Question 1

Butterfly caterpillars and adults are herbivores, and they exhibit many adaptations to this lifestyle.Which characteristic of butterflies is least likely to be an adaptation to herbivory?

Accepted Answer

A)   Female butterflies lay eggs on plants.
B)   Caterpillars molt about five times before pupation.
C)   Caterpillars feed continuously and move only short distances.
D)   Adults have straw-like mouthparts.
E)   Adults are active during daylight, when most flowers are open.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

Which prey defense represents a chemical defense but not a warning signal?

Accepted Answer

A)   The chemical spray of a bombardier beetle
B)   The rattle of a rattlesnake when it is disturbed
C)   Nematocysts stored in the body of an orange sea slug
D)   Toxic chemicals in the skin of a bright blue poison dart frog
E)   Toxic chemicals in similarly patterned viceroy and monarch butterfliesF) B) and C)
G) D) and E)

Question 3

Explain the concept of symbiosis, and give examples of both positive and negative symbioses.

Accepted Answer

A symbiosis is an intimate interaction i...

Question 4

Which feature is not an adaptation usually associated with predators?

Accepted Answer

A)   Strength
B)   Swiftness
C)   Large size
D)   Protective body surface
E)   Well-developed sensesF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 5

Microscopic study of the contact lens fluid of a person with an eye infection revealed a series of four nested parasites: an amoeba, which contained a giant virus, which contained a smaller virus, which contained chunks of parasitic DNA.How could these four parasites best be characterized?

Accepted Answer

A)   All are symbiotic microparasites, but only the amoeba is known to be pathogenic.
B)   All are symbiotic microparasites that are also pathogens.
C)   All are microparasites that are symbiotic but not pathogenic.
D)   All are symbiotic microparasites, but only viruses, not amoebae, are pathogenic.
E)   The amoeba is a macroparasite, the others are microparasites, and none are pathogenic.F) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 6

A fallen western hemlock becomes a "nurse log" on the forest floor, providing a raised substrate that keeps seedlings off the ground.Seedlings growing in the log survive better than those growing on the forest floor.Which of the following statements does not describe a mutualism or benefit that likely contributes to the tree seedlings' improved survival?

Accepted Answer

A)   Decomposing nutrients in the log provide nutrients for the seedlings.
B)   The log decreases competition with plants and mosses on the forest floor.
C)   The open space where the tree once stood allows light to reach the seedlings.
D)   Fungi in the decomposing log form mutualistic relationships with the seedlings.
E)   Branches of the growing seedlings provide homes for flying squirrels and spotted owls.F) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 7

A species of brightly colored herbivorous insect enters a new environment.Which factor found in the new environment is most likely to lead over time to a situation involving coevolution?

Accepted Answer

A)   Presence of occasional strong storms
B)   Rising temperatures due to climate change
C)   Presence of many potential plants for food
D)   Bird predators attracted to the insects' color
E)   Insects' use of a common tree species in which to lay eggsF) C) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 8

After the introduction of the American mink into Belarus, the native European mink became larger, and the American mink gradually decreased in size.These changes most likely occurred because of

Accepted Answer

A)   competitive exclusion.
B)   interference competition.
C)   character displacement.
D)   Müllerian mimicry.
E)   Batesian mimicry.F) C) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 9

Which type of organism is most typical of herbivores?

Accepted Answer

A)   An insect that completely destroys its food plant
B)   An insect that eats a small percentage of its food plant
C)   An insect that eats a large percentage of its food plant
D)   A vertebrate that eats a small percentage of its food plant
E)   A vertebrate that eats most or all of its food plantF) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 10

Refer to the graph below showing the result of sea star removal on community structure.  The graph suggests that the predatory sea star acts as a _______ species in this community.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the graph below showing the...

Question 11

Caterpillars feed on plant leaves.Some plants contain compounds that, when mixed with the saliva of particular caterpillar species, create an odor that attracts parasitoid wasps.Unlike true parasites, parasitoids like these wasps kill their hosts (caterpillars) , often laying their eggs within the caterpillar carcasses.The relationship between plant and wasp could be considered _______; the relationship between wasp and caterpillar is _______.

