BIO 171- Practice Questions Exam 4
An organism that acquires energy from the sun and uses C6H12O6 (glucose) as a carbon source would be classified as a: a. photoheterotroph. b. chemoheterotroph. c. photoautotroph. d. chemoautotroph.
answer: a
Which of the following statements about global climate change is true? a. On average, the mean global temperature will increase 2-5 degrees Celsius during the 21st century, but there will be substantial variation between regions. b. Carbon dioxide is not an important greenhouse gas, because other gases like methane have a bigger effect on atmospheric warming. c. The current increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is consistent with previous increases in carbon dioxide due to volcanic eruptions, which increased global air temperatures. d. With recent advances in climate modeling, we can predict with great accuracy how human-induced global trends in climate will affect the weather in Ann Arbor next week. e. Rainfall will decrease globally with global climate change, because more water will evaporate due to higher temperatures.
answer: a
Which of the following domains of life contain photosynthetic organisms? (Choose all that apply) a. Bacteria b. Archaea c. Eukarya
answer: a, c
Read about the relationships between pollinators, angiosperm plants, flowers, and fruit in How Life Works. Then, evaluate which of the following statements is a valid description of these relationships. (Choose one.) a. Flowers produce pollen; pollen is sperm; pollinators move the pollen to stigmas of flowers; pollen fertilizes stigmas producing seeds; fruit grows around the seeds, protecting the growing embryo. b. Flowers produce pollen; pollinators move pollen to stigmas of flowers; pollen produces sperm; sperm fertilize eggs; diploid zygotes develop into embryos inside seeds; flowers develop into fruit which surrounds the developing embryo. c. Flowers produce pollen; pollen is sperm; pollinators take pollen back to their colonies; pollen lands on stigmas and produces seeds; fruit grows around the seeds. d. Flowers produce seeds; pollinators bring seeds to flowers; flowers make seeds into fruit; fruit develops into flower embryos.
answer: b
Terrestrial photosynthesis uses carbon in ________ from the ______ and energy from ______ to produce _______ that have ________ energy. a. Glucose; soil; glucose; organic molecules; chemical potential b. Carbon dioxide; air; sunlight; organic molecules; chemical potential c. Glucose; plants; sunlight; organic molecules; heat d. Carbon dioxide; soil; plants; organic molecules; heat
answer: b
The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can be transformed from one state to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Taking this into consideration, what can be said about the energy transferred between levels in a trophic pyramid? a. All the energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next because light energy is used to create the energy in the chemical bonds of carbohydrates, and once created, that matter (carbohydrates) can never be destroyed. b. Some of the energy in a trophic level is converted to heat and is unavailable to the next level of the trophic pyramid. c. Organisms at higher trophic levels only consume the energy they need from lower trophic levels, leaving a "bank" of energy to support the higher level when food is scarce. d. All the energy necessary for a trophic level is transferred to the next one. Because there is less biomass at each trophic level, less energy needs to be transferred. e. Some of the energy is held in one trophic level, and only the energy needed to support the smaller biomass at a higher level is transferred.
answer: b
What is the estimated cost of damage caused by eutrophication in the US? (Hint: see the reading guide) a. $2.2 million annually b. $2.2 billion annually c. $1.1 billion annually d. $1.1 million annually
answer: b
Which of the following are "usable" forms of nitrogen (N) that plants and other primary producers can use to build proteins? a. NO3 only b. both NH4 and NO3 c. N2 only d. N2, NO3 and NH4 e. NH4 only
answer: b
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. a zoonosis d. an endemic disease
answer: d
The rate of exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and the oceans represents a carbon: a. sink. b. precipitation. c. reservoir. d. flux. e. biomass.
answer: d
What term(s) reflect(s) the amount of energy available to herbivores in the biomass of photoautotrophs? a. GPP b. Total ecosystem productivity c. NPP + Respiration d. NPP e. Respiration f. Both GPP AND NPP + Respiration
answer: d
Decomposers ___________________________________ a. are generally limited by light availability. b. convert chemical compounds from inorganic forms to organic forms. c. are found only in terrestrial habitats. d. influence the carbon cycle but not the nitrogen cycle. e. convert chemical compounds from organic forms to inorganic forms.
answer: e
T/F: The invention of antibiotics in the 1940s helped reduce deaths caused by bacterial infections such as tuberculosis.
answer: true
T/F: The science linking human activities to climate change is analogous to the science linking smoking to lung and cardiovascular diseases. (In other words: there is very strong evidence that human activities are causing climate change.)
answer: true
Based on Garibaldi et al. 2013 "Wild pollinators enhance fruit set..." pre-discussion reading, which of the following are accurate descriptions or applications of the concept "ecosystem service"? (Choose all that are correct.) a. Pollination by wild insects is an ecosystem service b. Ecosystem services are often not accounted for when people do market valuations (determine how much money an ecosystem is worth) c. An ecosystem service is performed when, for example, Ann Arbor citizens organize a stream clean-up day for the Huron River.
