Introduction to Ecology: Historical Foundations and Developing
Frontiers
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following levels of organization is/are correctly ordered?
A. population, ecosystem, landscape, individual, interaction
B. individual, population, interaction, community, ecosystem
C. biosphere, landscape, individual, community, interaction
D. ecosystem, landscape, region, interaction, population
E. None of the choices are correct.
Bloom's Level: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.01.01 Describe the levels of ecological organization, for example, population, studied by ecologists.
Section: 01.01
Topic: Biomes and Ecosystems
Topic: Community Ecology
Topic: Population Ecology
2. Robert MacArthur's observations on the Warblers of North America indicate that they
A. are fiercely competitive.
B. cannot coexist.
C. reduce competition by feeding during different times of the day.
D. reduce competition by feeding in different zones.
E. both are fiercely competitive and cannot coexist.
Bloom's Level: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Describe some emerging frontiers in ecology.
Section: 01.02
Topic: Community Ecology
,3. What is ecology?
A. the study of relationships between organisms and the environment
B. the study of animal and plant population interactions
C. the study of the abiotic portion of the environment
D. the study of the biosphere
E. the study of environmental change
Bloom's Level: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.00.01 Define ecology.
Section: 01.00
Topic: Behavioral Ecology
Topic: Community Ecology
Topic: Population Ecology
4. The ‘scientific method' includes
A. observations, experiments, and modeling.
B. posing questions and formulating testable hypotheses.
C. statistical analysis.
D. observations, experiments, and modeling; posing questions and formulating testable
hypotheses; and statistical analysis.
E. both observations, experiments, and modeling, and posing questions and formulating
testable hypotheses.
Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate
Learning Outcome: 01.Investigating the Evidence Analyze and Interpret Data
Section: Investigating the Evidence
Topic: General
,5. Nalini Nadkarni's study of tropical and temperate rain forests determined that
A. rain forests have nutrient rich soils.
B. the herbaceous layer determines the nutrient balance.
C. epiphyte mats contain a significant source of nutrients.
D. as one moves up the canopy, species richness decreases.
E. None of the choices are correct.
Bloom's Level: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.02.01 Describe some emerging frontiers in ecology.
Section: 01.02
Topic: Biomes and Ecosystems
, 6. The highest level of ecological organization focuses on
A. the gene.
B. the biosphere.
C. warbler use of trees.
D. forests.
E. None of the choices are correct.
Bloom's Level: 1. Remember
Learning Outcome: 01.01.01 Describe the levels of ecological organization, for example, population, studied by ecologists.
Section: 01.01
Topic: Biomes and Ecosystems
7. A population can be defined as
A. a group of individuals of a single species inhabiting a defined area.
B. an association of interacting species.
C. a group of individuals of a single species and all of the physical and chemical factors
influencing them.
D. all of the organisms in a defined area.
E. None of the choices are correct.
Bloom's Level: 2. Understand
Learning Outcome: 01.01.01 Describe the levels of ecological organization, for example, population, studied by ecologists.
Section: 01.01
Topic: Population Ecology