Accepted Answer

A)   mutualism; predation
B)   predation; mutualism
C)   commensalism; mutualism
D)   mutualism; commensalism
E)   amensalism; predationF) C) and D)
G) C) and E)

Question 12

Anemonefish live inside sea anemones and acclimate, so they are unaffected by anemone stings.They avoid predators and may steal food brought in by the anemone's tentacles.Their feces may provide nitrogen to the anemone, but this effect is not clear.Why might this interaction be hard to classify, and what classifications might it fit into?

Accepted Answer

Anemonefish clearly benefit from the int...

Question 13

Which statement is a correct comparison of predators and parasites?

Accepted Answer

A)   Both predators and parasites kill their prey or host.
B)   Both predators and parasites often cause disease.
C)   Both predators and parasites carry out positive interactions.
D)   Predators usually specialize in one type of prey, while parasites usually have a variety of hosts.
E)   Predators are usually larger than their prey, while parasites are usually smaller than their hosts.F) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 14

A bird is infested with the bloodsucking larvae of blowflies.The blowfly larvae fall off the bird and are themselves infested with parasitic wasps.The wasps contain a parasitic bacterium, which in turn is infested with bacteriophages, or parasitic viruses.This multitiered system could be considered evidence for

Accepted Answer

A)   the importance of birds as parasite hosts.
B)   the importance of bacteria and viruses as disease agents.
C)   microparasites controlling populations of macroparasites.
D)   macroparasites controlling populations of microparasites.
E)   specialization resulting in the large number of parasite species.F) B) and C)
G) A) and D)

Question 15

Two species of yeast can persist indefinitely on agar in the lab, but when they are grown together under similar conditions, only a single species remains after a few days.This interaction is an illustration of

Accepted Answer

A)   competitive exclusion.
B)   interference competition.
C)   intraspecific competition.
D)   character displacement.
E)   resource partitioning.F) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 16

A cow's rumen, or first stomach, provides the ideal environment for a variety of microbes.When a cow consumes grass, these microbes digest the grass, releasing nutrients, which both they and the cow use.While most of the microbes remain in the rumen, some are killed during digestion and provide additional nutrition for the cow.This complex relationship between the cow and its microbes has features of which two categories of interactions?

Accepted Answer

A)   Competition and mutualism
B)   Mutualism and predation
C)   Commensalism and amensalism
D)   Predation and parasitism
E)   Amensalism and competitionF) A) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 17

The geographic distributions of wolves and coyotes often do not overlap.A study of wolves and coyotes in an area where they do overlap found that the two species minimized competition by differential use of food resources.Wolves preyed primarily on elk and a few deer, whereas coyotes preyed mostly on deer and rarely on young elk.Coyotes also scavenged abandoned wolf kills.Wolf and coyote behavior illustrates which type of competition?

Accepted Answer

A)   Competitive exclusion
B)   Character displacement
C)   Intraspecific competition
D)   Resource partitioning
E)   Interference competitionF) C) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 18

Eastern tent caterpillars are social nesters that spin weblike nests, or tents, to which they keep adding layers as they molt and grow.The caterpillars leave the tent several times each day to feed on the leaves of their host tree.Many potential predators will attack one tent caterpillar and then refrain from attacking or eating others.Two possible deterrents to predation are the stiff hairs present on caterpillars (but not pupae)  and toxic cyanide compounds, which caterpillars absorb from cherry trees where they nest and feed.Researchers wish to determine whether either of these actually deters predators.Which study design would most clearly distinguish between the two possible deterrents?

