Community Ecology Quizzes: Test Your Understanding of Species Interactions

Question 1

Which of the following is a key characteristic of competition within communities?

Accepted Answer

Resources are limited and species compete for them

Answer

Positive interactions between species

Answer

Species occupy different niches

Answer

Mutualistic relationships are formed

Question 2

What is the term for a species that benefits from the presence of another species without causing harm to it?

Accepted Answer

Commensal

Answer

Predator

Answer

Parasite

Answer

Mutualist

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an example of a mutualistic relationship?

Accepted Answer

Predation of prey by wolves

Answer

Pollination of flowers by insects

Answer

Cleaning symbiosis between fish and shrimp

Answer

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in plant roots

Question 4

What is the ecological term for the range of abiotic and biotic factors that a species can tolerate?

Accepted Answer

Niche

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Population

Answer

Ecosystem

Question 5

What is the term for a species that has a disproportionately large impact on the structure and function of its community relative to its abundance?

Accepted Answer

Keystone species

Answer

Dominant species

Answer

Pioneer species

Answer

Indicator species

Question 6

What concept describes the idea that species richness increases with increasing environmental heterogeneity?

Accepted Answer

Habitat heterogeneity hypothesis

Answer

Intermediate disturbance hypothesis

Answer

Species-area relationship

Answer

Competitive exclusion principle

Question 7

Which of the following interactions represents competition?

Accepted Answer

Two species feeding on the same limited resource

Answer

A mutualistic relationship between a plant and a pollinator

Answer

A predator consuming its prey

Answer

An organism gaining benefits from another without harming or benefiting it

Question 8

The ecological niche of a species refers to:

Accepted Answer

The specific role, requirements, and interactions a species has within its ecosystem

Answer

The habitat where a species is predominantly found

Answer

The range of prey species utilized by a predator

Answer

The physical environment in which a species resides

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Direct competition for resources

Answer

Pollination services

Answer

Seed dispersal

Answer

Defense against predators

Question 10

The concept of a keystone species refers to:

Accepted Answer

Species that have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem relative to their abundance

Answer

Species that are the most abundant and influential in ecosystem processes

Answer

Species that are particularly susceptible to environmental change

Answer

Species that are top predators in their food webs

Question 11

Ecological succession describes:

Accepted Answer

The sequential and predictable changes in species composition and community structure over time

Answer

The process of species migration and establishment in new areas

Answer

The impact of climate change on plant communities

Answer

The interactions between different trophic levels in an ecosystem

Question 12

The term 'trophic cascade' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The indirect effects of predators on lower trophic levels

Answer

The influence of herbivores on plant communities

Answer

The role of primary producers in food webs

Answer

The dynamic interactions between species at different trophic levels

Question 13

Revised: Which ecological relationship is characterized by mutual benefits for both participating species?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Predation

Question 14

Revised: How does predation affect population dynamics within a community?

Accepted Answer

Reduces prey population size

Answer

Increases prey reproductive rates

Answer

No effect on population sizes

Answer

Prey evolve adaptations to avoid predators

Question 15

Revised: Which of the following is a potential outcome of competitive exclusion?

Accepted Answer

Displacement of one species by another

Answer

Coexistence of competing species

Answer

Increased biodiversity

Answer

Enhanced niche differentiation

Question 16

Revised: Which of the following is a characteristic of a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

Low population density with a disproportionate impact on their ecosystem.

Answer

High population density with a minor impact on their ecosystem.

Answer

Narrow ecological niche with a minor impact on their ecosystem.

Answer

Low genetic diversity with a disproportionate impact on their ecosystem.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT an interaction studied in community ecology?

Accepted Answer

Abiotic influence

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 18

Which type of competition occurs when two species compete for the same limited resource?

Accepted Answer

Interspecific competition

Answer

Intraspecific competition

Answer

Exploitation competition

Answer

Apparent competition

Question 19

In a predator-prey relationship, which species typically responds later to a change in the population of the other species?

Accepted Answer

Predator

Answer

Prey

Answer

Producer

Answer

Mutualist

Question 20

Which of the following is an interaction where both species benefit?

Accepted Answer

Pollination

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 21

Which is NOT a characteristic of a climax community?

Accepted Answer

Dominance of early-colonizing species

Answer

Resilience

Answer

High species diversity

Answer

Low rate of primary succession

Question 22

Which conservation strategy aims to enhance degraded ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Habitat restoration

Answer

Reforestation

Answer

Population reintroduction

Answer

Captive breeding

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a type of competition between species?

Accepted Answer

Amensalism

Answer

Direct interference

Answer

Exploitation competition

Answer

Apparent competition

Question 24

The Lotka-Volterra model describes the population dynamics of two species involved in:

Accepted Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Symbiosis

Question 25

Which of the following is a defining characteristic of keystone species?

