AP Biology- Ecology Review Questions

1. In a pyramid of numbers, in a grassland ecosystem, the largest population is that of

a) Producers
b) Tertiary Consumers
c) Secondary consumers
d) Herbivores
e) Primary consumers

2. Which of the following group of gases cause photochemical smog?

a) Ozone, PAN and CO
b) HC, NO and PAN
c) O2, PAN, and NO2
d) O2, PAN and NO2 (e) O3, PAN and NO2

3. Which of the following statements regarding species interdependence are true?
A) An association of two species where one is benefitted and other remains unaffected called mutualism
B) An interspecific association where both partners derive benefit from each other is called commensalism
C) A direct food relation between two species of animals in which one animals kills and feed on another is referred as predation
D) A relationship between two species of organism where both the partners are benefitted from each other is called symbiosis.

a) A and B only
b) C and D only
c) A and C only
d) B and C only
e) B and D only

4. The species of plants that play a vital role in controlling the relative abundance of other species in a community are called

a) Edge species
b) Link species
c) Pioneer species
d) Successional species
e) Keystone species

5. Habitat loss and fragmentation, over exploitation, alien species invasion and co extinction are causes for

a) Population exploitation
b) Pollution
c) Migration
d) Ecological succession
e) Biodiversity loss

6. The formula of growth rate for population in given time is

a) dt/dN=rN
b) dt/rN=dN
c) dt/rN=dt
d) dN/dt=rN
e)dN/rN=dt

7. One greenhouse gas contributes 14% to total global warming and another contributes 6%. These are respectively identified as

a) N2O and CO2
b) CFCs and N2O
c) Methane and CO2
d) Methane and CFCs
e) CFCs and CO2

8. Which of the following is false?

a) Quantity of biomass in a trophic level at a particular period is called as standing crop
b) The energy content in a trophic level is determined is determined by considering a few individuals of a species in that trophic level.
c) The succession that occurs in newly cooled lava is called primary succession
d) Rate of succession is faster in secondary succession
e) phytoplanktons are the pioneers in the aquatic ecosystem

9. Many freshwater animals cannot live for long in sea water and vice versa mainly because of the

a)  Change in N levels
b) Change in the levels of thermal tolerance
c) Variations in light intensity
d) Osmotic problems
e) Spectral quality of solar radiation

10. Which of the following regarding ecological pyramids is not correct?

a) In most ecosystems, the pyramid of numbers and biomass are up right
b) In tree dominated ecosystem the pyramid of numbers is inverted
c) The pyramid of energy expresses mainly the rate of food production
d) In deep water ecosystem, the pyramid of biomass is upright
e) The total energy flow at successive tropical level always decreases

Answers
1. a) Producers
2. e) O3, PAN and NO2
3. b) C and D only
4. e) Keystone species
5. e) Biodiversity loss
6. d) dN/dt=rN
7. b) CFCs and N2O
8. b) The energy content in a trophic level is determined is determined by considering a few individuals of a species in that trophic level.
9. d) Osmotic problems
10. a) In most ecosystems, the pyramid of numbers and biomass are up right