Question 1

High soil nutrient content usually leads to slower decomposition because soil organisms have less need for nutrients of organic origin.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 2

In Judy Meyer and Gene Likens' study of phosphorus in Bear Brook,

Accepted Answer

A)  most phosphorus inputs occurred during spring snowmelt. 
B)  phosphorus inputs were nearly constant over the year. 
C)  most phosphorus losses occurred during autumn leaf fall. 
D)  most phosphorus losses occurred during storms and snowmelt. 
E)  phosphorus losses were nearly constant over the year. 
A)  most phosphorus inputs occurred during spring snowmelt. 
B)  phosphorus inputs were nearly constant over the year. 
C)  most phosphorus losses occurred during autumn leaf fall. 
D)  most phosphorus losses occurred during storms and snowmelt. 
E)  phosphorus losses were nearly constant over the year. D

Question 3

The end product of biological nitrogen fixation is

Accepted Answer

A)  N2. 
B)  NO3-. 
C)  NO2-. 
D)  NH3. 
E)  None of the choices are correct. 
A)  N2. 
B)  NO3-. 
C)  NO2-. 
D)  NH3. 
E)  None of the choices are correct. D

Question 4

When comparing temperate and tropical forests, which one has a higher rate of decomposition? Secondly, what climate factors affect the difference?

Accepted Answer

A)  Temperate; temperature 
B)  Tropical; moisture 
C)  Temperate; temperature and moisture 
D)  Tropical; temperature and moisture 
A)  Temperate; temperature 
B)  Tropical; moisture 
C)  Temperate; temperature and moisture 
D)  Tropical; temperature and moisture

Question 5

The largest reservoir of phosphorus in most ecosystems is phosphorus

Accepted Answer

A)  in the atmosphere. 
B)  dissolved in water. 
C)  in rocks and sediments. 
D)  bound in animal tissues. 
E)  bound in plant tissues. 
A)  in the atmosphere. 
B)  dissolved in water. 
C)  in rocks and sediments. 
D)  bound in animal tissues. 
E)  bound in plant tissues.

Question 6

The Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER found that nitrate levels varied by population density. Which of the following is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Urban areas had higher nitrate outputs. 
B)  Forested areas had higher nitrate outputs. 
C)  Forested areas had more nitrogen outputs than suburban areas. 
D)  Urban areas had lower nitrate outputs than suburban areas. 
A)  Urban areas had higher nitrate outputs. 
B)  Forested areas had higher nitrate outputs. 
C)  Forested areas had more nitrogen outputs than suburban areas. 
D)  Urban areas had lower nitrate outputs than suburban areas.

Question 7

The release of nutrients from organic material in inorganic form is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The release of nutrients from organic material...

Question 8

Fungi and bacteria release nitrogen stored in dead tissue through a decomposition process called

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen fixation. 
B)  ammonification. 
C)  denitrification. 
D)  nitrification. 
E)  nitrogen assimilation. 
A)  nitrogen fixation. 
B)  ammonification. 
C)  denitrification. 
D)  nitrification. 
E)  nitrogen assimilation.

Question 9

Phosphorus is an important constituent of

Accepted Answer

A)  DNA. 
B)  bone tissue. 
C)  RNA. 
D)  ATP. 
E)  All of the choices are correct. 
A)  DNA. 
B)  bone tissue. 
C)  RNA. 
D)  ATP. 
E)  All of the choices are correct.

Question 10

In stream ecosystems, nutrient retentiveness is

Accepted Answer

A)  not related to spiraling length. 
B)  positively related to spiraling length. 
C)  inversely related to spiraling length. 
D)  a logarithmic function of spiraling length. 
E)  a power function of spiraling length. 
A)  not related to spiraling length. 
B)  positively related to spiraling length. 
C)  inversely related to spiraling length. 
D)  a logarithmic function of spiraling length. 
E)  a power function of spiraling length.

Question 11

The breakdown of organic matter accompanied by the release of carbon dioxide is called?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mineralization 
B)  Decomposition 
C)  Nutrient cycling 
D)  Disturbance 
A)  Mineralization 
B)  Decomposition 
C)  Nutrient cycling 
D)  Disturbance

Question 12

The major pool of nitrogen in the atmosphere is the direct source of nitrogen for most organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT an agent of nitrogen fixation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mycorrhizal fungi 
B)  Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) 
C)  Bacteria associated with legume roots 
D)  Lightning 
E)  Actinomycete bacteria associated with alder roots 
A)  Mycorrhizal fungi 
B)  Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) 
C)  Bacteria associated with legume roots 
D)  Lightning 
E)  Actinomycete bacteria associated with alder roots

Question 14

Plants in low nutrient ecosystems tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  grow slowly and allocate more resources to shoots than roots. 
B)  grow rapidly and allocate more resources to shoots than roots. 
C)  grow rapidly and allocate more resources to roots than shoots. 
D)  grow slowly and allocate more resources to roots than shoots. 
E)  grow rapidly and allocate equal resources to roots and shoots. 
A)  grow slowly and allocate more resources to shoots than roots. 
B)  grow rapidly and allocate more resources to shoots than roots. 
C)  grow rapidly and allocate more resources to roots than shoots. 
D)  grow slowly and allocate more resources to roots than shoots. 
E)  grow rapidly and allocate equal resources to roots and shoots.

