AP Bio FINAL TEST WOOOOO

What is the nature of the relationship between termites and the protozoa in their guts?

A cooperative interaction (mutualism) that allows termites to digest wood and extract energy.

How does the reduction of nitrates in growth media affect bacterial macromolecule content?

It results in a decrease in protein content and an increase in lipid content.

Why does food sharing among unrelated adult bats increase the fitness of the species?

It prevents starvation of individuals, which maintains the genetic diversity of the social group.

What is the ecological impact of beaked whales defecating at the ocean's surface?

It provides nitrogen-rich nutrients that support algae, which in turn support surface-dwelling fish populations.

What happens to surface fish populations if the whale population decreases?

They likely decline due to a reduction in the algae population caused by decreased nitrogen availability.

How do honeybees communicate the distance to a flower patch in a waggle dance?

The longer the waggle phase, the farther the target flowers are from the hive.

What does the angle of the waggle dance relative to the vertical plane represent?

The position of the target flowers relative to the sun.

What does the carrying capacity of an environment represent on a population growth curve?

The maximum population size an environment can sustain over the long term.

If rockfish prey on blue crabs, what is the expected result of an increase in the rockfish population?

An increase in predation on blue crabs, leading to a decrease in the blue crab population.

What is the best conclusion if two species have nested in the same environment for thousands of years with stable populations?

They have different ecological niches that allow for coexistence.

Which type of community is generally considered most stable?

One with high species diversity.

Why did DDT resistance in mosquitoes evolve globally?

Natural selection favored individuals already possessing resistance genes when DDT exposure occurred.

Why does the development of DDT resistance occur faster now than in the 1950s?

The selective pressure of DDT is widespread, and resistant alleles are now more prevalent in the population.

What is the primary role of nitrogen-rich whale feces in the marine ecosystem?

It acts as a nutrient source for surface-dwelling algae.

What is the definition of a keystone predator?

A predator that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

What is the relationship between genetic diversity and species fitness?

Higher genetic diversity is directly proportional to higher overall fitness for a species.

What is the effect of removing a keystone predator from a community?

It typically leads to a decrease in community stability and biodiversity.

What is the function of decomposers in a community?

They break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

How do abiotic factors like nitrates and phosphates influence bacterial metabolism?

They act as limiting factors that determine the synthesis of specific macromolecules like proteins and lipids.

What is the significance of the waggle dance in honeybee social structure?

It is a form of communication that facilitates efficient foraging by sharing location data.

What does a stable population size over thousands of years suggest about resource competition?

That the species are not in direct competition for the same limiting resources, or have partitioned those resources.

What is the primary energy source for termites?

Wood, which they can only digest through the aid of gut protozoa.

What is the consequence of a population exceeding its carrying capacity?

The population will typically experience a decline due to resource depletion or increased mortality.

How does predation influence the population dynamics of prey species?

It acts as a top-down control mechanism that regulates prey population size.

What is the role of natural selection in the context of pesticide resistance?

It acts as the mechanism that increases the frequency of resistant alleles in a population under chemical stress.

Why is high species diversity linked to community stability?

It provides redundancy in ecosystem functions, making the community more resilient to environmental changes.

Which of the following is NOT a density-dependent factor limiting animal populations: weather, predation, birthrate, food competition, or mortality?

Weather

What is the primary consequence of removing bacteria and fungi from a food web?

Grasses lose access to chemical components recycled from dead organisms.

What is the likely impact on a predator population if its primary prey is removed from the food web?

A significant decline in population due to decreased reproductive success and loss of nutrition.

What is a primary ecological consequence of tropical rain forest deforestation?

A decrease in biodiversity due to the loss of available niches.

What happens to plant species diversity during the initial stages of terrestrial succession?

It increases.

What is the result of growing Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum together compared to separately?

Neither population grows as large when cultured together as each does when cultured separately.

Why is an invasive species like the lionfish likely to have a major impact in a new environment?

The absence of natural predators allows the population to grow very large.

Which interaction is an example of a mutualistic relationship?

Flowers producing nectar for bees, which in turn pollinate the flowers.

How does species diversity relate to a community's resistance to change?

Communities with high diversity are more resistant to change than those with low diversity.

In a trophic pyramid where level 1 is producers, what trophic level typically contains significantly fewer individuals than the level below it?

Primary consumers (or higher trophic levels).

What are two abiotic factors that might explain why millipedes are found under logs?

Moisture levels and temperature.

What is one biotic factor that might explain why millipedes are found under logs?

Availability of food sources or presence of predators.

What is the defining characteristic of a density-dependent limiting factor?

Its effect on population size varies depending on the density of the population.

Why are bacteria and fungi essential in a food web?

They act as decomposers, recycling nutrients from dead organisms back into the ecosystem.

What is the relationship between biomass and trophic levels in a typical ecosystem?

Biomass generally decreases as you move up to higher trophic levels.

What is the primary cause of the decline in biodiversity following deforestation?

The destruction of habitat and the resulting loss of available niches for species.

What characterizes the initial stages of ecological succession?

Increasing plant species diversity and increasing biomass.

What does the competitive exclusion principle suggest about the Paramecium experiment?

Two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist at constant population values.

What is an invasive species?

A nonnative species that spreads and causes harm to the environment or economy in its new habitat.

What defines a mutualistic relationship?

A symbiotic interaction where both participating species benefit.

Why are high-diversity communities more resistant to invasion?

They utilize resources more efficiently, leaving fewer niches available for nonnative species.

What is the role of photosynthetic autotrophs in an ecosystem?

