Exam 5: Ecosystems: Energy, Patterns, and Disturbance

Crown fires

Restoration ecologists try to

A large oak tree with its abundant leaves glimmering in the sun on an early fall morning represents

Most warm desert biomes of the world are located

The Long-Term Ecological Research sites (LTER)collectively focus on studying

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. -The changes in this field,from grasses to shrubs to trees,represent

Productivity of an ecosystem is best determined by the

-This region of Iceland once was covered with forests.However,humans logged the trees and grazed sheep on the logged regions,preventing natural regeneration.This situation,in which one ecosystem has now been converted to another,represents

Deep in the ocean off the shore of Japan are communities nestled around hydrothermal vents where super-heated water springs from the bottom of the ocean.No sunlight ever penetrates to these deep regions.In these communities,bacteria have special enzymes that allow them to form organic matter by chemosynthesis.These communities frequently have worms,clams,shrimp,and many other organisms clustered together. -In such a system,fish feed on shrimp that feed on the bacteria.This food chain represents a

-Examine the food web described by this figure.Which of the following organisms is at the highest trophic level?

You visit a region with two-way currents to see where many marine organisms inhabit shallow,nutrient rich waters.You are visiting

In hydrothermal vent communities,we would not expect to find

A raccoon spends its week eating raspberries,grain,eggs,and grasshoppers.Raccoons are therefore

________ play a crucial role in returning nutrients essential for plant growth to the soil.

Biomes characterize regions with similar types of

Volcanoes are triggered by

Indigenous people living deep in the Brazilian rain forest have lived off the land for many centuries.Now iron ore mining companies are expanding into these regions.Government officials want to resolve the growing conflicts between the natives and the mining industry.They have been urged to bring together all of the interested parties. -The mining company operations in the forest will likely lead to the loss of ecosystem services,such as

-In general,global primary productivity

The frequency of crown fires will decrease if

If fire is suppressed in forests that naturally experience frequent fires,