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BIOL 373 Lecture Notes - Cool Air, Intertropical Convergence Zone, Rain Shadow

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School
U of S
Department
Biology
Course
BIOL 373
Professor
michaelgertler

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Document Summary

Ecology: scientific study of the rich and varied interactions between organisms and their environment. Communities: embracing all the organisms living together in the same area. Ecosystems: embracing all organisms in an area plus their physical environment. Biosphere: system that embraces all regions of the planet where organisms live. Environment: encompasses both abiotic and biotic factors. Climate of a region is the average of the atmospheric conditions found over a long term. Weather is the short-term state of those conditions. Climates vary greatly because different places receive different amounts of solar energy. Every place on earth receives the same total number of hours of sunlight but not the same amount of solar energy; this depends primarily on the angle of sunlight. Higher latitudes experience greater variation in both day length and the angle or arriving solar energy over the course of a year = greater seasonal variation in temperature.

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Related Questions

  1. Rank the following terms from largestto smallest: ecosystem, population, biosphere, community.

    1. biosphere (largest)
      ecosystem
      community
      population (smallest)
    2. ecosystem (largest)
      biosphere
      community
      population (smallest)
    3. biosphere (largest)
      ecosystem
      population
      community (smallest)
    4. ecosystem (largest)
      community
      biosphere
      population (smallest)

  2. Which of the following includes theother three: ecosystem, population, biosphere, community.

    1. The ecosystem contains all the communities on the earth, allthe biospheres on the earth, and all of the populations on theearth.
    2. The community contains all the ecosystems on the earth, all thebiospheres on the earth, and all of the populations on theearth.
    3. The population contains all the ecosystems on the earth, allthe communities on the earth, and all of the biospheres on theearth.
    4. The biosphere contains all the ecosystems on the earth, all thecommunities on the earth, and all of the populations on theearth.

For questions 3–7, consider the following things in your frontyard: cardinals, robins, rocks, raccoons, bees, decaying leaves,mosquitos, humans, beetles, water, blue grass, sunlight, moss,soil, worms, pine trees, and the air (containing oxygen, nitrogen,and carbon dioxide).

  1. What are the biotic components ofyour front yard?

    1. The biotic components are the blue grass, moss, and pinetrees.
    2. The biotic components are the cardinals, raccoons, bees,mosquitoes, beetles, blue grass, moss, worms, and pine trees.
    3. The biotic components are the cardinals, robins, raccoons,bees, mosquitoes, humans, beetles, blue grass, moss, worms, andpine trees.
    4. The biotic components are the cardinals, robins, raccoons,bees, mosquitoes, humans, beetles, blue grass, moss, worms, andpine trees, rocks, decaying leaves.

  2. What are the abiotic components ofyour front yard?

    1. The abiotic components are the rocks, water, and soil.
    2. The abiotic components are the air containing oxygen, nitrogen,and carbon dioxide.
    3. The abiotic components are the decaying leaves, water, andsunlight.
    4. The abiotic components are the rocks, decaying leaves, water,sunlight, soil, and the air containing oxygen, nitrogen, and carbondioxide.

  3. How many different populations arethere in your front yard?

    1. There are 7 different populations.
    2. There are 9 different populations.
    3. There are 11 different populations.
    4. There are 13 different populations.

  4. Identify the components of thecommunity in your front yard.

    The front-yard community consists ofthe following populations:

    1. cardinal, robin, raccoon, bee, mosquito, human, beetle, bluegrass, moss, worm, pine tree.
    2. cardinal, robin, raccoon, bee, mosquito, beetle, worm.
    3. blue grass, moss, pine tree.
    4. cardinal, robin, raccoon, bee, mosquito, beetle, blue grass,moss, worm, pine tree.

