Question 1

Approximately 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere lies in its lowest layer the

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere. 
B)  centropsphere. 
C)  troposphere. 
D)  metasphere. 
E)  isosphere. 
A)  stratosphere. 
B)  centropsphere. 
C)  troposphere. 
D)  metasphere. 
E)  isosphere.

Question 2

Despite having a relatively low rate of primary production per given area, the _______ ecosystem is a major contributor to the global primary productivity due to its vast area.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite having a relatively low rate of...

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the relationships among the following four factors: the relative amount of evaporation of water from the oceans, the amount of precipitation into the oceans, the evaporation of water from the land, and the precipitation onto the land?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evaporation of ocean > precipitation into ocean > evaporation from land > precipitation onto land 
B)  Evaporation of ocean > precipitation into ocean > precipitation onto land > evaporation from land 
C)  Precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean > precipitation onto land > evaporation from land 
D)  Precipitation onto land > evaporation from land > precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean 
E)  Evaporation from land > precipitation onto land > precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean 
A)  Evaporation of ocean > precipitation into ocean > evaporation from land > precipitation onto land 
B)  Evaporation of ocean > precipitation into ocean > precipitation onto land > evaporation from land 
C)  Precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean > precipitation onto land > evaporation from land 
D)  Precipitation onto land > evaporation from land > precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean 
E)  Evaporation from land > precipitation onto land > precipitation into ocean > evaporation of ocean

Question 4

Oxygen makes up approximately _______ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  20 
C)  50 
D)  80 
E)  90 
A)  5 
B)  20 
C)  50 
D)  80 
E)  90

Question 5

According to studies by Swiss ecologists, the most important factor mitigating the effects of increased carbon dioxide will likely be

Accepted Answer

A)  young forests. 
B)  old forests. 
C)  grasslands. 
D)  tundra. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  young forests. 
B)  old forests. 
C)  grasslands. 
D)  tundra. 
E)  All of the above

Question 6

In the following graph, the temperature of a freshwater lake is plotted against its depth. This temperature profile of the graph would be most characteristic of the lake during the

Accepted Answer

A)  winter. 
B)  spring. 
C)  summer. 
D)  fall. 
E)  Both b and c 
A)  winter. 
B)  spring. 
C)  summer. 
D)  fall. 
E)  Both b and c

Question 7

Nitrogen fixation and denitrification are

Accepted Answer

A)  different words for the same process. 
B)  processes that have opposite effects. 
C)  different processes that both remove nitrogen from the atmosphere. 
D)  different processes that both emit nitrogen into the atmosphere. 
E)  different processes that both move nitrogen from the land to the oceans. 
A)  different words for the same process. 
B)  processes that have opposite effects. 
C)  different processes that both remove nitrogen from the atmosphere. 
D)  different processes that both emit nitrogen into the atmosphere. 
E)  different processes that both move nitrogen from the land to the oceans.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about biogeochemical cycles is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most elements remain longest in the living portion of their cycle. 
B)  Gaseous elements cycle more quickly than elements without a gaseous phase. 
C)  Some atoms in the human body may once have been part of a dinosaur. 
D)  Biogeochemical cycles all include both organismal and nonliving components. 
E)  Perturbations in one biogeochemical cycle can have major effects on other cycles. 
A)  Most elements remain longest in the living portion of their cycle. 
B)  Gaseous elements cycle more quickly than elements without a gaseous phase. 
C)  Some atoms in the human body may once have been part of a dinosaur. 
D)  Biogeochemical cycles all include both organismal and nonliving components. 
E)  Perturbations in one biogeochemical cycle can have major effects on other cycles.

Question 9

Imagine an experiment in which the nitrogen-fixing capacity of a nitrogen-fixing bacterium is selectively knocked out (all other functions remain intact). This knockout strain is then placed in competition with an unaltered bacterium (the control) under two circumstances: one in which ammonia and other sources of fixed nitrogen are abundant, and one in which these sources are limiting (only N2 is readily available). Assume that the nitrogen-fixing capacity in the control is present all the time (not regulated). Which of the following would be the most likely result?

Accepted Answer

A)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the abundant condition and lose to the control strain in the limiting condition. 
B)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the abundant condition and be competitively equal to the control strain in the limiting condition. 
C)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in both conditions. 
D)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the limiting condition and be competitively equal in the abundant condition. 
E)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the limiting condition and lose to the control strain in the abundant condition. 
A)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the abundant condition and lose to the control strain in the limiting condition. 
B)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the abundant condition and be competitively equal to the control strain in the limiting condition. 
C)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in both conditions. 
D)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the limiting condition and be competitively equal in the abundant condition. 
E)  The knockout strain would outcompete the control strain in the limiting condition and lose to the control strain in the abundant condition.

Question 10

In areas of the ocean called _______ zones, offshore winds move surface waters, and these waters are replaced by nutrient-rich waters from below.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In areas of the ocean called _______...

Question 11

The phosphorous and carbon cycles are substantially different in that

Accepted Answer

A)  humans have greatly affected the carbon cycle only. 
B)  phosphorus, unlike carbon, is not essential for life and does not stay in organisms for long. 
C)  carbon, unlike phosphorus, exists in rocks only in small quantities. 
D)  unlike the carbon cycle, very little of the phosphorus cycle involves the atmosphere. 
E)  None of the above 
A)  humans have greatly affected the carbon cycle only. 
B)  phosphorus, unlike carbon, is not essential for life and does not stay in organisms for long. 
C)  carbon, unlike phosphorus, exists in rocks only in small quantities. 
D)  unlike the carbon cycle, very little of the phosphorus cycle involves the atmosphere. 
E)  None of the above

Question 12

Most of the atmosphere's mass is located in the _______, which extends 10 to 17 kilometers above Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most of the atmosphere's mass is located...

