Question 1

At which point in a biogeochemical pathway are elements unavailable to plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  when the element is located in a reservoir 
B)  when the element is located in the exchange pool 
C)  when the element is dissolved in water 
D)  when the element is located in the soil 
E)  when the element is located in the atmosphere 
A)  when the element is located in a reservoir 
B)  when the element is located in the exchange pool 
C)  when the element is dissolved in water 
D)  when the element is located in the soil 
E)  when the element is located in the atmosphere A

Question 2

The ultimate source of energy for the majority of organisms on Earth, including humans, is

Accepted Answer

A)  heat from burning fuels. 
B)  heat from muscle contraction. 
C)  sunlight. 
D)  electric light. 
E)  ultraviolet light. 
A)  heat from burning fuels. 
B)  heat from muscle contraction. 
C)  sunlight. 
D)  electric light. 
E)  ultraviolet light. C

Question 3

Which biogeochemical cycle is directly associated with fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  hydrological 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  All of the answer choices are correct. 
A)  carbon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  hydrological 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  All of the answer choices are correct. A

Question 4

Plants obtain nitrogen directly from the air.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

When a plant produces food by photosynthesis, what is the fate of food stored as sugars, starches, etc.?

Accepted Answer

A)  All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by animal consumers. 
B)  All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by either animals or decomposers. 
C)  Most of the plant is consumed by animals and very little is consumed by decomposers. 
D)  A portion of the food is used by the plant itself in cellular respiration and the rest is consumed by animals or by decomposers. 
E)  A majority of the food is used by the plant itself in cellular respiration and very little is consumed by animals or by decomposers. 
A)  All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by animal consumers. 
B)  All of the food stored by plants is eventually consumed by either animals or decomposers. 
C)  Most of the plant is consumed by animals and very little is consumed by decomposers. 
D)  A portion of the food is used by the plant itself in cellular respiration and the rest is consumed by animals or by decomposers. 
E)  A majority of the food is used by the plant itself in cellular respiration and very little is consumed by animals or by decomposers.

Question 6

Living organisms need phosphate to produce

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA. 
B)  sugar. 
C)  amino acids. 
D)  lipids. 
E)  steroids. 
A)  DNA. 
B)  sugar. 
C)  amino acids. 
D)  lipids. 
E)  steroids.

Question 7

Which of the following is necessary to maintain a balanced (stable) ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Matter (i.e., elements) has to cycle. 
B)  There must be an outside energy source. 
C)  Various populations of producers and consumers must be proportional. 
D)  Energy must be allowed to flow through the ecosystem. 
E)  All of the answer choices describe necessary factors for maintaining a balanced ecosystem. 
A)  Matter (i.e., elements) has to cycle. 
B)  There must be an outside energy source. 
C)  Various populations of producers and consumers must be proportional. 
D)  Energy must be allowed to flow through the ecosystem. 
E)  All of the answer choices describe necessary factors for maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Question 8

How are omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are all producers. 
B)  They are all consumers and produce oxygen. 
C)  They all produce their own food. 
D)  They all produce oxygen. 
E)  They are all consumers and produce carbon dioxide. 
A)  They are all producers. 
B)  They are all consumers and produce oxygen. 
C)  They all produce their own food. 
D)  They all produce oxygen. 
E)  They are all consumers and produce carbon dioxide.

Question 9

Which of the following statements inaccurately describes a complex food web?

Accepted Answer

A)  It remains stable. 
B)  Populations tend to remain about the same size. 
C)  Energy levels remain about the same for all trophic levels. 
D)  Inputs are constant and outputs are minimal except for heat. 
E)  Most of the energy entering the system maintains the whole community. 
A)  It remains stable. 
B)  Populations tend to remain about the same size. 
C)  Energy levels remain about the same for all trophic levels. 
D)  Inputs are constant and outputs are minimal except for heat. 
E)  Most of the energy entering the system maintains the whole community.

Question 10

Which of the following organisms would be considered a decomposer?

Accepted Answer

A)  green algae 
B)  green plant 
C)  caterpillar 
D)  bird 
E)  mushroom 
A)  green algae 
B)  green plant 
C)  caterpillar 
D)  bird 
E)  mushroom

Question 11

In an ecosystem, which of the following is/are constantly recycled?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  water 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  All of the answer choices describe aspects of an ecosystem that are constantly recycled. 
A)  carbon 
B)  nitrogen 
C)  water 
D)  phosphorus 
E)  All of the answer choices describe aspects of an ecosystem that are constantly recycled.

Question 12

In a grassland biome, which organism would most likely be at the highest trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A)  hawk 
B)  big bluestem grass 
C)  sparrow 
D)  caterpillar 
E)  mouse 
A)  hawk 
B)  big bluestem grass 
C)  sparrow 
D)  caterpillar 
E)  mouse

Question 13

Which of the following can be classified as either a secondary or tertiary consumer?

