Question 1

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding mineral nutrients in soils and their implication for primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Globally, phosphorous availability is most limiting to primary productivity. 
B)  Adding a nonlimiting nutrient will stimulate primary productivity. 
C)  Phosphorous is sometimes unavailable to producers due to leaching. 
D)  Alkaline soils are more productive than acidic soils. 
A)  Globally, phosphorous availability is most limiting to primary productivity. 
B)  Adding a nonlimiting nutrient will stimulate primary productivity. 
C)  Phosphorous is sometimes unavailable to producers due to leaching. 
D)  Alkaline soils are more productive than acidic soils.

Question 2

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging. 
A)  Tropical bedrock contains little phosphorous. 
B)  Logging results in soil temperatures that are lethal to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  Most of the nutrients in the ecosystem are removed in the harvested timber. 
D)  The cation exchange capacity of the soil is reversed as a result of logging.

Question 3

Why is terrestrial productivity higher in equatorial climates?

Accepted Answer

A)  Productivity increases with temperature. 
B)  Productivity increases with water availability. 
C)  Productivity increases with available sunlight. 
D)  The answer is most likely a combination of the other responses. 
A)  Productivity increases with temperature. 
B)  Productivity increases with water availability. 
C)  Productivity increases with available sunlight. 
D)  The answer is most likely a combination of the other responses.

Question 4

Which statement best describes what ultimately happens to the chemical energy that is consumed but not used to produce 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 for thermoregulation. 
D)  It is eliminated as feces or is dissipated into space as heat as a result of cellular respiration consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. 
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 for thermoregulation. 
D)  It is eliminated as feces or is dissipated into space as heat as a result of cellular respiration consistent with the second law of thermodynamics.

Question 5

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

Accepted Answer

A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites. 
A)  Top-level predators are destined to have small populations that are sparsely distributed. 
B)  Predators have relatively large population sizes. 
C)  Predators are more disease-prone than animals at lower trophic levels. 
D)  Top-level predators are more likely to be stricken with parasites.

Question 6

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square meter?

Accepted Answer

A)  a salt marsh 
B)  an open ocean 
C)  a coral reef 
D)  a tropical rain forest 
A)  a salt marsh 
B)  an open ocean 
C)  a coral reef 
D)  a tropical rain forest

Question 7

Use the following figure to answer the question.
 
What treatment results that were presumably part of the experimental design are not fully depicted in the graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chlorophyll a concentration at 30 m depth within the treatment area 
B)  Chlorophyll a concentration at the surface within the treatment area 
C)  An indicator of net primary production in the treatment area at the surface and at 30 m deep 
D)  An indicator of net primary production outside the treatment area at depth and at 30 m deep 
A)  Chlorophyll a concentration at 30 m depth within the treatment area 
B)  Chlorophyll a concentration at the surface within the treatment area 
C)  An indicator of net primary production in the treatment area at the surface and at 30 m deep 
D)  An indicator of net primary production outside the treatment area at depth and at 30 m deep

Question 8

Which of the following organisms is correctly paired with its trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A)  cyanobacterium-primary consumer 
B)  grasshopper-secondary consumer 
C)  phytoplankton-primary producer 
D)  fungus-primary consumer 
A)  cyanobacterium-primary consumer 
B)  grasshopper-secondary consumer 
C)  phytoplankton-primary producer 
D)  fungus-primary consumer

Question 9

Why does a vegetarian leave a smaller ecological footprint than an omnivore?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fewer animals are slaughtered for human consumption. 
B)  There is an excess of plant biomass in all terrestrial ecosystems. 
C)  Vegetarians need to ingest less chemical energy than omnivores. 
D)  Eating meat is an inefficient way of acquiring photosynthetic productivity. 
A)  Fewer animals are slaughtered for human consumption. 
B)  There is an excess of plant biomass in all terrestrial ecosystems. 
C)  Vegetarians need to ingest less chemical energy than omnivores. 
D)  Eating meat is an inefficient way of acquiring photosynthetic productivity.

Question 10

Why is it that satellites, using wavelength reflectance technology, detect variable levels of productivity across Earth's oceans, rather than an increase toward the equator?

Accepted Answer

A)  Temperatures at the equator often exceed those which are optimal for primary production. 
B)  Light at the equator is too constant and direct. 
C)  NPP in Earth's open oceans could differ due to variability in depth, the presence of coral reefs, or by ocean currents. 
D)  Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapor emitted by transpiring producers, and this is a variable measurement in the oceans. 
A)  Temperatures at the equator often exceed those which are optimal for primary production. 
B)  Light at the equator is too constant and direct. 
C)  NPP in Earth's open oceans could differ due to variability in depth, the presence of coral reefs, or by ocean currents. 
D)  Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapor emitted by transpiring producers, and this is a variable measurement in the oceans.

Question 11

Use the following figure to answer the question.
 
