How does species richness relate to habitat size?

Larger habitats generally support more species

Which of these best describes character displacement?

Species evolve distinct traits to reduce competition.

What does relative abundance refer to?

The count of individuals in each species

What best describes a foundation species?

It provides essential resources for an entire community

In terms of trophic cascades, which of the following would occur if a keystone predator were removed?

Reduction in prey species diversity

How can a community be recognised in nature?

By the physical environment in which it occurs

How does primary productivity influence species richness?

Both very high and very low productivity can reduce richness

According to the species-area relationship, what happens to species richness as area increases?

It increases, but at a decreasing rate

Which of the following best explains why small islands have lower species richness than large islands?

They have fewer niches and higher extinction rates

What is species richness?

The number of species in a community

Which of these is an example of a facilitation interaction within a community?

Large trees providing shade for understory plants

How does disturbance affect species richness in a community?

It can raise or lower species richness based on its frequency and severity.

Which of the following best describes a holistic view of a community?

They Function as integrated units with interdependent species

What is the relationship between latitude and species diversity?

Species diversity decreases with latitude

What is the primary driver of latitudinal gradients in species diversity?

Increased energy availability and productivity in the tropics

What is an example of a physical gradient in a community?

The variation in temperature across different altitudes

What is a keystone species?

A species with a disproportionate impact on the community

Which of the following is a function of a keystone species?

They enhance the stability of a community

Which of the following statements about metacommunities is false?

They function independently with no species exchange

What is zonation in community ecology?

The arrangement of species in response to environmental gradients

What distinguishes a dominant species from a keystone species?

Keystone species have disproportionately large effect despite low abundance

What role do beavers play as a keystone species?

They create and maintain habitats by building dams

In a forest ecosystem, what role do decomposers primarily play in community structure?

They recycle nutrients essential for plant growth

What does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis predict?

Moderate disturbance promotes the highest diversity

How is a biological community defined according to John Emlen (1977)?

A collection of organisms in their environment

Which type of community structure is likely to be most resilient to environmental change?

A community with high species redundancy

What does primary productivity refer to in a community?

The amount of energy produced by autotrophs

How does the physical structure of a community affect its inhabitants?

It provides a framework for the distribution of organisms

What is a characteristic of animal communities as described by Charles Elton (1927)?

They form closely-knit societies comparable to human societies

What is species evenness?

How equally individuals are distributed among species

What is the most likely consequence of a shift from primary succession to secondary succession?

Faster community development due to pre-existing soil

Which of the following statements is true about species turnover?

changes in species composition across space and time

Which of the following is an abiotic factor that influences community structure?

Water depth in aquatic environments

What is the primary driver of species richness in a community?

The size and stability of the habitat

What is the main reason why species richness is higher in tropical regions?

Higher rates of speciation and lower extinction rates

What does vertical structure in a community typically depend on?

The size, height, and branching of plants

Which of the following is an example of a disturbance in a community?

A natural disaster such as a fire or flood

What is the main function of biodiversity hotspots in conservation?

They contain a high concentration of endemic species

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Community Ecology

50 termsStudBud Administration1 play

A community is a group of interacting species in a habitat, defined by species richness, abundance, and diversity. It has a physical structure shaped by abiotic and biotic factors. Interactions like competition and predation, along with climate and disturbances, influence community composition and dynamics.

