Name: __________________________________ __________________________________

First Name Last Name

Name: __________________________________ __________________________________

First Name Last Name

School: ________________________________________________ Team Number: _______

Full School Name, No Abbreviations

ECOLOGY
B DIVISION
Kansas City Regional Science Olympiad Tournament
February 17, 2018

EXAM BOOKLET
INSTRUCTIONS

Ø By marking your name(s) on the lines above and on your Answer Sheet, you are agreeing to the Science Olympiad
Code of Ethics Students’ Pledge: “[I/We] will compete with integrity, respect, and sportsmanship towards my
fellow competitors. [I/We] will display courtesy towards Event Supervisors and Tournament Personnel.” The
Ecology Event Supervisor can deduct points from a team’s final score at their discretion if the team fails to uphold
the Students’ Pledge.

Ø You are only allowed to use a calculator and one 8.5” x 11” sheet of notes during the exam. All other materials are
prohibited. No phones allowed. You can use either pencil or blue or black pen to complete the exam.

Ø An illegible response will be an incorrect response. Thus, write neatly.

Ø Be sure you have fifteen pages in the Exam Booklet and three pages in the Answer Sheet. If you do not have all
of the pages in the Exam or Answer Sheet, alert the Event Supervisor immediately.

Ø Do not discuss the content of this exam with anyone until after the tournament is over.

FORMAT

Ø The exam is 70 points and consists of five sections: Definitions (10 points), Fill-in-the-blank (5 points), Diagram
Creation (10 points), Multiple Choice (20 points), Scenario Analysis (15 points), and True-False (10 points).

Ø You will have 50 minutes to complete the entire exam. You can pace yourself and divide the exam however you
choose. (Hint: The questions are not arranged by difficulty level.)

Ø Ties will first be broken by the highest score on the Multiple Choice section, followed by the highest score on the
Scenario Analysis section, followed by the highest score on the Definitions section, followed by the highest score on
the Fill-in-the-blank section.

Exam by Jeffrey Rubel

Kansas City, Missouri • February 2018

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 1 of 15
 SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS
10 Questions, 10 Points

Directions: For each of the following definitions, write the correct term on the corresponding blank on the Answer Sheet. There is
only one correct term for each definition.

1. A group of individuals of the same species in the same geographic area

2. The type of competition that occurs among individuals of the same species

3. A directional, cumulative change through time in the species that occupy a given area

4. A population’s maximum rate of increase under ideal conditions, without limiting factors

5. Symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and one species is harmed, but the harmed species is not killed

6. The percent of energy (not lost through metabolism/heat) that moves from one trophic level to another in a food web

7. Species diversity along transects and gradients, which often occurs in response to spatial variability

8. Type of prairie that is closest to the deserts of the western United States and receives around 10 inches of precipitation per
year; this is the largest type of prairie in the United States

9. The tendency for toxic substances to increase in concentration at progressively higher levels of a food web

10. Scientific study of nature and biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats and ecosystems from extinction

• • •

SECTION 2: FILL-IN-THE-BLANK
5 Questions, 5 Points

Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with the appropriate word or phrase, and write the correct answer on the
corresponding blank on your Answer Sheet. There is only one correct answer for each blank.

1. Fire and ___ are the two dominant factors that control grasslands and prevent trees from growing.

2. Many plants in the grassland have ___, which are deep underground stems. Because of these structures, these grasses can
continue to grow even after grazing animals eat their leaves.

3. Plants in the desert have to deal with hot, dry conditions. ___ plants (“juicy plants,” like cacti) deal with these conditions
by storing water in their stems and not having stomata through which they could lose water; rather, their green stems
function as leaves.

4. Nitrogen fertilizers, if applied in excess, can often run off into water bodies and cause ___, which causes a dense growth
of plant life and a subsequent death of animal life due to a lack of oxygen.

