Chapter 3
The sun is the ultimate source of energy for terrestrial ecosystems. Approximately how much of the potential energy available from the Sun's rays hitting the Earth is used in photosynthesis? 1% 10% 25% 50% 90%
1%
A forest has a GPP of 3.8 kg C/m2/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m2/year. What is the NPP? 6.2 kg C/m2/year 1.4 kg C/m2/year 1.0 kg C/m2/year 9.12 kg C/m2/year 1.58 kg C/m2/year
1.4 kg C/m2/year
A wetland ecosystem has an NPP of 1.02 kg C/m2/year and a GPP of 2.80 kg C/m2/year. How much carbon is being used during respiration of autotrophs? 3.82 kg C/m2/year 1.76 kg C/m2/year 1.78 kg C/m2/year 2.86 kg C/m2/year 2.75 kg C/m2/year
1.78 kg C/m2/year
Which of the following is the approximate efficiency of the energy transfer as energy flows through the food chain? 1% 10% 25% 50% 90%
10%
Use Figure 3-2. How productive are tropical seasonal forests as compared to lakes and streams? 100% as productive 50% as productive 200% as productive 300% as productive 30% as productive
300% as productive
The aesthetic beauty of a forest is an example of resilience. a regulating service. A cultural service. a provision. a support system.
A cultural service.
Which of the following best describes an ecosystem? Populations interacting All biotic factors interacting Inter-species relationships Intra-species relationships All biotic and abiotic factors
All biotic and abiotic factors
Which of the following has the biggest impact on the resilience of an ecosystem? Amount of time the disturbance lasts Amount of time the ecosystem has been established Amount of predators present in the ecosystem Amount of human intervention that is allowed Amount of genetic biodiversity of the ecosystem
Amount of genetic biodiversity of the ecosystem
What is a watershed? Network of streams leading to a larger river Network of rivers and bays that lead to the ocean Reservoir of water stored underground Area of land that drains to a water body Extensive wetland system leading to a bay
Area of land that drains to a water body
In which step of the nitrogen cycle do plants absorb nitrogen compounds? Nitrification Denitrification Assimilation Ammonification Nitrogen fixation
Assimilation
What happens during nitrogen fixation? Bacteria in the soil convert nitrate into nitrogen gas and nitrous oxide. Nitrogen wastes are converted by bacteria into ammonium. Organisms convert nitrogen into carbon dioxide and energy, Atmospheric nitrogen diffuses into the soil and is converted into ammonia. Nitrogen is absorbed by plants.
Atmospheric nitrogen diffuses into the soil and is converted into ammonia
Which group of organisms performs photosynthesis? Autotrophs Scavengers Heterotrophs Consumers Decomposer
Autotrophs
Use Figure 3-1. Which of the organisms illustrated above would be considered a decomposer? Vulture Zebra Hyena Bacteria Hare
Bacteria
What group of organisms is primarily responsible for the processes that occur in the nitrogen cycle? Autotrophs Heterotrophs Bacteria Detritovores Scavengers
Bacteria
Which of the following is not an abiotic factor? Sunlight Bacteria pH Water Soil composition
Bacteria
Which element is the primary component of fossil fuels? Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Nitrogen
Carbon
Which of the following is considered to be the most important element in living organisms? Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Nitrogen
Carbon
What relatively recent development is greatly impacting the carbon cycle? Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration Formation of fossil fuels Combustion of fossil fuels Formation of carbonate rocks
Combustion of fossil fuels
What is the major source of phosphorus on land? Deposition from atmospheric phosphorus Compounds that are formed by autotrophs during photosynthesis Compounds released from the weathering of rocks Compounds formed from bacterial conversion Compounds dissolved in precipitation
Compounds released from the weathering of rocks
Which ecosystems are considered to be the most diverse? Ecosystems experiencing high levels of disturbance Ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance Ecosystems experiencing low levels of disturbance Ecosystems experiencing no disturbance Ecosystems that once had high levels of disturbance but have been stable for hundreds of years
Ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance
Which of the following statements best describes the concept of NPP (Net Primary Production)? Energy captured minus energy lost Total amount of energy available for the sun Total amount of energy produced from photosynthesis Total amount of energy available within an ecosystem Total amount of cellular respiration conducted within an ecosystem
Energy captured minus energy lost Total amount of energy available for
Which of the following shows the complex interactions between species within an ecosystem? Food chain Food web Food pyramid Energy pyramid Trophic level diagram
Food web
Use Figure 3-1. Which of the organisms above would occupy the lowest trophic level? Hyena Cheetah Vulture Giraffe Lion
Giraffe
Use Figure 3-1. Which of the organisms illustrated above would be considered autotrophs? Beetle Bacteria Grass Cheetah Giraffe
