A. Population B. Ecosystem C. Community D. Genus Grouping

ECOLOGY EXAM MENTOR INVITATIONAL FEB 16, 2008

1. _____ A group of individuals belonging to a single species that lives together in a defined area is termed a(n). a. population b. ecosystem c. community d. genus grouping

2. _____ Which of the following is NOT true about matter in the biosphere? a. matter is recycled in the biosphere b. biogeochemical cycles transform and reuse molecules c. the total amount of matter decreases over time d. the lack of specific nutrients can reduce primary productivity

3. _____ Which is a source of energy for Earth’s living things? I. wind energy II. Sunlight III. Chemical energy a. I only b. II only c. II and III d. I, II, and III

4. _____ In addition to herbivores, another type of consumer is a(n). I. carnivore II. Omnivore III. detritivore a. I only b. II only c. I, III d. I, II and III

5. _____ Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, cycle carbon through the carbon cycle. Which other processes also participate in the carbon cycle? I. Biological processes, such as photosynthesis II. Geochemical processes, such as the release of gas from volcanoes III. Mixed biogeochemical processes, such as the formation of fossil fuels a. I only b. I, II c. II, III d. I, II, and III

6. _____ In the nitrogen cycle, bacteria that live on the roots of plants: a. break down nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas b. denitrify nitrogen compounds c. change nitrogen gas into plant proteins d. change nitrogen gas into ammonia

7. _____ Generally, which has the greatest effect on determining the climate of a region? a. longitude b. month of the year c. distance from the equator d. wind

8. _____ Which is NOT an abiotic factor in an ecosystem? a. microorganism b. rainfall c. pH d. water

9. _____ What defines a species’ niche? I. abiotic factors II. Biotic factors III. food web a. I only b. II c. I, II, III d. III

10. _____ The disappearance of a population in a given niche as a result of direct competition with another species for a resource is called: a. competitive exclusion b. predation c. mutualism d. parasitism

1 11. _____ The total change in a population’s size over time is: a. immigration b. birthrate and death c. population growth rate d. population density

12. _____ Which factors increase the size of a population? I. emigration II. birthrate III. immigration a. I b. III c. I, III d. II, III

13. _____ Which of the following is NOT an example of a density-dependent limiting factor? a. floods b. parasites c. disease d. predators

14. _____ The sum total of the variety of organisms on Earth is referred to as: a. ecosystem b. biodiversity c. biosphere d. bio-accumulation

15. _____ The concept of using natural resources at a rate that does not deplete them is called: a. conservation b. sustainable development c. reforestation d. successful use

16. _____ The burning of fossil fuels may cause all of the following except: a. acid rain b. smog c. global warming d. the ozone hole

17. _____ The conversion of a previously soil-rich area to a sandy desert is called: a. habitat fragmentation b. deforestation c. desertification d. soil erosion

18. _____ What is always true of a renewable resource? I. It is unlimited II. It is replaceable by natural means III. It can regenerate quickly a. I b. II c. I, II d. II, III

19. _____ Which of the following in NOT an effect of deforestation? a. chemical change in soil b. decreased productivity of the ecosystem c. soil erosion d. biological magnification

20. _____ Ozone is made up of: a. water b. hydrogen c. oxygen d. chlorine

21. _____ Natural disturbances, such as fires or hurricanes, can result in: a. commensalisms b. parasitism c. competition d. succession

22. _____ All the biotic and abiotic factors in a pond form a(n): a. biosphere b. ecosystem c. community d. niche

23. _____ In an ecosystem, what happens to the atoms of certain chemical elements, such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen? a. they move into and out of living systems b. they are only found in abiotic factors c. they move out of living systems and do not return d. they move into living systems and remain there

24. _____ Which is NOT a pathway by which plants obtain nitrogen? a. chemical fertilizers b. lightning c. photosynthesis d. symbiotic bacteria 2 25. _____ Which event is most likely to initiate primary succession? a. forest fire b. heavy rain c. logging d. volcanic eruption

26. _____ Mice are an example of an r-strategist reproduction pattern because______. a. they produce few individuals b. they expend great energy raising young c. they produce many offspring d. they maintain populations near carrying capacity

27. _____ Some organizations are buying sections of forestland. Once purchased, forests within the sections will not be cut down. What is the primary goal of protecting these sections? a. bring about extinction on a controlled plan b. prevent overpopulation of trees c. maintain biodiversity of the area d. expand farmland

28. _____ Which human activity has probably contributed most to the acidification of lakes in forests? a. passing environment protection laws b. establishing reforestation projects in lumber areas c. burning fossil fuels that produce air pollution d. using pesticides for the control of insects that feed on trees.