5. Sedimentation from farms is an example of ___ pollution, which is pollution that comes from a number of
indistinguishable sources, making treatment quite difficult.

• CONTINUE TO SECTION 3 •

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 2 of 15
 SECTION 3: DIAGRAM CREATION
5 Questions, 10 Points

Directions: For each of the following questions about the porgs on Longhofer Island, create or complete the drawing/diagram on
the Answer Sheet. Make sure your drawings are clear and simple, and be sure to include all components noted in the question.

11. On the graph on your Answer Sheet, the dashed line represents the carrying capacity (K) for the porg population on
Longhofer Island, and the dotted line represents the population (n) over the past three years. The porg population is
expected to hit carrying capacity in Year 6. Complete the graph from Year 3 to Year 10.

12. On Longhofer Island, there are two porg species––the brown porg and the pink porg––that compete for nesting sites.
The brown porg is a generalist (nesting at most elevations), while the pink porg is a specialist (only nesting in low
elevations). On the axes provided, draw and label (1) one curve representing the brown porg niche and (2) another curve
representing the pink porg niche. Label (3) the zone of competition on the graph.

13. A highly simplistic sketch of Longhofer Island is shown in the box on your Answer Sheet, including the ocean, a cloud
and a tree. Using this sketch, draw and label arrows representing the following components of the water cycle: (1)
evaporation, (2) transpiration, (3) precipitation, (4) runoff.

14. A highly simplistic sketch of Longhofer Island is shown in the box on your Answer Sheet, including a porg and a tree.
Using this sketch, draw and label arrows representing the following components of the carbon cycle: (1) respiration, (2)
photosynthesis, (3) death/decay, (4) consumption.

15. Life for a porg on Longhofer Island isn’t easy. Chewbaccas are one of the only predators of the porgs. The graph on the
Answer Sheet shows the chewbacca population over the past ten years. Given the predator-prey relationship between
these two species, draw the graph for the porg population over the same time period. Overlay your graph on the same axis.

• CONTINUE TO SECTION 4 •

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 3 of 15
 SECTION 4: MULTIPLE CHOICE
20 Questions, 20 Points

Directions: For each of the following questions, select the best response from the choices provided. Mark your selection with the
appropriate capital letter (e.g., A not a) on your Answer Sheet.

4. Complete the following paragraph with the correct terms:

There’s a population of 150 white-tailed deer in a local
Kansas City nature preserve. For two years, the
population stayed around 150 deer, due to [1] limiting
factors. However, last year, a drought––i.e., a [2]
limiting factor––killed the plants that the deer relied
on, causing the population to drop to 30 deer.1
(A) [1] density independent … [2] density dependent
(B) [1] density dependent … [2] density independent
(C) [1 and 2] density independent
(D) [1 and 2] density dependent
1. Consider the food web above. Which of the following (E) None of the above
could accurately describe the prairie rattlesnake?
I. Second-order consumer
II. Second-order carnivore
III. Third-order consumer
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) I and II only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

2. Consider the food web above. What trophic level(s) is

the kit fox in?
I. First trophic level
II. Second trophic level
III. Third trophic level 5. An ecologist wanted to study the symbiotic
(A) II only relationship between two organisms. So, she
(B) III only conducted a study, and the graph above shows her
(C) I and II only results. What type of symbiotic relationship is shown
(D) II and III only between organisms 1 and 2?
(E) I, II, and III (A) Mutualism
(B) Commensalism
3. Consider the food web above. Which of the following (C) Parasitism
would lead to an increase in the black-tailed prairie (D) Amensalism
dog population? (E) Not enough information to tell.
I. Decrease in the golden eagle population
II. Increase in the silk grass population
III. Increase in the prairie rattlesnake
population
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) II and III only

