Chapter 3-Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?: Multiple Choice

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
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy TOP: CORE CASE STUDY
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: KNOWLEDGE
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,
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy TOP: CORE CASE STUDY
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
.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate TOP: CORE CASE STUDY
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: APPLICATION
4. The innermost layer of the atmosphere is the

a Troposphere
40
.
b Stratosphere
.
c Hydrosphere
.
d Geosphere
.
e Lithosphere
.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
TOP: 3-1 WHAT KEEPS US AND OTHER ORGANISMS ALIVE?
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
.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
7. Fossil fuels and minerals are found in the

a Atmosphere
.
b Geosphere
41
.
c Biosphere
.
d Hydrosphere
.
e Troposphere
.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
8. Submarines explore the

a Atmosphere
.
b Geosphere
.
c Biosphere
.
d Hydrosphere
.
e Troposphere
.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
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
42
.
11. The crust, core, and mantle are all areas located within the
a Stratosphere
.
b Biosphere
.
c Geosphere
.
d Hydrosphere
.
e Atmosphere
.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
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.
.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: COMPREHENSION
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
.
43
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
.
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
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
.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
TOP: 3-2 WHAT ARE THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM?
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.
.
44
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?
45
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
.
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
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%
.
46
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
47
.
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
.
48
30. The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy occurs in

a Photosynthesis
.
b food chains
.
c Chemosynthesis
.
d heterotrophic organisms
.
e food webs
.
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
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
.
49
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

50
a glucose and carbon dioxide
.
b glucose and oxygen
.
c oxygen and water
.
d carbon dioxide and water
.
e carbon dioxide and oxygen
.
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
.
51
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)
.
TOP: 3-3 WHAT HAPPENS TO ENERGY IN AN ECOSYSTEM?
41. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary consumer?

a Spider
.
b Deer
.
c Hawk
.
d Butterfly
.
e Rabbit
.
52
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.
.
53
e There is no significant difference between GPP and NPP.
.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult
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
ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult
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
.
54
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%
.
TOP: 3-4 WHAT HAPPENS TO MATTER IN AN ECOSYSTEM?
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
.
55
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
56
.
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
.
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult
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
57
.
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

58
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
59
.
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
.
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult
67. The major plant nutrient most likely to be a limiting factor is

a Phosphorous
.
b Calcium
.
60
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.
.
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
70. Ocean sediments and volcanoes are sources of:

a Nitrogen
.
b Oxygen
.
c Sulfur
.
d Phosphorus
.
61
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.
.
TOP: 3-4 A WHAT HAPPENS TO MATTER IN AN ECOSYSTEM?
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.
.
TOP: 3-5 HOW DO SCIENTISTS STUDY ECOSYSTEMS?
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.
62
.
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
.
In the Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States, scientists observed that population clusters of
a small cactus were very pronounced around nests of desert woodrats. They began to think the
woodrat was somehow connected to the seeding of these cactus plants.
After years of counting and observing the woodrat nests and cactus plants, they collected the
droppings of the woodrats and took them back to the lab to analyze them to see if they contained seeds
of the cactus. They also collected the droppings and transported them to other areas to see if this
would bring about new population clusters of the cactus.
They also programmed the data they had collected into a computer. The computer program allowed
the scientists to predict that increases in the woodrat population would result in increases in the cactus
population, and likewise a decrease in woodrats would signal an impending decrease in cactus.
63
76. Which phase of the above-described situation could be called computer simulation?
a when the scientists gathered woodrat dropping for lab analysis
.
b when the scientists learned from the computer that woodrat nest numbers would impact
. cactus populations
c when the scientists first observed the proximity of woodrat nests and cactus plants
.
d all of these answers
.
e none of these answers
.
77. The study described above is best categorized as

a field research
.
b laboratory research
.
c computer modeling
.
d a combination of all three types of research
.
e a combination of laboratory and field research, but no computer modeling
.
78. Which of the following best describes the scientists’ initial observations?
a Woodrat nests had no apparent effect on cactus populations.
.
b Cactus plants were less common close to woodrat nests.
.
c Cactus plants were more common close to woodrat nests.
.
d Cactus plants and woodrat nests were mutually exclusive.
.
e The effect of woodrats on cactus plants was different from season to season.
.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Ecology is the study of connections in the natural world.

64
ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
2. Populations make up communities.

