Essentials of Ecology 4th Edition

Begon Test Bank

Visit to download the full and correct content document:
https://testbankdeal.com/download/essentials-of-ecology-4th-edition-begon-test-bank/
Chapter 6 Test Bank Questions
Authored by Lee Kats and Gary Bucciarelli

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is a common misconception regarding the

Competitive Exclusion Principle?
a. It does not conflict with Gause’s Principle
b. Species that coexist in different ecological niches necessarily are
coexisting competitors due to their different niches.
c. Competing species that coexist must be subject to constant
ecological conditions to be considered an example of the competitive
exclusion principle
d. Species that adhere to the competitive exclusion principle and
coexist do so as a result of different realized niches
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Section 6.1

2. The textbook states that determining the effects of interspecific

competition can be very difficult to do, especially when it seems as if two
species competitively coexist. Which of the following types of experiments
would most likely allow you to confirm and determine the effects of
interspecific competition between two closely related species in nature?
a. Removal study
b. Reciprocal transplant study
c. Laboratory observation study or a “glass bottle study”
d. Ecological survey study
ANSWER: A
 Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Section 6.1 page 159

3. Which of the following is an aspect of a species that would not show

evolutionary evidence of past interspecific competition with another
species?
a. Species behavior
b. Species morphology
c. Species niche
d. None of the above
ANSWER: D: They can all show evidence of past interspecific competition
through their evolution!
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Section 6.1 page 161

4. In the Lotka-Volterra Model, there are numerous factors that determine

the populations of the two competing species. If we were to graph the zero
isoclines of two competing species, such as the baboon and cheetah, then
we can learn how each population’s size will be affected under certain
ecological circumstances. Using the notation for the model from the text,
what would happen to the population of baboons (species 1) and cheetahs
(species 2) if K2 > K1 α21 and K2 α12<K1?
a. Baboons would go extinct and cheetahs would reach their carrying
capacity
b. Cheetahs would go extinct and baboons would reach their carrying
capacity
c. Cheetahs and baboons would reach stable equilibrium populations
and competitively coexist
d. Both answers a and b are possible, but it is not possible to determine
which without more data
 ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Box 6.2 pages 163-165

5. Woodpeckers are known for their conspicuously loud pecking of trees,

which is a necessary foraging behavior. Unlike many other birds, nearly all
woodpeckers use the same foraging technique of pecking into the trunk of
a tree to acquire food (often insects that inhabit the tree). Although
woodpeckers use the same foraging technique, certain species prefer to
forage at different heights in the same species of tree based on the size of
the woodpecker species. Which of the following ecological terms best
describes this practice?
a. Fundamental niche
b. Realized niche
c. Niche complementarity
d. Niche differentiation
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Section 6.3 (woodpecker example taken from study by R. Kumar
2011)

6. According to the text, which of the following predictions of a community

structured by interspecific competition has not been tested using the null
model analysis approach?
a. Potential competitors coexisting in a community should have
differentiated niches
b. Potential competitors in a community with little or no niche
differentiation should have negatively associated distributions
 c. Potential competitors who coexist do so often due to morphological
differentiation of their niches
d. Answers a, b, and c
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Section 6.5. page 180

7. The Lotka-Volterra Model relies heavily on a variable known as the

competitive coefficient (α12). Which of the following statements regarding
the competitive coefficient is true?
a. The value of the competitive coefficient is constant for a given
species, regardless of competitor it is being compared to
b. If the value of α12 = 0.5 for any species 1 and species 2, then the
competitive effect that species 2 has on species 1 is twice the effect
species 1 has intraspecifically
c. If the value of α12 = 0.5 for any species 1 and species 2, then the
competitive effect that species 2 has on species 1 is half the effect
species 1 has intraspecifically
d. If the value of α12 = 0.5 for any species 1 and species 2, then the
competitive effect that species 1 has on species 2 is half the effect
species 2 has intraspecifically
ANSWER: C, the notation of α12 converts the competitive effect of species 2
into species 1 “competitive effect units”
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: Box 6.2 pages 163-165

