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BIOEE prelim 1 lecture questions

Terms in this set (124)

Ecological phenomena can occur at a range of
-biological scales
-spatial scales
-temporal scales
Generally, most studies will evaluate a hypothesis based on whether the p-value is:
p<0.05
______ are functioning groups of individual organisms of the same species in a defined location.
populations
The principal sources and approaches used to gather ecological evidence include ______.
observations, experiments, and mathematical models.
When one evaluates case studies in ecology, it is important to keep in mind:
-phenomenon occur at a variety of scales
-data and evidence can come from a variety of sources
-scientific evidence is necessary
Which field of ecology studies trends and fluctuations in the number of individuals of a particular species at a particular time and place as a result of birth and death rates?
population ecology
A researcher is studying how the physiology of individual single-celled organisms of the same species. This is an example of studying ecology at what level?
organismal
Ecologists may use which of these approaches to answer research questions?
-mathematical models
-controlled laboratory experiments
-manipulative field experiments
-observational data
Say you go and measure the diameter of trees in old growth forests throughout 30 plots of land in Argentina. You want to know if tree size differs between sites. This is an example of what type of study?
comparative field observation study
You design an experiment to test how ultraviolet radiation impacts the development of a species of frog tadpoles. You set up your experiment so that there are 50 replicates, instead of only 10. Why is it a good idea to have so many replicates?
the more replicates you have the greater the likelihood of obtaining accurate results.
You compile a model to test how dissolved carbon dioxide levels are affecting calcium deposition in the Pacific Ocean as a result of climate change. Your model indicates that many species relying on carbonate for shell deposition will not be able to survive due to the projected future changes in dissolved carbon dioxide levels as a result of climate change. What is the likely conclusion to draw from this result?
your model is only a prediction and can be applied cautiously to help land managers and other researchers.
One researcher studies plant cells and how these cells and plants respond to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide. Another researcher studies how multiple species interact and what affects their abundances and distributions. A different researcher studies a species' DNA and what changes have occurred between populations as a result of evolution. What do these researchers all have in common?
they all study one of the many levels of biology with some application to ecology.
Which of the following is NOT important to remember when collecting data?
fabricate data if necessary.
Which two scientists derived the theory of evolution by means of natural selection?
charles darwin and alfred wallace
Which scientist devised an orderly system for naming different organisms?
carl linnaeus
Which term refers to a trait that has a genetic basis and is capable of being passed down to subsequent generations?
heritable
Peppered moths (Biston betularia) vary in color from place to place. Is the variation within these populations heritable?
yes, this trait is heritable and is selected for or against depending on the environment.
What type of evolution is described as the process whereby organisms that do not share a recent common ancestor evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches?
convergent evolution
Changes in temperature in the North Sea over the past million years caused changes in sea level that:
allowed for dispersal of both plants and animals between land masses.
The change, over time, in the heritable characteristics (genetics) of a population of species is known as _______?
evolution
The term _______ refers to the genetic contribution (often times measured as number of offspring) that an individual contributes to the next generation.
fitness
A male bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus) is found to mate with more females and produce more offspring than any other male in a pond being studied. What would you say about this bullfrog's fitness?
the males fitness is the highest of all other males sampled in the pond.
The theory of evolution by means of natural selection relies on what established assertions? (You may select one or more answers).
-variation is heritable
-there is differential reproductive success
-individuals of a population of species are not identical
You and your friend are walking on the Cornell campus and you notice two different flower beds. The flowers in one of the flower beds are very bright red, while the flowers in the other flower bed are a pale red. Your friend says to you, "the difference in color is due to genetic differences between the flowers in each bed." What should you say to your friend?
"That is possible. however, we cannot rule out that the flowers are different colors due to an environmental factor"
Male deer compete for mates by fighting with their antlers. The male deer with the largest antlers tend to secure the most mates. Why do we not see a large number of male deer with super large antlers?
there are also negative aspects to having large antlers, so stabilizing selection favors an average antler size.
