Question 1

Which of the following are true about ecosystems? Check all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  They contain both living and nonliving components.
B)  There is a transfer of energy through the system and some energy is lost as heat energy.
C)  Nutrients repeatedly cycle through the ecosystem.
D)  They represent the lowest level of biological organization.
E)  The ultimate source of energy for most ecosystems is the sun.F) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 2

Phosphorus deficiency often appears early in plant growth and results in stunting.Which of the following are reasons why a deficiency in phosphorus would cause growth abnormalities in plants? (Check all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Phosphorus is required for the storage and transfer of energy.
B)  Phosphorus is required for the production of amino acids that form proteins.
C)  Phosphorus is required for DNA replication.
D)  Phosphorus is necessary for building molecules in the cell membrane.
E)  Without phosphorus,cellular replication is impeded.F) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 3

Over tropical rainforest areas,approximately 90% of the water that reaches the atmosphere comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  animal metabolism.
B)  animal perspiration.
C)  plant transpiration.
D)  plant absorption.
E)  plant metabolism.F) B) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

Only about ________ of the sunlight falling on plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Accepted Answer

A)  1%
B)  10%
C)  25%
D)  50%E) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 5

The following figure shows studies in a stream where enclosures were set up either with trout or with no trout.Which statement is a correct interpretation of the graph about trout,invertebrates,and algae?

Accepted Answer

A)  If trout are present in a system,algae production is low and invertebrate population levels are also low.
B)  If trout are present in a system,algae production is high and invertebrate population levels are also high.
C)  If trout are present in a system,algae production is high and invertebrate population levels are low.
D)  Trout do not seem to affect the algae production; only the invertebrate populations are affected.
E)  Trout do affect the algae production but not the invertebrate populations.F) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 6

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid,which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  phytoplankton
B)  zooplankton
C)  primary carnivores (sardines) 
D)  secondary carnivores (tuna) 
E)  detritivoresF) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 7

The balance between photosynthesis and ________ is altered by the combustion of fossil fuels.

Accepted Answer

A)  respiration
B)  sunlight
C)  growth
D)  decompositionE) A) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 8

According to MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography theory,which of the following would be expected to have the smallest species richness?

Accepted Answer

A)  the mainland
B)  a large island near the mainland
C)  a large island far from the mainland
D)  a small island near the mainland
E)  a small island far from the mainlandF) A) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 9

NPP is the difference between plant photosynthesis and respiration.Therefore,NPP quantifies the net absorption of what element(s) by living plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon
B)  phosphorus
C)  nitrogen
D)  oxygen
E)  nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassiumF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 10

Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  gross primary productivity
B)  net primary productivity
C)  gross primary productivity - net primary productivity
D)  gross primary productivity - standing crop biomass
E)  gross primary productivity - secondary productivityF) D) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 11

Which of the following are true statements about the carbon cycle? Check all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  Carbon and nitrogen fixation are both facilitated by microbes.
B)  Burning of gasoline is a contributor to the current imbalance in the carbon cycle.
C)  Replacing rainforest with farms decreases atmospheric CO2 levels.
D)  In water,inorganic carbon exists in two different forms,both of which can be used by autotrophs.
E)  Carbon cycles locally.F) B) and C)
G) B) and D)

Question 12

In an ecosystem,the amount of organic matter produced in a given time that is available for heterotrophs is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  daily yield.
B)  gross primary productivity.
C)  net primary productivity.
D)  effective vitality.
E)  net yield.F) D) and E)
G) All of the above

Question 13

The upper,unconfined portion of the groundwater constitutes the ________,which flows into streams and is partly accessible to plants.

Accepted Answer

A)  aquifer
B)  hydrozone
C)  water table
D)  watershedE) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 14

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) is a tiny Australian marsupial that feeds entirely on nectar.Which of the following terms describes the role of a honey possum in its ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  herbivore
B)  primary producer
C)  primary carnivore
D)  secondary carnivore
E)  detritivoreF) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 15

In which of the following ways does species richness affect ecosystem function? Check all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  Low species richness can contribute to ecosystem stability.
B)  High species richness can increase ecosystem resistance to drought.
C)  Low species richness can make an ecosystem more susceptible to invasive species.
D)  High species richness reduces overall ecosystem productivity.E) B) and C)
F) A) and C)

Question 16

The rate of production of new biomass by heterotrophs is called

Accepted Answer

A)  secondary productivity.
B)  primary productivity.
C)  consumer productivity.
D)  gross productivity.
E)  net productivity.F) B) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 17

What feature do the carbon and nitrogen cycles have in common?

Accepted Answer

A)  a large atmospheric component
B)  involvement in global climate change
C)  often a limiting nutrient
D)  mostly local cycling
E)  many microbes involved in cyclingF) A) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 18

Which one of the following statements about the trophic cascade in the sea otter and sea urchin-kelp communities along the West Coast of North America are true? Check all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased sea otter populations are linked to more profuse growth of the kelp forests.
B)  Increased orca (killer whale) predation on sea otters is linked to more profuse growth of the kelp forests.
C)  Increased sea otter populations are linked to increased sea urchin populations.
D)  Increased orca (killer whale) predation on sea otters is linked to increased sea urchin populations.
E)  Increased sea urchin populations are linked to less profuse growth of the kelp forests.F) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

A(n) ________ is a permeable underground layer of rock,sand,and gravel saturated with groundwater.

Accepted Answer

A)  natural spring
B)  aquifer
C)  hot spring
D)  submergenceE) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 20

Energy enters most ecosystems by the process of

Accepted Answer

A)  biosynthesis.
B)  respiration.
C)  biogeochemical weathering.
D)  photosynthesis.
E)  fermentation.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Exam 56: Dynamics of Ecosystems

Which one of the following statements about the trophic cascade in the sea otter and sea urchin-kelp communities along the West Coast of North America are true? Check all that apply.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are true about ecosystems? Check all that apply.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The balance between photosynthesis and ________ is altered by the combustion of fossil fuels.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Only about ________ of the sunlight falling on plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following are true statements about the carbon cycle? Check all that apply.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) is a tiny Australian marsupial that feeds entirely on nectar.Which of the following terms describes the role of a honey possum in its ecosystem?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Over tropical rainforest areas,approximately 90% of the water that reaches the atmosphere comes from

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The rate of production of new biomass by heterotrophs is called

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What feature do the carbon and nitrogen cycles have in common?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Phosphorus deficiency often appears early in plant growth and results in stunting.Which of the following are reasons why a deficiency in phosphorus would cause growth abnormalities in plants? (Check all that apply.)

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A(n) ________ is a permeable underground layer of rock,sand,and gravel saturated with groundwater.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

NPP is the difference between plant photosynthesis and respiration.Therefore,NPP quantifies the net absorption of what element(s) by living plants?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The following figure shows studies in a stream where enclosures were set up either with trout or with no trout.Which statement is a correct interpretation of the graph about trout,invertebrates,and algae?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The upper,unconfined portion of the groundwater constitutes the ________,which flows into streams and is partly accessible to plants.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid,which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In an ecosystem,the amount of organic matter produced in a given time that is available for heterotrophs is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography theory,which of the following would be expected to have the smallest species richness?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of the following ways does species richness affect ecosystem function? Check all that apply.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Energy enters most ecosystems by the process of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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