CHAPTER 3—ECOSYSTEMS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Tropical rain forests cover about 2% of the Earth’s land surface, and
a.
contain about 2% of the Earth’s total biodiversity
b.
contain less than 10% of the Earth’s total biodiversity
c.
contain no more than one-fourth of the Earth’s total biodiversity
d.
contain up to one-half of the Earth’s total biodiversity
e.
scientists currently do not know how much of the Earth’s total biodiversity is contained in
tropical rainforests, although they suspect it is very high
2. The tropical rain forests
a.
maybe be severely degraded or disappear within your lifetime.
b.
are destroyed by humans cutting down trees and growing crops.
c.
are destroyed by grazing cattle and human settlements.
d.
degradation is increasing
e.
are damaged by humans cutting down trees, growing crops and grazing cattle, by building
settlements, and degradation is increasing and they may be severely damaged or disappear
within your lifetime,
3. Which of the following choices best describes how an ecologist would typically study an ecosystem?
The ecologist would study
a.
only a single animal or plant
b.
an animal or plant, plus other organisms with which it interacts
c.
an animal or plant, the organisms it interacts with, and its water supply
d.
an animal or plant, plus all the biotic and abiotic aspects of the ecosystem in which it lives
e.
the water supply and other non-living aspects of an ecosystem
4. The innermost layer of the atmosphere is the
a.
Troposphere
b.
Stratosphere
c.
Hydrosphere
d.
Geosphere
e.
Lithosphere
5. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
a.
nitrogen (N2)
b.
carbon dioxide (CO2)
c.
water vapor (H2O)
d.
methane (CH4)
e.
two of the listed choices are not greenhouse gases
6. All physical forms of water (solid, liquid, and gas) make up the
a.
Atmosphere
b.
Geosphere
c.
Biosphere
d.
Troposphere
e.
Hydrosphere
7. Fossil fuels and minerals are found in the
a.
Atmosphere
b.
Geosphere
c.
Biosphere
d.
Hydrosphere
e.
Troposphere
8. Submarines explore the
a.
Atmosphere
b.
Geosphere
c.
Biosphere
d.
Hydrosphere
e.
Troposphere
9. Geologists find rock and soil samples in the
a.
Atmosphere
b.
Geosphere
c.
Biosphere
d.
Hydrosphere
e.
Troposphere
10. Ozone, a gaseous O3 molecule that filters out harmful UV radiation, is found in the
a.
Troposphere
b.
Geosphere
c.
Hydrosphere
d.
Stratosphere
e.
Biosphere
11. The crust, core, and mantle are all areas located within the
a.
Stratosphere
b.
Biosphere
c.
Geosphere
d.
Hydrosphere
e.
Atmosphere
12. Which of the following statements is most accurate?
a.
Energy cycles, nutrients flow.
b.
Nutrients cycle, energy flows.
c.
Nutrients flow, energy flows.
d.
Nutrients cycle, energy cycles.
e.
Nutrients flow and cycle.
13. As energy flows in ecosystems, it can be said to
a.
cycle, as in a round trip
b.
flow from high-quality to low-quality energy in a one-way fashion
c.
either flow one way or cycle, depending on the type of energy involved
d.
flow in a two-directional fashion
e.
energy does not flow or cycle
14. You have decided on a career as an ecologist. Your work could possibly be which of the following
assignments?
a.
exploring the earth’s crust to locate mineral resources
b.
negotiating air quality agreements among different countries
c.
studying interactions of wolves and their prey species in Yellowstone National Park
d.
studying depletion of large aquifers in the midwestern United States
e.
exploring possible wind corridors in the intermountain west for placement of wind farms
15. Ecologists study interactions within and among which five levels of organization?
a.
cell, organism, atom, ecosystem, and molecule
b.
atom, molecule, cell, organism, and population
c.
molecule, cell, atom, community, and biosphere
d.
organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere
e.
atom, organism, cell, biosphere, and population
16. Which one of the following contains all of the others?
a.
Atom
b.
Community
c.
Cell
d.
Population
e.
Molecule
17. Ecology is the study of how:
a.
Atoms make up the environment.
b.
Humans affect the environment.
c.
Organisms interact with each other and their nonliving environment.
d.
Energy runs the environment.
e.
Evolution affects nature.
18. A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place is a(n)
a.
Species
b.
Population
c.
Community
d.
Organism
e.
Biome
19. A community of different species interacting with one another and the physical and chemical factors of
their nonliving environment is called a(n)
a.
