Pre-Test Questions

Question 1

Slash-and-burn” agriculture is practiced by traditional farmers in the tropics. These farmers cut and burn a small patch of forest, then cultivate crops for 2-3 years before moving on to the next patch of forest. What happens to these abandoned patches of land?

Answer 1

Secondary succession takes place as they are colonized with seeds from the surrounding forest

Question 2

An example of a protective mutualism can be seen in the relationship between

Answer 2

ants and acacias

Question 3

For the primary producers in any ecosystem, which of the following three processes listed below is the sum of the other two?

Answer 3

gross primary production

Question 4

Which of the following processes (1) is conducted by endosymbiotic bacteria, often residing in root nodules of higher plants; (2) results in the transformation of atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be utilized by many organisms; and (3) occurs under somewhat anoxic conditions inside the root nodules?

Answer 4

nitrogen fixation

Question 5

Which solution would keep cut carrot and celery sticks the crispest?

Answer 5

fresh water

Question 6

Gause’s competitive exclusion principle states that

Answer 6

no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat

Question 7

Which of the following exemplifies a random distribution?

Answer 7

earthworms distributed in a homogeneous mass of soil without regard to the presence of other earthworms

Question 8

According to niche theory, the number of coexisting species within a community can be increased by

Answer 8

increasing total resources available

Question 9

The highest overall biodiversity would most likely be found in the

Answer 9

tropical rain forest - e.g., the Amazon basin

Question 10

Unusual warming of the coastal waters off South America (aka El Niño or ENSO)

Answer 10

dramatically affects precipitation patterns all over the world

Question 11

Photosynthetically active radiation is absorbed by

Answer 11

chlorophyll and carotenoids (plant pigments)

Question 12

Which of the following metabolic processes has the narrowest temperature range?

Answer 12

reproduction

Question 13

Ectotherms predominate in all the following groups except

Answer 13

mammals

Question 14

Biodiversity hotspots are areas of the world that

Answer 14

have high diversity, uniqueness, and are experiencing habitat destruction

Question 15

Which of the following principles associated with the theory of island biogeography can be helpful to individuals designing parks and preserves?

Answer 15

the species-area relationship