The Population Dynamics Quiz: MCQ Trivia

Biomes are determined by soil characteristics, climates and geographic attributes (amongst other things).

Climate is determined by various factors such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind direction, and velocity. These factors collectively define the long-term atmospheric conditions of a specific area. Unlike weather, which refers to short-term changes in atmospheric conditions, climate represents the average weather patterns over a longer period of time. Therefore, the given answer correctly identifies the elements that contribute to the climate of a particular area.

All of the examples given in the options are examples of highly specific coevolution. Coevolution refers to the reciprocal evolutionary changes that occur between two species as a result of their close ecological interactions. In each of the given examples, there is a specific and mutualistic relationship between the two species mentioned. Yucca plants and Yucca moths have a specialized pollination relationship, where the moths pollinate the plants and the plants provide a habitat for the moths' larvae. Hummingbirds and ornithophilous flowers have a similar relationship, where the birds feed on the nectar of the flowers and aid in their pollination. Mistletoe and mistletoe birds have a symbiotic relationship, where the birds disperse the mistletoe seeds and the mistletoe provides food and shelter for the birds. Ants and Acacia trees have a mutualistic relationship, where the ants protect the trees from herbivores and the trees provide shelter and food for the ants. Therefore, all of the given examples showcase highly specific coevolutionary relationships.

Ecological efficiency refers to the overall transformation of energy from one trophic level to the next. It measures the efficiency with which energy is transferred between different levels of a food chain or food web. This concept helps us understand how energy flows through an ecosystem and how much energy is available to support higher trophic levels. It is a crucial factor in determining the stability and productivity of an ecosystem.

The factory pollution has no relation to the density of the population of fish. All the other options have a decrease in density as the aftermath of a density dependant factor such as disease, predators, and lack of food.

The intertidal zone is affected by tides (which are waves) and the littoral zone is affected by wave action. The littoral zone and intertidal zone are part of the coastal zone, so the coastal zone is also affected by wave action.

The background rate of extinction refers to the rate of extinction that occurred before humans had a significant impact on the environment. It represents the natural rate of extinction that would occur without any human interference. Conservation biologists try to avoid any further increase in the rate of extinction caused by human activities. Urbanization, which is increasing at present, is leading us closer to the background rate of extinction as it causes habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.

Westerly winds move from west to east.

Surtsey Island is an example of primary succession because it was formed from a volcanic eruption, starting from bare rock and devoid of any life. Primary succession refers to the colonization and establishment of plant and animal species in an area that was previously devoid of life. In the case of Surtsey Island, the volcanic eruption created a new landmass, and over time, various species gradually colonized and established themselves on the island.

The correct answer is "All of the above". The explanation is that all of the given reasons contribute to the observed latitude gradients in diversity. As you move closer to the equator, the climate becomes hotter and more stable, providing favorable conditions for a wide range of species to thrive. Tropical regions also have a diverse array of microclimates, allowing species to occupy different niches and further increase diversity. Additionally, the stable climate near the equator allows for more time for organisms to diversify and evolve, leading to higher species richness. Overall, all of these factors combined contribute to the observed latitude gradients in diversity.

An endangered species is one that is in a critical situation where it is at high risk of being extinct. This means that the species is facing severe threats and its population is declining rapidly, making it highly vulnerable to extinction. The factors mentioned in the question, such as the likelihood of becoming threatened, the reduction in population, and the negative impact of human activities on its habitat and food supply, all contribute to the critical situation and high risk of extinction for the species.

A keystone species is a species that influences the number of trophic levels in a community. This means that the presence or absence of a keystone species can affect the structure and dynamics of the entire ecosystem. Keystone species often have a disproportionate impact on the trophic levels below them, such as controlling the abundance of prey species or influencing the behavior of other organisms. By regulating the interactions between different trophic levels, keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and stability of the ecosystem.

