Question 1

Hydrothermal vent communities on the ocean floor obtain their energy by the process of _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Hydrothermal vent communities on the ocean floor...

Question 2

In the past two centuries, humans have rapidly increased their removal and use of carbon from the ancient carbon pool of _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the past two centuries, humans have...

Question 3

Scientists measured plankton production in an estuary ecosystem.They filled bottles with water from the same depth in the ecosystem, sealed them to prevent further gas exchange, and submerged them at the depth from which they were taken for a specific amount of time.In "light bottles" (subjected to light), both photosynthesis and respiration occurred.In "dark bottles" (kept in the dark), only respiration occurred.In one test, the study team obtained the following data: Initial bottle: 3 mg C/liter/hour
Light bottle: 3.75 mg C/liter/hour
Dark bottle: 1.875 mg C/liter/hour
Given the equation NPP = GPP - respiration, what is the final value for net primary production (NPP; in mg C/liter/hour) that occurred during this test?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.75 
B)  1.125 
C)  1.875 
D)  3.0 
E)  3.75 
A)  0.75 
B)  1.125 
C)  1.875 
D)  3.0 
E)  3.75

Question 4

As people around the world remove water from aquifers for irrigation, there is a decline in the amount of water stored in the hydrologic cycle's _______ pool.

Accepted Answer

The answer of As people around the world remove water...

Question 5

Offshore oil drilling provides a natural resource for human use, that is, an ecosystem service.In 2010, oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico led to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which caused serious impacts on marine life, beaches, and the fishing and tourism industries.Does the likelihood of such oil spills as a result of the production of oil products constitute an ecosystem service trade-off? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A)  No; the oil spill did not affect other ecosystem services. 
B)  No; the oil spill had impacts, but the ecosystem will recover, so it did not really cause a trade-off. 
C)  No; oil is a necessary resource, so any effects it has are worth the risk and can be overlooked. 
D)  Yes; a provisioning service degraded both provisioning and cultural services. 
E)  Yes; a provisioning service degraded another provisioning service (industries); other factors are not ecosystem services. 
A)  No; the oil spill did not affect other ecosystem services. 
B)  No; the oil spill had impacts, but the ecosystem will recover, so it did not really cause a trade-off. 
C)  No; oil is a necessary resource, so any effects it has are worth the risk and can be overlooked. 
D)  Yes; a provisioning service degraded both provisioning and cultural services. 
E)  Yes; a provisioning service degraded another provisioning service (industries); other factors are not ecosystem services.

Question 6

In the process of biogeochemical cycling, what is a key distinguishing factor between mineralization and decomposition?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mineralization involves organisms; decomposition is a purely chemical process. 
B)  Decomposition involves organisms; mineralization is a purely chemical process. 
C)  Mineralization breaks down detritus into smaller parts; decomposition breaks down organic compounds into inorganic nutrients. 
D)  Decomposition breaks down detritus into smaller parts; mineralization breaks down organic compounds into inorganic nutrients. 
E)  Mineralization occurs in the geological portions of the cycle; decomposition occurs in the biological portions. 
A)  Mineralization involves organisms; decomposition is a purely chemical process. 
B)  Decomposition involves organisms; mineralization is a purely chemical process. 
C)  Mineralization breaks down detritus into smaller parts; decomposition breaks down organic compounds into inorganic nutrients. 
D)  Decomposition breaks down detritus into smaller parts; mineralization breaks down organic compounds into inorganic nutrients. 
E)  Mineralization occurs in the geological portions of the cycle; decomposition occurs in the biological portions.

Question 7

If the oceans were able to absorb more carbon dioxide, the rate at which Earth's temperature is increasing would likely _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the oceans were able to absorb...

Question 8

Which action might people take in estuaries to increase carbon dioxide storage and thereby decrease acidification of the estuary?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increase fishery production 
B)  Prevent overfishing 
C)  Increase production of oysters and other shelled animals 
D)  Conserve and expand sea grass beds 
E)  Remove sea grass beds and replace them with mudflats 
A)  Increase fishery production 
B)  Prevent overfishing 
C)  Increase production of oysters and other shelled animals 
D)  Conserve and expand sea grass beds 
E)  Remove sea grass beds and replace them with mudflats

Question 9

When humans burn coal and oil, they produce gases such as SO2 and NO2, which react with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.These compounds damage forests and lakes when they fall as _______.

Accepted Answer

Question 10

Refer to the graph.   According to the graph, what conclusion can be drawn regarding the relationship between atmospheric CO2 concentrations and Antarctic temperatures?

Accepted Answer

A)  The two factors show no correlation over the past 800,000 years. 
B)  When CO2 levels increase, temperatures increase. 
C)  Increasing CO2 is correlated with increasing but not decreasing temperatures. 
D)  The two factors were correlated 800,000 years ago, but they are not today. 
E)  The two factors were not correlated 800,000 years ago, but they are today. 
A)  The two factors show no correlation over the past 800,000 years. 
B)  When CO2 levels increase, temperatures increase. 
C)  Increasing CO2 is correlated with increasing but not decreasing temperatures. 
D)  The two factors were correlated 800,000 years ago, but they are not today. 
E)  The two factors were not correlated 800,000 years ago, but they are today.