Flashcards50 cardsFPractice quizPHost liveL

Questions 50

Answers

1
How does species richness relate to habitat size?
Larger habitats generally support more species
Larger habitats support fewer species
Smaller habitats have more species diversity
Habitat size has no effect on species richness
2
Which of these best describes character displacement?
It describes the even distribution of species across an ecotone
It is a result of habitat fragmentation
It leads to increased genetic similarity between competing species
Species evolve distinct traits to reduce competition.
3
What does relative abundance refer to?
The evenness of species distribution
The number of different species
The diversity of species in an environment
The count of individuals in each species
4
What best describes a foundation species?
It has the lowest species evenness in the community
It has little influence on community structure
It is always a top predator
It provides essential resources for an entire community
5
In terms of trophic cascades, which of the following would occur if a keystone predator were removed?
Reduction in prey species diversity
A decline in abiotic environmental factors
Increase in primary producer biomass
Increase in top-down control of herbivores
6
How can a community be recognised in nature?
By the amount of water it contains
By the physical environment in which it occurs
By the age of the species present
By its uniform size
7
How does primary productivity influence species richness?
There is no clear relationship between productivity and richness
Primary productivity is irrelevant to species richness
High productivity always leads to increased species richness
Both very high and very low productivity can reduce richness
8
According to the species-area relationship, what happens to species richness as area increases?
It increases exponentially
It remains constant
It increases, but at a decreasing rate
It decreases logarithmically
9
Which metric best quantifies both species richness and evenness in a community?
Species-area curve
Absolute abundance
Shannon Diversity Index
Simpson’s Dominance Index
10
Which of the following best explains why small islands have lower species richness than large islands?
They have fewer niches and higher extinction rates
They have stronger interspecific competition
Their climate is less stable
They receive more invasive species
11
What is species richness?
The total number of individuals in a community
The diversity of physical traits within a community
The number of species in a community
The percentage of each species within a community
12
Which of these is an example of a facilitation interaction within a community?
Two species competing for the same food source
Large trees providing shade for understory plants
Herbivores overgrazing on pioneer species
A predator reducing the population of a competitor
13
How does disturbance affect species richness in a community?
It can raise or lower species richness based on its frequency and severity.
It always decreases species richness
It has no effect on species richness
It only increases species richness
14
Which of the following best describes a holistic view of a community?
Random assemblages of species with no interactions
Communities are defined solely by abiotic factors
They Function as integrated units with interdependent species
Communities are formed by the most dominant species only
15
What is the relationship between latitude and species diversity?
Latitude has no effect on species diversity
Species diversity is highest at the poles
Species diversity decreases with latitude
Species diversity increases with latitude
16
What is the primary driver of latitudinal gradients in species diversity?
Increased energy availability and productivity in the tropics
Greater ecosystem stability in temperate regions
More extreme seasonality at higher latitudes
Higher historical extinction rates at the equator
17
What is an example of a physical gradient in a community?
Competition for resources
Species migration patterns
Species interactions in the forest floor
The variation in temperature across different altitudes
18
What environmental factor most influences the distribution of species at a global scale?
Climate
Soil texture
Species competition
Topography
19
What is a keystone species?
A species that is the most abundant in a community
A species that competes with others for resources
A species that is the most resistant to environmental changes
A species with a disproportionate impact on the community
20
Which of the following is a function of a keystone species?
They compete directly with top predators for resources
They serve as primary producers in an ecosystem
They are the most abundant species in an ecosystem
They enhance the stability of a community
21
Which of the following factors would most likely drive a keystone species to extinction first?
A decrease in its population density
Loss of habitat complexity
Competition with an introduced species
Increased species evenness
22
Which of the following statements about metacommunities is false?
The patch-dynamics model assumes identical habitat patches
They consist of multiple local communities connected by dispersal
They function independently with no species exchange
Species sorting models consider local environmental conditions
23
What is an example of a plant community?
A forest of oak trees
A coral reef community
A desert with scattered shrubs
A herd of grazing animals
24
What is zonation in community ecology?
The arrangement of species in response to environmental gradients
The variation in species across different geographical areas
The population of a species in relation to its habitat
