Question 1

As successional changes occur in an ecosystem,new species take advantage of new conditions.Where do these new species come from?

Accepted Answer

A) They evolve from other species in the immediate region. 
B) They come from surrounding ecosystems in other stages of succession. 
C) They are planted by forest rangers managing these forest ecosystems. 
D) The seeds of the new species are carried in by large streams and rivers. 
A) They evolve from other species in the immediate region. 
B) They come from surrounding ecosystems in other stages of succession. 
C) They are planted by forest rangers managing these forest ecosystems. 
D) The seeds of the new species are carried in by large streams and rivers. B

Question 2

The natural succession of a small farm pond will tend to

Accepted Answer

A) increase the total amount of shoreline. 
B) increase the depth of the pond. 
C) increase the amount of water in the pond. 
D) increase sediment depth and make the pond more likely to freeze solid in the winter. 
A) increase the total amount of shoreline. 
B) increase the depth of the pond. 
C) increase the amount of water in the pond. 
D) increase sediment depth and make the pond more likely to freeze solid in the winter. D

Question 3

What once was an open pasture on a long abandoned farm has changed over time,without the direct influence of humans.After the cattle had been removed,shrubs and bushes could be seen dotting the grass-covered hillsides.A few years later,small pine trees and then larger deciduous trees appeared.Now,there are so many trees and shaded regions it is difficult to tell that this was once a field.
-These ecological changes in the abandoned pasture represent

Accepted Answer

A) aquatic to terrestrial succession. 
B) primary succession. 
C) intermediate succession. 
D) secondary succession. 
A) aquatic to terrestrial succession. 
B) primary succession. 
C) intermediate succession. 
D) secondary succession. D

Question 4

What once was an open pasture on a long abandoned farm has changed over time,without the direct influence of humans.After the cattle had been removed,shrubs and bushes could be seen dotting the grass-covered hillsides.A few years later,small pine trees and then larger deciduous trees appeared.Now,there are so many trees and shaded regions it is difficult to tell that this was once a field.
-In this wooded region that was once pasture,a mature forest of towering oaks and hickory trees has taken over.However,change is still apparent,as a large patch of young shrubs and small trees are growing where several large trees were toppled by a storm several years ago.Collectively,this wooded region represents

Accepted Answer

A) a climax ecosystem. 
B) primary succession. 
C) a sustained biome. 
D) intermediate succession. 
A) a climax ecosystem. 
B) primary succession. 
C) a sustained biome. 
D) intermediate succession.

Question 5

The growing human population

Accepted Answer

A) is best addressed by the conversion of ecosystems to more direct human uses. 
B) requires the management of ecosystems to better serve the needs of humans. 
C) will increase the need for ecosystem services. 
D) will require an increase in forests and a decrease in agricultural land. 
A) is best addressed by the conversion of ecosystems to more direct human uses. 
B) requires the management of ecosystems to better serve the needs of humans. 
C) will increase the need for ecosystem services. 
D) will require an increase in forests and a decrease in agricultural land.

Question 6

Dung beetles feeding on the waste of cattle grazing on hay in a field represent

Accepted Answer

A) a decomposer feeding on the wastes of a consumer eating a producer. 
B) a producer feeding on the wastes of a producer eating a consumer. 
C) a producer feeding on the wastes of a consumer eating a producer. 
D) a consumer feeding on the wastes of a decomposer eating a producer. 
A) a decomposer feeding on the wastes of a consumer eating a producer. 
B) a producer feeding on the wastes of a producer eating a consumer. 
C) a producer feeding on the wastes of a consumer eating a producer. 
D) a consumer feeding on the wastes of a decomposer eating a producer.

Question 7

Environmental pollutants such as PCB's contaminate oceans and other aquatic systems.Plankton in the ocean become contaminated by PCB's and pass this along through the food chain.A pregnant woman has been cautioned to limit her consumption of food that may be high in PCBs.If she consumes food from a nearby contaminated ocean,we would expect that the most contaminated foods would be

Accepted Answer

A) shrimp. 
B) clams. 
C) fish that eat shrimp. 
D) kelp and other ocean plants. 
A) shrimp. 
B) clams. 
C) fish that eat shrimp. 
D) kelp and other ocean plants.