8. For any given species, there is a _______, which describes the niche that
occurs under normal circumstances of interspecific competition within a
 community and typically differs from the hypothetical ______, which
describes the niche that the species would inhabit if interspecific
competition was removed.
a. Realized niche, fundamental niche
b. Realized niche, ecological niche
c. Community niche, ecological niche
d. Fundamental niche, realized niche
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: Section 6.1 page 158

9. The fundamental niche is

a. The realized niche because it is all the resources and conditions that
a species needs to coexist within its community
b. The combination of conditions and resources that allows a species to
exist, when considered in isolation from other, harmful species.
c. The combination of resources that a species needs to survive.
d. Habitat that is required by a species.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.1

10. What does the Competitive Exclusion Principle state?

a. The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that if two competing
species coexist in a stable environment, then they do so as a result of
differentiation of their realized niches.
 b. The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that all species within a
community coexist in an unstable environment, and that they are
structured by competition that leads to realized niches.
c. The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that if a guild of
competing species coexist in an stable environment, they do so as a
result of differentiation of their fundamental niche.
d. None of the above
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.1

11.Which is an example of niche complementarity?

a. Species of anemone fish associated with the same anemone tending
to be found in different shore zones, while anemone fish living in the
same zone tend to be associated with different anemone species.
b. Two species of phytoplankton that coexist when resources are
balanced.
c. Three mongoose species that overlap and develop morphological
variation in response to selection for smaller prey.
d. All of the above
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.3

12.You are on an island and observe that an introduced species of mongoose

differs significantly in size from its mainland counterpart. The introduction
to the island occurred within 100-200 generations. Based on your reading
 in chapter 6, what is one reason why this mongoose may have increased in
size?
a. There are fewer resources on the island.
b. It is due to the Ghost of Competition Past.
c. The available prey on this island is larger then prey on the mainland.
d. A larger mongoose species that is native to its range is not present on
the island.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.2

13.The Dolly Varden char is found at higher altitudes than another fish species,
the white-spotted char. One reason this occurs is because
a. Dolly Varden char cannot occupy the habitat where white-spotted
char live even when there are no white-spotted char there.
b. Dolly Varden char could outcompete white-spotted char and they
actually are found in lower altitude zones where white-spotted char
live.
c. The boundary is due to temperature-mediated competition that
favors white-spotted char.
d. The boundary is due to behavioral and morphological-mediated
competition that favors white-spotted char.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.1

14.What does the theory of the “Ghost of Competition Past” state?

 a. The theory explains how coexisting species, with no apparent
potential to compete, will exhibit differences in behavior, physiology,
or morphology to ensure that they compete as much as possible.
b. The theory explains how coexisting species, with an apparent
potential to compete, will exhibit differences in behavior, physiology,
or morphology to ensure that they compete as much as possible.
c. The theory explains how coexisting species, with an apparent
potential to compete, will exhibit differences in behavior, physiology,
or morphology to ensure that they compete as little as possible.
d. None of the above
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.2

15. Let us assume there are two species of parasitoid wasps and you are
interested in understanding how inter- and intra- specific competition
affect each species reproductive output. Using the Lotka-Volterra model,
the competitive effects of these two wasps species is best described by the
following equations, K2 α12 > K1 and K1α21 > K2. What would this mean?

a. The competitive effect of species 2 is greater upon individuals of its

own species. This would likely occur because intraspecific
competitive effects are greater than interspecific competitive effects.
b. Interspecific competition is balancing population sizes.
c. The competitive effect of both species is greater upon individuals of
the other species than on their own species. This would likely occur
when interspecific competition is greater than intraspecific
competition.
d. The competitive effect of species 1 is greater upon individuals of its
own species. This would likely occur because intraspecific
competitive effects are greater than interspecific competitive effects.
 ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.1

16.The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that

a. If two competing species coexist in a stable environment, then they
do so as a result of niche complementarity.
b. If two competing species coexist in a stable environment, then they
do so as a result of niche differentiation.
c. If two competing species coexist in an unstable environment, then
they do so as a result of niche complementarity.
d. If two competing species coexist in an unstable environment, then
they do so as a result of niche differentiation.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.1