The interaction between plants and animals in a community
25
What distinguishes a dominant species from a keystone species?
Dominant species only exist in marine ecosystems
Keystone species have the highest biomass in a community
Dominant species are always top predators
Keystone species have disproportionately large effect despite low abundance
26
What can cause a sharp transition between species in a community?
Changes in species migration patterns
A gradual change in the environment
Competition between similar species
An abrupt environmental change
27
What role do beavers play as a keystone species?
They regulate herbivore populations
They help pollinate plants
They create and maintain habitats by building dams
They disperse seeds
28
In a forest ecosystem, what role do decomposers primarily play in community structure?
They act as keystone species
They recycle nutrients essential for plant growth
They regulate primary productivity
They form the base of the food web
29
What is the primary mechanism behind spatial zonation in coastal ecosystems?
Competition and abiotic stress
Tidal fluctuations only
Stochastic events
Gradients in light availability
30
What does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis predict?
Moderate disturbance promotes the highest diversity
High disturbance leads to the highest species diversity
Low disturbance favours early-successional species
Disturbance has no effect on diversity
31
How is a biological community defined according to John Emlen (1977)?
A group of animals living together in one habitat
A collection of plant populations found in one area
A group of organisms interacting with each other and their environment
A collection of organisms in their environment
32
Which type of community structure is likely to be most resilient to environmental change?
A community with no keystone species
A community dominated by a single species
A community with low species richness
A community with high species redundancy
33
What does primary productivity refer to in a community?
The efficiency of predators in capturing prey
The rate at which herbivores consume plants
The number of carnivores in a community
The amount of energy produced by autotrophs
34
What factor can limit species richness in a community?
Habitat age
The availability of resources
The presence of predators
The size of individual organisms
35
How does the physical structure of a community affect its inhabitants?
It reflects only abiotic factors
It has no impact on the survival of species
It provides a framework for the distribution of organisms
It determines the number of species present
36
What is a characteristic of animal communities as described by Charles Elton (1927)?
They are simply assemblages of species living together
They are always small in scale
They form closely-knit societies comparable to human societies
They only consist of herbivores
37
What is species evenness?
The number of species in a community
How equally individuals are distributed among species
The percentage of each species within a community
The rate of species migration into a community
38
Which biotic factor is most likely to influence species evenness?
Soil pH
Climate variability
Interspecific competition
Sunlight availability
39
What is the most likely consequence of a shift from primary succession to secondary succession?
A decrease in species richness
The complete removal of keystone species
The loss of all ecosystem engineers
Faster community development due to pre-existing soil
40
Which of the following statements is true about species turnover?
It describes the extinction of all species in a community
It is only relevant in island biogeography models
changes in species composition across space and time
It remains constant regardless of environmental conditions
41
What is an example of an allogenic engineer species?
Barnacles on rocky shores
Oak trees in a woodland
Lichens breaking down rock
Beavers building dams
42
Which of the following is an abiotic factor that influences community structure?
Species interaction
Predation by carnivores
Water depth in aquatic environments
Competition for resources
43
What is the primary driver of species richness in a community?
Habitat isolation
Environmental changes
The size and stability of the habitat
Competition
44
What is the main reason why species richness is higher in tropical regions?
Reduced primary production
Greater genetic bottlenecks
Higher rates of speciation and lower extinction rates
More seasonal variation
45
What happens to species composition across an environmental ecotone?
It remains stable due to equilibrium
It follows the intermediate disturbance hypothesis
It changes gradually
It shifts abruptly
46
What does the Shannon index measure?
Species migration
Species diversity
Dominance within a community
Species richness
47
What does vertical structure in a community typically depend on?
The size, height, and branching of plants
The physical structure of aquatic environments
The number of animal species
The population density of herbivores
48
Which of the following is an example of a disturbance in a community?
Species competition for food resources
Seasonal changes in temperature
A predator increasing its population
A natural disaster such as a fire or flood
49
What type of environmental gradient is most likely to drive zonation in a salt marsh?
Oxygen availability
Soil nitrogen levels
Salinity levels
Herbivore density
50
What is the main function of biodiversity hotspots in conservation?
They contain a high concentration of endemic species
They have the lowest rates of habitat destruction
They prioritise species with high dispersal rates
They are unimportant for global species diversity

