Deck 19: Ecosystem Essentials

Question 1

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
E)semi-open;semi-closed

Answer 1

A

Question 2

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
E)yellow-red;green-yellow

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Broadly defined,the 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.
E)encompasses both the lithosphere and the hydrosphere,but not the atmosphere.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

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

A)5%
B)10%
C)25%
D)50%
E)75%

Question 5

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

A)plants
B)herbivores
C)carnivores
D)decomposers
E)mineral nutrients

Question 6

The energy that powers the biosphere comes primarily from

A)the Sun.
B)soil nutrients.
C)abiotic chemical reactions.
D)fluvial action.
E)endogenic processes.

Question 7

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.
E)vacuole

Question 8

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

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

Question 9

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)biosphere.

Question 10

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.
E)phytogeography.

Question 11

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

A)heterotroph.
B)producers.
C)primary consumer.
D)secondary consumer.
E)tertiary consumer.

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

Photosynthesis involves

A)the release of stored carbon dioxide in a process using sunlight.
B)fixation of carbon and production of glucose and oxygen.
C)a process known as respiration.
D)important reactions within the stems and roots of plants.
E)the conversion of carbohydrates to energy by plants for their own uses.

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 Earth's species richness is called

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

Question 15

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 oxygen into carbohydrates and water.

Question 16

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

A)plants
B)sunlight
C)precipitation
D)mineral nutrients
E)atmospheric gases

Question 17

The first photosynthesizing bacteria appeared in the ocean on Earth about years ago.

A)14 million
B)323 million
C)769 million
D)1.3 billion
E)2.7 billion

Question 18

Chlorophyll reflects predominately wavelengths of visible light.

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

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

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)zoology.
C)pedology.
D)plant biology.
E)systematics.

Question 21

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
E)tropical seasonal forest

Question 22

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.
E)The highest average net primary productivity in a terrestrial ecosystem occurs in the tropical rain forests.

Question 23

C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO +6H2O + heat energy is the generalized equation for

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

Question 24

Together,these three natural elements make up 99% of the Earth's biomass.

A)oxygen (O),argon (Ar),and helium (He)
B)hydrogen (H),helium (He),and oxygen
C)hydrogen (H),oxygen (O),and carbon (C)
D)carbon (C),nitrogen,and helium (He)
E)hydrogen (H),nitrogen (N),and helium (He)

Question 25

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

A)open ocean
B)estuaries
C)algal beds and reefs
D)upwelling zone
E)continental shelf

Question 26

Net primary productivity.Worldwide net primary productivity in grams of carbon per square meter per year (approximate values)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)Eurasia
E)Mongolia

Question 27

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.
E)carbon fixation.

Question 28

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.
E)biodiversity.

Question 29

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.
E)Over fertilization of agricultural fields with synthetic nitrogen has led to water pollution.

Question 30

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 strand.
B)niche order.
C)trophic level.
D)food pyramid level.
E)food chain link.

Question 31

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.
E)net radiation.

Question 32

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
E)midlatitude deciduous forest

Question 33

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

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

Question 34

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

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

Question 35

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.
E)a chemical reaction between carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and carbohydrates.

Question 36

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 (low oxygen)areas in water bodies that limit marine and aquatic life.
E)an ecosystem in which overhunting or overfishing has resulted in the removal of keystone species and,ultimately,faunal collapse.

Question 37

Worldwide Coastal Dead Zones In which of the following areas does one find the highest concentrations of coastal deadzones?

A)west coast of South America along Chilean coast
B)the Hudson Bay area of Canada
C)northern and eastern Australia
D)along the horn of Africa
E)the North Sea area of western Europe

Question 38

The carbon and oxygen cycles Which of the following is not a source of release of CO₂ to the atmosphere?

