Question 1

What is the role of predators in wastewater treatment plants?

Accepted Answer

Predators such as ciliates, amebas, and

Question 2

Oil spills introduce huge amounts of carbon in the environment. Which of the following techniques is used to quantify carbon influx and efflux of CO2?

Accepted Answer

A)  gas chromatography 
B)  mass spectroscopy 
C)  radioisotope incorporation 
D)  stable isotope ratios 
E)  none of the above 
A)  gas chromatography 
B)  mass spectroscopy 
C)  radioisotope incorporation 
D)  stable isotope ratios 
E)  none of the above

Question 3

Much of the carbon and nitrogen in wetlands is cycled by:

Accepted Answer

A)  aerobic respiration 
B)  plants and aerobic heterotrophs 
C)  wild fire 
D)  anaerobic bacteria and archaea such as methanogens 
E)  cyanobacteria and phototrophs 
A)  aerobic respiration 
B)  plants and aerobic heterotrophs 
C)  wild fire 
D)  anaerobic bacteria and archaea such as methanogens 
E)  cyanobacteria and phototrophs

Question 4

Which is the most stable form of nitrogen?

Accepted Answer

A)  N2O 
B)  NO 
C)  N2 
D)  NH3 
E)  NH 
A)  N2O 
B)  NO 
C)  N2 
D)  NH3 
E)  NH

Question 5

Anaerobically, H2S may be photolyzed to:

Accepted Answer

A)  sulfate 
B)  sulfite 
C)  sulfur dioxide 
D)  sulfuric acid 
E)  sulfur 
A)  sulfate 
B)  sulfite 
C)  sulfur dioxide 
D)  sulfuric acid 
E)  sulfur

Question 6

To enhance colonization by nitrogen fixers, farmers apply attractants for rhizobia called:

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogenases 
B)  leghemoglobins 
C)  hormones 
D)  isoflavonoids 
E)  heterocysts 
A)  nitrogenases 
B)  leghemoglobins 
C)  hormones 
D)  isoflavonoids 
E)  heterocysts

Question 7

Wastewater treatment generates which of the following gases in quantities sufficient for recovery as fuel?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrous oxide 
D)  methane 
E)  hydrogen sulfide 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  hydrogen 
C)  nitrous oxide 
D)  methane 
E)  hydrogen sulfide

Question 8

Microbial activities in rice paddies increase the release of methane. What will happen if the rice paddies are drained and aerated?

Accepted Answer

A)  More methane will be released. 
B)  Increased carbon dioxide production. 
C)  No change in the amount of methane generated. 
D)  All the methanogens will die. 
E)  Rice roots will absorb the methane. 
A)  More methane will be released. 
B)  Increased carbon dioxide production. 
C)  No change in the amount of methane generated. 
D)  All the methanogens will die. 
E)  Rice roots will absorb the methane.

Question 9

Anammox is defined as:

Accepted Answer

A)  anaerobic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen gas using nitrites 
B)  cell-wall-less bacteria called Planctomycetes carry out this reaction 
C)  a rather rare pathway for returning nitrogen to the atmosphere 
D)  a predominantly terrestrial pathway for cycling nitrogen 
E)  A and B 
A)  anaerobic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen gas using nitrites 
B)  cell-wall-less bacteria called Planctomycetes carry out this reaction 
C)  a rather rare pathway for returning nitrogen to the atmosphere 
D)  a predominantly terrestrial pathway for cycling nitrogen 
E)  A and B

Question 10

Which of the following organisms does NOT play a role in secondary wastewater treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Zoogloea 
B)  Flavobacterium 
C)  Escherichia 
D)  Pseudomonas 
E)  Nostoc 
A)  Zoogloea 
B)  Flavobacterium 
C)  Escherichia 
D)  Pseudomonas 
E)  Nostoc

Question 11

The element with the highest percentage of dry weight in bacteria is:

Accepted Answer

A)  calcium 
B)  carbon 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  phosphorus 
A)  calcium 
B)  carbon 
C)  hydrogen 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  phosphorus

Question 12

Which contaminant in water is especially prevalent in agricultural regions of the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  sulfur 
C)  phosphate 
D)  nitrate 
E)  magnesium 
A)  carbon 
B)  sulfur 
C)  phosphate 
D)  nitrate 
E)  magnesium

Question 13

Deforestation contributes to global warming. Discuss deforestation in terms of carbon efflux and influx.

