Deck 4: Ecosystems and Nutrient Cycling Engineering Earth

Question 1

Which choice represents the correct hierarchy of organization from largest to smallest?

A)biome → biosphere → community → ecosystem → population → individual
B)biosphere → biome → ecosystem → community → population → individual
C)ecosystem → population → individual → community → biosphere → biome
D)individual → community → population → ecosystem → biome → biosphere

Answer 1

biosphere → biome → ecosystem → community → population → individual

Question 2

An organism's habitat can be considered its _________,while its niche can be viewed as its ___________.

A)address; profession
B)profession; address
C)place where it reproduces; place where it lives
D)life requirements; physical environment
E)role in a community; energy source

Answer 2

address; profession

Question 3

A plant harnessing solar energy from the Sun is an example of which of the following?

A)nutrient cycling
B)community interactions
C)energy flow
D)biomass
E)terrestrial radiation

Answer 3

energy flow

Question 4

Which of the following choices includes all of the others?

A)community
B)biome
C)biosphere
D)ecosystem
E)population

Question 5

The specific role a species plays in its community is its ___________.

A)habitat
B)community
C)niche
D)physical environment
E)address

Question 6

Which type of scientist best matches the area he or she would study?

A)botanist-various ecosystems within a tundra biome
B)ecologist-individual animals or plants
C)zoologist-plant community in a tropical rainforest
D)ecologist-ecosystems and the interactions between organisms and their surroundings

Question 7

A bear eating a fish is an example of which of the following?

A)nutrient cycling
B)energy flow
C)solar radiation
D)both nutrient cycling and energy flow
E)both energy flow and solar radiation

Question 8

What is biomass?

A)the total weight of the Earth
B)all nonliving components of an ecosystem
C)the resulting mass of nutrients after a portion has left the system
D)all organic material that makes up an ecosystem
E)all organic material in an ecosystem minus the energy lost in production

Question 9

A group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in the same region is a(n)____________.

A)community
B)population
C)cohort
D)biome
E)ecosystem

Question 10

Energy can leave a system in which form?

A)heat
B)matter
C)nutrients
D)biomass
E)chemicals

Question 11

All of the populations living and interacting in an area is known as a(n)________.

A)species
B)population
C)ecosystem
D)community
E)biome

Question 12

Which would be considered to be a part of a lake ecosystem?

A)fish
B)minerals
C)water
D)rocks
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 13

A coral reef community may include all of the following EXCEPT _______.

A)water
B)fish
C)aquatic plants
D)phytoplankton

Question 14

Which of the following could be defined as an ecosystem?

A)the Mojave Desert
B)a tide pool
C)a coral reef
D)a forest
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 15

Why is it difficult or impossible for ecologists to study the biosphere as a whole? Why is it useful to break down the biosphere into sections such as ecosystems,communities,and populations?

Question 16

Refer to Infographic 1.Use the infographic to describe examples of considerations scientists had to take into account when planning Biosphere 2.

Question 17

Which factors must be considered to create an ecosystem?

A)limiting factors,such as organic matter
B)animals and plants
C)abiotic factors,such as streams and soil
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 18

Learning how ecosystems function can help ______________.

A)us protect current ecosystems
B)us restore already damaged ecosystems
C)scientists learn about the complexities of biomes
D)humans and other species continue to live and thrive on Earth
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 19

On Earth,all ecosystems function through two fundamental processes,nutrient cycling and energy flow.Which of the following statements is correct?

A)Nutrient cycling is considered an open process.
B)Energy flow is considered an open process.
C)Both nutrient cycling and energy flow are open processes.
D)Neither nutrient cycling nor energy flow are open processes.
E)Neither nutrient nor energy processes are important for ecosystem functioning.

Question 20

All of the following can be found in the biosphere EXCEPT ________.

A)the ozone layer
B)soil
C)fish
D)rocks
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 21

A(n)_________ factor is the one abiotic or biotic factor whose supply determines the population size of a given species in a given biome.

