Question 1

Which of the following is true about the general geographic distribution of richness and equitability?

Accepted Answer

A) Both richness and equitability, and therefore biodiversity, increase from the tropics to the poles. 
B) Both richness and equitability, and therefore biodiversity, decrease from the tropics to the poles. 
C) Richness decreases from tropical areas to polar areas; equitability may increase toward the poles, but overall, biodiversity decreases from the tropics to the poles. 
D) Richness increases from tropical areas to polar areas; equitability may decrease toward the poles, but overall, biodiversity increases from the tropics to the poles. 
A) Both richness and equitability, and therefore biodiversity, increase from the tropics to the poles. 
B) Both richness and equitability, and therefore biodiversity, decrease from the tropics to the poles. 
C) Richness decreases from tropical areas to polar areas; equitability may increase toward the poles, but overall, biodiversity decreases from the tropics to the poles. 
D) Richness increases from tropical areas to polar areas; equitability may decrease toward the poles, but overall, biodiversity increases from the tropics to the poles. C

Question 2

The impact of humans on the global sulfur cycle is

Accepted Answer

A) very small since sulfur emission has been banned by international treaty. 
B) very small at the global scale but can be large locally. 
C) large at the global scale but usually small locally. 
D) moderate and relatively evenly distributed across space. 
A) very small since sulfur emission has been banned by international treaty. 
B) very small at the global scale but can be large locally. 
C) large at the global scale but usually small locally. 
D) moderate and relatively evenly distributed across space. B

Question 3

Assuming that all other factors are equal, on a cold winter afternoon the amount of dissolved O2 in a lake will be

Accepted Answer

A) more than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules less likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be higher than on a hot day. 
B) less than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules more likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be higher than on a hot day. 
C) more than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules less likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be lower than on a hot day. 
D) less than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules more likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be lower than on a hot day. 
A) more than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules less likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be higher than on a hot day. 
B) less than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules more likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be higher than on a hot day. 
C) more than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules less likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be lower than on a hot day. 
D) less than on a hot day because the decreased energy in colder water makes O2 molecules more likely to escape to the atmosphere, and biological oxygen demand will be lower than on a hot day. C

Question 4

The major difference between richness and equitability is that

Accepted Answer

A) richness is a measure of biodiversity and equitability is a measure of competition. 
B) richness expresses how complicated the organisms that make up an ecosystem are, while equitability only considered the number of organisms. 
C) richness is a count of the number of species present in an ecosystem and equitability describes how evenly distributed the populations of each species are. 
D) richness describes the number of r-selected species in an ecosystem and equitability expresses the number of K-selected species in an ecosystem. 
A) richness is a measure of biodiversity and equitability is a measure of competition. 
B) richness expresses how complicated the organisms that make up an ecosystem are, while equitability only considered the number of organisms. 
C) richness is a count of the number of species present in an ecosystem and equitability describes how evenly distributed the populations of each species are. 
D) richness describes the number of r-selected species in an ecosystem and equitability expresses the number of K-selected species in an ecosystem.

Question 5

If two species are in competition for the same resources,

Accepted Answer

A) we can infer they are in a predator-prey relationship. 
B) a new species will be most likely to enter the ecosystem if the species decrease the overlap in their niche. 
C) one will always drive the other into extinction. 
D) they cannot be part of the same ecosystem. 
A) we can infer they are in a predator-prey relationship. 
B) a new species will be most likely to enter the ecosystem if the species decrease the overlap in their niche. 
C) one will always drive the other into extinction. 
D) they cannot be part of the same ecosystem.

Question 6

Which of the following is not an important factor that contributes to net primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) intensity of insolation 
B) soil nutrients 
C) precipitation 
D) All of these are important factors. 
A) intensity of insolation 
B) soil nutrients 
C) precipitation 
D) All of these are important factors.

Question 7

The major reason for the collapse of the Aral Sea ecosystem was the

Accepted Answer

A) invasion of the pine beetle as adjacent ecosystems collapsed. 
B) increased temperatures during this era of global warming. 
C) earthquake of 1964. 
D) diversion of water for irrigation purposes. 
A) invasion of the pine beetle as adjacent ecosystems collapsed. 
B) increased temperatures during this era of global warming. 
C) earthquake of 1964. 
D) diversion of water for irrigation purposes.

Question 8

An open system is characterized by

Accepted Answer

A) inputs of energy and matter that come from outside the system. 
B) energy and matter that are stored in the system, but not within the living tissue. 
C) negative feedbacks rather than positive feedbacks. 
D) the absence of secondary consumers. 
A) inputs of energy and matter that come from outside the system. 
B) energy and matter that are stored in the system, but not within the living tissue. 
C) negative feedbacks rather than positive feedbacks. 
D) the absence of secondary consumers.

