Deck 5: Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology

Question 1

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s farmers and ranchers slaughtered coyotes, bobcats, wolves, mountain lions, eagles, and rattlesnakes, trying to protect their cattle. One direct result may have been .

A)an increase in predation
B)an increase in the prairie dog population
C)an increase in soil quality
D)a decrease in the prairie dog population
E)a decrease in soil quality

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
One of the conclusions that can be drawn from this scenario is that _.

A)predators were unimportant components of this ecosystem; their removal caused no subsequent problems.
B)once humans change one thing in an ecosystem, they may find unexpected results occurring elsewhere in the ecosystem.
C)prairie dogs were unimportant components of this ecosystem; their removal caused no subsequent problems.
D)prairie dogs were part of a negative feedback loop once they were removed.
E)cattle improved the soils, contributing to this ecosystem.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Ecological modeling can help us ecosystem services.

A)replace destroyed
B)control the growth of
C)decrease the cost of maintaining
D)create many new
E)understand

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Biodiversity is partially influenced by net primary productivity. Where can the highest terrestrial rates of NPP be found?

A)deciduous forests
B)deserts
C)tundra
D)tropical rainforests
E)polar regions

Question 5

The phosphorus in all biological tissues can traced back to .

A)atmospheric phosphorus gas
B)volcanic activities
C)phosphorus dissolved in the ocean and taken up by shellfish
D)phosphorus in animal bones
E)phosphorus weathered from rock

Question 6

Containing elements of both forests and coastal marshes, the swamplands of extreme southern Louisiana would be an example of .

A)a superbiome
B)a closed ecosystem
C)an abiotic system
D)a dead zone
E)an ecotone

Question 7

The first essential step in changing atmospheric nitrogen into more usable NH₃ is called .

A)ammonification
B)nitrification
C)N- fixation
D)biogeochemical cycling
E)denitrification

Question 8

Aquifers are .

A)underground water reservoirs
B)natural ponds and lakes
C)oceans
D)recharge lakes at water quality facilities
E)the result of transpiration

Question 9

What are Earth's structural spheres?

A)geosphere and atmosphere
B)lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
C)lithosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere
D)centrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere
E)lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere

Question 10

The majority of Earth's fresh water exists .

A)in groundwater
B)in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers
C)in the form of ice
D)in the oceans
E)in the atmosphere

Question 11

By damming rivers, we are .

A)increasing transpiration while decreasing evaporation
B)increasing transportation
C)decreasing evaporation
D)increasing evaporation
E)decreasing transpiration

Question 12

The eutrophication that has taken place in Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and other locations appears to be due to .

A)pesticide use along the waterways
B)global warming from human use of fossil fuels
C)weather alone, because it is only obvious in the summer
D)heavy metals dumped in the sewage
E)excess nutrients from fertilizers

Question 13

The largest pool of carbon in the carbon cycle is .

A)sedimentary rock
B)the atmosphere
C)the hydrosphere
D)in plants and animals
E)the ocean

Question 14

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
Experiments done in Canadian lakes and in coastal regions of the Baltic Sea and Long Island Sound have demonstrated that _.

A)the only micronutrient that is important is carbon
B)various macronutrients appear to limit growth throughout the world
C)only one micronutrient, phosphorus (phosphates), limits growth throughout the world
D)only one micronutrient, nitrogen (nitrates), limits growth throughout the world
E)the same few micronutrients limit growth throughout the world

Question 15

Ecotones are the .

A)transitional zones between ecosystems
B)sounds that animal communities make in ecosystems
C)areas between territories of organisms
D)studies of specific biomes by ecologists
E)interactive behaviors leading to communication

Question 16

The biosphere consists of the .

A)solid earth beneath our feet, plus the air we breathe
B)saltwater and fresh water in surface bodies and the atmosphere
C)sum of all the planet's living organisms and the abiotic portions of the environment with which they interact
D)air surrounding our planet, plus the water we drink
E)abiotic portions of the environment

Question 17

Humans have dramatically altered the rate of nitrogen fixation into forms usable by autotrophs .

