Question 1

Which statement about an ecosystem is correct?

Accepted Answer

Matter is recycled by an ecosystem through biogeochemical cycles such as the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and water cycle. This allows for the continuous reuse of nutrients and resources within the ecosystem, maintaining its productivity and stability.

Answer: D
 Organisms can occupy multiple niches within an ecosystem, depending on their behaviors, adaptations, and interactions with other organisms. For example, a bird species may occupy a niche as a predator of insects, but also as a pollinator of flowers. The diversity of niches within an ecosystem allows for a variety of species to coexist and contribute to the ecosystem's functions.

Question 2

Urban landfills use procedures that

Accepted Answer

Urban landfills are designed to minimize exposure to air and moisture, which slows down the decomposition rate of materials like newspapers.

Question 3

A U.S. national recycling program is inhibited by

Accepted Answer

Each of the options listed inhibits the effectiveness of a national recycling program in the United States. Many paper products are coated with chemicals, making them difficult to recycle. Different types of trash, such as plastics and electronics, require unique chemical processes and a significant amount of energy to recycle, making the process expensive and inefficient. The sheer volume of waste produced in the United States adds to the difficulty, as recycling facilities struggle to keep up with demand. Additionally, the mixing of different types of plastics in the waste stream can increase the difficulty and cost of recycling.

Question 4

Which term refers to the particular way an organism obtains matter and energy?

Accepted Answer

Ecological niche refers to the specific way an organism obtains matter and energy, including its role in the food chain/web, its habitat requirements, and its interactions with other species.

Question 5

The importance of the ozone layer to Earth's inhabitants is

Accepted Answer

The ozone layer is important for protecting Earth's inhabitants from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Without the ozone layer, UV radiation would reach the surface of the Earth and cause health problems, such as skin cancer and cataracts in humans, and could also have negative effects on ecosystems. The other choices listed are not related to the ozone layer's primary function of protecting against UV radiation.

Question 6

How are CFCs dangerous to the environment?

Accepted Answer

CFCs can break down ozone molecules in the Earth's stratosphere, creating chlorine atoms that then react with the ozone, ultimately breaking it down into oxygen gas. This process is known as ozone depletion and can lead to an increase in skin cancer, cataracts, and harm to plant life.

Question 7

Which example would best demonstrate the "law of unintended consequences" in action in a recent instance?

Accepted Answer

Building levees on the Mississippi River was intended to minimize flooding and protect homes and businesses. However, the levees have altered the natural flow of the river, leading to soil erosion and loss of wetlands, which in turn affect wildlife and fisheries. Additionally, the levees have increased the risk of catastrophic flooding in some areas. This demonstrates the law of unintended consequences in action.

Question 8

How far above the Earth would we find the highest concentration of "good" ozone?

Accepted Answer

The highest concentration of "good" ozone, which protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, is found in the stratosphere, approximately 20 miles above the Earth's surface. This region is known as the ozone layer.

Question 9

Research by E.O. Wilson and Daniel Simberloff supported the theory of island biogeography when, at the end of the experiment,

Accepted Answer

The experiment by E.O. Wilson and Daniel Simberloff demonstrated that after defaunation of the islands, the island biota were indeed recolonized by species, supporting the theory of island biogeography by showing that islands could be repopulated by similar but different species over time.

Question 10

According to the equilibrium hypothesis, introducing a new species to an isolated ecosystem will

Accepted Answer

Introducing a new species to an isolated ecosystem can disrupt the balance, potentially leading to the extinction of native species due to competition, predation, or disease.

Question 11

How are scientists determining atmospheric ozone levels?

Accepted Answer

Scientists use a variety of methods to determine atmospheric ozone levels, including measuring spectral lines collected from satellite-based sensors, collecting samples with specially outfitted airplanes, and measuring spectral lines collected at ground-based sites. Therefore, all of the answer choices are correct.

Question 12

What was the main topic of the Kyoto protocol, which the U.S. refused to sign?

Accepted Answer

The main topic of the Kyoto protocol was to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, specifically CO2, with the goal of combatting global climate change. The US refused to sign on to the agreement, citing concerns about the potential economic impact on the country.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of the law of unintended consequences in action at Lake Victoria, Africa?

Accepted Answer

Introducing the Nile perch to Lake Victoria in the 1950s resulted in unintended consequences. While it was introduced to boost fishing, it ended up causing the extinction of over 200 species of cichlid fish, which were crucial to the lake's ecosystem. The Nile perch also grew to massive sizes, which changed the dynamic of the food chain and led to a decrease in other fish populations.

Question 14

Acid rain is known to cause problems by

Accepted Answer

Acid rain reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone statues and buildings, causing them to deteriorate and dissolve over time.

Question 15

The creation of NOx requires nitrogen, oxygen, and

Accepted Answer

The creation of NOx requires nitrogen and oxygen, but it also requires a source of heat (typically from combustion). Option A is incorrect because water is not necessary for the creation of NOx. Option C is incorrect because sulfur is not involved in the formation of NOx, although it may contribute to the formation of acid rain. Option D is incorrect because acid rain is a result of pollutants like NOx and sulfur dioxide reacting with water in the atmosphere, but it is not a component in the creation of NOx. Option E is incorrect because xylene is not related to the creation of NOx.

Question 16

Which are products of burning fossil fuels in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

All of the mentioned products are generated by burning fossil fuels in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the major components while nitrogen oxides and sulfur compounds contribute to air pollution and acid rain. Hydrocarbons are also emitted, contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone.

Question 17

The flow of energy in an ecosystem

Accepted Answer

The flow of energy in an ecosystem decreases by 90% at each trophic level due to energy lost as heat, movement, and other metabolic processes. This is known as the 10% rule, where only 10% of the energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next.

Question 18

What were the results of the Montreal treaty of 1986?

Accepted Answer

The Montreal treaty of 1986 resulted in industrial nations agreeing to decrease and eventually stop their production of CFCs, which were known to contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Question 19

The amount of solid waste produced by an average American each year equals

Accepted Answer

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of solid waste per day, which equates to about 1,606 pounds per year. This would fill two large dump trucks when compacted.

Question 20

Which of these groups are listed in first, second, and third trophic level, respectively?

Accepted Answer

The first trophic level consists of producers which include grass in this case. The second trophic level consists of primary consumers, which are herbivores that feed on producers, such as deer in this example. The third trophic level consists of secondary consumers, which are carnivores that feed on herbivores, such as mountain lion in this case.

Quiz 19: Ecology, Ecosystems, and the Environment: Are Human Activities Affecting the Global Environment