17.The Competitive Exclusion Principle allows researchers to assume

a. That coexistence occurs because species have competed and formed
different niches.
b. There is no need for proof of interspecific competition.
c. The species are still competing and always will until niche
differentiation occurs.
d. None of the above.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Synthesis
 Reference: 6.1

18.Coexistence between a superior and inferior competitor can occur if

a. The two species have independent, aggregated distributions.
b. The superior is homogenous throughout the habitat.
c. Competition were directed most from the superior to the inferior
competitor.
d. All of the above.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

19.Why is it impossible to “prove” an evolutionary effect of interspecific

competition?
a. Because you cannot directly observe evolution that has already
occurred.
b. Because you cannot directly test interspecific competition.
c. Because you cannot control experiments for competition.
d. All of the above.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.2

20.Niche complementarity requires

a. There be a community of species in several niche dimensions, and
that a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will
not tend to differ along another dimension.
 b. There be a community of species in several niche dimensions, and
that a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will
tend to differ along another dimension.
c. That a species occupying a similar position along one dimension will
not tend to differ along another dimension.
d. There to be an isolated species that occupies a position along one
niche dimension, but never differs along another dimension.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.2

21.The breeding sites of Virginia’s warbler and orange-crowned warblers

overlap in central Arizona. When one species was experimentally removed,
the remaining species fledged greater percentages of young per nest. The
experimental removal of one species indicates that
a. There is intraspecific competition.
b. There is differential resource utilization.
c. There is interspecific competition.
d. The two species occupy different niches.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

22.The diatom Asterinonella excludes the diatom Cyclotella in laboratory

experimental cultures when phosphate concentrations are low. But,
Cyclotella excludes Asterionella when silicate supplies are low. However,
 when there are balanced supplies of silicate and phosphorus, the two
diatoms coexist. This is explained by
a. There being a fundamental niche for both species when each is
provided sufficient concentrations of a resource on which they are
inferior.
b. There being niche complementarity for both species when each is
provided an abundance of a resource.
c. There being no fundamental or realized niche for either species.
d. There being a realized niche for both species when each is provided
sufficient concentrations of a resource on which they are inferior.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

23.Competing species often coexist at one spatial scale but are found to have
distinct distributions at a finer scale of resolution. The Dolly Varden charr
and the white-spotted charr are competing species. These two fish species
coexist in the same stream, but at a finer scale
a. Each is confined to its own zone due to morphology.
b. They actually compete in sympatry.
c. Both are aggressive but white-spotted charr are more aggressive and
Dolly Varden charr avoid them.
d. Each is confined to its own zone due to temperature-mediated
competition.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.1
24.Competing species can coexist when both species are provided with a i)
realized niche, ii) fundamental niche, iii) guild, iv) competitor, v) overlap in
resource utilization
a. ii.
b. i, ii, iii, v.
c. i.
d. ii, iv, v.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.1

25.Four warbler species co-occur on the Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and

Corsica. The four species’ diets overlap, they each look similar, and they all
utilize similar habitat. Upon closer investigation it appears that each species
differentially uses zones within the habitat to forage. These species
a. Are interspecific competitors
b. Could be interspecific competitors, but one needs experimental
evidence to know if they are in fact competitors.
c. Are not examples of niche differentiation.
d. Are not examples of differential resource utilization.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.1

26.Insects and tadpoles of Fowler’s toad were allowed to compete at natural

densities with tadpoles of the Pine Barrens tree frog. The intensity of
 competition was similar for both insects and Fowler’s toad. What does this
tell you about competition between unrelated species?
a. It may seem that more closely related species should have a greater
intensity of competition, but interspecific competition can occur
across diverse taxa at similar intensities.
b. That more closely related species should outcompete less closely
related species because intraspecific competition is greater than
interspecific competition.
c. Intraspecific competition can occur across diverse taxa at similar
intensities.
d. It may seem that more closely related species should have a lesser
intensity of competition, but intraspecific competition can occur
across diverse taxa at similar intensities.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Evaluation
Reference: 6.1