answers: a, b
Which of the following factors influence(s) the rate of decomposition in an ecosystem? Choose all that apply. a. Quality of detritus b. Moisture levels c. Temperature d. Angle of incoming sunlight e. Availability of nitrate and ammonium in soils
answers: a, b, c
The ecological footprint is an attempt to quantify the amount of land required to provide ____________ for its citizens. (Select all that apply.) a. services b. money c. food d. energy e. materials f. None of these choices are correct
answers: a, c, d, e
Which of the following is true about gross primary production, net primary production and cellular respiration? Choose all valid statements. Read carefully, as there are multiple gross primary production and net primary production questions on this quiz a. Plants contribute to net primary production, but plants do not contribute to gross primary production b. Gross primary production can be measured in terms of mass per unit area per unit time c. Both animals and plants can contribute to gross primary production, but plants do not contribute to cellular respiration d. Gross primary production can be measured in terms of energy per unit area per unit time e. Cellular respiration only happens in the dark, when there is no sunlight to power photosynthesis
answers: b, d
Blueberries, almonds, and the berries that hold coffee beans are all fruit. Coffee beans are actually seeds, which grow inside a berry, which is a fruit. What part of the flower matures into these fruits? (Choose one.) a. Ovary b. Stigma c. Embryo d. Anther e. Petals
answer: a
Fungal cell walls are composed of what material? a. Chitin b. Lignin and cellulose c. Lignin and chitin d. Lignin, cellulose, and chitin e. Cellulose f. Lignin g. Cellulose and chitin
answer: a
How many kilograms of biomass at the primary producer level would be required to support 20 kilograms of biomass at the tertiary consumer level? a. 20,000 b. 10 c. 200 d. 2,000,000 e. 2000
answer: a
In 2015, over 200,000 Saiga antelopes died in Kazakhstan, and researchers recently determined that a severe bacterial infection caused these deaths. 200,000 dead antelopes greatly changed the ecosystem processes occurring in the dry grasslands of Kazakhstan (48 degrees north latitude). Is the following statement likely or not likely to occur following the mass death of these animals? Decomposition rates in this grassland will be higher than the decomposition rates in a tropical forest. a. Not Likely b. Likely
answer: a
In general, what is the relationship between a country's ecological footprint and its overall standard of living? a. As the standard of living increases, so does the ecological footprint. b. It depends on the country? In developing countries, the ecological footprint and standard of living are positively correlated; in developed countries, they are negatively correlate c. It depends on country? In developed countries, the ecological footprint and standard of living are positively correlated; in developing countries, they are negatively correlated. d. None of the choices are correct. e. As the standard of living decreases, the ecological footprint increases.
answer: a
In which of these habitats would you expect to see a mature or late-successional community? a. One which experiences disturbances with low intensity and low frequency. b. One which experiences disturbances with moderate intensity and high frequency. c. One which experiences disturbances with low intensity and high frequency. d. One which experiences disturbances with high intensity and low frequency. e. One which experiences disturbances with high intensity and high frequency.
answer: a
One reason why HIV is so difficult to effectively treat is that... a. HIV has a high mutation rate, which results in many different virus variants in an infected person's body. b. Scientists have not been able to determine where the HIV virus originated. c. T cells cannot easily bind to HIV virus particles because the HIV capsid has an irregular shape. d. HIV responds to immune system attack by increasing its replication rate and mutation rate. e. Every HIV virus particle presents a series of novel antigens (a substance that provokes an immune system response), wearing out the host's immune system.
answer: a
Organisms that derive their energy and carbon from organic compounds are ____________. a. chemoheterotrophs b. photoheterotrophs c. photoautotrophs d. chemoautotrophs
answer: a
Primary producers are the basis for all aquatic and terrestrial food webs. How does the amount of primary production affect community structure? a. The more energy available from primary producers, the more individuals that could be supported at higher trophic levels in the community b. Primary production has no direct relationship to community structure c. The more energy available from primary producers, the more unique species that could be supported at higher trophic levels in the community
answer: a
Which of the following is/are disturbances? Choose all that apply. a. Droughts b. Road Building c. Agriculture d. Volcanic eruptions e. Earthquakes f. Hurricanes g. Fires
answer: a, b, c, d, e, f, g
Cellular respiration occurs in which of the following groups of organisms? (Choose all that apply) a. Fungi b. Viruses c. Plants d. Protists e. Archaea f. Animals g. Bacteria
answer: a, c, d, e, f, g
Consider the excerpt from Garibaldi et al. 2013 "Wild pollinators enhance fruit set..." (pre-discussion reading). Which of the following statement(s) describe(s) this study accurately? ("et al." means "and colleagues") (Choose all that are correct.) a. Garibaldi et al. were concerned with the proportion of a plant's flowers that develop into mature fruits or seeds b. Garibaldi et al. were concerned with the biodiversity of prairie plants. c. Garibaldi et al. gathered data about the decline in honey bee hives due to disease and parasitism. d. Garibaldi et al. measured fruit set in a variety of agricultural crops.
