Deck 16: Energy Flows and Nutrient Cycles

Question 1

Earthʹs biosphere

A)consists of only terrestrial organisms,while the hydrosphere includes aquatic and marine organisms.
B)is more a theoretical construct than an observable sphere of study.
C)extends from the ocean floor to an altitude of approximately 8 km (5 mi)into the atmosphere.
D)only includes the biotic components of an ecosystem,with the abiotic components being considered part of the lithosphere,hydrosphere,or atmosphere,respectively.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A study of dietary requirements of African bush elephants ( Loxodonta africana)in a savanna environment,and the role the elephants play in that environment,would be an example of a topic studied in

A)plant biology.
B)pedology.
C)biogeography.
D)ecology.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Today,there are over 270,000 plant species with conductive tissues and material flow systems known as

A)xeriphytes.
B)vascular plants.
C)cyanobacteria.
D)blue-green algae.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a biotic component of an ecosystem?

A)Bacteria
B)Mineral nutrients
C)Plants
D)Animals

Question 5

A study of the spatial distribution of the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)and the environmental factors that control that distribution would be an example of a topic studied in

A)biogeography.
B)pedology.
C)plant biology.
D)ecology.

Question 6

Autotrophs that dwell in dark caves,wells,or on the ocean floor often depend on which of the following biogeochemical processes?

A)Photosynthesis
B)Nitrogen fixing
C)Chemosynthesis
D)Nutrient leaching

Question 7

Photosynthesis involves

A)the use of sunlight to produce food sugars and oxygen to drive biological processes.
B)the release of stored carbon dioxide in a process using sunlight.
C)important reactions within the stems and roots of plants.
D)a process known as respiration.

Question 8

6CO2 + 6H2O + Light g C6H12O6 + 6O2 is the generalized equation for

A)photosynthesis.
B)transpiration.
C)chemosynthesis.
D)respiration.

Question 9

An ecosystem is a(n)system in terms of energy,and a(n)system in terms of matter.

A)open; open
B)closed; closed
C)closed; open
D)open; closed

Question 10

Of the total energy intercepted at Earthʹs surface and available for work,only about is actually fixed by photosynthesis.

A)1%
B)5%
C)10%
D)15%

Question 11

Chlorophyll reflects predominately wavelengths of visible light.

A)green
B)indigo
C)blue
D)red

Question 12

The openings on the surfaces of plant leaves through which gases move into and out of are known as

A)chloroplasts.
B)chlorophyll.
C)guard cells.
D)stomata.

Question 13

A self-sustaining association of living plants and animals and their nonliving physical environment is termed a(n)

A)niche.
B)community.
C)ecotone.
D)ecosystem.

Question 14

The study of the distribution of plants and animals,the diverse spatial patterns they create,and the physical and biological processes that produce Earthʹs species richness is called

A)biogeography.
B)ecology.
C)geoarchaeology.
D)biology.

Question 15

An organism capable of synthesizing its own food solely from carbon dioxide using sunlight or chemical energy is known as a(n)

A)primary consumer.
B)secondary consumer.
C)autotroph.
D)heterotroph.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an abiotic component of an ecosystem?

A)Mineral nutrients
B)Sunlight
C)Precipitation
D)Plants

Question 17

C6H12O6 + 6O2 g 6CO2 + 6H2O + heat energy is the generalized equation for

A)respiration.
B)chemosynthesis.
C)transpiration.
D)photosynthesis.

Question 18

The gaseous oxygen in Earthʹs early atmosphere was a by -product of

A)photochemical reactions breaking down ozone (O3)to form oxygen (O2).
B)volcanic outgassing.
C)decay of organic matter.
D)photosynthesis.

Question 19

The study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment is called

A)biogeography.
B)biology.
C)pedology.
D)ecology.

Question 20

Chlorophyll absorbs only the and wavelengths for photochemical operations.

A)orange-red; green-yellow
B)violet-blue; green-yellow
C)orange-red; violet-blue
D)yellow-red; violet-green

Question 21

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding the spatial-temporal variability of net primary productivity?