27.You determine that two species of birds coexist in the same tree, but that
they have different feeding behaviors that prevents them from competing
with one another for resources. One bird species feeds on insects found in
the bark of this tree, while the other bird species feeds on insects at the
branch tips. One explanation of your observation could be that:
a. Coexistence is due to niche differentiation.
b. Coexistence is due to shared resource utilization.
c. Coexistence is not due to resource specialization.
d. None of the above.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.1
28.If a species is a weak competitor relative to another species that is a
superior competitor, the weak competitor may be able to persist if:
a. It is a good colonizer and the environment homogenous.
b. It is a good colonizer and the environment is heterogeneous.
c. Only the environment needs to be heterogeneous.
d. The species needs only to be a good colonizer.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.4

29.Replicates of seed mixtures containing four species are sown at a high

density. However, the seeds are sown two ways. One way, they are sown at
random. The other way they are sown as single-species aggregations. If the
results showed that the performance of the superior competitor of the four
species was compromised when grown as an aggregation but that
aggregation improved the performance of the three inferior competitors,
what would you think?
a. Intraspecific competition was not strong and coexistence is not
favored.
b. Interspecific and intraspecific competition did not matter because
niche differentiation was more important.
c. Coexistence was favored by niche differentiation.
d. When planted as aggregations, this ensured that intraspecific
competition was stronger than interspecific competition.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Hard
 Bloom Code: Evaluation
Reference: 6.4

30.Several species of anemone fish are associated with a particular species of

anemone. Each species shows a characteristic preference for a particular
zone. However, when anemone fish are associated with the same
anemone, they are typically found in different zones. This is an example of
a. Niche differentiation.
b. Intraspecific competition.
c. Coexistence.
d. Niche complementarity.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.4

31.You observe ten species of trees in a rainforest. You learn that species with
similar light requirements tend to differ in terms of preferred soil textures
and vice versa. You should recognize this pattern as
a. Niche complementarity.
b. Intraspecific competition.
c. Interspecific competition.
d. Niche differentiation.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.4
 32.A DNA analysis of ectomycorrhizal species inhabiting the floor of a pine
forest shows that species are restricted to distinct layers of the leaf litter.
Based on the example in the textbook, this is most likely due to
a. Coexistence of the ectomycorrhizal species.
b. Interspecific competition.
c. Differential resource utilization.
d. Niche differentiation.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.4

Multiple Select

33.Niche differentiation can be the result of:

a. Species evolving separately with distinct niches. They were never
competitors, nor are they now.
b. The species are competitors now.
c. The species were competitors in the past, but do not compete now.
d. Competition in the past eliminated other species and now only those
species with different niches exist.
ANSWER: A, B, C, D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.1
34. The gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris is outcompeted by an introduced
species of gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus. This is because
a. Both species are insectivorous, and insects are a limiting resource.
b. Lepidodactylus lugubris is cannibalistic, and as a result depletes its
own populations.
c. The diets of the two species overlap substantially.
d. Hemidactylus frenatus depletes resources to lower levels than L.
lugubris.
ANSWER: A, C, D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

35. When considering what the Competitive Exclusion Principle states, what
should one remember?
a. All species have their own niche.
b. Niche differentiation does not indicate that there are coexisting
competitors.
c. The species may not be competing at all and may never have done so
in their evolutionary past.
d. There must be some data to support the idea of interspecific
competition.
ANSWER: A, B, C, D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

36.To minimize or avoid competition, coexisting species, with an apparent

potential to compete, will exhibit differences in which of the following?
a. Morphology.
 b. Physiology.
c. Geographic distribution.
d. Morphology.
ANSWER: A, B, D
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.2

37.Fires in the Mojave Dessert are occurring more frequently because of the
introduction of nonnative grasses that have become invasive. How are
these grasses able to persist?
a. The grasses are able to outcompete native plants for space.
b. The grasses are able to grow back faster than native plants.
c. The grasses do not persist, and instead die after a fire.
d. The grasses have evolved fire resistance and they don’t burn.
ANSWER: A, B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.3 ECOcerns

