Question 1

Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  gross primary productivity
B)  net primary productivity
C)  gross primary productivity - net primary productivity
D)  gross primary productivity - standing crop biomass
E)  gross primary productivity - secondary productivityF) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 2

The upper,unconfined portion of the groundwater constitutes the _____,which flows into streams and is partly accessible to plants.

Accepted Answer

A)  aquifer
B)  hydrozone
C)  water table
D)  watershedE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 3

The fraction of Earth's surface covered by oceans is about

Accepted Answer

A)  1/10.
B)  1/4.
C)  1/3.
D)  1/2.
E)  3/4.F) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 4

Organisms that break down organic matter are called

Accepted Answer

A)  detritivores.
B)  omnivores.
C)  herbivores.
D)  carnivores.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 5

Secondary consumers such as _________ and the parasites of animals,feed on the herbivores.

Accepted Answer

A)  decomposers
B)  carnivores
C)  herbivores
D)  bacteriaE) B) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 6

In global terms,the production of CO2 by respiration and its fixation by photosynthesis are balanced,but the balance has been shifted towards accumulation of CO2 by the increase in use of

Accepted Answer

A)  meat products.
B)  vegetable products.
C)  fossil fuels.
D)  all types of foods.
E)  nuclear energy.F) A) and B)
G) A) and D)

Question 7

The carbon cycle is based on carbon dioxide.CO2 makes up about

Accepted Answer

A)  30% of the atmosphere.
B)  3% of the atmosphere.
C)  0.3% of the atmosphere.
D)  0.03% of the atmosphere.
E)  0.003% of the atmospherE.F) C) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 8

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid,which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  phytoplankton
B)  zooplankton
C)  primary carnivores (sardines) 
D)  secondary carnivores (tuna) 
E)  detritivoresF) A) and C)
G) C) and E) D

Question 9

In an aquatic ecosystem,a secondary carnivore is temporarily excluded and then,after a period of time,is returned.Which one of the following is not an expected top-down effect after it is returned?

Accepted Answer

A)  Primary carnivores become less abundant.
B)  Primary productivity increases.
C)  Algae decrease.
D)  Herbivores become more abundant.
E)  Secondary carnivore biomass increases.F) B) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 10

During the 1960s,a group of scientists in the northeastern United States conducted an experiment at Hubbard Brook,New Hampshire.A 38-acre watershed was completely deforested and the runoff (water flow) monitored for several years.It was compared to an adjacent watershed that was left untouched.The scientists collected data during those years and found that

Accepted Answer

A)  there was no difference in the amount of runoff from the two areas.
B)  there was a difference but it was not significant,and there was less nitrogen in the runoff from Hubbard Brook than at the control site.
C)  there was a tremendous increase in the total amount of runoff but the nitrogen levels were fairly constant in both areas.
D)  there was a tremendous increase in the amount of runoff and the nitrogen levels in the runoff were huge compared with the control.
E)  there was a tremendous increase in the amount of runoff but the vegetation was able to reestablish itself very quickly and the runoff soon returned to its normal level.F) None of the above
G) A) and C)

Question 11

A ____________ cycle is a cyclic path that involves both biological and chemical processes of an ecosystem.

Accepted Answer

A)  biogeochemical
B)  complete
C)  hydrological
D)  complementaryE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 12

Which of the following gases in the atmosphere appears to be changing the global climates?

Accepted Answer

A)  ozone
B)  water vapor
C)  carbon dioxide
D)  hydrogen
E)  oxygenF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 13

______ is defined as the total amount of energy fixed per unit of time minus the amount of energy expended by the metabolic activities of the photosynthetic organisms in the community.

Accepted Answer

A)  Net primary productivity
B)  Gross primary productivity
C)  Carrying capacity
D)  Net metabolismE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 14

Only about ____ of the sunlight falling on the plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Accepted Answer

A)  1%
B)  10%
C)  25%
D)  50%E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 15

Which one of the following cycles is characterized by often being a limiting nutrient in ecosystems and having no atmospheric component in its cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  phosphorus
B)  carbon
C)  nitrogen
D)  iron
E)  waterF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

Which of the following contain no species that are autotrophs?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bacteria
B)  Protista
C)  Plants
D)  Archaea
E)  FungiF) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 17

Even though nitrogen constitutes 78% of Earth's atmosphere,the amount available for living things nearly all comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  a few groups of nitrogen-fixing bacteriA.
B)  the breakdown of minerals.
C)  a few genera of detritivores.
D)  the breakdown of dead plants.
E)  nitrogen-containing fertilizers.F) A) and D)
G) A) and E) A

Question 18

Choose the letter of the best match from the following:
-A latitudinal increase in the number of species;ranges from the Arctic,increasing toward equatorial tropical areas.