1 “Oh dear!” exclaimed an ecologist upon learning about the drought.
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 4 of 15
6. The black crows and white gulls shown in the cartoon
above both eat fish, filling the same niche. This
cartoon2 best illustrates the concept of: 9. As seen in the map above, most of the world’s deserts
(A) Resource partitioning are located around 30ºN or 30ºS latitude. Why are
(B) Competitive exclusion deserts clustered at 30º latitude?
(C) Survivorship curves (A) Low-pressure zones form at 30º N/S because of
(D) K-selected v. r-selected species the rising warm air in the westerlies and trade
(E) If seagulls fly over a bay, are they bagels? winds.
(B) Because the atmospheric cells are flowing
downwards at 30º N/S, there is a high-pressure
zone with cool, dry air.
(C) Direct airflow in Hadley cells from the equator
brings very warm air to 30º N/S, creating ideal
desert conditions.
(D) Atmospheric cells are flowing upwards at 30º
N/S, leading to a zone with very high evaporation
rates.
(E) The doldrums are located at 30º N/S, and the
doldrums are known for limited plant growth due
to general stagnation in airflow.
7. The graph above is a histogram of birthweights of
human newborns (sample size of 3,226). The mean
weight is 3.39 kg, with a standard deviation of 0.55 kg.
What type of evolutionary selection is shown?
(A) Directional selection
(B) Stabilizing selection
(C) Disruptive selection
(D) Balancing selection
(E) Not enough information to tell

10. The (really cute) animal in the picture above is a Gobi

jerboa, a small rodent found in the Gobi desert. Which
of the following adaptations to desert life does the
Gobi jerboa exhibit?
I. Nocturnal, to avoid daytime heat
II. Big ears, to cool blood and dissipate heat
III. Hibernation, to avoid wintertime
predators
8. The image above shows the front paw of a badger, an
(A) I only
American prairie mammal. Why might the badger have
(B) II only
such large front paws?
(C) I and II only
(A) To uproot grasses for food
(D) II and III only
(B) To swat away small insects
(E) I, II, and III
(C) To dig burrows for protection
(D) To dissipate body heat
(E) To attract mates

2 From: The Cartoon Guide to the Environment by Larry Gonick (1996)
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 5 of 15
 Diagram of Sample Area
∆ ∞ ∆ Ω Ω
∆ Ω Ω ∆ § ∆
Ω Ω ∞ ∆
Ω ∆ Ω ∆ ∆
∞ ∞ ∆ § ∆ ∆
∆ ∆ ∆ Ω ∆

11. The image above shows the top of a Missouri prairie Jaw of Specimen
grass, big bluestem. What common prairie plant
reproductive method does big bluestem utilize?
(A) Fire pollinated
(B) Water pollinated
(C) Animal pollinated
(D) Wind pollinated
(E) All of the above

14. An area of a grassland was studied, and the species

West East found were plotted in the “Diagram of Sample Area”
above. The four symbols in this diagram each
12. The diagram above shows Big Rock Candy Mountain, represent a species in the following food chain:
in a land that’s fair and bright.3 Winds blow over Big Producer à Primary Consumer à Secondary
Rock Candy Mountain from east to west. On which Consumer à Tertiary Consumer. In this same study
side of the mountain, if any, would you expect a desert area, the jaw above (“Jaw of Specimen”) was found.
to form? This jaw is from one of the four species plotted in the
(A) On the west side of the mountain diagram. What symbol in the diagram represents the
(B) On the east side of the mountain species that the jaw is from?
(C) On both sides of the mountain (A) ∞
(D) On neither side of the mountain (B) ∆
(E) Only at the summit of the mountain (C) Ω
(D) §
(E) Not enough information to tell

