Book E Ch 1 Practice Test

Explanation
The relationship between the clown fish and the sea anemone is mutualism. This is because both organisms benefit from their interaction. The sea anemone provides protection for the clown fish by deterring predators with its stinging tentacles. In return, the clown fish brings food to the sea anemone by attracting prey with its bright colors and luring them into the anemone's tentacles. Both organisms rely on each other for survival and receive a mutual benefit from their symbiotic relationship.

Explanation
The independent variable in this experiment is the number of seeds planted in each container. This is because the students intentionally manipulated this variable by planting 2 seeds in one container and 8 seeds in the other. By comparing the growth of the plants in each container, the students can determine if population density (represented by the number of seeds) affects plant growth. The other factors mentioned, such as the cup, soil, sunlight, and amount of water, are all controlled variables that were kept the same in both containers to ensure a fair comparison.

Explanation
A limiting factor refers to any factor that restricts the number of individuals living in a population. It can be a physical or biological factor that limits population growth, such as availability of resources, competition for food, predation, disease, or environmental conditions. These factors play a crucial role in regulating population size and preventing overpopulation.

Explanation
The role a species plays within a community is its niche. A niche refers to the specific position or function that a species has in its environment, including its interactions with other species and its use of resources. It encompasses the species' habitat, behavior, and ecological relationships. Understanding a species' niche is crucial for understanding its impact on the community and the overall functioning of the ecosystem.

Explanation
The statement is false because carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support. It is determined by factors such as available resources, space, and competition. Carrying capacity does not restrict the number of individuals in a population, but rather sets a limit on how many individuals can be supported without causing environmental degradation or resource depletion.

Explanation
The given statement is incorrect. A symbiotic relationship that benefits both species is actually referred to as mutualism, not commensalism. In commensalism, one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited.

Explanation
An organism's habitat refers to the specific place or environment where it naturally lives and thrives. It provides the necessary resources, such as food, water, shelter, and suitable conditions, for the organism to survive and reproduce. Therefore, the statement that the place in which an organism lives is called its habitat is true.