APES Unit 1, progress 1, and biochemical cycles
C
Which of the following best explains why decomposers in soils and water are important to ecosystems? A. they remove heavy metals B. they store carbon dioxide C. they recycle nutrients D. they neutralize acid deposition E. they produce more oxygen than they consumer
E
Which of the following regions of the ocean is LEAST likely to contain photosynthetic organisms? A. intertidal zone B. zone of coastal upwelling C. pelagic zone D. euphotic zone E. abyssal zone
c
A field is abandoned, and an invasive plant that can live in nutrient-poor soil moves into the field. If the land is later cleared of this invasive species and it is discovered that the soil has an abundance of nitrogen compounds, what conclusion can best be made? A. The plants used up all of the phosphorus and potassium and left the nitrogen behind. B. Primary succession always produces an abundance of nitrogen. C. Bacteria in soil and in root nodules converted free nitrogen into nitrogen compounds. D. The plants were able to produce nitrogen in their leaves. E. More rock was weathered and broken down to release nitrogen compounds.
A
A temperate grassland biome has a gross primary productivity of 3,480kilocalories/meter2/year and a net primary productivity of 2,000kilocalories/meter2/year. Which of the following is the approximate number of kilocalories/meter2/year available to herbivores in that biome? A. 200kilocalories/meter2/year B. 1,480kilocalories/meter2/year C. 2,000kilocalories/meter2/year D. 5,480kilocalories/meter2/year
D
According to the diagram, the movement of phosphorus between biological organisms and soil is in a steady state in an undisturbed system. Which of the following best explains the reason for this steady movement? A. Phosphorus is taken up by plants during photosynthesis to create carbohydrates. B. A decrease in buffer zones prevents phosphorus runoff in waterways. C. There is a rapid influx of phosphorus from the weathering of rocks. D. Readily available organic phosphorus in the soil is assimilated by plants.
A
Algae in an aquatic food chain convert solar energy into 93,000 kilocalories of plant tissue. Which of the following values best represents the amount of energy available for primary consumers in the food chain? A. 930 B. 9,300 C. 93,000 D. 930,000
B
Algae in an aquatic food chain convert solar energy into 93,000 kilocalories of plant tissue. Which of the following values best represents the amount of energy available for primary consumers in the food chain? A. 930 B. 9,300 C. 93,000 D. 930,000
A
Ammonia is converted to nitrite, then to nitrate. (A) Nitrification (B) Denitrification (C) Assimilation (D) Ammonification (E) Nitrogen fixation
E
Approximate efficiency of the conversion of light energy to chemical energy in photosynthesis (A) 100% (B) 95% (C) 30% (D) 15% (E) 1%
c
Approximately what percent of the water on Earth is freshwater (liquid and solid)? A. 75% B. 25% C. 2.5% D. 0.25% E. 0.025%
C
Assuming all other variables are constant, which of the following is the most likely conclusion about the greatest potential for gross primary productivity that can be supported by data in the graph? A. Gross primary productivity is the same for both locations all year. B. Gross primary productivity in Location 2 is greater than that in Location 1 in December. C. Gross primary productivity in Location 1 is greater than that in Location 2 in March. D. Gross primary productivity in Location 2 is greater than that in Location 1 in September.
A
Based on the diagram above, which of the following processes reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? A. photosynthesis B. cellular respiration C> decomposition D. Burning of fossil fuels
B
Based on the diagram, which of the following reservoirs contains the most phosphorus? A. Plants B. Sediments C. soil D. oceans
Shrub, rabbit, snake, mountain lion
Based on the food web shown above, which of the following correctly describes the flow of energy through the trophic levels from producers to quaternary consumers?
