Ecology and Keystone Species Quiz

What did Robert Paine discover about the role of predators in regulating ecosystems?

• Predators have a minimal impact on the system they're in

• Predators only impact the species they primarily prey on

• Predators control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Predators have no role in regulating ecosystems

What did James Estes observe about the impact of sea otters on the coastal marine community?

• Sea otters have a minimal impact on the coastal marine community

• Sea otters only impact the kelp forests

• Sea otters control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Sea otters have no impact on the coastal marine community

What did Robert Paine call the cascading effects of one species downward upon others?

• Trophic cascade

• Food chain effect

• Ecosystem disruption

• Predator-prey interaction

What did James Estes discover about the impact of orcas on the coastal ecosystem?

• Orcas only impact the sea otter population

• Orcas have a minimal impact on the coastal ecosystem

• Orcas control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Orcas have no impact on the coastal ecosystem

What did the experiment at Shemya Island demonstrate about the impact of sea otters on the kelp forests?

• Sea otters control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Sea otters have no impact on the kelp forests

• Sea otters only impact the sea urchin population

• Sea otters have a minimal impact on the kelp forests

What did James Estes conclude about the impact of whaling on the coastal ecosystem?

• Whaling has no impact on the coastal ecosystem

• Whaling controls the distribution of resources and leads to cascades of indirect effects

• Whaling only impacts the orca population

• Whaling has a minimal impact on the coastal ecosystem

What did the experiment at Amchitka Island demonstrate about the impact of sea otters on the sea urchin population?

• Sea otters have a minimal impact on the sea urchin population

• Sea otters have no impact on the sea urchin population

• Sea otters control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Sea otters only impact the kelp forests

What did Robert Paine's experiment with starfish demonstrate about the impact of predators on the community of organisms?

• Predators have no impact on the community of organisms

• Predators have a minimal impact on the community of organisms

• Predators control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Predators only impact the starfish population

What did James Estes observe about the impact of sea otters on the kelp forest fishes?

• Sea otters have no impact on the kelp forest fishes

• Sea otters have a minimal impact on the kelp forest fishes

• Sea otters control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Sea otters only impact the sea urchin population

What did Robert Paine conclude about the impact of keystone species on ecosystems?

• Keystone species have no impact on ecosystems

• Keystone species control the distribution of resources and lead to cascades of indirect effects

• Keystone species only impact the species they primarily prey on

• Keystone species have a minimal impact on the system they're in