ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES MCQs Part 4

1. Important abiotic factors in ecosystems include which of the following?
I. temperature
II. water
III. wind

• I only
• II only
• III only
• I, II, and III

2. All of the following statements about ecology are correct except:

• Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of the environment
• Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and evolutionary history
• Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms
• Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from individuals to ecosystems

3. Which of the following levels of organization is arranged in the correct sequence from most to least inclusive?

• ecosystem, community, population, individual
• community, ecosystem, individual, population
• individual, population, community, ecosystem
• population, ecosystem, individual, community

4. Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?

• nutrient availability, soil pH, light intensity
• precipitation, wind, temperature
• predation, competition, disease
• A and B only

5. Landscape ecology is best described as the study of

• the array of interacting species within a community
• abiotic factors and the community of species that exist in a particular area
• the factors affecting the abundance of single species
• related arrays of ecosystems

6. Ecology as a discipline directly deals with all of the following levels of biological organization except\

• community
• population
• organismal
• cellular

7. "How does the foraging of animals on tree seeds affect the distribution and abundance of the trees?" This question

• is difficult to answer because a long-term experiment would be required
• is a valid ecological question
• is difficult to answer because a large experimental area would be required
• A, B, and C are correct

8. You are working for the Environmental Protection Agency considering the effect of a potentially toxic chemical in drinking water. There is as yet no documented scientific evidence against the chemical, but many suspect it to be a health hazard. Using the Precautionary Principle, what would be a reasonable environmental policy?

• Establish a contingency fund to handle insurance claims in the event that the chemical turns out to produce negative health effects
• Caution individuals to use their own judgment in deciding whether to drink water from a potentially contaminated area
• Set the acceptable levels conservatively low, and keep them there unless future studies show that they can be safely raised
• Set the acceptable levels at the highest levels encountered, and keep them there unless future studies demonstrate negative health effects

9. All of the following would have a direct effect on the amount of precipitation in an area except

• mountain ranges
• air circulation cells
• continental drift
• ocean currents

10. The biogeographic realms described by Darwin, Wallace, and others are associated with patterns of

• light intensity
• precipitation and temperature
• continental drift
• climate

Score =

Correct answers:

Ecology MCQ Parts => 1.. 2.. 3.. 4..

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