3. Ozone gas, a chemical in the atmosphere that helps filter out harmful UV sunlight, is located in the
troposphere.
ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

4. An ecosystem's nutrient cycle cannot be described.
ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

5. “Muddy boots biology” is actually a description of typical research by geologists
ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

6. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide are one of the major contributors to global warming.

7. Within the ‘levels of organization’, the molecular level contains the smallest of all forms of matter.

8. Despite the ocean's low NPP, it creates more of the Earth's NPP than any of the other ecosystems.
ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

9. Detritivores are consumers that release nutrients from the dead bodies of living organisms and return
them to the soil, water, and air.

10. A deer is both a primary consumer and in the second trophic level.

11. The mantle and core of the earth are both contained in the geosphere.
65
12. Plants utilize a portion of their GPP for respiration.

13. There are examples of microbial bacteria that are beneficial to humans.

14. According to the second law of thermodynamics, energy can be recycled.

15. In terms of inputs of matter, the Earth is a closed system. As a result, nutrients must be recycled to
support life.

16. Green plants undergo aerobic respiration.

17. The process by which many decomposers are able to convert glucose into useable energy in the
absence of oxygen is known as transpiration.

18. Given the nature of the carbon cycle, it is possible that a single atom of carbon that is in your skin
could have once been part of your own great grandmother, or even a dinosaur.

19. Water has the ability to filter out wavelengths of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation that would harm some
aquatic organisms.

20. Lightning is one of the natural mechanisms by which atmospheric nitrogen fixation is accomplished.

66
21. Ammonia (NH4+) is a form of nitrogen that is readily accessible and useable by plants.
ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult

22. Highly specialized bacteria are an essential component of the phosphorous cycle.

23. The processes that lead to geological erosion are essential to the movement of phosphorous through
the biosphere.

24. Food chains and food webs are basically the same thing.

25. A type of acid rain is produced because of sulfur dioxide in the air.

26. The burning of coal releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. However, smelting is a clean process
that does not deposit sulfur dioxide.

27. Gravity is one of the three factors that sustain life on Earth.

28. The nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle are virtually identical.

29. Water exists as a liquid over a wide range of temperatures because of the lack of attractive forces
between its molecules.

30. It can be said that trees can actually produce their own rainfall.
ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult

67
31. Liquid water changes temperature rapidly because it can store a large amount of heat.

COMPLETION
1. A(n) ____________________ consists of populations of different species living in a particular place

and potentially interacting with each other.
ANS: community
PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

2. ____________________ feed on the wastes or dead bodies of other organisms.
ANS:
Detritus feeders
PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult

3. The ____________________ involves precipitation, transpiration, evaporation, and condensation.
ANS: hydrologic cycle
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

4. Photosynthesis requires both carbon dioxide and water, but could not occur without the input
of____________ ______________.
ANS: solar energy

5. Another word for consumer is ____________________.
ANS: heterotroph

6. Bacteria, deer, humans, and spiders are all examples of ____________________.
ANS: organisms
68
7. The water cycle, hydrogen cycle, phosphorous cycle, and sulfur cycle are all ____________________.
ANS: nutrient cycles
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

8. CO2 promotes the ____________________ that warms the troposphere.
ANS: greenhouse effect
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

9. Bacteria are more important in the ____________________ than in the carbon or phosphorous cycle.
ANS: nitrogen cycle

10. Chemical combinations of two or more atoms of the same or different elements make up
_____________.
ANS: molecules
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

11. The ____________________ occupies those parts of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere
where life is found.
ANS: biosphere
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

12. The process by which ____________________ obtain their energy is photosynthesis.
ANS:
autotrophs
producers
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy
69
13. Carnivores such as tigers, hawks and killer whales that feed on the flesh of other carnivores are known
as _______________ consumers.
ANS: tertiary
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

14. The process by which water is evaporated from the surface of plants is called
____________________.
ANS: transpiration
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

15. The metabolic process by which plants are able to draw ____________________ out of the
atmosphere is known as photosynthesis.
ANS: carbon dioxide
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

16. ____________________ is the most abundant element in the Earth's atmosphere.
ANS: Nitrogen
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

17. Phytoplankton in the ocean help to regulate the earth’s temperature by removing some of the
____________ ____________produced when we burn fossil fuels..
ANS: carbon dioxide

18. Tropical rainforests typically are found near the Equator, and are considered centers of
____________________.
ANS: biodiversity