answer: a, d
A virus achieves host specificity through _____ on the surface of the capsid or envelope, which bind to the host cell. a. nucleic acids b. proteins c. All of these choices are correct. d. lipids e. sugars
answer: b
Imagine you are studying a forest community that is subject to unusually intense fires and hurricanes approximately every 100 years, which is more frequently than in most environments. What would you expect of the species diversity in this community? a. The plant and animal species in the area change after each fire, therefore every 100 years the species composition of the area is entirely different. b. The species present soon after the fire are different than those present 90 years after the fire. c. The recovery after the fire takes longer for each subsequent fire that occurs in the area. d. The species present are able to tolerate fires, and the species composition never changes.
answer: b
Most climate models predict that during the 21st century average (mean) global temperature will increase by: a. 5-7°C b. 2-5°C c. 1-3°C d. 12-15°C e. 7-10°C
answer: b
On vacation, you visit a tropical archipelago (island chain). As any good BIO171 student would, you decide to catalogue all of the bird species you encounter during your stay. In the evening, reclined on a beach chair and sipping lemonade, you calculate the species composition of each of the islands in the archipelago. Your results are shown in the table below. Which of the following statements regarding species diversity is correct? Species A Species B Species C Species D Island 1 0%. 0% 15% 85% Island 2 30% 25% 20% 25% Island 3 20% 25% 25% 30% Island 4 50% 0% 0% 50% a. Island 1 has the highest species diversity. b. Islands 2 and 3 have approximately the same species diversity. c. Island 4 has the lowest species diversity. d. Islands 1 and 4 have the highest species diversity. e. Islands 1, 2, and 3 have approximately the same species diversity.
answer: b
What is the total amount of chemical energy produced by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis in a particular ecosystem? a. total primary production b. gross primary production c. net primary production d. respiration
answer: b
Which of the following is a definition of "pollen deposition"? (Choose one.) a. The total amount of fruit produced by a plant in an agricultural system b. The amount of pollen deposited on flowers by pollinators c. The proportion of pollen that matures into fruit d. The proportion of flowers on a plant that develop into fruit
answer: b
Which of the following statements about viruses is FALSE? a. Most are obligate parasites (i.e. require a host to replicate/reproduce). b. They represent a fourth domain of life. c. They recognize host cells by their unique glycoproteins. d. They are very common. e. They are very small in size.
answer: b
Which of the following statements regarding Mycobacterium or the disease it causes, tuberculosis (TB), is FALSE? a. A mutation in the rpoB gene can confer resistance to the antibiotic rifampin. b. It first emerged as a pathogen of human importance in the 1980s, as a result of the HIV epidemic and the emergence of drug resistant strains. c. It is among the most common infectious diseases and frequent causes of death worldwide. d. It is a pulmonary disease. c. It is caused by a bacterium.
answer: b
Which of the following statements regarding antibiotics or antibiotic resistance is accurate? a. Because antibiotics are highly profitable, drug companies are developing new antibiotics rapidly. b. In many cases, clinically relevant antibiotic resistance arises within a few years of a new antibiotic being used. c. At present, there are no longer antibiotics that are effective at treating any bacterial infections. d. All current infectious diseases are caused by viruses, which cannot be treated by antibiotics.
answer: b
What would happen in an ecosystem if decomposer populations went extinct? (Choose all that apply) a. Oxygen concentrations would increase, because plant productivity would increase. b. There would be more nitrogen in organic forms than in inorganic forms. c. Because decomposers carry out the chemical reactions of cellular respiration, CO2 concentration would steadily decrease until [CO2] = 0. d. There would be more nitrogen in inorganic forms than in organic forms. e. GPP and NPP would both decrease. f. NPP and respiration would both increase.