A)At temperate and high latitudes,the rate of carbon fixing is seasonally variable.
B)Productivity rates are constantly high throughout the year in the tropics.
C)Productivity rates in deserts is much less than that of tropical regions.
D)Net primary productivity is highest in the fall and winter in temperate and high latitude areas.

Question 22

Which of the following is the largest carbon sink?

A)Dead organic matter
B)The oceans
C)The atmosphere
D)Fossil fuels and oil shales

Question 23

A is a complex network of interconnected food chains with multidirectional branches.

A)niche order.
B)food web.
C)food pyramid.
D)trophic level.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT correct regarding nitrogen?

A)Atmospheric nitrogen is accessible directly to most organisms.
B)Bacterial action is key to the nitrogen cycle.
C)Nitrogen is very important to organisms.
D)The atmosphere contains about 78% nitrogen,

Question 25

Energy flows through an ecosystem along an idealized unidirectional pathway called a

A)trophic cascade.
B)niche order.
C)food chain.
D)food web.

Question 26

A dead zone refers to

A)an ecosystem that was cleared of all vegetation for slash and burn agriculture.
B)hypoxic areas in water bodies that limit marine and aquatic life.
C)terrestrial areas in which excessive nitrogen fertilizer has essentially burned the soil,preventing plants and microorganisms from living there.
D)oligotrophic areas in water bodies that cannot support life due to lack of nutrients.

Question 27

In which of the following areas would one tend to find the highest net primary productivity?

A)Central Australia
B)Eurasia
C)Northern Brazil
D)Western Canada

Question 28

Respiration involves

A)a chemical reaction between carbohydrates and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide,water,and heat energy.
B)a photochemical reaction involving carbon dioxide and oxygen to produce water and oxygen.
C)a photochemical reaction involving carbon dioxide and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen.
D)the use of heat energy to react carbon dioxide with water to produce oxygen.

Question 29

In which of the following terrestrial ecosystems would one tend to find the lowest net primary productivity?

A)Extreme desert
B)Cultivated lands
C)Woodland and shrubland
D)Tundra

Question 30

How is atmospheric nitrogen converted to a usable form in the biosphere?

A)It is absorbed into plants via stomata and converted within the plant to a usable form.
B)Atmospheric nitrogen is directly available to plants and animals.
C)Bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically combine the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia.
D)Atmospheric nitrogen is completely unavailable to plants and animals and,as a result,synthetic fertilizers must be used.

Question 31

Together,three natural elements make up 99% of Earthʹs biomass.Which of the following is NOT one of those three elements?

A)Carbon (C)
B)Nitrogen (N)
C)Oxygen (O)
D)Hydrogen (H)

Question 32

The difference between the photosynthetic production of carbohydrates and the respiration loss of carbohydrates is known as

A)net primary productivity.
B)net photosynthesis.
C)compensation point.
D)free air CO₂ enrichment.

Question 33

The net photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem is known as the

A)net primary productivity.
B)free air CO2 enrichment.
C)net photosynthesis.
D)compensation point.

Question 34

The net dry weight of all organic material in an ecosystem is known as

A)compensation point.
B)net primary productivity.
C)net photosynthesis.
D)biomass.

Question 35

In which of the following terrestrial ecosystems would one tend to find the highest net primary productivity?

A)Temperate grassland
B)Tropical seasonal forest
C)Boreal forest
D)Tundra and alpine region

Question 36

Approximately of the light energy arriving at the surface of a leaf is useful to chlorophyll.

A)5%
B)10%
C)25%
D)50%

Question 37

Organisms that share the same feeding level (e.g.primary producers,primary consumers,secondary consumers,etc.)are said to be at the same

A)food web.
B)niche order.
C)food pyramid.
D)trophic level.

Question 38

Photosynthesis converts

A)heat energy,carbon dioxide,and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
B)light energy,carbon dioxide,and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
C)heat energy,oxygen,and carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and water.
D)light energy,oxygen,and carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and water.

