Question 1

Which pyramid illustrates that at each successive trophic level there is a decreasing amount of energy available?

Accepted Answer

A)  a pyramid representing the number of organisms at each level 
B)  biomass pyramid of organisms at each level 
C)  ecological pyramid 
D)  food chain 
E)  food web 
A)  a pyramid representing the number of organisms at each level 
B)  biomass pyramid of organisms at each level 
C)  ecological pyramid 
D)  food chain 
E)  food web

Question 2

In the carbon cycle, carbon is returned to the atmosphere by

Accepted Answer

A)  respiration of animals and plants. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  evaporation of water. 
D)  glycolysis. 
E)  denitrification. 
A)  respiration of animals and plants. 
B)  photosynthesis. 
C)  evaporation of water. 
D)  glycolysis. 
E)  denitrification.

Question 3

The phosphorous cycle is not affected by human activities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Nitrification refers to the production of

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen gas. 
B)  nitrate. 
C)  nitrite. 
D)  ammonia. 
E)  ammonium. 
A)  nitrogen gas. 
B)  nitrate. 
C)  nitrite. 
D)  ammonia. 
E)  ammonium.

Question 5

In the carbon cycle, coal serves as an atmospheric reservoir of carbon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which kind of organism would be most likely to perform photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

A)  omnivore 
B)  herbivore 
C)  decomposer 
D)  autotroph 
E)  carnivore 
A)  omnivore 
B)  herbivore 
C)  decomposer 
D)  autotroph 
E)  carnivore

Question 7

Most natural food chains are only four or five links long. The number of trophic levels is limited because

Accepted Answer

A)  there are more predators than herbivores. 
B)  the efficiency in the conversion of food eaten at each level is very low, about 10 percent. 
C)  winter kills off most insects and stops the food chains. 
D)  space in the ecosystem is limited and so very few larger organisms can live there. 
E)  nutrients stop cycling after the fourth or fifth trophic level. 
A)  there are more predators than herbivores. 
B)  the efficiency in the conversion of food eaten at each level is very low, about 10 percent. 
C)  winter kills off most insects and stops the food chains. 
D)  space in the ecosystem is limited and so very few larger organisms can live there. 
E)  nutrients stop cycling after the fourth or fifth trophic level.

Question 8

Atmospheric carbon serves as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  exchange pool for carbon that is available to plants for photosynthesis. 
B)  long-term storage reservoir that becomes available to plants through the action of bacteria. 
C)  exchange pool for carbon that is made available to plants through the action of bacteria. 
D)  reservoir of carbon that will eventually be released into the ecosystem through the process of weathering. 
E)  storage reservoir of carbon that is part of the sedimentary cycle of carbon. 
A)  exchange pool for carbon that is available to plants for photosynthesis. 
B)  long-term storage reservoir that becomes available to plants through the action of bacteria. 
C)  exchange pool for carbon that is made available to plants through the action of bacteria. 
D)  reservoir of carbon that will eventually be released into the ecosystem through the process of weathering. 
E)  storage reservoir of carbon that is part of the sedimentary cycle of carbon.

Question 9

In a grazing food chain

Accepted Answer

A)  all the consumers are primary consumers. 
B)  primary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms. 
C)  primary consumers eat detritus. 
D)  tertiary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms. 
E)  secondary consumers eat detritus. 
A)  all the consumers are primary consumers. 
B)  primary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms. 
C)  primary consumers eat detritus. 
D)  tertiary consumers eat photosynthetic organisms. 
E)  secondary consumers eat detritus.

Question 10

Based on your understanding of ecological pyramids, is the annual productivity of a typical urban (city) backyard large enough to support a house cat restricted to the backyard or will the cat require food supplements in order for it to survive?

Accepted Answer

A)  The producer productivity is large enough for just the one cat to survive. 
B)  The cat must be fed additional food or it will starve. 
C)  The cat will be able to survive if there is at least one fruit tree in the backyard. 
D)  The cat will be able to survive if the backyard consists only of grass. 
E)  The producer productivity can support the cat, along with several offspring. 
A)  The producer productivity is large enough for just the one cat to survive. 
B)  The cat must be fed additional food or it will starve. 
C)  The cat will be able to survive if there is at least one fruit tree in the backyard. 
D)  The cat will be able to survive if the backyard consists only of grass. 
E)  The producer productivity can support the cat, along with several offspring.

Exam 35: Nature of Ecosystems

Which pyramid illustrates that at each successive trophic level there is a decreasing amount of energy available?

In the carbon cycle, carbon is returned to the atmosphere by

The phosphorous cycle is not affected by human activities.

Nitrification refers to the production of

In the carbon cycle, coal serves as an atmospheric reservoir of carbon.

Which kind of organism would be most likely to perform photosynthesis?

Most natural food chains are only four or five links long. The number of trophic levels is limited because

Atmospheric carbon serves as a(n)

In a grazing food chain

Based on your understanding of ecological pyramids, is the annual productivity of a typical urban (city) backyard large enough to support a house cat restricted to the backyard or will the cat require food supplements in order for it to survive?

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