Deck 19: Ecosystem Essentials

Question 1

Which of the following is correct?

A)there is only one community within each distinct ecosystem.
B)an ecosystem is the interaction of many communities with the abiotic physical components of their environment.
C)within a single lake there is usually only one community.
D)by definition,a community includes abiotic factors.
E)each species can be part of only one community.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the tropical rain forests of South America,a species of frog lives its life cycle in the tops of trees-specifically in small "ponds" of water caught in large leaves.The frogs,and the animals they interact with,constitute a(n)________,and the rain forest itself-with all its biotic and abiotic components-constitutes a(n)________.

A)habitat community
B)community ecosystem
C)ecosystem niche
D)ecosystem community
E)habitat niche

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In the savanna regions of Africa,elephants dig holes in dry river beds to create water holes that also provide water for other animals that would otherwise die during the dry season.The location where the elephants live is an example of a(n)________,and the role they play is an example of a(n)________.

A)niche habitat
B)habitat niche
C)community niche
D)ecosystem habitat
E)niche ecosystem

Answer 3

B

Question 4

As climate change progresses,species distributions

A)in the northern hemisphere,will shift northward and to higher elevations pressuring existing species and leading to extinctions.
B)will contract as plants and animals will have to adapt to new climatic conditions.
C)will stay the same because climate does not determine their locations.
D)in the northern hemisphere will shift southward as species adjust to the warmer climate.
E)will face decreased competition as the warmer temperatures mean greater resource availability for plants and animals.

Question 5

The interacting populations of living animals and plants in an area form a convenient subdivision in nature described as a(n)

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

________ is the specific physical location of an organism,whereas the function,or occupation,of a life-form within a given community is called its ________.

A)site situation
B)niche habitat
C)habitat niche
D)community ecosystem
E)ecosystem habitat

Question 8

Which of the following is used to identify a community?

A)climate,trophic structure and species present
B)patterns of interdependence,species present,and trophic structure
C)species present,trophic structure,and climate
D)trophic structure,climate,and patterns of interdependence
E)substrate,climate and patterns of interdependence

Question 9

In the Rocky Mountains beavers build dams,which form ponds,which form meadows,which increases the diversity of habitats in the region.These facts best relate to the concept of

A)a food web.
B)an ecological niche.
C)a food pyramid.
D)trophic structure.
E)ecosystem.

Question 10

A study of the spatial distribution of savanna biomes and the environmental factors that control that distribution would be an example of a topic studied in

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

Question 11

Which of the following is a biotic component of an ecosystem?

A)oxygen
B)bacteria
C)carbon dioxide
D)mineral nutrients
E)silica

Question 12

Which of the following is correct ?

A)niche - function of a life form within a given environment
B)ecosystem - mutually beneficial relationship
C)community - specific location of an organism
D)symbiotic relationships - a self-regulating association of living plants and animals and their nonliving environment
E)habitat - interactions among populations living at a particular time

Question 13

As the rain forest is cleared,the amount of ________ available for organisms to live in is decreased,and this reduces the populations of plants and animals living there-thereby affecting plant and animal ________.

A)habitat communities
B)communities habitats
C)niches communities
D)niches habitats
E)ecosystem communities

Question 14

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

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

Question 15

There are fig trees in the tropical rain forest that are pollinated by only one species of wasp,and these wasps are entirely dependent upon the one species of fig tree they pollinate for their food supply.This is an example of a(n)________ relationship.

A)symbiotic
B)opportunistic
C)parasitic
D)exclusionary
E)inclusion

Question 16

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

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

Question 17

The study of the spatial aspects of ecology and the distribution of plants and animals is called

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

Question 18

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

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

Question 19

Mammals were few in number and species until the dinosaurs became extinct 65 mya.Mammals then rapidly evolved into new forms that occupied niches that dinosaurs had occupied.This process is called adaptive radiation and relates to the concept of

A)trophic law.
B)habitat bifurcation.
C)niche rules.
D)competitive exclusion.
E)parasitism.

Question 20

The fact that no two organisms can occupy the same niche successfully in a stable community is a statement of which general ecological principle?

A)trophic law
B)habitat bifurcation
C)niche rules
D)competitive exclusion
E)symbiois

Question 21

Lichen is an example of

A)a complex plant.
B)a complex animal.
C)algae and fungus living together in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
D)algae providing structure and support for parasitic fungus.
E)opportunism.

Question 22

Plant growth (net photosynthesis)is a function of

A)respiration minus photosynthesis.
B)photosynthetic rates alone.
C)respiration rates alone.
D)photosynthesis minus respiration.
E)growth rate minus respiration.

Question 23

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

A)compensation point.
B)net leaf rate.
C)primary productivity.
D)photosynthetic status.
E)growth rate.

Question 24

Chlorophyll ________ green light.

