BIOL 301 MIDTERM EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT.
,What pair of species would you expect to exhibit commensalism? (+/0) - ANSWERA.
Owls and oak trees
B. Osprey and herons
C. Coyotes and foxes
D. Algae and kelp
A. Owls and oak trees
Which type of interaction between species results in positive outcomes for both
species? - ANSWERA. Mutualism
B. Commensalism
C. Herbivory
D. Heterotrophism
A. Mutualism
The boundaries of communities are - ANSWERA. Flexible
B. Difficult for species to cross
C. Clear and distinct
D. Never overlapping
A. Flexible
An ecologist who studies populations would most likely be interested in births and
deaths of ______ belong to a particular species in a particular place. -
ANSWERindividuals
The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate is its _____. -
ANSWERniche
To better understand what happens in an aquatic system (freshwater lake) when
exposed to acid deposition (acid rain), an ecologist would likely look at the lake from the
______. - ANSWERecosystem level
Which is the best action if an experiment does not support a hypothesis? - ANSWERA.
Create a mathematical model
B. Revise the hypothesis
C. Test the hypothesis again
D. Publish your results
B. Revise the hypothesis
A moose, a monarch butterfly, and a wolf are all examples of _____. -
ANSWERHeterotrophs
,Which interaction is characterized by negative effects on the fitness of both species
involved? - ANSWERA. Predation
B. Herbivory
C. Commensalism
D. Competition
D. Competition
A phenotype is the _____ of an individual's traits. - ANSWERexpression
In evolution by natural selection, some individuals have ____ fitness because of their
traits. - ANSWERhigher
Organisms that use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis are _____. -
ANSWERautotrophs
The formulation of hypotheses is a critical step in the scientific process. In the simplest
terms, what is a hypothesis? - ANSWERA. An explanation
B. An experiment
C. An observation
D. A proven fact
A. An explanation
Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations? -
ANSWERA. Ecosystem
B. Population
C. Individual
D. Community
C. Individual
At what ecological level does evolution occur? - ANSWERA. Individual
B. Population
C. Ecosystem
D. Community
B. Population
Which photosynthesis method is best suited to warm, dry environments?
I. C3 Fixation
II. C4 Fixation
III. CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) - ANSWERA. I only
B. I and II only
C. II only
, D. II and III only
E. III only
D. II and III only
Photosynthesis primarily allows plants to produce ______. - ANSWERglucose
Anaerobic conditions are more common in _____ water than in the _____. -
ANSWERdeep; shallows
Aquatic organisms have developed streamlined shapes to adapt to the _____ of water. -
ANSWERviscosity
Spotted salamanders lay eggs in gelatinous masses on twigs partially submerged in
small ponds or vernal pools. Associated with the eggs, scientists have found a species
of alga living in a mutualistic relationship with the developing eggs. What benefit does
the salamander receive from this relationship? - ANSWERA. The salamander eggs are
better camouflaged
B. The salamander embryos receive an increased N supply
C. The salamander embryos receive an increased CO2 supply
D. The salamander embryos receive an increased O2 supply
D. The salamander embryos receive an increased O2 supply
A symbiotic relationship with algae is central to - ANSWERA. Mangrove swamps
B. Intertidal zones
C. Coral reefs
D. Ponds and lakes
C. Coral reefs
The primary cause of coral bleaching is - ANSWERA. Decreased water temperature
B. Increased water pH
C. Decreased water pH
D. Decreased salt concentrations
E. Increased water temperature
E. Increased water temperature
Fish obtain oxygen from the water through their gills using - ANSWERA. Recurrent
circulation
B. Concurrent circulation
C. Unidirectional circulation
D. Countercurrent circulation
D. Countercurrent circulation
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT.
,What pair of species would you expect to exhibit commensalism? (+/0) - ANSWERA.
Owls and oak trees
B. Osprey and herons
C. Coyotes and foxes
D. Algae and kelp
A. Owls and oak trees
Which type of interaction between species results in positive outcomes for both
species? - ANSWERA. Mutualism
B. Commensalism
C. Herbivory
D. Heterotrophism
A. Mutualism
The boundaries of communities are - ANSWERA. Flexible
B. Difficult for species to cross
C. Clear and distinct
D. Never overlapping
A. Flexible
An ecologist who studies populations would most likely be interested in births and
deaths of ______ belong to a particular species in a particular place. -
ANSWERindividuals
The range of biotic and abiotic conditions a species can tolerate is its _____. -
ANSWERniche
To better understand what happens in an aquatic system (freshwater lake) when
exposed to acid deposition (acid rain), an ecologist would likely look at the lake from the
______. - ANSWERecosystem level
Which is the best action if an experiment does not support a hypothesis? - ANSWERA.
Create a mathematical model
B. Revise the hypothesis
C. Test the hypothesis again
D. Publish your results
B. Revise the hypothesis
A moose, a monarch butterfly, and a wolf are all examples of _____. -
ANSWERHeterotrophs
,Which interaction is characterized by negative effects on the fitness of both species
involved? - ANSWERA. Predation
B. Herbivory
C. Commensalism
D. Competition
D. Competition
A phenotype is the _____ of an individual's traits. - ANSWERexpression
In evolution by natural selection, some individuals have ____ fitness because of their
traits. - ANSWERhigher
Organisms that use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis are _____. -
ANSWERautotrophs
The formulation of hypotheses is a critical step in the scientific process. In the simplest
terms, what is a hypothesis? - ANSWERA. An explanation
B. An experiment
C. An observation
D. A proven fact
A. An explanation
Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations? -
ANSWERA. Ecosystem
B. Population
C. Individual
D. Community
C. Individual
At what ecological level does evolution occur? - ANSWERA. Individual
B. Population
C. Ecosystem
D. Community
B. Population
Which photosynthesis method is best suited to warm, dry environments?
I. C3 Fixation
II. C4 Fixation
III. CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) - ANSWERA. I only
B. I and II only
C. II only
, D. II and III only
E. III only
D. II and III only
Photosynthesis primarily allows plants to produce ______. - ANSWERglucose
Anaerobic conditions are more common in _____ water than in the _____. -
ANSWERdeep; shallows
Aquatic organisms have developed streamlined shapes to adapt to the _____ of water. -
ANSWERviscosity
Spotted salamanders lay eggs in gelatinous masses on twigs partially submerged in
small ponds or vernal pools. Associated with the eggs, scientists have found a species
of alga living in a mutualistic relationship with the developing eggs. What benefit does
the salamander receive from this relationship? - ANSWERA. The salamander eggs are
better camouflaged
B. The salamander embryos receive an increased N supply
C. The salamander embryos receive an increased CO2 supply
D. The salamander embryos receive an increased O2 supply
D. The salamander embryos receive an increased O2 supply
A symbiotic relationship with algae is central to - ANSWERA. Mangrove swamps
B. Intertidal zones
C. Coral reefs
D. Ponds and lakes
C. Coral reefs
The primary cause of coral bleaching is - ANSWERA. Decreased water temperature
B. Increased water pH
C. Decreased water pH
D. Decreased salt concentrations
E. Increased water temperature
E. Increased water temperature
Fish obtain oxygen from the water through their gills using - ANSWERA. Recurrent
circulation
B. Concurrent circulation
C. Unidirectional circulation
D. Countercurrent circulation
D. Countercurrent circulation
