Question 1

Why is net primary production (NPP)a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP)?

Accepted Answer

A) NPP can be expressed in energy/unit of area/unit of time. 
B) NPP can be expressed in terms of carbon fixed by photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem. 
C) NPP represents the stored chemical energy that is available to consumers in the ecosystem. 
D) NPP is the same as the standing crop. 
E) NPP shows the rate at which the standing crop is utilized by consumers. 
A) NPP can be expressed in energy/unit of area/unit of time. 
B) NPP can be expressed in terms of carbon fixed by photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem. 
C) NPP represents the stored chemical energy that is available to consumers in the ecosystem. 
D) NPP is the same as the standing crop. 
E) NPP shows the rate at which the standing crop is utilized by consumers.

Question 2

Consider the food chain grass → grasshopper → mouse → snake → hawk.How much of the chemical energy fixed by photosynthesis of the grass (100%)is available to the hawk?

Accepted Answer

A) 0)01% 
B) 0)1% 
C) 1% 
D) 10% 
E) 60% 
A) 0)01% 
B) 0)1% 
C) 1% 
D) 10% 
E) 60%

Question 3

Gross primary production

Accepted Answer

A) is equal to NPP - respiration of autotrophs. 
B) is about half of NPP. 
C) is the total biomass of all photosynthetic autotrophs. 
D) is the total energy from light converted to chemical energy of organic molecules per unit time. 
E) is not as important as net primary production. 
A) is equal to NPP - respiration of autotrophs. 
B) is about half of NPP. 
C) is the total biomass of all photosynthetic autotrophs. 
D) is the total energy from light converted to chemical energy of organic molecules per unit time. 
E) is not as important as net primary production.

Question 4

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 5

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 6

Secondary consumers that can eat only primary consumers receive what percentage of the energy fixed by primary producers in a typical field ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) 0)1% 
B) 1% 
C) 10% 
D) 20% 
E) 80% 
A) 0)1% 
B) 1% 
C) 10% 
D) 20% 
E) 80%

Question 7

The following questions refer to the description below.
Fynbos are endemic shrubs found in the Cape province of South Africa.A small botanical region known as the Cape Floral Kingdom,is one of the richest areas in the world in terms of plant diversity.Fynbos shrubs,readily recognized by their small,hard,tough,leathery leaves,are well adapted to summer droughts,nutrient-poor soils,and periodic fires.The fynbos shrub community plays a key role in maintaining a regional supply of water.In recent decades,exotic plant species,such as acacia trees from Australia and pine trees from Europe,have been introduced to South Africa and have invaded the fynbos.Researchers are now observing that stream flow from fynbos watersheds is inversely proportional to plant biomass and natural fire cycles have changed.
-Restoration ecology projects,including the removal of exotic species from the fynbos shrub community described above,are important because

Accepted Answer

A) they target many species that have low genetic variation. 
B) fire is a threat to many restored ecosystems. 
C) many habitats that are part of ecology restoration projects are those that have been highly degraded and cannot return to their natural state without human intervention. 
D) areas that are being restored are those most threatened by global warming. 
E) practices such as captive propagation are not as successful as they were predicted to be. 
A) they target many species that have low genetic variation. 
B) fire is a threat to many restored ecosystems. 
C) many habitats that are part of ecology restoration projects are those that have been highly degraded and cannot return to their natural state without human intervention. 
D) areas that are being restored are those most threatened by global warming. 
E) practices such as captive propagation are not as successful as they were predicted to be.

Question 8

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 9

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Photosynthetic organisms absorb more visible light in the 350-750 wavelengths. 
B) Satellite instruments can detect reflectance patterns of the photosynthetic organisms of different ecosystems. 
C) Sensitive satellite instruments can measure the amount of NADPH produced in the summative light reactions of different ecosystems. 
D) Satellites detect differences by comparing the wavelengths of light captured and reflected by photoautotrophs to the amount of light reaching different ecosystems. 
E) Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapour emitted by transpiring producers. 
A) Photosynthetic organisms absorb more visible light in the 350-750 wavelengths. 
B) Satellite instruments can detect reflectance patterns of the photosynthetic organisms of different ecosystems. 
C) Sensitive satellite instruments can measure the amount of NADPH produced in the summative light reactions of different ecosystems. 
D) Satellites detect differences by comparing the wavelengths of light captured and reflected by photoautotrophs to the amount of light reaching different ecosystems. 
E) Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapour emitted by transpiring producers.