Accepted Answer

They have a disproportionately large impact on the ecosystem relative to their abundance

Answer

They are typically rare in the community

Answer

They are always predators

Answer

They are exclusively found in aquatic environments

Question 26

Mutualism is a type of species interaction that results in:

Accepted Answer

Both species benefiting from the interaction

Answer

One species benefiting while the other remains unaffected

Answer

One species benefiting while the other is harmed

Answer

Both species being harmed by the interaction

Question 27

Species richness refers to:

Accepted Answer

The total number of species in a community

Answer

The relative abundance of different species in a community

Answer

The number of individuals in a community

Answer

The amount of biomass in a community

Question 28

A food web is a graphical representation of:

Accepted Answer

All the feeding relationships within a community

Answer

Only the predator-prey relationships within a community

Answer

Only the plant-herbivore relationships within a community

Answer

Only the parasitic relationships within a community

Question 29

Ecological succession is the:

Accepted Answer

Orderly change in species composition and community structure over time

Answer

Random change in species composition and community structure over time

Answer

Change in species composition and community structure due to a single disturbance event

Answer

Change in species composition and community structure driven by human activities

Question 30

Which term best describes the ability of an ecological community to withstand and recover from disturbances?

Accepted Answer

Resilience

Answer

Resistance

Answer

Vulnerability

Answer

Equilibrium

Question 31

Within a community, which of these is NOT a type of species interaction?

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 32

In a competitive interaction, what typically happens to the population sizes of the competing species?

Accepted Answer

One population sizably increases, while the other sizably decreases.

Answer

Both populations noticeably increase.

Answer

Both populations drastically decrease.

Answer

The populations remain relatively stable.

Question 33

Mutualistic interactions generally result in what for the species involved?

Accepted Answer

Increased fitness

Answer

Reduced fitness

Answer

Stagnant fitness

Answer

Increased fitness for one species and reduced fitness for the other

Question 34

Which of the following best exemplifies keystone predation?

Accepted Answer

Sea otters preying on sea urchins

Answer

Lions preying on zebras

Answer

Wolves preying on deer

Answer

Owls preying on mice

Question 35

Which characteristic is generally associated with a stable community?

Accepted Answer

High species diversity

Answer

Low species abundance

Answer

High rates of species turnover

Answer

Few keystone species

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT an interaction between species within a community?

Accepted Answer

Coevolution

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 37

What term describes the range of species' niches within a community?

Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning

Answer

Competitive exclusion

Answer

Mutualistic association

Answer

Predator-prey relationship

Question 38

Which of the following is an example of a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

Sea otter

Answer

Grasshopper

Answer

Deer

Answer

Squirrel

Question 39

What is the primary mechanism by which competition influences community structure?

Accepted Answer

Direct resource competition

Answer

Indirect resource competition

Answer

Territorial aggression

Answer

Interspecific competition

Question 40

What is the term used to describe the gradual change in community composition over time?

Accepted Answer

Succession

Answer

Climax community

Answer

Pioneer species

Answer

Indicator species

Question 41

What term describes the spatial arrangement of individuals within a community?

Accepted Answer

Community structure

Answer

Species diversity

Answer

Ecological niche

Answer

Population density

Question 42

What is the primary role of decomposers in a community?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down organic matter

Answer

Producing food for primary consumers

Answer

Regulating population size

Answer

Providing shelter for other species

Question 43

Which of the following is an example of a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

Sea otter

Answer

Lion

Answer

Squirrel

Question 44

The process by which a species' niche changes over time is known as:

Accepted Answer

Niche shift

Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Competitive exclusion

Answer

Resource partitioning

Question 45

The process by which communities change over time in response to environmental disturbances is called:

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Primary succession

Answer

Secondary succession

Answer

Community assembly

Question 46

Which of the following is a measure of the strength of interspecific competition?

Accepted Answer

Competition coefficient

Answer

Relative abundance

Answer

Niche overlap

Answer

Resource utilization curve

Question 47

A species of butterfly relies on a specific type of flower for nectar, and the flower depends on the butterfly for pollination. This interaction is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 48

A keystone species is one that:

Accepted Answer

Has a disproportionately large impact on the community structure relative to its abundance.

Answer

Is the most abundant species in the community.

Answer

Is a primary producer in the food web.

Question 49

A community with high species richness is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

A large number of different species.

Answer

A large number of individuals of each species.

Answer

A high degree of species evenness.

Answer

A dominance by a few species.

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences community structure?

Accepted Answer

The size of the community.

Answer

Disturbances.

Answer

Resource availability.

Answer

Predator-prey interactions.

Question 51

The process of ecological succession describes:

Accepted Answer

The gradual changes in species composition over time in a community.

Answer

The movement of individuals within a community.

Answer

The formation of new species through evolution.

Question 52

The competitive exclusion principle states that:

Accepted Answer

Two species with identical ecological niches cannot coexist in the same community.

Answer

Species can coexist if they occupy different ecological niches.

Answer

Competition is always beneficial to both species involved.

Question 53

A food web is more complex than a food chain because it:

Accepted Answer

Shows multiple feeding relationships and energy flow pathways within a community.

Answer

Focuses on a single predator-prey relationship.

Answer

Only includes herbivores and their predators.

Question 54

Which of the following is an example of a disturbance that can affect community structure?

Accepted Answer

A wildfire.

Answer

A mutualistic relationship between two species.

Answer

A stable climate.

Answer

An increase in the number of prey species.