Question 1

Aquatic primary productivity is most limited by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  light and nutrient availability 
B)  predation by primary consumers 
C)  increased pressure with depth 
D)  pollution 
E)  temperature 
A)  light and nutrient availability 
B)  predation by primary consumers 
C)  increased pressure with depth 
D)  pollution 
E)  temperature

Question 2

What is the goal of restoration ecology?

Accepted Answer

A)  to replace a ruined ecosystem with a more suitable ecosystem for that area 
B)  to speed up the restoration of a degraded ecosystem 
C)  to completely restore a disturbed ecosystem to its former undisturbed state 
D)  to prevent further degradation by protecting an area with park status 
E)  to manage competition between species in human-altered ecosystems 
A)  to replace a ruined ecosystem with a more suitable ecosystem for that area 
B)  to speed up the restoration of a degraded ecosystem 
C)  to completely restore a disturbed ecosystem to its former undisturbed state 
D)  to prevent further degradation by protecting an area with park status 
E)  to manage competition between species in human-altered ecosystems

Question 3

In the nitrogen cycle, the bacteria that replenish the atmosphere with N₂ are

Accepted Answer

A)  Rhizobium bacteria. 
B)  nitrifying bacteria. 
C)  denitrifying bacteria. 
D)  methanogenic protozoans. 
E)  nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
A)  Rhizobium bacteria. 
B)  nitrifying bacteria. 
C)  denitrifying bacteria. 
D)  methanogenic protozoans. 
E)  nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Question 4

Which of the following ecosystems would likely have a larger net primary productivity/hectare and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  open ocean because of the total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs 
B)  grassland because of the small standing crop biomass that results from consumption by herbivores and rapid decomposition 
C)  tropical rain forest because of the massive standing crop biomass and species diversity 
D)  cave due to the lack of photosynthetic autotrophs 
E)  tundra because of the incredibly rapid period of growth during the summer season 
A)  open ocean because of the total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs 
B)  grassland because of the small standing crop biomass that results from consumption by herbivores and rapid decomposition 
C)  tropical rain forest because of the massive standing crop biomass and species diversity 
D)  cave due to the lack of photosynthetic autotrophs 
E)  tundra because of the incredibly rapid period of growth during the summer season

Question 5

Which of the following is primarily responsible for limiting the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many primary and higher-order consumers are opportunistic feeders. 
B)  Decomposers compete with higher-order consumers for nutrients and energy. 
C)  Nutrient cycles involve both abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems. 
D)  Nutrient cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition. 
E)  Energy transfer between tropic levels is in almost all cases less than 20% efficient. 
A)  Many primary and higher-order consumers are opportunistic feeders. 
B)  Decomposers compete with higher-order consumers for nutrients and energy. 
C)  Nutrient cycles involve both abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems. 
D)  Nutrient cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition. 
E)  Energy transfer between tropic levels is in almost all cases less than 20% efficient.

Question 6

Aquatic ecosystems are least likely to be limited by which of the following nutrients?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  phosphorus 
D)  iron 
E)  zinc 
A)  nitrogen 
B)  carbon 
C)  phosphorus 
D)  iron 
E)  zinc

Question 7

In ecosystems, why is the term cycling used to describe material transfer, whereas the term flow is used for energy exchange?

Accepted Answer

A)  Materials are repeatedly used, but energy flows through and out of ecosystems. 
B)  Both material and energy are recycled and are then transferred to other ecosystems as in a flow. 
C)  Materials are cycled into ecosystems from other ecosystems, but energy constantly flows within the ecosystem. 
D)  Both material and energy flow in a never-ending stream within an ecosystem. 
E)  None of the choices is correct. 
A)  Materials are repeatedly used, but energy flows through and out of ecosystems. 
B)  Both material and energy are recycled and are then transferred to other ecosystems as in a flow. 
C)  Materials are cycled into ecosystems from other ecosystems, but energy constantly flows within the ecosystem. 
D)  Both material and energy flow in a never-ending stream within an ecosystem. 
E)  None of the choices is correct.

Question 8

What is secondary production?

Accepted Answer

A)  energy converted by secondary consumers from primary consumers 
B)  solar energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis 
C)  food that is converted to new biomass by consumers 
D)  energy that is not used by consumers for growth and reproduction 
E)  growth that takes place during the second year of life in consumers 
A)  energy converted by secondary consumers from primary consumers 
B)  solar energy that is converted to chemical energy by photosynthesis 
C)  food that is converted to new biomass by consumers 
D)  energy that is not used by consumers for growth and reproduction 
E)  growth that takes place during the second year of life in consumers

Question 9

Which statement best describes what ultimately happens to the chemical energy that is not converted to new biomass in the process of energy transfer between trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is undigested and winds up in the feces and is not passed on to higher trophic levels. 
B)  It is used by organisms to maintain their life processes through the reactions of cellular respiration. 
C)  Heat produced by cellular respiration is used by heterotrophs to thermoregulate. 
D)  It is eliminated as feces or is dissipated into space as heat in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics. 
E)  It is recycled by decomposers to a form that is once again usable by primary producers. 
A)  It is undigested and winds up in the feces and is not passed on to higher trophic levels. 
B)  It is used by organisms to maintain their life processes through the reactions of cellular respiration. 
C)  Heat produced by cellular respiration is used by heterotrophs to thermoregulate. 
D)  It is eliminated as feces or is dissipated into space as heat in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics. 
E)  It is recycled by decomposers to a form that is once again usable by primary producers.

