APES Test: Life on Earth part II (Ecosystems & Evolution)
Part I: Objective Section...60% of the test (3000 pts), each question is weighted equally
a) Keystone species
b) Exotic species
c) Ubiquitous species
d) Endemic species
e) Indicator species
1) A fig tree whose fruit is necessary for the survival of numerous animal species.
2) A native of Russian lakes, the zebra mussels that clog the waterways around Detroit.
3) A Monterey pine, found only on a portion of the California coast.
4) The purple loosestrife population in North America.
5) E. Coli, bacteria found in human intestines.
a) Parasitism
b) Predation
c) Commensalism
d) Competition
e) Symbiosis
6) A wasp lays its eggs beneath the skin of a caterpillar, once hatched the larvae eat the body of the caterpillar from the inside.
7) Microscopic mites live in human hair follicles; they cause no harm as they eat oils off the human’s skin.
8) A wolf feeding on a moose.
9) One million grams is a _____ gram.
a) gigab) milli-
c) mega-
d) kilo-
e) micro-
10) Biogeography refers to
a) biological distribution of organisms in a food chain.
b) geographic distribution of biotic provinces.
c) geographic distribution of living organisms.
d) biological distribution of introduced species.
e) changes in wildlife habitat over time.
11) The environmental factor that most directly resulted in the selection of one variety of peppered moth over another in
England.
a) soot covering the bark of English trees
b) air pollution during the Industrial Revolution
c) competition for food resources
d) the extinction of the birds that preyed on the peppered moth
e) the relative reproductive success of one variety of peppered moth
12) What does the statement "two species that have exactly the same requirements cannot coexist in exactly the same habitat"
refer to?
a) species diversity
b) species dominance
c) competitive exclusion
d) biological evolution
e) natural selection
13) The extinction of which of the following would have the most drastic consequences for the continuation of life on earth?
a) human beings
b) herbivorous animals
c) bacteria and blue-green algae
d) coniferous trees
e) viruses
14) Consider the following scenario: The temperature of your skin increases, which leads to an increase in perspiration.
Perspiration evaporates from the surface of your skin. The temperature of your skin decreases. This is an example of
a) a closed system.
b) an open system.
c) synergy.
d) a positive feedback loop.
e) a negative feedback loop.
15) In a food chain that includes three trophic levels, photosynthesis occurs in the organisms in the
a) 1st
b) 1st & 2nd
c) 2nd
d) 3rd
16) The organisms permanently classified as primary consumers are
a) decomposers.
b) omnivores.
c) carnivores.
d) herbivores.
trophic level(s).
e) 2nd & 3rd
e) producers.
17) The processes that lead to biological evolution are:
a) mutation, self-reproduction, competition and natural selection
b) natural selection, genetic drift, changing cell structures and self-reproduction over time
c) mutation, migration, competition, and changing cell structures over time
d) natural selection, migration, genetic drift, and mutation
e) reproduction, migration, predation, and natural selection
18) The Norway rat and the black rat were both introduced to this country from Europe. The Norway rat is found only in cities
and inhabits most cities in the U.S. The black rat can live in cities and rural areas but in New Jersey is only found in rural
areas. Some cities in New Jersey, which previously had only black rats, now have only Norway rats. This is an example of:
a) biological evolution
b) genetic drift
c) competitive exclusion
d) predation
e) mutation
19) Complex feeding patterns for consumers in an ecosystem are called
a) food webs.
b) food chains.
c) trophic levels.
d) energy pyramids.
e) biomass.
20) The hydrologic cycle is driven primarily by
a) mechanical and chemical energy.
b) photosynthesis and respiration
c) solar energy and the moon.
d) solar energy and gravity.
e) solar energy and mechanical energy.
21) Based on the theory of island biogeography, a correct prediction regarding large islands near the mainland is that they
should have
a) a relatively high immigration rate and relatively high extinction rate.
b) a relatively high immigration rate and relatively low extinction rate.
c) zero immigration and a relatively low extinction rate.
d) a relatively low immigration rate and relatively high extinction rate.
e) zero immigration and a relatively high extinction rate.
22) Which of the following is the most important factor in determining the type of biome that will be found in an area?
a) species dominance
b) biological diversity
c) altitude
d) continental drift
e) climate
23) The number of identified and named species is nearest
a) 1.5 x 101
b) 1.5 x 103
c) 1.5 x 106
d) 1.5 x 109
e) 1.5 x 1012
24) Two species with similar characteristics that are separated by large distances and are not closely related genetically most
likely resulted from
a) biogeography
b) competitive exclusion
c) biotic province
d) island biogeography
e) convergent evolution
25) In an ecological community, species
is the total number of species, species
and species
is the most abundant species.
a) evenness; richness; dominance
b) richness; dominance; evenness
c) dominance; evenness; richness
d) richness; evenness; dominance
e) evenness; dominance; richness
is the relative abundance of species,
Part II: Free Response Question...40% of the test (2000 pts)
In the process of conducting research for an ecology paper, a student finds the following information on a webpage about the
Amazon rainforest.
Eats Ants and Leaves
Although ants cannot digest cellulose, the main ingredient of leaves, the leafcutting ants common in the rainforests of South
and Central America, can be seen traveling in long meandering lines on the forest floor carrying large pieces of tree leaves
several times their own size to a large underground nest. Upon returning to their nest, the ants feed the leaves to a large
basidiomycete fungus, which they cultivate and protect. The fungus is harvested for food by the ants, which are careful to
always maintain a healthy population of the fungus. The avocado tree and mango tree are among numerous trees that
contribute leaves to this process.
The mortal enemy of a leafcutting ant is the giant anteater, who uses long, sharp claws to tear open ant nests. Once the ants
are exposed, using a tongue coated with sticky saliva, the giant anteater collects eggs, larvae, and adult ants. A giant anteater
can consume a few thousand ants in minutes.
A member of the rodent family, the agouti mainly feeds on fruit, including their favorites, avocados and mangos. Agoutis
are able to hear fruit falling from trees from far away, and the sound of ripe fruit hitting the ground attracts them. When food is
abundant, agoutis bury seeds to use as food when fruit is scarce or not in season. This behavior is important in the dispersal of
the seeds of many species of forest trees.
Although they don’t eat ants or fruit, jaguars consider anteaters and rodents to be tasty treats.
A) Draw a simple, box and arrow, diagram that illustrates the food web described on the webpage; include all of the
connections that were mentioned, and only the connections that were mentioned.
B) Using complete sentences, identify one producer, one primary consumer, and one tertiary consumer in the ecosystem
described on the webpage.
C) Identify and describe two named species interactions that are described on the webpage. (they can be the same or
different named species interactions)
D) Define the terms: specialist species and generalist species.
i. Identify the one species mentioned on the webpage that best exemplifies the term specialist species and
explain why the species you selected best exemplifies the term.
ii. Identify the one species mentioned on the webpage that best exemplifies the term generalist species and
explain why the species you selected best exemplifies the term.
Part III: Extra Credit (200 pts) Only responses written at the end of the FRQ will be considered.
Who wrote the book Silent Spring?