80 Questions
What is the primary driving force behind the evolution of a species?
Competition for limited resources
What is the likely outcome when a species divides into two isolated subpopulations?
Speciation and the formation of two new species
What is the estimated percentage of species that have gone extinct on Earth?
98-99%
What is the term for the reciprocal influence of two or more species on each other's evolution?
Coevolution
What is the primary reason for the excess mortality of offspring in a population?
Competition for limited resources
What is the result of natural selection over time?
Decreased genetic variation
What is the term for the process by which a species adapts to its environment over time?
Evolution
What is the role of individual variation in natural selection?
It increases the likelihood of survival and reproduction
What is the primary characteristic of a mutualistic relationship?
Both species benefit from each other's presence.
What is the term for the space where interactions occur between a community and the physical environment?
Ecosystem
What is the primary role of producers in an ecosystem?
To use energy sources to make complex organic molecules
What is the term for organisms that consume both plants and animals?
Omnivores
What is the term for the sequence of energy transfer from one organism to another in an ecosystem?
Trophic level
What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
To break down nonliving organic matter into simple nutrients
What is the term for the relationship between organisms that live together, but one species is not affected by the other?
Commensalism
What is the term for all interacting species of organisms in an area?
Community
What is the term for the interaction between two organisms striving to obtain the same limited resource?
Competition
What is the principle that states no two species can occupy the same ecological niche in the same place at the same time?
Competitive Exclusion Principle
Which type of parasite lives on the host's surface?
Ectoparasite
What is the term for a relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not affected?
Commensalism
What is the term for the relationship between two different species that live in close, long-lasting association?
Symbiosis
What is the term for an organism that is attacked by a predator?
Prey
Which category of symbiotic relationships includes tapeworms and malaria parasites?
Endoparasitism
What is the term for the process by which a less-fit species evolves into a slightly different niche?
Evolutionary Niche Shift
What percentage of useful energy is lost as heat when moving from one trophic level to the next?
90%
What is often used as a proxy to measure the amount of energy in each trophic level?
Biomass
What is a series of multiple, overlapping food chains?
Food web
What is the byproduct of photosynthesis in plants?
Oxygen
What process involves respiration and recycles naturally occurring organic molecules?
Decay process
What is broken down into simpler molecular building blocks during herbivory?
Complex organic molecules
What is produced as a byproduct during herbivory?
Carbon dioxide and water
What is the carbon-containing molecule used by plants during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide
What is the primary source of phosphorus atoms?
Rock
What is the effect of increased phosphorus and nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems?
Increased growth rate of algae and aquatic plants
What is the result of converting forests to agricultural land?
Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
What is the role of decomposers in the phosphorus cycle?
To recycle phosphorus compounds back into the soil
What is the consequence of increased algal growth in aquatic ecosystems?
Decreased oxygen concentrations
What is the primary mechanism by which humans increase the amount of nitrogen available to plants?
Burning of fossil fuels
What is the consequence of applying too much fertilizer to agricultural land?
Increased growth rate of algae and aquatic plants
What is the primary fate of phosphorus compounds released through erosion?
They become dissolved in water
What is the general trend in succession?
Toward increasing complexity and more efficient use of matter and energy
What is a characteristic of most aquatic systems?
They are temporary and receive inputs of soil particles and organic matter
What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession?
The amount of soil and nutrients available
What is likely to happen to the new climax community in secondary succession?
It will be similar to the original community
What is an example of how humans have changed 'original' ecosystems?
By changing ecosystems to agriculture
What happens to the land when farms are abandoned?
It begins to return to its original condition
What is the result of primary succession in aquatic systems?
The gradual filling of shallow bodies of water
What is a characteristic of secondary succession?
It can advance more rapidly than primary succession
What is the characteristic of the euphotic zone?
The area where sunlight penetrates
What is the primary difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?
Their ability to perform photosynthesis
What is the significance of substrate in benthic ecosystems?
It affects the development of the benthic community
What is characteristic of coral reef ecosystems?
They are composed primarily of coral animals
Why are large plants and algae unable to establish themselves in shifting sand substrate?
Because the substrate is constantly shifting
What is the consequence of a profuse growth of algae in an ecosystem?
An increase in the variety of animals
What is characteristic of the abyssal ecosystem?
It is a benthic ecosystem that occurs at great depths
What is the role of scavengers in the abyssal ecosystem?
To find or attract food by generating light
What is the name given to dead trees that fall to the ground and provide a site for new tree growth?
Nurse trees
Which type of birds are common in temperate rainforests?
Woodpeckers, chickadees, juncos, and warblers
What is the primary reason for the logging of at least half of the original temperate rainforest?
To harvest the rich resource of trees
What is the name of the evergreen coniferous forest found in the southern half of Canada, parts of northern Europe, and much of Russia?
All of the above
What is the primary adaptation of trees in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?
Needle-shaped leaves to prevent water loss
What is the annual precipitation range in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?
25-100 cm
What is the primary reason for the humid climate in the taiga, northern coniferous forest, or boreal forest?
Great deal of spring snowmelt
What is the common habitat for elk, black tail deer, bears, beavers, and owls?
Temperate rainforest
What type of ecosystem is characterized by shallow water, high salt content, and extensively developed roots?
Mangrove swamp
What is the primary reason for the high productivity of estuaries?
Shallow, warm, and nutrient-rich areas
What is the impact of human activities on estuaries?
Fertilizers and animal wastes flow down rivers from farmland
What is the primary function of coral reefs?
To carry out photosynthesis
What type of ecosystem is characterized by the presence of freshwater and saltwater?
Estuary
Why are estuaries important for fish and crustaceans?
They are important nursery sites
What is the impact of fish farming on wild fish?
It has caused diseases to spread from farmed fish to wild fish
What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans?
70%
What is the factor that primarily determines the type of climax community that develops?
Climate
What is the term for each step in the process of succession?
Seral stage
What is the primary difference between primary and secondary succession?
Starting point of the process
What is the role of lichens in primary succession?
Breaking down rock and accumulating debris
What characterizes climax communities?
High levels of species diversity
What is the sequence of stages in succession called?
Sere
What type of succession begins with the disturbance of an existing ecosystem?
Secondary succession
What is the purpose of pioneer communities in primary succession?
To colonize bare rock
Test your knowledge on the principles of evolution through natural selection, including genetic variation, population growth, and the struggle for resources. Learn how species adapt and change over time.
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