Question 39

The break-even point between the production and consumption of organic material is termed

A)net photosynthesis.
B)net primary productivity.
C)compensation point.
D)free air CO₂ enrichment.

Question 40

Consider a simple food chain in which a grasshopper eats grass,the grasshopper is eaten by a frog,and the frog is eaten by a snake.Which of the following is NOT correctly matched?

A)Grasshopper herbivore
B)Frog secondary consumer
C)Grass autotroph
D)Snake primary consumer

Question 41

Only about of the kilocalories in a trophic level is passed to the next trophic level (e.g. from autotroph to primary consumer).

A)5%
B)10%
C)15%
D)20%

Question 42

In coral reefs,clownfish live unharmed among the poisonous tentacles of sea anemones.The sea anemones protect the clownfish from predation,while the clownfish scare off predators,such as the butterfly fish,which would otherwise eat the anemones.The clownfish may also provide important nutrients to the anemones.This arrangement is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A)Parasitism
B)Mutualism
C)Commensalism
D)Amensalism

Question 43

The zonation of flora and fauna along an altitudinal transect similar to that found along latitudinal transects is an expression of the

A)life zone concept.
B)altitude-latitude hypothesis.
C)altitudinal zonation principle.
D)vegetation similarity theory.

Question 44

From the perspective of energy,which of the following is the most efficient trophic level?

A)Primary producer
B)Primary consumer
C)Secondary consumer
D)Tertiary consumer

Question 45

A lichen is made up of algae and fungi living together.In this relationship,the alga is the producer and food source for the fungus and the fungus provides structure and physical support for the alga.This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A)Parasitism
B)Mutualism
C)Commensalism
D)Amensalism

Question 46

In food webs,toxic chemicals tend to accumulate and concentrate most in the

A)top carnivores.
B)omnivores.
C)herbivores.
D)autotrophs.

Question 47

Currently,approximately of cultivated acreage in the United States and Canada is planted for animal consumption.

A)15%
B)30%
C)50%
D)65%

Question 48

The environment in which an organism resides or is biologically adapted to live is called a(n)

A)niche.
B)community.
C)ecotone.
D)habitat.

Question 49

The interacting populations of living plants and animals in a particular location are described as a(n)

A)niche.
B)community.
C)ecosystem.
D)metapopulation.

Question 50

The specific,unique role that a species performs within a given area is known as a(n)

A)niche.
B)habitat.
C)community.
D)ecotone.

Question 51

When a community is disturbed to the point that most or all of its species are eliminated,a process called occurs in which the area undergoes a series of changes in species composition as newer communities replace older ones.

A)mass extinction
B)ecological succession
C)rejuvenation
D)patch dynamics

Question 52

Which of the following would NOT be a limiting factor for a plant species?

A)Daily precipitation values
B)Soil phosphorus content
C)Days below freezing
D)Number of predators

Question 53

The proposition that no two species can occupy the same ecological niche is known as the

A)competitive exclusion principle.
B)ecological niche theory.
C)trophic pyramid theory.
D)symbiosis.

Question 54

Epiphytic plants,such as various species of orchids (Orchidaceae),grow upon another plant,using the plants for physical support,but bringing no harm to the host plant.This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A)Parasitism
B)Mutualism
C)Commensalism
D)Amensalism

Question 55

A black walnut (Juglans nigra)emits a chemical that may kill or inhibit the growth of other nearby shrubs or trees without harming itself.This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A)Parasitism
B)Mutualism
C)Commensalism
D)Amensalism

Question 56

A consumer,such as a bear,that eats both producers (plants)and consumers (animals)is a

A)detritivore.
B)herbivore.
C)carnivore.
D)omnivore.

Question 57

refers to the biotic and abiotic characteristics in the environment that determine species distribution.