Accepted Answer

A)  ecological pyramid of energy
B)  ecosystem
C)  species diversity cline
D)  food web/food chain
E)  biogeochemical cyclesF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 19

Which one of the following statements about the trophic cascade in the sea otter and sea urchin-kelp communities along the West Coast of North America is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased sea otter populations are linked to more profuse growth of the kelp forests.
B)  Increased sea otter populations are linked to reduced sea urchin populations.
C)  Increased orca (killer whale) predation on sea otters is linked to more profuse growth of the kelp forests.
D)  Increased orca (killer whale) predation on sea otters is linked to increased sea urchin populations.
E)  Increased sea urchin populations are linked to less profuse growth of the kelp forests.F) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 20

According to MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography theory,which of the following would be expected to have the smallest species diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  the mainland
B)  a large island near the mainland
C)  a large island far from the mainland
D)  a small island near the mainland
E)  a small island far from the mainlandF) A) and B)
G) All of the above E

Exam 58: Dynamics of Ecosystems

Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?

Correct Answer
verified

The upper,unconfined portion of the groundwater constitutes the _____,which flows into streams and is partly accessible to plants.

Correct Answer
verified

The fraction of Earth's surface covered by oceans is about

Correct Answer
verified

Organisms that break down organic matter are called

Correct Answer
verified

Secondary consumers such as _________ and the parasites of animals,feed on the herbivores.

Correct Answer
verified

In global terms,the production of CO₂ by respiration and its fixation by photosynthesis are balanced,but the balance has been shifted towards accumulation of CO₂ by the increase in use of

Correct Answer
verified

The carbon cycle is based on carbon dioxide.CO₂ makes up about

Correct Answer
verified

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid,which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Correct Answer
verified
D

In an aquatic ecosystem,a secondary carnivore is temporarily excluded and then,after a period of time,is returned.Which one of the following is not an expected top-down effect after it is returned?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

A ____________ cycle is a cyclic path that involves both biological and chemical processes of an ecosystem.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following gases in the atmosphere appears to be changing the global climates?

Correct Answer
verified

______ is defined as the total amount of energy fixed per unit of time minus the amount of energy expended by the metabolic activities of the photosynthetic organisms in the community.

Correct Answer
verified

Only about ____ of the sunlight falling on the plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Correct Answer
verified

Which one of the following cycles is characterized by often being a limiting nutrient in ecosystems and having no atmospheric component in its cycle?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following contain no species that are autotrophs?

Correct Answer
verified

Even though nitrogen constitutes 78% of Earth's atmosphere,the amount available for living things nearly all comes from

Correct Answer
verified
A

Choose the letter of the best match from the following: -A latitudinal increase in the number of species;ranges from the Arctic,increasing toward equatorial tropical areas.

Correct Answer
verified

Which one of the following statements about the trophic cascade in the sea otter and sea urchin-kelp communities along the West Coast of North America is false?

Correct Answer
verified

According to MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography theory,which of the following would be expected to have the smallest species diversity?

Correct Answer
verified
E

Exam 58: Dynamics of Ecosystems

Which one of the following quantities best represents the respiratory heat lost by plants in an ecosystem?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The upper,unconfined portion of the groundwater constitutes the _____,which flows into streams and is partly accessible to plants.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The fraction of Earth's surface covered by oceans is about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Organisms that break down organic matter are called

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Secondary consumers such as _________ and the parasites of animals,feed on the herbivores.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In global terms,the production of CO2 by respiration and its fixation by photosynthesis are balanced,but the balance has been shifted towards accumulation of CO2 by the increase in use of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The carbon cycle is based on carbon dioxide.CO2 makes up about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a marine ecosystem with an inverted biomass pyramid,which trophic level should have the smallest number of organisms?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

In an aquatic ecosystem,a secondary carnivore is temporarily excluded and then,after a period of time,is returned.Which one of the following is not an expected top-down effect after it is returned?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A ____________ cycle is a cyclic path that involves both biological and chemical processes of an ecosystem.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following gases in the atmosphere appears to be changing the global climates?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

______ is defined as the total amount of energy fixed per unit of time minus the amount of energy expended by the metabolic activities of the photosynthetic organisms in the community.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Only about ____ of the sunlight falling on the plant leaves is captured by photosynthesis.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following cycles is characterized by often being a limiting nutrient in ecosystems and having no atmospheric component in its cycle?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following contain no species that are autotrophs?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Even though nitrogen constitutes 78% of Earth's atmosphere,the amount available for living things nearly all comes from

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Choose the letter of the best match from the following: -A latitudinal increase in the number of species;ranges from the Arctic,increasing toward equatorial tropical areas.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following statements about the trophic cascade in the sea otter and sea urchin-kelp communities along the West Coast of North America is false?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeography theory,which of the following would be expected to have the smallest species diversity?

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified

In global terms,the production of CO₂ by respiration and its fixation by photosynthesis are balanced,but the balance has been shifted towards accumulation of CO₂ by the increase in use of

Correct Answer
verified

The carbon cycle is based on carbon dioxide.CO₂ makes up about

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
D

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A

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E