Question 1

Which trophic level is most vulnerable to extinction?

Accepted Answer

A)  producer level 
B)  primary consumer level 
C)  secondary consumer level 
D)  tertiary consumer level 
E)  decomposer level 
A)  producer level 
B)  primary consumer level 
C)  secondary consumer level 
D)  tertiary consumer level 
E)  decomposer level D

Question 2

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month. While you are collecting data, a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration. What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Accepted Answer

A)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed in plant material by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and add that amount to the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
B)  Find out how much nitrogen is eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and subtract that amount from the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
C)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed and eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period and multiply this number by 100; enter this +/- value into the nitrogen budget of the ecosystem. 
D)  Do nothing. The Canada geese visitation to the lake would have negligible impact on the nitrogen budget of the pond. 
E)  Put a net over the pond so that no more migrating flocks can land on the pond and alter the nitrogen balance of the pond. 
A)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed in plant material by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and add that amount to the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
B)  Find out how much nitrogen is eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and subtract that amount from the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
C)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed and eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period and multiply this number by 100; enter this +/- value into the nitrogen budget of the ecosystem. 
D)  Do nothing. The Canada geese visitation to the lake would have negligible impact on the nitrogen budget of the pond. 
E)  Put a net over the pond so that no more migrating flocks can land on the pond and alter the nitrogen balance of the pond. C

Question 3

Photosynthetic organisms are unique to most ecosystems because they

Accepted Answer

A)  synthesize organic compounds they obtain from decaying heterotrophs. 
B)  synthesize inorganic compounds from organic compounds. 
C)  use light energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
D)  use chemical energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
E)  convert light energy into matter. 
A)  synthesize organic compounds they obtain from decaying heterotrophs. 
B)  synthesize inorganic compounds from organic compounds. 
C)  use light energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
D)  use chemical energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
E)  convert light energy into matter. C

Question 4

Trophic efficiency is

Accepted Answer

A)  the ratio of net secondary production to assimilation of primary production. 
B)  the percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next. 
C)  a measure of how nutrients are cycled from one trophic level to the next. 
D)  usually greater than production efficiencies. 
E)  about 90% in most ecosystems. 
A)  the ratio of net secondary production to assimilation of primary production. 
B)  the percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next. 
C)  a measure of how nutrients are cycled from one trophic level to the next. 
D)  usually greater than production efficiencies. 
E)  about 90% in most ecosystems.

Question 5

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrite (NO₂)?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4

Question 6

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems, yet net primary productivity per square meter is relatively low?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oceans contain greater concentrations of nutrients compared to other ecosystems. 
B)  Oceans receive a lesser amount of solar energy per unit area. 
C)  Oceans have the largest area of all the ecosystems on Earth. 
D)  Ocean ecosystems have less species diversity. 
E)  Oceanic producers are generally much smaller than oceanic consumers. 
A)  Oceans contain greater concentrations of nutrients compared to other ecosystems. 
B)  Oceans receive a lesser amount of solar energy per unit area. 
C)  Oceans have the largest area of all the ecosystems on Earth. 
D)  Ocean ecosystems have less species diversity. 
E)  Oceanic producers are generally much smaller than oceanic consumers.

Question 7

Diagram of a food web (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-If the figure above represents a marine food web, the smallest organism might be

Accepted Answer

A)  A. 
B)  F. 
C)  C. 
D)  I. 
E)  E. 
A)  A. 
B)  F. 
C)  C. 
D)  I. 
E)  E.

Question 8

As big as it is, the ocean is nutrient-limited. If you wanted to investigate this, one reasonable approach would be to

Accepted Answer

A)  follow whale migrations in order to determine where most nutrients are located. 
B)  observe Antarctic Ocean productivity from year to year to see if it changes. 
C)  experimentally enrich some areas of the ocean and compare their productivity to that of untreated areas. 
D)  compare nutrient concentrations between the photic zone and the benthic zone in various marine locations. 
E)  contrast nutrient uptake by autotrophs in marine locations that are different temperatures. 
A)  follow whale migrations in order to determine where most nutrients are located. 
B)  observe Antarctic Ocean productivity from year to year to see if it changes. 
C)  experimentally enrich some areas of the ocean and compare their productivity to that of untreated areas. 
D)  compare nutrient concentrations between the photic zone and the benthic zone in various marine locations. 
E)  contrast nutrient uptake by autotrophs in marine locations that are different temperatures.