Question 11

In a biogeochemical cycle, an element is in flux when it is moving from one storage compartment to another.The element carbon shows the least flux (that is, shows the least movement, or stops moving) when it is

Accepted Answer

A)  taken up during photosynthesis. 
B)  given off during respiration. 
C)  released during fossil-fuel burning. 
D)  deposited in ocean sediments. 
E)  broken down during decomposition. 
A)  taken up during photosynthesis. 
B)  given off during respiration. 
C)  released during fossil-fuel burning. 
D)  deposited in ocean sediments. 
E)  broken down during decomposition.

Question 12

In which situation are humans not directly affecting the NPP of aquatic ecosystems by altering nutrient concentrations? That is, which situation is natural, rather than caused by humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rising CO2 from global warming increases NPP of ocean phytoplankton. 
B)  Phytoplankton blooms occur when iron sulfite is added to ocean water. 
C)  Artificial fertilizers from land cause plankton blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. 
D)  Sewage and wastewater cause eutrophication in Lake Erie. 
E)  High nitrogen levels in the Pacific Ocean keep NPP high. 
A)  Rising CO2 from global warming increases NPP of ocean phytoplankton. 
B)  Phytoplankton blooms occur when iron sulfite is added to ocean water. 
C)  Artificial fertilizers from land cause plankton blooms in the Gulf of Mexico. 
D)  Sewage and wastewater cause eutrophication in Lake Erie. 
E)  High nitrogen levels in the Pacific Ocean keep NPP high.

Question 13

In much of the open ocean, NPP is limited by nitrogen.But in the Gulf of Mexico, especially near the mouth of the Mississippi River, dead zones (regions of low or no oxygen, resulting in the death of marine organisms) form every summer.These dead zones result from

Accepted Answer

A)  eutrophication caused by nitrogen fertilizer runoff from farms upstream. 
B)  very low nitrogen levels leading to inability of plants to reproduce. 
C)  an unknown combination of excess nutrients poisoning the system. 
D)  a lack of required nutrients, with the type of nutrient varying from year to year. 
E)  fertilizer production in the area producing smog, which limits photosynthesis. 
A)  eutrophication caused by nitrogen fertilizer runoff from farms upstream. 
B)  very low nitrogen levels leading to inability of plants to reproduce. 
C)  an unknown combination of excess nutrients poisoning the system. 
D)  a lack of required nutrients, with the type of nutrient varying from year to year. 
E)  fertilizer production in the area producing smog, which limits photosynthesis.

Question 14

In which situation would bacteria be most likely to obtain energy through chemosynthesis, rather than photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  At the ocean surface 
B)  At the soil surface 
C)  In an estuary with frequent mixing of water 
D)  Deep in the soil where no light penetrates 
E)  In a farm field that undergoes frequent plowing 
A)  At the ocean surface 
B)  At the soil surface 
C)  In an estuary with frequent mixing of water 
D)  Deep in the soil where no light penetrates 
E)  In a farm field that undergoes frequent plowing

Question 15

The proportion of the total available biomass of leaves that is consumed by a population of caterpillars is a measure of the _______ of the caterpillars.

Accepted Answer

consumptio

Question 16

Refer to the figure.   An examination of the fluxes of water over both land and sea, as measured by evaporation and precipitation, shows that

Accepted Answer

A)  total evaporation is greater than total precipitation. 
B)  total precipitation is greater than total evaporation. 
C)  there is more evaporation over land and more precipitation at sea. 
D)  evaporation and precipitation are exactly balanced. 
E)  values for runoff make up for the variation between land and sea. 
A)  total evaporation is greater than total precipitation. 
B)  total precipitation is greater than total evaporation. 
C)  there is more evaporation over land and more precipitation at sea. 
D)  evaporation and precipitation are exactly balanced. 
E)  values for runoff make up for the variation between land and sea.

Question 17

Of the following food webs, which would likely have the highest NPP?

Accepted Answer

A)  Two trophic levels 
B)  Three trophic levels with omnivory 
C)  Three trophic levels without omnivory 
D)  Five trophic levels with omnivory 
E)  Four trophic levels without omnivory 
A)  Two trophic levels 
B)  Three trophic levels with omnivory 
C)  Three trophic levels without omnivory 
D)  Five trophic levels with omnivory 
E)  Four trophic levels without omnivory

Question 18

Refer to the graph, showing a continual increase in CO2 since measurements began about 1960.   In addition to the data plotted in the graph, data from air trapped in ice caps show that CO2 levels have been strongly correlated with atmospheric temperatures for hundreds of thousands of years.What is one conclusion that might be drawn from these two sets of data?

