Topic 1: Earth's Cycles
Carnivores that feed on other carnivores are __________. A) tertiary consumers B) secondary consumers C) primary consumers D) producers
a
Plants in the desert __________. A) effectively conserve and retain water B) have high levels of transpiration C) release 50-80% of water back into the ecosystem D) make their own precipitation
a
Succession occurs because __________. A) organisms gradually change the environment B) climax communities are not possible C) dominant organisms drive out pioneer species D) ecosystems never reach a sustainable point
a
What do the carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen cycles all have in common? A) They all include an exchange of gases with the atmosphere. B) None of the cycles are biogeochemical cycles. C) They are all byproducts of photosynthesis. D) They all sustain life, but living organisms have no part in the cycle.
a
Which of the following changes between trophic levels would have the highest energy conversion efficiency? A) producer to primary consumer B) primary consumer to secondary consumer C) secondary consumer to tertiary consumer D) none of the above
a
Which of the following is an example of a pioneer species? A) fungus B) trees C) shrubs D) grass
a
Which of the following is the balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis? A) 6H2O + 6CO2 ® 6O2 + C6H12O6 B) C6H12O6 + 6O2 ® 6H2O + 6CO2 C) H2O + CO2 ® O2 + C6H12O6 D) C6H12O6 + O2 ® H2O + CO2
a
Which of the following processes play a role in introducing both water and carbon in the earth's cycles? A) photosynthesis and respiration B) condensation and nitrogen fixation C) burning of fossil fuels and forest fires D) desertification and condensation
a
Which of the following statements about entropy is true? A) Entropy increases going from one trophic level to another. B) Increases in entropy lead to reversible processes. C) A system's work output is limited when changes in entropy do not occur. D) All of the above
a
Biogeochemical cycles __________. A) are not essential for life B) move through abiotic and biotic regions C) are the result of natural disasters D) provide the greatest amount of energy for the Earth
b
Entropy increases from one trophic level to another because __________. A) the available energy from one trophic level to another increases B) energy is lost as heat energy, increasing randomization C) the amount of biomass decreases D) all of the above
b
From where does the nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle originate? A) root nodules of legumes B) the atmosphere C) decomposers D) nitrifying bacteria
b
Hibernation is __________. A) an example of an abiotic cycle B) triggered by changes in the weather C) caused only by biotic factors D) triggered by breeding patterns
b
How are gross production and net production different? A) Net production is always greater than gross production. B) Net production is always less than gross production. C) Only animals have net production. D) Only plants have net production.
b
Increases in entropy lead to _________. A) limitless work output B) irreversible changes C) energy increases D) all of the above
b
Primary productivity is not limited by __________. A) the availability of sunlight B) time C) the availability of nutrients D) access to water
b
The average conversion energy from producers to primary consumers is __________. A) 1% B) 10% C) 50% D) 100%
b
What percentage of a lower trophic level's energy flows to the next higher trophic level? A) 1% B) 10% C) 50% D) 100%
b
Where do animals obtain carbon? A) the atmosphere B) plant and animal consumption C) the soil D) photosynthesis
b
Which of the following is not true about energy in ecosystems? A) Energy is transferred between organisms. B) Energy is recycled after flowing through ecosystems. C) Most energy enters ecosystems as sunlight. D) Ecosystems require a continuous influx of new energy.
b
In the carbon cycle, carbon is found in __________. A) the atmosphere B) the soil C) living organisms D) all of the above
d
Phosphorus is contained in __________. A) living organisms B) soil C) water D) all of the above
d
Succession is affected by __________. A) climate B) soil C) geography D) all of the above
d
What type of succession occurs on the nitrogen-poor moraines after glaciers have receded? A) secondary B) pioneer C) herbaceous D) primary
d
Where is the water stored during the water cycle? A) the atmosphere B) the ground C) the ocean D) all of the above
d
Which of the following best describes the fate of energy in ecosystems? A) It will ultimately be recycled back into the ecosystem. B) It flows from secondary consumers to primary consumers. C) It enters most ecosystems in the form of sunlight. D) It flows through and is used by ecosystems.
d
Which of the following cycles is not crucial to living organisms? A) phosphorus B) water C) carbon D) none of the above
d
Which of the following is an input for cellular respiration? A) CO2 B) H2O C) sunlight D) O2
d
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a climax community? A) high levels of biodiversity B) presence of complex organisms C) conditions suitable for all organisms D) experiences no change
d
Which of the following is not one of the Earth's cycles? A) carbon cycle B) nitrogen cycle C) water cycle D) soil cycle
d
Which of the following is the most likely cause of succession in ecosystems? A) arrival of new species B) rain C) loss of an animal species D) wildfires
d
Which of the following statements about energy and trophic levels is not true? A) The amount of available energy decreases at each higher trophic level. B) The energy conversion efficiency decreases at higher trophic levels. C) The net production of energy is higher at lower trophic levels. D) None of the above
d
Which one of the following is not part of the ways of how water enters the water cycle? A) condensation B) evaporation C) transpiration D) photosynthesis
d
Which trophic level would have the least amount of energy transferred to them? A) primary producerB)primary consumerC)secondary consumerD)tertiary consumer
d
Why does a water molecule, on average, stay in the ocean 333 times longer than in the atmosphere? A) it rains more over the ocean B) water cycles through the ocean much faster than the atmosphere C) evaporation happens only on the surface of the ocean D) water cycles through the atmosphere much faster than the ocean
d
Burning of coal plays a role in which of the following cycle? A) nitrogen B) water C) carbon D) phosphorus
c
Primary succession __________. A) is caused solely by human events B) occurs on preexisting soil C) occurs in areas without soil D) becomes normalized by climax species
c
Trees obtain carbon from __________. A) decaying organisms B) sunlight C) the atmosphere D) none of the above
c
What is the ultimate source of energy for the Earth? A) photosynthesis B) respiration C) the sun D) nutrient cycles
c
What percentage of the energy flowing through primary producers is ultimately transferred to secondary consumers? A) 100% B) 10% C) 1% D) 0.1%
c
What sequence of events can lead to magma becoming soil? A) erosion and deposition followed by exposure to heat and pressure B) compression and lithification followed by erosion and deposition C) crystallization followed by exposure and weathering D) crystallization followed by increased heat and pressure
c
Which of the following could be both a natural and a human cause of succession? A) lava flow B) overcutting C) fire D) wind
c
Which of the following is not a product of cellular respiration? A) CO2 B) energyC)C6H12O6D)H2O
c
Which of the following is not a way in which carbon is introduced into the atmosphere? A) forest fires B) respiration C) photosynthesis D) burning of fossil fuels
c
Which of the following organisms in the soil food chain does not obtain energy directly from plants? A) bacteria B) fungi C) protozoa D) nematodes
c
Which of the following organisms is located only in the 3rd trophic level of the soil food web? A) bacteria B) fungi C) protozoa D) nematodes
c
Which of the following would most likely be a cause of primary succession? A) farming B) overhunting C) volcano D) defoliation
c
Energy must be transformed in ecosystems because __________. A) energy cannot be created or destroyed B) an organism's energy must go somewhere C) an organism's energy must come from somewhere D) all of the above
d
How is a climax community different than a primitive community? A) The types of organisms present in a climax community are more complex. B) Primitive communities tend to have less biodiversity than climax communities. C) Climax communities are more stable than primitive communities. D) All of the above
d
