BIO 171: quiz Qs from Unit 4
You have been put in charge of developing a vaccination strategy for pertussis (whooping cough), which is emerging on some college campuses. What percent of students would need to be vaccinated in order for herd immunity to be effective? The Ro for pertussis is 18. Assume all vaccinations are effective.
1 - (1/Ro) => 1 - (1/18) = 94%
The individual thin filaments that make up the body of a multicellular fungus are the: A. fruiting bodies. B. hyphae. C. spores. D. mycelia. E. roots.
B. hyphae.
The reverse transcriptase in the HIV genome encodes a protein that: A. makes tRNA from RNA. B. makes DNA from RNA. C. makes RNA from protein. D. makes RNA from DNA. E. makes protein from DNA.
B. makes DNA from RNA.
True or false: Sunlight is required for plant growth. When light energy is absorbed by a leaf, after a series of chemical reactions, the light energy is transformed into potential energy stored in the chemical bonds of the glucose molecule.
True
True or false: Your body, your house, and your pets could all be considered carbon reservoirs.
True
Cellular respiration produces ______ from ________. Organic molecules are a source of ______ energy that cellular respiration transfers into _____ and transforms into _____. - Glucose and oxygen; carbon dioxide and water; chemical potential; usable chemical energy in the form of ATP; heat energy that cannot do work - Carbon dioxide and water; organic molecules and oxygen; chemical potential; usable chemical energy in the form of ATP; heat energy that cannot do work - Carbon dioxide and water; oxygen and sunlight; kinetic; usable chemical energy in the form of glucose; heat energy that the cell can use to do work
- Carbon dioxide and water; organic molecules and oxygen; chemical potential; usable chemical energy in the form of ATP; heat energy that cannot do work
If plants use CO2 during photosynthesis to build sugars, why hasn't all the atmospheric CO2 been used up? Select all that apply. - Respiration produces CO2. - Photosynthesis also produces CO2. - Plants actually don't use CO2 during photosynthesis; they use O2 as a reactant. - All cells, in all organisms, undergo cellular respiration to generate ATP, and carbon dioxide is released during these chemical reactions.
- Respiration produces CO2. - All cells, in all organisms, undergo cellular respiration to generate ATP, and carbon dioxide is released during these chemical reactions.
In some forests, oak trees are very common, and produce a food resource (acorns) that impacts a large portion of the food web. Which of the following can be used to describe the oak trees in this food web? Oak trees flower in spring. (Check all that apply) - keystone species - dominant species - angiosperm - primary consumer - eukaryote - primary producer - herbivore - autotroph - gymnosperm - heterotroph
- dominant species - angiosperm - eukaryote - primary producer - autotroph
Dr. Ben Dantzer, a faculty member here at Michigan, studies red squirrels that live in the boreal forest. The boreal forest contains coniferous trees, which produce seeds but not flowers. In his study sites, white spruce is by far the most common tree species, and is eaten by the red squirrels. Which of the following can be used to describe the red squirrels? (Check all that apply) - gymnosperm - dominant species - herbivore - primary consumer - eukaryote - angiosperm - primary producer - heterotroph
- herbivore - primary consumer - eukaryote - heterotroph
Every time a source of energy is converted from one form to another, _______________________. - heat is required. - the total amount of energy in the universe is reduced by a tiny amount. - the potential energy of the system increases. - some of the usable energy is converted to heat energy (infrared radiation). - whatever energy is lost in the transformation is recycled back to primary producers.
- some of the usable energy is converted to heat energy (infrared radiation).
Which of the following provides strong evidence for the theory of endosymbiosis for the origin of eukaryotic organelles? A. Chloroplast genes are more similar (& closely related) to cyanobacterial genes than to nuclear genes of the host cell. B. Nuclear genes are more similar (& closely related) to cyanobacterial genes than to genes from Archaea. C. Chloroplast genes are more similar (& closely related) to nuclear genes of the host cell than to mitochondrial genes. D. Bacterial genes are more similar (& closely related) to mitochondrial genes than to chloroplast genes. E. Mitochondrial genes are more similar (& closely related) to cyanobacterial genes than to the nuclear genes of the host cell.
A. Chloroplast genes are more similar (& closely related) to cyanobacterial genes than to nuclear genes of the host cell.
During the cold snap we had in Ann Arbor, Michigan in Winter 2015, your friend said that obviously global warming is not occurring because of the cold weather. He tells you he does not believe in climate change. Based on what you know about climate change, what would be the most biologically accurate response to your friend's comment? A. Climate change is not short term changes in the weather, and climate change causes increased variability in several measures of climate including temperature, precipitation, and wind. B. The strongest evidence for climate change comes from looking at short term fluctuations in weather, such as this cold snap. C. Fluctuations in temperature are not normal and have never occurred during the Earth's history. D. You agree with your friend; the weather is getting much colder, not warmer, and lots of data supports this assertion.
