Question 1

The most inclusive description of the biotic portion of an ecosystem is:

Accepted Answer

A)  detritivores. 
B)  producers, consumers, and decomposers 
C)  herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores 
D)  primary and secondary consumers 
E)  all nonliving chemicals or matter. 
A)  detritivores. 
B)  producers, consumers, and decomposers 
C)  herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores 
D)  primary and secondary consumers 
E)  all nonliving chemicals or matter.

Question 2

Which of the following is a producer?

Accepted Answer

A)  nutrient-rich water 
B)  a rabbit 
C)  an alga 
D)  a fungus 
E)  a saprotroph 
A)  nutrient-rich water 
B)  a rabbit 
C)  an alga 
D)  a fungus 
E)  a saprotroph

Question 3

The biotic environment includes a variety of components including:

Accepted Answer

A)  saprotrophs. 
B)  protozoa. 
C)  primary producers. 
D)  decomposers. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  saprotrophs. 
B)  protozoa. 
C)  primary producers. 
D)  decomposers. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 4

Chemosynthesis supports which of the following ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  salt marsh 
B)  forest 
C)  estuary 
D)  desert 
E)  hydrothermal vent 
A)  salt marsh 
B)  forest 
C)  estuary 
D)  desert 
E)  hydrothermal vent

Question 5

Which of the following is an abiotic factor of the environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  bedrock 
B)  disease organisms 
C)  photosynthesis 
D)  producers 
E)  detritivores 
A)  bedrock 
B)  disease organisms 
C)  photosynthesis 
D)  producers 
E)  detritivores

Question 6

Entropy is a measure of:

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of energy in a system. 
B)  the amount of work done. 
C)  the disorder in a system. 
D)  the efficiency of a system. 
E)  the rate of energy use in a system. 
A)  the amount of energy in a system. 
B)  the amount of work done. 
C)  the disorder in a system. 
D)  the efficiency of a system. 
E)  the rate of energy use in a system.

Question 7

Physical laws state that we can recycle:

Accepted Answer

A)  both matter and energy. 
B)  neither matter nor energy. 
C)  energy, but not matter. 
D)  There are no physical laws governing the recycling of matter or energy. 
E)  matter, but not energy. 
A)  both matter and energy. 
B)  neither matter nor energy. 
C)  energy, but not matter. 
D)  There are no physical laws governing the recycling of matter or energy. 
E)  matter, but not energy.

Question 8

The crust of our planet that is made of rock and soil is known as the:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  ecosphere. 
C)  biosphere. 
D)  lithosphere. 
E)  atmosphere. 
A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  ecosphere. 
C)  biosphere. 
D)  lithosphere. 
E)  atmosphere.

Question 9

What is the human impact on net primary productivity? What are the potential environmental problems associated with this impact and what changes would be required to minimize human impact?

Accepted Answer

Humans consume more of Earth's resources

Question 10

In a pyramid of biomass, the tropic level of which organism would have the LEAST BIOMASS?
Grass, is eaten by grasshoppers, which are eaten by toads, which are eaten by snakes

Accepted Answer

A)  grass 
B)  grasshoppers 
C)  toads 
D)  snakes 
E)  none of these choices, all tropic levels would be of equal biomass 
A)  grass 
B)  grasshoppers 
C)  toads 
D)  snakes 
E)  none of these choices, all tropic levels would be of equal biomass

Question 11

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another…

Accepted Answer

A)  second law of thermodynamics 
B)  first law of thermodynamics 
C)  theory of relativity 
D)  first law of centrifugation 
E)  energy transformation 
A)  second law of thermodynamics 
B)  first law of thermodynamics 
C)  theory of relativity 
D)  first law of centrifugation 
E)  energy transformation

Question 12

The ultimate source of energy for the communities of the hydrothermal vents is:

Accepted Answer

A)  hot seawater. 
B)  sinking detritus from the surface waters. 
C)  energy derived from photosynthesis, as in almost all other communities. 
D)  chemical synthesis of organic molecules by bacteria. 
E)  algae. 
A)  hot seawater. 
B)  sinking detritus from the surface waters. 
C)  energy derived from photosynthesis, as in almost all other communities. 
D)  chemical synthesis of organic molecules by bacteria. 
E)  algae.