answer: b, e
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. Good seed dispersal ability b. Ability to grow in disturbed soils c. High shade tolerance d. Efficient water use e. Enhanced ability to acquire nutrients
answer: c
Antibiotics can kill _____ in the human body, which may sometimes lead to health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease. a. beneficial bacteria b. harmful bacteria c. both harmful and beneficial bacteria d. archaeons e. fungi
answer: c
Cellular respiration produces ______ from ________. Organic molecules are a source of ______ energy that cellular respiration transfers into _____ and transforms into _____. a. 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 b. Glucose and oxygen; carbon dioxide and water; chemical potential; usable chemical energy in the form of ATP; heat energy that cannot be used by cells to do work c. Carbon dioxide and water; organic molecules and oxygen; chemical potential; usable chemical energy in the form of ATP; heat energy that cannot be used by cells to do work
answer: c
For each 1 calorie of energy in an herbivorous cricket, it had to eat approximately how many calories of plant material? a. 1000 b. 100 c. 10 d. 1 e. 10000
answer: c
Genetic studies have identified an allele (?32) present in some humans that seems to provide protection against HIV. 10-25% of people in some European populations have at least one copy of this allele. Which of the following would MOST likely explain the reason why some humans have this mutation? a. Our bodies are designed to protect us against a myriad of pathogens, and this mutation allowed the immune system to prepare for future viral infections such as HIV & others. b. This mutation was likely induced (caused) in the human genome by the presence of the HIV virus; uninfected individuals do not have this mutation. c. In the past, individual humans with this mutation had higher fitness than individuals who lacked this mutation; this mutation increased survival from some other related pathogen. d. Even if this allele was never needed by our ancestors, people with alleles that provide protection against disease would have higher fitness than people without such alleles. e. This mutation is very likely a neutral mutation, so it could go to high frequency in a population by chance.
answer: c
How can crop yields be increased? a. increasing the use of machinery to harvest crops b. converting more land to agricultural fields c. All of the answer options are correct. d. using genetically modified crops that are more resistant to disease e. increasing the use of fertilizers to replenish nutrient-depleted soil
answer: c
How could an atom of nitrogen get from an apple into a macromolecule in an animal cell? a. 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. You consume the apple, DNA in the apple's cells is broken down through digestion to nucleotides, which contain nitrogen. The process of cellular respiration results in the N atoms being incorporated into carbohydrates used for energy. c. When you consume the apple, a DNA molecule in the apple's cells is broken down through digestion to nucleotides, which contain nitrogen. Your cell can use the nucleotides to make a DNA molecule. d. The premise is false; apple cells only contain carbohydrates and lipids. e. 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.
answer: c
How do vaccines work? a. They contain a weakened or dead version of the infectious agent, which triggers a vasovagal response (fainting) that confers lifetime immunity to the disease. b. They contain antibodies and memory cells that, once injected into a person, gives that person immunity to a particular infectious disease. c. They use a weakened or dead version of the infectious agent to trigger an immune response in a person, generating memory cells that can more quickly fight off infections in the future. d. They cause full-scale disease in a patient at a time when the patient can be monitored carefully, leading to lifetime immunity to that disease.
answer: c
In general, a larger biomass in primary producers for a trophic pyramid: a. does not affect the amount of energy in the primary producer level. Biomass and energy are completely separate. b. can support less biomass at higher levels because more energy is lost between the level of primary producer and primary consumer. c. can support more biomass at higher trophic levels because more energy is available to support consumers in the primary producer level.
answer: c
Most of the people who die of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa are: a. elderly b. young adults c. children under the age of 5 d. middle-aged e. teenagers
answer: c
Oxygen (O2) makes up about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. The graph below depicts changes in atmospheric O2 levels measured between the years 1990 and 2008. During what season would you expect oxygen levels to be lowest in a single year? a. winter b. fall c. spring d. summer
answer: c
The "Anthropocene Period": a. refers to the period when the earliest primate ancestors appeared in the fossil record. b. is Latin for "modern era." c. is a new proposed named to reflect the impact of humans on the planet. d. is so named to reflect increasing global surface temperatures. e. refers specifically to the period of time following the extinction of the dinosaurs.
answer: c
The MOST likely origin of human HIV1 virus is a related virus that infects: a. horses. b. cows. c. chimpanzees. d. cats. e. sheep.
answer: c
The difference between primary and secondary succession is... a. primary succession results in a predictable climax community, whereas the process of secondary succession includes more random events. b. primary succession occurs following a disturbance whereas secondary succession is always occurring. c. primary succession occurs following a disturbance that is so severe the soil has to be formed from weathering of rock and the accumulation of organic matter, whereas secondary succession occurs following a disturbance where the soil is left intact. d. primary succession happens immediately following a disturbance, and secondary succession begins 5-10 years following a disturbance e. primary succession occurs in older biomes, like the tropics, whereas secondary succession only occurs in biomes that have recently had an ice age or other similar event.
answer: c
The network of branching filaments that form the main body of a multicellular fungus is the: a. spore. b. root. c. mycelium. d. fruiting body. e. hypha.
answer: c
The totality of microbes that reside in/on humans, their genomes, and environmental interactions between the microbes and their human host are known as: a. symbiosis. b. an enterotype. c. the human microbiome. d. microbiology.
