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Unit 5: Ecology and Population Biology

Study guide for CLEP CLEP Biology — Unit 5: Ecology and Population Biology. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

55

Practice Questions

13

Flashcards

9

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

energy flow and trophic levels
biogeochemical cycles
population growth models
community interactions
biomes and biome characteristics
ecological succession (primary vs secondary)
ecological niche (fundamental vs realized)
stereotyped vs learned animal behavior
social biology (altruism cooperation)

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 5 questions from this unit. Sign up for full access to all 55.

Q1MEDIUM

A forest ecosystem is disrupted by a wildfire, resulting in a significant decrease in the population of deer, a primary consumer. Which of the following is the most likely effect on the ecosystem?

A) An increase in the population of plants, due to reduced herbivory
B) A decrease in the population of plants, due to increased competition from other herbivores
C) No significant change in the population of plants, as deer are not a keystone species
D) A decrease in the population of predators, due to reduced prey availability
E) An increase in the population of predators, due to increased availability of other prey
Show Answer

Answer: A — Reduced deer population leads to less herbivory, allowing plant populations to increase.

Q2MEDIUM

A researcher is studying the effect of light intensity on the growth of a particular plant species. The researcher sets up an experiment with two groups of plants: one group is exposed to high light intensity and the other group is exposed to low light intensity. Which of the following is the dependent variable in this experiment?

A) Plant growth
B) Air humidity
C) Light intensity
D) Water temperature
E) Soil type
Show Answer

Answer: A — The dependent variable is the outcome being measured, which in this case is plant growth.

Q3MEDIUM

A researcher is studying the effects of a new pesticide on a population of insects. The researcher collects data on the population size before and after the application of the pesticide. Which of the following is an example of a science practice the researcher is using?

A) Analyzing the environmental impact of the pesticide on nearby ecosystems
B) Describing the physical characteristics of the pesticide
C) Identifying the species of insects in the population
D) Designing an experiment to test a hypothesis
E) Explaining the economic benefits of using the pesticide
Show Answer

Answer: D — The researcher is designing an experiment to test the effects of the pesticide, which is an example of the science practice of designing an experiment to test a hypothesis.

Q4MEDIUM

A non-native species of bird is introduced to an island ecosystem, where it has no natural predators. The bird species outcompetes native bird species for food and habitat, leading to a decline in native bird populations. What is the most likely outcome of this introduction on the ecosystem?

A) The decline of native bird species will have a disproportionate impact on the ecosystem, potentially leading to a collapse.
B) The introduction of the non-native bird species will have no significant impact on the ecosystem.
C) The native bird species will adapt to the presence of the non-native species and coexist without significant changes to the ecosystem.
D) The non-native bird species will only compete with other non-native species, leaving the native species unaffected.
E) The introduction of the non-native bird species will increase biodiversity and enhance ecosystem resilience.
Show Answer

Answer: A — The introduction of a non-native species can have a disproportionate impact on an ecosystem, especially if it has no natural predators and outcompetes native species for resources.

Q5MEDIUM

A researcher is studying the effect of light on the behavior of a certain species of bird. The researcher wants to determine if the birds' singing behavior is affected by the amount of daylight they are exposed to. Which of the following would be an appropriate control group for this experiment?

A) A group of birds kept in a room with a constant amount of daylight
B) A group of birds kept in a room with no daylight at all
C) A group of birds kept in a room with a varying amount of daylight that is not related to the amount of daylight in the experimental group
D) A group of birds that are deaf and cannot sing
E) A group of birds kept in a room with a constant amount of darkness
Show Answer

Answer: A — The control group should be exposed to a constant amount of daylight to provide a baseline for comparison with the experimental group.

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Study Tips for Unit 5: Ecology and Population Biology

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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