Biology Test Biology Ecology and Evolution 3

Question 1

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy captured by photosynthesis

Answer

Chemical energy from decomposers

Answer

Thermal energy from the Earth's core

Answer

Kinetic energy from wind and water

Question 2

Which type of speciation occurs when a physical barrier geographically separates a population?

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Answer

Sympatric speciation

Answer

Parapatric speciation

Answer

Peripatric speciation

Question 3

In a food web, what is the effect of removing a keystone predator?

Accepted Answer

The prey population explodes, destabilizing the ecosystem

Answer

Species diversity increases across all trophic levels

Answer

Primary producers are unaffected

Answer

Decomposer activity decreases

Question 4

Which biogeochemical cycle involves bacteria converting atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants?

Accepted Answer

Nitrogen cycle

Answer

Carbon cycle

Answer

Water cycle

Answer

Phosphorus cycle

Question 5

What does 'r-selected' reproductive strategy describe in ecology?

Accepted Answer

Species that produce many offspring with little parental investment

Answer

Species that invest heavily in few offspring with high parental care

Answer

Species adapted to stable, resource-rich environments

Answer

Species at the top of the food chain

Question 6

What evolutionary evidence is provided by the existence of vestigial structures?

Accepted Answer

Species share common ancestry with ancestors that used those structures

Answer

Organisms create new structures as needed

Answer

Convergent evolution produced similar traits independently

Answer

Genetic mutations are always beneficial

Question 7

Which process transfers energy and matter from dead organisms back to the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Mutualism