Question 1

Grasslands have a lower herbivore biomass than deserts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

Net productivity can be measured as

Accepted Answer

A)  numbers of herbivores. 
B)  biomass of detritivores. 
C)  energy stored in biomass. 
D)  sunlight striking an area of the planet. 
E)  None of these choices are correct. 
A)  numbers of herbivores. 
B)  biomass of detritivores. 
C)  energy stored in biomass. 
D)  sunlight striking an area of the planet. 
E)  None of these choices are correct. C

Question 3

What organisms are important nitrogen fixers in aquatic ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  diatoms 
B)  cyanobacteria 
C)  algae 
D)  rhizobial fungi 
E)  symbiotic coral animals 
A)  diatoms 
B)  cyanobacteria 
C)  algae 
D)  rhizobial fungi 
E)  symbiotic coral animals B

Question 4

The total biomass in an ecosystem at any one point in time is the

Accepted Answer

A)  standing crop. 
B)  gross primary production. 
C)  net primary production. 
D)  None of these choices are correct. 
E)  pyramid of energy. 
A)  standing crop. 
B)  gross primary production. 
C)  net primary production. 
D)  None of these choices are correct. 
E)  pyramid of energy.

Question 5

Which global elemental cycle is most heavily influenced by human activities?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  water 
C)  sulfur 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  None of these choices are correct. 
A)  carbon 
B)  water 
C)  sulfur 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  None of these choices are correct.

Question 6

In subarctic saltmarshes, the addition of phosphorus has no effect on productivity but additional nitrogen will increase productivity. In this example, nitrogen is a

Accepted Answer

A)  stimulant of evapotranspiration. 
B)  precursor to phosphorus. 
C)  biomagnifying factor. 
D)  limiting factor. 
E)  lipid solvent. 
A)  stimulant of evapotranspiration. 
B)  precursor to phosphorus. 
C)  biomagnifying factor. 
D)  limiting factor. 
E)  lipid solvent.

Question 7

Phytoplankton consume zooplankton.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of these is a heterotroph?

Accepted Answer

A)  a phytoplanktonic diatom 
B)  a moss plant 
C)  an oak tree 
D)  a corn plant 
E)  a fish 
A)  a phytoplanktonic diatom 
B)  a moss plant 
C)  an oak tree 
D)  a corn plant 
E)  a fish

Question 9

The giant interconnected global ecosystem is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  community. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  panspermic possibility. 
D)  ecosphere. 
E)  trophic web. 
A)  community. 
B)  biosphere. 
C)  panspermic possibility. 
D)  ecosphere. 
E)  trophic web.

Question 10

What is the current concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  100 parts per million 
B)  140 parts per million 
C)  42 parts per thousand 
D)  380 parts per million 
E)  1150 parts per million 
A)  100 parts per million 
B)  140 parts per million 
C)  42 parts per thousand 
D)  380 parts per million 
E)  1150 parts per million

Question 11

In most food webs, chain lengths are

Accepted Answer

A)  complex. 
B)  long. 
C)  short. 
D)  sixteen. 
E)  two. 
A)  complex. 
B)  long. 
C)  short. 
D)  sixteen. 
E)  two.

Question 12

If a forested area surrounding a stream is cleared of trees, what has been found to happen to the stream?

Accepted Answer

A)  export of nutrients from the soil 
B)  greater rates of soil and rock weathering 
C)  increased run-off of water from the soil to the stream 
D)  greater rates of chemical leaching from the soil to the water 
E)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  export of nutrients from the soil 
B)  greater rates of soil and rock weathering 
C)  increased run-off of water from the soil to the stream 
D)  greater rates of chemical leaching from the soil to the water 
E)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 13

Biomagnification of chemicals such as DDT results in lower trophic levels becoming enriched in these chemicals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Annual net primary productivity

Accepted Answer

A)  is equal on all continents. 
B)  generally increases from the equator to the poles. 
C)  is greatest in the open ocean. 
D)  is usually higher in warm areas. 
E)  None of these choices are correct. 
A)  is equal on all continents. 
B)  generally increases from the equator to the poles. 
C)  is greatest in the open ocean. 
D)  is usually higher in warm areas. 
E)  None of these choices are correct.

Question 15

Primary production is generally highest in

Accepted Answer

A)  taiga. 
B)  temperate rain forests. 
C)  temperate oceans. 
D)  tropical rain forests. 
E)  tropical oceans. 
A)  taiga. 
B)  temperate rain forests. 
C)  temperate oceans. 
D)  tropical rain forests. 
E)  tropical oceans.

Question 16

Stilling and Drake have conducted experiments about what, if any, effects that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide might have on insect herbivory of plants. What did they find?

