Question 1

On average, what percentage of the energy from one trophic level of an energy pyramid is transferred to the next trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A) 10 percent 
B) 33 percent 
C) 50 percent 
D) 90 percent 
A) 10 percent 
B) 33 percent 
C) 50 percent 
D) 90 percent

Question 2

Describe how chemical nutrients enter and are recycled through an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

Chemical nutrients enter the ecosystem p

Question 3

Match each term to its correct description below.
-Dominated by coniferous trees that grow in northern or high-altitude regions with cold, dry winters and mild summers, this biome also has nutrient-poor soils and therefore a relatively low plant diversity. Large herbivores such as elk and moose live alongside smaller carnivores like weasels, wolverines, and martens. Larger carnivores include lynx and wolves.

Accepted Answer

A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland 
A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland

Question 4

In an ecosystem, energy differs from nutrients in that

Accepted Answer

A) energy is recycled through photosynthesis, but nutrients are recycled through the atmosphere. 
B) nutrients are recycled, but energy eventually moves out of the system and is lost. 
C) nutrients are recycled through plant roots, but energy is recycled through leaves. 
D) energy is recycled by producers, but nutrients are recycled by consumers. 
A) energy is recycled through photosynthesis, but nutrients are recycled through the atmosphere. 
B) nutrients are recycled, but energy eventually moves out of the system and is lost. 
C) nutrients are recycled through plant roots, but energy is recycled through leaves. 
D) energy is recycled by producers, but nutrients are recycled by consumers.

Question 5

Tuna are predatory fish that consume smaller, carnivorous fish that have fed on zooplankton. The zooplankton had fed on phytoplankton. When you eat tuna, you are consuming what level of the food chain?

Accepted Answer

A) the second trophic level 
B) the third trophic level 
C) the fourth trophic level 
D) the first trophic level 
A) the second trophic level 
B) the third trophic level 
C) the fourth trophic level 
D) the first trophic level

Question 6

In the absence of ________, nutrient recycling within the ecosystem would completely stop.

Accepted Answer

A) rocks 
B) secondary consumers 
C) decomposers 
D) predators 
A) rocks 
B) secondary consumers 
C) decomposers 
D) predators

Question 7

Other than the polar tundra, the LEAST productive terrestrial biomes tend to be

Accepted Answer

A) deserts. 
B) the temperate forests. 
C) the tropical forests. 
D) estuaries. 
A) deserts. 
B) the temperate forests. 
C) the tropical forests. 
D) estuaries.

Question 8

The primary contribution of decomposers to an ecosystem occurs when they

Accepted Answer

A) capture solar energy. 
B) recycle nutrients sequestered in organisms back to the physical environment. 
C) regulate the number of producers. 
D) prevent consumer overpopulation. 
A) capture solar energy. 
B) recycle nutrients sequestered in organisms back to the physical environment. 
C) regulate the number of producers. 
D) prevent consumer overpopulation.

Question 9

Match each term to its correct description below.
-This biome is dominated by dense growths of drought-resistant plants that thrive through the alternating cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The vegetation includes scrub oak, pines, mountain mahogany, and manzanita. It is inhabited by jackrabbits, gophers, lizards, and snakes.

Accepted Answer

A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland 
A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland

Question 10

The figure below shows the net primary productivity (NPP) in terrestrial biomes around the world. The pattern of NPP in terrestrial ecosystems as shown suggest that

Accepted Answer

A) terrestrial productivity is highly sensitive to temperature and available sunlight with the highest productivity at the equator. 
B) without shade from overhead vegetation, marine productivity typically exceeds that found in terrestrial ecosystems. 
C) terrestrial ecosystems are not limited by sunlight or temperature. 
D) most terrestrial productivity results from the input of marine-derived nutrients. 
A) terrestrial productivity is highly sensitive to temperature and available sunlight with the highest productivity at the equator. 
B) without shade from overhead vegetation, marine productivity typically exceeds that found in terrestrial ecosystems. 
C) terrestrial ecosystems are not limited by sunlight or temperature. 
D) most terrestrial productivity results from the input of marine-derived nutrients.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an easily testable hypothesis regarding net primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) An increase in temperature will likely result in an increase of net primary productivity (NPP) in some terrestrial ecosystems. 
B) An increase in temperature will likely result in an increase of NPP in some marine ecosystems. 
C) An increase in available sunlight will likely result in an increase of NPP in some marine and terrestrial ecosystems. 
D) An increase of water in a marine ecosystem will likely result in tastier products of NPP. 
A) An increase in temperature will likely result in an increase of net primary productivity (NPP) in some terrestrial ecosystems. 
B) An increase in temperature will likely result in an increase of NPP in some marine ecosystems. 
C) An increase in available sunlight will likely result in an increase of NPP in some marine and terrestrial ecosystems. 
D) An increase of water in a marine ecosystem will likely result in tastier products of NPP.

Question 12

To best use the Earth's net primary productivity to feed the most people, diets should be modified to include ________, and gathering the maximum amount of energy available from a given biomass of producers.

