Chapter 13 - Competition

Chapter 13
Competition
 

Multiple Choice Questions

 

1. Which of the following statements about damselfish on Jamaican reefs is false? 

A. Damselfish engage in both intraspecific and interspecific competition.
B. Damselfish compete for territories they use for feeding.
C. Damselfish attack intruders threatening their young.
D. Damselfish without territories die.
E. Competition in damselfish is "interference" competition.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.00.01 Define intraspecific and interspecific competition.
Section: 13.00
Topic: Population Ecology
 

2. In plants, "self-thinning" refers to reduction in 

A. the biomass of an individual in response to competition.
B. the total biomass of a population in response to competition.
C. both population density and population biomass in response to competition.
D. population density in response to competition, as population biomass increases.
E. population density due to grazing by herbivores.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.01.02 Explain how the observation of self-thinning among plants provides evidence for intraspecific competition.
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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3. When the average mass of individual plants in a stand is plotted against stand density (log-
transformed), the slope of the relationship is very often around 
A. -1/2.
B. -1.
C. -3/2.
D. +1/2.
E. +3/2.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.01.01 Outline the 3/2 self-thinning rule.
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

4. Intraspecific competition among planthoppers 

A. results in reduced survivorship.
B. results in increased development time.
C. occurs via resources rather than interference.
D. occurs because plants exploited by planthoppers have less protein and less moisture.
E. All of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.01.03 Discuss studies demonstrating intraspecific competition among planthoppers (Pokelisia marginata) and
terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber).
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

5. Gause's "competitive exclusion principle" states that 

A. when two species occur together, competition is always prevented by some behavioral
adjustment.
B. no two species can coexist indefinitely.
C. no two competing species can coexist indefinitely.
D. no two species with identical niches can coexist indefinitely.
E. None of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.02.01 Define the competitive exclusion principle.
Section: 13.02
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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6. Ecologists sometimes use __________________ as simpler representations of the complex

natural world. 
A. character displacement
B. mathematical or laboratory models
C. competition coefficients
D. replication
E. None of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.03.04 Describe how laboratory models of competition have provided insights into the biological details involved in
interspecific competition between closely related species.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

7. During droughts in the Galápagos Islands, the ground finches most likely to survive are
those with 
A. smaller bodies.
B. smaller bills.
C. earlier maturation.
D. larger bills.
E. larger territories.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.02.03 Describe the relationship between the beaks of Darwins finch species and their feeding niches.
Section: 13.02
Topic: Population Ecology
 

8. Which of the following does NOT contribute to determining the niche of the salt-marsh
grass Spartina anglica? 
A. the height of tidal fluctuations
B. the fetch of the estuary
C. latitude
D. temperature
E. rainfall frequency

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.02.04 Outline the factors significant to determining the distribution of Spartina anglica in the intertidal zone.
Section: 13.02
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

9.  In the Lotka-Volterra competition equations, the parameter a12 relates to the  
A.  population growth rate.
B.  carrying capacity in the absence of competition.
C.  carrying capacity in the presence of competition.
D.  effect OF species 2 ON population growth rate OF species 1.
E.  effect OF species 1 ON population growth rate OF species 2.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.03.03Explain the general biological conditions for coexistence of two species according the Lotka-Volterra
competition model.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

10.  In the Lotka-Volterra competition equations, if a21 > 1, then  

A.  the population growth rate of species 2 is reduced equally by individuals of either species
1 or species 2.
B.  the population growth rate of species 2 is reduced more by each individual of species 2
than by each individual of species 1.
C.  the population growth rate of species 2 is reduced more by each individual of species 1
than by each individual of species 2.
D.  We would also have to know the value of K2 to decide which of the above is true.
E.  We cannot tell from the parameters of the equation which of the choices is true.

Bloom's Level: 3. Apply

Learning Outcome: 13.03.01 Describe the competition coefficient.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

11. Analysis of the Lotka-Volterra competition model implies that two competitors can coexist
only when 
A. interspecific competition is stronger than intraspecific competition.
B. intraspecific competition is stronger than interspecific competition.
C. intraspecific and interspecific competition are equally strong.
D. predation or parasitism is stronger than interspecific competition.
E. Actually, the model implies that two competitors can never coexist.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.03.03Explain the general biological conditions for coexistence of two species according the Lotka-Volterra
competition model.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

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Chapter 13 - Competition

12. In Thomas Park's experiments with Tribolium beetles, which of the following was true? 
A. T. confusum and T. castaneum had identical niches.
B. T. confusum and T. castaneum always coexisted when cultured together.
C. T. confusum and T. castaneum never coexisted when cultured together.
D. T. confusum and T. castaneum could coexist under some environmental conditions, but not
all.
E. T. confusum and T. castaneum proved to be unsuitable species for laboratory
experimentation.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.03.04 Describe how laboratory models of competition have provided insights into the biological details involved in
interspecific competition between closely related species.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

13. Joseph Connell discovered that Balanus barnacles were excluded from the upper intertidal
zone by ____________, while Chthalamus barnacles were excluded from the middle
intertidal zone by ___________. 
A. competition from mussels, prolonged immersion in water
B. competition from mussels, competition with Balanus
C. prolonged exposure to air, competition with Balanus
D. prolonged exposure to air, competition with algae
E. predation by wading birds, predation by starfish

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.04.01 Contrast the competition experiments involving intertidal barnacles and desert rodents.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

14. Field experiments differ from laboratory experiments in that 

A. laboratory experiments include controls, but field experiments need not.
B. field experiments can be more easily replicated than laboratory experiments.
C. laboratory experiments allow variables not of direct interest to be controlled, while in field
experiments these typically vary.
D. field experiments can teach us about ecological systems, but laboratory experiments
cannot.
E. field experiments are often used by ecologists, but laboratory experiments never are.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.Investigating.01 Describe the difference between a typical laboratory experiment and a field experiment.
Section: Investigating the Evidence
Topic: Population Ecology
 