A. Climate change is not short term changes in the weather, and climate change causes increased variability in several measures of climate including temperature, precipitation, and wind.
Which is true of Lyme disease? Pick the one, best answer. A. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacterium that normally lives in deciduous forest communities, but sometimes moves into human populations B. Lyme disease is caused by a virus that infects bats C. Lyme disease is a disease of conservation concern, because ticks transfer it among the mice and deer populations in deciduous forests D. Lyme disease is caused by a eukaryotic parasite that ticks transfer from animal hosts to human hosts E. Lyme disease causes substantially high death rates in black legged tick populations
A. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacterium that normally lives in deciduous forest communities, but sometimes moves into human populations
Is the nitrogen cycle different in marine than in terrestrial biomes? A. No, because the main reservoir of nitrogen is the atmosphere, and nitrogen fixation can occur in both marine and terrestrial systems. B. Yes, because the organisms living in marine environments do not require as much nitrogen as organisms living in terrestrial environments. C. Yes, because only terrestrial organisms can fix nitrogen (e.g. Rhizobia). D. No, because in all biomes, denitrification makes nitrogen available to primary producers, and nitrogen fixation takes inorganic N and converts it into organic N.
A. No, because the main reservoir of nitrogen is the atmosphere, and nitrogen fixation can occur in both marine and terrestrial systems.
Which of the following factors influence(s) the rate of decomposition in an ecosystem? Choose all that apply. A. Quality of detritus B. Availability of nitrate and ammonium in soils C. Moisture levels D. Angle of incoming sunlight E. Temperature
A. Quality of detritus C. Moisture levels E. Temperature
What is the best way to slow climate change? A. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions B. Deploy large mirrors along the equator to reflect the most intense rays of the sun back away from the earth C. Adding iron to the oceans to increase photosynthesis D. There is no way to slow climate change
A. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
This question relates to the Bruno NY Times piece. What is one of the findings reported in this piece? A. The world's most isolated coral reefs are not healthier than reefs that are next to coastal cities B. The world's most isolated coral reefs are healthier than reefs that are near coastal cities. C. The world's most isolated coral reefs are actually less healthy than reefs that are near coastal cities.
A. The world's most isolated coral reefs are not healthier than reefs that are next to coastal cities
Which one of the following characteristics is true of ALL viruses? (Select all that apply.) A. They must infect a host cell to reproduce. B. They contain a DNA genome. C. They are surrounded by a lipid envelope. D. They have a protein coat called a capsid.
A. They must infect a host cell to reproduce. D. They have a protein coat called a capsid.
True or false: Plants that have symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria provide these bacteria with food in the form of carbohydrates.
True
Why is wood a remarkably difficult material to decompose? Select all correct choices. A. Wood contains lignin. B. Wood contains proteins. C. Wood contains lipids. D. Wood contains cellulose. E. No known fungi can break down lignin.
A. Wood contains lignin. D. Wood contains cellulose.
Which of the following is the most common group of organisms that transmits vector-borne diseases between people? A. arthropods B. leeches C. bats D. nematodes E. mice F. crustaceans
A. arthropods
Based on the energy and carbon sources of humans, how would humans be classified? A. as chemoheterotrophs B. as photoheterotrophs C. as photoautotrophs D. as chemoautotrophs
A. as chemoheterotrophs
Antibiotics can kill _____ in the human body, which may sometimes lead to health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease. A. both harmful and beneficial bacteria B. beneficial bacteria C. fungi D. archaeons E. harmful bacteria
A. both harmful and beneficial bacteria
DNA is isolated from a virus and found to contain 27% A, 27% T, 23% C and 23% G. The DNA is likely to be: A. double stranded. B. single stranded. C. circular. D. contaminated with RNA.
A. double stranded.
What is the term for the community of organisms and the physical environment that the community occupies? A. ecosystem B. ecology C. biosphere D. population E. community F. food web
A. ecosystem
A cyanobacterial bloom occurred in Lake Erie near Toledo in summer 2014. This bloom was characteristic of a state of excessive algal growth that is known as ... A. eutrophication B. productivity C. oligotrophication D. sedimentation E. secondary productivity
A. eutrophication
What is the term that describes excessive growth, of one or more phytoplankton species, caused by an excess of nutrient fertilizers? A. eutrophication B. sedimentation C. oligotrophication D. productivity E. secondary productivity
A. eutrophication
What is the total amount of chemical energy produced by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis in a particular ecosystem? A. gross primary production B. net primary production C. respiration D. total primary production
A. gross primary production
Remember that, as a rule, temperatures decrease with altitude. If you were studying the effects of climate change on the geographic ranges of species living in the mountains and your climate records showed that mean temperatures were increasing, you would predict that species ranges would show a shift toward: A. higher elevations. B. unpredictable elevations; the precise response would depend on individual species, with no clear trends or averages. C. None of the choices are correct. D. intermediate elevations. E. lower elevations.