Accepted Answer

A)  Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is raising global temperatures. 
B)  Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is lowering global temperatures. 
C)  CO2 levels can be controlled by stopping CO2 measurements. 
D)  CO2 levels can be controlled by controlling global temperatures. 
E)  The most likely way to control CO2 is by controlling rates of photosynthesis. 
A)  Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is raising global temperatures. 
B)  Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is lowering global temperatures. 
C)  CO2 levels can be controlled by stopping CO2 measurements. 
D)  CO2 levels can be controlled by controlling global temperatures. 
E)  The most likely way to control CO2 is by controlling rates of photosynthesis.

Question 19

Phytoplankton growth in surface water samples from the central South Pacific Ocean was tested.Some samples were untreated.Others had iron, phosphorus, or silica added.The water was already high in nitrogen, so nitrogen was not added.Addition of silica did not change NPP.Addition of iron increased NPP fivefold.Addition of phosphorus increased NPP slightly.These results indicate that phytoplankton growth in this part of the ocean is primarily limited by

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen. 
B)  phosphorus. 
C)  iron. 
D)  silica. 
E)  both nitrogen and phosphorus. 
A)  nitrogen. 
B)  phosphorus. 
C)  iron. 
D)  silica. 
E)  both nitrogen and phosphorus.

Question 20

The ecosystem type responsible for by far the largest total amount of NPP on Earth is the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ecosystem type responsible for by far...

Exam 57: Ecosystems

Hydrothermal vent communities on the ocean floor obtain their energy by the process of _______.

In the past two centuries, humans have rapidly increased their removal and use of carbon from the ancient carbon pool of _______.

As people around the world remove water from aquifers for irrigation, there is a decline in the amount of water stored in the hydrologic cycle's _______ pool.

In the process of biogeochemical cycling, what is a key distinguishing factor between mineralization and decomposition?

If the oceans were able to absorb more carbon dioxide, the rate at which Earth's temperature is increasing would likely _______.

Which action might people take in estuaries to increase carbon dioxide storage and thereby decrease acidification of the estuary?

When humans burn coal and oil, they produce gases such as SO2 and NO2, which react with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.These compounds damage forests and lakes when they fall as _______.

Refer to the graph. According to the graph, what conclusion can be drawn regarding the relationship between atmospheric CO2 concentrations and Antarctic temperatures?

In a biogeochemical cycle, an element is in flux when it is moving from one storage compartment to another.The element carbon shows the least flux (that is, shows the least movement, or stops moving) when it is

In which situation are humans not directly affecting the NPP of aquatic ecosystems by altering nutrient concentrations? That is, which situation is natural, rather than caused by humans?

In much of the open ocean, NPP is limited by nitrogen.But in the Gulf of Mexico, especially near the mouth of the Mississippi River, dead zones (regions of low or no oxygen, resulting in the death of marine organisms) form every summer.These dead zones result from

In which situation would bacteria be most likely to obtain energy through chemosynthesis, rather than photosynthesis?

The proportion of the total available biomass of leaves that is consumed by a population of caterpillars is a measure of the _______ of the caterpillars.

Refer to the figure. An examination of the fluxes of water over both land and sea, as measured by evaporation and precipitation, shows that

Of the following food webs, which would likely have the highest NPP?

The ecosystem type responsible for by far the largest total amount of NPP on Earth is the _______.

Studying Life

Small Molecules and the Chemistry of Life

Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Lipids

Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Life

Cells: the Working Units of Life

Cell Membranes

Cell Communication and Multicellularity

Energy, Enzymes, and Metabolism

Pathways That Harvest Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis: Energy From Sunlight

The Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes

Dna and Its Role in Heredity

From Dna to Protein: Gene Expression

Gene Mutation and Molecular Medicine

Regulation of Gene Expression

Genomes

Recombinant Dna and Biotechnology

Mechanisms of Evolution

Reconstructing and Using Phylogenies

Speciation

Evolution of Genes and Genomes

The History of Life on Earth

Bacteria, Archaea, and Viruses

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

Plants Without Seeds: From Water to Land

The Evolution of Seed Plants

The Evolution and Diversity of Fungi

Animal Origins and the Evolution of Body Plans

Protostome Animals

Deuterostome Animals

The Plant Body

Transport in Plants

Plant Nutrition

Regulation of Plant Growth

Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Environmental Challenges

Physiology, Homeostasis, and Temperature Regulation

Animal Hormones

Immunology: Animal Defense Systems

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Glia, and Nervous Systems

Sensory Systems

The Mammalian Nervous System: Structure and Higher Functions

Musculoskeletal Systems

Gas Exchange

Circulatory Systems

Nutrition, Digestion, and Absorption

Salt and Water Balance and Nitrogen Excretion

Animal Behavior

The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life

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Species Interactions

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A Changing Biosphere

Filters

When humans burn coal and oil, they produce gases such as SO₂ and NO₂, which react with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.These compounds damage forests and lakes when they fall as _______.

Refer to the graph. According to the graph, what conclusion can be drawn regarding the relationship between atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and Antarctic temperatures?