C
Based on the food web shown above, which of the following correctly describes the flow of energy through the trophic levels from producers to quaternary consumers? A. Red-tailed hawk, grasshopper mouse, grasshopper, rattlesnake, brittlebrush B. Red-tailed hawk, rattlesnake, grasshopper mouse, grasshopper, brittlebrush C. Brittlebrush, grasshopper, grasshopper mouse, rattlesnake, red-tailed hawk D. Brittlebrush, red-tailed hawk, rattlesnake, grasshopper mouse, grasshopper
D
Based on the second law of thermodynamics, how much biomass of phytoplankton would be needed to produce 1 kilogram (kg) of large fish in this food web? A. 1g B. 10 g C. 100 kg D. 1,000kg
C
Which of the following smaller reservoirs of freshwater are missing from the diagram? A. fossil fuels B. rocks C. Ice caps D. algae
B
Caused by suspended particulates A. Acidity B. Turbidity C. Hardness D. Dissolved oxygen E. Salinity
E
Country with the largest area of temperate deciduous forest (A) Australia (B) Brazil (C) Chile (D) Russia (E) United States of America
D
Elements that cycle in the environment and that also have a gaseous phase at some point in their cycle include which of the following? I. Carbon II. Phosphorus III. Sulfur A. I B. III C. I and II D. I and III E. I, II, and III
C
Energy is transferred along food chains from one stage to the next. Which statement best explains how the energy is transferred? A. If a primary consumer stores 100kcal of energy, then a secondary consumer that feeds on the primary consumer will also have 100kcal of energy available. B. If a primary producer stores 10,000kcal of energy, then a tertiary consumer will have 10kcal of energy available. C. If a primary producer stores 10,000kcal of energy, then a tertiary consumer will have 10kcal of energy available. D. If a secondary consumer stores 500kcal of energy, then a tertiary consumer that feeds on the secondary consumer will have 5,000kcal of energy available.
C
Exemplified by bees consuming nectar and carrying pollen from one flower to another (A) Commensalism (B) Parasitism (C) Mutualism (D) Predation (E) Competition
B
Farmers in a suburban coastal town started using no-till agriculture, a practice that reduces soil erosion from their farmland. Use the image above to determine which of the following long-term effects no-till agriculture will have on the ecosystem surrounding the farmland. A. There will be an increased need for fertilizer on farmlands. B. There will be less algal growth in the nearby ocean. C. There will be less phosphorous pollution in the atmosphere. D. There will be an increased deposition of phosphorous-rich sediments.
C
Five different species of warblers, seed-eating birds, live in the same species of conifer trees. All of the birds migrate to coniferous forests during the summer, and different species reside in different areas in the same tree. They feed on the seeds of the conifer trees, but the different species do not mate with each other. Which of the following best explains why the different warbler species can all have habitats in the same conifer trees? A. Not all the warblers are residents in the forest at the same time of the year because of different migration patterns. B. Physiological differences in beak structure allow the warblers to consume different species of seeds through symbiotic relationships. C. Resource partitioning of the seeds reduces competition, and the five different species can live in the same tree. D. Niche overlap occurs between the five different species, and living in the same tree increases competition for seeds.
C
For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture A. oxygen B. carbon dioxide C. glucose D. proteins E. water
C
How does the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the net increase in atmospheric carbon? A. Photosynthesis is reduced by virtue of increased smoke and haze. B. Carbon released by the burning is not in a form that can be readily absorbed by plants, leaving residual carbon in the atmosphere. C. Carbon that has been sequestered underground is added to the carbon cycling between the atmosphere and the biosphere. D. Carbon released by the burning is more easily absorbed in the atmosphere than that produced by natural means. E. Carbon released by the burning increases plant growth, producing more carbon for the atmosphere.
