Question 1

Which statement reflects a key concept about ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Matter moves linearly through different systems, both abiotic and biotic, within an ecosystem. 
B)  There is a one-way flow of energy through the food webs of ecosystems. 
C)  Conservation should focus on the success and survival of individual species. 
D)  The abiotic environment does not influence the distribution and survival of particular organisms. 
E)  Heat energy can be used by organisms for their daily activities. 
A)  Matter moves linearly through different systems, both abiotic and biotic, within an ecosystem. 
B)  There is a one-way flow of energy through the food webs of ecosystems. 
C)  Conservation should focus on the success and survival of individual species. 
D)  The abiotic environment does not influence the distribution and survival of particular organisms. 
E)  Heat energy can be used by organisms for their daily activities.

Question 2

Transpiration is most closely associated with:

Accepted Answer

A)  the atmosphere. 
B)  terrestrial plants. 
C)  the ocean. 
D)  groundwater. 
E)  bacteria. 
A)  the atmosphere. 
B)  terrestrial plants. 
C)  the ocean. 
D)  groundwater. 
E)  bacteria.

Question 3

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is oxygen . 
____________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The primary reason that Earth experiences seasons is because of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's rotation. 
B)  Earth's orbit. 
C)  Earth's tilt on its axis. 
D)  unequal thickness of the Earth's atmosphere. 
E)  different layers of the Earth's atmosphere. 
A)  Earth's rotation. 
B)  Earth's orbit. 
C)  Earth's tilt on its axis. 
D)  unequal thickness of the Earth's atmosphere. 
E)  different layers of the Earth's atmosphere.

Question 5

What key factor limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  maximum solar radiation 
B)  energy loss 
C)  herbivore size 
D)  predator size 
E)  climate 
A)  maximum solar radiation 
B)  energy loss 
C)  herbivore size 
D)  predator size 
E)  climate

Question 6

Which statement about decomposers is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  They act with detritivores to break down and recycle organic matter. 
B)  They are microbial heterotrophs. 
C)  They include bacteria but not fungi. 
D)  They use the products of decomposition to supply themselves with energy. 
E)  They are also called saprotrophs. 
A)  They act with detritivores to break down and recycle organic matter. 
B)  They are microbial heterotrophs. 
C)  They include bacteria but not fungi. 
D)  They use the products of decomposition to supply themselves with energy. 
E)  They are also called saprotrophs.

Question 7

Nitrogen is a critical requirement for living organisms because it is a component of:

Accepted Answer

A)  carbohydrates and lipids. 
B)  carbohydrates. 
C)  lipids and nucleic acids. 
D)  nucleic acids and proteins. 
E)  nucleic acids and carbohydrates. 
A)  carbohydrates and lipids. 
B)  carbohydrates. 
C)  lipids and nucleic acids. 
D)  nucleic acids and proteins. 
E)  nucleic acids and carbohydrates.

Question 8

Figure 55-1   The accompanying figure represents a:

Accepted Answer

A)  fairly simple food web. 
B)  fairly simple food chain. 
C)  pyramid of biomass. 
D)  pyramid of energy. 
E)  pyramid of numbers. 
A)  fairly simple food web. 
B)  fairly simple food chain. 
C)  pyramid of biomass. 
D)  pyramid of energy. 
E)  pyramid of numbers.

Question 9

Figure 55-2   The accompanying figure is a good illustration of:

Accepted Answer

A)  bioconcentration. 
B)  biological magnification. 
C)  persistence. 
D)  narrow-spectrum botanicals. 
E)  the pesticide treadmill. 
A)  bioconcentration. 
B)  biological magnification. 
C)  persistence. 
D)  narrow-spectrum botanicals. 
E)  the pesticide treadmill.

Question 10

Four of the five answers listed below reflect how humans have disturbed the balance of the global nitrogen cycle. Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  use of fertilizer 
B)  combustion of fossil fuels 
C)  airplane travel 
D)  coal-fired power plants 
E)  overuse of refrigerants 
A)  use of fertilizer 
B)  combustion of fossil fuels 
C)  airplane travel 
D)  coal-fired power plants 
E)  overuse of refrigerants

Question 11

The event in human history that changed the natural balance of the carbon cycle was the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Industrial Revolution 
B)  Agricultural Revolution 
C)  evolution of primates 
D)  invention of farming 
E)  invention of the telegraph 
A)  Industrial Revolution 
B)  Agricultural Revolution 
C)  evolution of primates 
D)  invention of farming 
E)  invention of the telegraph

Question 12

What is an ENSO event and what conditions contribute to its occurrence? What effect does an ENSO event have on the global environment, and how does it manage to have such far-reaching impacts?

Accepted Answer

Concepts to Consider: ENSO events result

Question 13

A linear depiction of energy flow in an ecosystem is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  food web. 
B)  food chain. 
C)  trophic web. 
D)  ecological pyramid. 
E)  pyramid of numbers. 
A)  food web. 
B)  food chain. 
C)  trophic web. 
D)  ecological pyramid. 
E)  pyramid of numbers.