Question 8

In the aftermath of Mt.Pinotubo's eruption,local effects

Accepted Answer

A) included acid rain,erosion,and mudslides. 
B) subsided after a few days. 
C) on climate have produced numerous extinctions. 
D) on soils have left most of the Philippines without fertile soil. 
A) included acid rain,erosion,and mudslides. 
B) subsided after a few days. 
C) on climate have produced numerous extinctions. 
D) on soils have left most of the Philippines without fertile soil.

Question 9

Moss invades and establishes itself on bare rock,accumulating the beginnings of soil.After several years,enough soil has become established that grasses begin to grow where there was once bare rock.Without the moss building up soil,the grasses would have had no chance.
-The mosses changed the environment enough to permit grasses to grow in a process called

Accepted Answer

A) sublimation. 
B) facilitation. 
C) regeneration. 
D) improvisation. 
A) sublimation. 
B) facilitation. 
C) regeneration. 
D) improvisation.

Question 10

The National Ecosystem Observance Network (NEON)is a long-term study of ecosystems to help us understand the effects of

Accepted Answer

A) nutrient cycling in eroded soils. 
B) climate change and invasive species. 
C) primary succession on volcanic islands. 
D) efficiency of energy transfer between producers and consumers. 
A) nutrient cycling in eroded soils. 
B) climate change and invasive species. 
C) primary succession on volcanic islands. 
D) efficiency of energy transfer between producers and consumers.

Question 11

In 2010,Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted.One of the results was that

Accepted Answer

A) devastating erosion sculpted the land into large ravines. 
B) most cattle and horses were killed by toxic gases. 
C) grasses were covered by ash and were unfit for livestock to eat. 
D) parasitic diseases spread quickly through livestock populations. 
A) devastating erosion sculpted the land into large ravines. 
B) most cattle and horses were killed by toxic gases. 
C) grasses were covered by ash and were unfit for livestock to eat. 
D) parasitic diseases spread quickly through livestock populations.

Question 12

Which biome is characterized by the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) temperate deciduous forests 
B) temperate grasslands and prairies 
C) tropical rainforests 
D) tropical grasslands and prairies 
A) temperate deciduous forests 
B) temperate grasslands and prairies 
C) tropical rainforests 
D) tropical grasslands and prairies

Question 13

The most important outcome for ecosystem management is

Accepted Answer

A) ecological sustainability. 
B) economic productivity. 
C) recreational use of managed regions. 
D) opportunities to harvest natural resources. 
A) ecological sustainability. 
B) economic productivity. 
C) recreational use of managed regions. 
D) opportunities to harvest natural resources.

Question 14

The eruption of Mt.Pinatubo in the Philippines

Accepted Answer

A) affected only local,island ecosystems. 
B) produced large amounts of sulfur dioxide but few aerosols. 
C) produced aerosols that blocked the sun and resulted in a drop in global temperatures. 
D) caught the human populations unaware,giving no prior signs of activity. 
A) affected only local,island ecosystems. 
B) produced large amounts of sulfur dioxide but few aerosols. 
C) produced aerosols that blocked the sun and resulted in a drop in global temperatures. 
D) caught the human populations unaware,giving no prior signs of activity.

Question 15

Many polluted ecosystems will recover if we stop polluting them.This illustrates

Accepted Answer

A) loss of ecosystem capital. 
B) the essential role of keystone species in ecosystems. 
C) secondary succession. 
D) the natural resilience of ecosystems. 
A) loss of ecosystem capital. 
B) the essential role of keystone species in ecosystems. 
C) secondary succession. 
D) the natural resilience of ecosystems.

Question 16

Why are there so few ecosystems with more than four levels of consumers?

Accepted Answer

A) because biomass decreases by about 90% at each trophic level moving up 
B) because top consumers compete with and kill each other with increasing population size 
C) because consumers at these highest trophic levels typically form social groups that stop reproducing at high densities 
D) because predators at the highest trophic levels simply are not intelligent enough to hunt other top predators 
A) because biomass decreases by about 90% at each trophic level moving up 
B) because top consumers compete with and kill each other with increasing population size 
C) because consumers at these highest trophic levels typically form social groups that stop reproducing at high densities 
D) because predators at the highest trophic levels simply are not intelligent enough to hunt other top predators

Question 17

-Which of the following animals in this figure would be expected to require the largest area per individual animal?