  5. Identify the components of theecosystem in your front yard.

    The front-yard ecosystem consists ofthe following populations:

    1. robin, bee, mosquito, beetle, worm, raccoon.
    2. robin, raccoon, bee, mosquito, human, beetle, blue grass, moss,worm, pine tree, rocks, decaying leaves, water, sunlight, soil, aircontaining oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide.
    3. decaying leaves, water, sunlight, soil, air containing oxygen,nitrogen, carbon dioxide.
    4. robin, raccoon, bee, mosquito, beetle, moss, worm, water,sunlight, soil, air containing oxygen, nitrogen, carbondioxide.

  6. Think about the term biodiversity. Towhat does it refer and what does the biodiversity level of acommunity or ecosystem indicate? Which answer below is notcorrect.

    1. Biodiversity is the measure of the different types of organismsin a population.
    2. Biodiversity is the measure of the different types of organismsin an ecosystem.
    3. Biodiversity is the measure of the different types of organismsin a biosphere.
    4. Biodiversity is the measure of the different types of organismsin a community.

  7. Why are population studies importantin ecology?

    Population studies help scientiststo:

    1. gauge the overall health and vitality of populations andecosystems
    2. understand and predict how populations and ecosystems willrespond to various diseases and environmental conditions
    3. predict the future of populations and ecosystems
    4. all of the above

  8. The features of populations thatscientists study to determine the overall health of populationsare:

    1. growth pattern, growth rate, density, size
    2. size, distribution, growth rate, and growth pattern
    3. distribution, size, density, growth rate
    4. size, density, distribution, growth rate, and growthpattern

  9. What factors play a role indetermining the size and growth of populations?

    The size and growth of a populationis influenced by the following:

    1. the gene pool of a population
    2. the amount and availability of useable resources andnutrients
    3. the birth rate and death rate of the population
    4. all of the above

  10. Consider a population composed of 25blue jays. What is a quantitative feature of this population?

    1. blue is the color of the birds
    2. the type of bird is a blue jay
    3. the population size of 25
    4. all of the above

  11. Consider a population composed of 25blue jays. What is a qualitative feature of this population?

    1. the type of bird is a blue jay
    2. blue is the color of the birds
    3. the population size of 25
    4. all of the above

For questions 14-17, consider the following description of awooded area near your home: The wooded area is 100 feet wide and 10feet long. In the year 1999 there were 1,700 crickets in the woodedarea, and in the year 2001 there were 3,000 crickets in the woodedarea.

  1. What was the size of the cricketpopulation in the year 1999?

    1. In the year 1999, the size of the cricket population was 1,700crickets per square foot.
    2. In the year 1999, the size of the cricket population was 1,700crickets.
    3. In the year 1999, the size of the cricket population was 3,000crickets.
    4. In the year 1999, the size of the cricket population was 3,000crickets per square foot.

  2. What was the density of the cricketpopulation in the year 2001?

    1. In the year 2001, the density of the cricket population was3,000 crickets.
    2. In the year 2001, the density of the cricket population was1,700 crickets.
    3. In the year 2001, the density of the cricket population was 3crickets per square foot.
    4. In the year 2001, the density of the cricket population was 1.7crickets per square foot.

  3. What was the net growth of thiscricket population between the years 1999 and 2001?

    1. The net growth of this cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 650 crickets.
    2. The net growth of this cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 1,300 crickets.
    3. The net growth of this cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 1,700 crickets.
    4. The net growth of this cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 3,000 crickets.

  4. What was the growth rate of thecricket population between the years 1999 and 2001?

    1. The growth rate of the cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 650 crickets per year.
    2. The growth rate of the cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 1,300 crickets per year.
    3. The growth rate of the cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 1,700 crickets.
    4. The growth rate of the cricket population between the years1999 and 2001 was 3,000 crickets.

For questions 18-22, use the following set of observations onthe size of the dandelion population in your backyard:

Time Population Size (Number of Dandelions) 1970 111971 121972 141973 271974 661975 911976 1001977 1001978 1001979 100

  1. How many data points are there in thetable above?

    1. There are 5 data points
    2. There are 10 data points
    3. There are 15 data points
    4. There are 20 data points

  2. What are the variables in this dataset?

    1. time
    2. population size
    3. all of the above
    4. none of the above

  3. What type of growth pattern does thisdandelion population exhibit?

    1. This dandelion population exhibits an S-shaped growthpattern.
    2. This dandelion population exhibits an exponential growthpattern.
    3. This dandelion population exhibits an exponential, J-shapedgrowth pattern.
    4. This dandelion population exhibits a linear growthpattern.

