Question 1

Explain an impact of human development on the water cycle.

Accepted Answer

The best answers should include that human development tends to cause water to run off faster than natural ecosystems (more concrete parking lots, roads, etc.). Faster runoff may be responsible for flooding and impact river and stream ecosystems. Also, increased runoff may mean that less water infiltrates into the soil.

Question 2

Why are food chains limited to a small number of links?

Accepted Answer

Food chains are limited to a small number of links because the amount of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next is approximately 10%. If 90% of the energy consumed at one level is lost for the next trophic level, each level will have much less energy available to it than the previous level. Therefore, it is very difficult to sustain predators at very high trophic levels because there just isn't enough energy available.

Question 3

This compound is capable of destroying ozone molecules.

Accepted Answer

A) carbon dioxide 
B) methane 
C) water vapor 
D) chlorofluorocarbon 
E) nitrous oxide 
A) carbon dioxide 
B) methane 
C) water vapor 
D) chlorofluorocarbon 
E) nitrous oxide D

Question 4

Which of the following is the best description of decomposition?

Accepted Answer

A) breaking down inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide and water into organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins 
B)  building organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins from inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen-containing compounds 
C) building macromolecules from smaller organic molecules 
D) breaking down organic molecules into inorganic molecules 
E) a process undertaken by producers in an ecosystem 
A) breaking down inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide and water into organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins 
B)  building organic molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins from inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen-containing compounds 
C) building macromolecules from smaller organic molecules 
D) breaking down organic molecules into inorganic molecules 
E) a process undertaken by producers in an ecosystem

Question 5

Which of the following food chains will allow the most energy to be available for human use?

Accepted Answer

A) corn $\rarr$ cow $\rarr$ humans 
B) corn $\rarr$ humans 
C) algae $\rarr$ minnows $\rarr$ fish $\rarr$ humans 
D) alfalfa $\rarr$cow $\rarr$ milk $\rarr$ humans 
E) corn $\rarr$ hen $\rarr$ eggs $\rarr$humans 
A) corn $\rarr$ cow $\rarr$ humans 
B) corn $\rarr$ humans 
C) algae $\rarr$ minnows $\rarr$ fish $\rarr$ humans 
D) alfalfa $\rarr$cow $\rarr$ milk $\rarr$ humans 
E) corn $\rarr$ hen $\rarr$ eggs $\rarr$humans

Question 6

How much of the available sunlight energy is usually converted into an ecosystem's gross primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 % 
B) 2 % 
C) 5 % 
D) 10 % 
E) 25 % 
A) 1 % 
B) 2 % 
C) 5 % 
D) 10 % 
E) 25 %

Question 7

In general, the pool of materials in living organisms is

Accepted Answer

A) much greater than the pool found in the physical environment. 
B) constantly changing over a wide range. 
C) usually equal to the pool found in the soil. 
D) about the same as the pool found in the physical environment. 
E) much less than the pool found in the physical environment. 
A) much greater than the pool found in the physical environment. 
B) constantly changing over a wide range. 
C) usually equal to the pool found in the soil. 
D) about the same as the pool found in the physical environment. 
E) much less than the pool found in the physical environment.

Question 8

Climate

Accepted Answer

A) changes with the seasons. 
B) refers to the atmospheric conditions at a particular place at a particular time. 
C) is determined by temperature and availability of water. 
D) is determined by the organisms living in a particular area. 
E) is the same throughout the globe. 
A) changes with the seasons. 
B) refers to the atmospheric conditions at a particular place at a particular time. 
C) is determined by temperature and availability of water. 
D) is determined by the organisms living in a particular area. 
E) is the same throughout the globe.

Question 9

The human population may reach 12 billion people by the year 2100. Applying your knowledge of energy flow, suggest the feeding habits necessary to support this large number of people.

Accepted Answer

The best responses should include a disc

Question 10

Explain why a food web is a more accurate representation of energy flow than a food chain.

Accepted Answer

Responses should discuss how o

Question 11

Match between columns
                        Premises: Known as prairies in North America and pampas in South America
Consists of vast forests of pine, fir, spruce, and hemlock trees
Characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Soil usually low in nutrients due to heavy rains
Grasses present with widely dispersed trees

Accepted Answer

The Answer of tropical rain forest and temperate grassland and is...

Question 12

Which of the following is true regarding the concept of biomagnification?

