Chapter 55

c. 10

10,000 kcal of producer could support approximately how many kcal of tertiary consumer? a. 1,000 b. 100 c. 10 d. 1 e. 0

secondary consumer

A carnivore that eats herbivores.

tertiary consumer

A carnivore that eats other carnivores.

detritivore

A consumer that derives its energy and nutrients from nonliving organic material such as corpses, fallen plant material, and the wastes of living organisms; a decomposer.

net primary production

A measure of production that is calculated by subtracting autotrophic respiration from all primary production in an ecosystem is called _________. trophic efficiency gross primary production net ecosystem production production efficiency net primary production

net ecosystem production

A measure of the total biomass accumulation during a given period of time is called the _________. net ecosystem production trophic efficiency production efficiency gross primary production net primary production

gross primary production

A measure of the total primary production in an ecosystem is called the _________. production efficiency gross primary production net ecosystem production trophic efficiency net primary production

law of conservation of mass

A physical law stating that matter can change form but cannot be created or destroyed. In a closed system, the mass of the system is constant.

eutrophication

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

Community biomass is decreasing.

A study of metabolic rates in a terrestrial community showed that the energy released by respiration exceeded the energy captured in photosynthesis. Which of the following situations is most likely? Community biomass is decreasing. None of the listed responses is correct. Community biomass is increasing. The second law of thermodynamics (in a closed system, there is a general tendency toward disorder) is not in effect. The first law of thermodynamics (energy is conserved) in not in effect.

ecosystem

All the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; one or more communities and the physical environment around them.

biological augmentation

An approach to restoration ecology that uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem.

primary producer

An autotroph, usually a photosynthetic organism. Collectively, autotrophs make up the trophic level of an ecosystem that ultimately supports all other levels.

b. carbon

An ecosystem is unlikely to be limited by the supply of _____ because it is obtained from the air. a. water b. carbon c. phosphorus d. calcium e. nitrogen b. carbon

limiting nutrient

An element that must be added for production to increase in a particular area.

restoring seaweed and seagrass beds of fish and shellfish nurseries

An example of restoration ecology is ________. dredging and channeling for navigation damming and diverting water to the Truckee River clearing for agriculture and livestock grazing restoring seaweed and seagrass beds of fish and shellfish nurseries converting a river into a canal

primary consumer

An herbivore; an organism that eats plants or other autotrophs.

decomposer

An organism that absorbs nutrients from nonliving organic material such as corpses, fallen plant material, and the wastes of living organisms and converts them to inorganic forms; a detritivore.

biogeochemical cycle

Any of the various chemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems.

b. 5-10

Approximately what percent of the energy at one trophic level is passed on to the next highest trophic level? a. 0-5 b. 5-10 c. 10-15 d. 15-20 e. 90-100

living organisms

As a chemical element moves through a biogeochemical cycle, it moves between "bio" and "geo". The "bio" in biogeochemical refers to biotic reservoirs, or __________

nitrogen

Bacteria are especially important in making __________ available to plants. water carbon energy nitrogen phosphorus

The total amount of energy stored in organic molecules plus the amounts reflected and dissipated as heat must equal the total solar energy intercepted by the Earth.

Based on the law of conservation of energy, ecosystem ecologists can make which of the following assertions? The total amount of energy stored in organic molecules plus the amounts reflected and dissipated as heat must equal the total solar energy intercepted by the Earth. Elements are not lost on a global scale. Photosynthetic organisms can convert approximately 1% of the solar energy they receive into organic molecules. Approximately 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. All of the listed responses are correct.

uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem

Biological augmentation is a process that _________. uses organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems None of the listed responses is correct. uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem use organisms to add essential materials to a thriving ecosystem uses organisms to help remove minerals from an ecosystem

uses organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems

Bioremediation is a process that _________. uses organisms to add essential materials to a thriving ecosystem None of the listed responses is correct. uses organisms to recolonize an ecosystem uses organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems uses organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem

respiration

By which process is carbon dioxide released from plants back to the atmosphere? respiration evaporation ammonification phosphorylation photosynthesis

photosynthesis

Carbon moves from an abiotic reservoir to living organisms during the process of __________

cellular respiration

Carbon moves from living organisms to an abiotic reservoir during the process of _______

secondary and tertiary consumers [When shrews eat snails (that eat pepper plants), they are secondary consumers. When shrews eat spiders (that eat grasshoppers), they are tertiary consumers.]