  4. What does the graph indicate aboutthe dandelion population in your backyard during the period of 1971to 1974?

    1. During the period of 1971 to 1974 the dandelion populationexhibited a phase of linear growth.
    2. During the period of 1971 to 1974 the dandelion populationexhibited a phase of S-shaped growth.
    3. During the period of 1971 to 1974 the dandelion populationexhibited a phase of exponential growth.
    4. None of the above.

  5. The graph indicates that the size ofthe dandelion population remained relatively stable from 1975 to1979.

    1. true
    2. false

  6. What factors play a role indetermining the overall health of a community?

    The overall health of a community is influenced by the followingfactors:

    1. the level of biodiversity in the community and the overallhealth and vitality of each of the populations in thecommunity
    2. the geographic location and size of the community
    3. the amount of useable resources in the area in which thecommunity lives and the types of adaptive traits in the variouspopulations of the community
    4. all of the above

  7. What are the general pathways throughwhich resources cycle in ecosystems?

    1. Resources cycle in an ecosystem through two general mechanisms:biotic cycling and abiotic cycling.
    2. Resources cycle in an ecosystem through two general mechanisms:biotic cycling and biotic-abiotic cycling.
    3. a and b
    4. none of the above

  8. Explain the flow of resources andnutrients through the trophic levels of a feeding chain.

    1. Organisms in level 4 are eaten by organisms in level 3;
      organisms in level 3 are eaten by organisms in level 2;
      organisms in level 2 are eaten by organisms in level 1; and soforth.

      The living organisms in level 1 are called producers becausethey convert light energy from the sun to make glucose moleculesfor use by all other living organisms. Organisms in levels 2 andhigher are called consumers because they eat other living organismsand gain from them at least some of the nutrients they require tosustain life.

    2. Organisms in level 1 are eaten by organisms in level 4;
      organisms in level 2 are eaten by organisms in level 3;
      organisms in level 4 are eaten by organisms in level 2; and soforth.

      The living organisms in level 4 are called producers becausethey convert light energy from the sun to make glucose moleculesfor use by all other living organisms. Organisms in levels 3 andlower are called consumers because they eat other living organismsand gain from them at least some of the nutrients they require tosustain life.

    3. Organisms in level 1 are eaten by organisms in level 2;
      organisms in level 2 are eaten by organisms in level 3;
      organisms in level 3 are eaten by organisms in level 4; and soforth.

      The living organisms in level 1 are called producers becausethey convert light energy from the sun to make glucose moleculesfor use by all other living organisms. Organisms in levels 2 andhigher are called consumers because they eat other living organismsand gain from them at least some of the nutrients they require tosustain life.

    4. none of the above

  9. Distinguish between a food chain anda food web.

    1. A food chain is a set of overlapping and interconnected foodchains.

      A food web is a linear series of feeding steps by which energyand nutrients are transferred from one organism to the next.

    2. A food chain is a linear series of feeding steps by whichenergy is transferred from one organism to the next.

      A food web is a set of overlapping food chains.

    3. A food chain is a linear series of feeding steps by whichenergy and nutrients are transferred from one organism to the next.A food web is a set of overlapping and interconnected foodchains.
    4. A food chain is a linear series of feeding steps by whichnutrients are transferred from one organism to the next.

      A food web is a set of interconnected food chains.

  10. What are the major biogeochemicalcycles in ecosystems, and which resources are transferred andtransformed in each cycle?

