Ecology
What process do plants use to convert solar energy into chemical energy?
Respiration
Digestion
Fermentation
Photosynthesis
In an aquatic ecosystem with declining fish populations, which change would most likely indicate a disruption caused by excessive nutrient pollution?
An increase in algal bloom frequency.
An increase in dissolved oxygen levels at night.
A decrease in aquatic insect emergence cycles.
A decrease in water temperature variation.
What type of natural event could lead to a bottleneck effect, thereby reducing genetic variance within an ecosystem?
An increase in food supply leading to population growth
The migration of animals into an area bringing new genes
A stable climate with no significant change over time
A forest fire devastating a particular area
How does genetic variation within a population influence resilience against environmental changes?
High genetic variation increases the likelihood that some individuals will have adaptive traits.
High genetic variation reduces cohesion and interbreeding, weakening resilience against environmental changes.
Low genetic variation enhances uniformity, making populations less susceptible to diseases.
Low genetic variation stimulates rapid evolutionary responses due to increased mutational rates.
How does the physical structure of a watershed affect the distribution and abundance of organisms living in aquatic ecosystems?
It changes the pH level of water, leading to variations in organismal enzymatic activity rates in aquatic ecosystems.
It determines water flow patterns, which influence nutrient availability and habitat formation for organisms.
It modifies soil composition uniformly throughout the watershed, impacting terrestrial plants but not aquatic life forms directly.
It alters sunlight penetration depth, affecting photosynthetic microorganism populations at all depths equally.
What is the difference between dominant and keystone species?
Only keystone species regulate the growth and decline of other populations. Dominant species do not influence the distribution of species.
Dominant species are not the most abundant organisms in an ecosystem, while keystone species are.
Only dominant species regulate the growth and decline of other populations. Keystone species do not influence the distribution of species.
Keystone species are not the most abundant organisms in an ecosystem, while dominant species are.
How might an increase in ocean temperature most likely affect coral reef ecosystems over time?
Migration of coral polyps toward cooler waters, expanding reef habitats.
Disruption of symbiotic relationships leading to widespread coral bleaching.
Stabilization of reef ecosystems due to reduced pathogenic infections in warmer water.
Increased photosynthesis rates enhancing overall coral growth and health.

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What is an adaptation in the context of evolution?
A random mutation attributed to environmental pressures
An intentional change in behavior due to competition
A heritable genetic variation that increases an organism's fitness
The process of a species moving into a new ecological niche
If a non-native species that efficiently preys on native herbivores is introduced to an ecosystem, how might this impact the plant communities in the long term?
No significant change due to rapid adaptation of native herbivores.
Increased herbivory causing a decline in all plant populations.
Decreased herbivory leading to certain plant species becoming locally dominant.
Enhanced plant diversity as plants evolve defenses against new predators.
What could be a consequence of introducing a non-native predatory species into an ecosystem?
Reductions in certain native prey species populations disrupting food chains and nutrient cycles.
Increased competition among native predators leading them into new territories.
Decreased parasitism on native species since the non-native predator may prefer different hosts.
Greater biodiversity due to new ecological niches being filled.