Consider this segment of a food web: Snails and grasshoppers eat pepper plants; spiders eat grasshoppers; shrews eat snails and spiders; owls eat shrews. The shrew occupies the trophic level(s) of _____. primary consumer only secondary consumer only tertiary consumer only primary and secondary consumers secondary and tertiary consumers

detritus

Dead organic matter.

dramatically increases the flow of water and minerals out of the watershed

Deforestation of a watershed _______. dramatically increases the number of organisms in the watershed dramatically decreases the flow of water and minerals out of the watershed prevents massive forest fires helps with nutrient recycling dramatically increases the flow of water and minerals out of the watershed

a. nitrates... nitrogen gas

Denitrifying bacteria convert __ to __. a. nitrates... nitrogen gas b. ammonium... nitrogen gas c. nitrogen gas... ammonium d. nitrogen gas... nitrates e. nitrogen gas.... nitrites

heterotrophs

Detritivores are _________. autotrophs primary producers heterotrophs net secondary producers omnivores

nutrient enrichment such as nitrate and phosphate runoffs from land

Eutrophication in lakes is frequently the direct result of __________. a diminished supply of nitrates and phosphates None of the listed responses is correct. industrial poisons an increase in primary consumers nutrient enrichment such as nitrate and phosphate runoffs from land

Iron stimulates the growth of cyanobacteria, which convert atmospheric N2 to nitrogenous minerals, stimulating the growth of phytoplankton.

How do iron levels affect phytoplankton populations in a marine ecosystem? Nitrogen and phosphorus are the only known limiting nutrients in marine ecosystems. Iron halts the growth of cyanobacteria, which convert atmospheric N2 to nitrogenous minerals; therefore, phytoplankton populations are limited. Iron stimulates the growth of cyanobacteria, which convert atmospheric N2 to nitrogenous minerals, stimulating the growth of phytoplankton. Without iron, eukaryotic phytoplankton populations fall because they cannot convert atmospheric N2 to nitrogenous minerals. In the presence of too much iron, eukaryotic phytoplankton populations fall because they cannot convert atmospheric N2 to nitrogenous minerals.

potassium

Important biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems include all of the following except the ________ cycle. phosphorus carbon nitrogen potassium water

reservoirs

In a biogeochemical cycle, a chemical element spends time in different places, called

a reduction in the competition for resources

In a working ecosystem such as the arctic tundra, all of the following exist except _______. a reduction in the competition for resources diverse species interactions dynamic populations chemical cycling energy and matter transfers

dissipated into space as heat

In an ecosystem, all incoming energy will eventually be __________. transferred to the decomposers used in photosynthesis transferred from one trophic level to the next dissipated into space as heat None of the listed responses is correct.

It will be dissipated into space as heat.

In an ecosystem, what will eventually happen to all incoming energy? It will be used in photosynthesis. It will be transferred to the decomposers. It will be transferred from one trophic level to the next. It will be dissipated into space as heat. None of the listed responses is correct.

c. removing harmful substances... uses organisms to add essential material to

In contrast to bioremediation, which as a strategy for ______________, biological augmentation ______________ a degraded ecosystem. a. replacing extirpated species.... removes man-created pollutants and toxins from b. eradicating a crippling disease in a keystone species... involves planting fruit and grain bearing crops to provide more forage in c. removing harmful substances... uses organisms to add essential material to d. adding new species to control problem species... adds fertilizer to nutrient-poor soils in e. using organisms to add essential materials... removes harmful substances from c. removing harmful substances.... uses organisms to add essential materials to

organisms are inefficient at converting the energy they consume into biomass [Ecological efficiencies vary greatly among organisms, but they are estimated to be about 5-20%, meaning that 80-95% of the energy in one level is not available to the next.]

In ecosystems, organisms at the highest trophic levels usually contain less collective biomass than the organisms at lower trophic levels because __________. biomass shrinks as it rises producers (for example, plants) tend to be heavier than consumers (for example, birds) top-level predators use so much energy to catch their food most of the solar energy hitting Earth is reflected back into space organisms are inefficient at converting the energy they consume into biomass

producers [Biomass pyramids generally narrow sharply from producers at the base to top-level carnivores at the apex because energy transfers between trophic levels are so inefficient.]

In general, the biomass in an ecosystem will be greatest at the trophic level comprising __________. primary consumers carnivores secondary consumers producers herbivores

the atmosphere

In the terrestrial carbon cycle, the abiotic reservoir from which living organisms directly obtain their carbon is _______

90% loss of energy [Ecological efficiencies vary greatly among organisms, but they are estimated to be about 5-20%, meaning that 80-95% of the energy in one level is not available to the next.]