Accepted Answer

Carbon flux has been monitored in the de

Question 14

In the marine photic zone, the rate of photosynthesis:

Accepted Answer

A)  is equal to the amount of CO2 released from the niche 
B)  exceeds the rate of respiration 
C)  is less than the respiration rate 
D)  does not affect carbon cycling 
E)  is inversely related to rate of respiration 
A)  is equal to the amount of CO2 released from the niche 
B)  exceeds the rate of respiration 
C)  is less than the respiration rate 
D)  does not affect carbon cycling 
E)  is inversely related to rate of respiration

Question 15

Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. Why might our rDNA probes NOT be appropriate to detect extraterrestrial life?

Accepted Answer

Our rDNA probes were developed based on

Question 16

In 2010, the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico expanded because of the unprecedented oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion. The leaked oil killed wildlife and caused unprecedented environmental damage. Bacteria came to the rescue. Discuss.

Accepted Answer

After the spill, workers tried to mop up

Question 17

Microbes participate in which step of wastewater treatment?

Accepted Answer

A)  preliminary 
B)  primary 
C)  secondary 
D)  tertiary 
E)  all of the above 
A)  preliminary 
B)  primary 
C)  secondary 
D)  tertiary 
E)  all of the above

Question 18

Discuss the concept of iron fertilization to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Who is the rock star supporting this research?

Accepted Answer

Neil Young supports the private organiza

Question 19

What types of evidence suggest the past existence of water on Mars?

Accepted Answer

No water has been found at the Martian s

Question 20

Which of the following is an anaerobic respiration reaction?

Accepted Answer

A)  conversion of phosphine to phosphate 
B)  methanogenesis 
C)  photolysis of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur 
D)  precipitation of ferric iron with hydroxide 
E)  nitrogen fixation 
A)  conversion of phosphine to phosphate 
B)  methanogenesis 
C)  photolysis of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur 
D)  precipitation of ferric iron with hydroxide 
E)  nitrogen fixation

Exam 22: Microbes and the Global Environment

What is the role of predators in wastewater treatment plants?

Oil spills introduce huge amounts of carbon in the environment. Which of the following techniques is used to quantify carbon influx and efflux of CO2?

Much of the carbon and nitrogen in wetlands is cycled by:

Which is the most stable form of nitrogen?

Anaerobically, H2S may be photolyzed to:

To enhance colonization by nitrogen fixers, farmers apply attractants for rhizobia called:

Wastewater treatment generates which of the following gases in quantities sufficient for recovery as fuel?

Microbial activities in rice paddies increase the release of methane. What will happen if the rice paddies are drained and aerated?

Anammox is defined as:

Which of the following organisms does NOT play a role in secondary wastewater treatment?

The element with the highest percentage of dry weight in bacteria is:

Which contaminant in water is especially prevalent in agricultural regions of the United States?

Deforestation contributes to global warming. Discuss deforestation in terms of carbon efflux and influx.

In the marine photic zone, the rate of photosynthesis:

Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. Why might our rDNA probes NOT be appropriate to detect extraterrestrial life?

In 2010, the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico expanded because of the unprecedented oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil well explosion. The leaked oil killed wildlife and caused unprecedented environmental damage. Bacteria came to the rescue. Discuss.

Microbes participate in which step of wastewater treatment?

Discuss the concept of iron fertilization to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Who is the rock star supporting this research?

What types of evidence suggest the past existence of water on Mars?

Which of the following is an anaerobic respiration reaction?

Microbial Life: Origin and Discovery

Observing the Microbial Cell

Cell Structure and Function

Bacterial Culture, Growth, and Development

Environmental Influences and Control of Microbial Growth

Virus Structure and Function

Genomes and Chromosomes

Transcription, Translation, and Bioinformatics

Gene Transfer, Mutations, and Genome Evolution

Molecular Regulation

Viral Molecular Biology

Molecular Techniques and Biotechnology

Energetics and Catabolism

Respiration, Lithotrophy, and Photolysis

Biosynthesis

Food and Industrial Microbiology

Origins and Evolution

Bacterial Diversity

Archaeal Diversity

Eukaryotic Diversity

Microbial Ecology

Human Microbiota and Nonspecific Host Defenses

The Adaptive Immune Response

Microbial Pathogenesis

Microbial Diseases

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Clinical Microbiology and Epidemiology

Filters

Oil spills introduce huge amounts of carbon in the environment. Which of the following techniques is used to quantify carbon influx and efflux of CO₂?

Anaerobically, H₂S may be photolyzed to:

Discuss the concept of iron fertilization to remove excess CO₂ from the atmosphere. Who is the rock star supporting this research?