A)reflects
B)absorbs
C)transmits
D)uses
E)refracts

Question 25

Net primary productivity is

A)measured in tons per liter.
B)measured in kilograms of plant material per hectare.
C)measured in grams of fixed carbon per square metre per year.
D)estimated based on plant height.
E)measured in brams of plant stalk per linear metre per year.

Question 26

Trees evolved the ability to grow tall because of

A)poorly regulated growth hormone production.
B)the need for space to spread their branches.
C)competition for sunlight.
D)competition for oxygen.
E)competition for moisture

Question 27

The openings in the surfaces of leaves are known as ________,and the cells which control the size of the openings are called ________.

A)chlorophyll stomata
B)stomata guard cells
C)guard cells stomata
D)stomata chlorophyll
E)biomass stomata

Question 28

Given the way in which humans are altering the environment,destroying species,using resources,and generating wastes,our relationship with planet Earth is akin to that of a ________ relationship.

A)symbiotic
B)mutualistic
C)parasitic
D)opportunistic
E)altruistic

Question 29

Which of the following results from the competition for sunlight in a plant community?

A)varying heights of plants,leaf orientation and rooting depth
B)leaf orientation,plant structure,and rooting depth
C)plant structure,varying heights of plants,and leaf orientation
D)varying heights of plants,leaf orientation and colouring
E)plant structure,rooting depth and colouring

Question 30

Photosynthesis involves

A)the release of carbon dioxide in a process using sunlight.
B)the union of carbon dioxide and water under the influence of sunlight,and the release of oxygen.
C)a process known as respiration.
D)important reactions within the stems and roots of plants.
E)the union of carbon dioxide and oxygen under the influence of sunlight to produce water.

Question 31

Plants on the floor of a rain forest often have very dark-green leaves.This colouration is due to the presence of ________ amounts of chlorophyll in the leaves which is necessitated by the fact that the amount of light reaching the forest floor is ________.

A)large substantial
B)large very limited
C)small substantial
D)small very limited

Question 32

Photosynthesis and leaf operations involve all of the following:

A)stomata,chlorophyll,and moonlight
B)chlorophyll,chloroplasts,and moonlight
C)chloroplasts,chlorophyll and stomata.
D)moonlight,chlorophyll and carbon dioxide.
E)carbohydrates,moonlight,and chlorophyll

Question 33

Chlorophyll ________ green light,which means that it ________ green light for photosynthesis.

A)absorbs uses
B)absorbs does not use
C)reflects uses
D)reflects does not use

Question 34

Photosynthesis converts

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

Question 35

Respiration involves

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

Question 36

Which of the following expresses the correct relationship?

A)chloroplasts are chlorophyll.
B)chlorophyll is in chloroplasts
C)stomata control guard cells.
D)chloroplasts control evaporation.
E)organelles are in veins.

Question 37

Ticks feed on cows,cow birds pick off ticks from the backs of cows.Thus,the birds benefit the cow by removing harmful bugs,and the cow provides a food source location for the bird.The relationship between the ticks and the cow is ________,and that between the cow and the bird is ________.

A)symbiotic parasitic
B)parasitic symbiotic
C)symbiotic mutualistic
D)mutualistic symbiotic
E)parasitic mutualistic

Question 38

The rate at which energy is stored in organic substances,such as in plants,is

A)photosynthetic rate.
B)respiration rate.
C)primary productivity.
D)sugar detention.
E)growth rate.

Question 39

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

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

Question 40

Primary productivity refers to ________ and is greatest in ________.

A)the number of herbivores per acre of land tropical savannas
B)the number of carnivores per acre of land tropical savannas
C)the number of herbivores per acre of land tropical rain forests
D)the rate at which plant growth occurs tropical rain forests
E)the rate at which plant growth occurs midlatitude deciduous forests

Question 41

Light,temperature,water,and climate are examples of

A)biotic ecosystem components.
B)abiotic system components.
C)factors unrelated to photosynthesis.
D)ecosystem controls.
E)ecological niche

Question 42

Which of the following is true regarding the hypoxic zone (Dead Zone)off the coast of Louisiana?

A)during large floods the size of the hypoxic zone shrinks.
B)agricultural areas use only the amount of fertilizer needed.
C)The agricultural,feedlot,and fertilizer industries deny any connection between their nutrient runoff and the hypoxic zone.
D)The hypoxic zone is deadly to marine organisms due to its toxically high oxygen levels.
E)Hypoxic zones have not existed elsewhere.

Question 43

The highest net primary productivity potential is in a

A)tropical seasonal forest.
B)savanna.
C)field of cultivated land in Canada.
D)tropical rain forest.
E)temperate deciduous forest.

Question 44

In the northern hemisphere midlatitudes,north-facing slopes tend to be ________ vegetated than south-facing slopes because ________.

