Exam Questions / Community

What is the top layer of the ocean called where most ocean photosynthesis occurs?

Epipelagic

Which marine ecosystem, characterized by interaction between saltwater and freshwater, has high levels of emergent non-woody vegetation?

Salt marsh

What are tides called when the sun, moon, and earth form a right angle, resulting in four tides per day?

Neap tides

Which marine ecosystem located in the Neritic zone has the highest species diversity and is threatened by global warming?

Coral reefs

What is the name of the deepest zone of the ocean, which includes the Mariana Trench?

Hadalpelagic

How do oceanic gyres influence global climate?

They moderate temperature extremes by transporting cool water from the poles to the equator and warm water from the equator to the poles.

Which statement about populations is false?

Populations exhibit static behavior, changing very little through time.

If 45 Pitcher Plants are found in 15 sampled plots of a bog divided into 200 plots, what is the estimated total population size?

600

What type of spatial dispersion of plants is often caused by density dependent mortality?

Evenly spaced dispersion

According to Levin’s metapopulation model, if the extinction rate is 0.2 and the colonization rate is 0.4, what happens to the metapopulation?

It will persist, and the equilibrium number of patches occupied will be 0.5 (or 50%).

What would be the approximate population size of invasive Green Crab after 20 years if the initial population is 10 and the growth rate is 0.5?

221,660

What is the expected population trend if the current abundance is above carrying capacity according to the logistic growth model?

Decline until reaching carrying capacity.

What is likely to happen in a food chain if the producer dramatically increases in abundance?

The first, second, and third order consumers will all increase in abundance.

According to Lindeman’s Biomass Pyramid, approximately what percentage of energy becomes biomass in the next level?

10%.

What is the interaction called when two species restrict each other's abundance in a common garden experiment?

Competition.

What describes the distribution of a species without the effects of competition?

Realized niche.

What does Leibig’s law of the minimum state limitations on growth are determined by?

Availability of the scarcest resource.

According to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, what happens at lower levels of disturbance?

Lower species diversity than at intermediate levels.

What do scientists hypothesize were the first forms of life on Earth?

Chemosynthetic bacteria.

What are the main characteristics of Annuals?

Complete their entire life cycle within one growing season.

What defines Perennials in terms of lifespan?

Live for more than two years, often many years.

What are the characteristics of early stage succession species?

Rapid growth and reproduction, often colonizing quickly after disturbances.

What is a climax community?

The final stage of succession, where the ecosystem is relatively stable and self-sustaining.

Give examples of ecosystems at late stage succession.

Mature forests, old-growth forests, and tall-grass prairies.

What types of species dominate the early successional communities?

Grasses, weeds, and other fast-growing plants.

How do late successional communities differ from early ones?

They have greater biodiversity and more complex food webs.

What primary factors influence the dynamics of oceanic gyres?

Temperature and water transport from poles to equator and vice versa.

In the context of populations, what does 'static behavior' imply?

Little to no change over time in population numbers.

What is the dominant plant type during early succession characterized by rapid reproduction?

Pioneer species.