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Biology Second Semester Final Exam Ecology Study Guide



Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

The branch of biology dealing with interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment is called
a.
economy.
b.
modeling.
c.
recycling.
d.
ecology.
 

 2. 

Which of the following descriptions about the organization of an ecosystem is correct?
a.
Communities make up species, which make up populations.
b.
Populations make up species, which make up communities.
c.
Species make up communities, which make up populations.
d.
Species make up populations, which make up communities.
 

 3. 

Plants are
a.
primary producers.
b.
primary consumers.
c.
herbivores.
d.
omnivores.
 

 4. 

How do most primary producers make their own food?
a.
by using light energy to make carbohydrates
b.
by using chemical energy to make carbohydrates
c.
by changing water into carbon dioxide
d.
by breaking down remains to make carbon dioxide
 

 5. 

In what way are herbivores and carnivores alike?
a.
They both use photosynthesis to make their own food.
b.
They both obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
c.
They both directly consume producers.
d.
They both are considered to be autotrophs.
 

 6. 

The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called the
a.
organic mass.
b.
trophic mass.
c.
energy mass.
d.
biomass.
 

 7. 

A model of the complex feeding interactions among organisms in a community from producers to decomposers is called a
a.
food web.
b.
ecosystem.
c.
food chain.
d.
population.
 

 8. 

What animals eat both producers and consumers?
a.
herbivores
b.
omnivores
c.
chemotrophs
d.
autotrophs
 

 9. 

A bird stalks, kills, and then eats an insect. Based on its behavior, which pair of ecological terms describes the bird?
a.
herbivore, decomposer
b.
producer, heterotroph
c.
carnivore, consumer
d.
autotroph, herbivore
 
 
nar001-1.jpg
Figure 3–2
 

 10. 

What goes in Box 5 of the food web in Figure 3–2?
a.
herbivores
b.
scavengers
c.
carnivores
d.
decomposers
 

 11. 

Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the remaining energy, some is used for the organism’s life processes, and the rest is
a.
used in reproduction.
b.
stored as body tissue.
c.
stored as fat.
d.
eliminated as heat.
 

 12. 

A word that means the same thing as consumer is
a.
producer.
b.
autotroph.
c.
heterotroph.
d.
carbohydrate.
 

 13. 

Matter can recycle through the biosphere because
a.
matter does not change into new compounds.
b.
matter is assembled into chemical compounds.
c.
biological systems do not use up matter, they transform it.
d.
biological systems use only carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
 

 14. 

The repeated movement of water between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere is called
a.
the water cycle.
b.
the condensation cycle.
c.
precipitation.
d.
evaporation.
 

 15. 

Carbon cycles through the biosphere in all of the following processes EXCEPT
a.
photosynthesis.
b.
transpiration.
c.
burning of fossil fuels.
d.
decomposition of plants and animals.
 

 16. 

Which part of the water cycle is a biological process?
a.
transpiration
b.
runoff
c.
precipitation
d.
condensation
 

 17. 

Organisms need nutrients in order to
a.
utilize hydrogen and oxygen.
b.
carry out essential life functions.
c.
recycle chemical compounds.
d.
carry out nitrogen fixation.
 

 18. 

The movements of energy and nutrients through living systems are different because
a.
energy flows in one direction, and nutrients recycle.
b.
energy is limited in the biosphere, and nutrients are always available.
c.
nutrients flow in one direction, and energy recycles.
d.
energy forms chemical compounds, and nutrients are lost as heat.
 

 19. 

Because of biogeochemical cycling,
a.
human activity has no effect on elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter.
b.
living organisms are not limited by any one nutrient.
c.
nutrients are circulated throughout the biosphere.
d.
many nutrients do not reach toxic concentrations in the biosphere.
 

 20. 

If a lake receives a large input of a limiting nutrient, which of these would happen first?
a.
An algal bloom occurs.
b.
Algae begin to die and decomposers take over.
c.
Nitrogen compounds are recycled.
d.
The concentration of oxygen drops below the necessary level.
 

 21. 

Animals that get energy by eating the carcasses of other animals that have been killed by predators or have died of natural causes are called
a.
scavengers.
b.
omnivores.
c.
heterotrophs.
d.
detritivores.
 

 22. 

Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT
a.
plant life.
b.
soil type.
c.
rainfall.
d.
temperature.
 

 23. 

During a long period when there is no rainfall, a mountain lion may temporarily leave its usual hunting territory to drink from a farm pond. This behavior is due to
a.
its need to find different foods to eat.
b.
the change in an abiotic factor in its environment.
c.
its need to find a new habitat.
d.
the change in a biotic factor in its environment.
 

 24. 

Which is an example of how biotic and abiotic factors interact?
a.
Sunlight increases the temperature of pond water.
b.
Water and soil mix together to make mud.
c.
Tree roots split apart rocks in the ground.
d.
Humidity in the air forms fog in a valley.
 

 25. 

What is at the base of all ecological pyramids?
a.
consumers
b.
decomposers
c.
producers
d.
scavengers
 

 26. 