Species
b.
Ecosystem
c.
Population
d.
Lithosphere
e.
Community
20. Pronghorn antelope is the only North American antelope. It lives in the high desert of the Great Basin
in the western U.S. Which of the following items are possible abiotic factors that an antelope has to
content with?
a.
the density of the local population of coyotes
b.
extreme maximum and minimum temperatures in the desert
c.
competition with wild horses for sparse vegetation for forage
d.
lack of available water
e.
lack of available water and extreme maximum and minimum temperatures in the desert
21. Bacteria and fungi are typically categorized as which of the following ecosystem components?
a.
Autotrophs
b.
Producers
c.
primary consumers
d.
tertiary consumers
e.
Decomposers
22. Of the total energy that falls on their leaves, what percent do producers on average convert to chemical
energy through the process of photosynthesis?
a.
0%
b.
1%
c.
10%
d.
25%
e.
50%
23. Which of the following best represents the process of photosynthesis?
a.
Carbon dioxide + Glucose + Solar energy → Water + Oxygen
b.
Carbon dioxide + Water + Solar energy → Glucose + Oxygen
c.
Oxygen + Glucose + Solar energy → Carbon dioxide + Water
d.
Oxygen + Glucose → Solar energy + Carbon dioxide + Water
e.
Carbon dioxide + Water → Solar energy + Glucose + Oxygen
24. A grizzly bear eating blueberries is best categorized as which of the following?
a.
Producer
b.
primary consumer
c.
tertiary consumer
d.
Detritivore
e.
Decomposer
25. Which ecosystem component plays a key role in the recycling of nutrients in the biosphere?
a.
Producers
b.
primary consumers
c.
Herbivores
d.
tertiary consumers
e.
Decomposers
26. Phytoplankton in the ocean
a.
provide much of the planet’s oxygen
b.
provide much of the planet’s carbon dioxide
c.
remove much of the planet’s carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
d.
remove much of the planet’s oxygen
e.
provide much of the planet’s oxygen and remove much of the carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere
27. What do giraffes and caterpillars have in common?
a.
They are both autotrophs.
b.
They are both herbivores
c.
They are both secondary consumers and herbivores.
d.
They are both detritivores
e.
Giraffes and caterpillars do not have anything in common.
28. An entomologist is a biologist that has special training in the study of insects. Which of the following
groups of detritivores would an entomologist possibly study?
a.
Fungi
b.
Bacteria
c.
Vultures
d.
carpenter ants
e.
Giraffes
29. Photosynthesis
a.
converts glucose into energy and water
b.
requires the combustion of carbon
c.
produces carbon dioxide and oxygen gas
d.
yields glucose and oxygen gas as products
e.
yields glucose and carbon dioxide as products
30. The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy occurs in
a.
Photosynthesis
b.
food chains
c.
Chemosynthesis
d.
heterotrophic organisms
e.
food webs
31. Organisms that feed on both plants and animals are called
a.
detritus feeders
b.
Omnivores
c.
Carnivores
d.
herbivores
e.
decomposers
32. Which of the following groups can be called autotrophs?
a.
ants, termites and butterflies
b.
wolves, coyotes and foxes
c.
rabbits, moles and robins
d.
daisies, roses and grass
e.
mushrooms and fungi
33. The organisms that are classified as primary consumers are the
a.
Detritivores
b.
Omnivores
c.
Carnivores
d.
Decomposers
e.
Herbivores
34. Organisms that break down bodies of dead plants and animals into nutrients that are released into the
soil or water are called
a.
Detritivores
b.
detritus feeders
c.
Decomposers
d.
Scavengers
e.
Omnivores
35. Earthworms, some insects, and vultures are all examples of
a.
primary producers
b.
detritus feeders
c.
Decomposers
d.
Scavengers
e.
secondary consumers
36. Aerobic respiration requires
a.
glucose and carbon dioxide
b.
glucose and oxygen
c.
oxygen and water
d.
carbon dioxide and water
e.
carbon dioxide and oxygen
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: KNOWLEDGE
A grassy meadow high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is known to support a variety of organisms.
During the summers when grass is thick and lush, and wildflowers abound, butterflies take advantage
of the abundant nectar source. Bears graze on the berries in shrubs at the edge of the meadow. Deer
also forage at the edge of the meadow. In the early mornings, coyote are known to prey on the squirrel
and mouse population that burrow into the meadow soil. A variety of birds prey on the butterflies and
other insects such as bees and wasps.