Community Ecology Flashcards | StudBud

Community Ecology

50 termsStudBud Administration1 play

Flashcards50 cardsFPractice quizPHost liveL

Questions 50

Answers

1
How does species richness relate to habitat size?
Larger habitats generally support more species
Larger habitats support fewer species
Smaller habitats have more species diversity
Habitat size has no effect on species richness
2
Which of these best describes character displacement?
It describes the even distribution of species across an ecotone
It is a result of habitat fragmentation
It leads to increased genetic similarity between competing species
Species evolve distinct traits to reduce competition.
3
What does relative abundance refer to?
The evenness of species distribution
The number of different species
The diversity of species in an environment
The count of individuals in each species
4
What best describes a foundation species?
It has the lowest species evenness in the community
It has little influence on community structure
It is always a top predator
It provides essential resources for an entire community
5
In terms of trophic cascades, which of the following would occur if a keystone predator were removed?
Reduction in prey species diversity
A decline in abiotic environmental factors
Increase in primary producer biomass
Increase in top-down control of herbivores
6
How can a community be recognised in nature?
By the amount of water it contains
By the physical environment in which it occurs
By the age of the species present
By its uniform size
7
How does primary productivity influence species richness?
There is no clear relationship between productivity and richness
Primary productivity is irrelevant to species richness
High productivity always leads to increased species richness
Both very high and very low productivity can reduce richness
8
According to the species-area relationship, what happens to species richness as area increases?
It increases exponentially
It remains constant
It increases, but at a decreasing rate
It decreases logarithmically
9
Which metric best quantifies both species richness and evenness in a community?
Species-area curve
Absolute abundance
Shannon Diversity Index
Simpson’s Dominance Index
10
Which of the following best explains why small islands have lower species richness than large islands?
They have fewer niches and higher extinction rates
They have stronger interspecific competition
Their climate is less stable
They receive more invasive species
11
What is species richness?
The total number of individuals in a community
The diversity of physical traits within a community
The number of species in a community
The percentage of each species within a community
12
Which of these is an example of a facilitation interaction within a community?
Two species competing for the same food source
Large trees providing shade for understory plants
Herbivores overgrazing on pioneer species
A predator reducing the population of a competitor
13
How does disturbance affect species richness in a community?
It can raise or lower species richness based on its frequency and severity.
It always decreases species richness
It has no effect on species richness
It only increases species richness
14
Which of the following best describes a holistic view of a community?
Random assemblages of species with no interactions
Communities are defined solely by abiotic factors
They Function as integrated units with interdependent species
Communities are formed by the most dominant species only
15
What is the relationship between latitude and species diversity?
Latitude has no effect on species diversity
Species diversity is highest at the poles
Species diversity decreases with latitude
Species diversity increases with latitude
16
What is the primary driver of latitudinal gradients in species diversity?
Increased energy availability and productivity in the tropics
Greater ecosystem stability in temperate regions
More extreme seasonality at higher latitudes
Higher historical extinction rates at the equator
17
What is an example of a physical gradient in a community?
Competition for resources
Species migration patterns
Species interactions in the forest floor
The variation in temperature across different altitudes
18
What environmental factor most influences the distribution of species at a global scale?
Climate
Soil texture
Species competition
Topography
19
What is a keystone species?
A species that is the most abundant in a community
A species that competes with others for resources
A species that is the most resistant to environmental changes
A species with a disproportionate impact on the community
20
Which of the following is a function of a keystone species?
They compete directly with top predators for resources
They serve as primary producers in an ecosystem
They are the most abundant species in an ecosystem
They enhance the stability of a community
21
Which of the following factors would most likely drive a keystone species to extinction first?
A decrease in its population density
Loss of habitat complexity
Competition with an introduced species
Increased species evenness
22
Which of the following statements about metacommunities is false?
The patch-dynamics model assumes identical habitat patches
They consist of multiple local communities connected by dispersal
They function independently with no species exchange
Species sorting models consider local environmental conditions
23
What is an example of a plant community?
A forest of oak trees
A coral reef community
A desert with scattered shrubs
A herd of grazing animals
24
What is zonation in community ecology?
The arrangement of species in response to environmental gradients
The variation in species across different geographical areas