A. higher elevations.
Conversion of N2 gas into NH3 (ammonia) or NH4 (ammonium) is accomplished by which of the following types of bacteria? A. nitrogen-fixing bacteria B. none of these choices - prokaryotes are not involved in this conversion C. assimilating bacteria D. denitrifying bacteria E. bacteria that cause human diseases
A. nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Which of the following are NOT geological processes that drive the long-term carbon cycle? A. photosynthesis and respiration B. volcanism and plate tectonics C. subduction and chemical weathering D. chemical weathering and plate tectonics E. subduction and volcanism
A. photosynthesis and respiration
Which of the following is considered a carbon reservoir? (Select all that apply.) A. the Great Barrier Reef B. all the organisms on Earth C. Redwood National Park D. the Atlantic Ocean
A. the Great Barrier Reef B. all the organisms on Earth C. Redwood National Park D. the Atlantic Ocean
Which of the following is an accurate distinction between NPP and GPP? A. NPP is always greater than GPP, as primary producers occupy the base of trophic pyramids and have higher biomass than upper trophic levels. B. GPP is the amount of chemical energy produced through photosynthesis by photoautotrophs whereas NPP is the amount of chemical energy that is found in the biomass of primary producers. C. GPP can be measured by determining how much solar energy hits the Earth's surface, whereas NPP is not related to solar energy. D. In the deep waters of the ocean, light does not penetrate far and this prevents cellular respiration from occurring; thus in the deep sea GPP is equal to NPP. E. NPP is a measure of mass/m2/year whereas GPP is a measure of energy/m2/year.
B. GPP is the amount of chemical energy produced through photosynthesis by photoautotrophs whereas NPP is the amount of chemical energy that is found in the biomass of primary producers.
A technique called "Slash-and-Burn" is used to clear-cut and burn forests to quickly turn them into agricultural fields. Which plant trait would LEAST aid colonization during the early succession of these fields? A. Efficient water use B. High shade tolerance C. Enhanced ability to acquire nutrients D. Ability to grow in disturbed soils E. Good seed dispersal ability
B. High shade tolerance
Which of the following could initiate a trophic cascade in a terrestrial community? A. Removal of a dominant species from the community B. Introduction of a tertiary consumer to a community that previously just had primary and secondary consumers C. Introduction of a new plant species that thrives in the location where it is introduced D. Introduction of a species who has a mutualistic relationship with an herbivore who already lives in the community E. Removal of a primary consumer from the community
B. Introduction of a tertiary consumer to a community that previously just had primary and secondary consumers
What is a pan-resistant infection? (This is based on the McKenna article.) A. One that is resistant to penicillins and vancomycin, but still sensitive to other antibiotics. B. One that is not responsive to any antibiotics C. One that occurs as a result of a pandemic (that is, a global epidemic)
B. One that is not responsive to any antibiotics
How does energy enter a food web? A. Cellular respiration captures solar energy, and using carbon dioxide, converts it into chemical energy stored in the bonds or organic molecules such as sugars. B. Photosynthetic organisms capture solar energy, and using carbon dioxide, convert it into chemical energy stored in the bonds or organic molecules such as sugars. C. Decomposers recycle energy from dead and decaying material into available nutrients for plants. D. Energy to sustain a food web is conserved; it does not enter or leave a food web.
B. Photosynthetic organisms capture solar energy, and using carbon dioxide, convert it into chemical energy stored in the bonds or organic molecules such as sugars.
What is the difference between a pool and a flux in a biogeochemical cycle? A. Pools are aquatic, whereas fluxes are terrestrial. B. Pools are measured in units of mass, whereas fluxes are measured in units of mass per time. C. Pools are stable and do not change, whereas fluxes move energy through the system. D. Pools represent matter, whereas fluxes represent the movement of energy. E. Pools are generally very large, whereas fluxes move very small amounts of matter.
B. Pools are measured in units of mass, whereas fluxes are measured in units of mass per time. Pools and fluxes do NOT talk about energy flow. That would be a food web.
Which of the following trophic levels contains the most energy? A. Top predators B. Primary producers C. Secondary consumers D. Primary consumers E. Tertiary consumers F. Herbivores
B. Primary producers
Fire is a common type of disturbance in dry biomes, like pine forests. Which of the following is true about fire in this biome? A. Fires do not occur in pine forests. B. Some pines have cones that open following exposure to fire, to disperse seeds. C. Fire in pine forests may be severe, but not severe enough to be followed by a successional process. D. Fire in pine forests is causing conversion of this land from pine-dominated forests to oak-dominated forests. E. Pines are adapted to fire by having thin bark and low branches.