Accepted Answer

A)   Offer only pupae to predators.
B)   Offer both the toxic caterpillars and their pupae to predators.
C)   Raise caterpillars on nontoxic leaves, and offer only nontoxic caterpillars to predators.
D)   Raise some caterpillars on nontoxic leaves, and offer both toxic and nontoxic caterpillars to predators.
E)   Raise some caterpillars on nontoxic leaves, and offer both toxic and nontoxic caterpillars and pupae to predators.F) D) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

Two species of beetles are herbivores on the same host plant, and the presence of either species reduces the population growth of the other.The relationship between the beetles is therefore best described as

Accepted Answer

A)   mutualism.
B)   predation.
C)   herbivory.
D)   competition.
E)   amensalism.F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 20

Refer to the table below showing the results of a greenhouse experiment.Sunflowers and corn plants are grown in 6-inch pots in treatments of varying plant densities and plant combinations.There are ten pots per treatment.All pots contain the same amount of potting soil and receive the same amount of water and sunlight.After 2 months, the heights of the plants in each pot are measured and averaged.  Describe the effects of interspecific competition in the two species.

Accepted Answer

When planted together, sunflowers and co...

Exam 55: Species Interactions

Correct Answer
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When planted together, sunflowers and co...
View Answer

Explain the concept of symbiosis, and give examples of both positive and negative symbioses.

Correct Answer
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A symbiosis is an intimate interaction i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Which type of organism is most typical of herbivores?

Correct Answer
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Two species of yeast can persist indefinitely on agar in the lab, but when they are grown together under similar conditions, only a single species remains after a few days.This interaction is an illustration of

Correct Answer
verified

After the introduction of the American mink into Belarus, the native European mink became larger, and the American mink gradually decreased in size.These changes most likely occurred because of

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Which feature is not an adaptation usually associated with predators?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement is a correct comparison of predators and parasites?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Butterfly caterpillars and adults are herbivores, and they exhibit many adaptations to this lifestyle.Which characteristic of butterflies is least likely to be an adaptation to herbivory?

Correct Answer
verified

Refer to the graph below showing the result of sea star removal on community structure. The graph suggests that the predatory sea star acts as a _______ species in this community.

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Anemonefish clearly benefit from the int...
View Answer

A species of brightly colored herbivorous insect enters a new environment.Which factor found in the new environment is most likely to lead over time to a situation involving coevolution?

Correct Answer
verified

Microscopic study of the contact lens fluid of a person with an eye infection revealed a series of four nested parasites: an amoeba, which contained a giant virus, which contained a smaller virus, which contained chunks of parasitic DNA.How could these four parasites best be characterized?

Correct Answer
verified

Which prey defense represents a chemical defense but not a warning signal?

Correct Answer
verified

Two species of beetles are herbivores on the same host plant, and the presence of either species reduces the population growth of the other.The relationship between the beetles is therefore best described as

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 55: Species Interactions

Correct AnswerverifiedWhen planted together, sunflowers and co...View AnswerShow Answer

Explain the concept of symbiosis, and give examples of both positive and negative symbioses.

Correct AnswerverifiedA symbiosis is an intimate interaction i...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which type of organism is most typical of herbivores?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two species of yeast can persist indefinitely on agar in the lab, but when they are grown together under similar conditions, only a single species remains after a few days.This interaction is an illustration of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

After the introduction of the American mink into Belarus, the native European mink became larger, and the American mink gradually decreased in size.These changes most likely occurred because of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which feature is not an adaptation usually associated with predators?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement is a correct comparison of predators and parasites?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Butterfly caterpillars and adults are herbivores, and they exhibit many adaptations to this lifestyle.Which characteristic of butterflies is least likely to be an adaptation to herbivory?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Refer to the graph below showing the result of sea star removal on community structure. The graph suggests that the predatory sea star acts as a _______ species in this community.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedAnemonefish clearly benefit from the int...View AnswerShow Answer

A species of brightly colored herbivorous insect enters a new environment.Which factor found in the new environment is most likely to lead over time to a situation involving coevolution?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Microscopic study of the contact lens fluid of a person with an eye infection revealed a series of four nested parasites: an amoeba, which contained a giant virus, which contained a smaller virus, which contained chunks of parasitic DNA.How could these four parasites best be characterized?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which prey defense represents a chemical defense but not a warning signal?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two species of beetles are herbivores on the same host plant, and the presence of either species reduces the population growth of the other.The relationship between the beetles is therefore best described as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
When planted together, sunflowers and co...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
A symbiosis is an intimate interaction i...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
Anemonefish clearly benefit from the int...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified