Chapter 9
1. ______________ is/are defined as a group of potentially breeding organisms within a
species in a given space and time.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Density
Abundance
Distribution
Populations
Community
Answer: D
2. The creosote bush (Larrea tridentate) can have a random, clumped or regular
distribution pattern.
Answer: T
3. Density is defined as
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
the number of individuals within a population.
abundance.
the number of individuals per unit area.
the distribution of individuals within a given area.
none of the above
Answer: C
4. Often small scale distribution patterns gathered from mountain gradients can be used
to draw conclusion about large scale distribution patterns.
Answer: T
5. Caughly’s research on the distribution of three different species of Australian
kangaroos (Macropus giganteus, M. fuliginosus, and M. rufus) suggests the
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
physical environment limits the distribution of the kangaroos.
topography limits the distribution of the kangaroos.
amount of rainfall limits the distribution of the kangaroos.
temperature limits the distribution of the kangaroos.
none of the above
Answer: A
6. Metapopulations are those that contain the non-breeding individuals within a
population.
Answer: F
7. The tiger beetle Cicindela longilabris inhabits higher latitudes and elevations than
other North American tiger beetles; Schultz, Quinlan, and Hadley concluded that all of
the following factors contributed to these cooler environmental preferences except:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
higher metabolic rates.
lower body temperatures.
increased water proofing.
both higher metabolic rates and lower body temperatures.
both higher metabolic rates and increased water proofing.
Answer: C
8. Often small scale distribution patterns gathered from mountain gradients can be used
to draw conclusions about large scale distribution patterns.
Answer: T
9. Cornell studied the distribution of barnacles Chthamalus stellatus and Balanus
balaoides along the coast of Scotland and indicated that, along with the physiology of
each barnacle, ______________ also played a large role in their distribution pattern.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
topography
competition
salinity
predation
temperature
Answer: B
10. In general, research indicates that as the average body mass of an organism increases,
population density also increases.
Answer: F
11. Which of the following word pairs are mismatched?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
random distribution: aggressive interaction
clumped distribution: attraction to a common source
regular distribution: antagonistic behaviors
large scale distribution: substantial environmental changes
small scale distribution: insignificant environmental changes
Answer: A
12. In order to study abundance and relative population sizes of algae and sponges,
ecologists often use mark and recapture methods.
Answer: F
13. Research on North American bird populations have indicated that populations are
_____________, distributed on a __________________ scale.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
clumped; small
random; small
regular; small
regular; large
clumped; large
Answer: E
14. Often an organism with a broad habitat tolerance is called a generalist.
Answer: T
15. Whittaker’s research on North American tree distribution examined ____________
gradients and concluded that the tree distribution was __________________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
temperature: random
temperature: clumped
moisture: clumped
moisture random
soil : random
Answer: C
16. Animals with antagonistic behaviors will most likely be distributed in a
________________ pattern.
Answer: regular
17. In order to determine whether a species is common or rare, ecologists use all of the
following criteria except:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
habitat tolerance.
evolutionary existence.
geographical range.
local population size.
none of the above
Answer: B
18. In order to prevent speciation from occurring in metapopulations, _______________
flow is necessary between the various subpopulations.
Answer: gene
19. The rarest animal is the _______________________ and the rarest plant is the
_______________.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Northern spotted owl; Pacific Yew
Siberian tiger; Asplenium septrionale
Tasmanian devil; Welwitschia
Mountain gorilla; Prichardia Monroe
Mountain gorilla; Asplenium septrionale
Answer: D
20. ‘Rarity I’ can be described as:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
restricted range, narrow habitat tolerances, small local populations
restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, large local populations
extensive range, narrow habitat tolerances, large local populations
restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, small local populations
extensive range, broad habitat tolerances, small local populations
Answer: E
21. ‘Rarity II’ can be described as
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
restricted range, narrow habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, and large local populations.
extensive range, narrow habitat tolerances, and large local populations.
restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
extensive range, broad habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
Answer: C
22. An organism with a narrow habitat tolerance is called a
________________________.
Answer: specialist
23. ‘Extreme Rarity’ can be described as
a) restricted range, narrow habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
b) restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, and large local populations.
c) extensive range, narrow habitat tolerances, and large local populations.
d) restricted range, broad habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
e) extensive range, broad habitat tolerances, and small local populations.
Answer: A
24. In order to study population sizes, ecologists often use mark and recapture techniques
and the Lincoln-Peterson index. Lincoln-Peterson index involves all of the following
assumptions except:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
population size does not increase by birth or immigration during the study period.
no marks are unaccountable for.
death and emigration rates of marked and unmarked individuals are equal.
all individuals within the population have an equal chance of capture.
none of the above
Answer: E