Question 14

Denitrifying bacteria:

Accepted Answer

A)  make nitrogen available for assimilation. 
B)  decompose organic nitrogen compounds into nitrate. 
C)  decompose organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia. 
D)  fix nitrogen into ammonia. 
E)  convert nitrate into atmospheric nitrogen. 
A)  make nitrogen available for assimilation. 
B)  decompose organic nitrogen compounds into nitrate. 
C)  decompose organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia. 
D)  fix nitrogen into ammonia. 
E)  convert nitrate into atmospheric nitrogen.

Question 15

Describe and diagram the carbon cycle. Include the terms photosynthesis; plant and animal respiration; soil microorganism respiration; and decomposition. Indicate how human combustion activities upset the natural balance of the carbon cycle.

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis provides a source of oxyg

Question 16

Net primary productivity represents:

Accepted Answer

A)  the rate at which energy is captured during photosynthesis. 
B)  the amount of biomass in excess of that needed to support plant cell respiration. 
C)  the amount of carbon dioxide produced by plants. 
D)  plant reproduction per unit area per unit time. 
E)  energy production in an area per unit time. 
A)  the rate at which energy is captured during photosynthesis. 
B)  the amount of biomass in excess of that needed to support plant cell respiration. 
C)  the amount of carbon dioxide produced by plants. 
D)  plant reproduction per unit area per unit time. 
E)  energy production in an area per unit time.

Question 17

Algae and cyanobacteria are examples of primary producers . 
____________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What ecosystem has the highest rate of primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  savanna 
B)  agricultural land 
C)  algal beds and reefs 
D)  boreal forest 
E)  tropical rain forest 
A)  savanna 
B)  agricultural land 
C)  algal beds and reefs 
D)  boreal forest 
E)  tropical rain forest

Question 19

Gross primary productivity is the rate of photosynthesis minus the rate of plant respiration. 
____________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

To date, humans have interfered with all of the biogeochemical cycles on Earth, but this interference has been of the greatest magnitude, in terms of human-induced changes in climate, in the:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrologic cycle. 
B)  nitrogen cycle. 
C)  carbon cycle. 
D)  sulfur cycle. 
E)  phosphorus cycle. 
A)  hydrologic cycle. 
B)  nitrogen cycle. 
C)  carbon cycle. 
D)  sulfur cycle. 
E)  phosphorus cycle.

Exam 55: Ecosystems and the Biosphere

Which statement reflects a key concept about ecosystems?

Transpiration is most closely associated with:

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is oxygen . ____________________

The primary reason that Earth experiences seasons is because of the:

What key factor limits the number of trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Which statement about decomposers is FALSE?

Nitrogen is a critical requirement for living organisms because it is a component of:

Figure 55-1 The accompanying figure represents a:

Figure 55-2 The accompanying figure is a good illustration of:

Four of the five answers listed below reflect how humans have disturbed the balance of the global nitrogen cycle. Which is the exception?

The event in human history that changed the natural balance of the carbon cycle was the:

What is an ENSO event and what conditions contribute to its occurrence? What effect does an ENSO event have on the global environment, and how does it manage to have such far-reaching impacts?

A linear depiction of energy flow in an ecosystem is a(n):

Denitrifying bacteria:

Describe and diagram the carbon cycle. Include the terms photosynthesis; plant and animal respiration; soil microorganism respiration; and decomposition. Indicate how human combustion activities upset the natural balance of the carbon cycle.

Net primary productivity represents:

Algae and cyanobacteria are examples of primary producers . ____________________

What ecosystem has the highest rate of primary productivity?

Gross primary productivity is the rate of photosynthesis minus the rate of plant respiration. ____________________

To date, humans have interfered with all of the biogeochemical cycles on Earth, but this interference has been of the greatest magnitude, in terms of human-induced changes in climate, in the:

A View of Life

Atoms and Molecules the Chemical Basis of Life

The Chemistry of Life Organic Compounds

Organization of the Cell

Biological Membranes

Cell Communication

Energy and Metabolism

How Cells Make Atp Energy-Releasing Pathways

Photosynthesis Capturing Light Energy

Chromosomes, Mitosis, and Meiosis

The Basic Principles of Heredity

Dna the Carrier of Genetic Information

Gene Expression

Gene Regulation

Dna Technology and Genomics

Human Genetics and the Human Genome

Developmental Genetics

Introduction to Darwinian Evolution

Evolutionary Change in Populations

Speciation and Macroevolution

The Origin and Evolutionary History of Life

The Evolution of Primates

Understanding Diversity Systematics

Viruses and Subviral Agents

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Seedless Plants

Seed Plants

The Fungi

An Introduction to Animal Diversity

Sponges, Cnidarians, Ctenophores, and Protostomes

The Deuterostomes

Plant Structure Growth and Development

Leaf Structure and Function

Stem Structure and Transport

Roots and Mineral Nutrition

Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Plant Developmental Responses to External and Internal Signals

Animal Structure and Function an Introduction

Protection Support and Movement

Neural Signaling

Neural Regulation

Sensory Systems

Internal Transport

The Immune System Internal Defense

Gas Exchange

Processing Food and Nutrition

Osmoregulation and Disposal of Metabolic Wastes

Endocrine Regulation

Reproduction

Animal Development

Animal Behavior

Introduction to Ecology Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecology and the Geography of Life

Biological Diversity and Conservation Biology

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