Question 1

An organism's _________ describes its feeding position within an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

A)  prey level 
B)  production level 
C)  consumption level 
D)  trophic level 
E)  predator level 
A)  prey level 
B)  production level 
C)  consumption level 
D)  trophic level 
E)  predator level D

Question 2

Net primary productivity is the primary productivity of an ecosystem, after subtracting energy lost in

Accepted Answer

A)  dead plant tissues. 
B)  inedible plant tissues. 
C)  respiration by primary producers. 
D)  respiration by primary consumers. 
E)  inefficiencies of photosynthesis. 
A)  dead plant tissues. 
B)  inedible plant tissues. 
C)  respiration by primary producers. 
D)  respiration by primary consumers. 
E)  inefficiencies of photosynthesis. C

Question 3

You are comparing two population means with a Student's t-Test. If the calculated value of t is greater than the critical value of t, you accept the hypothesis which states that there is a significant difference between the population means.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

In Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, the largest "standing stock" of energy is represented by biomass of

Accepted Answer

A)  living plant tissues. 
B)  dead plant tissues. 
C)  invertebrate herbivores. 
D)  vertebrate herbivores. 
E)  vertebrate carnivores. 
A)  living plant tissues. 
B)  dead plant tissues. 
C)  invertebrate herbivores. 
D)  vertebrate herbivores. 
E)  vertebrate carnivores.

Question 5

Among marine systems, primary productivity is highest in tropical portions of the major oceans, far from terrestrial influences.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The total amount of energy fixed by autotrophs in an ecosystem is called ________________.

Accepted Answer

gross prim

Question 7

Experimental fertilizations in the Baltic Sea suggest that primary productivity there is normally limited by

Accepted Answer

A)  phosphorus. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  iron. 
D)  potassium. 
E)  temperature. 
A)  phosphorus. 
B)  nitrogen. 
C)  iron. 
D)  potassium. 
E)  temperature.

Question 8

In Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, the fraction of available solar energy fixed by primary producers is

Accepted Answer

A)  approximately 2%. 
B)  approximately 15%. 
C)  approximately 50%. 
D)  nearly all of it. 
E)  Primary producers do not fix solar energy. 
A)  approximately 2%. 
B)  approximately 15%. 
C)  approximately 50%. 
D)  nearly all of it. 
E)  Primary producers do not fix solar energy.

Question 9

The low productivity of arctic tundra ecosystems results

Accepted Answer

A)  entirely because tundra has low evapotranspiration. 
B)  entirely because tundra soils are low in nutrients. 
C)  entirely because tundra soils retain water poorly. 
D)  because tundra soils have low nutrients and retain water poorly. 
E)  because tundra has low evapotranspiration and low-nutrient soils. 
A)  entirely because tundra has low evapotranspiration. 
B)  entirely because tundra soils are low in nutrients. 
C)  entirely because tundra soils retain water poorly. 
D)  because tundra soils have low nutrients and retain water poorly. 
E)  because tundra has low evapotranspiration and low-nutrient soils.

Question 10

The major source of nutrients in surface waters of the open ocean is

Accepted Answer

A)  mixing of subsurface with surface waters. 
B)  deposition from the atmosphere. 
C)  addition by ocean currents bringing nutrients from nearshore waters. 
D)  decomposition of dead organic material. 
E)  photosynthesis by planktonic algae. 
A)  mixing of subsurface with surface waters. 
B)  deposition from the atmosphere. 
C)  addition by ocean currents bringing nutrients from nearshore waters. 
D)  decomposition of dead organic material. 
E)  photosynthesis by planktonic algae.

Question 11

Leibig's "Law of the Minimum" stated that

Accepted Answer

A)  the lowest primary productivity occurs in the coldest ecosystems. 
B)  primary productivity is typically controlled entirely by climate. 
C)  primary productivity is typically controlled by both climate and soil nutrients. 
D)  a single soil nutrient typically limits primary productivity. 
E)  the highest primary productivity occurs at the lowest trophic level. 
A)  the lowest primary productivity occurs in the coldest ecosystems. 
B)  primary productivity is typically controlled entirely by climate. 
C)  primary productivity is typically controlled by both climate and soil nutrients. 
D)  a single soil nutrient typically limits primary productivity. 
E)  the highest primary productivity occurs at the lowest trophic level.

Question 12

The terrestrial ecosystems with highest primary production are usually those that are

Accepted Answer

A)  warm and wet. 
B)  warm and dry. 
C)  cool and wet. 
D)  cool and dry. 
E)  intermediate in both temperature and moisture. 
A)  warm and wet. 
B)  warm and dry. 
C)  cool and wet. 
D)  cool and dry. 
E)  intermediate in both temperature and moisture.

Question 13

An increase about 1,000 years ago in 13C content of human collagen from archeological sites in eastern North America probably records

Accepted Answer

A)  replacement of vegetables and grains in the diet by meat. 
B)  replacement of corn by beans and squash in the diet. 
C)  increasing consumption of corn. 
D)  increasing levels of 13C in soils. 
E)  increasing levels of 13C in the atmosphere. 
A)  replacement of vegetables and grains in the diet by meat. 
B)  replacement of corn by beans and squash in the diet. 
C)  increasing consumption of corn. 
D)  increasing levels of 13C in soils. 
E)  increasing levels of 13C in the atmosphere.

