Ecology
Study Questions

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  1. Which of the following are true of density-dependent growth factors? (check all that apply)
  1. Temperature is not a density-dependent growth factor.
  2. "Natural" disasters are important density-dependent factors.
  3. Their affect varies depending on the number of individuals in a population.
  4. The more dense a population the less these factors will affect the population.
  1. Which of the following are abiotic factors that are important to an ecosystem? (check all that apply)
  1. soil type
  2. number of herbivores inhabiting the ecosystem
  3. annual precipitation
  4. biomass of primary producers
  1. A toxic chemical (Zycron B) is sprayed on a crop of wheat. The wheat is eaten by pheasants which are eaten by foxes which are eaten by a mountain lion. Which has, most likely, the highest concentration of Zycron B?
  1. pheasant
  2. mountain lion
  3. wheat
  4. fox
  1. Referring to the food web on page 136, in the shrubs--mouse--snake--owl food chain, the owl would be considered a: (check all that apply)
  1. producer
  2. primary consumer
  3. carnivore
  4. secondary consumer
  5. tertiary consumer
  1. In an ocean ecosystem, producer-level plankton produce 36,000 kilocalories of energy per square meter per year. Using the 10% rule, calculate the amount of energy received by the primary consumers and secondary consumers respectively.
  1. 32,400; 29,160
  2. 3,600; 360
  3. 32,400; 32,040
  4. 360,000; 3,600,000
  1. If only 10% of the energy is transferred to the next trophic level what happens to the other 90%?
  1. It is destroyed in the transfer.
  2. It is used by decomposers and detritivores.
  3. It is released as heat.
  4. It is thrown away as bones and other waste material.
  1. There are more individuals in the primary consumer level than in the producer level.
TRUE
FALSE
  1. A decrease in a rabbit population due to the disease tularemia is an example of a density-independent regulating factor.
TRUE
FALSE
  1. Humans are the only organisms that exhibit J-shaped or exponential growth.
TRUE
FALSE
  1. The Kaibab Plateau deer population demonstrates the delicate balance between predator and prey and the need for some controlling factors.
TRUE
FALSE
  1. Following the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, a new group of plants replaced the destroyed plant community through primary succession to reestablish the ecosystem.
TRUE
FALSE
MATCHING:
(use lower case; incorrect responses will be replaced with a "?".)

12. autotroph a. dead-organic-matter-eating animal

13. heterotrophy b. producer

14. decomposer c. 10%

15. detritivore d. dead-organic-matter-eating prokaryote

16. biological mechanism e. consumer

17. energy transfer f. concentrated
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