Question 9

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7 
A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7

Question 10

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for carbon for the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere 
B)  sediments and sedimentary rocks 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  all of the above 
A)  atmosphere 
B)  sediments and sedimentary rocks 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  all of the above

Question 11

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

Accepted Answer

A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Predators have short life spans and short reproductive periods. 
E)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites. 
A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Predators have short life spans and short reproductive periods. 
E)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites.

Question 12

In a typical grassland community, which of the following has the smallest biomass?

Accepted Answer

A)  hawk 
B)  snake 
C)  shrew 
D)  grasshopper 
E)  grass 
A)  hawk 
B)  snake 
C)  shrew 
D)  grasshopper 
E)  grass

Question 13

Which of the following properly links the nutrient to its reservoir?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen-ionic nitrogen in the soil 
B)  water-atmospheric water vapor 
C)  carbon-dissolved CO₂ in aquatic ecosystems 
D)  phosphorous-sedimentary rocks 
E)  All of the options are correct. 
A)  nitrogen-ionic nitrogen in the soil 
B)  water-atmospheric water vapor 
C)  carbon-dissolved CO₂ in aquatic ecosystems 
D)  phosphorous-sedimentary rocks 
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 14

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging. 
E)  Nutrients evaporate easily into the atmosphere in the post-logged forest. 
A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging. 
E)  Nutrients evaporate easily into the atmosphere in the post-logged forest.

Question 15

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7 
A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7

Question 16

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere 
B)  sedimentary bedrock 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  soil 
A)  atmosphere 
B)  sedimentary bedrock 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  soil

Question 17

Owls eat rats, mice, shrews, and small birds. Assume that, over a period of time, an owl consumes 5,000 J of animal material. The owl loses 2,300 J in feces and owl pellets and uses 2,500 J for cellular respiration. What is the primary efficiency of this owl?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.02% 
B)  1% 
C)  4% 
D)  10% 
E)  40% 
A)  0.02% 
B)  1% 
C)  4% 
D)  10% 
E)  40%

Question 18

Which of the following organisms is incorrectly paired with its trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A)  cyanobacterium-primary producer 
B)  grasshopper-primary consumer 
C)  zooplankton-primary producer 
D)  eagle-tertiary consumer 
E)  fungus-detritivore 
A)  cyanobacterium-primary producer 
B)  grasshopper-primary consumer 
C)  zooplankton-primary producer 
D)  eagle-tertiary consumer 
E)  fungus-detritivore

Question 19

How is net ecosystem production (NEP)typically estimated in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  the ratio of producers to consumers 
B)  the amount of heat energy released by the ecosystem 
C)  the net flux of CO₂ or O₂ in or out of an ecosystem 
D)  the rate of decomposition by detrivores 
E)  the annual total of incoming solar radiation per unit of area 
A)  the ratio of producers to consumers 
B)  the amount of heat energy released by the ecosystem 
C)  the net flux of CO₂ or O₂ in or out of an ecosystem 
D)  the rate of decomposition by detrivores 
E)  the annual total of incoming solar radiation per unit of area

Question 20

Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Which species is most likely a decomposer on this food web?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Which trophic level is most vulnerable to extinction?

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month. While you are collecting data, a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration. What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Photosynthetic organisms are unique to most ecosystems because they

Trophic efficiency is

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrite (NO₂)?

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems, yet net primary productivity per square meter is relatively low?

Diagram of a food web (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -If the figure above represents a marine food web, the smallest organism might be

As big as it is, the ocean is nutrient-limited. If you wanted to investigate this, one reasonable approach would be to

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for carbon for the carbon cycle?

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

In a typical grassland community, which of the following has the smallest biomass?

Which of the following properly links the nutrient to its reservoir?

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

Owls eat rats, mice, shrews, and small birds. Assume that, over a period of time, an owl consumes 5,000 J of animal material. The owl loses 2,300 J in feces and owl pellets and uses 2,500 J for cellular respiration. What is the primary efficiency of this owl?

Which of the following organisms is incorrectly paired with its trophic level?

How is net ecosystem production (NEP)typically estimated in ecosystems?

Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Which species is most likely a decomposer on this food web?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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