Introduction to Ecology — Test Answers

Which explanation is best supported by the numbers in the chart?

Wolves are predators of deer. What is most likely to happen to the deer population if the wolf population increased?

Some species form social groups only with members of the same gender. For example, elephants form groups with only females and their offspring. Once the male offspring reach a certain age, they leave the group and become solitary. Which is a benefit of this type of social group structure?

If the herbivore population in an ecosystem increased, what would most likely happen to the size of the carnivore population?

Which statement best compares consumers and decomposers?

Freshwater can be renewed, but environmentalists consider it nonrenewable. Why is there a contradiction in classification?

Why are nonnative species a threat to biodiversity?

Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration are part of the carbon cycle. Which statement best compares these two processes?

Termites are insects that live in colonies. In a colony, the king and a queen are responsible for reproduction. Workers spend most of their time caring for the other termites and building the nest. Soldiers protect the nest from attacks. The organization of the termite colony is an example of which benefit of social behavior?

Rainforests around the world are being cleared at an alarming rate to make room for new communities, agriculture, mining, and roads, and to provide lumber for construction and furniture. How might the destruction of rainforests affect the balance of gases in Earth's atmosphere?

A trout population grew from 4 in 1992 to 16 in 1993 and then to 64 in 1994. If it continued to grow exponentially, approximately how many trout were there in 1995?

White perch is a fish that is native to Atlantic coastal regions and is invasive to the Great Lakes. It feeds on native species and is thought to be the cause of the decline of the Great Lakes walleye fish populations. What was most likely its mode of introduction?

Which statement describes the relationship between plants, animals, and the carbon cycle?

Which human activity is correctly paired with the greenhouse gas that it increases?

A mountain lion population recently experienced a drop in population size. Which of the following would best describe the limiting factor that is involved?

The Serengeti plains are part of the African savanna ecosystem and are home to a variety of different species of plants and animals. The Serengeti plains experience a seven-month period of seasonal drought each year, during which the ecosystem receives only four inches of rain and the availability of some resources becomes very scarce. Which type of limiting factors does the seasonal drought in the Serengeti plains affect?

Which graph best represents the relationship between sustainability and biodiversity?

Scientists have a theory about the relationship between climate and biodiversity. Which best describes this theory?

Which statement describes both a positive impact and a negative impact associated with the effects of nitrogen-enhanced fertilizers?

Which of these is an autotroph?