Endemic species are species that only exist in a certain area. This means that they are found naturally and exclusively in that specific geographic location and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. These species have evolved and adapted to the unique environmental conditions of their particular habitat, making them highly specialized and often vulnerable to any changes or threats to their ecosystem. The term "endemic" highlights the restricted distribution of these species, emphasizing their importance for conservation efforts and the preservation of biodiversity.

Iteroparous species reproduce multiple times over the course of their adult lives, as opposed to semelparous species that reproduce only once in their lives. Semelparous species produce many more offspring in their single brood than iteroparous species do over their lifetimes, and semelparity is sometimes called the “big bang” reproduction. Iteroparity is typical of organisms whose survival chances increase once they reach maturity (Type I or II survivorship curve), and they include organisms such as honey bees, ants, and queen bees, as well as perennial plants and tropical vines.

The lady beetle controlling the population of Australian insects. Biological control is when a natural enemy from the pest’s native region is brought to control the population of the pest in a foreign region.

The statement "Community A and Community B share the same types of species" is false. This is because the question states that both communities have the same amount of species, but Community A is more diverse. This means that Community A has a higher variety of species compared to Community B. Therefore, Community A and Community B cannot share the same types of species.

Amensalism and commensalism are types of interactions where only one participant is affected. In amensalism, one participant is harmed while the other is unaffected. This can occur when one organism produces a substance that inhibits or kills another organism. On the other hand, commensalism is a type of relationship where one participant benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited. In this interaction, one organism benefits from the presence of another organism without affecting it in any way.

Reciprocal adaptation refers to a situation where two or more species evolve together in response to each other's presence. In the case of insects being oligophagous (feeding on a limited range of host plants), this could be a result of reciprocal adaptation. The insects might have co-evolved with specific plants, developing specialized adaptations to efficiently extract nutrients from those plants, while the plants might have evolved defenses to deter other herbivores. This mutual adaptation between the insects and their host plants could explain why many insects are oligophagous.

Interspecies competition is not an example of a type of competition because it is essentially the same as interspecific competition. Both terms refer to competition between different species. Therefore, the answer is correct as it identifies a term that is redundant and does not represent a distinct type of competition.

The fact that reproductive capacity varies with age isn’t related to population dynamics, however, that principle is used to help study it. A life table is used to track demographic events used in population dynamics. Also, you can’t use learning about Population Dynamics to track demographic events used in the study of population dynamics. The quadrant, transit and the mark-recapture method are all used to calculate the density of a population in an area at a specific time. It cannot be all of them since some of them are false. Therefore, learning about population dynamics is so crucial to biologists allows us to understand the changes made in population due to human activities.

A metapopulation is a group of subpopulations that are geographically isolated from one another.

A vicariant event refers to the occurrence of a physical barrier that divides the habitat of a species. This barrier prevents gene flow and movement between the two separated populations, leading to the divergence of the species into distinct groups. This phenomenon is a common mechanism for speciation and can result in the formation of new species over time.

Biologists find it difficult to predict species extinction because it is extremely difficult to measure the effect of human activities on a species. This is because human activities can have a wide range of impacts on species, such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, making it challenging to accurately assess and predict the consequences of these activities on a particular species.

Indirect competition refers to competition between species that occurs even when they are not present in the same habitat at the same time. It can depend on how competitors interact with a shared predator, occur when a species alters the quality of a resource, and can result from a competitor interfering with another competitor's access to a limiting resource. Therefore, the characteristic that is NOT a characteristic of indirect competition is that it can be the result of a competitor interfering with another competitor's access to a limiting resource.

Small patches cannot maintain species that typically require larger areas due to edges. Edge effects can create harsher conditions for species living closer to the edges of habitat patches, including stronger winds and higher temperatures. Outside species may colonize edges to compete with species living farther in. Edges become proportionally larger as the total area of habitat patches decreases. Smaller habitat patches are indeed influenced more by surrounding environments. However, the statement that small patches can maintain species that typically require larger areas due to edges is not true.