Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the cleaner fish and the moray eel shown in the first image?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism, because both the cleaner fish and the eel benefit from the interaction.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences the structure of a community, as illustrated in the second image?

Accepted Answer

The genetic code of individual organisms.

Question 3

In the context of community ecology, what does the term 'relative abundance' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The proportion each species represents of all individuals in the community.

Question 4

According to the competitive exclusion principle, what is the likely outcome when two species compete for the exact same limiting resource?

Accepted Answer

The inferior competitor will be locally eliminated.

Question 5

Which of the following equations correctly represents the Shannon diversity index ($$H) $$for a community with three species (A, B, and C) with relative abundances $$p_A$$, $$p_B$$, and $$p_C$$?

Accepted Answer

$$H = - (p_A \ln p_A + p_B \ln p_B + p_C \ln p_C)$$

Question 6

A species that is not abundant but has a large impact on community structure due to its ecological role is called a:

Accepted Answer

Keystone species

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why tropical regions generally have higher species richness than temperate regions?

Accepted Answer

Tropical regions have experienced fewer disturbances and have had more time for speciation.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of Batesian mimicry?

Accepted Answer

A non-poisonous butterfly resembling a poisonous butterfly.

Question 9

In the experiment with Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum, what happened when both species were cultured together?

Accepted Answer

P. caudatum was driven to extinction due to competition.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the realized niche of a species?

Accepted Answer

The niche actually occupied by the species when competitors are present.

Question 11

Which of the following is a likely outcome of intermediate levels of disturbance in a community?

Accepted Answer

An increase in species diversity by preventing competitive exclusion and allowing coexistence.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem engineer?

Accepted Answer

A beaver building a dam that transforms the landscape.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about food webs is correct?

Accepted Answer

Food webs are composed of interconnected food chains.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the effect of a top-down control in a community?

Accepted Answer

Predators control the abundance of herbivores, which in turn control producers.

Question 15

Which of the following is a characteristic of primary succession?

Accepted Answer

It begins in nearly lifeless areas such as new volcanic islands.

Question 16

Which of the following is a likely effect of introducing a new pathogen into a community?

Accepted Answer

A dramatic reduction in the abundance of susceptible species.

Question 17

Which of the following best explains why islands closer to the mainland tend to have higher species richness than more distant islands?

Accepted Answer

They have higher rates of immigration and lower rates of extinction.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a zoonotic disease vector?

Accepted Answer

A mosquito transmitting malaria from birds to humans.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

Accepted Answer

Closely related species evolving differences in resource use to reduce competition.

Question 20

Which of the following is a likely consequence of human disturbance in ecological communities?

Accepted Answer

Reduced species diversity and altered community structure.

Ecological Communities: Structure, Interactions, and Diversity

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