B. Some pines have cones that open following exposure to fire, to disperse seeds.
What is Ro? A. The frequency of contact between infected and susceptible individuals B. The number of secondary infections that result from a single infected individual entering a population of entirely susceptible individuals C. The number of susceptible hosts in a population D. The length of time that an individual is infectious to other individuals E. The density of a disease in a population
B. The number of secondary infections that result from a single infected individual entering a population of entirely susceptible individuals
What would happen in an ecosystem if decomposer populations went extinct? (Choose all that apply) A. GPP would decrease and plant respiration would increase, so NPP would not change. B. There would be more nitrogen in organic forms than in inorganic forms. C. NPP and respiration would both increase. D. Because decomposers do cellular respiration, CO2 concentration would steadily decrease until [CO2] = 0. E. Oxygen concentrations would increase, because plant productivity would increase. F. There would be more nitrogen in inorganic forms than in organic forms.
B. There would be more nitrogen in organic forms than in inorganic forms.
How could an atom of nitrogen get from an apple into a macromolecule in an animal cell? A. You consume the apple, nitrogen in DNA in the apple's cells is broken down through digestion. The process of cellular respiration results in the N atom being incorporated into carbohydrates used for energy. B. When you consume the apple, nitrogen in a DNA molecule in the apple's cells is broken down through digestion. Your cell can use that N atom to make a protein. C. The premise is false; apple cells only contain carbohydrates and lipids. D. The apple falls off a tree and decomposes over the course of several months on your lawn. Decomposers use the carbohydrates in the apple to make ATP through photosynthesis, and in the process, incorporate N into their cell walls. E. The apple falls off a tree and decomposes over the course of several months on your lawn. One of the decomposers is a bacterium that can take organic N and release it back into the atmosphere as N2 gas; this process is called denitrification. You breathe in N2 gas (as it is a major component of the atmosphere) and it crosses your cell membrane in your lungs; once inside a cell, N2 is used to help build DNA nucleotides.
B. When you consume the apple, nitrogen in a DNA molecule in the apple's cells is broken down through digestion. Your cell can use that N atom to make a protein.
A disease that has always infected people in one geographic region continues to infect people in that region, with the infection prevalence remaining approximately the same. This describes: A. a disease epidemic B. an endemic disease C. a zoonosis D. a pandemic
B. an endemic disease
Disturbances: A. affect populations differently according to the population's density. B. can influence the diversity of species in a community. C. usually only affect one particular species in a community. D. are extremely rare. E. involve interactions such as competition and predation.
B. can influence the diversity of species in a community.
A symbiosis in which one partner lives within the other is known as ___________________? A. predation B. endosymbiosis C. competition D. parasitism E. commensalism
B. endosymbiosis
The chemical energy that is transferred from primary producers to primary consumers is termed _______________; it is measured as ______________ minus ________________. A. total production; consumption; biomass B. net primary production; gross primary production; the amount of energy used by the primary producers for cellular respiration C. primary consumption; secondary production; heat loss D. secondary production; consumption; excreted waste E. gross primary production; net primary production; the amount of energy used by the primary producers for photosynthesis F. gross primary production; net primary production; heat loss G. net primary production; gross primary production; kinetic energy
B. net primary production; gross primary production; the amount of energy used by the primary producers for cellular respiration
Which of the following correctly describes a type of viral genome? (Choose all that apply) A. a double helix with one DNA strand and one RNA strand B. single-stranded RNA C. single-stranded DNA D. double-stranded RNA E. double-stranded DNA
B. single-stranded RNA C. single-stranded DNA D. double-stranded RNA E. double-stranded DNA NOT A.
he term "human microbiome" refers to which of the following? A. the microbes that decompose organic matter created by humans B. the microbes that live in and on human bodies, most of which are beneficial to humans C. disease-causing organisms that are associated with people D. Archaea and Bacteria whose abundance is influenced by human activities E. the microbes that live on plastics and other materials created by humans
B. the microbes that live in and on human bodies, most of which are beneficial to humans
Most climate models predict that during the 21st century average (mean) global temperature will increase by: A. 12-15°C B. 1-3°C C. 2-5°C D. 7-10°C E. 5-7°C
C. 2-5°C
Primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems is highest at the equator because of: A. relatively constant temperature. B. high levels of direct sunlight. C. All of the other answer choices contribute to high productivity. D. high levels of rainfall.
C. All of the other answer choices contribute to high productivity.
If a forester treats his soil with a broad-spectrum fungicide, how would this affect the rate of CO2 released from the system? A. CO2 released from the system will increase because the fungi will be decomposed by something else. B. CO2 released from the system will remain the same because fungi only decompose dead organisms and the forest is alive. C. CO2 released from the system will decrease because this would decrease the number of decomposers in the system.
C. CO2 released from the system will decrease because this would decrease the number of decomposers in the system.
Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic association involving a fungus? A. Fungal spores infect and then eventually kill an insect. B. A fungus invades the xylem of a tree and eventually kills it. C. Fungal hyphae penetrate a plant root and provide the plant with nutrients and receive organic molecules in return. D. A fungus produces rings that allow it to capture and feed upon nematode worms. E. A fungus causes Athlete's foot in a human.