Which habitat type in the figure makes available the most new tissue to consumers?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical wet forest 
B)  open ocean 
C)  algal beds and reefs 
D)  wetlands 
A)  tropical wet forest 
B)  open ocean 
C)  algal beds and reefs 
D)  wetlands

Question 12

If you applied a fungicide to a cornfield, what would you expect to happen to the rate of decomposition and net ecosystem production (NEP)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both decomposition rate and NEP would decrease. 
B)  Neither would change. 
C)  Decomposition rate would increase and NEP would decrease. 
D)  Decomposition rate would decrease and NEP would increase. 
A)  Both decomposition rate and NEP would decrease. 
B)  Neither would change. 
C)  Decomposition rate would increase and NEP would decrease. 
D)  Decomposition rate would decrease and NEP would increase.

Question 13

Which of the following ecosystems would likely have the largest net primary productivity per hectare and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  open ocean, because of the total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs 
B)  grassland, because of rapid growth, the small standing crop biomass that results from consumption by herbivores, and rapid decomposition 
C)  tundra, because of the incredibly rapid period of growth during the summer season 
D)  deep ocean, due to the high activity of chemoautotrophs at deep sea vents 
A)  open ocean, because of the total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs 
B)  grassland, because of rapid growth, the small standing crop biomass that results from consumption by herbivores, and rapid decomposition 
C)  tundra, because of the incredibly rapid period of growth during the summer season 
D)  deep ocean, due to the high activity of chemoautotrophs at deep sea vents

Question 14

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 ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
D)  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 ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb. 
D)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds.

Question 15

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 cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition. 
D)  Energy transfer between trophic levels is usually less than 20 percent efficient. 
A)  Many primary and higher-order consumers are opportunistic feeders. 
B)  Decomposers compete with higher-order consumers for nutrients and energy. 
C)  Nutrient cycling rates tend to be limited by decomposition. 
D)  Energy transfer between trophic levels is usually less than 20 percent efficient.

Question 16

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 ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb 
D)  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 ammonium to nitrate, which plants absorb 
D)  incorporating nitrogen into amino acids and organic compounds

Question 17

The first step in ecosystem restoration is to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  restore the physical structure 
B)  restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C)  remove competitive invasive species 
D)  remove toxic pollutants 
A)  restore the physical structure 
B)  restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C)  remove competitive invasive species 
D)  remove toxic pollutants

Question 18

Use the following figure to answer the question.
 
On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

The Hubbard Brook watershed deforestation experiment revealed that ________.
I.deforestation increased water runoff
II.nitrate concentration in waters draining the deforested area became dangerously high
III.calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas

Accepted Answer

A)  only I 
B)  only II 
C)  only III 
D)  only I and II 
A)  only I 
B)  only II 
C)  only III 
D)  only I and II

Question 20

Use the following figure to answer the question.
 
After looking at the figure, what can be said about productivity in this ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nothing can be said based on this information. 
B)  Between 80% and 90% of the energy is lost between most trophic levels. 
C)  Between 10% and 20% of the energy is lost between most trophic levels. 
D)  Productivity increases with each trophic level. 
A)  Nothing can be said based on this information. 
B)  Between 80% and 90% of the energy is lost between most trophic levels. 
C)  Between 10% and 20% of the energy is lost between most trophic levels. 
D)  Productivity increases with each trophic level.

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding mineral nutrients in soils and their implication for primary productivity?

Why do logged tropical rain forest soils typically have nutrient-poor soils?

Why is terrestrial productivity higher in equatorial climates?

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

How does inefficient transfer of energy among trophic levels result in the typically high endangerment status of many top-level predators?

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square meter?

Use the following figure to answer the question. What treatment results that were presumably part of the experimental design are not fully depicted in the graph?

Which of the following organisms is correctly paired with its trophic level?

Why does a vegetarian leave a smaller ecological footprint than an omnivore?

Why is it that satellites, using wavelength reflectance technology, detect variable levels of productivity across Earth's oceans, rather than an increase toward the equator?

Use the following figure to answer the question. Which habitat type in the figure makes available the most new tissue to consumers?

If you applied a fungicide to a cornfield, what would you expect to happen to the rate of decomposition and net ecosystem production (NEP)?

Which of the following ecosystems would likely have the largest net primary productivity per hectare and why?

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by

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

Nitrifying bacteria participate in the nitrogen cycle mainly by ________.

The first step in ecosystem restoration is to ________.

Use the following figure to answer the question. On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺)?

The Hubbard Brook watershed deforestation experiment revealed that ________. I.deforestation increased water runoff II.nitrate concentration in waters draining the deforested area became dangerously high III.calcium levels remained high in the soil of deforested areas

Use the following figure to answer the question. After looking at the figure, what can be said about productivity in this ecosystem?

Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

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

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

DNA Tools and 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

Vascular 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

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