Unit 8 Progress Check MCQ Biology 30
AP - Population and Community
Dynamics Exam Questions with
Verified Answers
Figure 1 shows the population fluctuations of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the
eastern Pacific Ocean over the course of six years. The major dip in phytoplankton
was attributed to a lack of nutrients for phytoplankton.
Of the following, which explains why the zooplankton also dipped during the same
year and then seemed to cycle over the next three years? - ANSWER-D = The
reduction in the phytoplankton population meant that the zooplankton's energy
source was drastically reduced, leading to the decrease in the zooplankton
population size. After the dip, the phytoplankton provided a steady energy source,
and the zooplankton population fluctuated around its carrying capacity:
The energy source of zooplankton is the carbon compounds fixed by phytoplankton.
Without the proper inorganic nutrients, the phytoplankton population is limited in its
photosynthetic activity, leading to an energy deficit in the zooplankton populations. It
is also correct that the annual fluctuations in zooplankton represent a stable
population cycling around its carrying capacity.
Bison in Yellowstone National Park have a food-limited carrying capacity that
determines how their population grows. If the population grows too large, some bison
will either starve or migrate to search for more food. The park is able to support a
maximum population of 4,500 bison. Park conservation officials must watch the
population and prevent the bison from overpopulating, since they would migrate to
nearby farms, causing agricultural damage and creating hazards to drivers. The
bison begin to migrate when the population reaches 4,000 because of competition
for food.
If the current population size of bison is 3,652 and the maximum growth rate of the
population is 0.28, calculate the population size after one year and determine
whether the park will need to take measures to control the population. - ANSWER-A
= The population will be 3,845 after a year. The bison will not pose a problem until
the following year, and no conservation action will need to take place:
dN/dt=rmaxN((K−N)/K) should be used to determine the one-year change in
population size: 0.28×3,652((4,500−3,652)/4,500)=193. Adding 193 to 3,652 projects
a population of 3,845, so the population will not reach the point at which bison
migration occurs. However, it will reach a level to initiate migration the following year.
Climate change can affect oceanic ecosystems and their food webs. In the East
China Sea (ECS), three major climactic events were considered:
the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO),
the East Asia winter monsoon (EAWM), and
the El Niño Southern Oscillation.
, Figure 1 shows the relationships among these climactic events, surface sea
temperature (SST), amount of phytoplankton, and copepod abundance. Copepods
are important primary consumers in this ecosystem, and many species of fish
depend on copepods as a food source. Solid arrows on the diagram indicate a
statistically significant effect. The thicker the arrow, the greater the effect. Dashed
arrows indicate statistically insignificant relationships.
Figure 1. Structural equation model deciphering interactions among climate,
phytoplankton, and copepods in the southern East China Sea. Solid arrows indicate
significant effects, with the thickness of the arrow reflecting the - ANSWER-A = The
null hypothesis is rejected since there are significant effects of EAWM and PDO on
surface sea temperature and copepod abundance:
The null hypothesis should be rejected because the data indicate that the EAWM
and the PDO have significant effects on surface sea temperature as well as copepod
abundance.
Researchers were studying the effects of microbes on the growth of the yellow
bedstraw plant, Galium verum. They grew yellow bedstraw plants under four
treatments: in the presence of soil bacteria only, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi
only, both bacteria and AM fungi, or neither. After 6 months, they measured the
biomass of the plants (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The Effect of Soil Microbes on the Biomass of Galium verum
Which of the following best describes a statistically significant relationship indicated
in Figure 1 ? - ANSWER-A = Yellow bedstraw plants grow significantly more in the
presence of both soil bacteria and AM fungi (treatment 4) than in the presence of soil
bacteria alone (treatment 2):
The error bars in treatments 2 and 4 do not overlap, which means that the
differences between the two data sets are statistically significant. Thus, AM fungi
significantly increases yellow bedstraw growth when these plants are exposed to soil
bacteria.
Students in a class were divided into five groups to analyze community structure.
Each group of students assessed the species of plants in four environments and
determined the Simpson's Diversity Index for each environment. The Simpson's
Diversity Index takes into account the number of species present as well as the
abundance of each species. The index values are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Simpson's Diversity Index for four environments
Based on the data in Figure 1, which of the following statements is most accurate
about the species diversity of the four different environments that the students
analyzed? - ANSWER-C = Based on the data, there is no statistically significant
difference between the species diversity of plants in the light, moist environment and
in the dark, moist environment:
Because the error bars overlap, the light, moist and dark, moist environments show
no significant statistical difference in diversity.
In a study of energy flow, the following data were collected:
Each human requires 55 grams of protein per day.
An acre of soybeans produces 200,000 grams of protein per year.