C. Fungal hyphae penetrate a plant root and provide the plant with nutrients and receive organic molecules in return.
Which of the following statements about the current human impacts on the environment is NOT valid? A. Humans impact the nitrogen cycle by mining ammonium-rich rocks to produce nitrate, which can lead to eutrophication in freshwater systems when excess fertilizers are used on farms. B. Humans have the greatest negative impacts on biodiversity (of all taxa) through overexploitation. C. Humans have the greatest negative impacts on loss of vertebrate species through climate change. D. Humans impact the carbon cycle by increasing the atmospheric pool of carbon by burning fossil fuels and through forest destruction. E. Humans impact the nitrogen cycle by industrial fixation of nitrogen, which can lead to eutrophication in marine systems when excess N-fertilizers are used on farms.
C. Humans have the greatest negative impacts on loss of vertebrate species through climate change.
So-called "dead zones" in coastal oceans are associated with nutrient runoff and oxygen-depleted bottom waters. What causes the oxygen depletion? A. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of cyanobacteria and algae, which consume oxygen via aerobic respiration. B. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of cyanobacteria and algae which, in turn, support the growth of fish populations. Fish consume oxygen via aerobic respiration. C. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth rates of algae and cyanobacteria. When the phytoplankton cells die, this big pulse of detritus increases population sizes of decomposers which consume oxygen during cellular respiration. D. Nutrient runoff causes the waters to warm, which causes them to lose oxygen. E. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of algae and cyanobacteria, which consume oxygen via photosynthesis.
C. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth rates of algae and cyanobacteria. When the phytoplankton cells die, this big pulse of detritus increases population sizes of decomposers which consume oxygen during cellular respiration.
In which of these habitats would you expect to see a mature or late-successional community? A. One which experiences disturbances with high intensity and low frequency. B. One which experiences disturbances with moderate intensity and high frequency. C. One which experiences disturbances with low intensity and low frequency. D. One which experiences disturbances with high intensity and high frequency. E. One which experiences disturbances with low intensity and high frequency.
C. One which experiences disturbances with low intensity and low frequency.
Primary producers are present in every biome, including the deep sea. How can there be primary producers in the deep sea when sunlight does not penetrate to these depths? A. The higher trophic levels (secondary or tertiary consumers) are probably only represented by one or two species because of the low levels of energy available from primary producers. B. There are probably only two trophic levels in the deep sea because there is only light available from bioluminescent (glowing) organisms. C. Primary producers in the deep sea use energy from chemical reactions to drive the production of organic compounds from CO2. D. Primary producers in the deep sea are chemoheterotrophs.
C. Primary producers in the deep sea use energy from chemical reactions to drive the production of organic compounds from CO2.
A study in Minnesota prairies assessed the effect of several different experimental treatments on change in plant biomass. Plants in Minnesota prairies are mostly angiosperms. Which of the following characteristics would you expect these prairie plant angiosperms to have? A. Nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and multicellular haploid and diploid life stages, but no flowers B. Flowers, fruits, nucleus, and chloroplasts, but not mitochondria C. Seeds, pollen, xylem & phloem, and multicellular haploid and diploid life stages D. Xylem & phloem, seeds, pollen, flowers, but no fruits E. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, fruits, flowers, but no vascular tissue
C. Seeds, pollen, xylem & phloem, and multicellular haploid and diploid life stages
What is the evidence that human activity is causing increased atmospheric CO2 levels? A. There is no direct evidence; CO2 levels fluctuate naturally and it may just be coincidence that higher CO2 levels correspond to this period of human activity. B. There is a correlation between the increase of overall CO2 levels and human activity since the Industrial Revolution. C. The isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 can be measured and shows that CO2 being added to the air comes from combustion of fossil fuels. D. There is no direct evidence; it is impossible to know what CO2 levels were like in the past, so there is no standard for comparison. E. Since forests are being cut down by humans, CO2 levels must be rising because there are fewer plants that remove CO2 through photosynthesis.
C. The isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 can be measured and shows that CO2 being added to the air comes from combustion of fossil fuels.
A disease that has always infected people in one geographic region continues to infect people in that region, with the infection prevalence remaining approximately the same. This describes: A. a disease epidemic B. a pandemic C. an endemic disease D. a zoonosis
C. an endemic disease
Decomposers ___________________________________ A. are generally limited by light availability. B. convert chemical compounds from inorganic forms to organic forms. C. convert chemical compounds from organic forms to inorganic forms. D. are found only in terrestrial habitats. E. influence the carbon cycle but not the nitrogen cycle.
C. convert chemical compounds from organic forms to inorganic forms.
Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding the bacteria present in the stomachs or intestines of humans? A. Intestinal bacteria may play a role in immune system function. B. Some stomach bacteria have been associated with cancers. C. Many intestinal bacteria aid in digestion. D. All of these choices are correct. E. Intestinal bacteria can produce important vitamins.