You learn that many plants are chemically defended and that herbivorous predators have developed resistance to many of these plant defenses. However, it appears that plants have responded to herbivore resistance by producing more chemical defenses, which in turn deters some herbivores. Evidently, this process has occurred many times over the last millions of years. This is an example of:
co-evolution
Since the peak of the last glaciation, global temperatures have risen by about 8 degrees Celsius. Pollen records indicate: (You may choose one or more answers)
-some tree species have retreated their range.
-some tree species have expanded their range
Speciation is ________.
a gradual process that happens over evolutionary time.
A seismic event occurs, splitting a population of wolves in two. One half of the population is now exposed to a very mountainous and rocky habitat with much snow, while the other half of the population is left to live in a wooded forest habitat. After thousands of generations, another seismic event occurs and the population of wolves is now able to be one again. However, they will no longer mate with one another. This is an example of:
allopatric speciation
Two populations of deer are found in a mountainous habitat. These two populations look very similar. Also, there is observed mating between them that results in viable offspring. Have these two populations have diverged into two species?
no, because there is observed mating between them that results in viable offspring.
______ is used by plants to time dormancy and flowering.
photoperiod
A _________ is an organism that relies on external sources of heat to determine the pace of their metabolism.
ectotherm
Species of bacteria and archaea that can live at temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius are known as ________?
thermophiles
Temperature, humidity, amount of precipitation, and water pH are examples of __________.
physiochemical features of the environment known as conditions.
Organisms will consume _______ during the course of their growth and reproduction
environmental resources
Conditions are physiochemical features of the environment, such as:
temperature, humidity, salinity
Organisms whose major resources are photosynthetic radiation, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide are known as ________.
autotrophs
Which is NOT a type of heterotroph?
bacteria that feed on hydrogen sulfide
Which type of organism feeds on already dead material?
decomposer
Plants face a trade-off between photosynthesis and water loss. true/false
true
The ultimate source of energy for most life on earth is.....
the sun
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H20 -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
You learn that an organism is using abiotic environmental resources to assemble carbohydrates and proteins, and then forming them into tissues and organs. This organism is likely a:
autotroph
If a plant is prevented from transpiring, what do you expect the outcome will be?
the plant will likely become overheated
All elements of photosynthetic reactions take place only when light is actively shining. true/false
false
Which of the following evolved first.
C3 Photosynthesis in algae
C4 photosynthesis is an important photosynthetic pathway for plants in environments with consistently high precipitation. true/false
false
Imagine a series of perfectly spherical cells going from small to large.
As the size of a cell increase the surface are to volume ratio __________.
decreases
Imagine some lakes going from low nutrient to high nutrient concentration.
The phytoplankton in the nutrient poor lakes are likely to be __________ the phytoplankton in the nutrient rich lakes.
smaller than
If you wanted to eat something with a high C:N ratio, which of the following would you select?
a vegetarian salad
The spinning of the Earth affects the motion of air masses. This effect is referred to as the ________________.
Coriolis effect
Which of the following are responsible for how heat moves across Earth :
-Hadley cells
-ferrel cells
-polar cells
Which direction do prevailing surface winds blow in temperate latitudes?
west to east
Because of how sunlight hits the surface of Earth:
heating by sunlight is greater at the equator
Without the greenhouse effect the temperature of the earth in Celsius degrees would be...
-17
Heated air at the equator:
-rises and cools
-moves away from the equator
What atmospheric effect is responsible for the desert conditions found in the southwestern United States?
a rain shadow
The change in seasons on Earth is due to:
changes to the tilt of earths axis relative to the sun during an annual rotation.
When light from the sun hits Earth _____________, the intensity is greater relative to _______________.
at a 90 degree angle; the light that hits at an oblique or acute angle
If you were standing in the tropics, which direction would the prevailing winds blow?
from the east
If you were standing in the tropics, which direction would the prevailing winds blow? true/false
false
The great ocean conveyor belt is speeding up due to melting of glaciers and changing patterns of precipitation.
false
Shifts in conveyor belt ocean circulation could be the cause of the "cool spot". According to the video what is likely causing this to occur?
addition of freshwater into the oceans
According to the video the effects of global warming are occurring later than predicted by most models.
false
What term describes the total amount of photosynthesis per area for a defined length of time?
primary production
Which term describes the number of species found in a particular area?
species richness
Could we expect similar characteristics to evolve in species that are found in regions of the world where environmental conditions are similar?
yes
Ithaca NY is located in which biome?
temperate forest
Globally, why does Tundra have little relative biomass but high relative soil biomass?
