Question 1

What percentage of solar radiation striking a plant is converted into chemical energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  1% 
B)  10% 
C)  25% 
D)  50% 
E)  100% 
A)  1% 
B)  10% 
C)  25% 
D)  50% 
E)  100%

Question 2

Which of the following locations is the main reservoir for nitrogen in Earth's nitrogen cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere 
B)  sedimentary bedrock 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  soil 
A)  atmosphere 
B)  sedimentary bedrock 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  soil

Question 3

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging. 
E)  Nutrients evaporate easily into the atmosphere in the post-logged forest. 
A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging. 
E)  Nutrients evaporate easily into the atmosphere in the post-logged forest.

Question 4

Figure 42.1 Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-Examine the food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem in Figure 42.1. Which species is autotrophic?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 5

Figure 42.1 Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-Examine the food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem in Figure 42.1. Which pair of species could be omnivores?

Accepted Answer

A)  A and B 
B)  A and D 
C)  B and C 
D)  C and D 
E)  C and E 
A)  A and B 
B)  A and D 
C)  B and C 
D)  C and D 
E)  C and E

Question 6

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for carbon in the carbon cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  atmosphere 
B)  sediments and sedimentary rocks 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  all of the above 
A)  atmosphere 
B)  sediments and sedimentary rocks 
C)  fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D)  plant and animal biomass 
E)  all of the above

Question 7

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photosynthetic organisms absorb more visible light in the 350-750 wavelengths. 
B)  Satellite instruments can detect reflectance patterns of the photosynthetic organisms of different ecosystems. 
C)  Sensitive satellite instruments can measure the amount of NADPH produced in the summative light reactions of different ecosystems. 
D)  Satellites detect differences by comparing the wavelengths of light captured and reflected by photoautotrophs to the amount of light reaching different ecosystems. 
E)  Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapor emitted by transpiring producers. 
A)  Photosynthetic organisms absorb more visible light in the 350-750 wavelengths. 
B)  Satellite instruments can detect reflectance patterns of the photosynthetic organisms of different ecosystems. 
C)  Sensitive satellite instruments can measure the amount of NADPH produced in the summative light reactions of different ecosystems. 
D)  Satellites detect differences by comparing the wavelengths of light captured and reflected by photoautotrophs to the amount of light reaching different ecosystems. 
E)  Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapor emitted by transpiring producers.

Question 8

A porcupine eats 3,000 J of plant material. Of this, 2,100 J is indigestible and is eliminated as feces, 800 J are used in cellular respiration, and 100 J are used for growth and reproduction. What is the approximate production efficiency of this animal?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.03% 
B)  3% 
C)  11% 
D)  27% 
E)  33% 
A)  0.03% 
B)  3% 
C)  11% 
D)  27% 
E)  33%

Question 9

Figure 42.3
-In the diagram of the nitrogen cycle in Figure 42.3, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7 
A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7

Question 10

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by

Accepted Answer

A)  converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. 
B)  releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. 
C)  converting ammonia to nitrogen gas, which returns to the atmosphere. 
D)  converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
E)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds. 
A)  converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. 
B)  releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. 
C)  converting ammonia to nitrogen gas, which returns to the atmosphere. 
D)  converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
E)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds.

Question 11

Which of the following organisms is incorrectly paired with its trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A)  cyanobacterium-primary producer 
B)  grasshopper-primary consumer 
C)  zooplankton-primary producer 
D)  eagle-tertiary consumer 
E)  fungus-detritivore 
A)  cyanobacterium-primary producer 
B)  grasshopper-primary consumer 
C)  zooplankton-primary producer 
D)  eagle-tertiary consumer 
E)  fungus-detritivore

Question 12

Approximately 1% of the solar radiation that strikes a plant is converted into the chemical bond energy of sugars. Why is this amount so low?

Accepted Answer

A)  Approximately 99% of the solar radiation is converted to heat energy. 
B)  Only 1% of the wavelengths of visible light is absorbed by photosynthetic pigments. 
C)  Most solar energy strikes water and land surfaces. 
D)  Approximately 99% of the solar radiation is reflected. 
E)  Only the green wavelengths are absorbed by plants for photosynthesis. 
A)  Approximately 99% of the solar radiation is converted to heat energy. 
B)  Only 1% of the wavelengths of visible light is absorbed by photosynthetic pigments. 
C)  Most solar energy strikes water and land surfaces. 
D)  Approximately 99% of the solar radiation is reflected. 
E)  Only the green wavelengths are absorbed by plants for photosynthesis.