Accepted Answer

A)  elevated plant growth but no change in insect herbivory 
B)  no change in plant growth but elevated insect herbivory 
C)  elevated plant growth but reduced insect herbivory 
D)  elevated release of carbon dioxide by plants subject to insect herbivory 
E)  no change in both plant growth and insect herbivory 
A)  elevated plant growth but no change in insect herbivory 
B)  no change in plant growth but elevated insect herbivory 
C)  elevated plant growth but reduced insect herbivory 
D)  elevated release of carbon dioxide by plants subject to insect herbivory 
E)  no change in both plant growth and insect herbivory

Question 17

Most evapotranspiration occurs from the sea.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

What is production efficiency?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rate of photosynthetic fixation as a function of temperature. 
B)  The percentage of energy assimilated by an organism that becomes new biomass. 
C)  The amount of energy used by organisms at every node of a food web. 
D)  Consumption of primary production by the second and third levels of a food web. 
E)  The net gain to an ecosystem based on photosynthetic production. 
A)  The rate of photosynthetic fixation as a function of temperature. 
B)  The percentage of energy assimilated by an organism that becomes new biomass. 
C)  The amount of energy used by organisms at every node of a food web. 
D)  Consumption of primary production by the second and third levels of a food web. 
E)  The net gain to an ecosystem based on photosynthetic production.

Question 19

Production efficiency is _______ in ectotherms than in endotherms.

Accepted Answer

A)  higher 
B)  lower 
C)  the same 
D)  more often zero 
E)  fine 
A)  higher 
B)  lower 
C)  the same 
D)  more often zero 
E)  fine

Question 20

How does energy enter a food chain through primary producers?

Accepted Answer

A)  The energy comes from detriivores. 
B)  The energy enters through photosynthesis. 
C)  Primary producers receive energy from secondary consumers. 
D)  The energy is made available through heterotrophs. 
E)  Primary producers can make the energy. 
A)  The energy comes from detriivores. 
B)  The energy enters through photosynthesis. 
C)  Primary producers receive energy from secondary consumers. 
D)  The energy is made available through heterotrophs. 
E)  Primary producers can make the energy.

Exam 59: Ecosystems Ecology

Grasslands have a lower herbivore biomass than deserts.

Net productivity can be measured as

What organisms are important nitrogen fixers in aquatic ecosystems?

The total biomass in an ecosystem at any one point in time is the

Which global elemental cycle is most heavily influenced by human activities?

In subarctic saltmarshes, the addition of phosphorus has no effect on productivity but additional nitrogen will increase productivity. In this example, nitrogen is a

Phytoplankton consume zooplankton.

Which of these is a heterotroph?

The giant interconnected global ecosystem is called the

What is the current concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

In most food webs, chain lengths are

If a forested area surrounding a stream is cleared of trees, what has been found to happen to the stream?

Biomagnification of chemicals such as DDT results in lower trophic levels becoming enriched in these chemicals.

Annual net primary productivity

Primary production is generally highest in

Stilling and Drake have conducted experiments about what, if any, effects that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide might have on insect herbivory of plants. What did they find?

Most evapotranspiration occurs from the sea.

What is production efficiency?

Production efficiency is _______ in ectotherms than in endotherms.

How does energy enter a food chain through primary producers?

An Introduction to Biology

The Chemical Basis of Life I: Atoms, Molecules, and Water

The Chemical Basis of Life II: Organic Molecules

General Features of Cells

Membrane Structure, Synthesis, and Transport

An Introduction to Energy, Enzymes, and Metabolism

Cellular Respiration, Fermentation, and Secondary Metabolism

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

Multicellularity

Nucleic Acid Structure, DNA Replication, and Chromosome Structure

Gene Expression at the Molecular Level

Gene Regulation

Mutation, DNA Repair, and Cancer

The Eukaryotic Cell Cycle, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Simple Patterns of Inheritance

Complex Patterns of Inheritance

Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria

Developmental Genetics

Genetic Technology

Genomes, Proteomes, and Bioinformatics

The Origin and History of Life

An Introduction to Evolution

Population Genetics

Origin of Species and Macroevolution

Taxonomy and Systematics

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plants and the Conquest of Land

The Evolution and Diversity of Modern Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

Fungi

An Introduction to Animal Diversity

The Invertebrates

The Vertebrates

An Introduction to Flowering Plant Form and Function

Flowering Plants: Behavior

Flowering Plants: Nutrition

Flowering Plants: Transport

Flowering Plants: Reproduction

Introduction to Animal Form and Function

Neuroscience I: Cells of the Nervous System

Neuroscience Ii: Evolution and Function of the Brain and Nervous Systems

Neuroscience Iii: Sensory Systems

The Muscular-Skeletal System and Locomotion

Nutrition, Digestion, and Absorption

Control of Energy Balance, Metabolic Rate, and Body Temperature

Circulatory Systems

Respiratory Systems

Excretory Systems and Salt and Water Balance

Endocrine Systems

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Immune Systems

An Introduction to Ecology and Biomes

Behavioral Ecology

Population Ecology

Species Interactions

Community Ecology

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology