Assignment

Choose five (5) of the following questions to answer.  Please answer each question in one or two complete sentences.  Each question/answer is worth 1 point.  You may answer one (1) additional question for extra credit.

(A) Explain the concept of resource partitioning.

(B) Some species are generalists while others are specialists.  What do these terms mean?

(C) What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?  Include examples in your explanation.

(D) What is coevolution and why does it happen?

(E) Sometimes predator and prey populations oscillate/cycle in synchrony with each other.  Explain why this happens.

(F) Explain the concept of ecological resilience.

(G) Explain the concept of climax community.

Individual species will continually evolve as a result of _______, with certain genetic combinations becoming more predominant.

Multiple Choice

· coevolution

· convergent evolution

· punctuated equilibrium

· natural selection

· gradualism

Sled dogs have a thick coat of hair that helps them withstand the cold temperatures of the Arctic. Compare that adaption to a single, unrelated dog that grows a thicker coat in the fall in response to colder temperatures. The adaptation of the sled dog best describes adaptation at the ____________ level while the dog exposed to seasonal colder temperatures has _____________.

Multiple Choice

· regional; natural selection at the individual level

· individual; physiological modifications at the population level

· population; physiological modifications at the individual level

· species; natural selection at the population level

· ecosystem; physiological modifications at the individual level

_________ is the development of a new species.

Multiple Choice

· Adaption

· Speciation

· Ecotone

· Evolution

· Mutation

Evolution occurs as a result of

Multiple Choice

· the discovery of a desirable characteristic in a population.

· an individual's physiological modification.

· environmental change that forces modification in a resident species.

· better survival or reproduction rates by individuals with a particular characteristic.

· a population's physiological modification.

Natural selection will ultimately make a species

Multiple Choice

· more intelligent.

· physically bigger.

· better adapted to its environment.

· more aggressive.

· less vulnerable to its predators.

___________ is the place or set of environmental conditions in which a particular organism lives.

Multiple Choice

· Adaptation

· Habitat

· Tolerance range

· Resource partition

· Niche

What would you label the range of temperature from 95°F to 96°F for this particular species?

Multiple Choice

· zone of intolerance

· tolerance limit range

· zone of physiological stress

· optimal range

· range of tolerance

All of the environmental factors which contribute to where a species lives and its role within the community is its

Multiple Choice

· distribution

· niche

· specialty

· resilience

· tolerance

New species can arise when

Multiple Choice

· a barrier separates a population into subpopulations.

· resource partitioning occurs for a long period of time.

· there is great competition within a species.

· two species compete with each other.

A titmouse and a chickadee are living in the same territory and are using some of the same resources. The best way to classify this interaction is as

Multiple Choice

· mutualism.

· intraspecific competition.

· interspecific competition.

· symbiosis.

· commensalism.

An especially effective strategy for reducing competition between members of the same species is

Multiple Choice

· different ecological niches for juveniles and adults.

· rapid reproduction.

· eating prey before they are "ready" (ripe) for other species.

· resource partitioning.

· None of these since the examples given are for reducing competition between species.

Symbiosis means

Multiple Choice

· a relationship in which both species benefit.

· a parasitic relationship.

· commensalism.

· living together, i.e. two species have a close relationship.

· a relationship in which one species benefits and the other does not benefit.

In the partnership of a lichen, the fungus provides _________ and the relationship is best described as _______.

Multiple Choice

· most of the photosynthesis; symbiosis

· poisons that deter predation; commensalism

· structure and moisture-holding ability; mutualism

· very little to the algal partner; parasitism

· some of the photosynthesis; commensalism

Two unpalatable or dangerous species which have warning patterns or colors and appear similar are an example of _________________.

Multiple Choice

· symbiosis

· competitive exclusion

· mutualism

· commensalism

· Mullerian mimicry

Beavers live in wetland communities they make through damming streams. A small number of beavers contribute to the entire community. The ponds they create support many types of birds and aquatic life. Beavers are an example of a ________________ species.

Multiple Choice

· commensalistic

· dominant

· keystone

· mutualistic

· predator

A tapeworm lives in the gut of an animal taking nutrients from the food the animal eats preventing the animal from receiving most of the nutrients. What type of symbiosis is this?

Multiple Choice

· parasitism

· commensalism

· mutualism

· keystone

· mimicry

Which of the following does NOT contribute to limits on population growth?

Multiple Choice

· amount of available food

· number of offspring produced at one time

· a disease-causing organism entering a population

· average annual temperature