answer: c
What are the consequences of increasing agriculture to feed a growing human population? a. eutrophication and dead zones resulting from increased use of fertilizers b. decreased biological storage of carbon through deforestation c. All of the answer options are correct. d. greater input of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels e. loss of biodiversity through conversion of forests and grasslands to agricultural fields
answer: c
Which of the following equations depicts the chemical reaction for photosynthesis? a. sunlight + C6H12O6 + 6CO2 --> 6O2 + 6H2O b. CaSiO3 + CO2 --> CaCO3 + SiO2 c. sunlight + 6CO2 + 6H2O --> C6H12O6 + 6O2
answer: c
Which of the following is an example of a mutualistic association involving a fungus? a. A fungus causes Athlete's foot in a human. b. A fungus produces rings that allow it to capture and feed upon nematode worms. c. Fungal hyphae penetrate a plant root and provide the plant with nutrients and receive organic molecules in return. d. Fungal spores infect and then eventually kill an insect. e. A fungus invades the xylem of a tree and eventually kills it.
answer: c
Which of the following statements about coral bleaching is true? a. Increased seawater temperature is one cause of coral bleaching. b. Coral bleaching results from the loss of algal symbionts from the coral tissue. c. All of the answer options are true. d. Corals appear white after bleaching because their white calcium carbonate skeletons are visible through their translucent tissue. e. Bleached corals die more rapidly than unbleached corals.
answer: c
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. The greenhouse effect can lead to global warming. d. Global warming and the greenhouse effect describe the same phenomenon. e. None of the answer options are correct.
answer: c
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE of nitrogen-fixing bacteria? a. Some are free-living in the soil. b. They live in root nodules. c. They are very common in symbioses in all plant families. d. They provide an important way for biologically available nitrogen to enter ecosystems. e. They are very common in symbioses with plants from the legume family.
answer: c
Which of the following statements most accurately explains a hypothesis for why biodiversity is high at the equator and low at the poles? a. As area increases, species richness decreases. b. The tropics are unlikely to undergo primary succession, but primary succession is common in polar regions. c. The amount of primary producer biomass is higher near the equator and lower at the poles. d. The high latitudes and poles have nutrient-poor soils. e. The equator experiences a greater rate of disturbance events per unit time, compared to the relative constant rate of disturbance at high latitudes.
answer: c
Why is combination therapy the standard treatment for active tuberculosis infections? a. Because the very large number of bacterial cells in a patient with active tuberculosis means that a mutation conferring resistance to one or two antibiotics is likely to arise. b. Because it is very unlikely that a single cell will contain four separate mutations that make it resistant to all four antibiotics that are used. c. Both of the answers are reasons why combination therapy is the standard treatment for active tuberculosis infections.
answer: c
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. it is too cold or dry for decomposers to be active. b. primary production is too low to produce much leaf litter. c. decomposer activity and rates of nutrient cycling are both high. d. nutrient cycling is too slow to allow the formation of leaf litter. e. potassium and iron availability limit plant growth in this ecosystem.
answer: c
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. E. coli acquired the genes conveying antibiotic resistance through conjugation with other bacterial cells. b. E. coli acquired the genes conveying antibiotic resistance through transformation. c. Spontaneous mutations conveying antibiotic-resistance arose in the E. coli population of the petri dish. d. All of the answer options are correct.
answer: d
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 be seen in carbohydrates of both cultures. c. Labeled carbon would not be seen in the carbohydrates of either culture. d. Labeled carbon would be seen in the carbohydrates of CO2-exposed organisms.
answer: d
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. Flowers, fruits, nucleus, and chloroplasts, but not mitochondria b. Xylem & phloem, seeds, pollen, flowers, but no fruits c. Nucleus, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and multicellular haploid and diploid life stages, but no flowers d. Seeds, pollen, flowers, xylem & phloem, and multicellular haploid and diploid life stages e. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, fruits, flowers, but no vascular tissue
answer: d
An abundance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in an aquatic environment leads to __________ levels of dissolved oxygen due to __________. a. low; high rates of photosynthesis by producer populations b. high; high rates of photosynthesis by producer populations c. high; the abundance of anaerobic bacteria d. low; high rates of cellular respiration by decomposer populations
answer: d
Disturbances: a. affect populations differently according to the population's density. b. involve interactions such as competition and predation. c. are extremely rare. d. can influence the diversity of species in a community. e. usually only affect one particular species in a community.
answer: d
How would humans be categorized in terms of source of energy and source of carbon ? a. as photoautotrophs b. as chemoautotrophs c. as photoheterotrophs d. as chemoheterotrophs
answer: d
Oak trees are best categorized as ____________. a. photoheterotrophs b. chemoautotrophs c. chemoheterotrophs d. photoautotrophs
answer: d
On which part of the carbon cycle have humans had the greatest impact? a. deposition of organic carbon in deep sea sediments b. storage of CO2 in the oceans c. capture of atmospheric CO2 by chemical weathering of rocks d. return of CO2 to the atmosphere by burning of ancient organic matter e. All of the answer options have been greatly impacted by humans.