Question 9

In the diagram below, the importance of the erupting volcano at "B" for the global carbon cycle is that

Accepted Answer

A) CO2 dissolved in magma rises with the magma and is released from solution into the atmosphere as pressures decrease, warming the Earth. 
B) the heat from the erupting volcano warms the atmosphere to such an extent that it can no longer retain CO2 in it, causing it to condense and cool the Earth. 
C) as the magma begins to cool when it reaches the surface, atmospheric CO2 is absorbed into it, cooling the Earth. 
D) atmospheric CO2 gets drawn into the volcanic caldera as soon as the magma exits the chamber, cooling the Earth. 
A) CO2 dissolved in magma rises with the magma and is released from solution into the atmosphere as pressures decrease, warming the Earth. 
B) the heat from the erupting volcano warms the atmosphere to such an extent that it can no longer retain CO2 in it, causing it to condense and cool the Earth. 
C) as the magma begins to cool when it reaches the surface, atmospheric CO2 is absorbed into it, cooling the Earth. 
D) atmospheric CO2 gets drawn into the volcanic caldera as soon as the magma exits the chamber, cooling the Earth.

Question 10

If owls begin migrating to an area to feed on a particular mouse species, but the mice have ingested a toxin (to owls)that begins to keep the owl population in check, which then causes the mouse population to increase, until more owls move into the area, and so on, this is an example of a

Accepted Answer

A) positive feedback system. 
B) negative feedback system. 
C) detritivore. 
D) chemosynthesis. 
A) positive feedback system. 
B) negative feedback system. 
C) detritivore. 
D) chemosynthesis.

Question 11

An example of commensalism would be

Accepted Answer

A) a bird that eats ticks from a zebra's skin. 
B) Spanish moss that hangs from a live oak tree. 
C) the bacteria that causes pneumonia. 
D) the needles on a cactus. 
A) a bird that eats ticks from a zebra's skin. 
B) Spanish moss that hangs from a live oak tree. 
C) the bacteria that causes pneumonia. 
D) the needles on a cactus.

Question 12

Food webs like the one shown below generally show

Accepted Answer

A) consumers only at the secondary level and above. 
B) the degree of interdependence between organisms in ecosystems. 
C) all of the structures in an ecosystem. 
D) less information than a food chain. 
A) consumers only at the secondary level and above. 
B) the degree of interdependence between organisms in ecosystems. 
C) all of the structures in an ecosystem. 
D) less information than a food chain.

Question 13

In the diagram below the "steno" species is represented by the

Accepted Answer

A) green line. 
B) black line. 
A) green line. 
B) black line.

Question 14

An ecosystem that is stable is likely to have a

Accepted Answer

A) high percentage of "eury" species for the environmental conditions present. 
B) high percentage of "steno" species for the environmental conditions present. 
C) narrow optimal range for the environmental conditions present. 
D) high percentage of r-selected species. 
A) high percentage of "eury" species for the environmental conditions present. 
B) high percentage of "steno" species for the environmental conditions present. 
C) narrow optimal range for the environmental conditions present. 
D) high percentage of r-selected species.

Question 15

The diagram below conveys the idea that

Accepted Answer

A) oceanic subduction zones are areas where ecosystems are particularly rich. 
B) biogeochemical cycles store and cycle matter across the different "spheres." 
C) diversity is only one indicator of an ecosystem's health. 
D) life tends to exist in "clumps" with little between the productive areas. 
A) oceanic subduction zones are areas where ecosystems are particularly rich. 
B) biogeochemical cycles store and cycle matter across the different "spheres." 
C) diversity is only one indicator of an ecosystem's health. 
D) life tends to exist in "clumps" with little between the productive areas.

Question 16

Which of the following is not true about protecting biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

A) Once a species is lost from an area, it isn't typically re-introduced because doing so would endanger other species in that ecosystem. 
B) The mining industry exerts a serious threat to biodiversity. 
C) Gene and see banks provide "insurance" for the long-term survival of species. 
D) The cultivation of densely-planted "energy crops" grown in tropical ecosystems to provide biofuels is a threat to biodiversity. 
A) Once a species is lost from an area, it isn't typically re-introduced because doing so would endanger other species in that ecosystem. 
B) The mining industry exerts a serious threat to biodiversity. 
C) Gene and see banks provide "insurance" for the long-term survival of species. 
D) The cultivation of densely-planted "energy crops" grown in tropical ecosystems to provide biofuels is a threat to biodiversity.