D. All of these choices are correct.
Recall that, through cellular respiration, organisms release energy contained in organic compounds. Some of the released energy is lost as heat. The remaining energy can be used to "power" cellular processes, including making new organic compounds. Therefore, the energy that is NOT released as heat... A. moves in a bi-directional manner between the levels of a food web. B. increases as it moves through the food web. C. decreases as it moves through the upper levels of a trophic pyramid. D. moves in a bi-directional manner between the levels of a trophic pyramid E. decreases as it moves from parasites to hosts and predators to prey. F. increases as it moves through the first levels of a food web, then decreases.
C. decreases as it moves through the upper levels of a trophic pyramid.
Consider a community composed of grasses, prairie dogs, mice, bison and coyotes. Which of these organisms would be found at the bottom level of the trophic pyramid for this community? A. coyotes B. prairie dogs C. grasses D. bison E. mice
C. grasses
Organisms that derive their energy from the sun and carbon from carbon dioxide are ____________. A. chemoheterotrophs B. photoheterotrophs C. photoautotrophs D. chemoautotrophs
C. photoautotrophs
In a pond, tadpoles eat algae and fish eat the tadpoles. Above the pond, grasshoppers eat grass and, at night, are preyed upon by bats. Other bats eat the fish that eat the tadpoles. In this community, the fish-eating bats are: A. detritivores. B. primary consumers. C. tertiary consumers. D. secondary consumers. E. primary producers.
C. tertiary consumers.
A pathogen that requires an organism such as an arthropod to move from one host to another is known as a/an A. facultative parasite B. zoonotic disease (zoonosis) C. vector-borne disease D. reservoir-driven disease E. disease with a high R0
C. vector-borne disease
Terrestrial photosynthesis uses carbon in ________ from the ______ and energy from ______ to produce _______ that have ________ energy. - Glucose; soil; glucose; organic molecules; chemical potential - Glucose; plants; sunlight; organic molecules; heat - Carbon dioxide; air; sunlight; organic molecules; chemical potential - Carbon dioxide; soil; plants; organic molecules; heat
Carbon dioxide; air; sunlight; organic molecules; chemical potential
A researcher has a petri dish containing several species of bacteria, but no viruses. She notices that the population of E. coli in her petri dish has no antibiotic resistance. Two weeks later, she reassesses the bacteria and finds that the E. coli have acquired antibiotic resistance. How could this have happened? A. Spontaneous mutations conveying antibiotic-resistance arose in the E. coli population of the petri dish. B. E. coli acquired the genes conveying antibiotic resistance through transformation. C. E. coli acquired the genes conveying antibiotic resistance through conjugation with other bacterial cells. D. All of the answer options are correct.
D. All of the answer options are correct.
What is true of an indirect effect in community ecology? The organisms in this question are those in the "Of Mice and Mast" article that you read for pre-discussion. In "Of Mice and Mast," the authors refer to "indirect interactions;" these lead to indirect effects. A. The increase in tick prevalence with oak tree mast is an example of an indirect effect. B. An indirect effect is when a species (A) affects another species (B), and that species (B) affects another species (C), such that species A affects species C through the B-C relationship. C. The increase in Lyme disease risk to humans following an oak mast is an example of an indirect effect. D. All of these choices are true of an indirect effect in community ecology. E. The positive correlation between tick prevalence and oak tree mast is an example of an indirect effect.
D. All of these choices are true of an indirect effect in community ecology.
A researcher wants to determine if a unicellular organism he discovered is an autotroph or a heterotroph. He radioactively labels the carbon in CO2 (carbon dioxide) and C6H12O6 (glucose), and exposes one culture of his organism to the labeled CO2 (carbon dioxide) and another culture to the labeled C6H12O6 (glucose). What would happen if his organism is an autotroph? A. Labeled carbon would be seen in the carbohydrates of C6H12O6 (glucose)-exposed organisms. B. Labeled carbon would not be seen in the carbohydrates of either culture. C. Labeled carbon would be seen in carbohydrates of both cultures. D. Labeled carbon would be seen in the carbohydrates of CO2-exposed organisms.
D. Labeled carbon would be seen in the carbohydrates of CO2-exposed organisms.
Which of the following statements about global warming and the greenhouse effect is correct? A. The greenhouse effect refers to heat that escapes Earth's atmosphere, whereas global warming refers to heat that is trapped by Earth's atmosphere. B. Global warming and the greenhouse effect are not related. C. Global warming and the greenhouse effect describe the same phenomenon. D. The greenhouse effect can lead to global warming. E. None of the answer options are correct.