A
In Mediterranean climate regions like portions of California, a wetter-than-normal winter often leads to greater severity of fires the following summer. This seeming paradox occurs because increased rain leads to A. greater accumulation of chapparal biomass B. higher pollination rates of annual flowers C. greater recreational use of parklands D. greater erosion and damage of access roads E. decreased summer rainfall
B
In a given ecosystem, producers convert solar energy into 15,000 kcal of chemical energy stored in organic compounds. Which of the following is the most likely amount of energy available to secondary consumers? A. 1.5 kcal B. 150 kcal C. 1,500 kcal D. 13,500 kcal
c
In reef ecosystems, corals often have microalgae living inside them. The algae supply the corals with nutrients, and the coral give shelter to the algae. Which of the following interactions best describes the relationship between the corals and the algae? A. competition B. predation c. mutualism d. parasitism
B
Losses of usable energy between successive trophic levels in an ecosystem are best accounted for by which of the following? A. The first law of thermodynamics B. The second law of thermodynamics C. The law of conservation of matter D. The process of ecological succession E. Limiting factors in the ecosystem
A
Marine sediments that form limestone are a major sink for this element. (A) Carbon (B) Sodium (C) Sulfur (D) Phosphorus (E) Potassium
C
Measured by the amount of ca^2+ and mg^2+ A. Acidity B. Turbidity C. Hardness D. Dissolved oxygen E. Salinity
B
Nitrate ions and nitrite ions are converted into nitrous oxide gas and nitrogen gas (N2). (A) Nitrification (B) Denitrification (C) Assimilation (D) Ammonification (E) Nitrogen fixation
B
Of the following organisms, which occupies the lowest trophic level? A. Spider B. Deer C. Lion D. Hawk E. Snake
C
Open oceans produce the largest share of Earth's biomass because the net primary productivity (NPP) of the oceans is A. high and thus can support a high proportion of producers B. high as a result of the high concentration of nutrients in the open oceans C. low, but the large expanse of the oceans supports enormous numbers of producers such as phytoplankton D. low, but the individual producers found there are huge in size E. low, but still higher than that of other ecosystems of the world
C
Photosynthesis is the major source of which of the following gases in Earth's atmosphere? A. CO2 B. H2O C. O2 D. H2 E. N2
C
Plant roots absorb ammonium ions and nitrate ions for use in making molecules such as DNA, amino acids, and proteins. (A) Nitrification (B) Denitrification (C) Assimilation (D) Ammonification (E) Nitrogen fixation
A
Requires minimum safety standards for community water supplies (A) Safe Drinking Water Act (B) Clean Water Act (C) Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (D) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (E) Toxic Substances Control Act
B
Six white-tailed deer and six sika deer were enclosed in a pasture for observation during an eight-year study in central Texas. White-tailed deer are a native species to central Texas, while sika deer are a nonnative species to central Texas. White-tailed deer feed on flowering plants and the tips of trees and shrubs but do not eat grass. Sika deer feed on flowering plants, the tips of trees and shrubs, and grass. All other grazing animals were kept out of the pasture during the study. The number of sika deer more than doubled after the eight years, while the population of white-tailed deer decreased by 50 percent. Which of the following statements best supports the results from the study? A. The sika deer are generalists, while the white-tailed deer are specialists. B. The sika deer out competed the white-tailed deer in consuming flowering plants and shrubs. C. Parasites infected the sika deer population but did not infect the white-tailed deer population. D. Change in the local climate reduced the availability of food resources for the white-tailed deer population.
E
The annual fluctuation in carbon dioxide concentration can best be explained by the A. seasonal use of fossil fuels B. regularity of volcanic activity C. deforestation in the tropics D. el nino events E. seasonal photsynthetic activity
A
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide increased from 278 ppm in 1790 to 383 ppm in 2007. What is the approximate percent increase in carbon dioxide concentration from 1790 to 2007? A. 38% B. 50% C. 92% D. 105% E. 138%
C
The diagram above best illustrates major processes in which of the following biogeochemical cycles? A. The carbon cycle B. the nitrogen cycle C. the phosphorus cycle D. The water cycle
C
The energy available to consumers determined by subtracting the energy used by plants from the total energy transformed by the process of photosynthesis. A. Primary productivity B. Gross primary proctivity C. Net primary productivity D. cellular respiration
D
The graph above best exemplifies A. the demographic transition B. sustained logarithmic C. the edge effect D. competitive exclusion
C
The location of the greatest remaining natural biodiversity A. Nitrifying bacteria and lightning B. Decomposing plant and animal material C. Denitrifying bacteria and volcanic activity D. Nitrates taken up by plant roots
