Question 1

A wolf that feeds on moose and elk would be classified within which trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore 
A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore C

Question 2

Which one of the following factors would NOT influence the productivity of an ocean community?

Accepted Answer

A) the presence of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria 
B) the season of the year 
C) levels of autotrophs 
D) fertilizer runoff 
E) the amount of rainfall 
A) the presence of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria 
B) the season of the year 
C) levels of autotrophs 
D) fertilizer runoff 
E) the amount of rainfall E

Question 3

A ____________ cycle is a cyclic path that involves both biological and chemical processes of an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

A) biogeochemical 
B) complete 
C) hydrological 
D) complementary 
A) biogeochemical 
B) complete 
C) hydrological 
D) complementary A

Question 4

Heterotrophs must obtain organic molecules that have been synthesized by

Accepted Answer

A) biogeochemical cycles. 
B) bacteria. 
C) decomposers. 
D) autotrophs. 
A) biogeochemical cycles. 
B) bacteria. 
C) decomposers. 
D) autotrophs.

Question 5

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) is a tiny Australian marsupial that feeds entirely on nectar.Which of the following terms describes the role of a honey possum in its ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore 
A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore

Question 6

The rate of production of new biomass by heterotrophs is called

Accepted Answer

A) secondary productivity. 
B) primary productivity. 
C) consumer productivity. 
D) gross productivity. 
A) secondary productivity. 
B) primary productivity. 
C) consumer productivity. 
D) gross productivity.

Question 7

During the 1960s, a group of scientists in the northeastern United States conducted an experiment at Hubbard Brook, New Hampshire.A 38-acre watershed was completely deforested and the runoff (water flow) monitored for several years.It was compared to an adjacent watershed that was left untouched.The scientists collected data during those years and found

Accepted Answer

A) no difference in the amount of runoff from the two areas. 
B) an insignificant difference in the amount of nitrogen from the two areas. 
C) a tremendous increase in the total amount of runoff from Hubbard Brook although the loss of nitrogen was fairly consistent in both areas. 
D) a tremendous increase in the amount of runoff and nitrogen release from Hubbard Brook compared to the control. 
A) no difference in the amount of runoff from the two areas. 
B) an insignificant difference in the amount of nitrogen from the two areas. 
C) a tremendous increase in the total amount of runoff from Hubbard Brook although the loss of nitrogen was fairly consistent in both areas. 
D) a tremendous increase in the amount of runoff and nitrogen release from Hubbard Brook compared to the control.

Question 8

Energy enters most ecosystems by the process of

Accepted Answer

A) biosynthesis. 
B) respiration. 
C) biogeochemical weathering. 
D) photosynthesis. 
A) biosynthesis. 
B) respiration. 
C) biogeochemical weathering. 
D) photosynthesis.

Question 9

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid, which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A) phytoplankton 
B) zooplankton 
C) primary carnivores (sardines) 
D) secondary carnivores (tuna) 
A) phytoplankton 
B) zooplankton 
C) primary carnivores (sardines) 
D) secondary carnivores (tuna)

Question 10

In an ecosystem

Accepted Answer

A) both energy and nutrients cycle. 
B) energy flows and nutrients cycle. 
C) energy cycles and nutrients flow. 
D) both energy and nutrients flow. 
A) both energy and nutrients cycle. 
B) energy flows and nutrients cycle. 
C) energy cycles and nutrients flow. 
D) both energy and nutrients flow.

Question 11

Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthisinfernalis) are deep-sea cephalopods with features similar to both octopus and squid.Extensive video recordings show the diet of the vampire squid consists of items like crustacean remains and fecal pellets.Which of the following terms describes the position of the vampire squid in the deep-sea trophic pyramid?

Accepted Answer

A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore 
E) detritivore 
A) herbivore 
B) primary producer 
C) primary carnivore 
D) secondary carnivore 
E) detritivore

Question 12

Over tropical rainforest areas, approximately 90% of the water that reaches the atmosphere comes from

Accepted Answer

A) animal metabolism. 
B) animal perspiration. 
C) plant transpiration. 
D) plant absorption. 
A) animal metabolism. 
B) animal perspiration. 
C) plant transpiration. 
D) plant absorption.

Question 13

The form of nitrogen most likely to be absorbed from the soil by plants is

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogenous wastes. 
B) nucleic acids. 
C) nitrogen gas. 
D) nitrous oxide gas. 
E) nitrite/nitrate ions. 
A) nitrogenous wastes. 
B) nucleic acids. 
C) nitrogen gas. 
D) nitrous oxide gas. 
E) nitrite/nitrate ions.

Question 14

Which of the following atmospheric gas is changing the global climate?

Accepted Answer

A) ozone 
B) water vapor 
C) carbon dioxide 
D) hydrogen 
A) ozone 
B) water vapor 
C) carbon dioxide 
D) hydrogen

Question 15

In an aquatic ecosystem, a secondary carnivore is temporarily excluded and then, after a period of time, is returned.Which one of the following is NOT an expected top-down effect after it is returned?

Accepted Answer

A) Primary carnivores become less abundant. 
B) Primary productivity increases. 
C) Algae decrease. 
D) Herbivores become more abundant. 
A) Primary carnivores become less abundant. 
B) Primary productivity increases. 
C) Algae decrease. 
D) Herbivores become more abundant.

