Deck 19: Ecosystem Essentials

Question 1

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

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

Answer 1

D

Question 2

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

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

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Photosynthesis involves

A) the release of stored carbon dioxide in a process using sunlight.
B) the union of carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the presence of sunlight, and the release of oxygen.
C) a process known as respiration.
D) important reactions within the stems and roots of plants.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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 5

An organism capable of synthesizing its own food and inorganic substances using sunlight or chemical energy is known as a(n)

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

Question 6

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.

Question 7

Chlorophyll absorbs only the ________ and ________ wavelengths for photochemical operations.

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

Question 8

The Earth's biosphere

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

Question 9

Which of the following is not a abiotic component of an ecosystem?

A) plants
B) sunlight
C) precipitation
D) mineral nutrients

Question 10

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) ecology.
C) pedology.
D) plant biology.

Question 11

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

A) chemosynthesis
B) photosynthesis
C) nutrient leaching
D) nitrogen fixing

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

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

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

Question 14

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

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

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

Chlorophyll reflects predominately ________ wavelengths of visible light.

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

Question 17

A study of the 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) biogeography.
B) ecology.
C) pedology.
D) plant biology.

Question 18

The gaseous oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere was produced as a by-product of

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

Question 19

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

A) plants
B) animals
C) bacteria
D) mineral nutrients

Question 20

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

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

Question 21

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

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

Question 22

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

A) Atmospheric nitrogen is directly available to plants and animals.
B) It is absorbed into plants via stomata and converted within the plant to a usable form.
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 23

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

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

Question 24

The net photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem is known as the

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

Question 25

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) trophic level.
D) food pyramid.

Question 26

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 27

Respiration involves

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

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

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

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

Question 30

Which of the following is not correct regarding nitrogen.

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

Question 31

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

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

Question 32

Which of the following is the largest carbon sinks?

A) the atmosphere
B) fossil fuels and oil shales
C) dead organic matter
D) the oceans

Question 33

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

A) open ocean
B) boreal forest
C) algal beds and reefs
D) upwelling zone

Question 34

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

A) northern Brazil
B) central Australia
C) western Canada
D) Euroasia

Question 35

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

A) extreme desert
B) woodland and shrubland
C) tundra
D) cultivated lands

Question 36

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.

Question 37

A dead zone refers to

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

Question 38

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

A) temperate grassland
B) boreal forest
C) tropical seasonal forest
D) tundra and alpine region

Question 39

Which of the following is incorrect regarding the spatial 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) Net primary productivity is highest in the fall and winter in temperate and high latitude areas.
D) Productivity rates in deserts is much less than that of tropical regions.

Question 40

Together, three natural elements make up 99% of the Earth's biomass. Which of the following is not one of those three elements?

A) oxygen (O)
B) hydrogen (H)
C) nitrogen (N)
D) carbon (C)

Question 41

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

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

Question 42

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 kite's diet is an example of a(n)

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

Question 43

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

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

Question 44

Lichen are made up of algae and fungi living together. In this relationship, the alga is the produce and for 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 45

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 46

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 47

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

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

Question 48

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

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

Question 49

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 50

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

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

Question 51

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 butterfly fish, which would otherwise eat the anemones. The clownfish may also provide important nutrients to the anemones. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A) parasitism
B) mutualism
C) commensalism
D) amensalism

Question 52

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

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

Question 53

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

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

Question 54

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

Question 55

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

A) soil phosphorus content
B) daily precipitation values
C) number of preadors
D) days below freezing

Question 56

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

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

Question 57

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 58

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

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

Question 59

A black walnut (Juglans nigra) emits a chemical that may kill or inhibit the growth of other nearby shrubs or trees. However, the black walnut is unaffected by this interaction. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship?

A) parasitism
B) mutualism
C) commensalism
D) amensalism

Question 60

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 61

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

A) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary

Question 62

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

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

Question 63

Since life arose on Earth, ________ major extinctions have occurred.

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

Question 64

Which of the following is not considered among the greatest anthopogenic threats to biodiversity?

A) habitat loss
B) introduction of non-native species
C) air, water, and soil pollution
D) climate change
E) habitat loss, non-native species, pollution, and climate change all represent threats to biodiversity

Question 65

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

A) less
B) more
C) equally

Question 66

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

A) plants
B) insects
C) chordates
D) bacteria

Question 67

Continental drift separating a once continuous population is an example of

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

Question 68

Which of the following is the correct order of lake succession, from lowest to highest nutrient levels?

A) oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic
B) eutrophic, oligotrophic, mesotrophic
C) mesotrophic, eutrophic, oligotrophic
D) oligotrophic, eutrophic, mesotrophic

Question 69

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

A) sea level rise
B) cloud albedo forcing
C) CO₂ fertilization effect
D) cloud greenhouse forcing

Question 70

Human caused eutrophication is known as

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

Question 71

In which portion of a lake would oligotrophic conditions most likely occur?

A) along the shore
B) in shallow bays
C) in deep water
D) in areas where high nutrient inputs occur.

Question 72

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

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

Question 73

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

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

Question 74

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

Question 75

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

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

Question 76

The notion that the traits that help a species survive and reproduce are passed along more frequently than those that do not (i.e. differential reproduction and adaptation) is known as

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

Question 77

Approximately what percentage of plant and animal species have been classified overall.

A) 1%
B) 13%
C) 67%
D) 92%

Question 78

The origin of the Earth's biological diversity is embodied in

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

Question 79

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) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary

Question 80

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

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