answer: d
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. Primary producers in the deep sea are chemoheterotrophs. c. There are probably only two trophic levels in the deep sea because there is only light available from bioluminescent (glowing) organisms. d. Primary producers in the deep sea use energy from chemical compounds to synthesize organic compounds using carbon obtained from CO2.
answer: d
Think about how antibiotic resistance to Rifampin (an antibiotic used to treat TB) evolves. Then, put the following steps in order; note that not all of the steps may be involved in the process. 1 = lung cells are colonized by bacteria that cause tuberculosis; one bacterial cell has a mutated version of the gene that codes for RNA polymerase 2 = the human lung cells are no longer able to properly transcribe DNA, and begin to die off; if left untreated, this disease may become fatal. 3 = antibiotic treatment using Rifampin begins 4 = bacteria that are resistant to Rifampin proliferate, and the mutated RNA polymerase gene becomes common in the bacterial population; the human patient's health deteriorates 5 = the bacterial cells divide by binary fission and the patient is diagnosed with TB 6 = bacteria that are susceptible to Rifampin die because these cells cannot carry out transcription a. 1, 3, 4, 2, 6 b. 5, 3, 6, 4, 2 c. 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 d. 1, 5, 3, 6, 4 e. 1, 5, 2, 4, 6, 3
answer: d
What is generally true about biomass and energy as we move from one trophic level to the next higher trophic level? a. Organisms at one trophic level always consume all of the resources from the level below them. b. Both energy and biomass increase. c. Biomass increases but energy decreases. d. Not all energy is transferred to the next higher trophic level. e. All of the energy stored initially in organic molecules by the primary producers will be available to the secondary consumers.
answer: d
Which biochemical process is responsible for oxygenating the Earth's atmosphere? a. Cellular respiration b. Nutrient cycling c. Decomposition d. Photosynthesis e. Oxidation
answer: d
Which of the following does not contribute to the formation of dead zones? a. eutrophication b. decomposition c. low oxygen levels d. ocean acidification e. fertilizers from agricultural runoff
answer: d
Which of the following groups contains species that can fix nitrogen? a. plants b. fungi c. animals d. bacteria
answer: d
Which of the following is NOT a way in which climate change can affect human health? a. Increasing the number of people relocated due to rising sea levels b. Causing more frequent extreme heat days c. Increasing asthma due to increased air pollution and allergens such as pollen d. Increasing food security & the worldwide food supply e. Increasing mental health disorders that are associated with natural disasters
answer: d
Which of the following statements about the concept of an ecological footprint is FALSE? a. The total ecological footprint for humanity is likely greater than the actual surface area of Earth. b. Undeveloped countries have smaller ecological footprints than developed countries. c. It encompasses the energy used to produce goods AND the energy used to ship those goods to a store. d. Countries with the largest population sizes have the largest ecological footprints. e. It is an estimate of how much land is required to provide the resources used by an individual.
answer: d
Which of the following statements is FALSE? a. Biological diversity generally increases with higher solar energy and rainfall inputs. b. Biological diversity generally increases with the evolutionary age of the community. c. Biological diversity generally increases with increasing area. d. Biological diversity generally increases with increasing latitude. e. Biological diversity generally increases with increases in net primary production.
answer: d
How do fungi obtain macromolecules, like sugars and amino acids, needed for growth and metabolism? Choose all that apply: a. The only way fungi obtain nutrients is by associating with a plant's roots; the plant host provides the fungus with sugars, amino acids, lipids, and nucleic acid macromolecules. b. Fungi eat in a similar manner to cnidaria. They engulf food into a gastrovacular cavity, digest it, and then bring digested macromolecules across the cavity's lipid bilayer into the fungal cells. c. Fungi are photoautotrophs; the fruiting bodies (e.g. mushrooms) make macromolecules like sugars and amino acids as well as ATP from sunlight & CO2. d. They secrete digestive enzymes to decompose dead organisms they come into contact with. e. They absorb digested macromolecules (which are digested by secreted digestive enzymes). f. Fungi are flexible in their biochemistry. They can function as chemolithoautotrophs and some species can even produce methane as a byproduct of cellular respiration.
answer: d, e
Why do we see a pattern of high productivity in coastal areas? Choose all that apply. a. Because sunlight can penetrate deep into coastal waters, but can only penetrate a few meters in the open ocean. b. Because aquatic photosynthetic organisms do not live in the open ocean c. Because chemosynthetic bacteria primarily live in shallow coastal waters. d. Because nutrient runoff from terrestrial sources often ends up in coastal waters and acts to fertilize phytoplankton. e. Because coastal areas are concentrated near the equator, which has high rainfall and intense sunlight. f. Because coastal areas are often subject to upwelling due to wind and ocean currents, which bring nutrients from deeper water to the surface.