Mt. Berkley Mt. Sloan Mt. Wright

Base of
mountain ∆Ω≈∞§å ¢∞§ £
Summit of
mountain ∞∆¬≈å§ Ω≈∆ £¶

15. The table above shows the species composition of

three mountains at the base of the mountain and at the
13. In the graph above (often called a “climograph”), the summit of the mountain. Each distinct symbol
bars represent precipitation (mm) while the line represents a distinct species found at the base or
represents temperature (ºC). What biome is depicted summit (and the same symbol represents the same
in this graph? species). Which mountain has the highest beta
(A) Grassland diversity?
(B) Desert (A) All three mountains have an equal beta diversity
(C) Tropical rainforest (B) Mt. Berkley
(D) Taiga (C) Mt. Sloan
(E) Tundra (D) Mt. Wright
(E) Mt. Olympus

3Please excuse my terrible sense of humor. [Lyrics from “Big Rock Candy
Mountain” by Harry McClintock.]
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 6 of 15
16. A fifteen-person Science Olympiad team wants to buy
matching silk pajamas ($100 each) embroidered with
goofy science memes to wear at the Missouri State
Tournament.4 For the production and delivery of each
$100 silk pajama, 0.042 metric tons of carbon dioxide
are emitted into the atmosphere.5 Considering the
I=P*A*T equation, what are the total emissions from
the team’s purchase?
(A) 0.0028 metric tons of CO2
(B) 0.63 metric tons of CO2
(C) 3.57 metric tons of CO2
(D) 63 metric tons of CO2
(E) 357 metric tons of CO2 18. In a study from the Biological Dynamics of Forests
Project in Brazil (shown in graph above), ecologists
compared isolated fragmented pieces of forest
(“Fragments”) with areas of untouched, non-isolated
forest areas (“Controls”) and measured the species
richness in these sites. Which of the following is/are
true of their study?
I. Species richness increases directly with
land area.
II. Species richness is higher in non-isolated
forests than in isolated fragments.
III. If we were to conduct a follow-up study
looking at richness of interior habitat
17. In the 1950s, oceanographer Charles David Keeling species versus edge-dwelling species, we’d
began taking regular atmospheric carbon dioxide expect to find more edge-dwelling species
measurements in Mauna Loa, Hawaii. What best in the isolated fragments than in the
explains the annual up-and-down variability seen in control areas.
the curve? (A) I only
(A) Human output of carbon dioxide is highest in the (B) II only
spring and early summer because of increased (C) I and II only
seasonal production and summer travel (air/car) (D) I and III only
(B) There are more trees in the Northern Hemisphere (E) I, II, and III
than the Southern Hemisphere, thus there is more
photosynthesis in June through August, removing
atmospheric carbon dioxide
(C) North Atlantic Deepwater formation is the
strongest in the late fall (October-November),
pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and
into the deep ocean through circulation
(D) There are, on average, more hibernating animals in
the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern
Hemisphere, so there is less carbon dioxide
respiration in October through December
(E) The annual variability in the curve is simply an
artifact of how the data is collected. The wet
season in Hawaii leads to, on average, higher
carbon dioxide readings.

4 #squadgoals 5Emissions estimate based on data from UC Berkeley’s Renewable and
Appropriate Energy Laboratory
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 7 of 15
 20. In the image above, the soil on the left is from tilled
farmland while the soil on the right is from a tall-grass
prairie. Which of the following is not true of the
differences between these soils?
(A) The tilled soil is lighter in color than the prairie
soil because it has less organic matter in it.
(B) The prairie soil has a more granular texture than
the tilled soil because prairie grasses have deeper
root systems than farm plants.
19. The two maps above show sulfate ion concentrations (C) The A Horizon is shallower in the farmed soil
in the eastern United States in 1985 (top) and 2008 than in the prairie soil because of the annual
(bottom). Darker colors represent higher sulfate ion tilling.
concentrations.6 The change in sulfate ions from 1985 (D) There are likely more nitrogen-fixing bacteria in
to 2008 is because of the U.S. Clean Air Act, which the tilled soil than the prairie soil because of
regulated emissions. A pond in western Pennsylvania agricultural fertilizers.
would have observed which of the following changes– (E) All of the above are true.
–due to shifts in atmospheric sulfate concentrations––
between 1985 and 2008?
(A) The turbidity increased
(B) The turbidity decreased
(C) The pH increased
(D) The pH decreased
(E) There should be no change in the pond