A)less they are colder
B)less they receive less sunlight
C)more they are more moist
D)more they are less windy
E)less they are drier

Question 45

Relative to the area surrounding a forest,which of the following is true of a forest-floor microclimate?

A)it is cooler in summer and moister.
B)it is windier and drier.
C)it is more humid and warmer in summer.
D)it has less moderated temperatures.
E)there is no difference in temperature,but it is drier.

Question 46

The different spatial distribution of mallard ducks and snail kites illustrates the operation of

A)limiting factors.
B)competitive exclusions.
C)management through logging.
D)symbiosis.
E)exclusivity

Question 47

The different spatial distribution of coast redwoods and red maple trees illustrates the operation of

A)limiting factors.
B)competitive exclusions.
C)management through logging.
D)symbiosis.
E)exclusivity

Question 48

Areas that experience high temperatures and high precipitation are characterized as

A)temperate deserts.
B)deciduous forests.
C)tropical forests.
D)tropical grasslands.
E)tropical savanna.

Question 49

Which of the following is true of nitrogen?

A)the atmosphere contains 28.084 percent nitrogen by volume.
B)the key link in the nitrogen cycle is bacterial action.
C)atmospheric nitrogen is accessible directly to most organisms.
D)nitrogen is not important to organisms.
E)living organisms can survive without nitrogen.

Question 50

Near the subtropical high pressure centers,net primary productivity is generally limited by

A)sunlight.
B)lack of rainfall.
C)cold temperatures.
D)soil depth.
E)altitude.

Question 51

Which of the following is true of synthetic fertilizers?

A)most contain sulphur compounds.
B)their rate of production is doubling very quickly-every two years.
C)the amount of compounds in these fertilizers far exceeds the ability of bacteria to break them down-thereby contributing to pollution of surface water.
D)these fertilizers not only increase soil fertility,they also act to build the soil through the direct addition of organic matter.
E)excess nitrogen is stored in the ecosystem for later use,making the ecosystem healthier.

Question 52

Alexander von Humboldt first proposed the idea that plant communities change with altitude just as they do with latitude.This is known as the

A)altitude-latitude hypothesis.
B)vegetation similarity theory.
C)life zone concept.
D)"plant fallacy hypothesis" since the idea was later disproved.
E)ecotone concept.

Question 53

The most abundant natural elements in living matter are

A)silicon,aluminum,and calcium.
B)oxygen,silicon,and aluminum.
C)carbon,aluminum,and calcium.
D)hydrogen,oxygen,and carbon.
E)hydrogen,oxygen and silicon.

Question 54

Which of the following lists gives the correct sequence of trophic levels in a food chain?

A)autotrophs,decomposers,heterotrophs
B)producers,primary consumers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers
C)consumers,producers,decomposers
D)omnivores,carnivores,herbivores,autotrophs
E)primary consumers,producers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers

Question 55

Which of the following is true regarding photoperiod?

A)it is about 18 hours long every day of the year near the equator.
B)it is 24 hours long for some parts of the year near the poles.
C)the annual variation in photoperiod decreases with increasing latitude.
D)the annual variation in photoperiod increases with increasing altitude.
E)it is about 12 hours long every day of the year for the globe.

Question 56

Carbon dioxide is stored through

A)plant and animal respiration.
B)photosynthesis.
C)volcanic activity.
D)fossil fuel combustion of industry.
E)automobile exhaust.

Question 57

Elements principally involved in mineral and solid phases-such as phosphorus,calcium,and sulfur-form

A)gaseous cycles.
B)biocycles.
C)sedimentary cycles.
D)nutrient systems.
E)moisture cycles.

Question 58

The greatest pool of carbon on Earth resides in

A)the oceans.
B)living matter.
C)the atmosphere.
D)the lithosphere.
E)permafrost.

Question 59

Energy flows through an ecosystem along a circuit called the

A)food web.
B)niche order.
C)trophic place.
D)food chain.
E)habitat.

Question 60

Which of the following life-zone lists is in the correct sequence from lowest to highest elevation?

A)tropical rain forest,needleleaf forest,temperate deciduous forest,ice and snow,tundra
B)tundra,tropical rain forest,needleleaf forest,temperate deciduous forest,ice and snow
C)temperate deciduous forest,tropical rain forest,needleleaf forest,ice and snow,tundra
D)tropical rain forest,temperate deciduous forest,needleleaf forest,tundra,and ice and snow
E)temperate deciduous forest,tundra,needleleaf forest,tropical rain forest,ice and snow.

Question 61

Organisms that are capable of using carbon dioxide as their sole source of carbon are called

A)omnivores.
B)decomposers.
C)autotrophs.
D)heterotrophs.
E)consumers.

