Question 1

Nitrogen fixation results in the

Accepted Answer

A)  loss of biologically available N from an ecosystem. 
B)  formation of nitrogen gas. 
C)  direct formation of nitrate. 
D)  addition of biologically available N to an ecosystem. 
A)  loss of biologically available N from an ecosystem. 
B)  formation of nitrogen gas. 
C)  direct formation of nitrate. 
D)  addition of biologically available N to an ecosystem.

Question 2

A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called

Accepted Answer

A)  allotrophy. 
B)  ammensalism. 
C)  commensalism. 
D)  syntrophy. 
A)  allotrophy. 
B)  ammensalism. 
C)  commensalism. 
D)  syntrophy.

Question 3

Bacterial oxidation of Fe²⁺ is commonly studied in chemolithotrophs that thrive under which specific environmental condition?

Accepted Answer

A)  cold temperature 
B)  high sunlight 
C)  low (acidic) pH 
D)  nutrient-replete 
A)  cold temperature 
B)  high sunlight 
C)  low (acidic) pH 
D)  nutrient-replete

Question 4

The primary energy source for termites comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  acetogenic Archaea. 
B)  acetogenic Bacteria. 
C)  methanogenic Archaea. 
D)  methanogenic Bacteria. 
A)  acetogenic Archaea. 
B)  acetogenic Bacteria. 
C)  methanogenic Archaea. 
D)  methanogenic Bacteria.

Question 5

The two major forms of carbon that remain following microbial degradation are

Accepted Answer

A)  methane, organic matter, and fossil fuels. 
B)  methane and carbon dioxide. 
C)  lignin and fossil fuels. 
D)  organic matter and hydrocarbons. 
A)  methane, organic matter, and fossil fuels. 
B)  methane and carbon dioxide. 
C)  lignin and fossil fuels. 
D)  organic matter and hydrocarbons.

Question 6

Greenhouse gases

Accepted Answer

A)  such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O trap infrared radiation, heating the Earth. 
B)  such as CO₂ increase plant and animal growth, resulting in more heat production on Earth. 
C)  such as CO₂ and O₃ (ozone) interact with UV light and heat the Earth. 
D)  such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O destroy O₃ (ozone) and allow more UV light to enter the atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature of the Earthʹs surface. 
A)  such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O trap infrared radiation, heating the Earth. 
B)  such as CO₂ increase plant and animal growth, resulting in more heat production on Earth. 
C)  such as CO₂ and O₃ (ozone) interact with UV light and heat the Earth. 
D)  such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O destroy O₃ (ozone) and allow more UV light to enter the atmosphere, thus increasing the temperature of the Earthʹs surface.

Question 7

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas produced by anthropogenic activities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In the oceans, sulfur exists primarily as

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). 
B)  elemental sulfur (Sᵒ). 
C)  sulfate (SO₄²⁻). 
D)  gypsum (CaSO₄). 
A)  hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). 
B)  elemental sulfur (Sᵒ). 
C)  sulfate (SO₄²⁻). 
D)  gypsum (CaSO₄).

Question 9

Which iron species is produced primarily from iron smelting and rarely is produced by microbial-mediated processes?

Accepted Answer

A)  ferric iron (Fe³⁺) 
B)  ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) 
C)  ferrulic iron (Fe¹⁺) 
D)  iron (Fe⁰) 
A)  ferric iron (Fe³⁺) 
B)  ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) 
C)  ferrulic iron (Fe¹⁺) 
D)  iron (Fe⁰)

Question 10

Why is the water solubility of different nitrogen species of importance to agriculturalists? What processes in the nitrogen cycle are LEAST beneficial to agricultural production of crops?

Accepted Answer

If a particular nitrogen species is high

Question 11

The disposal of garbage or sewage in the ocean is known to cause the sudden growth of sulfate reducers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The two main biological activities in the Ca and Si cycles are the biosynthesis of shells and exoskeletal material as well as the mineralization of these materials in sediments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Humic acids are difficult to degrade, and therefore they usually remain in a system for several decades.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

In a global sense, all nutrient cycles are coupled together.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Phosphorus reservoirs include

Accepted Answer

A)  phosphate minerals in rocks, dissolved phosphates in aquatic environments, and the nucleic acids and phospholipids of living organisms. 
B)  mineral phosphonates and the nucleic acids and phospholipids of living organisms. 
C)  elemental phosphorus minerals and phosphonates. 
D)  elemental phosphorous, polyphosphate, and phosphonates. 
A)  phosphate minerals in rocks, dissolved phosphates in aquatic environments, and the nucleic acids and phospholipids of living organisms. 
B)  mineral phosphonates and the nucleic acids and phospholipids of living organisms. 
C)  elemental phosphorus minerals and phosphonates. 
D)  elemental phosphorous, polyphosphate, and phosphonates.