They serve as primary producers, converting sunlight into chemical energy.

How would you design a controlled experiment to test if moisture affects millipede distribution?

Create a chamber with a moisture gradient and observe the number of millipedes that settle in dry versus moist areas.

What is a major challenge when studying plant distribution compared to mobile animals?

Plants are sessile, so they cannot move to preferred environments, requiring different experimental setups like transplant studies.

What is the significance of the litter layer in a forest ecosystem?

It serves as a site for nutrient cycling and provides habitat for various invertebrates.

List four examples of abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Light, temperature, water, and soil texture.

List four examples of biotic factors in an ecosystem.

Reproduction, predation, food supply, and competition.

Why should 'climate', 'weather', or 'shelter' be avoided when identifying specific abiotic factors?

They are considered too general.

What is the primary role of both bacteria and fungi in ecosystems?

They recycle nutrients by breaking down organic matter.

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

It serves as a comparison to experimental groups, allowing changes to be attributed to the specific variable being tested.

What is a keystone species?

A species that has a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem relative to its abundance.

What are the two components required for a scientific hypothesis?

A proposed relationship between an independent variable and a dependent variable.

What is the purpose of maintaining constants in an experiment?

To ensure that only the manipulated independent variable affects the results.

Why is a large sample size or multiple replicates important in an experiment?

It increases the reliability and statistical validity of the results.

What does statistical analysis provide in an experimental study?

A mathematical comparison of control and experimental groups to determine if observed differences are significant.

What is the definition of a 'feasible' experimental design?

An experiment that can actually be performed and yields data capable of answering the research question.

What biological macromolecules could serve as precursors for cyanide production in plants?

Amino acids, proteins, polypeptides, nucleotides, or nucleic acids.

Why are nitrogen-containing macromolecules potential precursors for cyanide?

Cyanide contains nitrogen, which is a key component of these molecules.

What is one benefit to an apple tree in its mutualistic relationship with animals?

Seed dispersal.

What is one benefit to an animal in its mutualistic relationship with an apple tree?

Nutrient or energy acquisition from the fruit.

How can animal feces benefit a plant in a mutualistic relationship?

It provides essential nutrients to the plant.

What is the primary energy source for bacteria and fungi?

Dead and decaying organic matter.

What is the significance of 'periodic disturbances' in an ecosystem?

Events like fire, storms, or volcanoes act as abiotic factors that influence ecosystem structure.

Can nutrients be classified as abiotic or biotic?

Yes, it depends on how the nutrient is being used in the ecosystem.

What is the function of a prediction in an experiment?

It states what should be observed if the hypothesis is supported.

What is the role of the 'independent variable' in an experiment?

It is the factor that is manipulated by the scientist.

What is the role of the 'dependent variable' in an experiment?

It is the factor being measured or observed in response to the independent variable.

How does the 'water only' treatment group validate an experiment?

It acts as a control to ensure that the application of a substance itself does not cause the observed effects.

What is the effect of crushing an apple seed?

It releases cyanide, which is a toxic and bitter-tasting chemical.

Why do animals typically swallow apple seeds whole or spit them out?

To avoid the toxic effects of the cyanide released when the seeds are crushed.

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a prediction?

A hypothesis proposes a relationship, while a prediction states the expected outcome of testing that relationship.

What is an ecosystem?

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their abiotic environment.

What is ecosystem resistance?

The ability of an ecosystem to remain at equilibrium in spite of disturbances.

What is ecosystem resilience?

The speed at which an ecosystem recovers after being disturbed.

What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

A food chain is a linear sequence of energy flow, while a food web is a holistic, nonlinear representation of multiple interconnected food chains.

Why is energy lost between trophic levels?

Energy is lost as heat due to the second law of thermodynamics.

What is a keystone species?

A species that plays a critical role in maintaining an ecosystem, with an impact disproportionate to its population size.

What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?

A habitat is the physical space where an organism lives, while a niche is the functional role an organism plays in its environment.

What is carrying capacity?

The maximum sustainable population size for a species in a specific area.

What is biomass?

The total mass of living or previously living organisms within a trophic level in a unit area.

What is Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)?

The rate at which photosynthetic primary producers incorporate energy from the sun.

What is Net Primary Productivity (NPP)?

The energy remaining in primary producers after accounting for respiration and heat loss.

How is Trophic Level Transfer Efficiency (TLTE) calculated?

TLTE = (production at present trophic level / production at previous trophic level) * 100%.

What does Net Production Efficiency (NPE) measure?

How efficiently organisms incorporate the energy they receive into biomass.

What is the difference between a mesocosm and a microcosm?

A mesocosm involves partitioning a natural ecosystem, while a microcosm involves recreating an ecosystem entirely in a lab.

What are extrinsic limiting factors?

Factors that control populations from outside, such as predators, food availability, or natural disasters.

What are intrinsic limiting factors?

Factors that regulate populations from within, such as social behaviors.

What is the difference between density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors?

Density-dependent factors become more effective as population size increases, while density-independent factors are not related to population density.

What are the three broad categories of ecosystems?

Freshwater, marine, and terrestrial.

What is an invasive species?

A non-native species that causes harm to native species or the environment.

What is the definition of assimilation in the context of NPE?

Biomass of the present trophic level after accounting for energy lost due to incomplete ingestion, respiration, and waste.

What is net consumer productivity?

The energy content available to organisms of the next trophic level.

What is the study of ecosystem dynamics?

The study of changes in ecosystem structure caused by changes in the environment.

Which type of ecosystem is generally considered most stable?

One with high species diversity.