BIOL 1010 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Why do toxins accumulate at such high levels in carnivores? - Answer- The biomass at
any given trophic level is accumulated from a much larger toxin-containing biomass
ingested from the level below.
Which of the following describes the number of different species in the community? -
Answer- species richness
The emergence of previously unknown infectious diseases, such as HIV, results from -
Answer- humans disturbing a particular biological community
During ecological succession, the species composition of a plant community - Answer-
changes gradually because each species responds differently to changes in
environmental factors
Which of the following is an example of primary succession? - Answer- colonization of a
newly formed volcanic island
The energy for nearly every organism in almost every ecosystem ultimately comes from
- Answer- the sun
The energy flow through the trophic levels of an ecosystem is represented as a pyramid
because - Answer- the primary productivity decreases at each level
Biogeochemical cycles are crucial to ecosystem function because - Answer- nutrients
and other life-sustaining molecules are in limited supply and must be continually
recycled
An ecosystem is unlikely to be limited by the supply of _____ because it is obtained
from the air. - Answer- carbon
Which of the following impacts the nitrogen cycle? - Answer- use of large amounts of
inorganic fertilizers
The study and protection of biological diversity is a field called - Answer- conservation
biology
Biodiversity hot spots are - Answer- regions with the potential for high levels of
extinction
, A landscape - Answer- is composed of interacting ecosystems
Edge species - Answer- may require conditions found in both of the bordering
ecosystems
Connections between habitat fragments are referred to as - Answer- movement
corridors
A major study begun in 1979 in the Amazonian forest of Brazil to learn how to best
conserve biodiversity is called - Answer- the Biological Dynamics of Forest
Fragmentation Project
The use of living organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems is called - Answer-
bioremediation
Acquiring the ecological information necessary for the responsible development,
management, and conservation of Earth's resources is the goal of - Answer- sustainable
development
The rising average global temperature is having the greatest effect on the - Answer-
northernmost regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and the Antarctic Peninsula
Environmental problems of today will be better understood by looking to the study of -
Answer- ecology
An organism's environment consists of - Answer- abiotic and biotic factors
Which of the following is a population? - Answer- all of the redwood trees that live in a
forest
The most inclusive level of organization in nature is the - Answer- biosphere
Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, depend on the availability of two
important inorganic nutrients, _____ and _____. - Answer- nitrogen ...phosphorus
Which of the following is an example of an evolutionary adaptation? - Answer- A portion
of a forest burns in a forest fire. As a species of beetles starts to recolonize the area, the
lighter-colored individuals in the population are much more visible against the burned
bark compared to darker individuals. These lighter individuals are eaten by bird
predators at a high rate. After two generations, most of the beetles are darker in color.
Which of the following is a true statement? - Answer- After a period of below-average
rainfall, drought-resistant individuals may be more prevalent in a plant population.
AND ANSWERS
Why do toxins accumulate at such high levels in carnivores? - Answer- The biomass at
any given trophic level is accumulated from a much larger toxin-containing biomass
ingested from the level below.
Which of the following describes the number of different species in the community? -
Answer- species richness
The emergence of previously unknown infectious diseases, such as HIV, results from -
Answer- humans disturbing a particular biological community
During ecological succession, the species composition of a plant community - Answer-
changes gradually because each species responds differently to changes in
environmental factors
Which of the following is an example of primary succession? - Answer- colonization of a
newly formed volcanic island
The energy for nearly every organism in almost every ecosystem ultimately comes from
- Answer- the sun
The energy flow through the trophic levels of an ecosystem is represented as a pyramid
because - Answer- the primary productivity decreases at each level
Biogeochemical cycles are crucial to ecosystem function because - Answer- nutrients
and other life-sustaining molecules are in limited supply and must be continually
recycled
An ecosystem is unlikely to be limited by the supply of _____ because it is obtained
from the air. - Answer- carbon
Which of the following impacts the nitrogen cycle? - Answer- use of large amounts of
inorganic fertilizers
The study and protection of biological diversity is a field called - Answer- conservation
biology
Biodiversity hot spots are - Answer- regions with the potential for high levels of
extinction
, A landscape - Answer- is composed of interacting ecosystems
Edge species - Answer- may require conditions found in both of the bordering
ecosystems
Connections between habitat fragments are referred to as - Answer- movement
corridors
A major study begun in 1979 in the Amazonian forest of Brazil to learn how to best
conserve biodiversity is called - Answer- the Biological Dynamics of Forest
Fragmentation Project
The use of living organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems is called - Answer-
bioremediation
Acquiring the ecological information necessary for the responsible development,
management, and conservation of Earth's resources is the goal of - Answer- sustainable
development
The rising average global temperature is having the greatest effect on the - Answer-
northernmost regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and the Antarctic Peninsula
Environmental problems of today will be better understood by looking to the study of -
Answer- ecology
An organism's environment consists of - Answer- abiotic and biotic factors
Which of the following is a population? - Answer- all of the redwood trees that live in a
forest
The most inclusive level of organization in nature is the - Answer- biosphere
Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, depend on the availability of two
important inorganic nutrients, _____ and _____. - Answer- nitrogen ...phosphorus
Which of the following is an example of an evolutionary adaptation? - Answer- A portion
of a forest burns in a forest fire. As a species of beetles starts to recolonize the area, the
lighter-colored individuals in the population are much more visible against the burned
bark compared to darker individuals. These lighter individuals are eaten by bird
predators at a high rate. After two generations, most of the beetles are darker in color.
Which of the following is a true statement? - Answer- After a period of below-average
rainfall, drought-resistant individuals may be more prevalent in a plant population.