D. The greenhouse effect can lead to global warming.
An increase in bioavailable forms of phosphorus in a river leads to a large increase in the population growth rate of algae and cyanobacteria. This suggests that phosphorus is typically _______________ in this freshwater habitat. A. always abundant B. not at all present C. unnecessary for phytoplankton growth D. a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth
D. a limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth
Which of the following organisms can fix nitrogen? A. animals B. plants C. fungi D. bacteria
D. bacteria
You are walking in a dense tropical forest in New Guinea (9.5 degrees S latitude, close to the equator) when you notice that there is almost no leaf litter on the ground. You can conclude that A. primary production is too low to produce much leaf litter. B. it is too cold or dry for decomposers to be active. C. potassium and iron availability limit plant growth in this ecosystem. D. decomposer activity and rates of nutrient cycling are both high. E. nutrient cycling is too slow to allow the formation of leaf litter.
D. decomposer activity and rates of nutrient cycling are both high.
You decide to plant a garden in your backyard. You dig up a strip of grass in a sunny spot. When you have finished digging up the grass, but you haven't planted anything, you have created a(n) ______________ in the lawn. A. Both responses are correct. B. None of the responses are correct. C. new community D. ecological disturbance
D. ecological disturbance
True or False: If we compare areas at the same latitude, a large geographic area will have a higher species richness than a small geographic area.
True
True or False: Latitudinal patterns of biodiversity are similar between plants and animals.
True
Some bacteria in the human intestine aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, while utilizing these nutrients themselves as well. This is an example of: A. predation. B. commensalism. C. parasitism. D. mutualism. E. an antagonistic interaction.
D. mutualism.
Bioluminescence, as seen in squids, is possible because: A. squids produce a fluorescent product during cellular respiration. B. specialized cellular organelles of squids carry out a chemical reaction that results in light production. C. squids produce a mucous layer that reflects light energy. D. symbiotic bacteria housed in specialized organs of the squid are capable of generating light.
D. symbiotic bacteria housed in specialized organs of the squid are capable of generating light.
In addition to carbon dioxide, which of the following are also considered to be greenhouse gases? Choose the best answer. A. oxygen B. water vapor C. methane D. water vapor and methane E. methane and oxygen
D. water vapor and methane
When do we expect to see the first impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems? A. In 10 years B. In 1000 years C. In 100 years D. We do not expect climate change to impact species and ecosystems. E. Climate change is already impacting species and ecosystems.
E. Climate change is already impacting species and ecosystems.
The latitudinal diversity gradient refers to what pattern of species diversity? A. For many kinds of organisms, species diversity is greatest at low elevation and lowest at high elevation. B. For many kinds of organisms, species diversity is greatest at high elevation and lowest at low elevation. C. Plants are most diverse near the equator while animals are most diverse toward the poles. D. For many kinds of organisms, species diversity is greatest near the poles and lowest near the equator. E. For many kinds of organisms, species diversity is greatest near the equator and lowest near the poles.
E. For many kinds of organisms, species diversity is greatest near the equator and lowest near the poles.
Which of the following is NOT a hypothesized effect of direct or indirect interactions with mice and other small rodents in the "Of Mice and Mast" article? A. Mice produce more offspring when there are more available acorns. B. The prevalence of the Lyme disease bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) is greater in oak forests during a mast. C. Tick prevalence increases in oak forests during mast events. D. Tick prevalence increases as mice prevalence increases. E. Humans make more use of oak forests during masts, because they hunt the deer that move into those forests during mast events.
E. Humans make more use of oak forests during masts, because they hunt the deer that move into those forests during mast events.
So-called "dead zones" in coastal oceans are associated with nutrient runoff and oxygen-depleted bottom waters. What causes the oxygen depletion? A. Nutrient runoff causes the waters to warm, which causes them to lose oxygen. B. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of algae and cyanobacteria, which consume oxygen via photosynthesis. C. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of cyanobacteria and algae, which consume oxygen via aerobic respiration. D. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth of cyanobacteria and algae which, in turn, support the growth of fish populations. Fish consume oxygen via aerobic respiration. E. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth rates of algae and cyanobacteria. When the phytoplankton cells die, this big pulse of detritus increases population sizes of decomposers which consume oxygen during cellular respiration.
E. Nutrient runoff enhances population growth rates of algae and cyanobacteria. When the phytoplankton cells die, this big pulse of detritus increases population sizes of decomposers which consume oxygen during cellular respiration.
Fungi often function as decomposers in an ecosystem. If you traced the carbon in a molecule of carbon dioxide from the air into a molecule of glucose inside a fungal cell, what other organisms did it have to go through (if any) to get into the fungus? A. Fungi can take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere B. A secondary or tertiary consumer C. A primary consumer D. Autotroph AND a primary consumer E. Plant or other autotrophic organism F. Non-photosynthetic bacteria
E. Plant or other autotrophic organism
Which of the following statements regarding the endosymbiosis theory is TRUE? A. Chloroplasts and mitochondria used to have smaller genomes when they were free-living organisms, but now need more genes in order to carry out tasks for their eukaryotic hosts. B. The endosymbiosis theory tells us how the eukaryotic cell first arose. C. Cyanobacteria arose when a chloroplast was lost from a primitive eukaryote due to a mistake in cell division. D. There can sometimes be transfer of genes between closely related species. E. Strong evidence in support of the theory is that the DNA sequences of chloroplasts and mitochondria is very similar to DNA sequences from two different groups of bacteria.