A)tolerance
B)stress
C)intolerance
D)finite
E)limiting

Question 22

Which of the following does NOT characterize a particular biome?

A)distinct climate
B)dominant vegetation
C)temperature
D)precipitation
E)size

Question 23

Which of the following could be considered a limiting factor for a species?

A)pH of the soil
B)temperature
C)level of humidity
D)dissolved oxygen levels in water
E)All of the choices listed above could be a limiting factor for a species.

Question 24

Refer to Infographic 4.For several years,you have been investigating the effects of a warmer climate on a butterfly population.Recently,you have noticed that the butterflies found in what would traditionally be the zone of physiological stress are growing and breeding more successfully than the butterflies in the zone of optimum range.How do you explain this shift?

Question 25

The zone of __________ is the portion of an environmental gradient within which the species survives,grows,and reproduces the best.

A)intolerance
B)tolerance
C)optimum range
D)physiological stress
E)limiting factors

Question 26

In the design of Biosphere 2,which environmental variables could be carefully controlled and precisely measured?

A)temperature
B)water availability
C)proportion of oxygen in the air
D)proportion of carbon dioxide in the air
E)all of the answer choices are correct

Question 27

Refer to Infographic 3.From the infographic,which type of biome is mostly found 30° north or south of the equator? What conditions exist there?

Question 28

Consider the following scenario: A plant grows in the soil and is eventually eaten by a rabbit.The rabbit is eaten by a hawk.The hawk becomes ill,dies,and falls to the ground.Fungi and bacteria decompose the hawk.How is this scenario an example of both matter cycling and energy flow?

Question 29

What is a biome? What are the major factors that distinguish one biome from another?

Question 30

The range,within upper and lower limits,of a limiting factor that allows a species to survive and reproduce is called the range of ________.

A)tolerance
B)survivability
C)adaptation
D)living
E)life

Question 31

Which is NOT an example of a terrestrial biome?

A)a temperate forest
B)an open ocean
C)a Mediterranean scrub
D)a savanna
E)a desert

Question 32

The principal of limiting factors states that the survival,growth,and _______ of a species in an ecosystem are determined by the critical resource in least supply.

A)maturation
B)migration
C)diversity
D)reproduction
E)development

Question 33

If no new matter enters the system,how can Earth continue to exist?

Question 34

Which biome has abundant biodiversity,with warm temperatures and a great deal of rain?

A)tundra
B)temperate forest
C)savanna
D)tropical rainforest
E)boreal forest

Question 35

The biome that contains the least amount of moisture is a __________.

A)savanna
B)temperate grassland
C)mountain
D)temperate forest
E)tropical scrub

Question 36

Describe two abiotic factors that influence the distribution and makeup of biomes and how they do this.

Question 37

Populations that have a _______ range of tolerance and are _______ genetically diverse have a greater chance of surviving a change to their environment.

A)narrow; more
B)narrow; less
C)broad; more
D)broad; less
E)small; less

Question 38

A bait shop wants to sell leeches and performs an experiment to determine the water temperature range of tolerance for them.Which choice best represents this range based on the data shown in this graph?

A)5°C to 35°C
B)15°C to 30°C
C)15°C to 20°C
D)5°C to 20°C
E)5°C to 25°C

Question 39

Which biome would have the lowest mean annual temperature and the lowest mean annual precipitation?

A)a boreal forest
B)a desert
C)a temperate grassland
D)a tundra
E)a savannah

Question 40

Why do ecologists say that Earth is a closed system for matter?

A)because there are no new inputs of matter
B)because there is no net loss of matter
C)because matter cycles in and out of organisms in ecosystems
D)because matter stays in the biosphere
E)All of the answer choices are correct.

Question 41

As you hike up a mountain,you observe that the vegetation changes.What are some of the limiting factors that are determining what vegetation you observe on the mountain?