Accepted Answer

A)  producer 
B)  herbivore 
C)  photoautotroph 
D)  autotroph 
E)  carnivore 
A)  producer 
B)  herbivore 
C)  photoautotroph 
D)  autotroph 
E)  carnivore

Question 14

Which of the following processes removes carbon from the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  burning fossil fuels 
C)  removing trees from the forest 
D)  cellular respiration in plant cells 
E)  cellular respiration in animal cells 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  burning fossil fuels 
C)  removing trees from the forest 
D)  cellular respiration in plant cells 
E)  cellular respiration in animal cells

Question 15

What eventually happens to the energy that is passed from one trophic level to the next in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

A)  It recycles back to the producers. 
B)  It results in a much larger decomposer population. 
C)  It is dissipated into the atmosphere in the form of heat. 
D)  It is recaptured by another food chain. 
E)  It is eventually sealed in fossil fuels such as coal and oil. 
A)  It recycles back to the producers. 
B)  It results in a much larger decomposer population. 
C)  It is dissipated into the atmosphere in the form of heat. 
D)  It is recaptured by another food chain. 
E)  It is eventually sealed in fossil fuels such as coal and oil.

Question 16

An inverted energy pyramid for an ecosystem, one where there are more consumers than producers at a given point in time, is possible if which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Producers are reproducing more slowly than consumers. 
B)  There is intense sunlight for long periods of time, as in the tropics. 
C)  Producers are reproducing much more rapidly than consumers. 
D)  Decomposers are reproducing much more rapidly than consumers. 
E)  Consumers are reproducing more rapidly than producers. 
A)  Producers are reproducing more slowly than consumers. 
B)  There is intense sunlight for long periods of time, as in the tropics. 
C)  Producers are reproducing much more rapidly than consumers. 
D)  Decomposers are reproducing much more rapidly than consumers. 
E)  Consumers are reproducing more rapidly than producers.

Question 17

Which of the following is usually a limiting factor (nutrient) for plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 
B)  nitrites 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  phosphates 
E)  hydrogen 
A)  nitrogen 
B)  nitrites 
C)  carbon dioxide 
D)  phosphates 
E)  hydrogen

Question 18

Which sequence illustrates the most plausible food chain?

Accepted Answer

A)  algae, insect larvae, fish, humans 
B)  algae, fish, insect larvae, humans 
C)  insect larvae, algae, fish, humans 
D)  fish, insect larvae, algae, humans 
E)  humans, fish, insect larvae, algae 
A)  algae, insect larvae, fish, humans 
B)  algae, fish, insect larvae, humans 
C)  insect larvae, algae, fish, humans 
D)  fish, insect larvae, algae, humans 
E)  humans, fish, insect larvae, algae

Question 19

List the four biogeochemical cycles that need to be in balance in order to have stable ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

1. Hydrological cycl

Question 20

Humans are biologically adapted to be

Accepted Answer

A)  omnivores. 
B)  herbivores. 
C)  decomposers. 
D)  autotrophs. 
E)  carnivores. 
A)  omnivores. 
B)  herbivores. 
C)  decomposers. 
D)  autotrophs. 
E)  carnivores.

Exam 35: Nature of Ecosystems

At which point in a biogeochemical pathway are elements unavailable to plants?

The ultimate source of energy for the majority of organisms on Earth, including humans, is

Which biogeochemical cycle is directly associated with fossil fuels?

Plants obtain nitrogen directly from the air.

When a plant produces food by photosynthesis, what is the fate of food stored as sugars, starches, etc.?

Living organisms need phosphate to produce

Which of the following is necessary to maintain a balanced (stable) ecosystem?

How are omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores similar?

Which of the following statements inaccurately describes a complex food web?

Which of the following organisms would be considered a decomposer?

In an ecosystem, which of the following is/are constantly recycled?

In a grassland biome, which organism would most likely be at the highest trophic level?

Which of the following can be classified as either a secondary or tertiary consumer?

Which of the following processes removes carbon from the atmosphere?

What eventually happens to the energy that is passed from one trophic level to the next in a food chain?

An inverted energy pyramid for an ecosystem, one where there are more consumers than producers at a given point in time, is possible if which of the following is true?

Which of the following is usually a limiting factor (nutrient) for plants?

Which sequence illustrates the most plausible food chain?

List the four biogeochemical cycles that need to be in balance in order to have stable ecosystems.

Humans are biologically adapted to be

The Study of Life

The Molecules of Cells

Cell Structure and Function

Membrane Structure and Function

Cell Division

Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes

Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis

Plant Organization and Function

Plant Reproduction and Responses

Human Organization

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Lymphatic and Immune Systems

Digestive System and Nutrition

Respiratory System

Urinary System and Excretion

Nervous System

Senses

Musculoskeletal System

Endocrine System

Reproductive System

Development and Aging

Patterns of Gene Inheritance

Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

Dna Structure and Gene Expression

Biotechnology and Genomics

Evolution of Life

Microbiology

Protists and Fungi

Plants

Animals: the Invertebrates

Animals: Chordates and Vertebrates

Behavioral Ecology

Population and Community Ecology

Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere

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