The harsh climate means very little grows, but permafrost and cold temperatures stops organic matter from decomposing in the soil, so the carbon is stored there.
Of the following biomes, in which 3 did fire historically play a regular and important role?
-temperate forest
-temperate grasslands
-tropical savannah
A scientist is working on a study. They have the option to increase their sample size with minimal effort and cost. The scientist decides to not increase their sample size.

This scientist made a good decision.
false
-A large sample size is almost always better, because it makes the sample mean closer to the true population mean. Therefore, statistically, we can have more confidence in the results.
Two studies are conducted. The studies concern how much time gerbils spend looking for food when they are hungry vs. when they are not hungry. The scientists in both studies predict that animals that are hungry will spend more time looking for food.
The first study finds that animals that are hungry spend 5 hours looking for food, and animals that are not hungry spend 3 hours looking for food.
The second study finds that animals that are hungry spend 6 hours looking for food, and animals that are not hungry spend 3 hours looking for food.
If everything else is equal which study is more likely to have significant results?
the second study
-The second study, because there is a great difference in means. It has a larger effect size.
Biodiversity is great at deep sea hot vents. One type of organism you would expect to see at these vents is:
a chemo-autotroph
In upwelling systems....
a nutrient deep open waters move upward
Which of the following statements concerning estuaries is true?
estuaries have a higher salt concentration than fresh water systems
Light penetration is higher in the open ocean than in costal waters. true/false
true
Large masses of semi-isolated surface water surrounded by a circular current of water moving clockwise would be which of the following?
gyres in the northern hemisphere
What is one possible explanation of why biodiversity is very high in subtropical gyres?
the low-nutrient status within a gyre has led to specialized adaptations
Which 2 of the following have the greatest impact on structuring ocean biomes?
-light
-nutrients
You are eating dinner (an impossible burger) on the deck of a boating trip while passing through a subtropical gyre. Your ship starts to take on water. Everybody is rescued but you did not finish your food. your ship and dinner sink to the bottom of the ocean. What will be the fate of your impossible burger after 2 months?
the burger will be gone because it is consumed by deep sea animals.
You are eating dinner (an impossible burger) on the deck of a boating trip while passing through a subtropical gyre. Your ship starts to take on water. Everybody is rescued but you did not finish your food. your ship and dinner sink to the bottom of the ocean. What will be the fate of your impossible burger after 2 months?
deep ocean
Which of the following has the lowest fisheries production?
subtropical gyres
What term describes a group of individuals of one species?
population
Which organism completes its entire life cycle in a single year?
an annual
Which of the following choices best describes an iteroparous organism?
an iteroparous species breeds many times and invests its energy into reproduction, growth, and development.
What term describes individuals of a population that are all born within a particular period?
cohort
Which terms describe generalized ecological spatial patterns that may be exhibited by organisms as described in chapter 5?
-aggregated
-random
-regular
When an individual male leaves a pack in search of its own territory, this is referred to as _________?
dispersal
Complete or total counts of populations are easy to collect and typically used for management of wildlife. true/false
false
Which of the following are necessary for determining average density of a population?
-the total number of individuals
-the total size of a habitat
In a mark and recapture study you initially collect 50 frogs. You mark and release those 50 and plan to collect again in another week. The following week you collect 50 frogs and 10 of them are from your previous mark and recapture. How large would you estimate the population to be?
the population is estimated to contain approximately 250 individuals
The size of a population can exceed carrying capacity. true/false
true
If birth and death rates are density dependent, then the density of a population will cycle near ______________
the carrying capacity
You are doing a research project to determine the age of maple trees in a series of 100 square meter plots. Your data are interesting because many of the trees that are the same age are not the same size, even though they are within a few kilometers of one another. Why might this be?
trees are long-lived and modular organisms, as a result, some individuals may have experience competition and herbivory that has affected growth and development.
