General Ecology exam 2 PREP
Which of the following terms describes the idea that because all individuals have limited access to
energy, any energy acquired must be distributed to one of life's necessary physiological functions, which
reduces the amount that can be used for other physiological functions? - correct answersTrade-off
Optimization
Optimal foraging
Principal of allocation
Niche
Answer
Principal of allocation
In the mathematical model for the principle of allocation, what does the Eassimilation represent? -
correct answersThe total energy devoted to all metabolic activities
The total energy converted to an organism's biomass
The total energy used for the production and care of offspring
The total energy lost to the environment as heat
The total energy devoted to excretion of metabolic byproduct
Answer
The total energy converted to an organism's biomass
Which of the following phrases describes how an individual animal would act to maximize energy intake
relative to the energy spent acquiring that energy, with the overall goal of maximizing its evolutionary
fitness? - correct answersOptimization of food acquisition
Maximization of energy intake tradeoffs
Optimal foraging theory
Principle of allocation
n-dimensional hypervolume
Answer
Optimal foraging theory
When considering optimal foraging theory and using the individual energy allocation model, what
relationship between Eintake and Erespiration would result in a predator making an optimal choice
when it comes to consuming a prey item? - correct answersEintake < Erespiration
Eintake > Erespiration
Eintake = Erespiration
Answer
Eintake > Erespiration
, When using the foraging model, which of the following variable combinations would mean that a
predator has expended as much energy as they have gained from a prey item?
1. P = 1
2. P< 1
3. P> 1
4. E = C
5. E> C
6. E< C - correct answers1 and 4
1 and 5
2 and 6
3 and 5
None of those combinations would result in a predator expending the same amount of energy as they
would have gained from the prey item.
Answer
1 and 4
Search costs for predators are minimal when ____, and handling costs for predators are high when
____. - correct answersprey is rare; prey is easy to capture
prey is rare; prey requires a lot of manipulation to consume
prey is abundant; prey is hard to capture
prey is abundant; prey requires little manipulation to consume
prey is rare; prey requires little manipulation to consume
Answer
prey is abundant; prey is hard to capture
Prey switching is a common practice for many animals when one prey item is more or less energetically
profitable than another. Suppose Prey 1 is a cicada and Prey 2 is a caterpillar, and we are using the
foraging model that includes search and handling costs. When would a common raven switch from
consuming cicadas to consuming caterpillars? - correct answersE1/(S1+H1) > E2/(S2+H2)
E1/(S1+H1) = E2/(S2+H2)
E1/(S1+H1) < E2/(S2+H2)
Answer
E1/(S1+H1) < E2/(S2+H2)
True or False? The Ewaste term in the principle of allocation equation for energy has greater importance
to an organism than the Wwaste term in the principle of allocation equation for water. - correct
answersfalse
Which biome would see a plant devoting a large amount of energy to growing its roots to increase its
intake of water from the soil? - correct answersDesert
Temperate forest
Tropical forest
Answer
Desert
Which of the following terms describes the idea that because all individuals have limited access to
energy, any energy acquired must be distributed to one of life's necessary physiological functions, which
reduces the amount that can be used for other physiological functions? - correct answersTrade-off
Optimization
Optimal foraging
Principal of allocation
Niche
Answer
Principal of allocation
In the mathematical model for the principle of allocation, what does the Eassimilation represent? -
correct answersThe total energy devoted to all metabolic activities
The total energy converted to an organism's biomass
The total energy used for the production and care of offspring
The total energy lost to the environment as heat
The total energy devoted to excretion of metabolic byproduct
Answer
The total energy converted to an organism's biomass
Which of the following phrases describes how an individual animal would act to maximize energy intake
relative to the energy spent acquiring that energy, with the overall goal of maximizing its evolutionary
fitness? - correct answersOptimization of food acquisition
Maximization of energy intake tradeoffs
Optimal foraging theory
Principle of allocation
n-dimensional hypervolume
Answer
Optimal foraging theory
When considering optimal foraging theory and using the individual energy allocation model, what
relationship between Eintake and Erespiration would result in a predator making an optimal choice
when it comes to consuming a prey item? - correct answersEintake < Erespiration
Eintake > Erespiration
Eintake = Erespiration
Answer
Eintake > Erespiration
, When using the foraging model, which of the following variable combinations would mean that a
predator has expended as much energy as they have gained from a prey item?
1. P = 1
2. P< 1
3. P> 1
4. E = C
5. E> C
6. E< C - correct answers1 and 4
1 and 5
2 and 6
3 and 5
None of those combinations would result in a predator expending the same amount of energy as they
would have gained from the prey item.
Answer
1 and 4
Search costs for predators are minimal when ____, and handling costs for predators are high when
____. - correct answersprey is rare; prey is easy to capture
prey is rare; prey requires a lot of manipulation to consume
prey is abundant; prey is hard to capture
prey is abundant; prey requires little manipulation to consume
prey is rare; prey requires little manipulation to consume
Answer
prey is abundant; prey is hard to capture
Prey switching is a common practice for many animals when one prey item is more or less energetically
profitable than another. Suppose Prey 1 is a cicada and Prey 2 is a caterpillar, and we are using the
foraging model that includes search and handling costs. When would a common raven switch from
consuming cicadas to consuming caterpillars? - correct answersE1/(S1+H1) > E2/(S2+H2)
E1/(S1+H1) = E2/(S2+H2)
E1/(S1+H1) < E2/(S2+H2)
Answer
E1/(S1+H1) < E2/(S2+H2)
True or False? The Ewaste term in the principle of allocation equation for energy has greater importance
to an organism than the Wwaste term in the principle of allocation equation for water. - correct
answersfalse
Which biome would see a plant devoting a large amount of energy to growing its roots to increase its
intake of water from the soil? - correct answersDesert
Temperate forest
Tropical forest
Answer
Desert