E
The location of the greatest remaining natural biodiversity A. north africa B. India C. Asia D. United states E. south america
D
The major biological source of dissolved oxygen in the ocean comes from A. decomposition of organic sediments on the ocean floor B. metabolic processes of coral in reefs C. oxidation of sulfur by bacteria in ocean vent communities D. photosynthesis by phytoplankton E. respiration by zooplankton
D
The major reservoirs of nitrogen and sulfur in the biosphere are correctly identified by which of the following? A. Nitrogen: Rocks Sulfur: Rocks B. Nitrogen: Rocks Sulfur: vegetation C. Nitrogen rocks Sulfur: atmosphere D. nitrogen: atmosphere sulfur: rocks E. nitrogen: atmosphere sulfur: atmosphere
C
The majority of the nitrogen on Earth can be found in which of the following reservoirs? A. terrestrial plants B. soil bacteria C. The atmosphere D. sedimentary rock
D
The net annual primary productivity of a particular wetland ecosystem is found to be 8,000 kcal/m2 per year. If respiration by the aquatic producers is 12,000 kcal/m2 per year, what is the gross annual primary productivity for this ecosystem, in kcal/m2 per year? A. 4,000 B. 8,000 C. 12,000 D. 20,000 E. 96,000
B
The process in the hydrologic cycle in which water vapor is released from leaves into the atmosphere is called A. infiltration B. transpiration C. sublimation D. reflection E. percolation
B
The thick forest of this biome tends to be well adapted to short growing seasons. A. temperate grassland B. Taiga C. Tropical rainforest D. tundra
B
The total rate of photosynthesis in a given area. A. Primary productivity B. Gross primary productivity C. net primary productivity D. cellular respiration
E
The ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystem is A. nutrients in soil B. nutrients in vegetation C> primary consumers D. producers E. the sun
A
The zone that has the greatest biodiversity A B C D E
B
This biome contains a nutrient-rich environment created by falling leaves and trapped organic materials from the large trees, and it provides the ecosystem service of filtering pollutants from water. A. Coral reefs B. Freshwater wetlands C. open ocean D. rivers
A
This biome is characterized by long dry seasons and is dominated by grasses, shrubs, and grazing animals. A. savanna B boreal forest C tropical rain forest D desert
A
This biome is found in shallow waters off the coastline and is Earth's most biologically diverse marine biome. A. coral reefs B. freshwater wetlands C. open ocean D. rivers
D
This freshwater biome is characterized by fast-flowing water that can originate from underground springs or runoff, which carries sediment and organic material. A. coral reefs B. freshwater wetlands C. open ocean D. rivers
D
This rate of reaction can be measured in the dark by determining the amount of oxygen gas consumed in a period of time. A. Primary productivity B. Gross primary productivity C. Net primary productivity D. Cellular respiration
b
Two bird species coexist by feeding on the same type of insects in different parts of a tree. One bird species hunts insects near the top of the tree. The other bird species hunts insects near the base of the tree. Which of the following concepts is demonstrated between the two bird species? A. predator prey B. resource partitioning c. mutualism d. parasitism
B
Where is the majority of fresh water found on Earth? A. Groundwater B. ice caps and glaciers C. Lakes D. Oceans
A
Which box represents a carbon sink that holds carbon compounds for the shortest period of time? A. vegetation B. sedimentary rock C.. Ocean D. burning of fossil fuels
C (high/constant temp and low precipitation w/ peak in winter)
Which environment is most likely to be characterized by dry scrub with frequent fires? A B C D E
B
Which letter correctly identifies a process of the hydrologic cycle in which the phase of water is changed from a liquid to a gas? A Precipitation B Evaporation C ground water D run off
D
Which letter correctly identifies the part of the hydrologic cycle that is most directly affected by impervious building materials, such as concrete and asphalt? A Precipitation B Evaporation C ground water D run off
B
Which of the following best describes a symbiotic relationship? A Striped bass and bluefish eat the same variety of mackerel. B Intestinal bacteria inhabit the gut of humans. C. Mountain lions feed on white-tailed deer. D. Marsupial animals carry their young in a pouch.
A
Which of the following best describes a terrestrial ecosystem that will have the highest net primary productivity? A. Warm temperatures, high rainfall, and consistent sunlight B. Hot temperatures, low rainfall, and consistent sunlight C Cold temperatures, high rainfall, and inconsistent sunlight D. Warm temperatures, low rainfall, and inconsistent sunlight
A
Which of the following best describes an example of resource partitioning in an ecosystem? A. Two different bird species feed from the same oak tree; one eats acorns, and the other eats insects in the bark. B. A tick uses a white-tailed deer as its host, consuming the deer's blood as food. C. Two individuals from the same population of barn owls hunt for the same species of mouse during the night. D. A mason bee pollinates a variety of flowers in a botanical garden.
