APPLICATIONS 8TH EDITION BY MANUEL C. MOLLES
,Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Ecology and the Scientific Method
2. Life on Land
3. Life in Water
4. Temperature Relations
5. Water Relations
6. Energy and Nutrient Relations
7. Population Distribution and Abundance
8. Population Dynamics
9. Population Growth
10. Population Regulation
11. Life Histories
12. Species Interactions: Competition
13. Species Interactions: Predation and Herbivory
14. Species Interactions: Parasitism and Mutualism
15. Species Interactions: Community Structure
16. Species Abundance and Diversity
17. Primary Production
18. Secondary Production
19. Energy Flow and Food Webs
20. Nutrient Cycling
21. Succession and Stability
22. Biogeography
23. Global Ecology and Human Impacts
,Chapter 1: Introduction to Ecology
Q1. Ecology is best defined as:
A. The study of animal behavior
B. The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment
C. The study of environmental activism
D. The classification of organisms
Answer: B
Rationale: Ecology is the scientific study of interactions between organisms
and both the biotic and abiotic environment.
Q2. Which of the following is an abiotic factor?
A. Competition
B. Predation
C. Soil pH
D. Parasitism
Answer: C
Rationale: Abiotic factors are non-living components of ecosystems (light,
pH, temperature).
Q3. The ultimate source of energy driving most ecosystems is:
A. Wind
B. Water
C. Sunlight
D. Organic matter
Answer: C
Rationale: Solar energy powers photosynthesis, forming the base of most
ecosystems.
, Q4. Which ecological level examines energy flow and nutrient cycling?
A. Population
B. Community
C. Ecosystem
D. Organism
Answer: C
Rationale: Ecosystem ecology focuses on energy and nutrient dynamics.
Q5. Which of the following best describes an ecological niche?
A. Physical habitat only
B. The role an organism plays in its environment
C. A population’s growth rate
D. A food web
Answer: B
Rationale: A niche includes habitat, resources used, and interactions with
other organisms.
Q6. Which of these scientists contributed significantly to the development
of modern ecology?
A. Newton
B. Darwin
C. Mendel
D. Curie
Answer: B
Rationale: Darwin emphasized natural selection and adaptation, central to
ecological studies.