Question 17

In the diagram below, the first law of thermodynamics is responsible for the processes depicted by

Accepted Answer

A) the purple squiggly lines only. 
B) the black arrows only. 
C) the brown arrows only. 
D) the yellow squiggly lines and the black arrows. 
E) the purple squiggly lines and the brown arrows. 
A) the purple squiggly lines only. 
B) the black arrows only. 
C) the brown arrows only. 
D) the yellow squiggly lines and the black arrows. 
E) the purple squiggly lines and the brown arrows.

Question 18

The Haber-Bosch process is important because it is a

Accepted Answer

A) technique for fertilizing the ocean to increase productivity of ecosystems. 
B) mechanism by which human activities alter the global nitrogen cycle. 
C) process by which tropospheric ozone forms. 
D) means by which oil and gas are extracted from geologic formations in the lithosphere. 
A) technique for fertilizing the ocean to increase productivity of ecosystems. 
B) mechanism by which human activities alter the global nitrogen cycle. 
C) process by which tropospheric ozone forms. 
D) means by which oil and gas are extracted from geologic formations in the lithosphere.

Question 19

A niche is

Accepted Answer

A) the biotic components of the ecosystem. 
B) the role of a species relative to other species in the ecosystem. 
C) the opposite of a habitat. 
D) the ecosystem's properties at the time that the climax community occurs. 
A) the biotic components of the ecosystem. 
B) the role of a species relative to other species in the ecosystem. 
C) the opposite of a habitat. 
D) the ecosystem's properties at the time that the climax community occurs.

Question 20

In the diagram below, the dashed horizontal line represents the exponential growth coefficient

Accepted Answer

A) carrying capacity. 
B) competition level. 
C) reproduction rate. 
D) niche level. 
A) carrying capacity. 
B) competition level. 
C) reproduction rate. 
D) niche level.

Which of the following is true about the general geographic distribution of richness and equitability?

The impact of humans on the global sulfur cycle is

Assuming that all other factors are equal, on a cold winter afternoon the amount of dissolved O₂ in a lake will be

The major difference between richness and equitability is that

If two species are in competition for the same resources,

Which of the following is not an important factor that contributes to net primary productivity?

The major reason for the collapse of the Aral Sea ecosystem was the

An open system is characterized by

In the diagram below, the importance of the erupting volcano at "B" for the global carbon cycle is that

If owls begin migrating to an area to feed on a particular mouse species, but the mice have ingested a toxin (to owls)that begins to keep the owl population in check, which then causes the mouse population to increase, until more owls move into the area, and so on, this is an example of a

An example of commensalism would be

Food webs like the one shown below generally show

In the diagram below the "steno" species is represented by the

An ecosystem that is stable is likely to have a

The diagram below conveys the idea that

Which of the following is not true about protecting biodiversity?

In the diagram below, the first law of thermodynamics is responsible for the processes depicted by

The Haber-Bosch process is important because it is a

A niche is

In the diagram below, the dashed horizontal line represents the exponential growth coefficient

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Weathering and Mass Wasting

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Exam 17: Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

Which of the following is true about the general geographic distribution of richness and equitability?

The impact of humans on the global sulfur cycle is

Assuming that all other factors are equal, on a cold winter afternoon the amount of dissolved O2 in a lake will be

The major difference between richness and equitability is that

If two species are in competition for the same resources,

Which of the following is not an important factor that contributes to net primary productivity?

The major reason for the collapse of the Aral Sea ecosystem was the

An open system is characterized by

In the diagram below, the importance of the erupting volcano at "B" for the global carbon cycle is that

If owls begin migrating to an area to feed on a particular mouse species, but the mice have ingested a toxin (to owls)that begins to keep the owl population in check, which then causes the mouse population to increase, until more owls move into the area, and so on, this is an example of a

An example of commensalism would be

Food webs like the one shown below generally show

In the diagram below the "steno" species is represented by the

An ecosystem that is stable is likely to have a

The diagram below conveys the idea that

Which of the following is not true about protecting biodiversity?

In the diagram below, the first law of thermodynamics is responsible for the processes depicted by

The Haber-Bosch process is important because it is a

A niche is

In the diagram below, the dashed horizontal line represents the exponential growth coefficient

The Nature of Physical Geography

Energy and Matter in the Atmosphere

Atmospheric Motion

Atmospheric Moisture

Weather Systems and Severe Weather

Atmosphere - Ocean - Crysophere Interactions

Climates Around the World

Water Resources

Understanding Landscapes

Plate Tectonics and Regional Features

Volcanoes, Deformation, and Earthquakes

Weathering and Mass Wasting

Streams and Flooding

Glaciers and Glacial Landforms

Coasts and Changing Sea Levels

Soils

Biomes

Filters

Assuming that all other factors are equal, on a cold winter afternoon the amount of dissolved O₂ in a lake will be