Community Ecology Quizzes: Test Your Understanding of Species Interactions

Question 1

Which of the following is **not** a type of interaction that can occur between different species in a community?

Accepted Answer

Self-pollination

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Parasitism

Question 2

What type of relationship exists between a lion and a zebra in an African savanna?

Accepted Answer

Predator-prey

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 3

Which of these organisms is an example of a keystone species in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Sea urchins in a kelp forest

Answer

Spiders in an insect-dominated forest

Answer

Butterflies in a flower-rich meadow

Answer

Mice in a temperate grassland

Question 4

Which type of relationship describes the interaction between a remora fish attaching to a shark without harming or benefiting it?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 5

What is the key difference between primary and secondary ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession occurs on undisturbed land, while secondary succession occurs on disturbed land.

Answer

Primary succession occurs on disturbed land, while secondary succession occurs on undisturbed land.

Answer

Primary succession is faster than secondary succession.

Answer

Primary succession involves mosses and lichens as pioneer species, while secondary succession does not.

Question 6

Which of the following interactions describes a scenario where one species benefits while the other remains unaffected?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Amensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Question 7

The competitive exclusion principle states that:

Accepted Answer

Two species with identical ecological niches cannot coexist indefinitely in a stable environment.

Answer

Species with similar ecological niches inevitably engage in intense competition.

Answer

Competition always leads to one species eliminating the other.

Answer

The stronger species will always outcompete the weaker species.

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of a pioneer species?

Accepted Answer

It is the first to colonize a newly formed or disturbed habitat.

Answer

It requires stable environmental conditions to survive.

Answer

It is highly competitive and can outcompete most other species.

Answer

It is adapted to living in dense forests.

Question 9

Which of the following is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A resource that is in short supply and restricts population growth.

Answer

A resource that is abundant and does not limit population growth.

Answer

A predator that preys on a particular species.

Answer

A disease that affects a specific species.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance.

Answer

A species that is highly competitive and influences the distribution of other species.

Answer

A species that serves as a primary food source for many other species.

Answer

A species that provides habitat for a variety of other species.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Community stability

Answer

Competition exclusion

Answer

Mutualism

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic of a stable ecological community?

Accepted Answer

Low species turnover

Answer

High species diversity

Answer

Rapidly changing composition

Answer

Dominance of a few species

Question 13

What is the role of keystone species in maintaining community stability?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

They control the populations of dominant species.

Answer

They increase the diversity of the community.

Answer

They prevent the invasion of new species.

Question 14

Which of the following is a strategy that species can use to avoid competition?

Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning

Answer

Interspecific competition

Answer

Character displacement

Answer

Predation

Question 15

What is the term used to describe the process by which two species evolve similar traits in response to competition?

Accepted Answer

Convergent evolution

Answer

Divergent evolution

Answer

Coevolution

Answer

Adaptive radiation

Question 16

In a predator-prey relationship, which species is typically limited by the availability of the other?

Accepted Answer

Prey

Answer

Predator

Answer

Both are limited

Answer

Neither is limited

Question 17

What is the term for the gradual, predictable change in species composition over time in an ecological community?

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Competition

Answer

Climax community

Answer

Pioneer species

Question 18

What is the term for a group of organisms that interact with each other within a defined geographic area?

Accepted Answer

Community

Answer

Population

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biosphere

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Sea otters

Answer

Tiger beetles

Answer

Earthworms

Answer

Plankton

Question 20

What is the term for the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustainably support?

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Growth rate

Answer

Population density

Answer

Carrying weight

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a recognized benefit of biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Lower productivity in ecosystems

Answer

Increased ecosystem resilience to environmental change

Answer

Provision of essential ecosystem services

Answer

Reduced risk of disease outbreaks

Question 22

Identify the response that is NOT a type of interspecific competition.

Accepted Answer

Mutualistic interaction

Answer

Exploitation competition

Answer

Interference competition

Answer

Apparent competition

Question 23

What is the term that refers to a mutually advantageous relationship between two species?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Commensalism

Question 24

What is the term used to describe the progressive transformation in species composition that occurs over time in a given area?

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 25

Which term refers to a species that plays a pivotal role in maintaining the structure and function of a community?

Accepted Answer

Keystone species

Answer

Indicator species

Answer

Pioneer species

Answer

Climax species

Question 26

Which response is NOT a type of predator-prey interaction?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Herbivory

Answer

Carnivory

Answer

Parasitism

Question 27

What is the term for the mechanism through which a predator influences the spatial distribution and population density of its prey?

Accepted Answer

Top-down control

Answer

Bottom-up control

Answer

Competition

Answer

Symbiosis

Question 28

What is the term for a species that benefits from another species by obtaining food and shelter without providing any benefit in return?

Accepted Answer

Commensal

Answer

Parasite

Answer

Mutualist

Answer

Predator

Question 29

In which of these relationships do both species gain benefits from each other?

Accepted Answer

A clownfish living among the tentacles of a sea anemone

Answer

A lion hunting a zebra

Answer

A tapeworm living in the intestines of a human

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a type of interspecific competition in which individuals from different species compete for the same resource?