• CONTINUE TO SECTION 5 •

6This isn’t fully true as this figure is supposed to be seen in color (oh well), with
greens and reds, but for the purposes of this question, let’s work from the idea
that dark colors are higher sulfate concentrations.
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 8 of 15
 SECTION 5: SCENARIO ANALYSIS
15 Questions, 15 Points

Directions: In this section, there are five scenarios of varying length and context. Answer each question using both your knowledge
of ecology and the information provided. Question formats vary. All questions are weighted equally.

SCENARIO 1: “There’s a dead zone the size of New Jersey.” (2 questions)

Where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico, there’s a dead zone. You’ve been hired by the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC) to better understand the cause of the dead zone and what we can do about it. Figure 1 below shows a map of the dead
zone, as of 2014. Figure 2 provides information about land usage within the Mississippi River watershed.

Figure 1: Dead zone map Figure 2: Mississippi River watershed land use data7

Percent of Mississippi
Land Use/Cover
River Watershed
Urban land 0.6%
Agricultural land 58%
Woodland 18%
Range or barren land 21%
Wetlands 2.4%

1. Which of the following non-point source pollutants best explains the presence of the dead zone?
(A) Road salt runoff from cities
(B) Sediment runoff from woodlands, rangelands, and barren lands
(C) Nutrient runoff from farms
(D) Gasoline and fuel runoff from cities and farms
(E) All of the above

2. The NRDC wants to suggest some regulations to help decrease the size of the dead zone. A relatively uninformed intern
came up with the list below. From this list, select all regulations that would directly help remediate the dead zone. [This is
not a multiple choice question. List the numbers of all the correct regulations on your Answer Sheet.]
- Regulation 1: Set limits on the amount of fertilizer a farmer can apply to his land.
- Regulation 2: Require pet owners to pick up their pet’s waste and dispose of it properly, or else receive a fine.
- Regulation 3: Create incentive programs for cities to install green roofs on buildings taller than ten stories.
- Regulation 4: Require construction sites to install sediment containment walls to hold sediment on site.
- Regulation 5: Expand monitoring of septic systems to ensure they are well-sealed and will not leak.

7 Data from the National Academies Press, 2012
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 9 of 15
SCENARIO 2: “There are deserts in Missouri!?” (2 questions)

Wanda and Riley are hiking in Burr Oak Woods Nature Center (Blue Springs, Missouri). They stop at a clearing and look down. Their
jaws drop. They cannot believe what they’re seeing. It’s a prickly pear cactus growing in Kansas City!8 (See Figure 1.) Then, they notice an
informational sign next to the trail (Figure 2). But, they still have a few questions, so they text you—their smartest, and most ecologically-
minded friend—to get some help.

Figure 1: Glade photograph Figure 2: Glade informational sign9

Aren’t you GLADE to be here?

This microenvironment in front of you is a glade.

Glades experience near desert conditions and are
often home to grasses, drought-adapted forbs, and
even cacti. These plants are resistant to droughts
and sunlight, especially compared to nearby forest
species. While people used to not value glades,
they are finally being appreciated for their beauty.

3. Glades often appear in the middle of forests, seemingly out of nowhere. But the presence of a glade is defined by some
abiotic factors. You get a text from Riley that asks: “Yo, why’s this glade here?” You respond with:
I. “The slope of the land at the glade is probably south or west facing.”
II. “There’s very little soil development. The plants are basically growing on bedrock.”
III. “Glades often fall in isolated watersheds, keeping them very dry.”
(A) II only
(B) I and II
(C) II and III
(D) I and III
(E) I, II, and III

4. A couple minutes later, you get a text from Wanda: “Why aren’t there more glades in Missouri? I know there used to be
more, but why’d they disappear?” Your response is below. Fill in the two blanks with the correct words. [Note: Each blank
has a different correct answer.]