Primary succession would most likely occur after
a.
a forest fire.
b.
a lava flow.
c.
farm land is abandoned.
d.
a severe storm.
 

 27. 

What is one difference between primary and secondary succession?
a.
Primary succession is rapid and secondary succession is slow.
b.
Secondary succession begins on soil and primary succession begins on newly exposed surfaces.
c.
Primary succession modifies the environment and secondary succession does not.
d.
Secondary succession begins with lichens and primary succession begins with trees.
 

 28. 

Which of the following occurs during the ecological succession of an ecosystem?
a.
An ecosystem reaches a final, unchanging stage.
b.
Animals move out of the ecosystem until succession is complete.
c.
Living organisms modify their environment a little at a time.
d.
Parts of communities split off to form new communities.
 

 29. 

Which is a factor that could interrupt the progress of succession?
a.
colonization of surfaces by lichens
b.
different animals appearing at each stage
c.
another natural disturbance
d.
long-term fluctuations in climate
 

 30. 

A tropical rain forest may be unable to be returned to its original climax community after which of the following disturbances?
a.
burning of a forest fire
b.
clearing and farming
c.
volcanic eruption
d.
flooding after a hurricane
 

 31. 

An example of a human-caused disturbance is
a.
a hurricane.
b.
forest-clearing.
c.
wildfires.
d.
growing lichens.
 

 32. 

Introduced species can threaten biodiversity because they can
a.
cause desertification.
b.
cause biological magnification.
c.
crowd out native species.
d.
reduce the amount of fertile land.
 

 33. 

All of the following are threats to biodiversity EXCEPT
a.
biological magnification of toxic compounds.
b.
habitat fragmentation.
c.
introduced species.
d.
habitat preservation.
 

 34. 

One of the greatest threats today to biodiversity is
a.
old-growth forests.
b.
ozone depletion.
c.
altered habitats.
d.
sustainable development.
 

 35. 

An ecological hot spot is an area where
a.
habitats and species show a high amount of biodiversity.
b.
hunting is encouraged.
c.
many habitats and species are at high risk of extinction.
d.
species diversity is too high.
 

 36. 

Protecting an entire ecosystem ensures that
a.
captive breeding programs will succeed.
b.
existing parks and reserves will expand.
c.
governments will set aside land.
d.
interactions among many species will be preserved.
 

 37. 

The simplest grouping of more than one kind of organism in the biosphere is
a.
a population.
b.
a community.
c.
an ecosystem.
d.
a species.
 

 38. 

The lowest level of environmental complexity that includes living and nonliving factors is the
a.
biome.
b.
community.
c.
ecosystem.
d.
biosphere.
 

 39. 

What are the three kinds of ecological pyramids?
a.
producer, consumer, and decomposer
b.
energy, nutrient, and trophic
c.
energy, biomass, and numbers
d.
biotic, abiotic, and nutrient
 

 40. 

Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?
a.
average temperature of the ecosystem
b.
type of soil in the ecosystem
c.
number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem
d.
concentration of oxygen in the ecosystem
 
 
nar002-1.jpg
Figure 3–4
 

 41. 

Which of the following is a food chain in the food web shown in Figure 3–4?
a.
tree, rabbit, hawk, snake
b.
grass, grasshopper, snake, hawk
c.
grass, caterpillar, robin, hawk
d.
tree, deer, mountain lion, fox
 
 
nar003-1.jpg

Figure 4–2
 

 42. 

Figure 4–2 shows succession in an ecosystem. What organisms are found in the climax community for this ecosystem?
a.
lichens and moss
b.
trees and shrubs
c.
weeds and grasses
d.
volcanoes and soil
 

 43. 

Which of the following is NOT one of the factors that play a role in population growth rate?
a.
immigration
b.
death rate
c.
emigration
d.
demography
 

 44. 

The movement of organisms into a range is called
a.
immigration.
b.
emigration.
c.
population shift.
d.
carrying capacity.
 

 45. 

Which of the following could describe a population that is decreasing in size?
a.
The birthrate and the death rate remain the same.
b.
The death rate is becoming lower than the birthrate.
c.
The death rate is constant and the birthrate is increasing.
d.
The death rate is becoming higher than the birthrate.
 

 46. 

If immigration and emigration numbers remain equal, which of these could cause a slowed growth rate?
a.
increased birthrate
b.
constant death rate
c.
decreased birthrate
d.
constant birthrate
 

 47. 

Which are two ways a population can decrease in size?
a.
immigration and emigration
b.
increased death rate and immigration
c.
decreased birthrate and emigration
d.
emigration and increased birthrate
 
 
nar004-1.jpg

Figure 5–1
 

 48. 

The graph in Figure 5–1 shows the growth of a bacterial population. Which of the following correctly describes the growth curve?
a.
logistic
b.
limiting
c.
demographic
d.
exponential
 

 49. 

Suppose that a species of toads is introduced into a new environment in an attempt to reduce the population of insects. The toad has no natural predators in the new environment. The toad population would most likely
a.
increase exponentially.
b.
increase logistically.
c.
decrease rapidly and die out.
d.
remain the same.
 

 50. 