    1. Carbon cycle – carbon
      Hydrologic cycle – water
      Nitrogen cycle – nitrogen
      Phosphorus cycle – phosphorus
    2. Carbon cycle – carbon
      Nitrogen cycle – nitrogen
      Phosphorus cycle – phosphorus
    3. Carbon cycle – carbon
      Nitrogen cycle – nitrogen
    4. Hydrologic cycle – water
      Phosphorus cycle – phosphorus

  11. How are the production of ATP,proteins, DNA, RNA, and membranes in cells impacted by thebiogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem?

      • The production of ATP (energy-storage molecules) in cells isimpacted by the phosphorus cycle because phosphorus is a criticalbuilding block of ATP molecules.
      • The production of DNA and RNA are impacted by both the nitrogenand phosphorus cycles because both nitrogen and phosphorus areintegral parts of the nucleotide subunits used to build nucleicacids (DNA and RNA).
      • The production of new proteins in cells is impacted by thenitrogen cycle because nitrogen is an integral part of the aminoacid subunits used to build proteins.
      • The production of membranes in cells is impacted by thephosphorus cycle because phosphorus is a critical component of thephospholipid molecules used to build both cell membranes andorganelle membranes.
      • The production of ATP (energy-storage molecules) in cells isimpacted by the phosphorus cycle because phosphorus is a criticalbuilding block of ATP molecules.
      • The production of new proteins in cells is impacted by thenitrogen cycle because nitrogen is an integral part of the aminoacid subunits used to build proteins.
      • The production of DNA and RNA are impacted by both the nitrogenand phosphorus cycles because both nitrogen and phosphorus areintegral parts of the nucleotide subunits used to build nucleicacids (DNA and RNA).
      • The production of membranes in cells is impacted by thephosphorus cycle because phosphorus is a critical component of thephospholipid molecules used to build both cell membranes andorganelle membranes.
      • The production of ATP (energy-storage molecules) in cells isimpacted by the phosphorus cycle because phosphorus is a criticalbuilding block of ATP molecules.
      • The production of new proteins in cells is impacted by thenitrogen cycle because nitrogen is an integral part of the aminoacid subunits used to build proteins.
      • The production of DNA and RNA are impacted by both the nitrogenand phosphorus cycles because both nitrogen and phosphorus areintegral parts of the nucleotide subunits used to build nucleicacids (DNA and RNA).

  12. Under what conditions is the overallhealth of the biosphere threatened by the activities of livingorganisms?

    1. irreversibly deplete the earth's useable and renewableresources and degrade the quality of vital and useableresources
    2. release molecules into the environment that are toxic to livingorganisms and disrupt the natural biogeochemical cycles of anecosystem
    3. both a and b
    4. none of the above

  13. What general factors have contributedto many of the environmental problems facing our globalsociety?

    1. Industrial activities are largely to blame for the majorenvironmental problems facing our global society today
    2. Humankind's rapid population growth is to blame for the majorenvironmental problems facing our global society today
    3. Modern technological and industrial activities are to blame forthe major environmental problems facing our global societytoday
    4. Humankind's rapid population growth and modern technologicaland industrial activities are largely to blame for the majorenvironmental problems facing our global society today

  14. List the major environmental problemsfacing the world today as a result of humankind's rapid populationgrowth and modern technological and industrial activities.

    1. pollution (of air, water, and land), acid rain, smog, globalwarming, ozone thinning
    2. decreased water quality, decreased amount of suitable land forfarming, grazing, and human habitation, deforestation, decreasedsoil fertility, water shortages, decreased fossil-fuelreserves
    3. global warming and the greenhouse effect
    4. a and b

Read the following news report and then answer the questionsbelow. In answering these questions be sure to consider everythingyou have learned in this course.

The China Connection

By all rights the lush rain forest on Kauai shouldn't exist. TheHawaiian island's soil is nutrient-poor, yet somehow sustainsplants. Oliver Chadwick, a soil scientist at the University ofCalifornia at Santa Barbara has discovered Kauai's secret:phosphorus blown to the island on dust from central Asia, more than3,700 miles away.