A)Range of tolerance
B)Habitat
C)Limiting factor
D)Ecological niche

Question 58

Mistletoe (Phoradendron)infest many taxa of plants,often causing the branches of the host species to become swollen and distorted and making the trees more susceptible to insect infestations.This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A)Parasitism
B)Mutualism
C)Commensalism
D)Amensalism

Question 59

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)is a specialist that feeds on only one specific type of snail.By comparison,the Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)is a generalist that feeds on diverse food sources.Whereas the snail kite has a very limited range,the Mallard Duck has a very broad range.The snail kiteʹs diet is an example of a(n)

A)habitat
B)ecological niche.
C)limiting factor.
D)range of tolerance.

Question 60

As chemical pesticides move through the trophic pyramid,they may be amplified at each higher level in a process called

A)trophic cascading.
B)competitive exclusion.
C)pyramidal decay.
D)biomagnification.

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT a measure of biological diversity?

A)Species diversity
B)Ecosystem diversity
C)Genetic diversity
D)Species diversity,genetic diversity,and ecosystem diversity are all measures of biodiversity.

Question 62

The separation of a once continuous population by continental drift is an example of

A)Lamarckian evolution.
B)vicariance.
C)punctuated equilibrium.
D)mutation.

Question 63

Studies have shown that biodiversity in an ecosystem leads to long -term stability and productivity.

A)greater; less
B)less; slightly more
C)less; greater
D)greater; greater

Question 64

If a forest fire destroyed the vegetation in an area,but left some vestiges of the previously functioning community and the soil intact,what type of succession would follow?

A)Tertiary
B)Primary
C)Quaternary
D)Secondary

Question 65

The gradual nutrient enrichment in water bodies is known as

A)oligotrophication.
B)eutrophicatiom.
C)mesotrophication.
D)dystrophication.

Question 66

When a random occurrence produces altered genetic material and inserts new traits into the inherited stream,has occurred.

A)mutation
B)punctuated equilibrium
C)Lamarckian evolution
D)vicariance

Question 67

Which of the following is NOT considered among the greatest anthropogenic threats to biodiversity?

A)Introduction of non-native species
B)Climate change
C)Air,water,and soil pollution
D)Habitat loss
E)Habitat loss,non-native species,pollution,and climate change all represent threats to biodiversity.

Question 68

The first species to colonize previously disturbed or damaged ecosystems are called a(n)

A)establishment.
B)successor.
C)sere.
D)pioneer community.

Question 69

Approximately how many plant and animal species have been classified?

A)100,000
B)1)75 million
C)3)6 million
D)111.7 million

Question 70

Which of the following has the highest number of known species?

A)Bacteria
B)Plants
C)Insects
D)Chordates

Question 71

The origin of Earthʹs biological diversity is embodied in

A)the life zone concept.
B)competitive exclusion principle.
C)the theory of evolution.
D)ecological succession principle.

Question 72

An ecosystem is a self-regulating association of living plants and animals and their nonliving physical environment.

Question 73

A monocultural agriculture community is vulnerable to disturbance than an area with high biodiversity.

A)less
B)more
C)equally

Question 74

Human caused eutrophication is known as

A)anthropotrophication.
B)oligotrophication.
C)cultural eutrophication.
D)mesotrophication.

Question 75

The ability of an ecosystem to recover quickly from a disturbance and return to its original state is known as

A)punctuated equilibrium.
B)resilience.
C)succession.
D)vicariance.

Question 76

Since life arose on Earth,major extinctions have occurred.

A)one
B)two
C)six
D)ten

Question 77

Increased foliage cover in parts of Australia has been attributed to which of the following climate change related phenomena?

A)CO2 fertilization effect
B)Sea level rise
C)Cloud albedo forcing
D)Cloud greenhouse forcing
TRUE/FALSE.Write ʹTʹ if the statement is true and ʹFʹ if the statement is false.

Question 78

The notion that the traits that help a species survive and reproduce are passed along more frequently than those that do not is known as

A)gradualism.
B)Lamarckianism.
C)punctuated equilibrium.
D)natural selection.

Question 79

The term ecology literally means ʺthe study of the household.ʺ

Question 80

If a lava flow completely denudes a mountain,leaving only bare rock,what type of succession will follow?

A)Tertiary
B)Primary
C)Quaternary
D)Secondary