Grass
Use Figure 3-3. What type of organism would you expect to find on the lowest level of the pyramid above? Gazelle Lion Vulture Giraffe Grasses
Grasses
How is the majority of energy within an ecosystem lost? Heat loss Energy used to grow biomass Cellular respiration Cellular metabolism Energy used to capture prey
Heat loss
In what ways have humans had an effect on the Nitrogen cycle? I. Use of fertilizers II. Combustion of fossil fuels III. Urbanization
I and II
What impact have humans had on the phosphorus cycle? I. Use of phosphorus containing fertilizers II. Increased urbanization of forested areas III. Increased use of phosphorus containing detergents
I and III
Which of the following are biotic? I. Decomposers II. Energy flow III. Producers
I and III
Of the following, which are products of photosynthesis? I. Glucose II. Carbon dioxide III. Water
I only
Humans have a considerable effect on the hydrologic cycle. Which of the following has a direct effect on this cycle? I. Deforestation II. Urbanization III. Mining of fossil fuels
I, II, and III
Which of the following organisms performs cellular respiration? I. Autotrophs II. Heterotrophs III. Decomposers
I, II, and III
Which of the following types of organisms carry out cellular respiration? I. Autotrophs II. Scavengers III. Secondary consumers
I, II, and III
What impact does deforestation have on the carbon cycle? Increase in amount of CO2 in the atmosphere Decrease in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere Increase in the amount of photosynthesis Increase in the amount of cellular respiration performed by autotrophs Deforestation has no impact on the carbon cycle
Increase in amount of CO2 in the atmosphere
What is a possible result of an increased amount of CO2 in the atmosphere? Increased precipitation Decreased photosynthesis Increase in global temperature Decrease in cellular respiration Increase in formation of fossil fuels
Increase in global temperature
What effect would clear cutting within a watershed have on the water quality of a river running through the watershed? Decrease in nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear-cut watershed Increase in nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear-cut watershed Decrease in the amount of runoff entering the waters of the clear-cut watershed Increase in the biodiversity of the river Clear-cutting should not have an effect on the water quality of a river.
Increase in nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear-cut watershed
Use Figure 3-1. Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the top predator? Zebra Hyena Lion Cheetah Giraffe
Lion
Which element is the most abundant in the atmosphere? Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulfur Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Which nutrient is most often limiting in aquatic ecosystems? Nitrogen Phosphorus Carbon Hydrogen Sulfur
Phosphorus
A scientist is observing a series of plants and measuring their growth with the addition of nutrients. She notices that the addition of nitrate has no effect on the growth while the addition of phosphorus shows significant growth. What conclusion can she draw about the nutrients in relation to this plant? Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient. Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient. The plant does not require nitrogen. The plant does not require phosphorus. The plant had an excess of nutrients, limiting its growth
Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient.
Which of the following is a biotic factor? Producers pH Water Humidity Energy
Producers
Choose the correct sequence for energy flow within an ecosystem? Herbivores→producers→carnivores→scavengers Producers→herbivores→carnivores→scavengers Producers→carnivores→herbivores→carnivores Scavengers→producers→herbivores→carnivores Carnivores→scavengers→producers→herbivores
Producers→herbivores→carnivores→scavengers
Use Figure 3-1. Which of the organisms illustrated above would be considered primary consumers? Rabbit Cheetah Lion Vulture Beetle
Rabbit
Which stage of the hydrologic cycle can be the most direct cause of algal blooms? Evaporation Precipitation Transpiration Infiltration Runoff
Runoff
What law best relates to energy loss within an ecosystem? First law of thermodynamics Second law of thermodynamics Third law of thermodynamics Law of conservation of matter Law of relativity
Second law of thermodynamics
Use Figure 3-2. Which ecosystem is the most productive? Tundra Tropical rainforest Coral reefs Swamps and marshes Desert scrub
Swamps and marshes
The addition of a limiting nutrient to an ecosystem may lead to an algal bloom. What effect will this algal bloom have on the oxygen content of the water? -The algal bloom will cause the oxygen content in the water to increase overall. -The algal bloom will cause the oxygen content in the water to decrease, leading to hypoxic conditions. - The algal bloom will have no impact on the oxygen content of the water. -The algal bloom will cause rapid fluctuations of oxygen in the water. -The oxygen content will vary based on the depth of the water.