Chadwick, who has tramped through Kauai's forests for more thana decade, long suspected that prevailing westerly winds rainedenriching dust on the island. But only recently, after carefulcomparison of soil samples from Asia with Kauai's soil, was he ableto pinpoint the origin of an airborne fertilizer: a huge desert inwestern China called Takla Makan. "It's an enormous basin that's atremendous source of dust," he says.

Other rain forests probably depend on long-distance transport,too. Dust from the Sahara Desert, for example, may support theAmazon. Says Chadwick: "Every part of the planet is interconnectedthrough the atmosphere." (Discover, May 1999, p. 19)

  1. What is the movement of dust fromcentral Asia to Kauai via wind an example of?

    1. The movement of dust from central Asia to Kauai via wind is anexample of a biogeochemical pathway, specifically the hydrologiccycle.
    2. The movement of dust from central Asia to Kauai via wind is anexample of a biogeochemical pathway, specifically the phosphoruscycle.
    3. The movement of dust from central Asia to Kauai via wind is anexample of a biogeochemical pathway, specifically the nitrogencycle.
    4. The movement of dust from central Asia to Kauai via wind is anexample of a biogeochemical pathway, specifically the carboncycle.

  2. What are the biotic and abioticportions of the Kauai rainforest ecosystem mentioned above?

    1. The biotic portion of the Kauai rainforest consists of all ofthe living organisms found in the rainforest. The abiotic portionof the Kauai rainforest consists of the soil and water found onthis island.
    2. The biotic portion of the Kauai rainforest consists of all ofthe living organisms found in the rainforest. The abiotic portionof the Kauai rainforest consists of the soil, wind, and water foundon this island, as well as the dust and phosphorus that has blownthere from China.
    3. The biotic portion of the Kauai rainforest consists of thesoil, wind and water found in the rainforest. The abiotic portionof the Kauai rainforest consists of all the living organisms foundon this island.
    4. The biotic portion of the Kauai rainforest consists of thesoil, wind, water, and living organisms found in the rainforest.The abiotic portion of the Kauai rainforest consists of the dustand phosphorus that has blown there from China.

  3. Of what use is the phosphorus dustfrom China to the living organisms in the Kauai rainforest?

    1. The cells of the living organisms in the Kauai rainforest usethe phosphorus to make the phospholipid subunits of membranes, usedto protect cells and to partition cells into functionalcompartments (organelles).
    2. The cells of the living organisms in the Kauai rainforest usethe phosphorus to make ATP energy-storage molecules, which are usedto power the many chemical (photosynthesis, glycolysis, the Krebscycle) and genetic (mitosis, meiosis) processes of living things,as well as their physical movements.
    3. The cells of the living organisms in the Kauai rainforest usethe phosphorus to make the nucleotide (A, C, G, T, U) subunits ofDNA and RNA, which are required by cells and living organisms forthe storage and transmission of genetic information from onegeneration to the next, and provide cells with the instructions tomake the proteins they need to function appropriately.
    4. all of the above

  4. What might be a possible consequenceof permanent shifts in the prevailing winds that would no longerbring dust from China's Takla Makan desert to the Kauairainforest?

    1. If phosphorus-rich dust from the Takla Makan desert is nolonger transported to the Kauai rainforest, then the amount ofphosphorus present in the Kauai rainforest may be insufficient tosupport the current amount and types of the living organisms livingthere. Under these conditions, phosphorus would become a limitingfactor to population growth in the Kauai rainforest. The variousliving organisms in the rainforest would then begin competing forthe limited amount of phosphorus.
    2. The living organisms that are able to most efficiently uptakephosphorus from the soil are those that are most likely to survive,while organisms that are unable to efficiently uptake phosphorusfrom the soil are most likely to die off. The varying ability ofliving organisms to acquire and use phosphorus is determined by thegenes of each species, which have been selected over long periodsof time as a result of evolution. As some living organisms andspecies die off, the biodiversity of the rainforest decreases.
    3. both a and b
    4. none of the above

It's a quiz for my life science class.

QUESTION 1

Organisms that have descended from the same initial group and have the ability to interbreed belong to the same

A.

species.
B.

family.
C.

class.
D.

genus.
E.

order.

