Scientific Inquiry — Unit test Answers

It is advantageous for a predator to prey exclusively on a single prey species.

How can an increase in biodiversity lead to an increase in ecosystem stability?a.A more biodiverse ecosystem is not subject to change.b.A more biodiverse ecosystem has a higher chance of adapting to species changes.c.A more biodiverse ecosystem has fewer species types to balance.d.A more biodiverse ecosystem is subject to fewer natural disasters.

A quaternary consumer species would be expected to have a smaller population than a secondary consumer species.

What discovery led Darwin to develop his theories on adaptation?a.The Galapagos islands contain a range of habitats.b.The Galapagos islands originate from volcanoes.c.The birds Darwin found in the Galapagos were different types of finches, not separate types of birds.d.Many of the organisms in the Galapagos lived in hostile environments.

Which of the following is not a part of Darwin’s theory of evolution?a.Changes in organisms occur immediately.b.Organisms change over time.c.Species evolution occurs through natural selection.d.Organisms developed from common ancestors.

Variation of ecological habitats within a species is characteristic of which type of diversity?a.Genetic diversityb.Ecosystem diversityc.Species diversityd.Regional diversity

Which of the following best explains why ecosystems need a continual influx of new energy?a.Photosynthesis feeds herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers.b.As energy is recycled, a small amount is lost as heat.c.Energy flows through an ecosystem and cannot be recycled.d.Cellular respiration does not feed back into other processes.

Which of the following is true about the efficiency of energy transfer in an ecosystem?a.The more energy the organism requires, the more efficient the energy transfer.b.All energy transfers have the same efficiencies.c.The less energy the organism requires, the more efficient the energy transfer.d.The most efficient energy transfers are in large, warm-blooded animals.

Consider the following food chain:Garden plants are eaten by snails, which are eaten by birds, which are eaten by the household cat.

While trees are not the largest level in the pyramid of numbers, they are still the base for both the pyramids of biomass and pyramids of energy.

Deer run in zigzag patterns when being chased by predators. What type of adaptation is this?a.Behavioralb.Physiologicalc.Structurald.Ecological

Organisms that have a physical trait that makes it easier for them to access food supplies are unlikely to pass on that trait to their offspring.

A scientist has correctly gone through all the possible steps in a dichotomous key, but has not identified an insect. Which most likely describes why he did not identify the insect?

Explain how the concept of the “survival of the fittest” relates to the theory of evolution.

Explain how microevolution and migration can affect an ecosystem.