Question 14

Carnivores that feed on herbivores (or on detritivores) are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  primary producers. 
B)  primary consumers. 
C)  secondary consumers. 
D)  parasitoids. 
E)  keystone species. 
A)  primary producers. 
B)  primary consumers. 
C)  secondary consumers. 
D)  parasitoids. 
E)  keystone species.

Question 15

Primary production is lowest in which ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  creosote bush desert 
B)  annual grassland 
C)  subalpine forest 
D)  temperate deciduous forest 
E)  tropical forest 
A)  creosote bush desert 
B)  annual grassland 
C)  subalpine forest 
D)  temperate deciduous forest 
E)  tropical forest

Question 16

Among lakes, primary productivity seems to be mainly controlled by levels of

Accepted Answer

A)  light. 
B)  pollutants. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  nutrients. 
E)  None of the choices are correct. 
A)  light. 
B)  pollutants. 
C)  temperature. 
D)  nutrients. 
E)  None of the choices are correct.

Question 17

The rate of primary production on the Serengeti grassland is positively correlated with

Accepted Answer

A)  rainfall. 
B)  moderate grazing. 
C)  high-intensity grazing. 
D)  both rainfall and moderate grazing. 
E)  both rainfall and high-intensity grazing. 
A)  rainfall. 
B)  moderate grazing. 
C)  high-intensity grazing. 
D)  both rainfall and moderate grazing. 
E)  both rainfall and high-intensity grazing.

Question 18

"Actual evapotranspiration" for an ecosystem refers to the amount of water that

Accepted Answer

A)  is taken up from soils by plant roots. 
B)  evaporates from soils. 
C)  is transpired by plants. 
D)  evaporates from soils plus the amount transpired by plants. 
E)  could evaporate from soils, if they were kept wet at all times. 
A)  is taken up from soils by plant roots. 
B)  evaporates from soils. 
C)  is transpired by plants. 
D)  evaporates from soils plus the amount transpired by plants. 
E)  could evaporate from soils, if they were kept wet at all times.

Question 19

Bowman and his colleagues, who added nutrients to the alpine tundra on Niwot Ridge, Colorado, found

Accepted Answer

A)  phosphorus is the main nutrient limiting primary production in all meadows. 
B)  nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting primary production in all meadows. 
C)  phosphorus is the main nutrient limiting primary production in dry meadows. 
D)  nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting primary production in wet meadows. 
E)  nitrogen and phosphorus jointly limit primary production in wet meadows. 
A)  phosphorus is the main nutrient limiting primary production in all meadows. 
B)  nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting primary production in all meadows. 
C)  phosphorus is the main nutrient limiting primary production in dry meadows. 
D)  nitrogen is the main nutrient limiting primary production in wet meadows. 
E)  nitrogen and phosphorus jointly limit primary production in wet meadows.

Question 20

Actual evapotranspiration rates are highest in ____________ climates.

Accepted Answer

A)  warm, moist 
B)  cold, moist 
C)  warm, dry 
D)  cold, dry 
E)  actual evapotranspiration rate is not affected by climate 
A)  warm, moist 
B)  cold, moist 
C)  warm, dry 
D)  cold, dry 
E)  actual evapotranspiration rate is not affected by climate

Exam 18: Primary Production and Energy Flow

An organism's _________ describes its feeding position within an ecosystem.

Net primary productivity is the primary productivity of an ecosystem, after subtracting energy lost in

You are comparing two population means with a Student's t-Test. If the calculated value of t is greater than the critical value of t, you accept the hypothesis which states that there is a significant difference between the population means.

In Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, the largest "standing stock" of energy is represented by biomass of

Among marine systems, primary productivity is highest in tropical portions of the major oceans, far from terrestrial influences.

The total amount of energy fixed by autotrophs in an ecosystem is called ________________.

Experimental fertilizations in the Baltic Sea suggest that primary productivity there is normally limited by

In Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, the fraction of available solar energy fixed by primary producers is

The low productivity of arctic tundra ecosystems results

The major source of nutrients in surface waters of the open ocean is

Leibig's "Law of the Minimum" stated that

The terrestrial ecosystems with highest primary production are usually those that are

An increase about 1,000 years ago in 13C content of human collagen from archeological sites in eastern North America probably records

Carnivores that feed on herbivores (or on detritivores) are referred to as

Primary production is lowest in which ecosystem?

Among lakes, primary productivity seems to be mainly controlled by levels of

The rate of primary production on the Serengeti grassland is positively correlated with

"Actual evapotranspiration" for an ecosystem refers to the amount of water that

Bowman and his colleagues, who added nutrients to the alpine tundra on Niwot Ridge, Colorado, found

Actual evapotranspiration rates are highest in ____________ climates.

Introduction to Ecology Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers

Life on Land

Life in Water

Population Genetics and Natural Selection

Temperature Relations

Water Relations

Energy and Nutrient Relations

Socail Relations

Population Distribution and Abundance

Population Dynamics

Population Growth

Life Histories

Competition

Exploitative Interactions Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, and Disease

Mutualism

Species Abundance and Diversity

Species Interactions and Community Structure

Nutrient Cycling and Retention

Succession and Stability

Landscape Ecology

Geographic Ecology

Global Ecology

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An increase about 1,000 years ago in ¹³C content of human collagen from archeological sites in eastern North America probably records