“Because of [4.1] suppression policies in the United States, many glades were overgrown with forests. Because of these
policies, invasive Eastern Red Cedar wasn’t controlled naturally. And when this tree would invade the glades, it would
block [4.2] from the shade-intolerant cacti, killing them. Then no more glade. Sad story, for sure.”

8Yes, you actually can go to Burr Oak Woods and see this! It’s very cool. You should do it sometime.
9Information on this sign based on articles by Washington University in St. Louis (“Glades of Missouri”) and the USDA Mark Twain National Forest (“Glade Top Trail
National Scenic Byway”).
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 10 of 15
SCENARIO 3: “The case of the missing chicken.” (5 questions)

The greater prairie chicken (Figures 1 and 2) was once a signature species of United States grasslands. However, its population and range
have been rapidly declining (Figures 3 and 4), particularly in Missouri. You, as a prairie ecologist, have been hired by the Missouri
Department of Conservation (MDC) to investigate the ecology of this beautiful bird, why the greater prairie chicken is no longer in
Missouri, and if there is anything that can be done to bring it back.

Figure 1: Greater prairie chicken Figure 2: Prairie chicken “dancing”

Figure 3: Prairie chicken population Figure 4: Prairie chicken range

In Figure 4, the dark-colored region is current range, and the light-
colored region plus the dark-colored region is pre-settlement range.

5. Prairie chickens sometimes do dances,10 as seen in Figure 2, where they jump up and down while flapping their wings.
Why might a prairie chicken do this seemingly silly behavior?
(A) Interspecific competition with other bird species for nesting sites
(B) Intraspecific competition for mates
(C) Response to predators to make the prairie chicken appear bigger and fiercer
(D) Method of warning fellow chickens of a potential danger
(E) All of the above, depending on the context.

6. Winters in greater prairie chicken habitats can be surprisingly harsh, with cold temperatures and significant amounts of
snow. What is one way the prairie chicken has adapted to survive grassland winters?

Questions for Scenario 3 continue on the next page.

10 Might we even call it “the chicken dance”?
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 11 of 15
7. Figure 4 shows a significant loss in greater prairie chicken habitat since European settlement in North America. Which of
the following best explain this decline? [This is not a multiple choice question. List the numbers of all the correct reasons on your Answer
Sheet.]
- Reason 1: Conversion of grassland to farmland
- Reason 2: Fire suppression
- Reason 3: Heat island effect radiating out from urban centers
- Reason 4: Competition with the introduced ring-necked pheasant
- Reason 5: Poor disposal of RCRA hazardous waste materials
- Reason 6: Property owners replacing warm season grasses with cool season grasses

8. Translocation is the capture, transport, and release of species from one location into another. The MDC has found a plot
of land where they are hoping to translocate some prairie chickens. However, before they can release the prairie chickens,
they need to prepare the new habitat. For the two prairie chicken needs listed below, match the need with the best
vegetation option from the given choices. This will help the MDC make sure the right vegetation coverings are cultivated
in the new habitat.
Habitat needs: Vegetation covering options:
8.1: Nesting cover (A) Short grass (D) Forbs and sparse grass
8.2: Food (B) Tall grass (E) Barren lands, no vegetation
(C) Tall forbs and sparse grass (F) Cool season grasses

9. You and your colleague Phoebe are surveying a plot of land for potential prairie chicken translocation. There are a couple
of sporadic trees growing in the plot of land. Phoebe looks at you and asks, “Do you think we need to cut down these
trees?” You say:
(A) “Yes, the trees shade out wildflowers that the chickens rely on for food.”
(B) “Yes, the trees provide perches for predatory birds and encourage generalists to invade.”
(C) “No, the trees actually provide important roosting areas for the prairie chickens.”
(D) “No, the trees provide shelter for the prairie chickens in severe storm events.”
(E) “We should leave the deciduous trees as they provide food but remove the conifers.”

