Question 1

Ocean acidification decreases the precipitation of calcium carbonate and thus will probably affect the cycling of Ca and other nutrients in the ocean.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

________ is a term used to describe dead organic matter.

Accepted Answer

A)  Humus 
B)  Loam 
C)  Pyrite 
D)  Xenocompost 
A)  Humus 
B)  Loam 
C)  Pyrite 
D)  Xenocompost

Question 3

What is the major reservoir of stable nitrogen?

Accepted Answer

A)  N₂ 
B)  NO 
C)  NO₃⁻ 
D)  NH₄ 
A)  N₂ 
B)  NO 
C)  NO₃⁻ 
D)  NH₄

Question 4

Acetogens can ferment glucose into acetate, but methanogens cannot.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Most phosphorous, such as that found in inorganic phosphate (HPO₄⁻), exist in the +5 oxidation state in nature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Mercury is commonly found in

Accepted Answer

A)  some electronics, but not in pesticides. 
B)  some compounds that are neurotoxins, but not in electronics. 
C)  some pesticides, but not in any neurotoxins. 
D)  some electronics, some pesticides, and some neurotoxic compounds. 
A)  some electronics, but not in pesticides. 
B)  some compounds that are neurotoxins, but not in electronics. 
C)  some pesticides, but not in any neurotoxins. 
D)  some electronics, some pesticides, and some neurotoxic compounds.

Question 7

Silicoflagellates use silicon compounds in substrate-level phosphorylation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why is sulfur cycling more complex to study than other nutrient cycles such as the nitrogen cycle? How might this influence researchers whose primary research interest is in understanding sulfur cycling?

Accepted Answer

Most other nutrient cycles are either ex

Question 9

One important difference between the C, N, and S cycles and the P, Ca, and Si cycles is that

Accepted Answer

A)  P, Ca, and Si are NOT cycled in terrestrial environments. 
B)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles do NOT involve redox changes or gaseous forms that can alter Earthʹs atmospheric chemistry. 
C)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles do NOT involve microbial activity. 
D)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles are NOT affected by global warming or other human activity. 
A)  P, Ca, and Si are NOT cycled in terrestrial environments. 
B)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles do NOT involve redox changes or gaseous forms that can alter Earthʹs atmospheric chemistry. 
C)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles do NOT involve microbial activity. 
D)  the P, Ca, and Si cycles are NOT affected by global warming or other human activity.

Question 10

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is

Accepted Answer

A)  increasing sedimentation of C, Ca, and Si. 
B)  increasing the effect of the biological pump. 
C)  fueling increased primary production in ocean waters. 
D)  acidifying the ocean and decreasing the rate of formation of calcareous shells. 
A)  increasing sedimentation of C, Ca, and Si. 
B)  increasing the effect of the biological pump. 
C)  fueling increased primary production in ocean waters. 
D)  acidifying the ocean and decreasing the rate of formation of calcareous shells.

Question 11

Coal contains substantial amounts of mercury. When coal is burned to generate heat or electricity, the mercury is released into the atmosphere. Most of this mercury is eventually deposited in the ocean or other aquatic environments. What happens to the mercury once it is deposited in the ocean?

Accepted Answer

Answers could include a diagram similar

Question 12

Studying the redox cycling of Fe in the environment has led to the discovery

Accepted Answer

A)  of bacteria that transfer electrons as a form of electricity. 
B)  of bacteria that destroy toxic metal ions. 
C)  of archaea that have Fe in their cell walls. 
D)  that Fe limits primary production in terrestrial ecosystems. 
A)  of bacteria that transfer electrons as a form of electricity. 
B)  of bacteria that destroy toxic metal ions. 
C)  of archaea that have Fe in their cell walls. 
D)  that Fe limits primary production in terrestrial ecosystems.

Question 13

Marine wetlands (salt marshes) are highly productive coastal ecosystems that produce a lot of organic carbon, similar to freshwater wetlands; however, salt marshes smell very different than freshwater wetlands. What nutrient cycle is different between the two ecosystems that causes this difference in smell?

