Question 1

Which data is most useful to measure primary productivity in a terrestrial ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) temperature readings 
B) potential evapotranspiration 
C) intensity of solar radiation 
D) annual precipitation 
E) amount of carbon fixed 
A) temperature readings 
B) potential evapotranspiration 
C) intensity of solar radiation 
D) annual precipitation 
E) amount of carbon fixed

Question 2

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) Vegetarians require less protein than do omnivores. 
E) 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) Vegetarians require less protein than do omnivores. 
E) Eating meat is an inefficient way of acquiring photosynthetic productivity.

Question 3

Use the following food web to answer the questions below.
   
Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species)
-Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Which species is autotrophic?

Accepted Answer

A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) D 
E) E 
A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) D 
E) E

Question 4

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
  
-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents ammonia (NH₄⁺)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

In a typical grassland community, which of the following has the smallest biomass?

Accepted Answer

A) hawk 
B) snake 
C) shrew 
D) grasshopper 
E) grass 
A) hawk 
B) snake 
C) shrew 
D) grasshopper 
E) grass

Question 6

Which of the following statements is correct about biogeochemical cycling?

Accepted Answer

A) The phosphorus cycle involves the recycling of atmospheric phosphorus. 
B) The phosphorus cycle involves the weathering of rocks. 
C) The carbon cycle is a localized cycle that primarily involves the burning of fossil fuels. 
D) The carbon cycle has maintained a constant atmospheric concentration of CO₂ for the past million years. 
E) The nitrogen cycle involves movement of diatomic nitrogen between the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem. 
A) The phosphorus cycle involves the recycling of atmospheric phosphorus. 
B) The phosphorus cycle involves the weathering of rocks. 
C) The carbon cycle is a localized cycle that primarily involves the burning of fossil fuels. 
D) The carbon cycle has maintained a constant atmospheric concentration of CO₂ for the past million years. 
E) The nitrogen cycle involves movement of diatomic nitrogen between the biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.

Question 7

The total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs present in an ecosystem is known as

Accepted Answer

A) gross primary productivity. 
B) standing crop. 
C) net primary productivity. 
D) secondary productivity. 
E) trophic efficiency. 
A) gross primary productivity. 
B) standing crop. 
C) net primary productivity. 
D) secondary productivity. 
E) trophic efficiency.

Question 8

Many homeowners mow their lawns during the summer and collect the clippings, which are then hauled to the local landfill. Which of the following actions would most benefit the suburban ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) Allow sheep to graze the lawn and then collect the sheep's feces to be delivered to the landfill. 
B) Collect the lawn clippings and burn them. 
C) Collect the lawn clippings and add them to a compost pile, don't collect the clippings and let them decompose into the lawn, or apply composted clippings to the lawn. 
D) Collect the clippings and wash them into the nearest storm sewer that feeds into the local lake. 
E) Dig up the lawn and cover the yard with asphalt. 
A) Allow sheep to graze the lawn and then collect the sheep's feces to be delivered to the landfill. 
B) Collect the lawn clippings and burn them. 
C) Collect the lawn clippings and add them to a compost pile, don't collect the clippings and let them decompose into the lawn, or apply composted clippings to the lawn. 
D) Collect the clippings and wash them into the nearest storm sewer that feeds into the local lake. 
E) Dig up the lawn and cover the yard with asphalt.

Question 9

What is the first step in ecosystem restoration?

Accepted Answer

A) to restore the physical structure 
B) to restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C) to remove competitive invasive species 
D) to identify the limiting factors of the producers 
E) to remove toxic pollutants 
A) to restore the physical structure 
B) to restore native species that have been extirpated due to disturbance 
C) to remove competitive invasive species 
D) to identify the limiting factors of the producers 
E) to remove toxic pollutants

Question 10

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) atmosphere 
B) sedimentary bedrock 
C) fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D) plant and animal biomass 
E) soil 
A) atmosphere 
B) sedimentary bedrock 
C) fossilized plant and animal remains (coal, oil, and natural gas) 
D) plant and animal biomass 
E) soil

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A) all of the brook trout in a 500 hectare² river drainage system 
B) the plants, animals, and decomposers that inhabit an alpine meadow 
C) a pond and all of the plant and animal species that live in it 
D) the intricate interactions of the various plant and animal species on a savanna during a drought 
E) interactions between all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest 
A) all of the brook trout in a 500 hectare² river drainage system 
B) the plants, animals, and decomposers that inhabit an alpine meadow 
C) a pond and all of the plant and animal species that live in it 
D) the intricate interactions of the various plant and animal species on a savanna during a drought 
E) interactions between all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest

Question 12

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 13

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 14

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 15

Which of the following is a true 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) Adding more of a limiting nutrient will increase primary productivity, indefinitely. 
D) Phosphorous is sometimes unavailable to producers due to leaching. 
E) 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) Adding more of a limiting nutrient will increase primary productivity, indefinitely. 
D) Phosphorous is sometimes unavailable to producers due to leaching. 
E) Alkaline soils are more productive than acidic soils.

Question 16

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
  
-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A) 5 
B) 6 
C) 7 
A) 5 
B) 6 
C) 7

Question 17

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 18

What are two key factors controlling primary productivity in lakes and oceans?

Accepted Answer

A) light and nutrients 
B) nutrients and temperature 
C) light and temperature 
D) light and phytoplankton 
E) nutrients and wind 
A) light and nutrients 
B) nutrients and temperature 
C) light and temperature 
D) light and phytoplankton 
E) nutrients and wind

Question 19

Owls eat rats, mice, shrews, and small birds. Assume that, over a period of time, an owl consumes 5000 J of animal material. The owl loses 2300 J in feces and owl pellets and uses 2500 J for cellular respiration. What is the primary efficiency of this owl?

Accepted Answer

A) 0.02% 
B) 1% 
C) 4% 
D) 10% 
E) 40% 
A) 0.02% 
B) 1% 
C) 4% 
D) 10% 
E) 40%

Question 20

If the sun were to suddenly stop providing energy to Earth, most ecosystems would vanish. Which of the following ecosystems would likely survive the longest after this hypothetical disaster?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical rain forest 
B) tundra 
C) benthic ocean 
D) grassland 
E) desert 
A) tropical rain forest 
B) tundra 
C) benthic ocean 
D) grassland 
E) desert

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Which data is most useful to measure primary productivity in a terrestrial ecosystem?

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

Use the following food web to answer the questions below. Food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem (arrows represent energy flow and letters represent species) -Examine this food web for a particular terrestrial ecosystem. Which species is autotrophic?

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents ammonia (NH₄⁺)?

In a typical grassland community, which of the following has the smallest biomass?

Which of the following statements is correct about biogeochemical cycling?

The total biomass of photosynthetic autotrophs present in an ecosystem is known as

Many homeowners mow their lawns during the summer and collect the clippings, which are then hauled to the local landfill. Which of the following actions would most benefit the suburban ecosystem?

What is the first step in ecosystem restoration?

Which of the following locations is the reservoir for nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle?

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem?

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

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

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

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle, which number represents nitrifying bacteria?

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

What are two key factors controlling primary productivity in lakes and oceans?

Owls eat rats, mice, shrews, and small birds. Assume that, over a period of time, an owl consumes 5000 J of animal material. The owl loses 2300 J in feces and owl pellets and uses 2500 J for cellular respiration. What is the primary efficiency of this owl?

If the sun were to suddenly stop providing energy to Earth, most ecosystems would vanish. Which of the following ecosystems would likely survive the longest after this hypothetical disaster?

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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