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 12 of 15
SCENARIO 4: “Bye-bye desert birdies.” (3 questions)

The Firestone National Park11 is a desert region in Arizona, maintained by the National Park Service (NPS). Recently, however, things
have been going a bit haywire in Firestone: populations and overall environmental conditions are declining. You’ve been hired by the NPS
to explore what’s going on in Firestone. So far, you’ve found population data for some species (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Species population sizes from 2014-2017, as counted in a 100-acre plot of Firestone National Park

2014 2015 2016 2017

Blue-nosed mouse 57 62 71 85
Green-nosed mouse 54 48 42 39
Deep-rooted cactus 21 19 16 11
Shallow-rooted cactus 24 26 26 30
Little brown bird (<10 g) 46 39 31 28
Big brown bird (10-40 g) 40 42 40 39

10. The blue-nosed and green-nosed mice have different predators and different food sources. Through further research into
environmental impacts in Firestone National Park, you were able to pinpoint what caused the change in each of the
mouse species. Match the appropriate environmental impact with the species it affected.
Species: Environmental Impact:
10.1: Blue-nosed mouse (A) Introduction of an invasive cacti that outcompeted the native shrubs
10.2: Green-nosed mouse (B) Overhunting of local coyote and large cat populations
(C) Over-pumping of groundwater from local wells
(D) Nitrate and phosphate runoff from agricultural fertilizers

11. Next, you look at the populations of the deep-rooted cactus and the shallow-rooted cactus. You know this difference has
to do with climate change and the species’ different root depths. Which of the following best explains the difference in
population changes between these two species?
(A) The shallow-rooted cactus takes advantage of brief, intense pulses of moisture following summer thunderstorms,
which are more common given climate change, while the deep-rooted cactus relies on cool-season precipitation.
(B) The top soil is warmer given climate change, which facilitates an increase in water absorption, helping the shallow-
rooted cactus to proliferate.
(C) As the climate warms, groundwater infiltration decreases, which limits the amount of water that makes it down to the
deep roots of the deep-rooted cactus. The shallow-rooted cactus fills the cactus’ niche.
(D) The change in these two species has nothing to do with climate change, and this question is silly and too long.
(E) Only (A) and (B) are correct.

12. Climate change, and subsequent heat waves, can kill birds in two ways. First, when it gets really hot, birds die because they
cannot evaporate enough water to stay cool, leading to heat stroke. Or, second, the rate of evaporation needed to keep
cool depletes their body water pools to lethal levels, leading to dehydration.12 Based on this context, what is the best
explanation for the different population trends seen in the little and big brown birds?
(A) The big brown bird can evaporate more water, given its larger surface area, than the little brown bird, allowing it to
better regulate its body temperature.
(B) The big brown bird is able to migrate further out of Firestone National Park, avoiding significant heat waves, while
the little brown bird is stuck and dies.
(C) The little brown bird is particularly susceptible to lethal dehydration because it can lose water at a proportionally
higher rate.
(D) All of the above are explanations for this difference.
(E) It probably has something to do with the 1960 Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie.

Don’t go looking for Firestone National Park. It doesn’t exist. The park, and all the species in this scenario, are fictional.
11

This question is based on the Biology Letters paper “Climate change increases the likelihood of catastrophic avian mortality events during extreme heat waves” by Andrew
12

McKechnie and Blair Wolf (2009).

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 13 of 15
SCENARIO 5: “Dear Theodosia, what to say to you?” (3 questions)

Ecologist Evan Hansen studies the populations on Theodosia Island,13 home to only four species, shown in the food web (Figure 1), and
the small town of Burr. A few years ago, Evan discovered the blue buckleberry bush on Theodosia Island. It has spread across the island
and wreaked environmental havoc. Evan has taken some notes (Figure 2) recording how populations have changed as a result of the blue
buckleberry’s introduction. Right now, Evan is preparing an op-ed for a local newspaper about what’s happening. And he needs your help.

