Ecology AP Bio Review

Which of the following is NOT recycled through the ecosystem?

• Matter

• Chemicals

• Nutrients

• Energy

Answer explanation

Matter, chemicals, and nutrients are all synonyms for what decomposers break down and put into the soil for producers. Energy is not recycled, but rather flows through the ecosystem and we only keep 10% (on average) from one trophic layer to the next.

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Which of the following would be an example of a density-dependent limiting factor for a population?

• The temperature increases making it difficult for plants to gain enough water to live.

• A fungus kills 25% of the population of trees, and spreads so easily that the distance between the trees doesn't matter

• Humans build a subdivision in the grassland which lowers the population of foxes.

• Increased competition among squirrels lead to fewer offspring surviving to adulthood.

Answer explanation

The examples of temperature, humans, and a fungus (that is specifically not influenced by the population size) are examples of density independent limiting factors. Density independent limiting factors don't have anything to do with the population size. The increased competition would be directly related to increased population size, therefore, this is a density-dependent limiting factor.

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Using the following organisms, create a pyramid of energy: corn, mouse, owl. If the producers start out with 100,000 J of energy, write in how much energy would be available for the other levels in the energy pyramid.

Answer explanation

You should have corn on the bottom with 100,000 J

Then mice in the second layer with 10,000 J

Finally owls in the top layer with 1,000 J

Also, the bottom layer should be significantly bigger than the second, and the second should be significantly bigger than the 3rd.

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Non-living factors such as temperature and humidity are also referred to as ________ factors

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The black rhinoceros is a mammal found in Africa. Weighing in at up to 1,350 kg, these rhinos can live roughly 35 years. Gestation in the black rhino lasts for 15-16 months, with calves staying under the mother’s parental care for up to four years.

Black rhinos have been hunted extensively by humans for their horns. Poaching pressure has reduced the black rhino population to an endangered level. Ongoing efforts are attempting to save the animal from extinction.

How can the black rhino survivorship strategy be categorized?

• K-selection, type I

• K-selection, type III

• r-selection, type I

• r-selection, type III

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Which point on the graph represents carrying capacity?

• A
• B
• C
• D

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Which of these populations is experiencing the fastest growth?

• A
• B
• C
• D

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Oxpeckers feed on the ticks found on a rhinoceros. The oxpeckers get a meal and the rhinoceros is helped by the removal of the ticks.

• parasitism
• commensalism
• mutualism

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Nesting birds often space themselves evenly from other nests. This pattern is called

• clumped dispersion.
• uniform dispersion.
• random dispersion
• scatter dispersion

Which of the following is most likely to cause the greatest decrease in the species B population?

• A decrease in species A

• A decrease in species D

• An increase in species E

• A decrease in species C

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