A)because of the erosion of farmlands through poor agricultural practices
B)by selectively removing leguminous plants
C)by using antibiotics to reduce the numbers of denitrifying bacteria
D)due to the burning of fossil fuels to meet our energy needs
E)by producing synthetic fertilizers and applying them to crops, lawns, and parks

Question 18

Ecological modeling .

A)has been rejected because it requires the dismantling and dissecting of a functioning ecosystem
B)is used by evolutionary biologist to predict future evolutionary events
C)has so far proven useless in predicting ecological events
D)involves constructing and testing simplified representations of ecological systems
E)is a form of ecosystem restoration

Question 19

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
In a previous chapter you read about "keystone species." How do the prairie dogs in this story meet the definition of a keystone species?

A)They don't meet the definition of a keystone species; the system did fine without them. The predators turned to cattle, and the grasses did better in the compact soil.
B)When the prairie dogs were removed, the cattle declined; this meets the definition of a keystone species.
C)Their burrows loosened the soil and served as homes for other species; they helped with nutrient recycling. They helped water infiltrate into the soil and kept soil loose for grass roots. When they were removed, the system deteriorated.
D)Their burrows caused cattle to break their legs and die. This made them directly responsible for the welfare of another species, which meets the definition of a keystone species.
E)The availability of prairie dogs kept the predators in check; when they were removed, the predator populations grew dramatically. They kept the soil aerated and compact.

Question 20

In an aquatic ecosystem experiencing eutrophication, levels of dissolved macronutrients and dissolved oxygen levels .

A)increase; increase
B)remain stable; increase
C)decrease; increase
D)increase; decease
E)decrease; decrease

Question 21

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
When the rains came down on the rocky mountainsides, the water ran down into the grasslands where the prairie dogs were active and .

A)quickly soaked into the loose soil, watering the grasses
B)formed ponds
C)quickly ran off the loose soil, eroding the soil
D)quickly evaporated, drying the loose soil
E)gathered atop the loose soil, forming large muddy spots

Question 22

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
Upper limit of groundwater in soil or rocks

Question 23

In some areas, cattle on an open range may compact fragile soils while grazing. This can damage plant roots, leading to fewer, smaller plants, which may in turn cause cattle to graze more and work harder to obtain food. This is an example of a .

A)homeostatic system
B)food web
C)dynamic equilibrium
D)positive feedback loop
E)negative feedback loop

Question 24

Mutualistic relationships between bacteria and certain root nodules play an important role in the global cycling of .

A)nitrogen
B)phosphorus
C)carbon
D)rock
E)water

Question 25

Negative feedback processes tend to function within ecosystems to .

A)stabilize the ecosystem
B)cause ecological relationships to disintegrate
C)cause ecological relationships to flourish
D)reinforce harmful changes
E)cause further ecological destruction

Question 26

Nitrogen fixation is a process that makes nitrogen available to plants and is carried out by .

A)volcanic eruptions
B)mutualistic and free-living bacteria
C)nitrogen gas dissolving in fresh water and in the ocean
D)parasitic bacteria
E)plants during photosynthesis

Question 27

What factors contribute to the "dead zone" in Chesapeake Bay?

Question 28

Prairie dog activities probably contribute to _ .

A)the soil being loose and to little nutrient cycling, causing grasses to fall over
B)the localized extinction of prairie grasses
C)the soil being loose and to nutrient cycling, allowing new grass roots to grow and prosper
D)the grass roots being subject to diseases
E)the soil hardening during rains and to little nutrient cycling, causing grasses to die

Question 29

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
Water returns from the clouds to Earth's surface as this

Question 30

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
Matter contained in living organisms

Question 31

is any network of relationships among a group of components, which interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, or information.