Figure 1: Theodosia food web, native species Figure 2: E. Hansen’s notes, after buckleberry introduction

Troy coyote Species Notes

Significant declines; population down
Cosette grass
to ~10% of its original size
Sharp-tongued lizard Not much change in population size;
Murphy mouse around ~5% drop in population size;
herbivorous
Murphy mouse Declines; population down to ~50% of
Sharp-tongued lizard
its original size; primarily herbivorous
Declines of ~15% in population size;
Troy coyote eats both mouse and lizard
Cosette grass
interchangeably

13. From the list below, select all of the reasons why the blue buckleberry bush is a successful invasive species on Theodosia
Island. [This is not a multiple choice question. List the numbers of all the correct reasons on your Answer Sheet.]
- Reason 1: The bush grows taller than the grass, shading it out.
- Reason 2: The seeds of the bush––within the buckleberry––require birds for distribution.
- Reason 3: The bush produces a prolific number of seeds per year and has a long reproductive season.
- Reason 4: The bush’s leaves are poisonous to the sharp-tongued lizard.
- Reason 5: The bush is suited to only grow on the beaches of Theodosia Island.
- Reason 6: A fire recently swept through Theodosia Island, disrupting the ecosystem.

14. In his op-ed, Evan plans to include some predictions about what might happen to the ecosystem if nothing is done. From
the hypotheses below, select which ones you think are the most likely to occur. [This is not a multiple choice question. List the
numbers of all the correct hypotheses on your Answer Sheet.]
- Hypothesis 1: The murphy mouse could go extinct.
- Hypothesis 2: The sharp-tongued lizard could go extinct.
- Hypothesis 3: The troy coyote could see population increases.

15. When the newspaper’s editor read Evan’s article, she told him he needed to include something positive, like a potential
solution to the buckleberry bush invasive problem. Which of the following should Evan include in his article?
I. Thick black tarps should be placed over the bushes to suffocate them by preventing photosynthesis.
II. An herbicide, such as Roundup, should be sprayed on the cut stems of the bush to prevent regrowth.
III. Students at the Burr Elementary School should be taught why planting the bush in their gardens is a bad idea.
(A) II only
(B) I and II only
(C) II and III only
(D) I and III only
(E) I, II and III

• CONTINUE TO SECTION 6 •

13 This island is fictional. But those of you who got the Broadway musical references probably knew that already.
Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 14 of 15
 SECTION 6: TRUE-FALSE
10 Questions, 10 Points

Directions: Determine if each of the following statements is true or false. If the statement is true, circle “True” on your Answer
Sheet; if the statement is false, circle “False” on your Answer Sheet.

1. The most common population distribution pattern is random.

2. r-selected species show greater fluctuation in population size than K-selected species.

3. Both energy and nutrients cycle through an ecosystem.

4. An ecosystem with high evenness has a couple of species that dominate the area.

5. Desert annual plants are often dormant during the dry season, but they germinate and grow rapidly during the wet season.

6. In a prairie, most of the plant biomass comes from forbs while most of the plant diversity comes from grasses.

7. Ecological health is defined as a biological system’s resiliency and ability to maintain itself over time.

8. Cities are often hotter than natural ecosystems because asphalt and buildings absorb heat, increasing surface temperatures.

9. Climate change is a myth because Groundhog Day this year was the coldest on record.

10. Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment… and it’s one of the best Science
Olympiad events!

• • •

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have completed the Ecology exam at the 2018 Kansas City Science Olympiad tournament!

This test, along with the answer key, will be posted on the SciOly.org Ecology 2018 Test Exchange later this weekend.

Ecology (B Division) – Exam Booklet – Kansas City Regional – February 17, 2018 – Page 15 of 15