Question 1

Which of the following are considered decomposer mesofauna?

Accepted Answer

A) bacteria 
B) earthworms 
C) millipedes 
D) mites 
A) bacteria 
B) earthworms 
C) millipedes 
D) mites

Question 2

A C/N ratio of 134:1 will usually lead to immobilization.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

In an estuary,the zone of maximum vertical difference in density of water layers is called the

Accepted Answer

A) thermocline. 
B) pycnocline. 
C) mixing zone. 
D) hypolimnion. 
A) thermocline. 
B) pycnocline. 
C) mixing zone. 
D) hypolimnion.

Question 4

Why do areas with high NPP typically have a high rate of nutrient cycling?

Accepted Answer

A) High amounts of productivity increase the number of decomposers. 
B) High amounts of productivity increase water production. 
C) High amounts of productivity cause low net mineralization rates. 
D) High amounts of productivity use low amounts of nutrients. 
A) High amounts of productivity increase the number of decomposers. 
B) High amounts of productivity increase water production. 
C) High amounts of productivity cause low net mineralization rates. 
D) High amounts of productivity use low amounts of nutrients.

Question 5

The salt marsh system is dominated by

Accepted Answer

A) carnivores. 
B) herbivores. 
C) secondary consumers. 
D) decomposers. 
A) carnivores. 
B) herbivores. 
C) secondary consumers. 
D) decomposers.

Question 6

Which of the following are decomposers?

Accepted Answer

A) mushrooms 
B) mites 
C) millipedes 
D) all of the above 
A) mushrooms 
B) mites 
C) millipedes 
D) all of the above

Question 7

The breakdown of chemical bonds that were formed during the construction of plant and animal tissues is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The breakdown of chemical bonds that were...

Question 8

Which of the following is a zone of decomposition?

Accepted Answer

A) forest canopy 
B) photic zone 
C) forest floor 
D) kelp forest 
A) forest canopy 
B) photic zone 
C) forest floor 
D) kelp forest

Question 9

In salt marshes,only a small portion of primary production is consumed by herbivores.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Litter degrades into a dark brown or black homogeneous organic matter known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Litter degrades into a dark brown or...

Question 11

In an estuary,the zone of maximum vertical difference in density is called a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In an estuary,the zone of maximum vertical...

Question 12

The process of conversion of nutrients from an organic form into an inorganic form that plants can use is called

Accepted Answer

A) immobilization. 
B) respiration. 
C) transpiration. 
D) mineralization. 
A) immobilization. 
B) respiration. 
C) transpiration. 
D) mineralization.

Question 13

Decomposers are primarily autotrophs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The rate of net primary productivity can be limited directly by the availability of

Accepted Answer

A) organic nutrients in the soil solution. 
B) inorganic nutrients in the soil solution. 
C) organic carbon in the soil solution. 
D) inorganic carbon in the soil solution. 
A) organic nutrients in the soil solution. 
B) inorganic nutrients in the soil solution. 
C) organic carbon in the soil solution. 
D) inorganic carbon in the soil solution.

Question 15

Why does the C/N ratio decline over time?

Accepted Answer

A) Mass increases over time. 
B) Mass is converted into microbes over time. 
C) Mass is converted into plants over time. 
D) More carbon is introduced into the system. 
A) Mass increases over time. 
B) Mass is converted into microbes over time. 
C) Mass is converted into plants over time. 
D) More carbon is introduced into the system.

Question 16

The rate of nutrient cycling in an ecosystem

Accepted Answer

A) depends only on the rate of photosynthesis. 
B) depends only on the rate of decomposition. 
C) does not depend on the rate of photosynthesis or the rate of decomposition. 
D) depends on both the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of decomposition. 
A) depends only on the rate of photosynthesis. 
B) depends only on the rate of decomposition. 
C) does not depend on the rate of photosynthesis or the rate of decomposition. 
D) depends on both the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of decomposition.

Question 17

Animals that feed on bacteria and fungi are called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Animals that feed on bacteria and fungi...

Question 18

Which of the following variables is the coefficient that estimates decomposition rate?

Accepted Answer

A) e 
B) k 
C) t 
D) d 
A) e 
B) k 
C) t 
D) d

Question 19

Estuaries receive nutrients both from tides and from streams and rivers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

In open-water ecosystems,turnover prevents the movement of nutrients between the bottom and surface layers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 21: Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling

Which of the following are considered decomposer mesofauna?

A C/N ratio of 134:1 will usually lead to immobilization.

In an estuary,the zone of maximum vertical difference in density of water layers is called the

Why do areas with high NPP typically have a high rate of nutrient cycling?

The salt marsh system is dominated by

Which of the following are decomposers?

The breakdown of chemical bonds that were formed during the construction of plant and animal tissues is called ________.

Which of the following is a zone of decomposition?

In salt marshes,only a small portion of primary production is consumed by herbivores.

Litter degrades into a dark brown or black homogeneous organic matter known as ________.

In an estuary,the zone of maximum vertical difference in density is called a(n)________.

The process of conversion of nutrients from an organic form into an inorganic form that plants can use is called

Decomposers are primarily autotrophs.

The rate of net primary productivity can be limited directly by the availability of

Why does the C/N ratio decline over time?

The rate of nutrient cycling in an ecosystem

Animals that feed on bacteria and fungi are called ________.

Which of the following variables is the coefficient that estimates decomposition rate?

Estuaries receive nutrients both from tides and from streams and rivers.

In open-water ecosystems,turnover prevents the movement of nutrients between the bottom and surface layers.

The Nature of Ecology

Climate

The Aquatic Environment

The Terrestrial Environment

Adaptation and Natural Selection

Plant Adaptations to the Environment

Animal Adaptations to the Environment

Properties of Populations

Population Growth

Life History

Intraspecific Population Regulation

Species Interactions, population Dynamics, and Natural Selection

Interspecific Competition

Predation

Parasitism and Mutualism

Community Structure

Factors Influencing the Structure of Communities

Community Dynamics

Landscape Dynamics

Ecosystem Energetics

Biogeochemical Cycles

Terrestrial Ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems

Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems

Large-Scale Patterns of Biological Diversity

The Ecology of Climate Change

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