D
Which of the following best describes gross primary productivity in an ecosystem? A. Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy captured by producers plus the energy used by consumers over time. B. Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy captured by producers minus the energy that producers respire over time. C. Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy lost as heat during energy transfer between trophic levels. D. Gross primary productivity is the total amount of solar energy captured by producers through photosynthesis over time.
B
Which of the following best describes soil in many tropical rain forests? A. They lack soil horizons B. They are quickly depleted nutrients when the forest is removed. C> They are similar to soils in grasslands. D. They are well suited for growing a wide variety of crops. E. They are deep and well drained.
B
Which of the following best describes the first law of thermodynamics? A. Energy always changes from a more useful, more concentrated form to a less useful, less concentrated form. B. In a closed system of constant mass, the energy involved in any physical or chemical change is neither created nor destroyed, but merely changed from one form to another. C. Heat always flows from a hot body to a cold body. D. Entropy of a system increases as the state of disorganization in the system increases. E. In a reversible process, the entropy of the system is constant, whereas in an irreversible process, the entropy of the system increases.
D
Which of the following best describes the flow of energy in most terrestrial and near-surface marine ecosystems? A. Decomposers break down dead or decaying organisms to release energy and nutrients to be used by producers. B. Chemoautotrophs use inorganic energy sources, such as hydrogen sulfide, to create organic compounds from carbon dioxide. C. Apex predators feed on other organisms, which releases heat that can be used by producers and primary consumers. Answer C: Apex predators feed on other organisms, which releases heat that can be used by producers and primary consumers. D. Producers use energy from the sun to make organic matter, such as sugars, from carbon dioxide and water and are then consumed by organisms higher in the food chain.
B
Which of the following best describes the movement of energy in an ecosystem? A. Energy is constantly recycled by decomposers for use by producers. B. Energy is harnessed by producers, and available energy decreases with each trophic level transfer. C. Energy is absorbed by plants through water and soil and then moves up the food chain through consumers. D. Energy is magnified as it moves up the trophic levels, and tertiary consumers store the most energy in a food web.
B
Which of the following best describes what is represented by the arrows in the food web? A. The photosynthetic rates of producers B. The flow of energy C. The movement of predators D The decomposition of matter
c
Which of the following best explains why terrestrial trophic pyramids usually do not have levels higher than tertiary consumers? A. Tertiary consumers are the largest organisms in an ecosystem and require the most space to survive. B. Plants can only perform photosynthesis during the day, so tertiary consumers cannot get enough energy from consuming plants. C. A large proportion of energy is lost as heat as it is transferred up the pyramid, so there is not enough energy available to support another level. D. Tertiary consumers are often indicator species and are the first to be affected by environmental disturbances.
B
Which of the following best identifies a key component of the hydrologic cycle that powers the movement of water and is missing from the diagram? A. terrestrial animals B. The Sun C. Bacteria D. volcanoes
A
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles includes the processes of buffering ocean pH and photosynthesis, as shown in the diagram? A. the carbon cycle B. the nitrogen cycle C. the phosphorus cycle D. the potassium cyle
D
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles includes the processes of buffering ocean pH and photosynthesis, as shown in the diagram? A. vegetation B. sedimentary rock C.. Ocean D. burning of fossil fuels
B
Which of the following biogeochemical cycles is correctly paired with its largest reservoir? A. The hydrologic cycle and living things B. The nitrogen cycle and the atmosphere C. The phosphorus cycle and bacteria D. The carbon cycle and glaciers
D
Which of the following biomes is best characterized as an area that forms the narrow band along the coast that experiences a range of environmental conditions (including daily changes in sunlight, temperature, and water) ? A. open ocean B. LAkes C. coral reefs D. intertidal zones
D
Which of the following categories of organisms, which are required for the cycling of matter in an ecosystem, is missing from the table? (Shrews, Hawks, Grasshoppers, Snakes, Spiders, Plants, Shrews) A. Producers B. Primary consumers C. secondary consumers D. decomposers
A
Which of the following describes the most likely change to terrestrial biomes resulting from warmer average global temperatures? A. The global distribution of midlatitude biomes, such as grasslands and temperate rain forests, would increase. B Deciduous trees found in temperate seasonal forests would flower later in the year. C. The latitude range of tropical rain forests would narrow closer to the equator. D. High-latitude biomes, such as the tundra, would experience a decrease in net primary productivity.