Question 13

In October of 2003, a raging wildfire swept through the mountain ecosystems in Southern California, burning everything in its path to the ground and driving away all of the animals. In order for the mountain ecosystem to re-establish itself, which member of the food web has to return first?

Accepted Answer

A)  deer 
B)  snakes 
C)  birds 
D)  coyotes 
E)  grasses 
A)  deer 
B)  snakes 
C)  birds 
D)  coyotes 
E)  grasses

Question 14

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that:

Accepted Answer

A)  energy can be created or destroyed by physical processes. 
B)  entropy always increases. 
C)  energy cannot be created or destroyed. 
D)  the organization of the universe is steadily increasing. 
E)  energy transfer between organisms is inefficient and much energy is lost. 
A)  energy can be created or destroyed by physical processes. 
B)  entropy always increases. 
C)  energy cannot be created or destroyed. 
D)  the organization of the universe is steadily increasing. 
E)  energy transfer between organisms is inefficient and much energy is lost.

Question 15

Compare and contrast potential energy and kinetic energy using biological or ecological examples and references.

Accepted Answer

Energy can exist as stored energy or pot

Question 16

Decomposers are:

Accepted Answer

A)  bacteria and fungi. 
B)  consumers. 
C)  saprotrophs. 
D)  heterotrophs. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  bacteria and fungi. 
B)  consumers. 
C)  saprotrophs. 
D)  heterotrophs. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 17

Each level or "link" in a food chain or a food web is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  a trophic level. 
B)  a consumer. 
C)  an energy flow unit. 
D)  an equivalent. 
E)  entropy. 
A)  a trophic level. 
B)  a consumer. 
C)  an energy flow unit. 
D)  an equivalent. 
E)  entropy.

Question 18

Discuss the contributions of saprotrophs and detritivores to a balanced ecosystem. Identify two representatives of each group in your discussion.

Accepted Answer

Saprotrophs and detritivores are consume

Question 19

As organisms grow and develop, body form typically becomes more complex. Does such development conform to the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics states

Question 20

Detritivores consume:

Accepted Answer

A)  leaf litter. 
B)  living animal flesh. 
C)  fungi. 
D)  both living plants and insects. 
E)  only microorganisms. 
A)  leaf litter. 
B)  living animal flesh. 
C)  fungi. 
D)  both living plants and insects. 
E)  only microorganisms.

Exam 3: Ecosystems and Energy

The most inclusive description of the biotic portion of an ecosystem is:

Which of the following is a producer?

The biotic environment includes a variety of components including:

Chemosynthesis supports which of the following ecosystems?

Which of the following is an abiotic factor of the environment?

Entropy is a measure of:

Physical laws state that we can recycle:

The crust of our planet that is made of rock and soil is known as the:

What is the human impact on net primary productivity? What are the potential environmental problems associated with this impact and what changes would be required to minimize human impact?

In a pyramid of biomass, the tropic level of which organism would have the LEAST BIOMASS? Grass, is eaten by grasshoppers, which are eaten by toads, which are eaten by snakes

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another…

The ultimate source of energy for the communities of the hydrothermal vents is:

In October of 2003, a raging wildfire swept through the mountain ecosystems in Southern California, burning everything in its path to the ground and driving away all of the animals. In order for the mountain ecosystem to re-establish itself, which member of the food web has to return first?

The First Law of Thermodynamics states that:

Compare and contrast potential energy and kinetic energy using biological or ecological examples and references.

Decomposers are:

Each level or "link" in a food chain or a food web is called:

Discuss the contributions of saprotrophs and detritivores to a balanced ecosystem. Identify two representatives of each group in your discussion.

As organisms grow and develop, body form typically becomes more complex. Does such development conform to the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Why or why not?

Detritivores consume:

Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Laws Economic and Ethics

Ecosystems and the Physical Environment

Ecosystems and Living Organisms

Major Ecosystems of the World

Human Health and Environmental Toxicology

The Human Population

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Energy Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Renewable Energy and Nuclear Power

Water: a Limited Resource

Soil Resources

Mineral Resources

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Water Pollution

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