Question 42

Nitrogen-rich compounds found in animal waste or the remains of dead plants and animals are converted to ___________ by decomposer bacteria.

A)ammonium ions
B)protein
C)nitrogen gas
D)nitrate
E)nitrite

Question 43

Refer to Infographic 6.Describe what limiting factor caused the human population in Biosphere 2 to become so tired they couldn't work.

Question 44

Refer to the figure below.Describe ways that scientists attempted to design Biosphere 2 to minimize the effects of limiting factors and help keep organisms within their zone of optimum range.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a way humans disrupt the carbon cycle?

A)deforestation
B)using excessive fertilizers
C)burning fossil fuels
D)burning forests to clear land

Question 46

In the carbon cycle,photosynthetic organisms use carbon dioxide to produce _________.

A)sugar molecules
B)lipid molecules
C)protein molecules
D)nucleic acids
E)protons

Question 47

How is Biosphere 2 useful today?

A)People still live in the humanmade biosphere.
B)Farmers use it to graze cattle.
C)It allows scientists to study the consequences of high CO₂ levels.
D)Biosphere 2 no longer exists.
E)It is used as training for astronauts.

Question 48

Several years ago,you planted a pine tree at the base of a mountain and another on the summit of the mountain.On a recent hike,you photographed each tree.Do you expect to see any differences in their appearance? Explain.

Question 49

When an oak tree undergoes photosynthesis,it is essentially __________.

A)adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
B)removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
C)adding nitrogen to the atmosphere
D)removing nitrogen from the atmosphere
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 50

Carbon cycles in and out of living things during which process(es)?

A)cellular respiration
B)photosynthesis
C)decomposition
D)both cellular respiration and photosynthesis
E)both photosynthesis and decomposition

Question 51

In the carbon cycle,plants release carbon back to the environment through the process of _________.

A)photosynthesis
B)cellular respiration
C)oxidation
D)transpiration
E)evaporation

Question 52

Which form of nitrogen can be taken up by plant roots?

A)N₂
B)NH₂
C)NO₄
D)NH₃
E)N₃

Question 53

Nutrient cycles,or biogeochemical cycles,refer to ______________.

A)energy passed from one organism to another
B)plants and organic matter entering and leaving the biosphere
C)the movement of life's essential chemicals or nutrients through an ecosystem
D)the sharing of nutrients between a parasite and a host

Question 54

In the carbon cycle,plants remove carbon from the atmosphere through the process of _______.

A)photosynthesis
B)cellular respiration
C)oxidation
D)transpiration
E)evaporation

Question 55

The length of time nutrients spend in a sink (or reservoir)is called the ______________ time.

A)sink
B)residence
C)nutrient travel
D)matter cycle
E)reservoir

Question 56

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate into ________,thus returning nitrogen to _________.

A)ammonia; its most stable form
B)nitrogen gas; the atmosphere
C)proteins; a usable form
D)ammonia; its least stable form
E)nitrogen gas; the soil

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT an abiotic factor?

A)rock
B)mineral composition of soil
C)rainfall
D)bacterium

Question 58

Biosphere 2 helped scientists realize ____________.

A)the complexities of the carbon cycle
B)they wasted their money
C)humans cannot function without technology
D)ecosystems are simpler than originally thought
E)All of these answer choices are correct.

Question 59

In terms of the carbon cycle,how is combustion of fossil fuels different from burning biomass (wood)for fuel?

Question 60

How have humans impacted the carbon cycle,and how can humans use nature to address this issue?

Question 61

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions:
Which biome has the greatest range of mean annual temperature?

A)temperate forest
B)tundra
C)tropical rainforest
D)desert

Question 62

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions:
Which biome is found in the cold temperate range?

A)tundra
B)boreal forest
C)temperate forest
D)savannah

Question 63

Match each term in the left-hand column to the statement that it best exemplifies.