Accepted Answer

Amensalism

Answer

Exploitation competition

Answer

Interference competition

Answer

Apparent competition

Question 31

Which of the following is an example of a keystone species that plays a disproportionately large role in an ecosystem relative to its abundance?

Accepted Answer

Sea otter

Answer

African elephant

Answer

Blue whale

Answer

Polar bear

Question 32

What is the fundamental distinction between commensalism and mutualism?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism benefits only one species, while mutualism benefits both.

Answer

Commensalism benefits both species, while mutualism benefits only one.

Answer

Commensalism involves physical contact, while mutualism does not.

Answer

Commensalism occurs only in aquatic environments, while mutualism occurs only on land.

Question 33

What is the term for the gradual and directional change in the composition of a community over time?

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Interspecific competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Symbiosis

Question 34

What is the primary impact of competition on community dynamics?

Accepted Answer

Reduce species diversity

Answer

Increase species diversity

Answer

Stabilize community structure

Answer

Prevent new species from entering the community

Question 35

Which of the following best describes a food web?

Accepted Answer

A diagram showing the feeding relationships between organisms in a community

Answer

A list of the different species found in a community

Answer

A map of the distribution of organisms in a community

Answer

A description of the physical environment of a community

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT a type of symbiotic relationship where two species interact?

Accepted Answer

Neutralism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 37

Which of the following mechanisms does NOT shape community dynamics?

Accepted Answer

Neutralism

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Symbiosis

Question 38

In a predator-prey relationship, which species gains a benefit at the expense of another?

Accepted Answer

Predator

Answer

Prey

Answer

Both species

Answer

Neither species

Question 39

Which type of symbiosis involves two species living in close association, with one species benefiting and the other remaining unaffected?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a factor that contributes to community stability?

Accepted Answer

Frequent disturbances

Answer

Biodiversity

Answer

Predation

Answer

Resource availability

Question 41

Competition occurs when individuals from different species attempt to access a limited resource.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 42

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species derive benefits from their association.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 43

In the context of community ecology, environmental filtering refers to:

Accepted Answer

The selective pressure of environmental conditions on species distribution

Answer

The process of species competing for the same niche

Answer

The process of species interacting with each other

Answer

The replacement of one species by another over time

Question 44

Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic relationship?

Accepted Answer

Acacia trees and acacia ants

Answer

Lions and zebras

Answer

Fleas and dogs

Answer

Mistletoe and oak trees

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a type of interspecific competition that occurs when individuals of different species utilize shared resources?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Exploitation competition

Answer

Interference competition

Answer

Apparent competition

Question 46

Which of the following accurately defines an ecological niche?

Accepted Answer

The specific abiotic and biotic factors that a species requires to survive, grow, and reproduce

Answer

The physical location where a species lives

Answer

The role that a species plays within its community

Answer

The maximum population size of a species

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a climax community?

Accepted Answer

Regular disturbances

Answer

High species richness

Answer

Relatively low productivity

Answer

Stable species composition

Question 48

The gradual, directional change in the composition of an ecological community over time in response to changing environmental conditions is known as:

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession

Answer

Community dynamics

Answer

Environmental change

Answer

Adaptation

Question 49

In the context of community ecology, which of the following accurately describes ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

The sequential changes in species composition and community structure over time

Answer

The process by which species compete for limited resources

Answer

The mutually beneficial relationship between two species

Answer

The impact of predation on prey populations

Question 50

Which of the following types of symbiosis involves a close, mutually beneficial relationship between two species?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Amensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Question 51

How does competition shape community structure?

Accepted Answer

Reduces niche overlap

Answer

Promotes species diversity

Answer

Increases resource availability

Answer

Enhances cooperation among species

Question 52

Which characteristic is a hallmark of a stable ecological community?

Accepted Answer

Balanced trophic interactions

Answer

High species turnover

Answer

Low species diversity

Answer

Rapid environmental change

Question 53

Which mechanism primarily drives the establishment of pioneer species during ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

Niche availability

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 54

Identify an example of a keystone species within an ecological community.

Accepted Answer

Sea otter

Answer

African elephant

Answer

Arctic fox

Answer

Blue whale

Question 55

In a predator-prey relationship, the predator species benefits from the interaction by:

Accepted Answer

Obtaining food

Answer

Providing shelter

Answer

Dispersing seeds

Answer

Regulating population size

Question 56

Which type of symbiosis involves both species benefiting from the interaction?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 57

Primary succession occurs on:

Accepted Answer

Previously barren or unoccupied land

Answer

Land that has been recently cleared

Answer

Land that has been recently burned

Answer

Land that has been recently flooded

Question 58

In a food web, the organisms that occupy the highest trophic level are known as:

Accepted Answer

Apex predators

Answer

Producers

Answer

Primary consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Question 59

Which of the following is a characteristic of a climax community?

Accepted Answer

Stable species composition

Answer

High species diversity

Answer

Low productivity

Answer

Rapidly changing species composition