E. Strong evidence in support of the theory is that the DNA sequences of chloroplasts and mitochondria is very similar to DNA sequences from two different groups of bacteria.
Which of the following is NOT evidence for endosymbiosis? A. Mitochondria & chloroplasts are similar in size & shape to free-living bacteria B. Mitochondria and chloroplasts divide by binary fission C. Cyanobacterial DNA is very similar to DNA in chloroplasts D. Homologous DNA sequences in alpha-proteobacteria and mitochondria E. The presence of a nucleus in all eukaryotic cells
E. The presence of a nucleus in all eukaryotic cells
You are most likely to observe primary succession when you visit A. an old riverbed. B. a burned tropical rain forest. C. a temperate forest after a gypsy moth outbreak. D. an abandoned agricultural field. E. a very young volcanic island. F. a desert after a fungal pathogen kills many prickly pear cacti.
E. a very young volcanic island.
How are the nutrients contained within dead organisms made available to primary producers? A. grazing B. herbivory C. respiration D. predation E. decomposition
E. decomposition
In a pond, tadpoles eat algae and fish eat the tadpoles. Above the pond, grasshoppers eat grass and, at night, are preyed upon by bats. Other bats eat the fish that eat the tadpoles. In this community, the tadpoles are: A. tertiary consumers. B. primary producers. C. detritivores. D. secondary consumers. E. primary consumers.
E. primary consumers.
Viral diseases of humans are difficult to treat with drugs because.... A. viruses are too small to be acted upon by drugs. B. we cannot make chemicals to attack viral replication, transcription, and translation enzymes because they are so different from the eukaryotic enzymes. C. viral particles spontaneously self-assemble and cannot be stopped by any pharmaceuticals. D. All of the choices are correct. E. viral replication primarily involves human enzymes so it is difficult to make a non-toxic drug that blocks viral replication.
E. viral replication primarily involves human enzymes so it is difficult to make a non-toxic drug that blocks viral replication.
In the Ostfeld, et al. article, "Of Mice and Mast," which of the following is a valid interpretation of figure 1 (page 324)? (Hint: Read the caption carefully.) A. The figure indicates that humans eat deer and acorns, but not ticks. B. "Mast production" refers to the huge increase in population of the mice, ticks, and deer, which are the second level of this food web. C. The article presents data which support every arrow in this figure. D. The shadowed boxes indicate indirect effects, while the un-shadowed boxes indicate a direct effects. E. Every arrow moves from the prey to the predator OR from the plant to the herbivore. F. Plus symbols (+) can indicate either an increase in biomass OR an increase in density, which could be caused by behavioral changes & migration OR changes in reproductive fitness.
F. Plus symbols (+) can indicate either an increase in biomass OR an increase in density, which could be caused by behavioral changes & migration OR changes in reproductive fitness.
True or False. The invention of immunizations had no effect on decreasing human deaths due to infectious diseases.
False
True or False: As you travel from 90 degrees north latitude south to the equator, you would expect species richness to decrease.
False
True or false: Species diversity is generally greatest at the Earth's poles.
False
In May 2015, at least 120,000 Saiga antelopes died in Kazakhstan, and researchers recently determined that a severe bacterial infection (pasteurellosis) caused these deaths. The IUCN red list has classified Saiga antelopes as critically endangered. Populations have shrunk by as much as 95% in the past 15 years. Saiga antelopes used to be present across Asia, but populations in many areas (e.g. China and Mongolia) have been hunted to extinction for food, their horns, and skin. Some of the grasslands where they graze have been converted to agriculture, so their habitat is shrinking. True or false: Climate change will NOT likely have an effect on Saiga antelope populations.
False, it will have an impact on Saiga antelope populations.
True or false: Heat energy that comes from organisms in the top trophic level is released to the atmosphere and eventually goes out to space.
True
The hemlock wooly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, (an insect) was introduced into Virginia in a shipment of lumber that came from Asia in the 1950s. This insect feeds exclusively on the sap of hemlock trees, which are gymnosperms. The hemlock wooly adelgid established many populations in Virginia's hemlock forests and has spread north and south to colonize hemlock populations in 18 other US states. If we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA from the hemlock wooly adelgid and constructed a phylogeny, the mitochondrial DNA sequences of the insect would be more similar to the DNA sequences of free living alpha-proteobacteria compared to the nuclear DNA sequences of hemlock wooly adelgids. True or False?
True
True or False: An unexpected frost in late April killed many different flowers and insects, with rare species and common species both suffering large population declines. This is an example of an ecological disturbance.
True