AP - Population and Community
Dynamics Exam Questions with
Verified Answers
Figure 1 shows the population fluctuations of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the
eastern Pacific Ocean over the course of six years. The major dip in phytoplankton
was attributed to a lack of nutrients for phytoplankton.
Of the following, which explains why the zooplankton also dipped during the same
year and then seemed to cycle over the next three years? - ANSWER-D = The
reduction in the phytoplankton population meant that the zooplankton's energy
source was drastically reduced, leading to the decrease in the zooplankton
population size. After the dip, the phytoplankton provided a steady energy source,
and the zooplankton population fluctuated around its carrying capacity:
The energy source of zooplankton is the carbon compounds fixed by phytoplankton.
Without the proper inorganic nutrients, the phytoplankton population is limited in its
photosynthetic activity, leading to an energy deficit in the zooplankton populations. It
is also correct that the annual fluctuations in zooplankton represent a stable
population cycling around its carrying capacity.
Bison in Yellowstone National Park have a food-limited carrying capacity that
determines how their population grows. If the population grows too large, some bison
will either starve or migrate to search for more food. The park is able to support a
maximum population of 4,500 bison. Park conservation officials must watch the
population and prevent the bison from overpopulating, since they would migrate to
nearby farms, causing agricultural damage and creating hazards to drivers. The
bison begin to migrate when the population reaches 4,000 because of competition
for food.
If the current population size of bison is 3,652 and the maximum growth rate of the
population is 0.28, calculate the population size after one year and determine
whether the park will need to take measures to control the population. - ANSWER-A
= The population will be 3,845 after a year. The bison will not pose a problem until
the following year, and no conservation action will need to take place:
dN/dt=rmaxN((K−N)/K) should be used to determine the one-year change in
population size: 0.28×3,652((4,500−3,652)/4,500)=193. Adding 193 to 3,652 projects
a population of 3,845, so the population will not reach the point at which bison
migration occurs. However, it will reach a level to initiate migration the following year.
Climate change can affect oceanic ecosystems and their food webs. In the East
China Sea (ECS), three major climactic events were considered:
the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO),
the East Asia winter monsoon (EAWM), and
the El Niño Southern Oscillation.
, Figure 1 shows the relationships among these climactic events, surface sea
temperature (SST), amount of phytoplankton, and copepod abundance. Copepods
are important primary consumers in this ecosystem, and many species of fish
depend on copepods as a food source. Solid arrows on the diagram indicate a
statistically significant effect. The thicker the arrow, the greater the effect. Dashed
arrows indicate statistically insignificant relationships.
Figure 1. Structural equation model deciphering interactions among climate,
phytoplankton, and copepods in the southern East China Sea. Solid arrows indicate
significant effects, with the thickness of the arrow reflecting the - ANSWER-A = The
null hypothesis is rejected since there are significant effects of EAWM and PDO on
surface sea temperature and copepod abundance:
The null hypothesis should be rejected because the data indicate that the EAWM
and the PDO have significant effects on surface sea temperature as well as copepod
abundance.
Researchers were studying the effects of microbes on the growth of the yellow
bedstraw plant, Galium verum. They grew yellow bedstraw plants under four
treatments: in the presence of soil bacteria only, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi
only, both bacteria and AM fungi, or neither. After 6 months, they measured the
biomass of the plants (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The Effect of Soil Microbes on the Biomass of Galium verum
Which of the following best describes a statistically significant relationship indicated
in Figure 1 ? - ANSWER-A = Yellow bedstraw plants grow significantly more in the
presence of both soil bacteria and AM fungi (treatment 4) than in the presence of soil
bacteria alone (treatment 2):
The error bars in treatments 2 and 4 do not overlap, which means that the
differences between the two data sets are statistically significant. Thus, AM fungi
significantly increases yellow bedstraw growth when these plants are exposed to soil
bacteria.
Students in a class were divided into five groups to analyze community structure.
Each group of students assessed the species of plants in four environments and
determined the Simpson's Diversity Index for each environment. The Simpson's
Diversity Index takes into account the number of species present as well as the
abundance of each species. The index values are shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Simpson's Diversity Index for four environments
Based on the data in Figure 1, which of the following statements is most accurate
about the species diversity of the four different environments that the students
analyzed? - ANSWER-C = Based on the data, there is no statistically significant
difference between the species diversity of plants in the light, moist environment and
in the dark, moist environment:
Because the error bars overlap, the light, moist and dark, moist environments show
no significant statistical difference in diversity.
In a study of energy flow, the following data were collected:
Each human requires 55 grams of protein per day.
An acre of soybeans produces 200,000 grams of protein per year.
