Question 1

Which of the following is an example in which the energy is/was not derived from solar radiation?

Accepted Answer

Hydrothermal vents derive their energy from the Earth's internal heat, not from solar radiation.

Question 2

The role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle is to

Accepted Answer

Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by breaking down dead organic matter and releasing ammonium and other inorganic nitrogen compounds back into the soil, which can be used by plants to synthesize proteins and other essential molecules. This process is called mineralization or ammonification. Without decomposers, nitrogen would become locked up in dead organic matter and unavailable for use by living organisms, which would limit the productivity of ecosystems.

Question 3

Less than half of the CO₂ released to the atmosphere via human activities remains in the atmosphere. The rest may be found

Accepted Answer

CO₂ released to the atmosphere via human activities can either dissolve in the oceans or be stored on land, which means option D is the correct answer. It cannot be found above the stratosphere, so option C is incorrect, and it cannot be none of the above as it is known to be retained somewhere.

Question 4

The surface waters of lakes quickly become depleted of _______, while deeper waters become depleted of _______.

Accepted Answer

The surface waters of lakes quickly become depleted of nutrients due to photosynthesis and uptake by organisms while deeper waters become depleted of oxygen due to decomposition of organic matter by bacteria.

Question 5

The most important driver of change in ecosystems has been changes in _______ as natural ecosystems have been converted to other, more intensive uses.

Accepted Answer

Land use changes, such as conversion of natural ecosystems to intensive agriculture, urbanization, and deforestation, have been the most significant driver of change in ecosystems. This can lead to habitat destruction, fragmentation, and loss of biodiversity. While other factors such as carbon dioxide levels, global warming, human population growth, and pollution can also impact ecosystems, they are often directly or indirectly related to land use changes.

Question 6

In what ways are farming methods that require the large-scale use of manufactured fertilizers contributing to eutrophication and other adverse environmental effects?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways are farming methods that...

Question 7

Approximately 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere lies in its lowest layer the

Accepted Answer

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and it contains approximately 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere. The other options (stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere) are higher up in the atmosphere and contain less mass compared to the troposphere.

Question 8

Environmental writers introduced the idea of "natural capital" in the 1940s and it was in 1970 that ecosystems were first said to provide people with a variety of "goods and services." The "services" include all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Shelter is not typically considered a service provided by ecosystems. The other options are all common examples of ecosystem services.

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the water cycle is false?

Accepted Answer

Most of the water that evaporates from oceans returns directly to the oceans as precipitation, not through run-off from land.

Question 10

All of the following human activities have modified energy flow except

Accepted Answer

Conversion of tundras to rain forests would involve an increase in energy flow since rain forests have a higher primary productivity than tundras. All the other options involve modifications that decrease energy flow.

Question 11

The recent increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration is mainly a result of an increase in

Accepted Answer

The burning of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) and wood releases CO2, which in turn contributes to an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration. COS (carbonyl sulfide) is also sometimes released during the burning of fossil fuels, contributing to the increase in atmospheric COS.

Question 12

How will global climates and ecosystems change in response to the rapid carbon dioxide enrichment by human activities?

Accepted Answer

Global warming is a direct result of increased carbon dioxide levels, leading to climate changes that can also result in increased outbreaks of diseases due to altered ecosystems and habitats.

Question 13

Wetlands have frequently been regarded as "waste lands" that would have greater economic value if they were drained and converted to agricultural or commercial use. Describe what we learned from Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, about the value of intact wetlands for flood protection? Describe two other ways in which the wetlands of this region are valuable.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wetlands have frequently been regarded as "waste...

Question 14

_______ energy drives almost all biological systems.

Accepted Answer

Solar energy is the primary source of energy for almost all biological systems, as it is captured by plants through photosynthesis and converted into chemical energy, which then supports life on Earth.

Question 15

The ozone layer is found in the

Accepted Answer

The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere and absorbs many biologically damaging short-wavelength radiation, such as ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Question 16

Less than half of the CO₂ released into the atmosphere by human activity remains in the atmosphere. The rest can be found in the oceans. What factors affect the cycling of CO₂ between the atmosphere and the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Algae combining bicarbonate ions with calcium to form calcium carbonate and sink to the ocean floor when they die is one of the factors that affect the cycling of CO₂ between the atmosphere and the ocean. Similarly, the photosynthetic rate of phytoplankton is another factor that affects this cycling. Therefore, both options A and B are correct. The respiration of organisms living in the oceans does not directly affect the cycling of CO₂ between the atmosphere and the ocean, so option C is not correct.