A perennial plant (Sparaxus grandiflora) must invest resources differently when it starts to enter a reproductive stage. Which of the following choices explains how a perennial plant may deal with this?
the plant experiences trade-of no matter if it is perennial or annual. therefore, it will likely have to reduce root growth and leaf development to compensate for the resources used to reproduction.
A Type II survivorship curve:
-shows that mortality is constant
-shows that the risk of mortality is the same regardless of age
You have been researching species of bacteria found in the rocky intertidal zone. These bacteria are likely __________ because they live in a disturbed habitat, reproduce quickly, and invest little energy in growth or development. (Note. this was not included in your reading please check the middle paragraph on the right of page 148)
r species
A metapopulation is a set of spatially isolated populations linked to on another by dispersal. true/false
true
examples of dispersal:
-the passive transport of seeds on a duck to another lake
-a honey badger leaving its mothers care and going to a new area
-a dandelion seed gets carried a great distance on the wind when a child blows on the seed head
-a young male mountain lion seeking out its own territory
Competition between individuals of the same species is which type of competition?
intraspecific competition
A single algal species competes for a required resource, silicate. As the number of individuals increases, there is less silicate available for the original individuals. This is an example of:
exploitation(competition)
Snowy plovers, a coastal bird species, are found to live only on sandy beaches. Where snowy plovers live is referred to as their:
habitat
Competition between individuals of the same species can have effects on their ________.
-survival
-growth
-reproduction
-access to mates
For any given species, there is a _______, which describes the niche that occurs under normal circumstances of interspecific competition within a community and typically differs from the hypothetical ______, which describes the niche that the species would inhabit if interspecific competition was removed.
realized niche, fundamental niche
The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that
if two competing species coexist in a stable environment, then they do so as a result of niche differentiation.
A gopher digs a hole in a patch of grass
ammensalism
a cow eats grass
exploitation
a beaver makes a dam which creates habitat for a species of fish
commensalism
a hummingbird pollinates a flower while it ingests nectar
mutualism
a raccoon and a crow fight over some edible garbage
competition
s sparrow and a squirrel forage for different foods in the same forest but do not interact of affect one another
neutralism
The breeding sites of Virginia's warbler and orange-crowned warblers overlap in central Arizona. When one species was experimentally removed, the remaining species fledged greater percentages of young per nest. The experimental removal of one species indicates that
the is interspecific competition
All else being equal, species that have a greater overlap in resource utilization curves are more likely to be stronger competitors than species that have little overlap in resource utilization curves. true/false
true
What does the Competitive Exclusion Principle state?
the competitive exclusion principle states that if two competing species coexist in a stable environment, then they do so as a result of differentiation of their realized niches.
You determine that two species of birds coexist in the same tree, but that they have different feeding behaviors that prevents them from competing with one another for resources. One bird species feeds on insects found in the bark of this tree, while the other bird species feeds on insects at the branch tips. One explanation of your observation could be that:
coexistence is due to niche differentiation
In a two-species interaction, one species is a better competitor than the other. The weaker competitor may be able to persist if...
it is better at something some time, somewhere, or some how
Which of the following is true?
a realized niche is typically smaller than a fundamental niche
A niche for a species of salamander is determined by the density of individuals in the area, soil temperature, amounts of precipitation, and food availability. Thus, the niche would be modeled as a:
a four-dimensional niche volume
There is a species of sparrow in the forest. One day a new species of sparrow is introduced from another continent. Both species eat nearly the same size of seeds. Which of the following are possible outcomes of their interaction?
-character displacement results in the sparrows eating slightly different sizes of seeds and the species coexist.
-resource partitioning results in the sparrows eating slightly different sizes of seeds and the species coexist
-competitive exclusion results in one species driving the other locally extinct.
Parasite & host populations can fluctuate in ways that are similar to predator-prey population cycles.
true
In the myxomatosis-rabbit system, the two vectors were which of the following?
-mosquitos
-fleas
a metapopulation:
refers to patchiness in a population that allows it to function like many connected smaller subpopulations
If a plant evolves a defensive chemical to ward off herbivory how do we expect an insect herbivore to evolve?
the insect herbivore may evolve resistance to the chemical
A virus is likely not spreading if R0 (R nought) is much greater than 1. true/false
false
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