Biology EOC Reporting Category 5

Some relationships between species found in the Texas Gulf Coast are shown in the food web.

Which energy pyramid best models energy flow in the Texas Gulf Coast community?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Stone crabs consume gulf pipefish, and gulf pipefish consume aquatic plants.

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In some coral reefs, a symbiotic relationship exists between pygmy seahorses and sea fans. The pygmy seahorse can wrap its tail around the branches of the sea fan. This allows the pygmy seahorse to be camouflaged within the sea fan, protecting it from predators. The pygmy seahorse does not harm or benefit the sea fan while it grasps the branches with its tail. What is the correct classification of this symbiotic relationship?

• Predator/prey

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasite/host

Answer explanation

Commensalism is the symbiotic relationship that exists. The pygmy seahorse does not harm or benefit the sea fan while it grasps the branches with its tail.

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In a Central Texas grassland, the producers incorporate 12,000 kJ of energy from the sun into their tissues. About how much energy would be incorporated into the tissues of herbivores?

• 12,000 kJ

• 1,200 kJ

• 10,800 kJ

• 1,080 kJ

Answer explanation

Twelve thousand kilojoules (kJ) of energy from the sun is incorporated into the tissues of the producers. Only 10 percent, or 1,200 kJ, of energy is incorporated into the tissues of herbivores when they consume producers.

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White clovers, Trifolium repens, are plants that are native to Europe and Central Asia and are able to produce the poison cyanide within their cells. Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, is a plant that is native to eastern North America and can produce a chemical that makes it have a strong, foul odor and bitter taste. The chemicals produced by both the white clovers and skunk cabbages are adaptations that allow them to —

• attract more pollinators

• survive a long-term drought

• protect against herbivores

• grow better in colder habitats

Answer explanation

The chemicals produced by both the white clovers and skunk cabbages are adaptations that deter animals from eating them, and thus increase their chances of survival.

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After a wheat field is cleared, wild grasses and weeds begin growing. This process is considered —

• primary succession because pioneer species appear

• primary succession because there are no large trees

• secondary succession because soil is already present

• secondary succession because the field contains inorganic matter

Answer explanation

After a wheat field is cleared, wild grasses and weeds begin growing due to secondary succession, since soil is already present. Primary succession can only occur in areas where life was not previously present e.g., newly formed volcanic rock.

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During an extended dry season in an area, the majority of the ground cover dried up. Which description best explains how this would affect the ecosystem in that area?

• The ecosystem would become less stable because the ranges of many organisms would expand and overlap.

• The ecosystem would become more stable because there would be less competition among canopy plants.

• The ecosystem would become less stable because less energy would be available to it from the decrease in producers.

• The ecosystem would become more stable because organisms in higher trophic levels would be able to find prey more easily.

Answer explanation

The ecosystem would become less stable if most of the ground cover dried up. Less energy would be available to the ecosystem due to a decrease in the number of producers.

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Which statement best describes how a virus replicates?

• A virus divides into two identical virus particles before infecting the host cell.

• A virus enters a host cell and uses the materials from the host cell to produce new virus particles.

• Multiple virus particles fuse and form a large particle that breaks apart, releasing new virus particles.

• Multiple virus particles break down in component parts, which then reassemble into new copies of the virus.

Answer explanation

Viruses cannot replicate on their own. They enter host cells. Once inside, they use the materials and metabolic pathways from the host cells and incorporate the viral RNA or DNA into the host cells to replicate new virus particles.

When a stem cell divides, it produces two daughter cells. One daughter cell will remain a stem cell, while the other daughter cell will differentiate into a specialized cell.

Which factor will most directly determine what type of specialized cell will be produced?

• The size of the cell.

• The length of the cell cycle.

• They number of chromosomes that are replicated.

• The genes that are expressed.

Answer explanation

The genes that are expressed are directly responsible for the function of a cell.

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Scientists determined the total mass of DNA from a sample of animal cells. The masses of equal numbers of cells were taken during three different stages of the cell cycle. Stage I contains cells massed during G1 of the cell cycle. Which statement best describes the cells during Stage II?

• The cells have replicated their DNA, but have not completed mitosis and cytokinesis.

• The cells have completed mitosis and cytokinesis without replicating their DNA.

• The cells have replicated their DNA and completed mitosis and cytokinesis.

• The cells have temporarily exited the cell cycle without replicating their DNA.

Answer explanation

During Stage II, the cells have replicated their DNA, but have not completed mitosis and cytokinesis. Therefore, the mass of DNA is double the mass of the DNA in stages I and III.

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Which characteristic best distinguishes these cells as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

• The organization of the genetic material

• The location of the cytoplasm

• The role of the cell membrane

• The function of the flagella

Answer explanation

The organization of the genetic material is the best characteristic to distinguish these cells as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.

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