APES Chapter 4 & 5 Questions
Biodiversity and Evolution
1. Give two examples of ecosystems with high species diversity and describe the characteristics that they
both share.
2. Explain why an ecosystem with high biodiversity would be more stable and sustainable than an
ecosystem in a similar location with low biodiversity.
3. "Survival of the fittest" does not necessarily mean "survival of the strongest." Give an example of a
situation where the strongest individuals are not the ones that produce the most offspring.
4. Identify three naturally occurring events that would cause a decrease in biodiversity..
5. Identify three specific examples of human activities that cause a decrease in biodiversity.
6. What are nonnative species? Give an example of an invasive species threatening a native species.
7. Identify three indicator species and describe the characteristics of each that make it a good biological
indicator.
8. Explain the difference between a foundation species and a keystone species, using an example of each to
help illustrate your answer.
9. Southern sea otters are both a keystone species and an indicator species (p. 97). Describe how the sea
otters fit both descriptions. (Core Case Study (p. 104) and Science Focus (p. 108)
10. How do predator-prey relationships play a role in evolution?
11. Provide a definition and two examples each of parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism.
12. A population of squirrels living in a forest experiences the following changes over a one year period: 25
births, 18 deaths, 6 immigrants, and 9 emigrants. Calculate the change in the size of the population over
that period of time.
13. Briefly describe what has happened to the population of white-tailed deer and then explain what – if
anything – should be done about the deer and why.
14. Compare and contrast the two extreme types of reproductive patterns used by species in the chart.
Population 1 (e.g. insects) Population 2 (e.g. elephants)
Number of offspring at one time
Parental care
Likelihood of offspring survival
Time to maturation
Lifespan
15. Compare and contrast density-dependent and density-independent factors. Which type was more likely
to result in the population crash seen on the island of St. Paul in the Bering Sea (p. 116, figure)? Why?