In the transition from each trophic level of the food chain to the next trophic level, there is about a __________. 90% loss of energy 90% gain of energy 2% gain of energy 2% loss of energy 5% loss of energy

tropical

Increased rates of decomposition occur in ________ ecosystems. mountain cool tropical temperate arctic

Many nutrients come from the soil, but carbon comes from the air.

Local conditions such as heavy rainfall or the removal of plants may limit the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, or calcium available to a particular ecosystem, but the amount of carbon available to the system is seldom a problem. Why? Symbiotic bacteria help plants capture carbon. Plants can make their own carbon using water and sunlight. Organisms do not need very much carbon. Many nutrients come from the soil, but carbon comes from the air. Plants are much better at absorbing carbon from the soil.

is not captured for use by living things

Most of the sunlight that reaches Earth __________. is not captured for use by living things is trapped by greenhouse gases is used by algae for photosynthesis is used by plants for photosynthesis is continually recycled by ecosystems

c. ammonium... nitrites

Nitrifying bacteria convert ___ to ___. a. nitrogen gas... ammonium b. nitrogen gas... nitrates c. ammonium... nitrites d. nitrates... nitrogen gas e. ammonium... nitrogen gas

flows through ... are recycled in

On a global scale, energy _____ ecosystems whereas chemical elements _____ ecosystems. is biologically magnified in ... are recycled in is dissipated in ... flow through flows through ... are recycled in is continuously supplied to ... are continuously removed from is recycled in ... flow through

autotrophs

Photosynthetic organisms are called __________. consumers heterotrophs autotrophs herbivores carnivores

b. carbon dioxide

Plants obtain carbon from: a. water b. carbon dioxide c. sugar d. oxygen e. glucose

e. light

Plants use what as a source of energy? a. minerals b. fats c. oxygen d. vitamins e. light

autotrophs

Primary producers are _________. heterotrophs grazers detritivores autotrophs grain farmers

earth

The "geo" in biogeochemical refers to _____ - specifically, to the abiotic reservoirs where a chemical element can be found.

secondary production

The amount of chemical energy in a consumer's food that is converted to its own new biomass over a period of time is called __________. This question cannot be answered without knowing at which trophic level the organism feeds. production efficiency secondary production net ecosystem production primary production

secondary production

The amount of chemical energy in consumers' food that is converted to their own new biomass during a given time period.

primary production

The amount of light energy converted to chemical energy (organic compounds) by the autotrophs in an ecosystem during a given time period.

nutrients are recycled, but energy is not

The biggest difference between the flow of energy and the flow of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem is that __________. nutrients are recycled, but energy is not the amount of energy is much greater than the amount of nutrients organisms always need nutrients, but they don't always need energy organisms always need energy, but they don't always need nutrients energy is recycled, but nutrients are not

NH3

The direct product of nitrogen fixation is __________. N2 NO2- NH3 NO3- NH4+

from the oceans to land

The global hydrologic cycle supports a net flow of atmospheric water vapor __________. from unforested to forested biomes from polar to tropical regions from tropical to polar regions from land to the oceans from the oceans to land

net ecosystem production (NEP)

The gross primary production of an ecosystem minus the energy used by all autotrophs and heterotrophs for respiration.

net primary production (NPP)

The gross primary production of an ecosystem minus the energy used by the producers for respiration.

it allows scientists to determine the gain or loss of a chemical element in an ecosystem

The law of conservation of mass is important in ecology because _________. None of the listed responses is correct. mass is always lost in the environment, leading to pollution it allows scientists to look at chemicals that do not change in an ecosystem it allows scientists to determine the gain or loss of a chemical element in an ecosystem it helps us understand how to reduce waste

fungi and prokaryotes

The main decomposers in an ecosystem are __________. plants and fungi prokaryotes and animals plants and animals prokaryotes and plants fungi and prokaryotes

production efficiency

The percentage of energy stored in assimilated food that is not used for respiration is the _________. production efficiency net primary production net ecosystem production trophic efficiency gross primary production

production efficiency

The percentage of energy stored in assimilated food that is not used for respiration or eliminated as waste.

trophic efficiency

The percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level.

trophic efficiency

The percentage of production transferred from one trophic level to the next-higher level is called ________. production efficiency net ecosystem production trophic efficiency gross primary production net primary production

atmospheric

The phosphorus cycle lacks a(n) __________ component. organic and gaseous aquatic mineral atmospheric organic

All of the above are correct.

