbiotic relationships
D) Overexploitation of species
Answer: B) Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Explanation:
The primary cause of biodiversity loss is the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, often due to human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture, which disrupt ecosystems and species populations.
- Which of the following best describes a “primary succession” process?
A) The establishment of life in an area previously inhabited by other species.
B) The colonization of an area with bare rock or after a volcanic eruption.
C) The regrowth of an area after a forest fire.
D) The replacement of one species by another in an established community.
Answer: B) The colonization of an area with bare rock or after a volcanic eruption.
Explanation:
Primary succession occurs in areas where no life previously existed, such as on bare rock after a volcanic eruption, where pioneer species begin to colonize the area.
- What is the relationship between the number of trophic levels and the amount of energy available in an ecosystem?
A) The number of trophic levels increases as energy increases.
B) Energy decreases as you move up trophic levels.
C) Energy is evenly distributed across all trophic levels.
D) Energy is not affected by the number of trophic levels.
Answer: B) Energy decreases as you move up trophic levels.
Explanation:
Energy decreases as it moves up through trophic levels in an ecosystem due to the inefficiency of energy transfer. Typically, only about 10% of energy is passed on to the next trophic level.
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