answer: d, f
Conversion of N2 gas into NH3 (ammonia) is accomplished by which of the following types of bacteria? NH3 (ammonia) in water forms NH4 (ammonium) which primary producers can take up and use. a. assimilating bacteria b. denitrifying bacteria c. none of these choices - prokaryotes are not involved in this conversion d. bacteria that cause human diseases e. nitrogen-fixing bacteria
answer: e
Every time a source of energy is converted from one form to another, _______________________. a. heat is required. b. the total amount of energy in the universe is reduced by a tiny amount. c. whatever energy is lost in the transformation is recycled back to primary producers. d. the potential energy of the system increases. e. some of the usable energy is converted to heat energy (infrared radiation).
answer: e
If the net primary productivity of a system is 367.4 g C/m2/yr, and respiration is 111.3 g C/m2/yr, what is the gross primary productivity of this system? a. 256.1 g C/ m2/yr b. 311.75 g C/ m2/yr c. 423.05 g C/ m2/yr d. it is not possible to determine given the available information e. 478.7 g C/ m2/yr f. 3.3 g C/ m2/ yr
answer: e
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. Saiga antelopes are grazers who feed primarily on grasses and forbs found in grasslands. Grasses and forbs are classified as angiosperms, which means they have which of the following characteristics? a. Vascular system, including xylem and phloem b. At least one life stage that is multicellular and includes diploid (2n) cells, and at least one life stage that is multicellular and includes haploid (n) cells. c. Flowers d. Seeds e. All of the options are correct
answer: e
In which area do malaria infections result in very high mortality rates? a. Europe b. Australia c. North America d. Asia e. Africa f. South America
answer: e
Reverse transcriptase is an HIV enzyme that: a. makes RNA from protein. b. makes tRNA from RNA. c. makes RNA from DNA. d. makes protein from DNA. e. makes DNA from RNA.
answer: e
What can help explain why forest fires have become more severe? a. Fire suppression campaigns like the "Smokey the Bear" led to a public backlash, which led people to set more fires intentionally. b. Disturbances happen more often now, so there is less time for resistant species to colonize the habitat. c. Smoking rates are higher now than they have ever been, so there are more accidental fires than there were 40 years ago. d. all of the choices are correct e. Fire suppression led to large biomass of vegetation, which provides "fuel" and leads to intense fires.
answer: e
What effect has continued deforestation and fossil fuel use caused? a. Decrease of phosphorous levels in the atmosphere b. Maintenance of atmospheric CO2 at a constant level c. Increased nitrogen fixation d. No effects have been identified since these events are relatively recent e. Increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
answer: e
What is the advantage of a fungal body being composed of numerous thin hyphae instead of one or two very thick hyphae? a. Better support is provided by numerous hyphae. b. More exposure to the sun allows for increased photosynthesis. c. All the answer options are correct. d. Less energy is required to produce the thin hyphae. e. A greater surface area is available for absorption of nutrients.
answer: e
What is the difference between a pool and a flux in a biogeochemical cycle? a. Pools are stable and do not change, whereas fluxes move energy through the system. b. Pools are generally very large, whereas fluxes move very small amounts of matter. c. Pools represent matter, whereas fluxes represent the movement of energy. d. Pools are aquatic, whereas fluxes are terrestrial. e. Pools are measured in units of mass, whereas fluxes are measured in units of mass per time
answer: e
What percent of all tuberculosis cases in the US are resistant to ANY first-line drug? Hint: Review your lecture notes. a. 5% b. 1% c. 50% d. 7% e. 10% f. 25%
answer: e
Which of the following statements is FALSE? a. Scientists are engaged in an evolutionary arms race with disease-causing organisms. b. Most strains of Plasmodium falciparum are resistant to chloroquine. c. Use of antibiotics in farm animals contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. d. Global travel spreads pathogens more quickly than ever before. e. Malaria was a major problem in the early history of hominins but is no longer a major pathogen of humans.
answer: e
Why do fecal transplants work? a. Because they ensure that the donor recently took antibiotics, and, therefore, that the donor does not contain any disease-causing bacteria in his/her gut. b. Because they first clear the recipient's gut flora using clindamycin, an antibiotic. c. Because there is no other alternative to treating Clostridium difficile infections. d. none of the choices are correct e. They transplant a healthy gut community into the affected individual, restoring the diversity of the gut flora.
answer: e
You own 300 acres of temperate forest in northern Michigan. Which one of the following actions would increase the net primary productivity of that area the MOST? a. All of the choices would increase net primary productivity about equally. b. All of the choices would decrease net primary productivity. c. Adding 500 herbivorous beetles to the area. d. Adding 500 rabbits to the area. e. Planting 500 new trees, of a variety of different species and that belong to different functional groups. f. Fertilizing the entire area with iron (Fe).