Question 10

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
  
-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle,which number represents nitrite (NO₂)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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 13

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems,yet net primary productivity per square metre is relatively low?

Accepted Answer

A) Oceans contain greater concentrations of nutrients compared to other ecosystems. 
B) Oceans receive a lesser amount of solar energy per unit area. 
C) Oceans have the largest area of all the ecosystems on Earth. 
D) Ocean ecosystems have less species diversity. 
E) Oceanic producers are generally much smaller than oceanic consumers. 
A) Oceans contain greater concentrations of nutrients compared to other ecosystems. 
B) Oceans receive a lesser amount of solar energy per unit area. 
C) Oceans have the largest area of all the ecosystems on Earth. 
D) Ocean ecosystems have less species diversity. 
E) Oceanic producers are generally much smaller than oceanic consumers.

Question 14

During a year,plants never use 100% of the incoming solar radiation for photosynthesis.What is a reasonable explanation for this?
I.Plants cannot photosynthesize as well during winter (in cold winter climates).
II.Plants cannot photosynthesize as well on cloudy days.
III.The pigments that drive photosynthesis respond to only a fraction of the wavelengths that are available.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Two key strategies in biological restoration include

Accepted Answer

A) reversing the damage, adding fertilizer. 
B) removing dams, increasing water flow. 
C) adding soil, planting trees. 
D) bioremediation, biological augmentation. 
E) removing toxic soil, introducing fungi. 
A) reversing the damage, adding fertilizer. 
B) removing dams, increasing water flow. 
C) adding soil, planting trees. 
D) bioremediation, biological augmentation. 
E) removing toxic soil, introducing fungi.

Question 16

How can biodiversity affect the way we decontaminate industrial sites?
I.Bacteria have been found to be able to detoxify certain chemicals; perhaps there are more.
II.Trees produce sawdust,which can be used to soak up chemicals.
III.Species evolving in contaminated areas could adapt and detoxify the area.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

Which statement most accurately describes how matter and energy are used in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A) Matter is cycled through ecosystems; energy is not. 
B) Energy is cycled through ecosystems; matter is not. 
C) Energy can be converted into matter; matter cannot be converted into energy. 
D) Matter can be converted into energy; energy cannot be converted into matter. 
E) Matter is used in ecosystems; energy is not. 
A) Matter is cycled through ecosystems; energy is not. 
B) Energy is cycled through ecosystems; matter is not. 
C) Energy can be converted into matter; matter cannot be converted into energy. 
D) Matter can be converted into energy; energy cannot be converted into matter. 
E) Matter is used in ecosystems; energy is not.

Question 18

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

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 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

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month.While you are collecting data,a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration.What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Accepted Answer

A) Find out how much nitrogen is consumed in plant material by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and add that amount to the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
B) Find out how much nitrogen is eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and subtract that amount from the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
C) Find out how much nitrogen is consumed and eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period and multiply this number by 100; enter this +/- value into the nitrogen budget of the ecosystem. 
D) Do nothing. The Canada geese visitation to the lake would have negligible impact on the nitrogen budget of the pond. 
E) Put a net over the pond so that no more migrating flocks can land on the pond and alter the nitrogen balance of the pond. 
A) Find out how much nitrogen is consumed in plant material by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and add that amount to the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
B) Find out how much nitrogen is eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and subtract that amount from the total nitrogen in the ecosystem. 
C) Find out how much nitrogen is consumed and eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period and multiply this number by 100; enter this +/- value into the nitrogen budget of the ecosystem. 
D) Do nothing. The Canada geese visitation to the lake would have negligible impact on the nitrogen budget of the pond. 
E) Put a net over the pond so that no more migrating flocks can land on the pond and alter the nitrogen balance of the pond.

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Why is net primary production (NPP)a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP)?

Consider the food chain grass → grasshopper → mouse → snake → hawk.How much of the chemical energy fixed by photosynthesis of the grass (100%)is available to the hawk?

Gross primary production

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

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

Secondary consumers that can eat only primary consumers receive what percentage of the energy fixed by primary producers in a typical field ecosystem?

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

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle,which number represents nitrite (NO₂)?

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

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

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems,yet net primary productivity per square metre is relatively low?

Two key strategies in biological restoration include

Which statement most accurately describes how matter and energy are used in ecosystems?

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

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?

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month.While you are collecting data,a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration.What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Introduction: Evolution and Themes of Biology

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

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

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 Signalling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behaviour

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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