A)plant and animal respiration
B)burning of grasslands and forests
C)fossil fuel combustion
D)photosynthesis
E)volcanic activity

Question 39

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

A)Atmospheric nitrogen is directly available to plants and animals through the photosynthetic process and trophic relationships.
B)It is absorbed into plants via stoma and converted within the plant to a usable form.
C)Bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically change 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.
E)Atmospheric nitrogen combines with atmospheric moisture and a free oxygen molecule to form nitric acids (HNO3),which enters in the biosphere as mildly acidic precipitation.

Question 40

Which of the following is/are the largest carbon sink?

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

Question 41

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

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

Question 42

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
E)decomposer

Question 43

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.
E)trophic level.

Question 44

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
E)synnecrosis

Question 45

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
E)synnecrosis

Question 46

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.
E)bioremediation.

Question 47

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.
E)altitudinal zonation factor.

Question 48

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

A)15%
B)30%
C)50%
D)65%
E)75%

Question 49

Consider a simple food chain in which a grasshopper eats grass,the grasshopper is eaten by a frog,the frog is eaten by a snake,and a burying beetle feeds on the snake after it dies.Which of the following is not correctly matched?

A)grass - producer
B)grasshopper - herbivore
C)frog - secondary consumer
D)beetle - detritivore
E)snake - primary consumer

Question 50

Lichen are 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
E)synnecrosis

Question 51

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
E)synnecrosis

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 concept.
E)limiting factor.

Question 53

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.
E)trophic level.

Question 54

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 predators
D)days below freezing
E)water availability

Question 55

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

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

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.
E)trophic level.

Question 57

Mistletoe (Phoradendron)infests 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
E)synnecrosis

Question 58

Food resources as a limiting factor for species distribution 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.
E)symbiotic relationship.

Question 59

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
E)Symbiosis

Question 60

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%
E)25%

Question 61

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

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

Question 62

Human caused eutrophication is known as

A)oligotrophication.
B)mesotrophication.
C)cultural eutrophication.
D)anthropotrophication.
E)patch dynamics.

Question 63

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
E)symbiosis

Question 64

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

A)fungi
B)plants
C)chordates
D)insects
E)protozoa

Question 65

The variation of life encompassing species diversity,genetic diversity,and ecosystem diversity is known as

A)commensalism.
B)ecological niche.
C)trophic pyramids.
D)limiting factor.
E)biodiversity.

Question 66

What is an ecosystem? What is the spatial scale of an ecosystem? Provide some examples of an ecosystem.

Question 67

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
E)quinary

Question 68

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

A)habitat loss
B)introduction of non-native species
C)air,water,and soil pollution
D)climate change
E)novel ecosystems

Question 69

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
E)limiting factor

Question 70

Human-built or human-modified ecosystems that may have species and habitats that have never occurred together,designed to conserve biodiversity,are known as

A)patch dynamics.
B)seres.
C)anthropocenes.
D)ecological successions.
E)novel ecosystems.

Question 71

occurs when the last individual of a species dies.

A)Speciation
B)Vicariance
C)Symbiosis
D)Extinction
E)Adaptation

Question 72

is the term for the evolution of a new species.

A)Speciation
B)Vicariance
C)Symbiosis
D)Extinction
E)Adaptation

Question 73

According to a recent study,species are going extinct at a rate _ times faster than natural pre-human extinction rates.

A)5
B)10
C)50
D)100
E)1000

Question 74

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.
E)competitive exclusion principle.

Question 75

Using Figure 19.3 and Table 19.1 as your guide,describe the net primary productivity of the area in which you live.How does this net primary productivity vary across your state (or equivalent)and broader region?

Question 76

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

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

Question 77

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
E)quinary

Question 78

Continental drift separating a once continuous population is an example of

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

Question 79

The gradual nutrient enrichment of water bodies is known as

A)patch dynamics.
B)ecological succession.
C)mesotrophication.
D)oligotrophication.
E)eutrophication.

Question 80

What is biogeography? What subjects do biogeographers study? What is ecology? How does biogeography vary from ecology?