Question 62

Consider a food chain in which a grasshopper eats grass,the grasshopper is eaten by a frog,and the frog is eaten by a snake.Given these relationships,which of the following is correctly matched?

A)grass - herbivore
B)grasshopper - autotroph
C)frog - secondary consumer
D)snake - primary consumer
E)grass - primary consumer

Question 63

A forest has ________ inertial stability and ________ resilience.

A)high high
B)high low
C)low low
D)low high

Question 64

Loss of phytoplankton in the ocean would constitute a(n)________ effect on the marine ecosystem because ________.

A)insignificant krill are located high on the food chain
B)insignificant krill are located low on the food chain
C)significant krill are located high on the food chain
D)significant krill are located low on the food chain

Question 65

The practice of repeatedly planting huge acreages of land in a single crop,such as wheat,is an example of ________,and it makes an area ________ susceptible to disease.

A)monoculture more
B)monoculture less
C)multiple cropping more
D)multiple cropping less

Question 66

Which is true of recent studies of Prairie ecosystems?

A)areas with higher species diversity retained and used nutrients more efficiently.
B)areas with higher species diversity had lower productivity.
C)areas with higher species diversity showed less stability.
D)areas with higher species diversity had lower total plant cover.
E)areas with higher species diversity were less capable of dealing with drought.

Question 67

Which of the following would be true if 100 people could be fed from the grain produced on an acre of land?

A)90 people could be fed if the grain were first fed to the cows-which were then fed to the people.
B)75 people could be fed if the grain were first fed to the cows-which were then fed to the people.
C)50 people could be fed if the grain were first fed to the cows-which were then fed to the people.
D)10 people could be fed if the grain were first fed to the cows-which were then fed to the people.
E)There is no difference in the number of people that could be fed under each condition.

Question 68

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

A)top carnivore.
B)autotrophs.
C)primary consumers.
D)primary producers.
E)decomposers.

Question 69

The landscape devastated by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens that still had some soil,young trees ,and plants

A)is recovering through secondary succession.
B)has formed a pioneer community as succession begins.
C)is now a climax community.
D)will never recover.

Question 70

What would happen if death and decay did not occur?

A)the decomposer component of the food chain would be operating well.
B)the wastes generated by organisms would not decompose and,consequently,the surface of Earth would become covered with nondecaying animal wastes.
C)nutrient cycling would continue,so soils would eventually become more fertile,plants would grow,and the food chain would operate efficiently.
D)nutrient cycling would slow down and operate less efficiently.

Question 71

In nature,approximately ________ of the calories in plant matter survive from the primary to the secondary trophic (feeding,nutrition)level.

A)10 percent
B)30 percent
C)50 percent
D)75 percent
E)90 percent

Question 72

The fact that the majority of people are ________ in the food chain means that they can obtain the ________ dose of pollutants from the food they eat.

A)primary consumers smallest
B)primary consumers largest
C)top carnivores smallest
D)top carnivores largest
E)autotrophs smallest

Question 73

In terms of ecological food pyramids,which of the following is correct ?

A)there are more producers in a temperate forest than there are in a grassland.
B)a stepped population pyramid is characteristic of most ecosystems in the winter.
C)generally,there is a decrease in numbers of organisms at each successive trophic level.
D)it is possible to find a stable ecosystem in which secondary consumers outnumber primary consumers.

Question 74

The net dry weight of organic matter that feeds a food chain is

A)not related to net primary productivity.
B)derived from respiration.
C)biomass-or the useful amount of chemical energy.
D)produced to a greater extent in tundra environments than in savannas.
E)in not affected by abiotic ecosystem components

Question 75

The landscape on the fresh lava flows from the Kileua volcano

A)is recovering through secondary succession.
B)has formed a pioneer community as succession begins.
C)is now a climax community.
D)will never recover.

Question 76

Bears eat both plants and animals therefore,they are

A)herbivores.
B)carnivores.
C)omnivores.
D)specialists.
E)producers.

Question 77

The loss of species throughout the world constitutes a loss of biodiversity,which could cause a ________ in ecosystem stability and a ________ in productivity.

A)gain gain
B)gain loss
C)loss gain
D)loss loss

Question 78

Which of the following combinations of agricultural practices would be the most sustainable?

A)monocultures use of synthetic fertilizers
B)monocultures use of organic (natural)fertilizers
C)multiple cropping use of synthetic fertilizers
D)multiple cropping use of organic (natural)fertilizers

Question 79

Ecosystems are generally structured in a complex network of interconnected feeding patterns in which consumers participate at several different points.This pattern is called a

A)food web.
B)niche order.
C)trophic place.
D)food chain.
E)food pyramid.

Question 80

The tendency for birth and death rates to balance and the composition of species to remain stable is referred to as

A)resilience.
B)diversity.
C)species variability.
D)inertial stability.
E)speciation.