Accepted Answer

Salt marshes contain a lot more sulfur c

Question 14

When dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is aerobically degraded in a marine environment, which product is most often used to support growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  acrylate 
B)  dimethyl disulfide 
C)  dimethyl sulfoxide 
D)  methanethiol 
A)  acrylate 
B)  dimethyl disulfide 
C)  dimethyl sulfoxide 
D)  methanethiol

Question 15

What is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  terrestrial biosphere 
B)  rocks and sediments 
C)  aquatic biosphere 
D)  fossil fuels 
A)  terrestrial biosphere 
B)  rocks and sediments 
C)  aquatic biosphere 
D)  fossil fuels

Question 16

The oxidation of ________ occurs both biotically and abiotically, but biotic oxidation is more common at ________ pH values. pH

Accepted Answer

A)  Si / low 
B)  ammonia / high 
C)  Fe²⁺ / low 
D)  Hgᵒ / low 
A)  Si / low 
B)  ammonia / high 
C)  Fe²⁺ / low 
D)  Hgᵒ / low

Question 17

Mercury can serve as a transcriptional activator in the regulation of certain genes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

How would Si depletion in the photic zone of the open ocean affect the biological pump and the C cycle?

Accepted Answer

Si is required for diatoms to fix carbon

Question 19

Which statement exemplifies the biological pump concept?

Accepted Answer

A)  Autotrophs bring in light photons to synthesize ATP. 
B)  Bacteria oxidize Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺, and Archaea reduce Fe³⁺ back into Fe²⁺. 
C)  Calcium ions are brought into cells while toxic physiological by-products are released. 
D)  Primary producers sink to the deep ocean, which provides deep ocean organisms with nutrients when the primary producers die. 
A)  Autotrophs bring in light photons to synthesize ATP. 
B)  Bacteria oxidize Fe²⁺ into Fe³⁺, and Archaea reduce Fe³⁺ back into Fe²⁺. 
C)  Calcium ions are brought into cells while toxic physiological by-products are released. 
D)  Primary producers sink to the deep ocean, which provides deep ocean organisms with nutrients when the primary producers die.

Question 20

Nitrate (NO₃⁻) reduced into ammonia (NH₃) to produce energy for the cell is called

Accepted Answer

A)  ammonification. 
B)  dissimilative reduction of nitrate to ammonia (DRN
A) . 
C)  nitrification. 
D)  redox. 
A)  ammonification. 
B)  dissimilative reduction of nitrate to ammonia (DRN
A) . 
C)  nitrification. 
D)  redox.

Exam 21: Nutrient Cycles

Ocean acidification decreases the precipitation of calcium carbonate and thus will probably affect the cycling of Ca and other nutrients in the ocean.

________ is a term used to describe dead organic matter.

What is the major reservoir of stable nitrogen?

Acetogens can ferment glucose into acetate, but methanogens cannot.

Most phosphorous, such as that found in inorganic phosphate (HPO₄⁻), exist in the +5 oxidation state in nature.

Mercury is commonly found in

Silicoflagellates use silicon compounds in substrate-level phosphorylation.

Why is sulfur cycling more complex to study than other nutrient cycles such as the nitrogen cycle? How might this influence researchers whose primary research interest is in understanding sulfur cycling?

One important difference between the C, N, and S cycles and the P, Ca, and Si cycles is that

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is

Coal contains substantial amounts of mercury. When coal is burned to generate heat or electricity, the mercury is released into the atmosphere. Most of this mercury is eventually deposited in the ocean or other aquatic environments. What happens to the mercury once it is deposited in the ocean?

Studying the redox cycling of Fe in the environment has led to the discovery

When dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is aerobically degraded in a marine environment, which product is most often used to support growth?

What is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth?

The oxidation of ________ occurs both biotically and abiotically, but biotic oxidation is more common at ________ pH values. pH

Mercury can serve as a transcriptional activator in the regulation of certain genes.

How would Si depletion in the photic zone of the open ocean affect the biological pump and the C cycle?

Which statement exemplifies the biological pump concept?

Nitrate (NO₃⁻) reduced into ammonia (NH₃) to produce energy for the cell is called

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

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Eukaryotic Pathogens: Fungi, Protozoans, and Helminths

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The oxidation of occurs both biotically and abiotically, but biotic oxidation is more common at pH values. pH