Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

51. Community Ecology

Community Structure

General Biology

51. Community Ecology

Community Structure

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2:42 minutes

Problem 6

Textbook Question

Food chains are sometimes short because
a. Only a single species of herbivore feeds on each plant species.
b. Local extinction of a species causes extinction of the other species in its food chain.
c. Most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as energy passes to the next higher level.
d. Most producers are inedible.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of a food chain: A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.

Recognize the role of energy transfer in food chains: Energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next, but not all energy is efficiently passed on.

Learn about energy loss in trophic levels: As energy moves from one trophic level to the next, a significant portion is lost, primarily as heat due to metabolic processes.

Consider the implications of energy loss: Because of this energy loss, food chains tend to be short, as there is less energy available to support higher trophic levels.

Evaluate the options given in the problem: Option c, which states that most of the energy in a trophic level is lost as energy passes to the next higher level, aligns with the concept of energy loss limiting the length of food chains.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Trophic Levels

Trophic levels represent the hierarchical stages in a food chain, starting with producers and moving up to various levels of consumers. Each level is defined by how organisms obtain energy, with producers like plants at the base, followed by herbivores, and then carnivores. Understanding trophic levels is crucial for analyzing energy flow and species interactions within ecosystems.

Energy Transfer Efficiency

Energy transfer efficiency refers to the percentage of energy that is passed from one trophic level to the next. Typically, only about 10% of the energy is transferred, while the rest is lost as heat or used in metabolic processes. This inefficiency limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain, as less energy is available to support higher-level consumers.

Local Extinction

Local extinction occurs when a species disappears from a particular area, affecting the food chain and ecosystem dynamics. The loss of a species can lead to cascading effects, potentially causing the extinction of dependent species. Understanding local extinction helps explain the fragility and interconnectedness of food chains and the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem stability.

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Textbook Question

Pioneer species tend to have high ________ and lower survivorship.

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Textbook Question

According to the generalized species-area curve, when habitat is reduced to 50% of its original size, approximately

a. 10%

b. 25%

c. 50%

d. 90%

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Textbook Question

Predators that are keystone species can maintain species diversity in a community if they

a. Competitively exclude other predators

b. Prey on the community's dominant species

c. Reduce the number of disruptions in the community

d. Prey only on the least abundant species in the community

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Textbook Question

Which of the following organisms is mismatched with its trophic level?a. algae—producerb. phytoplankton—primary consumerc. carnivorous fish larvae—secondary consumerd. eagle—tertiary or quaternary consumer

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Textbook Question

Which of the following best illustrates ecological succession?

a. A mouse eats seeds, and an owl eats the mouse.

b. Decomposition in soil releases nitrogen that plants can use.

c. Grasses grow in a deserted field, followed by shrubs and then trees.

d. Imported pheasants increase in numbers, while local quail disappear.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following could qualify as a top-down control on a grassland community?

a. Limitation of plant biomass by rainfall amount

b. Influence of temperature on competition among plants

c. Influence of soil nutrients on the abundance of grasses versus wildflowers

d. Effect of grazing intensity by bison on plant species diversity

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Textbook Question

What is a disturbance? Consider the role of fire in a forest. Compare the consequences of high-frequency versus low-frequency fire, and high severity versus low severity of fire.

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Textbook Question

The most plausible hypothesis to explain why species richness is higher in tropical than in temperate regions is that

a. Tropical communities are younger.

b. Tropical regions generally have more available water and higher levels of solar radiation.

c. Higher temperatures cause more rapid speciation.

d. Diversity increases as evapotranspiration decreases.

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