BIOLOGY 301 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations? -
Correct Answers -individual
A symbiotic relationship with algae is central to - Correct Answers -coral reefs
Which is NOT an adaptation to low-oxygen aquatic environments?
a. increased metabolic activity
b. increased hemoglobin
c. symbiotic relationship with algae
d. breathing air - Correct Answers -a. increased metabolic activity
To better understand what happens in an aquatic system (freshwater lake) when
exposed to acid deposition (acid rain), an ecologist would likely look at the lake from the
a. species level.
b. community level.
c. population level
d. ecosystem level. - Correct Answers -d. ecosystem level
Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of increased resource availability?
a. fast growth
b. early development
c. large size at maturation
d. reduced predation risk - Correct Answers -d. reduced predation risk
All of the following are benefits of sexual reproduction EXCEPT that
a. deleterious mutations are more likely to be purged.
b. offspring are more likely to possess traits to help cope with future environmental
challenges.
c. offspring are likely to have greater resources for reproduction than asexually
produced offspring.
, d. offspring are able to evolve to overcome the ever-evolving pathogens and parasites
(i.e., fight the evolutionary arms race). - Correct Answers -c. offspring are likely to have
greater resources for reproduction than asexually produced offspring.
In the logistic growth model, under which condition is the per capita rate of increase the
highest? - Correct Answers -N = K/4
The primary cause of coral bleaching is - Correct Answers -increased water
temperature
Spotted salamanders lay eggs in gelatinous masses on twigs partially submerged in
small ponds or vernal pools. Associated with the eggs, scientists have found a species
of alga living in a mutualistic relationship with the developing eggs. What benefit does
the salamander receive from this relationship?
a. The salamander embryos receive an increased nitrogen supply.
b. The salamander eggs are better camouflaged.
c. The salamander embryos receive an increased carbon dioxide supply.
d. The salamander embryos receive an increased oxygen supply. - Correct Answers -d.
the salamander embryos receive an increased oxygen supply.
Water's polar nature
a. explains its high density.
b. causes it to freeze at 0°C.
c. makes it a good solvent.
d. limits the amount of dissolved nutrients it can hold. - Correct Answers -c. makes it a
good solvent
In evolution by natural selection, which of the following is true?
a. All individuals within a population are identical.
b. Some individuals have a higher fitness because of their traits.
c. Offspring inherit every trait from both parents.
d. The fitness of an individual refers to the strength of the individual. - Correct Answers -
b. some individuals have a higher fitness because of their traits.
Availability of soil nutrients varies with... - Correct Answers -pH
soil temperature
presence of other ions
A scientist is studying a bird that forages for worms and takes them back to its nest. If
the relation between search time and the number of prey caught remains constant but
the scientist moves the food closer, what change in the bird's behavior would central
place foraging predict?
ANSWERS
Which ecological level would be of most interest to an ecologist studying adaptations? -
Correct Answers -individual
A symbiotic relationship with algae is central to - Correct Answers -coral reefs
Which is NOT an adaptation to low-oxygen aquatic environments?
a. increased metabolic activity
b. increased hemoglobin
c. symbiotic relationship with algae
d. breathing air - Correct Answers -a. increased metabolic activity
To better understand what happens in an aquatic system (freshwater lake) when
exposed to acid deposition (acid rain), an ecologist would likely look at the lake from the
a. species level.
b. community level.
c. population level
d. ecosystem level. - Correct Answers -d. ecosystem level
Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of increased resource availability?
a. fast growth
b. early development
c. large size at maturation
d. reduced predation risk - Correct Answers -d. reduced predation risk
All of the following are benefits of sexual reproduction EXCEPT that
a. deleterious mutations are more likely to be purged.
b. offspring are more likely to possess traits to help cope with future environmental
challenges.
c. offspring are likely to have greater resources for reproduction than asexually
produced offspring.
, d. offspring are able to evolve to overcome the ever-evolving pathogens and parasites
(i.e., fight the evolutionary arms race). - Correct Answers -c. offspring are likely to have
greater resources for reproduction than asexually produced offspring.
In the logistic growth model, under which condition is the per capita rate of increase the
highest? - Correct Answers -N = K/4
The primary cause of coral bleaching is - Correct Answers -increased water
temperature
Spotted salamanders lay eggs in gelatinous masses on twigs partially submerged in
small ponds or vernal pools. Associated with the eggs, scientists have found a species
of alga living in a mutualistic relationship with the developing eggs. What benefit does
the salamander receive from this relationship?
a. The salamander embryos receive an increased nitrogen supply.
b. The salamander eggs are better camouflaged.
c. The salamander embryos receive an increased carbon dioxide supply.
d. The salamander embryos receive an increased oxygen supply. - Correct Answers -d.
the salamander embryos receive an increased oxygen supply.
Water's polar nature
a. explains its high density.
b. causes it to freeze at 0°C.
c. makes it a good solvent.
d. limits the amount of dissolved nutrients it can hold. - Correct Answers -c. makes it a
good solvent
In evolution by natural selection, which of the following is true?
a. All individuals within a population are identical.
b. Some individuals have a higher fitness because of their traits.
c. Offspring inherit every trait from both parents.
d. The fitness of an individual refers to the strength of the individual. - Correct Answers -
b. some individuals have a higher fitness because of their traits.
Availability of soil nutrients varies with... - Correct Answers -pH
soil temperature
presence of other ions
A scientist is studying a bird that forages for worms and takes them back to its nest. If
the relation between search time and the number of prey caught remains constant but
the scientist moves the food closer, what change in the bird's behavior would central
place foraging predict?