The producers in aquatic ecosystems include organisms in which of the following groups? cyanobacteria algae plants photoautotrophs All of the above are correct.

primary productivity is the rate at which biomass is produced

The relationship between biomass and primary productivity is that _____. biomass is the rate of primary productivity biomass is the inverse of primary productivity biomass is the natural log of primary productivity primary productivity is the inverse of biomass primary productivity is the rate at which biomass is produced

gross primary production (GPP)

The total primary production of an ecosystem.

biological augmentation

The use of organisms to add essential materials to degraded systems defines __________. physical restoration biological augmentation restoration ecology landscape management bioremediation

bioremediation

The use of organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems.

a. carbon

What element is found in all organic compounds? a. carbon b. oxygen c. helium d. iron e. nitrogen

e. carnivores

What are secondary consumers? a. producers b. herbivores c. plants d. cows e. carnivores

temperature and moisture

What are the major factors that control primary production in terrestrial ecosystems? temperature and moisture temperature and light temperature and nutrients light and nutrients light and moisture

secondary production [After a consumer feeds, only a portion of the food it consumes is converted to the organism's own biomass.]

What is the amount of chemical energy in a consumer's food that is converted to its own new biomass over a period of time called? secondary production primary production net ecosystem production production efficiency This question cannot be answered without knowing at which trophic level the organism feeds.

Soil

What is the main abiotic reservoir for elements involved in local biogeochemical cycles, such as calcium and phosphorus? The atmosphere Oceans Soil Wind Rivers

d. nitrogen fixation

What removes nitrogen from the atmosphere? a. denitrification b. nitrification c. mineralization d. nitrogen fixation e. assimilation

primary consumer

When you eat an apple, you are a __________. primary producer primary consumer carnivore secondary consumer detritivore

e. carbon dioxide

Where do plants get the carbon they use to make organic molecules? a. glucose b. oxygen c. water d. starch e. carbon dioxide

d. light

Where do plants get the energy to make organic molecules? a. minerals b. glucose c. vitamins d. light e. water

It contains the energy captured by photosynthesis.

Which of the following best describes the base of a pyramid of net production? It contains the energy left after the producers have died. It represents the energy available to secondary consumers. It contains the energy captured by photosynthesis. Its size depends on the energy available from detritivores. It receives energy from the primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers.

All of the listed responses are correct.

Which of the following is a key part of the carbon cycle? breakdown by decomposers of carbon-containing dead plants and animals return of CO2 to the atmosphere by animal and plant respiration return of CO2 to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels assimilation of atmospheric CO2 by plant photosynthesis All of the listed responses are correct.

poison ivy [right answer feedback: Correct. Primary producers are autotrophs.]

Which of the following is a primary producer? poison ivy lions shrimp humans detritivores

All of the organisms living in your aquarium and the abiotic factors with which they interact

Which of the following is an ecosystem? All of the angelfish on the planet All of the organisms living in your aquarium All of the angelfish in your aquarium The water, temperature, rocks, and other abiotic components of the aquarium All of the organisms living in your aquarium and the abiotic factors with which they interact

Nitrite is converted to nitrate (NO3-) by nitrifying bacteria.

Which of the following is true of the nitrogen cycle? Some animals can use inorganic forms of nitrogen such as ammonium. When plants and animals die, the nitrogen within their bodies becomes unavailable. Bacteria are not involved in the process. Plants can take in and use atmospheric nitrogen through their leaves. Nitrite is converted to nitrate (NO3-) by nitrifying bacteria.

Over oceans, evaporation exceeds precipitation.

Which of the following statements is true? Over oceans, evaporation exceeds precipitation. Most of Earth's water can be found in living systems. Over land, evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation. Over oceans, transpiration exceeds precipitation. Over land, evaporation exceeds transpiration and precipitation.

b. minerals

Which of these is not an organic molecule? a. carbohydrate b. minerals c. proteins d. glucose e. lipids b. minerals

b. fats

Which of these provides your body with energy? a. minerals b. fats c. oxygen d. vitamins e. light

e. NO3-

Which one of these is a nitrate? a. NH4- b. NH2 c. NO2- d. SH e. NO3-

c. NO2-

Which one of these is a nitrite? a. NH4- b. NO3- c. NO2- d. PO4- e. NH2

Restoration ecology

__________ is the science of facilitating the return of a degraded ecosystem to a more natural condition. Physical restoration Biological augmentation Biological restoration Restoration ecology Bioremediation