answer: e
____________________________ form the base of all terrestrial food webs. a. Bacteria b. Fungi c. Insects d. Prokaryotes e. Photosynthetic organisms f. Decomposers
answer: e
Consider the following chronology of events: no soil community, bacteria and fungi colonize, lichens arrive, mosses arrive, organic matter builds up in soil, small herbs and wildflowers arrive, shrubs start growing, small trees start growing, tall trees grow. What is the best description of the process that is occurring? a. coevolution b. symbiosis c. island biogeography d. secondary succession e. disturbance f. primary succession
answer: f
If 50,000 kilograms of biomass are present at the primary consumer level, how many kilograms of biomass could be supported at the quaternary (4th level) consumer level? a. 5000 b. 0.5 c. 500 d. 50,000 e. 5 f. 50
answer: f
T/F: A pride of lions moves into a new area of the savanna that was previously a refuge for zebras. Lions begin killing zebras for food and the zebra population decreases. This is an example of an ecological disturbance.
answer: false
T/F: Human activities are having a profound influence on the global nitrogen cycle; humans are causing the earth to cool by increasing the amount of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.
answer: false
T/F: Increased rate of photosynthesis is the most likely explanation as to why atmospheric CO2 levels appear lowest during glacial periods of Earth's history.
answer: false
T/F: No matter where it is located, a large geographic area will have a higher species richness than a small geographic area.
answer: false
T/F: Seasonal respiration rates fluctuate in a similar manner as seasonal photosynthesis rates
answer: false
T/F: Viruses compose a fourth, distinct branch on the tree of life.
answer: false
The chemical energy that is transferred from primary producers to primary consumers is termed _______________; it is measured as ______________ minus ________________. a. net primary production; gross primary production; kinetic energy b. gross primary production; net primary production; heat loss c. primary consumption; secondary production; heat loss d. total production; consumption; biomass e. gross primary production; net primary production; the amount of energy used by the primary producers for photosynthesis f. secondary production; consumption; excreted waste g. net primary production; gross primary production; the amount of energy used by the primary producers for cellular respiration
answer: g
T/F: Fungi are the most important decomposers of wood in forest ecosystems.
answer: true
T/F: Heat energy that comes from organisms in the top trophic level is released to the atmosphere and eventually goes out to space.
answer: true
T/F: If all decomposers in a temperate forest ecosystem were suddenly killed, net primary productivity in this ecosystem would decline.
answer: true
T/F: If all other aspects of their lifestyles were equivalent, a vegetarian would have a smaller ecological footprint than someone who consumes a large amount of meat.
answer: true
T/F: Only about 10% of the nitrogen added to croplands ends up in food.
answer: true
T/F: Plants that have symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria provide these bacteria with food in the form of carbohydrates.
answer: true
T/F: Some plant nutrients are more mobile in soil than others.
answer: true
T/F: 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 chemical energy stored in glucose molecules.
answer: true
Which of the following are accurate statements about the greenhouse effect on the earth's biosphere? (Choose all correct answers.) a. The greenhouse effect on earth has increased since humans began releasing carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels. b. If we removed all the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, earth's living organisms would have higher fitness. c. The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gases. d. Increases in the earth's greenhouse effect can cause short-term (yearly) changes in precipitation, temperature, wind, and humidity; this is called "climate change." e. Greenhouse gases insulate the earth, causing solar energy to be trapped as heat, thereby warming the biosphere. f. The greenhouse effect is primarily caused by UV radiation destroying the ozone layer. g. The greenhouse effect causes individual weather events, such as hurricane Maria in 2017 and the extreme cold weather in Ann Arbor in early 2014; this is climate change.
answers: a, c, e
Choose all that apply. Disturbances are: a. events that are characterized based on their frequency and intensity. b. uncommon occurrences in all communities. c. predictable events that usually only impact the most abundant species in a community. d. events that disproportionately impact rare species in a community e. occurrences that are always caused by humans. f. usually abiotic events.
answers: a, f
Which of the following statements about disturbances are accurate? Choose all that apply. a. They are always weather-related events. b. They are often density-independent factors. c. They affect abundances of all species in the community. d. They affect community composition. e. They are always caused by abiotic factors. f. They remove organisms from a community.
answers: b, d, f
Which of the following is true about gross primary production, net primary production and cellular respiration? Choose all valid statements. Read carefully, as there are multiple gross primary production and net primary production questions on this quiz. a. Net primary production is always greater than gross primary production and the amount of production used to maintain cell function (cellular respiration) b. Gross primary production is equal to the net primary production, minus the energy used to maintain cell function (cellular respiration) c. Gross primary production is always greater than net primary production d. Gross primary production is equal to the sum of the net primary production and the amount of production used to maintain cell function (cellular respiration) e. Plants contribute to gross primary production, but plants do not use energy due to cellular respiration
answers: c, d