C
Which of the following elements is most likely to limit primary production in freshwater lakes? A. Oxygen B. Calcium C. Phosphorus D. Carbon E. Iron
C
Which of the following is a characteristic of tropical rain forests? A. They rarely receive more than 100 centimeters of rain per year. B. Their soils typically have a high pH. C. Their soils are relatively poor in nutrients. D. They do not exhibit a great deal of species diversity. E. They generally occur in the rain shadows of mountain ranges.
A
Which of the following is a process that indirectly removes carbon from Earth's atmosphere? A. Formation of carbonate deposits B. Outgassing by volcanoes C. respiration by mammals D. respiration by anaerobic bacteria
E
Which of the following is most likely a significant cause of the general trend indicated by the graph? A. Reduction of ozone concentrations in the upper atmosphere B. Reduction in size of polar ice caps C Increase in energy output of the Sun D Increase in evaporation of ocean water E. Increase in consumption of fossil fuels
c
Which of the following is the best explanation for why there is such a small amount of phosphorus that moves into aquatic systems? A. Phosphorus is highly stable in the atmosphere and remains there for long periods of time. B. The amount of phosphorus in the cycle has been greatly reduced because of the use of catalytic converters in automobiles. C. There is not a gaseous phase of the phosphorus cycle, and therefore the movement of phosphorus into oceanic reservoirs is very slow. D. The phosphorus cycle occurs so rapidly that it does not exist in any one reservoir for a very long time.
C
Which of the following is the zone of a pond or lake in which rooted, emergent plants such as cattails and rushes are located? A. benthic B. Limnetic C. Littoral D. Profundal E. RIparian
C
Which of the following is true of carbon as it cycles in nature? A. Carbon dioxide is released during photosynthesis. B. Carbon compounds rarely exist in the gaseous state. C. Carbon sinks include forests and oceans. D. The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is reduced by cutting trees.
B
Which of the following processes is illustrated by the downward arrows from the atmosphere that show the conversion of nitrogen gas into usable forms available to producers? A. Nitrogen assimilation B. Nitrogen fixiation C. Photosynthesis D. Weathering
B
Which of the following statements is best supported by the diagram of the phosphorus cycle? A. The largest reservoir of phosphorus is in the atmosphere. B. The phosphates absorbed by animal tissue through consumption eventually return to the soil. C. Plants take up the phosphate ions primarily from the metamorphic rocks. D. Phosphates are not soluble in water.
B
Which of the following statements is true of aquatic biomes? A. Freshwater and marine biomes are evenly distributed on Earth. B. Freshwater biomes are a vital source of drinking water. C. Freshwater biomes supply a greater portion of Earth's oxygen than marine biomes D. Marine biomes include streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
B
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest net primary productivity? A Desert B. Tropical rain forest C. Taiga D. Savanna
B
Which of the following terrestrial biomes has the highest primary productivity per unit area? A. desert B. Tropical rain forest C. boreal forest d. savanna
A
Which of the following trophic levels represents a primary producer in an aquatic food chain? A. Phytoplankton B. Herbivorious zooplankton C. Carnivorous zooplankton D. Baleen whale
A
Which of the following types of organisms are required to complete the nitrogen cycle, including the process of denitrification? A. Bacteria B. Producers C. consumers D. fungi
E
Which of the following world regions contain the greatest area of rain forest? A. Canada and the United States B. Eastern and Western Europe C. Russia and China D. Australia and New Zealand E. Brazil and Indonesia
B
Which trophic level has the least available energy in kilojoules in this food web? A> shark B. Human C. Phytoplankton D. octopus
