Question 1

Each summer, a large ʺdead zoneʺ devoid of fish and other animals develops where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. What causes this?

Accepted Answer

A)   Large quantities of fertilizer run off from Midwestern farm fields into the Mississippi River.
B)   Acid rain makes the gulfʹs water too acidic to support fish.
C)   High levels of pesticides are used in the Mississippi River basin.
D)   There are high levels of mercury in the river water.
E)   Global warming is making the river water too hot for the fish to tolerate. A

Question 2

If you are attempting to minimize the amount of mercury in your diet, you should eat

Accepted Answer

A)   omnivores such as hogs.
B)   herbivores such as cattle.
C)   producers such as fruits and vegetables.
D)   low-level carnivores such as tilapia.
E)   high-level carnivores such as tuna. C

Question 3

Organisms that produce their own food from inorganic compounds through reactions powered by sunlight are heterotrophs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Deforestation decreases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Plants absorb small amounts of carbon from the soil in the form of simple sugars or monosaccharides.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Detritus feeders remove nutrients from the food chain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

What would happen in an ecosystem without decomposers and detritus feeders?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What would happen in an ecosystem without...

Question 8

A snake that eats a small rabbit that feeds on grass is classified as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)   primary consumer.
B)   secondary consumer.
C)   tertiary consumer.
D)   autotroph.
E)   primary producer.

Question 9

When nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor in the air, they are converted to nitric acid and sulfuric acid, respectively. This precipitation that then falls to the Earth is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   acid deposition.
B)   acid fog.
C)   acid precipitation.
D)   decomposition acid.
E)   nitrogen precipitation.

Question 10

The global hydrologic cycle begins with precipitation falling to Earth, and the cycle is completed by __________, driven by solar energy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The global hydrologic cycle begins with precipitation...

Question 11

Which of the following terms correctly describes carnivores?

Accepted Answer

A)   Autotrophs
B)   Detritus consumers
C)   Secondary consumers
D)   Primary consumers
E)   Consumer producers

Question 12

The photosynthetic bacteria that form the basis of the food chain in the Great Salt Lake are classified as

Accepted Answer

A)   omnivores.
B)   carnivores.
C)   secondary consumers.
D)   herbivores.
E)   producers.

Question 13

Tropical rain forests are near the equator; they stay warm all year and have high annual precipitation. Northern coniferous forests have four seasons and most of the precipitation falls during winter and spring. Which of these ecosystems would you expect to be more productive? Explain why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tropical rain forests are near the equator;...

Question 14

The__________ are an important and often overlooked group of organisms that release nutrients into the soil or water.

Accepted Answer

A)   producers
B)   tertiary consumers
C)   autotrophs
D)   heterotrophs
E)   decomposers

Question 15

Plants produce biomass by taking in energy, CO 2, and nutrients from the environment; consumers eat much of this biomass, but not all. However, ecosystems do not indefinitely accumulate large quantities of organic matter over time. Why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Plants produce biomass by taking in energy,...

Question 16

Once used by an organism, carbon- and nitrogen-based nutrients are unavailable for other organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Explain how the worldʹs food supply may be affected by whether people eat primarily meat or vegetables.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how the worldʹs food supply may...

Question 18

Why is phosphorus so important to living organisms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is phosphorus so important to living...

Question 19

On a field trip with your class to mountain lakes in Vermont, you come across a beautiful clear lake that is deep, and you can see the pebbles at its bottom. Why does your classmate hypothesize that this lake has been subjected to acidic deposition?

Accepted Answer

The answer of On a field trip with your class...

Question 20

If a couple was attempting to get pregnant, which foods should they eat to avoid ingesting high amounts of toxins?

Accepted Answer

A)   High-fat salmon
B)   High-level carnivores such as tuna
C)   Organic grains, fruits, and vegetables
D)   Meals microwaved in plastic bags
E)   DDT-treated vegetables

Exam 29: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems

Each summer, a large ʺdead zoneʺ devoid of fish and other animals develops where the Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. What causes this?

If you are attempting to minimize the amount of mercury in your diet, you should eat

Organisms that produce their own food from inorganic compounds through reactions powered by sunlight are heterotrophs.

Deforestation decreases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Plants absorb small amounts of carbon from the soil in the form of simple sugars or monosaccharides.

Detritus feeders remove nutrients from the food chain.

What would happen in an ecosystem without decomposers and detritus feeders?

A snake that eats a small rabbit that feeds on grass is classified as a(n)

When nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor in the air, they are converted to nitric acid and sulfuric acid, respectively. This precipitation that then falls to the Earth is known as

The global hydrologic cycle begins with precipitation falling to Earth, and the cycle is completed by __________, driven by solar energy.

Which of the following terms correctly describes carnivores?

The photosynthetic bacteria that form the basis of the food chain in the Great Salt Lake are classified as

Tropical rain forests are near the equator; they stay warm all year and have high annual precipitation. Northern coniferous forests have four seasons and most of the precipitation falls during winter and spring. Which of these ecosystems would you expect to be more productive? Explain why.

The__________ are an important and often overlooked group of organisms that release nutrients into the soil or water.

Plants produce biomass by taking in energy, CO 2, and nutrients from the environment; consumers eat much of this biomass, but not all. However, ecosystems do not indefinitely accumulate large quantities of organic matter over time. Why not?

Once used by an organism, carbon- and nitrogen-based nutrients are unavailable for other organisms.

Explain how the worldʹs food supply may be affected by whether people eat primarily meat or vegetables.

Why is phosphorus so important to living organisms?

On a field trip with your class to mountain lakes in Vermont, you come across a beautiful clear lake that is deep, and you can see the pebbles at its bottom. Why does your classmate hypothesize that this lake has been subjected to acidic deposition?

If a couple was attempting to get pregnant, which foods should they eat to avoid ingesting high amounts of toxins?