5 points

QUESTION 2

The simplest entity that exhibits all of the properties of life is called a(n)

A.

molecule.
B.

cell.
C.

organism.
D.

tissue.

5 points

QUESTION 3

In populations, adaptation usually arises through

A.

responsiveness.
B.

heredity.
C.

metabolism.
D.

natural selection.
E.

development.

5 points

QUESTION 4

Scientists have found that ancient fossils

A.

are less similar to present-day organisms than more recent fossils.
B.

are just as similar to present-day organisms as more recent fossils.
C.

are more similar to present-day organisms than more recent fossils.
D.

are very similar to present-day organisms.
E.

bear no resemblance to present-day organisms.

5 points

QUESTION 5

What is the term that describes the study of the relationship between living things and components of their environment?

A.

herpetology
B.

analogy
C.

zoology
D.

ecology
E.

ichnology

5 points

QUESTION 6

Characteristics usually associated with life include all of the following except:

A.

motility.
B.

a high degree of organization.
C.

lack of change from generation to generation.
D.

reproduction.
E.

responsiveness to stimuli.

5 points

QUESTION 7

The scientific name for the black-footed ferret is Mustela nigripes. The name Mustela indicates the _____________________ to which the organisms belongs.

A.

phylum
B.

class
C.

family
D.

species
E.

genus

5 points

QUESTION 8

Which of the following is considered to be the most basic living unit?

A.

organ system
B.

molecule
C.

organelle
D.

cell
E.

tissue

5 points

QUESTION 9

Which of the following concepts best describes the wide variety of dog species we observe, ranging from the domesticated golden retriever or the basset hound, to the wild dogs of Africa, to foxes?

A.

preadaptation
B.

special creation
C.

inheritance of acquired characteristics.
D.

taxonomy
E.

evolution

5 points

QUESTION 10

If an ecologist is studying the cycling of carbon through a particular environment (which involes the movement of carbon through living things as well as through rock, air, and water), the scientist is studying at what level of ecology?

A.

organismal
B.

community
C.

ecosystem
D.

population
E.

biosphere

5 points

QUESTION 11

Which list is organized from smallest to largest level of organization of life?

A.

organisms, organ systems, organs, tissues, cells, organelles
B.

organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms
C.

organelles, tissues, cells, organ systems, organs, organisms
D.

tissues, cells, organelles, organs, organ systems, organisms
E.

cells, tissues, organ systems, organelles, organs, organisms

5 points

QUESTION 12

When examining the hierarchy of life, which of the following terms is most inclusive?

A.

biosphere
B.

population
C.

species
D.

ecosystem

5 points

QUESTION 13

The units of inheritance are

A.

evolutions.
B.

heredities.
C.

genes
D.

twins.
E.

metabolic activities.

5 points

QUESTION 14

Organisms that undergo asexual reproduction

A.

require another organism to reproduce.
B.

are usually very complex.
C.

produce offspring that are different from each other.
D.

do not require energy to reproduce.
E.

produce offspring that are identical to each other and to the parent.

5 points

QUESTION 15

All the living organisms in a particular area at a particular time make up a

A.

biosphere.
B.

community.
C.

biosystem.
D.

population.
E.

ecosystem.

5 points

QUESTION 16

The first step in the scientific method is to

A.

identify a problem.
B.

predict the results of an experiment.
C.

propose a solution.
D.

draw a conclusion.
E.

perform an experiment.

5 points

QUESTION 17

Young multicelled organisms usually start out small, then grow in size, and increase in complexity. This process is called:

A.

heredity.
B.

metabolism.
C.

development.
D.

evolution.
E.

heredity.

5 points

QUESTION 18

To maintain order within their cells and organs, all living things must

A.

carry on metabolism.
B.

reproduce.
C.

constantly change.
D.

be able to move.
E.

extract energy from sunlight.

5 points

QUESTION 19

Which of the following includes Highest levels of hierarchy?