Question 13

The ozone layer is found in the

Accepted Answer

A)  stratosphere and absorbs many biologically damaging short-wavelength radiation. 
B)  stratosphere and absorbs many biologically damaging long-wavelength radiation. 
C)  troposphere and absorbs many biologically damaging short-wavelength radiation. 
D)  troposphere and absorbs many biologically damaging long-wavelength radiation. 
E)  between the stratosphere and the troposphere. 
A)  stratosphere and absorbs many biologically damaging short-wavelength radiation. 
B)  stratosphere and absorbs many biologically damaging long-wavelength radiation. 
C)  troposphere and absorbs many biologically damaging short-wavelength radiation. 
D)  troposphere and absorbs many biologically damaging long-wavelength radiation. 
E)  between the stratosphere and the troposphere.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about water is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The total amount of water that evaporates from soils, lakes, and rivers is greater than the amount that falls on them as precipitation. 
B)  The average residence time of a water molecule in lakes and rivers is more than 2,000 years. 
C)  The average residence time of a water molecule in living things is about four years. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  The total amount of water that evaporates from soils, lakes, and rivers is greater than the amount that falls on them as precipitation. 
B)  The average residence time of a water molecule in lakes and rivers is more than 2,000 years. 
C)  The average residence time of a water molecule in living things is about four years. 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the stratosphere is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most water vapor resides in the stratosphere. 
B)  Vertical circulation of air occurs mostly in the stratosphere. 
C)  Circulation of the stratosphere directly influences ocean currents. 
D)  The stratosphere represents most of the mass of the atmosphere. 
E)  Materials enter the strastosphere primarily from the equatorial trophosphere. 
A)  Most water vapor resides in the stratosphere. 
B)  Vertical circulation of air occurs mostly in the stratosphere. 
C)  Circulation of the stratosphere directly influences ocean currents. 
D)  The stratosphere represents most of the mass of the atmosphere. 
E)  Materials enter the strastosphere primarily from the equatorial trophosphere.

Question 16

Which of the following is part of the positive feedback loop between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in which each is accelerating the other?

Accepted Answer

A)  Acceleration of absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans 
B)  Acceleration of plant growth in response to increased carbon dioxide 
C)  Acceleration of plant respiration in response to global warming 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Acceleration of absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans 
B)  Acceleration of plant growth in response to increased carbon dioxide 
C)  Acceleration of plant respiration in response to global warming 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  None of the above

Question 17

Which of the following statements about material cycling is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All elemental pools are elemental sinks. 
B)  All elemental sinks are elemental pools. 
C)  The flux of an elemental sink is high. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  Both b and c 
A)  All elemental pools are elemental sinks. 
B)  All elemental sinks are elemental pools. 
C)  The flux of an elemental sink is high. 
D)  Both a and b 
E)  Both b and c

Question 18

Which of the following human activities increases net global primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Urban development 
B)  Conversion of forests to grasslands 
C)  Conversion of prairies to intensive agricultural fields 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Urban development 
B)  Conversion of forests to grasslands 
C)  Conversion of prairies to intensive agricultural fields 
D)  All of the above 
E)  None of the above

Question 19

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately _______ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A)  0.03 
B)  0.3 
C)  1 
D)  3 
E)  20 
A)  0.03 
B)  0.3 
C)  1 
D)  3 
E)  20

Question 20

According to studies by Swiss ecologists, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide will likely

Accepted Answer

A)  cause both young and mature forests to store more carbon as wood. 
B)  reduce the ability of young forests to store wood but have little or no effect on mature forests. 
C)  increase the ability of young forests to store wood but have little or no effect on mature forests. 
D)  increase the ability of mature forests to store wood but have little or no effect on young forests. 
E)  have little or no effect on how well either young or mature forests store carbon. 
A)  cause both young and mature forests to store more carbon as wood. 
B)  reduce the ability of young forests to store wood but have little or no effect on mature forests. 
C)  increase the ability of young forests to store wood but have little or no effect on mature forests. 
D)  increase the ability of mature forests to store wood but have little or no effect on young forests. 
E)  have little or no effect on how well either young or mature forests store carbon.

Exam 58: Ecosystems and Global Ecology

Approximately 80 percent of the mass of the atmosphere lies in its lowest layer the

Despite having a relatively low rate of primary production per given area, the _______ ecosystem is a major contributor to the global primary productivity due to its vast area.

Which of the following best describes the relationships among the following four factors: the relative amount of evaporation of water from the oceans, the amount of precipitation into the oceans, the evaporation of water from the land, and the precipitation onto the land?

Oxygen makes up approximately _______ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

According to studies by Swiss ecologists, the most important factor mitigating the effects of increased carbon dioxide will likely be

In the following graph, the temperature of a freshwater lake is plotted against its depth. This temperature profile of the graph would be most characteristic of the lake during the

Nitrogen fixation and denitrification are

Which of the following statements about biogeochemical cycles is false?

In areas of the ocean called _______ zones, offshore winds move surface waters, and these waters are replaced by nutrient-rich waters from below.

The phosphorous and carbon cycles are substantially different in that

Most of the atmosphere's mass is located in the _______, which extends 10 to 17 kilometers above Earth's surface.

The ozone layer is found in the

Which of the following statements about water is true?

Which of the following statements about the stratosphere is correct?

Which of the following is part of the positive feedback loop between greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in which each is accelerating the other?

Which of the following statements about material cycling is true?

Which of the following human activities increases net global primary productivity?

Carbon dioxide makes up approximately _______ percent of Earth's atmosphere.

According to studies by Swiss ecologists, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide will likely

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