Question 15

A major perturbation of the carbon cycle by human activity is associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  release of carbon from carbonate rocks. 
B)  release of carbon from fossil fuel deposits. 
C)  removal of carbon from the atmosphere in the industrial production of fertilizers. 
D)  accelerated removal of carbon from the atmosphere by forests. 
E)  respiratory production of CO2 by the large human population. 
A)  release of carbon from carbonate rocks. 
B)  release of carbon from fossil fuel deposits. 
C)  removal of carbon from the atmosphere in the industrial production of fertilizers. 
D)  accelerated removal of carbon from the atmosphere by forests. 
E)  respiratory production of CO2 by the large human population.

Question 16

In aquatic ecosystems, leaves with high lignin content decompose

Accepted Answer

A)  rapidly because lignin is a nutrient-rich compound. 
B)  rapidly because lignin enhances colonization by decomposing fungi. 
C)  slowly because lignin reduces colonization by decomposing fungi. 
D)  slowly because lignin is a carbon-poor compound. 
E)  slowly because lignin-containing leaves sink rapidly. 
A)  rapidly because lignin is a nutrient-rich compound. 
B)  rapidly because lignin enhances colonization by decomposing fungi. 
C)  slowly because lignin reduces colonization by decomposing fungi. 
D)  slowly because lignin is a carbon-poor compound. 
E)  slowly because lignin-containing leaves sink rapidly.

Question 17

Streams with higher densities of stream invertebrates would be expected to have shorter spiraling lengths.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Vanni and colleagues found a positive correlation between the N:P ratios of fish and amphibians and their N:P excretion ratios in a tropical stream in Venezuela.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Nitrogen fixation is an energy-demanding process because of the strong ________ bond between the two nitrogen atoms in the N2 molecule.

Accepted Answer

A)  single covalent 
B)  double covalent 
C)  triple covalent 
D)  ionic 
E)  hydrogen 
A)  single covalent 
B)  double covalent 
C)  triple covalent 
D)  ionic 
E)  hydrogen

Question 20

"Nitrification" is the conversion of

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon compounds to nitrogen compounds. 
B)  nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonia (NH3). 
C)  ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-). 
D)  ammonia (NH3) to nitrogen gas (N2). 
E)  ammonium (NH4+) to nitrite (NO2-). 
A)  carbon compounds to nitrogen compounds. 
B)  nitrogen gas (N2) to ammonia (NH3). 
C)  ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-). 
D)  ammonia (NH3) to nitrogen gas (N2). 
E)  ammonium (NH4+) to nitrite (NO2-).

Exam 19: Nutrient Cycling and Retention

High soil nutrient content usually leads to slower decomposition because soil organisms have less need for nutrients of organic origin.

In Judy Meyer and Gene Likens' study of phosphorus in Bear Brook,

The end product of biological nitrogen fixation is

When comparing temperate and tropical forests, which one has a higher rate of decomposition? Secondly, what climate factors affect the difference?

The largest reservoir of phosphorus in most ecosystems is phosphorus

The Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER found that nitrate levels varied by population density. Which of the following is correct?

The release of nutrients from organic material in inorganic form is called ________.

Fungi and bacteria release nitrogen stored in dead tissue through a decomposition process called

Phosphorus is an important constituent of

In stream ecosystems, nutrient retentiveness is

The breakdown of organic matter accompanied by the release of carbon dioxide is called?

The major pool of nitrogen in the atmosphere is the direct source of nitrogen for most organisms.

Which of the following is NOT an agent of nitrogen fixation?

Plants in low nutrient ecosystems tend to

A major perturbation of the carbon cycle by human activity is associated with

In aquatic ecosystems, leaves with high lignin content decompose

Streams with higher densities of stream invertebrates would be expected to have shorter spiraling lengths.

Vanni and colleagues found a positive correlation between the N:P ratios of fish and amphibians and their N:P excretion ratios in a tropical stream in Venezuela.

Nitrogen fixation is an energy-demanding process because of the strong ________ bond between the two nitrogen atoms in the N2 molecule.

"Nitrification" is the conversion of

Introduction to Ecology: Historical Foundations and Developing Frontiers

Life on Land

Life in Water

Population Genetics and Natural Selection

Temperature Relations

Water Relations

Energy and Nutrient Relations

Social Relations

Population Distribution and Abundance

Population Dynamics

Population Growth

Life Histories

Competition

Exploitative Interactions: Predation, Herbivory, Parasitism, and Disease

Mutualism

Species Abundance and Diversity

Species Interactions and Community Structure

Primary Production and Energy Flow

Succession and Stability

Landscape Ecology

Geographic Ecology

Global Ecology

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Nitrogen fixation is an energy-demanding process because of the strong ________ bond between the two nitrogen atoms in the N₂ molecule.