Bio 370 final questions with detailed
solutions
What are the primary components of biodiversity? - correct answer ✔✔ species diversity,
genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity, and functional diversity
true statements about neutral models of species diversity - correct answer ✔✔ They assume
that species have similar interaction strengths.
They emphasize the role of dispersal in response to available resource
They assume species have similar population growth rates
According to the concept of resource partitioning, which combination of attributes of a
community would tend to lead to higher species richness? - correct answer ✔✔ High
specialization of species across a broad resource spectrum
Robert MacArthur studied different species of warblers in New England forests that feed on the
same prey within the tree canopy. His detailed figures of their activity within the canopy suggest
that the different species - correct answer ✔✔ coexist because they utilize different parts of the
same trees.
A research team is examining competitive outcomes between two species of bacteria, A and B.
The team has manipulated levels of silica and phosphorus, and examined whether bacteria A
won the competition, bacteria B won the competition, or whether there was co-existence
between the two species (C). The results are shown in the table. - correct answer ✔✔ A always
outcompeted B when silica and phosphorus levels were equal.
Which evidence supports the idea that managing for biodiversity is critical in protecting human
populations from potential disease epidemics? - correct answer ✔✔ Half of the zoonotic
diseases that have emerged since 1940 have occurred in areas with reduced biodiversity.
, The widespread use of antibiotics since 1940 decreases diverse microbiomes.
The population explosion of a species reduces the diversity in an area and can lead to increased
human risk of contagion
Tilman and Downing studied the impact of plant species richness on drought resistance in
prairie communities. What conclusion can you draw from their figure? - correct answer ✔✔
Communities with higher species richness before the drought lost less biomass during it.
The table shows hypothetical data for a community of fungi. These data show that the
community best fits the _______ model. Based on this, one would predict that the diversity of
the community with a disturbance of 16 and a competitive displacement of 16 would have a
diversity of _______. - correct answer ✔✔ intermediate disturbance; less than 20
You are evaluating three snail species to determine their overall threat as invasive species to an
area. You bring several individuals of each species into your lab to test their tolerance of a range
of abiotic and biotic factors. Figure 1 shows how the three snail species respond to differences
in average temperature and Figure 2 shows the number of prey and parasite species for each of
the species in the new areas, along with how competitive each potential invasive species will be
in the new community (higher numbers indicate that the species will be a more successful
competitor). Based solely on species-level tolerances of biotic factors (Figure 2), which snail
species pose(s) the least threat as an invasive species in the new area, based on the three types
of data collected, and why? Which species might be most affected by biotic resistance? How
would the presence or absence of predators impact the ability of the - correct answer ✔✔ Due
to biotic factors in the new area, Species B and C pose less of a threat than Species A does.
Species B appears to be a specialist with only one prey species in the new area; if the prey
species is uncommon, its overall threat as an invasive species may decrease. Species C
consumes a greater range of prey species than Species B, but it is the least competitive of the
three species. Because of this lower competitive ability, Species C would likely be most affected
by biotic resistance because it is at risk of being outcompeted for resources. The number of
parasite species would not affect the threat levels of any of the species, as none have parasites
in the new area, which may help the species to better compete with native species.
solutions
What are the primary components of biodiversity? - correct answer ✔✔ species diversity,
genetic diversity, ecosystem diversity, and functional diversity
true statements about neutral models of species diversity - correct answer ✔✔ They assume
that species have similar interaction strengths.
They emphasize the role of dispersal in response to available resource
They assume species have similar population growth rates
According to the concept of resource partitioning, which combination of attributes of a
community would tend to lead to higher species richness? - correct answer ✔✔ High
specialization of species across a broad resource spectrum
Robert MacArthur studied different species of warblers in New England forests that feed on the
same prey within the tree canopy. His detailed figures of their activity within the canopy suggest
that the different species - correct answer ✔✔ coexist because they utilize different parts of the
same trees.
A research team is examining competitive outcomes between two species of bacteria, A and B.
The team has manipulated levels of silica and phosphorus, and examined whether bacteria A
won the competition, bacteria B won the competition, or whether there was co-existence
between the two species (C). The results are shown in the table. - correct answer ✔✔ A always
outcompeted B when silica and phosphorus levels were equal.
Which evidence supports the idea that managing for biodiversity is critical in protecting human
populations from potential disease epidemics? - correct answer ✔✔ Half of the zoonotic
diseases that have emerged since 1940 have occurred in areas with reduced biodiversity.
, The widespread use of antibiotics since 1940 decreases diverse microbiomes.
The population explosion of a species reduces the diversity in an area and can lead to increased
human risk of contagion
Tilman and Downing studied the impact of plant species richness on drought resistance in
prairie communities. What conclusion can you draw from their figure? - correct answer ✔✔
Communities with higher species richness before the drought lost less biomass during it.
The table shows hypothetical data for a community of fungi. These data show that the
community best fits the _______ model. Based on this, one would predict that the diversity of
the community with a disturbance of 16 and a competitive displacement of 16 would have a
diversity of _______. - correct answer ✔✔ intermediate disturbance; less than 20
You are evaluating three snail species to determine their overall threat as invasive species to an
area. You bring several individuals of each species into your lab to test their tolerance of a range
of abiotic and biotic factors. Figure 1 shows how the three snail species respond to differences
in average temperature and Figure 2 shows the number of prey and parasite species for each of
the species in the new areas, along with how competitive each potential invasive species will be
in the new community (higher numbers indicate that the species will be a more successful
competitor). Based solely on species-level tolerances of biotic factors (Figure 2), which snail
species pose(s) the least threat as an invasive species in the new area, based on the three types
of data collected, and why? Which species might be most affected by biotic resistance? How
would the presence or absence of predators impact the ability of the - correct answer ✔✔ Due
to biotic factors in the new area, Species B and C pose less of a threat than Species A does.
Species B appears to be a specialist with only one prey species in the new area; if the prey
species is uncommon, its overall threat as an invasive species may decrease. Species C
consumes a greater range of prey species than Species B, but it is the least competitive of the
three species. Because of this lower competitive ability, Species C would likely be most affected
by biotic resistance because it is at risk of being outcompeted for resources. The number of
parasite species would not affect the threat levels of any of the species, as none have parasites
in the new area, which may help the species to better compete with native species.