Accepted Answer

A) only meat, moving higher up the food chain 
B) only meat, moving lower down the food chain 
C) plant material only, moving lower down the food chain 
D) plant material only, moving higher up the food chain 
A) only meat, moving higher up the food chain 
B) only meat, moving lower down the food chain 
C) plant material only, moving lower down the food chain 
D) plant material only, moving higher up the food chain

Question 13

Each level of an energy pyramid corresponds to a step in a food chain and is called a(n) ________ level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Each level of an energy pyramid corresponds...

Question 14

If a person needs to consume 100 kcal of energy and he chooses to do that by eating soybeans, at least how many kcal of soybeans would have to grow to provide that 100 kcal for the human?

Accepted Answer

A) 100 kcal 
B) 1,000 kcal 
C) 10,000 kcal 
D) 100,000 kcal 
A) 100 kcal 
B) 1,000 kcal 
C) 10,000 kcal 
D) 100,000 kcal

Question 15

An ecosystem that experiences a small increase in nutrients available to primary producers is likely to show

Accepted Answer

A) an increase in net primary productivity. 
B) a decrease in net primary productivity. 
C) no change in net primary productivity. 
D) a decrease in net primary productivity followed by an immediate return to average net primary productivity. 
A) an increase in net primary productivity. 
B) a decrease in net primary productivity. 
C) no change in net primary productivity. 
D) a decrease in net primary productivity followed by an immediate return to average net primary productivity.

Question 16

Between late 1997 and mid-2008, satellites observed that warmer-than-average ocean temperatures led to below-average chlorophyll concentrations in the oceans. This finding suggests that continued warming of the Earth's oceans could lead to

Accepted Answer

A) a decrease in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
B) an increase in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
C) a decrease in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
D) an increase in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
A) a decrease in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
B) an increase in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove less carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
C) a decrease in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
D) an increase in net primary productivity in the oceans, and the oceans would, therefore, remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 17

Match each term to its correct description below.
-This biome is dominated by trees and shrubs adapted to relatively rich soil, snowy winters, and moist, warm summers. With oak, maple, hickory, beech, and elm, this biome displays good diversity. Squirrels, rabbits, deer, raccoons, beavers, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, and many amphibians and reptiles constitute the consumer community.

Accepted Answer

A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland 
A) tropical forest 
B) chaparral 
C) boreal forest 
D) tundra 
E) desert
F)temperate deciduous forest
G)grassland

Question 18

Which of the following would be abiotic components of an arctic, marine ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) saltwater, ice, snow, sun, wind, rocks, sand 
B) polar bears, seals, salmon, seaweed, puffins 
C) buffalo, meadowlarks, eagles, grasses, cottonwood trees 
D) deer, skinks, squirrels, oak trees, pine trees, mosses 
A) saltwater, ice, snow, sun, wind, rocks, sand 
B) polar bears, seals, salmon, seaweed, puffins 
C) buffalo, meadowlarks, eagles, grasses, cottonwood trees 
D) deer, skinks, squirrels, oak trees, pine trees, mosses

Question 19

Considering this food chain, explain how many calories are available in the consumer trophic levels and why.

Accepted Answer

There will be only 1,000 calories availa

Question 20

Within the ecosystem, nutrients

Accepted Answer

A) move in a one-way path from producers toward consumers. 
B) regularly cycle between organisms and the nonliving environment. 
C) are consumed by their use and thus are not available for recycling. 
D) are rarely limiting because they are constantly replenished as the Earth's crust is eroded. 
A) move in a one-way path from producers toward consumers. 
B) regularly cycle between organisms and the nonliving environment. 
C) are consumed by their use and thus are not available for recycling. 
D) are rarely limiting because they are constantly replenished as the Earth's crust is eroded.

Exam 18: Ecosystems

On average, what percentage of the energy from one trophic level of an energy pyramid is transferred to the next trophic level?

Describe how chemical nutrients enter and are recycled through an ecosystem.

In an ecosystem, energy differs from nutrients in that

Tuna are predatory fish that consume smaller, carnivorous fish that have fed on zooplankton. The zooplankton had fed on phytoplankton. When you eat tuna, you are consuming what level of the food chain?

In the absence of ________, nutrient recycling within the ecosystem would completely stop.

Other than the polar tundra, the LEAST productive terrestrial biomes tend to be

The primary contribution of decomposers to an ecosystem occurs when they

The figure below shows the net primary productivity (NPP) in terrestrial biomes around the world. The pattern of NPP in terrestrial ecosystems as shown suggest that

Which of the following is NOT an easily testable hypothesis regarding net primary productivity?

To best use the Earth's net primary productivity to feed the most people, diets should be modified to include ________, and gathering the maximum amount of energy available from a given biomass of producers.

Each level of an energy pyramid corresponds to a step in a food chain and is called a(n) ________ level.

If a person needs to consume 100 kcal of energy and he chooses to do that by eating soybeans, at least how many kcal of soybeans would have to grow to provide that 100 kcal for the human?

An ecosystem that experiences a small increase in nutrients available to primary producers is likely to show

Between late 1997 and mid-2008, satellites observed that warmer-than-average ocean temperatures led to below-average chlorophyll concentrations in the oceans. This finding suggests that continued warming of the Earth's oceans could lead to

Which of the following would be abiotic components of an arctic, marine ecosystem?

Considering this food chain, explain how many calories are available in the consumer trophic levels and why.

Within the ecosystem, nutrients

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