Question 16

A Viceroy caterpillar feeds on a leaf.One day's feeding consumes 1000 calories worth of leaves.50% of the calories are lost in its feces and 33% of the calories are used in cellular respiration.How many calories of the original intake are available to add to the caterpillar's biomass each day?

Accepted Answer

A) 830 calories 
B) 670 calories 
C) 500 calories 
D) 330 calories 
E) 170 calories 
A) 830 calories 
B) 670 calories 
C) 500 calories 
D) 330 calories 
E) 170 calories

Question 17

The tropics are known to have greater species diversity than the temperate zones.Which explanation for this phenomenon is the LEAST convincing?

Accepted Answer

A) Seasonal variability is less in the tropics. 
B) Niches are narrower in the tropics. 
C) Fewer predators in the tropics allow more prey species to flourish. 
D) Greater spatial heterogeneity in the tropics creates more niches. 
A) Seasonal variability is less in the tropics. 
B) Niches are narrower in the tropics. 
C) Fewer predators in the tropics allow more prey species to flourish. 
D) Greater spatial heterogeneity in the tropics creates more niches.

Question 18

Only about ____ of the sunlight falling on plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Accepted Answer

A) 1% 
B) 10% 
C) 25% 
D) 50% 
A) 1% 
B) 10% 
C) 25% 
D) 50%

Question 19

A(n) ________ is a permeable underground layer of rock, sand, and gravel saturated with groundwater.

Accepted Answer

A) natural spring 
B) aquifer 
C) hot spring 
D) submergence 
A) natural spring 
B) aquifer 
C) hot spring 
D) submergence

Question 20

In a food chain consisting of four trophic levels, if the energy present in the top level is 48 kcal/m2/yr, how much energy do you expect in herbivores? (Use an energy transfer rate of 10%.)

Accepted Answer

A) 4.8 kcal/m2/yr 
B) 48 kcal/m2/yr 
C) 480 kcal/m2/yr 
D) 4,800 kcal/m2/yr 
A) 4.8 kcal/m2/yr 
B) 48 kcal/m2/yr 
C) 480 kcal/m2/yr 
D) 4,800 kcal/m2/yr

Exam 57: Dynamics of Ecosystems

A wolf that feeds on moose and elk would be classified within which trophic level?

Which one of the following factors would NOT influence the productivity of an ocean community?

A ____________ cycle is a cyclic path that involves both biological and chemical processes of an ecosystem.

Heterotrophs must obtain organic molecules that have been synthesized by

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) is a tiny Australian marsupial that feeds entirely on nectar.Which of the following terms describes the role of a honey possum in its ecosystem?

The rate of production of new biomass by heterotrophs is called

Energy enters most ecosystems by the process of

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid, which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

In an ecosystem

Over tropical rainforest areas, approximately 90% of the water that reaches the atmosphere comes from

The form of nitrogen most likely to be absorbed from the soil by plants is

Which of the following atmospheric gas is changing the global climate?

In an aquatic ecosystem, a secondary carnivore is temporarily excluded and then, after a period of time, is returned.Which one of the following is NOT an expected top-down effect after it is returned?

A Viceroy caterpillar feeds on a leaf.One day's feeding consumes 1000 calories worth of leaves.50% of the calories are lost in its feces and 33% of the calories are used in cellular respiration.How many calories of the original intake are available to add to the caterpillar's biomass each day?

The tropics are known to have greater species diversity than the temperate zones.Which explanation for this phenomenon is the LEAST convincing?

Only about ____ of the sunlight falling on plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

A(n) ________ is a permeable underground layer of rock, sand, and gravel saturated with groundwater.

In a food chain consisting of four trophic levels, if the energy present in the top level is 48 kcal/m2/yr, how much energy do you expect in herbivores? (Use an energy transfer rate of 10%.)

The Science of Biology

The Nature of Molecules and the Properties of Water

The Chemical Building Blocks of Life

Cell Structure

Membranes

Energy and Metabolism

How Cells Harvest Energy

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

How Cells Divide

Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes, Mapping, and the Meiosis-Inheritance Connection

Dna: the Genetic Material

Genes and How They Work

Control of Gene Expression

Biotechnology

Genomics

Cellular Mechanisms of Development

Genes Within Populations

The Evidence for Evolution

The Origin of Species

Systematics, Phylogenies, and Comparative Biology

Genome Evolution

Evolution of Development

The Origin and Diversity of Life

Viruses

Prokaryotes

Protists

Seedless Plants

Seed Plants

Fungi

Animal Diversity and the Evolution of Body Plans

Protostomes

Deuterostomes

Plant Form

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition and Soils

Plant Defense Responses

Sensory Systems in Plants

Plant Reproduction

The Animal Body and Principles of Regulation

The Nervous System

Sensory Systems

The Endocrine System

The Musculoskeletal System

The Digestive System

The Respiratory System

The Circulatory System

Osmotic Regulation and the Urinary System

The Immune System

The Reproductive System

Animal Development

Behavioral Biology

Ecology of Individuals and Populations

Community Ecology

The Biosphere

Conservation Biology

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