Question 13

How do the Taylor Glacier bacteria produce their energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  heterotrophism 
C)  chemoautotrophism 
D)  thermophobism 
E)  photoautotrophism 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  heterotrophism 
C)  chemoautotrophism 
D)  thermophobism 
E)  photoautotrophism

Question 14

Approximately how many kg of carnivore biomass can be supported by a field plot containing 1,000 kg of plant material?

Accepted Answer

A)  10,000 
B)  1,000 
C)  100 
D)  10 
E)  1 
A)  10,000 
B)  1,000 
C)  100 
D)  10 
E)  1

Question 15

What is secondary production?

Accepted Answer

A)  energy converted by secondary consumers from primary consumers 
B)  solar energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis 
C)  food that is converted to new biomass by consumers 
D)  energy that is not used by consumers for growth and reproduction 
E)  growth that takes place during the second year of life in consumers 
A)  energy converted by secondary consumers from primary consumers 
B)  solar energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis 
C)  food that is converted to new biomass by consumers 
D)  energy that is not used by consumers for growth and reproduction 
E)  growth that takes place during the second year of life in consumers

Question 16

Photosynthetic organisms are unique to most ecosystems because they

Accepted Answer

A)  synthesize organic compounds they obtain from decaying heterotrophs. 
B)  synthesize inorganic compounds from organic compounds. 
C)  use light energy to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds. 
D)  use chemical energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
E)  convert light energy into matter. 
A)  synthesize organic compounds they obtain from decaying heterotrophs. 
B)  synthesize inorganic compounds from organic compounds. 
C)  use light energy to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds. 
D)  use chemical energy to synthesize organic compounds. 
E)  convert light energy into matter.

Question 17

Figure 42.3
-In the diagram of the nitrogen cycle in Figure 42.3, which number represents nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7 
A)  5 
B)  6 
C)  7

Question 18

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

Accepted Answer

A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Predators have short life spans and short reproductive periods. 
E)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites. 
A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Predators have short life spans and short reproductive periods. 
E)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites.

Question 19

If the sun were to suddenly stop providing energy to Earth, most ecosystems would vanish. Which of the following ecosystems would likely survive the longest after this hypothetical disaster?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical rain forest 
B)  tundra 
C)  deep-sea vent community 
D)  grassland 
E)  desert 
A)  tropical rain forest 
B)  tundra 
C)  deep-sea vent community 
D)  grassland 
E)  desert

Exam 42: Ecosystems and Energy

What percentage of solar radiation striking a plant is converted into chemical energy?

Which of the following locations is the main reservoir for nitrogen in Earth's nitrogen cycle?

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

Figure 42.1 Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -Examine the food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem in Figure 42.1. Which species is autotrophic?

Figure 42.1 Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -Examine the food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem in Figure 42.1. Which pair of species could be omnivores?

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for carbon in the carbon cycle?

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

A porcupine eats 3,000 J of plant material. Of this, 2,100 J is indigestible and is eliminated as feces, 800 J are used in cellular respiration, and 100 J are used for growth and reproduction. What is the approximate production efficiency of this animal?

Figure 42.3 -In the diagram of the nitrogen cycle in Figure 42.3, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by

Which of the following organisms is incorrectly paired with its trophic level?

Approximately 1% of the solar radiation that strikes a plant is converted into the chemical bond energy of sugars. Why is this amount so low?

How do the Taylor Glacier bacteria produce their energy?

Approximately how many kg of carnivore biomass can be supported by a field plot containing 1,000 kg of plant material?

What is secondary production?

Photosynthetic organisms are unique to most ecosystems because they

Figure 42.3 -In the diagram of the nitrogen cycle in Figure 42.3, which number represents nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

If the sun were to suddenly stop providing energy to Earth, most ecosystems would vanish. Which of the following ecosystems would likely survive the longest after this hypothetical disaster?

Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Viruses

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification

Phylogeny

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Broad Patterns of Evolution

Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi

The Rise of Animal Diversity

Plant Structure and Growth

Resource Acquisition, Nutrition, and Transport in Vascular Plants

Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Homeostasis and Endocrine Signaling

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Motor Mechanisms and Behavior

Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms

Species Interactions

Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

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