Which of the following graphs is a graph showing exponential growth?
a.
mc050-1.jpg
b.
mc050-2.jpg
c.
mc050-3.jpg
d.
mc050-4.jpg
 

 51. 

During some kinds of population growth, the size of each generation of offspring is larger than the generation before it. So, as the population gets larger, it grows more quickly. This situation is called
a.
logistic growth.
b.
growth density.
c.
exponential growth.
d.
multiple growth.
 

 52. 

Which factor might NOT contribute to an exponential growth rate in a given population?
a.
lower death rates
b.
higher birthrates
c.
less competition
d.
reduced resources
 

 53. 

The various growth phases through which most populations go are represented on
a.
a logistic growth curve.
b.
an exponential growth curve.
c.
a normal curve.
d.
a population curve.
 

 54. 

As resources in a population become less available, the population
a.
declines rapidly.
b.
increases slowly.
c.
reaches carrying capacity.
d.
enters a phase of exponential growth.
 

 55. 

In a logistic growth curve, exponential growth is the phase in which the population
a.
reaches carrying capacity.
b.
grows quickly.
c.
growth begins to slow down.
d.
growth stops.
 

 56. 

When the exponential phase of a logistic growth curve of a population ceases,
a.
the size of the population drops.
b.
the size of the population stays the same.
c.
population growth begins to slow down.
d.
population growth begins to speed up.
 

 57. 

Something that controls the growth or size of a population is
a.
the carrying capacity.
b.
the growth rate.
c.
a limiting factor.
d.
a growth factor.
 

 58. 

Sea otters live in the ocean. Which of the following is NOT likely to be a limiting factor on the sea otter population?
a.
disease
b.
competition
c.
drought
d.
predation
 

 59. 

Which will reduce competition within a species’ population?
a.
fewer individuals
b.
higher birthrate
c.
fewer resources
d.
higher population density
 

 60. 

If a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the environment, which of these is most likely to happen?
a.
The death rate may rise.
b.
The birthrate may rise.
c.
The death rate must fall.
d.
The birthrate must fall.
 

 61. 

Water lilies do not grow in desert sand because water availability to these plants in a desert is
a.
a limiting factor.
b.
the carrying capacity.
c.
a competition factor.
d.
the logistic growth curve.
 
 
nar005-1.jpg
Figure 5–2
 

 62. 

Using Figure 5–2, what is the most likely cause of the decrease in moose population immediately after 1995?
a.
Poisonous plants killed off many moose.
b.
Many moose reached old age and died.
c.
Overcrowding caused competition in the moose population.
d.
A decrease in predators caused competition in the moose population.
 

 63. 

A developer wants to build new a new housing development in or around a large city. Which of the following plans would be LEAST harmful to the environment?
a.
Clearing a forested area outside of the city to build houses.
b.
Building apartments at the site of an abandoned factory in the city.
c.
Building a neighborhood in a meadow at the edge of the city.
d.
Filling a wetland area and building oceanfront condominiums.
 

 64. 

What is one negative consequence of the Industrial Revolution?
a.
fewer jobs for people living in cities
b.
more expensive clothes
c.
environmental harm from the burning of fossil fuels
d.
people working longer hours at their jobs
 

 65. 

An example of a renewable resource is
a.
oil.
b.
natural gas.
c.
coal.
d.
trees.
 

 66. 

Which of the following is true about nonrenewable resources?
a.
They can be replaced through sustainable development.
b.
There are plenty for people to use for a very long time.
c.
Using them up will help keep the environment healthy.
d.
They cannot be replaced after they are used up.
 

 67. 

Using environmental resources in a way that does not cause long-term environmental harm is like
a.
spending only as much money as you earn.
b.
borrowing money that you cannot pay back for a long time.
c.
printing more money when you need it.
d.
lending money to people who can’t pay it back.
 

 68. 

The 1930s Dust Bowl in the Great Plains was caused by
a.
deforestation.
b.
contour plowing.
c.
using renewable resources.
d.
poor farming practices.
 
 
nar006-1.jpg
Figure 6–3
 

 69. 

What is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from the graph in Figure 63 above?
a.
Less energy is used when people travel farther by car.
b.
Although people are traveling more by car, pollution has decreased.
c.
Pollution increases as energy consumption increases.
d.
Energy consumption has changed more than total emissions.
 

 70. 

The number of different species in the biosphere or in a particular area is called
a.
biodiversity.
b.
ecosystem diversity.
c.
genetic diversity.
d.
species diversity.
 

 71. 

How are species diversity and genetic diversity different?
a.
Species diversity is evaluated only in ecosystems, while genetic diversity is evaluated in the entire biosphere.
b.
Species diversity measures the number of species in the biosphere, while genetic diversity measures the variety of genes in the biosphere, including genetic variation within species.
c.
Species diversity measures the number of individuals of a species, while genetic diversity measures the total variety of species.
d.
Conservation biology is concerned with species diversity, but not with genetic diversity.
 

 72. 

Biodiversity is valuable partly because it
a.
gives us interesting things to look at.
b.
tells us about many other species.
c.
contributes to medicine and agriculture.
d.
provides humans with resistance to disease.
 



 
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