Ecology: Biotic Interactions Quiz

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What type of interaction occurs between members of the same species?

Mutualism

Interspecific interactions

Intraspecific interactions (correct)

Predation

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

A parasite infesting a host

A deer grazing on grass

A predator chasing down its prey

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes (correct)

What describes the consumption of one living organism by another?

Predation (correct)

Intraspecific competition

Mutualism

Symbiosis

Which interaction involves two different species where both organisms benefit?

Symbiosis (D) Signup and view all the answers

What impact do humans have on ecosystems?

They dominate as a biotic factor (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of biotic interaction?

Moisture levels (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of symbiotic relationship involves one organism benefiting while the other has a disadvantage?

Parasitism (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the clown fish in its symbiotic relationship with the sea anemone?

To protect itself from predators (D) Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes commensalism in a symbiotic relationship?

Only one organism benefits while the other is unaffected. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which description best fits ectoparasites?

Parasites that live on the outer surface of a host. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition?

Intraspecific competition involves the same species. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does an organism's ecological niche include?

The role it plays, its habitat, and its activity pattern. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental niche of an organism?

The potential resources an organism could use under optimal conditions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is competitive exclusion?

The concept where one species outcompetes another for resources. (C) Signup and view all the answers

In parasitism, what is the primary effect on the host?

The host is weakened but typically not killed. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding competitive niches?

Realised niches can differ due to competition. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon allows plant species in fire-prone environments to germinate after a fire?

Heat-triggered seed dormancy (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between primary and secondary succession?

Primary happens in areas lacking soil, while secondary occurs in previously disturbed areas. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the competitive exclusion principle state?

No two species can occupy the same niche successfully. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a pioneer community?

Ability to modify the environment (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is ecological succession?

The process through which ecosystems undergo gradual change over time (D) Signup and view all the answers

What principle explains why two species with identical ecological niches cannot coexist?

Competitive exclusion (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes resource partitioning?

A division of limited resources among species to reduce competition (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Darwin's theory of natural selection emphasizes the uniqueness of individuals in a population?

Individual variation (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for the struggle for existence as proposed by Malthus?

Limited resources leading to competition (C) Signup and view all the answers

Darwin’s theory of natural selection implies that which of the following is crucial for evolutionary change?

Hereditary variation (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best reflects Malthus's impact on Darwin's work?

Malthus emphasized the role of resource limitations in population dynamics. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What role does natural selection play in the process of evolution?

It drives the modification of species through environmental pressures. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the concept of exponential population growth?

Populations increase rapidly without constraints on resources. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main mechanism by which evolution occurs, as described?

Natural Selection (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates natural selection in action?

The color changes in peppered moths due to environmental pollution (D) Signup and view all the answers

What primarily drives primary succession?

Colonization in lifeless areas (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of succession takes place after a wildfire has cleared an area, but some life and nutrients remain?

Secondary Succession (C) Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the dark coloration of peppered moths becoming advantageous in urban areas during the 19th century?

Sooty smoke darkening tree bark and killing lichen (A) Signup and view all the answers

After pollution controls were implemented since the 1950s, what change occurred in the population of peppered moths?

Light moths became the most common variety (A) Signup and view all the answers

What qualifies an area as suitable for primary succession?

A sterile environment without soil (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of secondary succession?

Involves major disturbances that eliminate life (D) Signup and view all the answers