Animal Ecology

Which is NOT an example of a "Grinnellian" ecological niche?

• a.(beavers) riverwater, mud, sticks
• b.(orangutans) fruits, trees, rearing cage
• c.(marine snails) rocky shoreline, seaweed, seawater
• d.(redshanks) saltmarsh, mudflat, peregrine falcons

Indian gazelles are introduced to the Algerian desert where a similar gazelle species lives. What would the Competitive Exclusion Principle predict?

• a.Both species of gazelle will thrive in the shared desert niche.
• b.One species of gazelle will willingly find a new ecological niche.
• c.One species of gazelle will get pushed out of the ecological niche.
• d.Both species of gazelle will get pushed out of their desert niche.

A mainland fruit-eating bird is introduced to an island with more fruit-eating competitors. Which is the most likely scenario?

• a.Its realized niche would contract, while its fundamental niche would remain the same.
• b.Its realized niche would expand, while its fundamental niche would remain the same.
• c.Its realized niche would remain the same, while its fundamental niche would contract.
• d.Its realized niche would remain the same, while its fundamental niche would expand.

Feeding modes are just one aspect of an animal's ecological niche.

• a.true
• b.false

Six Caribbean lizard species feed on insects, but from different parts of the trees. What best explains their behavior?

• a.They take turns using the parts of the tree with the highest density of insects.
• b.They compete daily by fighting for domination of the preferred part of the tree.
• c.They have evolved to share the insect resources by cooperating with each other.
• d.They have evolved to partition the insect resources by using different parts of the tree.

Animals typically employ a single strategy to dodge predators, such as fighting back or grouping up.

• a.true
• b.false

Aposematic coloration is effectively the opposite of ____________.

• a.venom
• b.bluffing
• c.camouflage
• d.mimicry

What is an explanation for cooperative behavior within a species?

• a.Cooperative behavior confers short-term benefits not acted on by natural selection.
• b.Cooperative behavior confers long-term benefits not acted on by natural selection.
• c.Cooperative behavior evolved because of the long term benefits it confers to both partners.
• d.Cooperative behavior evolved because of the long term benefits it confers to one partner.

Animal populations will inevitably adapt to climate change by adjusting their ecological niches, thereby evading extinctions.

• a.true
• b.false

How is the subject matter of "animal ecology" best described?

• a.Animal ecology is the collective species diversity in an ecosystem.
• b.Animal ecology is the cumulative interactions between animals and their environments.
• c.Animal ecology is the synthesis of all interactions between species of animals.
• d.Animal ecology is the sum of the relationships between each animal species and it abiotic environment.