A.

family
B.

phylum
C.

domain
D.

kingdom
E.

order

5 points

QUESTION 20

Fungi are classified into which domain?

A.

Archaea
B.

Eukarya
C.

Bacteria
D.

Fungi

As temperatures in an African savanna increase and rainfall decreases, it would most likely change into

tiaga

desert

tropical rainforest

temperate forest

What is imprinting? Give an example.

fixed assocation, such as hatching ducks recognizing the first animal they see as their mother

a learned behavior, such as a wasp circling during a search for food, so that it can return to its nest

alteration of instinct, such as a spider changing the type of web it weaves depending upon the environment

Opportunistic species

provide extensive care for their offspring

produce many offspring

reproduce later in life

What are the five agents of microevolution?

gamete production; mating; fertilization; caring for offspring; formation of herds

photosynthesis; respiration; mitosis; meiosis; fertilization

mutation; gene flow; nonrandom mating; genetic drift; natural selection

Microevolution is

new species

minor extinction of species

changes in allele frequency in a population

Which of the following is does not help defend against predators?

Toxins made by plants that injure caterpillars feeding on the plant

The large eyespots on a moth's wing that can startle a hungry bird

Thorns on a plant

Many plants have brightly colored fruit and flowers

Humans have a favored birth weight, neither too small nor too large. This is

stabilizing selection

disruptive selection

artificial selection

directional selection

What is a keystone species?

the first organism that populates an area

an organism upon which the entire ecosystem depends

the first fossils found in the earliest rock strata

As temperatures in the Arctic warm, which of the following changes may occur?

Tundra will be replaced by taiga

Taiga will be replaced by tundra

Temperate forest will be replaced by taiga

Tundra will be replaced by desert

Taiga will be replaced by temperate rain forest

What is desertification?

restoration of vegetation and water to deserts

areas adjacent to deserts also become deserts

abandonment of a habitat by animals

Evolution occurs at the level of

individuals

populations

communities

The maximum population that the environment can support is called the

biotic potential

environmental resistance

carrying capacity

replacement reproduction

demographic transition

A population with relatively more pre-reproductive individuals is common in _____-developed countries

more

less

Endangered species sometimes breed in captivity. Why are such species endangered in the wild?

Their population density is too high

Loss of habitat

Their environment is polluted

Abiotic components of an ecosystem include

only animal life

only plant life

living components only

nonliving components only

both living and nonliving components

Carbon returns to the atmosphere

as carbon dioxide

from respiration of plants

by the burning of fossil fuels

from respiration of animals

All of the answer choices are correct

Why does the Tropical Rain Forest contain an abundance of antibiotic compounds?

The area is crowded, leading to random production of useful compounds

The area is wet. plants had to develop resistance to fungi and bacterial infections

There is a great diversity of plants, leading to random production of useful compounds

The carrying capacity of the environment for a species is determined by

the reproductive rate of the organism

the number of organisms of that species

the state and national wildlife laws pertaining to that species

a complex

the limited productivity of the environment and the environmental resistance to the biotic potential of the organism

An introduced species that breeds and spreads is

resourceful

harmful

native

dominant

invasive

What is disruptive selection?

environmental influences that select against change

environmental influences that promote one phenotype versus all others

environmental influences that promote two or more phenotypes versus all others

Natural selection acts on

individuals

populations

communities

Two populations of birds live in the same area but have different sleep/wake cycles. This is

behavorial isolation

mechanical isolation

geographical isolation

temporal isolation

An insect that resembles the face of a snake avoids predation by

camouflage

warning coloration

mimicry

chemical defense

mutualism

Unselfish acts that help others in a group so that they increase their chances of surviving and reproducing is called

imprinting

mimicry

altruism

learning

instinct

If an environment changes rapidly, organisms with ____ will be more likely to survive and reproduce.

the correct allele frequency

existing neutral mutations

existing beneficial mutations

How did geology influence Darwin’s thoughts?