Question 16

Lysis of marine algae and cyanobacteria releases the major osmoregulatory solute, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is degraded into the most abundant organic S compound in nature, ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  dimethyl sulfide (CH₃-S-CH₃) 
B)  hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) 
C)  gypsum (CaSO₄) 
D)  elemental sulfur (Sᵒ) 
A)  dimethyl sulfide (CH₃-S-CH₃) 
B)  hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) 
C)  gypsum (CaSO₄) 
D)  elemental sulfur (Sᵒ)

Question 17

Human activities have disrupted the carbon cycle by

Accepted Answer

A)  burning carbon stored as fossil fuels or biomass, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  decreasing the primary productivity of the oceans, resulting in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. 
C)  burning methane hydrates to produce electricity. 
D)  acidifying the ocean, resulting in the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 
A)  burning carbon stored as fossil fuels or biomass, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
B)  decreasing the primary productivity of the oceans, resulting in increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. 
C)  burning methane hydrates to produce electricity. 
D)  acidifying the ocean, resulting in the release of large amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 18

What are the similarities and differences between the Fe cycle and Ca cycle?

Accepted Answer

Both Fe and Ca cycle between insoluble a

Question 19

Describe how syntrophy helps explain why certain enrichments yield consortia and never an individual species.

Accepted Answer

Some catabolic processes are favorable o

Question 20

Phosphonate comprises 25% of the ________ phosphorous pool in marine environments.

Accepted Answer

A)  inorganic 
B)  organic 
C)  insoluble 
D)  biologically unavailable 
A)  inorganic 
B)  organic 
C)  insoluble 
D)  biologically unavailable

Exam 21: Nutrient Cycles

Nitrogen fixation results in the

A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called

Bacterial oxidation of Fe²⁺ is commonly studied in chemolithotrophs that thrive under which specific environmental condition?

The primary energy source for termites comes from

The two major forms of carbon that remain following microbial degradation are

Greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide is the only greenhouse gas produced by anthropogenic activities.

In the oceans, sulfur exists primarily as

Which iron species is produced primarily from iron smelting and rarely is produced by microbial-mediated processes?

Why is the water solubility of different nitrogen species of importance to agriculturalists? What processes in the nitrogen cycle are LEAST beneficial to agricultural production of crops?

The disposal of garbage or sewage in the ocean is known to cause the sudden growth of sulfate reducers.

The two main biological activities in the Ca and Si cycles are the biosynthesis of shells and exoskeletal material as well as the mineralization of these materials in sediments.

Humic acids are difficult to degrade, and therefore they usually remain in a system for several decades.

In a global sense, all nutrient cycles are coupled together.

Phosphorus reservoirs include

Lysis of marine algae and cyanobacteria releases the major osmoregulatory solute, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), which is degraded into the most abundant organic S compound in nature, ________.

Human activities have disrupted the carbon cycle by

What are the similarities and differences between the Fe cycle and Ca cycle?

Describe how syntrophy helps explain why certain enrichments yield consortia and never an individual species.

Phosphonate comprises 25% of the ________ phosphorous pool in marine environments.

The Microbial World

Microbial Cell Structure and Function

Microbial Metabolism

Molecular Information Flow and Protein Processing

Microbial Growth and Its Control

Microbial Regulatory Systems

Molecular Biology of Microbial Growth

Viruses and Their Replication

Microbial Systems Biology

Viral Genomics, Diversity, and Ecology

Genetics of Bacteria and Archaea

Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Microbial Evolution and Systematics

Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms

Functional Diversity of Microorganisms

Diversity of Bacteria

Diversity of Archaea

Diversity of Microbial Eukarya

Taking the Measure of Microbial Systems

Microbial Ecosystems

Microbiology of the Built Environment

Microbial Symbioses

Microbial Symbioses with Humans

Microbial Infection and Pathogenesis

Innate Immunity: Broadly Specific Host Defenses

Adaptive Immunity: Highly Specific Host Defenses

Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

Epidemiology

Person-to-Person Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Vectorborne and Soilborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Waterborne and Foodborne Bacterial and Viral Diseases

Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoans, and Helminths

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