The algal bloom will cause the oxygen content in the water to decrease, leading to hypoxic conditions.
Use Figure 3-2. How would you describe the relationship between temperature of a continental ecosystem and net primary productivity based on the data provided? There is no clear relationship between temperature and productivity. The warmer the ecosystem, the higher the productivity. The colder the ecosystem, the higher the productivity. Continental ecosystems are more productive than marine ecosystems. The warmer the ecosystem, the lower the productivity.
The warmer the ecosystem, the higher the productivity.
Which of the following statements best describes the concept of GPP (Gross Primary Production)? Total amount of energy available to primary consumers Total amount of energy available from the Sun Total amount of solar energy that producers capture via photosynthesis Total amount of energy available within an ecosystem Total amount of cellular respiration conducted within an ecosystem
Total amount of solar energy that producers capture via photosynthesis
During what stage of the hydrologic cycle is water released to the atmosphere from plants? Evaporation Transpiration Precipitation Infiltration Condensation
Transpiration
Which of the following is not a part of the carbon cycle? Transpiration Combustion Photosynthesis Extraction Respiration
Transpiration
Which of the following would be considered an instrumental value of an ecosystem? Ecological cycling of nutrients Balance of predators with prey High decomposition rates, adding nutrients to the soil High net primary production Use of lumber from forest
Use of lumber from forest
What are the physical products of cellular respiration? Oxygen and carbon dioxide Nitrogen and carbon Glucose and oxygen Water and carbon dioxide Glucose and water
Water and carbon dioxide
Which of the following are needed for photosynthesis? Water, solar energy, and carbon dioxide Water, solar energy, and glucose Carbon dioxide, energy, and glucose Oxygen, water, and energy Oxygen and glucose
Water, solar energy, and carbon dioxide
Use Figure 3-3. Looking at the ecological pyramid above, what would be the most likely number of joules to fill in X, Y, and Z? X = 100; Y = 1000; Z = 10,000 X = 1; Y = 500; Z = 10,000 X = 10,000; Y = 500; Z = 1 X = 50; Y = 50,000; Z = 500,000 X = 10,000; Y = 1000; Z = 10
X = 100; Y = 1000; Z = 10,000
Another name for a producer is a(n) heterotroph. autotroph. decomposer. nutrient. scavenger.
autotroph.
After a disturbance such as a forest fire, an ecosystem recovered very rapidly. This is an example of an ecosystem that has high resistance. low resistance. high resilience. low resilience. equal resilience and resistance.
high resilience
In the hydrologic cycle, evaporation generally occurs immediately after condensation. can only be initiated in the ocean. is essentially the same process as transpiration. is caused by heat from the Sun. cannot be affected by human activities.
is caused by heat from the Sun.
When nutrients are transported through soil with water, this process is known as infiltration. percolation. decomposition. leaching. nitrification.
leaching
An ecosystem that has been clear cut showed a dramatic decrease in the amount of nutrients and energy that were cycled in the ecosystem. In this example, the ecosystem has high resistance. low resistance. high resilience. low resilience. equal resilience and resistance.
low resistance.
Products obtained from nature that humans can use such as lumber, medicines, and food crops are known as ecological benefits. provisions. supplies. service values. intrinsically valuable.
provisions.
Processes that help to balance the ecosystems, such as balancing nutrient cycling, are known as provisions. regulating services. support systems. resilience. cultural services.
regulating services
A new field has developed that focuses on restoring damaged ecosystems. This field is known as mitigation ecology. reconciliation ecology. disturbance reconciliation habitat balancing ecology. restoration ecology.
restoration ecology.
Water that moves across the surface of the land into streams and rivers is called evaporation. precipitation. groundwater. transpiration. runoff.
runoff
Organisms that eat dead or decaying matter are called decomposers. primary consumers. scavengers. heterotrophs. autotrophs.
scavengers