37. The coyotes would be classified as
a.
Producers
b.
primary consumers
c.
secondary consumers
d.
Decomposers
e.
tertiary consumers
38. The coyotes typically forage on mice and squirrels. However, as members of the canine family,
Canidae, they are known to be able to eat berries and parts of plants as well as small animals. Thus,
they would be classified as
a.
Herbivores
b.
Carnivores
c.
Omnivores
d.
Detritivores
e.
Producers
39. If the biomass of flowers that support the butterflies was known to contain 100,000 units of energy,
and certain bird species were eating the butterflies that foraged on the flowers, what amount of energy,
on average, could be expected to be transferred to the birds?
a.
50,000
b.
10,000
c.
1,000
d.
100
e.
10
40. A sequence of organisms, each of which serves as a source of nutrients or energy for the next, is called
a(n)
a.
food web
b.
food chain
c.
Ecosystem
d.
Community
e.
food chain and food web (they are interchangeable)
41. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary consumer?
a.
Spider
b.
Deer
c.
Hawk
d.
Butterfly
e.
Rabbit
42. Complex arrangements of feeding patterns in ecosystems are best described as
a.
food webs
b.
food chains
c.
trophic levels
d.
pyramids of energy
e.
trophic chains
43. If the producers in an ecosystem capture 40,000 units of energy, assuming average efficiency of
energy transfer, how many units of this energy can likely be successfully converted into secondary
consumer biomass?
a.
40,000
b.
4,000
c.
400
d.
40
e.
4
44. With regards to productivity of an ecosystem, which of the following statements is accurate?
a.
GPP is greater than NPP because of the metabolic process of photosynthesis.
b.
GPP is greater than NPP because of the metabolic process of respiration.
c.
NPP is greater than GPP because of the metabolic process of photosynthesis.
d.
NPP is greater than GPP because of the metabolic process of respiration.
e.
There is no significant difference between GPP and NPP.
45. The aquatic ecosystems with the highest average net primary productivity are
a.
Estuaries
b.
Lakes
c.
Rivers
d.
Oceans
e.
artic ice shelf
46. Net primary productivity
a.
is the rate at which producers manufacture chemical energy through photosynthesis
b.
is the rate at which producers use chemical energy through respiration
c.
is the rate of photosynthesis plus the rate of respiration
d.
is the rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy
e.
is the rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store chemical energy
minus the rate at which they use this energy through aerobic respiration
47. Which of the following ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity?
a.
agricultural land
b.
open ocean
c.
temperate forest
d.
swamps and marshes
e.
lakes and streams
48. The portion of the planet that is responsible for the vast majority of the Earth’s annual biomass
production is/are
a.
swamps and marshes
b.
temperate forests
c.
Estuaries
d.
lakes and streams
e.
open oceans
49. Over land, about what percent of the water vapor in the atmosphere comes from water that has
transpired from the surface of plants?
a.
40-50%
b.
60%
c.
70%
d.
80%
e.
90%
50. Nitrogen makes up approximately ____% of the volume of the atmosphere.
a.
25
b.
42
c.
57
d.
78
e.
85
51. Which of the following biogeochemical cycles does not include the atmosphere as a temporary
reservoir?
a.
Hydrologic
b.
Nitrogen
c.
Carbon
d.
Phosphorus
e.
Sulfur
52. Where in a mammal would there be the highest concentrations of phosphorous?
a.
liver and pancreas
b.
muscle tissues
c.
bones and teeth
d.
central nervous system
e.
hair and skin tissues
53. The hydrologic cycle refers to the movement of
a.
Hydrogen
b.
Oxygen
c.
Nitrogen
d.
Hydrocarbons
e.
Water
54. Of the following water-cycle processes, the one working against gravity is
a.
Percolation
b.
Infiltration
c.
Runoff
d.
Transpiration
e.
Precipitation
55. The hydrologic cycle is driven primarily by
a.
solar energy and gravity
b.
solar energy and the moon
c.
solar and mechanical energy
d.
mechanical and chemical energy
e.
chemical energy and the moon
56. All of the following increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere except
a.
Respiration
b.
Photosynthesis
c.
Combustion
d.
Decomposition
e.
none of these answers
57. Transfer of carbon among organisms depends primarily on
a.
fuel combustion and decomposition
b.
photosynthesis and cellular respiration
c.
soil bacteria and precipitation
d.
volcanic activity and organic decay
e.
the rock cycle
58. The most common gas in the atmosphere is
a.