Question 17

For metabolism and growth, all organisms depend on input of all of the following except

Accepted Answer

Not all organisms depend on sunlight for metabolism and growth. Some organisms, like those living in deep-sea vents, rely on chemical energy instead of sunlight.

Question 18

The two layers of Earth's atmosphere, the lithosphere and the stratosphere, differ

Accepted Answer

The answer of The two layers of Earth's atmosphere, the...

Question 19

Some nutrients are brought back to the surface near the coasts of continents, where offshore winds pushing surface waters away from shore cause cold bottom water to rise to the surface. The water in these upwelling zones

Accepted Answer

The question states that "Some nutrients are brought back to the surface near the coasts of continents, where offshore winds pushing surface waters away from shore cause cold bottom water to rise to the surface." This is referring to upwelling zones, and it is known that these zones are nutrient-rich because the cold bottom water that rises to the surface is rich in nutrients that have been deposited there over time.

Question 20

Where is the largest reservoir of carbon in the global carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

The largest reservoir of carbon in the global carbon cycle is in the oceans. The oceans contain more than 50 times the amount of carbon than the atmosphere and around 16 times more carbon than terrestrial ecosystems.

Quiz 58: Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Which of the following is an example in which the energy is/was not derived from solar radiation?

The role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle is to

Less than half of the CO₂ released to the atmosphere via human activities remains in the atmosphere. The rest may be found

The surface waters of lakes quickly become depleted of _, while deeper waters become depleted of _.

The most important driver of change in ecosystems has been changes in _______ as natural ecosystems have been converted to other, more intensive uses.

In what ways are farming methods that require the large-scale use of manufactured fertilizers contributing to eutrophication and other adverse environmental effects?

Approximately 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere lies in its lowest layer the

Environmental writers introduced the idea of "natural capital" in the 1940s and it was in 1970 that ecosystems were first said to provide people with a variety of "goods and services." The "services" include all of the following except

Which of the following statements about the water cycle is false?

All of the following human activities have modified energy flow except

The recent increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration is mainly a result of an increase in

How will global climates and ecosystems change in response to the rapid carbon dioxide enrichment by human activities?

_______ energy drives almost all biological systems.

The ozone layer is found in the

Less than half of the CO₂ released into the atmosphere by human activity remains in the atmosphere. The rest can be found in the oceans. What factors affect the cycling of CO₂ between the atmosphere and the ocean?

For metabolism and growth, all organisms depend on input of all of the following except

The two layers of Earth's atmosphere, the lithosphere and the stratosphere, differ

Some nutrients are brought back to the surface near the coasts of continents, where offshore winds pushing surface waters away from shore cause cold bottom water to rise to the surface. The water in these upwelling zones

Where is the largest reservoir of carbon in the global carbon cycle?

Quiz 58: Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Which of the following is an example in which the energy is/was not derived from solar radiation?

The role of decomposers in the nitrogen cycle is to

Less than half of the CO2 released to the atmosphere via human activities remains in the atmosphere. The rest may be found

The surface waters of lakes quickly become depleted of _______, while deeper waters become depleted of _______.

The most important driver of change in ecosystems has been changes in _______ as natural ecosystems have been converted to other, more intensive uses.

In what ways are farming methods that require the large-scale use of manufactured fertilizers contributing to eutrophication and other adverse environmental effects?

Approximately 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere lies in its lowest layer the

Environmental writers introduced the idea of "natural capital" in the 1940s and it was in 1970 that ecosystems were first said to provide people with a variety of "goods and services." The "services" include all of the following except

Which of the following statements about the water cycle is false?

All of the following human activities have modified energy flow except

The recent increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration is mainly a result of an increase in

How will global climates and ecosystems change in response to the rapid carbon dioxide enrichment by human activities?

_______ energy drives almost all biological systems.

The ozone layer is found in the

Less than half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere by human activity remains in the atmosphere. The rest can be found in the oceans. What factors affect the cycling of CO2 between the atmosphere and the ocean?

For metabolism and growth, all organisms depend on input of all of the following except

The two layers of Earth's atmosphere, the lithosphere and the stratosphere, differ

Some nutrients are brought back to the surface near the coasts of continents, where offshore winds pushing surface waters away from shore cause cold bottom water to rise to the surface. The water in these upwelling zones

Where is the largest reservoir of carbon in the global carbon cycle?

Less than half of the CO₂ released to the atmosphere via human activities remains in the atmosphere. The rest may be found

The surface waters of lakes quickly become depleted of _, while deeper waters become depleted of _.

The recent increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration is mainly a result of an increase in

Less than half of the CO₂ released into the atmosphere by human activity remains in the atmosphere. The rest can be found in the oceans. What factors affect the cycling of CO₂ between the atmosphere and the ocean?