Accepted Answer

A) rattlesnakes 
B) hawk 
C) rabbit 
D) coyote 
A) rattlesnakes 
B) hawk 
C) rabbit 
D) coyote

Question 18

Biomes with less than 25 centimeters (10 inches)of rain a year are

Accepted Answer

A) high in primary productivity. 
B) likely to have extremely cold winters. 
C) covered with coniferous trees. 
D) deserts. 
A) high in primary productivity. 
B) likely to have extremely cold winters. 
C) covered with coniferous trees. 
D) deserts.

Question 19

Biomes with permafrost are most likely

Accepted Answer

A) covered in coniferous forests at high latitudes. 
B) in temperate zones with deciduous trees. 
C) located near the poles and without any trees. 
D) located at high altitudes nearest the equator. 
A) covered in coniferous forests at high latitudes. 
B) in temperate zones with deciduous trees. 
C) located near the poles and without any trees. 
D) located at high altitudes nearest the equator.

Question 20

Which biome is characterized by permafrost?

Accepted Answer

A) tundra 
B) high latitude temperate forests 
C) cold deserts 
D) high latitude coniferous forests 
A) tundra 
B) high latitude temperate forests 
C) cold deserts 
D) high latitude coniferous forests

As successional changes occur in an ecosystem,new species take advantage of new conditions.Where do these new species come from?

The natural succession of a small farm pond will tend to

The growing human population

Dung beetles feeding on the waste of cattle grazing on hay in a field represent

In the aftermath of Mt.Pinotubo's eruption,local effects

The National Ecosystem Observance Network (NEON)is a long-term study of ecosystems to help us understand the effects of

In 2010,Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted.One of the results was that

Which biome is characterized by the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity?

The most important outcome for ecosystem management is

The eruption of Mt.Pinatubo in the Philippines

Many polluted ecosystems will recover if we stop polluting them.This illustrates

Why are there so few ecosystems with more than four levels of consumers?

-Which of the following animals in this figure would be expected to require the largest area per individual animal?

Biomes with less than 25 centimeters (10 inches)of rain a year are

Biomes with permafrost are most likely

Which biome is characterized by permafrost?

Science and the Environment

Economics, Politics, and Public Policy

Basic Needs of Living Things

Populations and Communities

Wild Species and Biodiversity

The Use and Restoration of Ecosystems

The Human Population

Population and Development

Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use

Soil: Foundation for Land Ecosystems

The Production and Distribution of Food

Pests and Pest Control

Energy From Fossil Fuels

Nuclear Power

Renewable Energy

Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Global Climate Change

Atmospheric Pollution

Water Pollution and Its Prevention

Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention

Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles

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Exam 5: Ecosystems: Energy, Patterns, and Disturbance

As successional changes occur in an ecosystem,new species take advantage of new conditions.Where do these new species come from?

The natural succession of a small farm pond will tend to

The growing human population

Dung beetles feeding on the waste of cattle grazing on hay in a field represent

In the aftermath of Mt.Pinotubo's eruption,local effects

The National Ecosystem Observance Network (NEON)is a long-term study of ecosystems to help us understand the effects of

In 2010,Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted.One of the results was that

Which biome is characterized by the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity?

The most important outcome for ecosystem management is

The eruption of Mt.Pinatubo in the Philippines

Many polluted ecosystems will recover if we stop polluting them.This illustrates

Why are there so few ecosystems with more than four levels of consumers?

-Which of the following animals in this figure would be expected to require the largest area per individual animal?

Biomes with less than 25 centimeters (10 inches)of rain a year are

Biomes with permafrost are most likely

Which biome is characterized by permafrost?

Science and the Environment

Economics, Politics, and Public Policy

Basic Needs of Living Things

Populations and Communities

Wild Species and Biodiversity

The Use and Restoration of Ecosystems

The Human Population

Population and Development

Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use

Soil: Foundation for Land Ecosystems

The Production and Distribution of Food

Pests and Pest Control

Energy From Fossil Fuels

Nuclear Power

Renewable Energy

Environmental Hazards and Human Health

Global Climate Change

Atmospheric Pollution

Water Pollution and Its Prevention

Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery

Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention

Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles

Filters