Question 10

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by

Accepted Answer

A)  converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. 
B)  releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. 
C)  converting ammonia to nitrogen gas, which returns to the atmosphere. 
D)  converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
E)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds. 
A)  converting nitrogen gas to ammonia. 
B)  releasing ammonium from organic compounds, thus returning it to the soil. 
C)  converting ammonia to nitrogen gas, which returns to the atmosphere. 
D)  converting ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
E)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds.

Question 11

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  population viability analysis. 
B)  landscape ecology. 
C)  conservation ecology. 
D)  restoration ecology. 
E)  resource conservation. 
A)  population viability analysis. 
B)  landscape ecology. 
C)  conservation ecology. 
D)  restoration ecology. 
E)  resource conservation.

Question 12

To recycle nutrients, an ecosystem must have, at a minimum,

Accepted Answer

A)  producers. 
B)  producers and decomposers. 
C)  producers, primary consumers, and decomposers. 
D)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers. 
E)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, top carnivores, and decomposers. 
A)  producers. 
B)  producers and decomposers. 
C)  producers, primary consumers, and decomposers. 
D)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers. 
E)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, top carnivores, and decomposers.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  All of the brook trout in a 500 hectare² river drainage system. 
B)  The plants, animals, and decomposers that inhabit an alpine meadow. 
C)  A pond and all of the plant and animal species that live in it. 
D)  The intricate interactions of the various plant and animal species on a savanna during a drought. 
E)  Interactions between all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest. 
A)  All of the brook trout in a 500 hectare² river drainage system. 
B)  The plants, animals, and decomposers that inhabit an alpine meadow. 
C)  A pond and all of the plant and animal species that live in it. 
D)  The intricate interactions of the various plant and animal species on a savanna during a drought. 
E)  Interactions between all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest.

Question 14

Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Species C is toxic to predators. Which species is most likely to benefit from being a mimic of C?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 15

How do the Taylor Glacier bacteria produce their energy?

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  heterotrophism 
C)  chemoautotrophism 
D)  thermophobism 
E)  chemosynthesis 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  heterotrophism 
C)  chemoautotrophism 
D)  thermophobism 
E)  chemosynthesis

Question 16

Which of these ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity per square meter?

Accepted Answer

A)  savanna 
B)  open ocean 
C)  boreal forest 
D)  tropical rain forest 
E)  temperate forest 
A)  savanna 
B)  open ocean 
C)  boreal forest 
D)  tropical rain forest 
E)  temperate forest

Question 17

The total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs present in an ecosystem is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  gross primary productivity. 
B)  standing crop. 
C)  net primary productivity. 
D)  secondary productivity. 
E)  trophic efficiency. 
A)  gross primary productivity. 
B)  standing crop. 
C)  net primary productivity. 
D)  secondary productivity. 
E)  trophic efficiency.

Question 18

What is the first step in ecosystem restoration?

Accepted Answer

A)  to restore the physical structure 
B)  to restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C)  to remove competitive invasive species 
D)  to identify the limiting factors of the producers 
E)  to remove toxic pollutants 
A)  to restore the physical structure 
B)  to restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C)  to remove competitive invasive species 
D)  to identify the limiting factors of the producers 
E)  to remove toxic pollutants

Question 19

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created, yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem. What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemoautotrophic organisms can convert matter to energy. 
B)  Matter can be moved in/out of an ecosystem from/to another ecosystem. 
C)  Photosynthetic organisms convert solar energy to sugars. 
D)  Detrivores convert matter to energy. 
E)  Heterotrophs convert heat to energy. 
A)  Chemoautotrophic organisms can convert matter to energy. 
B)  Matter can be moved in/out of an ecosystem from/to another ecosystem. 
C)  Photosynthetic organisms convert solar energy to sugars. 
D)  Detrivores convert matter to energy. 
E)  Heterotrophs convert heat to energy.

Question 20

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents ammonia (NH₄⁺)?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Aquatic primary productivity is most limited by which of the following?

What is the goal of restoration ecology?

In the nitrogen cycle, the bacteria that replenish the atmosphere with N₂ are

Which of the following ecosystems would likely have a larger net primary productivity/hectare and why?

Which of the following is primarily responsible for limiting the number of trophic levels in most ecosystems?

Aquatic ecosystems are least likely to be limited by which of the following nutrients?

In ecosystems, why is the term cycling used to describe material transfer, whereas the term flow is used for energy exchange?

What is secondary production?

Which statement best describes what ultimately happens to the chemical energy that is not converted to new biomass in the process of energy transfer between trophic levels in an ecosystem?

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as

To recycle nutrients, an ecosystem must have, at a minimum,

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem?

Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Species C is toxic to predators. Which species is most likely to benefit from being a mimic of C?

How do the Taylor Glacier bacteria produce their energy?

Which of these ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity per square meter?

The total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs present in an ecosystem is known as

What is the first step in ecosystem restoration?

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created, yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem. What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents ammonia (NH₄⁺)?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters