Target: 10 questions in 10 minutes

1. The image shows bacteria growing in nutrient broth in open test tubes:

bacteria growing in nutrient broth in open test tubes

Which test tube contains an obligate anaerobe?
2. What is the definition of a niche in ecology?
  • A. The specific habitat where a species lives, including its physical environment.
  • B. The role a species plays in its ecosystem, including its interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.
  • C. The population size of a species in a given area.
  • D. The total number of species present in an ecosystem.
3. What do holozoic and saprotrophic modes of nutrition have in common?
  • A. Ingestion of food
  • B. Use of sunlight
  • C. Used by bacteria and fungi
  • D. Secretion of enzymes to digest food  
4. Which mode of nutrition allows an organism to obtain its carbon from both inorganic and organic sources?
  • A. Mixotrophy
  • B. Holotrophy
  • C. Saprotrophy
  • D. Heterotrophy

Q5. The image below shows Raffles’ pitcher plant (Nepenthes rafflesiana) which often uses on live insects as a source of nutrition.

Competitive_exclusion_in_barnacles

 en:User:NepGrower
CC-BY-SA 2.5
Raffles’ pitcher plant can be described as having what modes of nutrition?
  • A. Heterotrophic and saprotrophic
  • B. Autotrophic and holozoic
  • C. Heterotrophic and autotrophic
  • D. Saprotrophic and consumer

Q6. The image below shows a member of the Opuntia genus.

Cactus flower (Opuntia_phaeacantha)

 AntanO
CC-BY-SA 4.0
Which adaptation is visible in the image above?
  • A. The release of volatile organic compounds to deter browsing animals.
  • B. Nectar formation to attract insect pollinators.
  • C. The presence of sharp, needle-like spines covering the cactus to resist herbivory.
  • D. The storage of toxic chemicals in the plant's succulent tissues to resist herbivory.

Q7&8. The image below shows a replica skull and mandible of Paranthropus boisei, an extinct member of the Hominidae family.

Paranthropus boisei skull

 Durova
CC-BY-SA 3.0
7. Paranthropus boisei had very large, flat molars and premolars and a skull adapted for attachment of powerful chewing muscles. What was the likely diet of P. boisei based on this information?
  • A. Tough, fibrous plant matter like roots and tubers
  • B. Soft fruits and leaves
  • C. Meat and other animal-based foods
  • D. A wide variety of plant and animal foods
8. Further analysis of microwear patterns show that P. boisei teeth show more in common with living fruit-eaters of the primate family. What was the likely diet of P. boisei?
  • A. Tough, fibrous plant matter like roots and tubers
  • B. Soft fruits and leaves
  • C. Meat and other animal-based foods
  • D. A wide variety of plant-based foods

9. The image shows a native species of bird (yellow) which inhabits a tree. An invasive species of bird (red) is introduced.

Competitive-Exclusion-Principle image

What is/are the likely outcome(s) when the two species of bird are in direct interspecific competition for food?

I. One species will outcompete the other
II. The two species will narrow their niche to avoid direct competition
III. The two species will collaborate to maximise resource utilisation and coexist peacefully
IV. The two species will merge their niches to create a shared resource utilisation strategy
Dhanscom17
CC-BY-SA 4.0
  • A. I only
  • B. I and II only
  • C. III and IV only
  • D. I, II and III only
10. Which of the following factors can cause an organism's realised niche to be wider than its fundamental niche?
  • A. Predation
  • B. Abiotic environmental conditions like temperature and moisture
  • C. Competition from other species
  • D. Symbiotic relationships that provide additional resources