Nitrogen
b.
carbon dioxide
c.
Oxygen
d.
Hydrogen
e.
Methane
59. Nitrogen is a major component of all of the following except
a.
Proteins
b.
Nitrates
c.
Ammonia
d.
DNA
e.
Groundwater
60. Nitrogen fixation is accomplished by
a.
Legumes
b.
Bacteria
c.
Algae
d.
Protozoa
e.
round worms
61. The form of nitrogen most usable to plants is
a.
Ammonia
b.
nitrogen gas
c.
Proteins
d.
Nitrates
e.
Methane
62. Ammonium ions are converted to nitrite ions and nitrate ions through the process of
a.
Nitrification
b.
nitrogen fixation
c.
Denitrification
d.
Assimilation
e.
Leaching
63. When organisms die, their nitrogenous organic compounds are converted to simpler inorganic
compounds such as ammonia through the process of
a.
Nitrification
b.
Ammonification
c.
Denitrification
d.
Assimilation
e.
Leaching
64. Electrical storms and lightning fix _________into a form that plants and animals can use.
a.
Phosphorus
b.
Nitrogen
c.
Carbon
d.
Sulfur
e.
Water
65. Which of the following choices best describes the common phosphorus reservoirs in the ecosystem?
a.
Water
b.
water and organisms
c.
atmosphere and geosphere
d.
rocks and marine sediment
e.
water, organisms, rocks and marine sediment
66. All of the following are sources of phosphorus except
a.
inorganic fertilizer
b.
runoff of animal wastes from feedlots
c.
Detergents
d.
acid rain
e.
Rocks
67. The major plant nutrient most likely to be a limiting factor is
a.
Phosphorous
b.
Calcium
c.
Nitrogen
d.
Potassium
e.
Carbon
68. You have decided to change your diet to a more sustainable way of eating. One of your choices is to
eat only grass-fed beef. In addition to having healthier meals that benefit you directly, this choice also
benefits the planet because it will help to decrease
a.
mining large quantities of phosphate rock
b.
atmospheric warming
c.
addition of animal wastes from livestock feedlots that interferes with the phosphate cycle
in aquatic ecosystems
d.
discharge of municipal sewage
e.
use of animal by-products in pet food
69. Which of the following is NOT a property of water?
a.
It expands when it freezes.
b.
It contracts when it freezes.
c.
It can store large amounts of heat without changing its own temperature.
d.
It can adhere to a solid surface.
e.
It can exist as a solid, liquid or gas.
70. Ocean sediments and volcanoes are sources of:
a.
Nitrogen
b.
Oxygen
c.
Sulfur
d.
Phosphorus
e.
both sulfur and nitrogen
71. Sulfuric acid and sulfates in the atmosphere are a problem when they
a.
are deposited as acid rain
b.
are deposited in the soil and incorporated into plants as nutrients
c.
are deposited in ocean waters and return to deep ocean sediments
d.
are deposited on glaciers in the Arctic
e.
They are never a problem.
72. All of the following statements describe field research except
a.
It involves going into natural settings to observe the structure of ecosystems.
b.
It is sometimes called “muddy–boots biology”.
c.
It has provided very little in the way of knowledge about ecosystems.
d.
Most of what we know about ecosystems has come from such research.
e.
It involves measuring the structure of ecosystems and what happens in them.
73. Which statement least characterizes laboratory research?
a.
It allows measurement of model ecosystems and populations under controlled conditions.
b.
It is faster than similar field research.
c.
It is less costly than similar field research.
d.
It has been used to develop most of our knowledge about ecosystems.
e.
It has supplemented field research since the 1960’s.
74. Which statement least describes ecosystem modeling?
a.
It is typically applied only to very small natural systems, such as a single pond or stream.
b.
It has developed since the 1960s.
c.
It can be applied to complex systems that cannot be adequately studied in the field or
laboratory.
d.
It requires input of baseline data from field studies.
e.
It requires input of baseline data from laboratory studies.
75. GIS (geographic information systems) software is a new, powerful tool for research on ecosystems.
Which of the following is NOT something that we can rely on GIS data to reveal?
a.
geographic and ecological spatial data
b.
variation in vegetation in local areas
c.
sulfur content of deep ocean sediments
d.
local air pollution emissions
e.
global variation in vegetation and gross primary productivity