The population of a species in relation to its habitat
The interaction between plants and animals in a community
25
What distinguishes a dominant species from a keystone species?
Dominant species only exist in marine ecosystems
Keystone species have the highest biomass in a community
Dominant species are always top predators
Keystone species have disproportionately large effect despite low abundance
26
What can cause a sharp transition between species in a community?
Changes in species migration patterns
A gradual change in the environment
Competition between similar species
An abrupt environmental change
27
What role do beavers play as a keystone species?
They regulate herbivore populations
They help pollinate plants
They create and maintain habitats by building dams
They disperse seeds
28
In a forest ecosystem, what role do decomposers primarily play in community structure?
They act as keystone species
They recycle nutrients essential for plant growth
They regulate primary productivity
They form the base of the food web
29
What is the primary mechanism behind spatial zonation in coastal ecosystems?
Competition and abiotic stress
Tidal fluctuations only
Stochastic events
Gradients in light availability
30
What does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis predict?
Moderate disturbance promotes the highest diversity
High disturbance leads to the highest species diversity
Low disturbance favours early-successional species
Disturbance has no effect on diversity
31
How is a biological community defined according to John Emlen (1977)?
A group of animals living together in one habitat
A collection of plant populations found in one area
A group of organisms interacting with each other and their environment
A collection of organisms in their environment
32
Which type of community structure is likely to be most resilient to environmental change?
A community with no keystone species
A community dominated by a single species
A community with low species richness
A community with high species redundancy
33
What does primary productivity refer to in a community?
The efficiency of predators in capturing prey
The rate at which herbivores consume plants
The number of carnivores in a community
The amount of energy produced by autotrophs
34
What factor can limit species richness in a community?
Habitat age
The availability of resources
The presence of predators
The size of individual organisms
35
How does the physical structure of a community affect its inhabitants?
It reflects only abiotic factors
It has no impact on the survival of species
It provides a framework for the distribution of organisms
It determines the number of species present
36
What is a characteristic of animal communities as described by Charles Elton (1927)?
They are simply assemblages of species living together
They are always small in scale
They form closely-knit societies comparable to human societies
They only consist of herbivores
37
What is species evenness?
The number of species in a community
How equally individuals are distributed among species
The percentage of each species within a community
The rate of species migration into a community
38
Which biotic factor is most likely to influence species evenness?
Soil pH
Climate variability
Interspecific competition
Sunlight availability
39
What is the most likely consequence of a shift from primary succession to secondary succession?
A decrease in species richness
The complete removal of keystone species
The loss of all ecosystem engineers
Faster community development due to pre-existing soil
40
Which of the following statements is true about species turnover?
It describes the extinction of all species in a community
It is only relevant in island biogeography models
changes in species composition across space and time
It remains constant regardless of environmental conditions
41
What is an example of an allogenic engineer species?
Barnacles on rocky shores
Oak trees in a woodland
Lichens breaking down rock
Beavers building dams
42
Which of the following is an abiotic factor that influences community structure?
Species interaction
Predation by carnivores
Water depth in aquatic environments
Competition for resources
43
What is the primary driver of species richness in a community?
Habitat isolation
Environmental changes
The size and stability of the habitat
Competition
44
What is the main reason why species richness is higher in tropical regions?
Reduced primary production
Greater genetic bottlenecks
Higher rates of speciation and lower extinction rates
More seasonal variation
45
What happens to species composition across an environmental ecotone?
It remains stable due to equilibrium
It follows the intermediate disturbance hypothesis
It changes gradually
It shifts abruptly
46
What does the Shannon index measure?
Species migration
Species diversity
Dominance within a community
Species richness
47
What does vertical structure in a community typically depend on?
The size, height, and branching of plants
The physical structure of aquatic environments
The number of animal species
The population density of herbivores
48
Which of the following is an example of a disturbance in a community?
Species competition for food resources
Seasonal changes in temperature
A predator increasing its population
A natural disaster such as a fire or flood
49
What type of environmental gradient is most likely to drive zonation in a salt marsh?
Oxygen availability
Soil nitrogen levels
Salinity levels
Herbivore density
50
What is the main function of biodiversity hotspots in conservation?
They contain a high concentration of endemic species
They have the lowest rates of habitat destruction
They prioritise species with high dispersal rates
They are unimportant for global species diversity