A)An environmental collaboration
B)A system
C)An interchange
D)Hierarchy
E)An ecosystem

Question 32

Read the following scenario and answer the questions below.
In the early years of the 20th century there were lush stands of tall grasses in the valley on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains in Arizona, stretching to Mexico on the south and New Mexico on the east. Dramatic summer rainstorms dumped huge amounts of water, very quickly, on the rocky upper slopes. The water ran down the slopes and into the grasslands, where it quickly soaked into the soft, porous soil where prairie dogs were active. Cattle ranching was in full swing, utilizing the rich grasses, but the ranchers did not appreciate the multitudes of prairie dogs that lived in the grasslands. Prairie dogs constantly dig through soil, making new burrows and eating grasses, roots and all. It was commonly believed that cattle would stumble in the prairie dog holes, break legs, and die of starvation. In addition, many ranchers were convinced that the prairie dogs would destroy the grasses because they directly competed with the cattle for food. The ranchers had already done away with most predators that might possibly affect cattle, and now they turned their attention to the prairie dogs. The ranchers became a part of a new federally sponsored movement to poison the grassland prairie dogs. This movement took root and spread through the 1920s and 1930s.
Once the prairie dogs were poisoned and no longer a part of the ecosystem, which of the following probably occurred?

A)Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, decreasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
B)Soils slowly compacted because of the cattle, decreasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
C)Soils slowly compacted because of the cattle, increasing infiltration of moisture into the soil.
D)Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, so fewer nutrients were recycled.
E)Soils slowly became looser because of the cattle, so soil moisture increased.

Question 33

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
The solid earth beneath our feet

Question 34

Use the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.

This graph helps to explain _.

A)why cultivated lands are a logical choice to replace rainforests
B)why tundra has such high net primary productivity of biomass
C)why we need to be concerned with damage to rainforests and coral reefs
D)the importance of deserts
E)why the open ocean is so productive

Question 35

A system stabilized by negative feedback, with opposing processes offsetting each other, is said to be in .

A)static control
B)normal balance
C)harmonic resonance
D)dynamic equilibrium
E)environmental balance

Question 36

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
Release of water vapor by plants through their leaves

Question 37

Match the following.

A)hydrosphere
B)ecosystem
C)transpiration
D)water table
E)evaporation
F)biosphere
G)atmosphere
H)condensation
I)lithosphere
J)aquifer
K)biomass
L)precipitation
The process by which water moves from Earth's surface (such as in lakes or rivers)to the atmosphere

Question 38

Macronutrients .

A)can only be taken up by plants from rock cycles
B)are large molecules necessary for making macromolecules
C)are what large predators eat
D)are required in large amounts for organisms to survive
E)are the only nutrients that can be tracked in nutrient cycles

Question 39

Give a brief overview of the carbon cycle. Include the source of carbon that enters ecosystems, how it moves through ecosystems, what it is used for, and where it is ultimately deposited. What part of this cycle is believed to contribute to global warming?

Question 40

The biosphere is best defined as .

A)a grouping of plants and animals that interact with one another
B)all living and nonliving parts, including the flow of energy and matter
C)all Earth's organisms and their physical and aquatic environment where energy and matter are cycled
D)all Earth's organisms and the nonliving environment with which they interact
E)a regional grouping of plants, animals, and abiotic factors

Question 41

Human activity has affected every aspect of the nitrogen cycle. List the ways that humans have altered nitrogen content starting with how nitrogen becomes available to producers, where it goes, and what impacts it has. What are the ecological concerns regarding the dramatic changes people have made in the global nitrogen cycle?

Question 42

Define the term emergent properties and give an example from a natural system.

Question 43

How and why do ecologists use GIS software?

Question 44

Identify the anthropogenic sources of phosphorus, and explain why they are a problem.

Question 45

Human activity has affected every aspect of the water cycle. Identify three ways that humans have altered the water cycle. What are the major concerns regarding our alteration of the water cycle?

Question 46

Compare and contrast positive and negative feedback loops. Give an example of each and how common each is in natural systems.

Question 47

Describe the hypotheses and the results obtained in the FACE (Free- Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment)project.