38.Which of the following are correct: A neutral model predicts that a

community structured by interspecific competition should look like: i)
potential competitors that coexist in a community should exhibit niche
differentiation; ii) this niche differentiation will often manifest itself as
morphological differentiation, iii) a community of species will tend to vary
along one niche, iv) within a community, potential competitors with little or
no niche differentiation should not coexist, so each should tend to occur
only where the other is absent
a. ii, iii.
b. i.
 c. i, iii.
d. ii, iv.
ANSWER: B, D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Evaluation
Reference: 6.4

39.Negatively associated distributions

a. Occur within a community.
b. There are no potential competitors without niche differentiation.
c. There are potential competitors without niche differentiation .
d. Competitors occur only where the other is absent.
ANSWER: A, B, D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
Reference: 6.4

40.Four species of ants that coexist in Kenya all occupy Acacia trees. Species
battle for the occupation of trees and must colonize or recolonize sites as
they become available. How is it possible that these four species overlap?
a. There is environmental heterogeneity.
b. They do not overlap. Each has its own niche.
c. Most effective colonizers are poor competitors.
d. Most effective competitors are poor colonizers.
ANSWER: A, C, D
Difficulty: Hard
Bloom Code: Synthesis
 Reference: 6.4

Fill in the Blank

41. ______is when individuals of one species suffer a reduction in fecundity,

survivorship, or growth as a result of exploitation or resources or
interference by individuals of another species.
a. Intraspecific competition.
b. Interference competition.
c. Interspecific competition.
d. Guild competition.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.1

42.______ is the combination of conditions and resources that allow that

species to exist, grow, and reproduce in the presence of specified other
species that might be harmful to its existence.
a. A fundamental niche.
b. A realized niche.
c. Niche differentiation.
d. Niche complementarity.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
 Reference: 6.1

43. Species competing but coexisting by utilizing slightly different resources is

thought of as ______
a. Differential resource utilization.
b. A realized niche.
c. A fundamental niche.
d. Niche complementarity.
ANSWER: A
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.1

44. Some ant species from Africa were best at competing for space, but were
worst at colonizing. This is an example of ________
a. Coexistence.
b. Interspecific competition.
c. Niche differentiation.
d. A trade-off.
ANSWER: D
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Analysis
Reference: 6.1

45. Species living in _____ live in the same place.

a. Allopatry.
b. Sympatry.
c. Pleiotropy.
d. Differentiated niches.
 ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.2

46.A group of species that exploit the same class of environmental resources
in the same way is called a _____.
a. Tribe.
b. Niche.
c. Guild.
d. Interspecific.
ANSWER: C
Difficulty: Easy
Bloom Code: Knowledge
Reference: 6.2

47.Null models seek to compare real communities to “neutral” or null

communities by omitting _____ ?
a. Intraspecific competition.
b. Interspecific competition.
c. Interspecific and intraspecific competition.
d. None of the above.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.4
48.Species are often excluded from habitat in which they could exist perfectly
well in the absence of interspecific competition. As an example, Dolly
Varden charr can live in the white-spotted charr zone, but only when
a. That zone is highly populated with white-spotted charr.
b. There are no white-spotted charr present.
c. The two species are found together, the water temperature is higher
than usual, and Dolly Varden charr become more aggressive to
individuals of its own species.
d. None of the above.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.1

49.Under variable conditions, competition may only rarely “run its course,”
and the outcome cannot be predicted simply by _________.
a. Application of environmental heterogeneity.
b. saying it’s due to the Competitive Exclusion Principle.
c. Interspecific competition.
d. None of the above.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Comprehension
Reference: 6.2

50.At a spatial scale of approximately 10mm in radius, the grass species Aira
praecox was found to be _______ with another grass, Erodium cicutarium.
As a result A. praecox tended to occur in small single-species clumps
making it less likely to experience competition from E. cicutarium.
a. Positively associated.
 b. Negatively associated.
c. Neutrally associated.
d. Slightly associated.
ANSWER: B
Difficulty: Medium
Bloom Code: Application
Reference: 6.4