Question 64

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions:
Which best describes the climate of the tropical scrub biome?

A)drier,warmer
B)wetter,warmer
C)drier,colder
D)wetter,colder

Question 65

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions:
The biome that exists across the widest range of mean annual precipitation is the:

A)temperate forest
B)tundra
C)tropical rainforest
D)tesert

Question 66

Dr.Rock,the scientist studying nutrient cycles,discovers all the nutrients on Plant Y move through the atmosphere.This is different than the nutrient cycles on Earth since the ____ cycle does not move through the atmosphere.

A)nitrogen
B)carbon
C)water
D)phosphorus

Question 67

Science Literacy Use the following graph to answer the next questions:
If the mean annual precipitation in the tropical seasonal forest biome increased by 200 cm while mean annual temperature remained the same,which biome would it turn into?

A)temperate forest
B)mediterranean scrub
C)tropical rainforest
D)It would stay as a tropical seasonal forest.

Question 68

Refer to Infographic 8.Each year a "dead zone" appears in the Gulf of Mexico when oxygen levels in the water drop to levels insufficient to support the fish and shrimp that live there.The drop-in oxygen is due to the decomposition of photosynthetic phytoplankton that grow in huge numbers,die,and sink to the bottom; they are then decomposed by bacteria that use up oxygen in the process.Use the infographic to describe what the limiting factor to phytoplankton normally is and how that factor is removed each spring when rains wash runoff from Midwestern farm fields into rivers that empty into the Gulf.What could be done to help prevent this from occurring?

Question 69

Which nutrient is found only in solid or liquid form on Earth?

A)carbon
B)nitrogen
C)phosphorous
D)both carbon and nitrogen
E)carbon,nitrogen,and phosphorous

Question 70

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the nitrogen cycle?

A)Microbes convert atmospheric N₂ to NH_3.
B)Lightning converts N₂ to NO_3.
C)Microbes use NO₃ and convert it to N_2.
D)Microbes break down organic matter and release NH_4.
E)All of these answer choices are true regarding the nitrogen cycle.

Question 71

Which of the following is NOT a main nutrient cycle?

A)carbon
B)nitrogen
C)phosphorous
D)magnesium
E)All of these choices are main nutrient cycles.

Question 72

Certain plants called legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen thanks to a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with their root systems.How does this relationship benefit the plants? How can humans take advantage of this in agriculture?

Question 73

The team's zoologist,Dr.Fish,is examining a small furry mammal like a rabbit.He finds the mammal only eats a certain type of flower,and the supply of the flower determines the population size of the mammal in its ecosystem.The flower would be an example of

A)the range of tolerance.
B)a limiting factor.
C)a decomposer.
D)an abiotic component.

Question 74

If you and your team are interested in identifying the parts of the biosphere with distinct climates and predominant vegetation and organisms adapted to living there,you are interested in identifying the

A)populations.
B)communities.
C)ecosystems.
D)biomes.

Question 75

If matter and energy in ecosystems on Plant Y function the same as they do on Earth,which of the following would be true?

A)Matter cycles through the biosphere,and energy can enter and leave the planet.
B)Matter can enter and leave the planet,and energy can cycle through the biosphere.
C)Matter and energy can both cycle through the biosphere.
D)Matter and energy can both enter and leave the planet.

Question 76

Describe the two main goals of the Biosphere 2 experiment.Was the experiment a success or a failure?

Question 77

Which nutrient cycle(s)do/does NOT have a phase in the atmosphere?

A)carbon
B)nitrogen
C)phosphorous
D)both carbon and nitrogen
E)both nitrogen and phosphorous

Question 78

Your botanist,Dr.Flowers,is studying plants on Planet Y.She finds out the plants use the same components in photosynthesis to make sugar as Earth plants use.The plants on Planet Y use solar energy and

A)carbon dioxide and oxygen.
B)water and oxygen.
C)carbon dioxide and water.
D)carbon and nitrogen.