Accepted Answer

A) Toxic materials that biomagnify are lost just as energy is lost from a natural system. 
B) Toxic materials that biomagnify often accumulate in fat tissues of animals. 
C) Toxic materials that biomagnify become more concentrated as they move up a food chain. 
D) b and c 
E) a and b 
A) Toxic materials that biomagnify are lost just as energy is lost from a natural system. 
B) Toxic materials that biomagnify often accumulate in fat tissues of animals. 
C) Toxic materials that biomagnify become more concentrated as they move up a food chain. 
D) b and c 
E) a and b

Question 13

What does the phrase "eat low on the food chain" mean? Why is this sound advice ecologically?

Accepted Answer

A human must eat 10 kg of plant product

Question 14

The carbon source for a heterotroph is

Accepted Answer

A) breathing carbon dioxide from the air. 
B) water. 
C) sunlight. 
D) ingesting organic matter. 
E) various inorganic molecules found in all ecosystems. 
A) breathing carbon dioxide from the air. 
B) water. 
C) sunlight. 
D) ingesting organic matter. 
E) various inorganic molecules found in all ecosystems.

Question 15

Weather and climate differ from each other because

Accepted Answer

A) the effect of weather is temporary whereas the effect of climate is not. 
B) weather determines the diversity of organisms in an area. 
C) weather is local and climate is global. 
D) weather determines climate. 
E) man can affect weather but not climate. 
A) the effect of weather is temporary whereas the effect of climate is not. 
B) weather determines the diversity of organisms in an area. 
C) weather is local and climate is global. 
D) weather determines climate. 
E) man can affect weather but not climate.

Question 16

Increased carbon dioxide concentrations may contribute to

Accepted Answer

A) ozone depletion. 
B) global warming. 
C) eutrophication. 
D) groundwater contamination. 
E) biomagnification. 
A) ozone depletion. 
B) global warming. 
C) eutrophication. 
D) groundwater contamination. 
E) biomagnification.

Question 17

The term biome refers to

Accepted Answer

A) the animals present in a given area. 
B) the interaction of living organisms and the physical environment in a region. 
C) large regions with distinctive plant communities. 
D) all the living organisms in an area. 
E) only the bacteria in a region. 
A) the animals present in a given area. 
B) the interaction of living organisms and the physical environment in a region. 
C) large regions with distinctive plant communities. 
D) all the living organisms in an area. 
E) only the bacteria in a region.

Question 18

Which of the following organisms would be considered a primary producer?

Accepted Answer

A) a spider 
B) an antelope 
C) an oak tree 
D) a wolf 
E) a bass 
A) a spider 
B) an antelope 
C) an oak tree 
D) a wolf 
E) a bass

Question 19

Explain the importance of decomposition in an ecosystem. Cite an application of this process for human systems.

Accepted Answer

Decomposition converts organic matter in

Question 20

A lake that is supplied with a large amount of phosphorus is likely to

Accepted Answer

A) be devoid of living organisms. 
B) support large numbers of fish. 
C) be crystal clear. 
D) become eutrophic. 
E) support many feeding levels. 
A) be devoid of living organisms. 
B) support large numbers of fish. 
C) be crystal clear. 
D) become eutrophic. 
E) support many feeding levels.

Exam 15: Ecosystems and the Biosphere

Explain an impact of human development on the water cycle.

Why are food chains limited to a small number of links?

This compound is capable of destroying ozone molecules.

Which of the following is the best description of decomposition?

Which of the following food chains will allow the most energy to be available for human use?

How much of the available sunlight energy is usually converted into an ecosystem's gross primary productivity?

In general, the pool of materials in living organisms is

Climate

The human population may reach 12 billion people by the year 2100. Applying your knowledge of energy flow, suggest the feeding habits necessary to support this large number of people.

Explain why a food web is a more accurate representation of energy flow than a food chain.

Which of the following is true regarding the concept of biomagnification?

What does the phrase "eat low on the food chain" mean? Why is this sound advice ecologically?

The carbon source for a heterotroph is

Weather and climate differ from each other because

Increased carbon dioxide concentrations may contribute to

The term biome refers to

Which of the following organisms would be considered a primary producer?

Explain the importance of decomposition in an ecosystem. Cite an application of this process for human systems.

A lake that is supplied with a large amount of phosphorus is likely to

What Is Life

Cells and the Chemistry of Life

How Cells Take in and Use Energy

The Cell Cycle

Patterns of Inheritance

DNA: The Thread of Life

Genes, Proteins, and Genetic Engineering

Reproduction and Development

The Mechanisms of Evolution

Lifes Origins and Biodiversity

Single-Celled Life

Fungi and Plants: Decomposers and Producers

The Evolution and Diversity of Animals

Ecology of Populations and Communities

Body Function, Survival, and the Steady State

Circulation and Respiration

Defense Against Disease

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Hormones: Messengers of Change

The Nervous System

The Body in Motion

Plant Architecture and Function

Plant Growth, Hormones, and Engineering

The Dynamic Plant

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