15. Two species occurring together in the same place are said to be 
A. competitors.
B. precocial.
C. mutualists.
D. allopatric.
E. sympatric.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.04.02 Define the terms, allopatric, sympatric, and character displacement.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

16. Competition between members of a single species is called 

A. cohort specific competition.
B. species specific competition.
C. interspecific competition.
D. intraspecific competition.
E. interference competition.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.00.01 Define intraspecific and interspecific competition.
Section: 13.00
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

17. In mature white pine forests of New Hampshire 

A. belowground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and
hemlocks.
B. belowground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of white pine seedlings.
C. aboveground intraspecific competition suppresses the growth of white pine seedlings.
D. aboveground interspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and
hemlocks.
E. belowground intraspecific competition suppresses the growth of herbaceous plants and
hemlocks.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.00.01 Define intraspecific and interspecific competition.
Section: 13.00
Topic: Population Ecology
 

18. Self-thinning in a stand of trees 

A. increases biomass per individual.
B. decreases stand density.
C. results in death of less competitive individuals.
D. is a result of intraspecific competition.
E. All of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.01.02 Explain how the observation of self-thinning among plants provides evidence for intraspecific competition.
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

19. Gause's laboratory experiments with Paramecium species provided evidence for: 

A. character displacement.
B. the niche.
C. self-thinning rule.
D. competitive exclusion principle.
E. All of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.03.04 Describe how laboratory models of competition have provided insights into the biological details involved in
interspecific competition between closely related species.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

20.  If the isocline for species 1 lies above that of species 2,  

A.  species 2 will eventually exclude species 1.
B.  a stable coexistence of the two species has been established.
C.  species 1 will eventually exclude species 2.
D.  an unstable coexistence of the two species has been established.
E.  all growth trajectories lead to the point where N2=K2 and N1=0.

Bloom's Level: 3. Apply

Learning Outcome: 13.03.02 Predict competitive exclusion or coexistence of species using graphs showing the orientations of the isoclines
for zero population growth for two species involved in interspecific competition.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 

21. Which of the following is not included in the list of criteria that Taper and Case believe
must be met to build a definitive case for character displacement? 
A. Morphological differences between a pair of sympatric species are statistically greater than
the differences between allopatric populations of the same species.
B. The observed differences between sympatric and allopatric populations have a genetic
basis.
C. Variation in the character must have a known effect on the use of resources.
D. There must be demonstrated competition for the resource under question and competition
must be directly correlated with similarity in the character.
E. All of the choices are included in the list of criteria that must be met to build a definitive
case for character displacement.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.04.04 Describe what decades of research indicates about competition in nature, not in mathematical or laboratory
models.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

22. The process of evolution toward niche divergence in the face of competition is called
____________. 
A. niche displacement
B. niche evolution
C. character displacement
D. character evolution
E. allopatric displacement

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.04.02 Define the terms, allopatric, sympatric, and character displacement.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

23. Research by James Byers on the relationship between a native and an invasive species of
mud snail 
A. demonstrated that the invasive species Batillaria grows faster than the native species
Cerithidea.
B. demonstrated that at high densities Batillaria continued to grow at a relatively high rate
while Cerithidea lost weight.
C. indicated that Batillaria is much more efficient at converting available food into its own
biomass.
D. predicts a time to competitive exclusion of Cerithidea by Batillaria of 55 to 70 years.
E. All of the choices are correct.

Bloom's Level: 5. Evaluate

Learning Outcome: 13.Applications.02 Explain the key difference in the biology of Batillaria and Cerithidea that indicates the mechanism
underlying Batillarias competitive superiority.
Section: Applicatons
Topic: Population Ecology
 
 

True / False Questions

 

24. Intraspecific competition for limited resources can play a key role in slowing population
growth at high densities. 
TRUE

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.01.02 Explain how the observation of self-thinning among plants provides evidence for intraspecific competition.
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

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Chapter 13 - Competition

25. Experiments with terrestrial isopods demonstrate that competition can occur only when
food resources are limiting. 
FALSE

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.01.03 Discuss studies demonstrating intraspecific competition among planthoppers (Pokelisia marginata) and
terrestrial isopods (Porcellio scaber).
Section: 13.01
Topic: Population Ecology
 

26. Within a species, all individuals have identical niches. 

FALSE

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.02.02 Relate the correspondence between the niches of species and the potential for interspecific competition between
them.
Section: 13.02
Topic: Population Ecology
 

27. In the Lotka-Volterra competition model, the intersection of two isoclines of zero
population growth always indicates stable coexistence of two competitors. 
FALSE

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.03.02 Predict competitive exclusion or coexistence of species using graphs showing the orientations of the isoclines
for zero population growth for two species involved in interspecific competition.
Section: 13.03
Topic: Population Ecology
 
 

Fill in the Blank Questions

 

28. When a new species arises through hybridization followed by doubling of chromosome

number, the process is called _____________. 
allopolyploidy

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.02.04 Outline the factors significant to determining the distribution of Spartina anglica in the intertidal zone.
Section: 13.02
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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Chapter 13 - Competition

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Chapter 13 - Competition

29. Rodents that feed primarily on seeds are called ____________. 

granivores

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.04.01 Contrast the competition experiments involving intertidal barnacles and desert rodents.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

30. Evolution of distinct niches in the presence of competition is called _____________. 

character displacement

Bloom's Level: 2. Understand

Learning Outcome: 13.04.04 Describe what decades of research indicates about competition in nature, not in mathematical or laboratory
models.
Section: 13.04
Topic: Population Ecology
 

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