29. _____ Which is a detritivore? a. cat b. mouse c. sunflower d. crayfish

30. _____ Which process locks phosphorus in a long-term cycle? a. organic materials buried at the bottom of oceans b. phosphates released and absorbed into the soil c. animals and plant eliminating wastes d. rain eroding mountains

31. When organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates, the process is called______.

32. Each step in a food chain of a food web is called a(n) ______.

33. The primary source of energy supplied to a food chain comes from ______.

34. Water enters the atmosphere through ______and ______.

35. The natural situation in which heat is retained close the Earth: ______.

36. Organisms that are introduced into new habitats and then reproduce rapidly: ______.

37. ______is when harmful substances increase in organisms at higher levels in the food chain.

38. Another name for autotroph = ______

39. Another name for heterotroph = ______

3 40. Water pollution from nitrogen-rich and Phosphorous-rich substances flowing into waterways, causing algal overgrowth is called ______.

41. List the six different levels of organization that ecologists study, in order from smallest to largest.

42. Below are three types of population dispersion patterns. a. What is the name of each pattern? b. Explain why a population would exhibit each dispersion pattern. A B C

A = B = C =

43. Answer the following based on the graphs to the right. a. Predict which country will have a slow but steady growth rate in the future.

b. What percent of the population in Mexico is in the age group 0-4? ______

44. Refer the diagram below to answer the following questions.

A B C a. What do we call the community found in section “A”? ______b. Name an organism found in section “A” ______c. What type of succession does this picture represent? ______d. What do we call the community found in section “C”? ______

4 Use the chart below to answer the following questions.

45. In which biome would the average temperature be 10 C and an annual precipitation of 150cm?

46. Which biome can reach the hottest temperature?

47. Second to the deserts, which biome receives little annual precipitation?

48. Which biome can receive 375cm of precipitation annually?

49. Which biome has an average temperature of 24 C and 175 cm of precipitation annually?

50. What is the temperature range of a temperate rain forest?

Distinguish between the following forests. Tropical Rain Forest Temperate Forest Northwest Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest

51. also goes by the name taiga ______52. giant redwoods and other conifers ______53. orchids and bromeliads ______54. found along the northern edge of the temperate zone ______55. dominant wildlife, deer, black bears, raccoons ______56. found from Alaska to California ______57. hot, wet weather with poor soil ______58. soil often rich in humus from dropped leaves ______

Indicate if the following symbiotic relationships are: M = mutulalism C = commensalisms P = parasitism

59. _____ epiphytes 60. _____ mycorrhiza fungi and plant roots 61. _____ barnacles attached to whales 62. _____ sea lamprey attached to bony fish 63. _____ goby living amongst spines of sea urchins for protection 64. _____ cleaner gobies, setting up cleaner stations for fish 65. _____ deer ticks attached to deer 66. _____ oxpecker and zebra 67. _____ bacteria living the human intestinal tract

5 FOOD WEB (20 points)

The data table below reveals the organisms living in a marsh. 1. Create a food web based on this data. (10 points) 2. Create an ecological pyramid with 5 levels based on the food web with the killer whale as the top level consumer. (5 points) 3. Along the side of the pyramid, name the trophic level (not just 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc…) (5 points)

Organism Food for…. Predator of …. Bull rush, sedges, algae Snails, voles, grasshoppers, XXXXX herring Snails vole, salmon Bull rush, sedges, algae Voles Marsh hawk, Bald Eagle Bull rush, sedges, algae Grasshoppers Herring, salmon Bull rush, sedges, algae Herring Harbour Seal, Killer Whale, Grasshopper, bull rush, sedges, Bald Eagle algae Bald Eagle XXXXX Vole, herring, salmon Harbour Seal Killer Whale Herring, salmon Marsh Hawk XXXXX Vole Salmon Bald Eagle, Killer Whale, Snails, grasshoppers Harbour Seal Killer Whale XXXXX Herring, salmon, Harbour Seal

6 Looking at the diagrams below, explain how each organism has adapted to living in a desert environment. (12 points – 2 points each)

7 ******TIE BREAKER****** POPULATION TRENDS

Population Trends: Do fruit flies and rabbits show similar trends in population growth? 1. Make two graphs using the data in each data table. Generations Number of Days Number of Rabbits Fruit Flies 1 100 5 10 2 105 10 50 25 1000 15 100 2. What 37 1600 type of growth 20 200 pattern is exhibited by the 55 2400 25 300 fruit fly population? 30 310 72 3350 35 320 86 8000 40 320 100 13,150 ______

3. What type of growth pattern is exhibited by the rabbit population? ______4. Does either graph indicate that there is a carrying capacity for the population? If so, which population? ______5. What is the maximum number of individuals that can be supported at that time? ______(based on your answer to question #4) 6. Predict why the two populations have different growth patterns.