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BIOL111 - Ecology Questions and Correct
Answers
Ecology is the study of all processes influencing: Ans: The
distribution and abundance of organisms. Interactions between
living thing and the environment.
Biosphere Ans: All space occupied by living things on the earth
Biome Ans: A large, naturally occurring community of living things
occupying a major habitat (e.g. tropical rain forest, tundra)
Ecosystem Ans: A region containing interacting abiotic and biotic
factors
Community Ans: Population of species that occur together in the
same space and time
Population Ans: Individuals of the same species that co-occur in
space and time
Individual Ans: Living entities that are genetically and physically
discrete
Optimum range Ans: The range in which species grow and survive
best (one for every factor)
Range of tolerance Ans: the entire range of environmental
conditions that are tolerable for survival
Limits of tolerance Ans: The high and low ends of the range of
tolerance
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Zones of stress Ans: Between the optimal range and high or low
limit of tolerance
What are 5 key abiotic factors for terrestrial life? Ans: 1.
Temperature
2. Light
3. Water availability
4. Elevation
5. Soil types
What are 6 key abiotic factors for aquatic life? Ans: 1.
Temperature
2. Light
3. Salinity
4. Oxygen
5. Soil types
6. pH
Where is species richness greatest on earth? Ans: Near the equator
Allopatric processes: Dispersal Ans: When a few members of a
species move to a new geographical area
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Allopatric processes: Vicariance Ans: When a natural situation
forms a geographic barrier to physically divide organisms
What animals did the first Polynesian settlers bring to NZ Ans:
Kiore (rat) and kuri (dog)
How many native vascular plant species were native to NZ Ans:
2200
What three NZ trees (native and endemic) are thought to be
Gondwana survivors? Ans: Kauri, beech and abrotanella
What are 4 features of NZ plants? Ans: 1. large proportion of tree
species
2. Few deciduous species
3. Common plant/bird mutualism
4. Simple, white flowers are common
Why are most NZ native trees evergreen? Ans: Not very harsh
winters.
Low soil fertility so replacing leaves is hard.
Why are Karearea (NZ falcon), a top predator, nationally
threatened? (3 reasons) Ans: 1. Ground nesting due to having
other avian predators in the past.
2. Humans actively killing them
3. Electrocution from lines/ transformers on buildings
© 2025 All rights reserved
BIOL111 - Ecology Questions and Correct
Answers
Ecology is the study of all processes influencing: Ans: The
distribution and abundance of organisms. Interactions between
living thing and the environment.
Biosphere Ans: All space occupied by living things on the earth
Biome Ans: A large, naturally occurring community of living things
occupying a major habitat (e.g. tropical rain forest, tundra)
Ecosystem Ans: A region containing interacting abiotic and biotic
factors
Community Ans: Population of species that occur together in the
same space and time
Population Ans: Individuals of the same species that co-occur in
space and time
Individual Ans: Living entities that are genetically and physically
discrete
Optimum range Ans: The range in which species grow and survive
best (one for every factor)
Range of tolerance Ans: the entire range of environmental
conditions that are tolerable for survival
Limits of tolerance Ans: The high and low ends of the range of
tolerance
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Zones of stress Ans: Between the optimal range and high or low
limit of tolerance
What are 5 key abiotic factors for terrestrial life? Ans: 1.
Temperature
2. Light
3. Water availability
4. Elevation
5. Soil types
What are 6 key abiotic factors for aquatic life? Ans: 1.
Temperature
2. Light
3. Salinity
4. Oxygen
5. Soil types
6. pH
Where is species richness greatest on earth? Ans: Near the equator
Allopatric processes: Dispersal Ans: When a few members of a
species move to a new geographical area
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Allopatric processes: Vicariance Ans: When a natural situation
forms a geographic barrier to physically divide organisms
What animals did the first Polynesian settlers bring to NZ Ans:
Kiore (rat) and kuri (dog)
How many native vascular plant species were native to NZ Ans:
2200
What three NZ trees (native and endemic) are thought to be
Gondwana survivors? Ans: Kauri, beech and abrotanella
What are 4 features of NZ plants? Ans: 1. large proportion of tree
species
2. Few deciduous species
3. Common plant/bird mutualism
4. Simple, white flowers are common
Why are most NZ native trees evergreen? Ans: Not very harsh
winters.
Low soil fertility so replacing leaves is hard.
Why are Karearea (NZ falcon), a top predator, nationally
threatened? (3 reasons) Ans: 1. Ground nesting due to having
other avian predators in the past.
2. Humans actively killing them
3. Electrocution from lines/ transformers on buildings
© 2025 All rights reserved