It demonstrated that the earth was very old, therefore there was enough time for species to evolve

it demonstrated that all continents were similar

it demonstrated the presence of many fossils

The founder effect occurs when

large groups of individuals leave their home population and establish new settlements, mating only among themselves

many members of a population die, resulting in a great loss of genetic diversity

many members of a population reproduce causing too much genetic diversity within the population

small groups of individuals leave their home population and establish new settlements, mating only among themselves.

The greenhouse effect is due to high atmospheric

Nitrogen

Ammonia

Carbon monoxide

Carbon dioxide

Oxygen

What are the Reproductive Barriers that keep species separate?

lack of food; lack of habitat; lack of potential mates; lack of nesting sites; lack of genetic variation

mountains; canyons; glaciers; bodies of water (for terrestrial animals); areas of land (for aquatic animals)

habitat isolation; temporal isolation; behavioral isolation; mechanical isolation; gamete isolation

What is directional selection?

environmental influences that select against change

environmental influences that promote one phenotype versus all others

environmental influences that promote two or more phenotypes versus all others

Which of the following is correct when describing a predator-prey cycle?

A decline in the numbers of predators causes a decline in the number of prey

A decline in the numbers of prey causes a decline in the number of predators

An increase in the number of predators triggers an increase in the number of prey

An up-and-down cycle will be seen for the prey animal

A seasonal die-off that will occur without the other species present

Why are top-level predators (lions, eagles, humans) so rare in a community?

Only a small amount of the energy is passed from one trophic level to the next

They do not breed as fast as other animals

Because of predation by higher predators

It is difficult for them to learn how to capture prey

Their job is to keep the population size of other animals in check

Alleles conferring bright color to male guppies are common because

they make males less visible to predators

they help males identify each other

they are preferred by females

Organisms that obtain their energy from producers or other consumers are

autotroph

heterotroph

producer

autotroph and producer

heterotroph and producer

What is the environmental impact of strip mining?

lack of trees exposes the surface of the earth, promoting runoff and loss of adjacent trees

removal of minerals from the soil hampers growth of vegetation

it causes a potential increase in volcanic activity

Two populations of squirrels are separated by a mountain range and would not be capable of interbreeding. This is an example of:

behavorial isolation

mechanical isolation

geographical isolation

temporal isolation

What is a danger of overfishing?

humans will become dependent upon fish

selection for smarter fish that can avoid being caught

driving the population back into the lag phase

What is meant by prezygotic versus postzygotic speciation mechanisms?

before versus after formation of a zygote

before versus after meiosis

before versus after gamete formation

The relatively short term changes in allele frequencies within a species or population is

artificial selection

microevolution.

speciation

macroevolution

Avoidance of a location with predators is the result of

imprinting

mimicry

altruism

learning

instinct

What is the difference between Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Factors on populations?

density-dependent factors exert a greater influence when there are more individuals; density-independent exerts the same influence on all individuals regardless of their number

density-dependent factors exert a greater influence on larger, more dense individuals; density-independent factors exert the same impact on individuals of all size

density-dependent factors exert the same influence on all individuals regardless of their number; density-independent factors exert a greater influence when there are more individuals regardless of their number

All of the organisms in a given location or area is termed a

peer group

flock

community

population

herd

The concentration of the pesticide DDT would be highest in

a minnow

a mosquito larva

a seagull

plankton

algae

Our biosphere is

the Earth

the atmosphere

the ocean

land on Earth

fresh and salt water

What is meant by “carrying capacity”?

the amount of food produced in an ecosystem

the extent of energy required to maintain an ecosystem

the number of individuals that can be supported by an ecosystem

Species living on another is

resource partitioning

coevolution

symbiosis

predation

niche sharing

One species feeding on another is

competition

a community

an ecosystem

predation

symbiosis

Populations of different species interacting with one another in a natural environment is called

competition

a community

a biome

predation

symbiosis

Which of the following is not a biogeochemical cycle?

ATP cycle

water cycle

carbon cycle

phosphorus cycle

nitrogen cycle

Horses became larger and faster to escape predators. This is

stabilizing selection

disruptive selection

artificial selection

directional selection