19. Ecologists study ____________________ in nature.
70
ANS: connections

20. The planet’s NPP ultimately limits the number of _____________that can live on the earth..
ANS: consumers

21. A ____________________ is similar to a food chain, but is much more complex and shows many
interconnected feeding relationships.
ANS: food web

22. The planet’s ____________________ ultimately limits the number of consumers that can live on the
planet.
ANS:
NPP
net primary productivity

23. The aquatic ecosystems that show the highest net primary productivity are ____________________.
ANS: estuaries

24. Tropical rainforests cover about__________% of the earth’s surface, but contain about ________% of
the earth’s known terrestrial plant and animal species.
ANS: 2, 50

25. The majority of the Earth’s carbon is stored in ____________________.
71
ANS: marine sediments

26. Ammonia that is not taken up by plants may undergo ____________________.
ANS: nitrification

MATCHING
Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice
1. On the figure of the Earth, choose the letter that represents heat added to the atmosphere.
2. On the figure of the Earth, choose the letter that represents the ozone layer.
3. On the figure of the Earth, choose the letter that represents solar radiation.
4. On the figure of the Earth, choose the letter that represents UV radiation.
1. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling

2. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling
3. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling
4. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling
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5. On the figure of the hydrological cycle, choose the letter that represents precipitation.
6. On the figure of the hydrological cycle, choose the letter that represents runoff.
7. On the figure of the hydrological cycle, choose the letter that represents evaporation.
8. On the figure of the hydrological cycle, choose the letter that represents infiltration.
9. On the figure of the hydrological cycle, choose the letter that represents transpiration.
5. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling

6. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling
7. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult OBJ: Labeling
8. ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Labeling
9. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Difficult OBJ: Labeling
73
10. On the generalized structure of the Earth figure, choose the letter of the layer that contains
nonrenewable fossil fuels and minerals.
11. On the generalized structure of the Earth figure, choose the letter of the layer that is comprised of
water, ice, and water vapor.
12. On the generalized structure of the Earth figure, choose the letter of the layer that is made up of the
troposphere and the stratosphere.
13. On the generalized structure of the Earth figure, choose the letter of the layer that is composed of all of
the Earth's ecosystems.
14. On the generalized structure of the Earth figure, choose the letter of the layer that consists of the
Earth's crust and upper mantle.
10. ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling

11. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling
12. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling
13. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling
14. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Easy OBJ: Labeling
Match the descriptive phrase below with its appropriate cycle.

a Hydrologic d phosphorus
. .
b Carbon e sulfur
. .
c. Nitrogen
74
15. Fixation into soil accomplished by bacteria and algae
16. Cycles are slower than others
17. Transpiration from plants
18. Affects global warming
19. Forms acid rain
20. Affected by burning coal
21. Infiltration and percolation into aquifers
22. Electrical storms affect deposition into soil
23. Deposits found in limestone or dolomite
24. Does not cycle through atmosphere
15. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

16. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
17. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
18. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
19. ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
20. ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
21. ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
22. ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
23. ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
24. ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate
SHORT ANSWER
75
1. In the figure of an ecosystem, choose which of the components are categorized as biotic.
ANS:
Producers
Produce
Secondary consumer (fox)
Primary consumer (rabbit)
Decomposers
PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate OBJ: Critical Thinking

2. On the figure of an ecosystem, choose which of the components in the figure are categorized as
abiotic.
ANS:
Precipitation
Oxygen (O2)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Water
Soluble mineral nutrients

76
3. What trophic level is occupied by the emperor penguin in the above food web? Briefly state the reason
for your choice.
ANS:
Tertiary and quaternary consumer. The emperor penguin feeds on squid. Squid is a tertiary consumer
of carnivorous plankton and krill and a secondary consumer of herbivorous zooplankton.
PTS: 4 DIF: Difficult OBJ: Critical Thinking

BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: ANALYSIS
4. What trophic level does the blue whale occupy in this food web?
77
ANS:
The blue whale is a secondary and tertiary consumer. It feeds on krill which is a primary consumer of
phytoplankton and a secondary consumer of herbivorous zooplankton.

5. Which animal consumes energy from the highest number of links in the food web? Name a possible
problem that this animal could be subjected to that others in the food web do not risk.
ANS:
Killer whales eventually consume energy from every link in the food web except blue whales and
sperm whales. Because of the extensive connection of killer whales to all parts of the food web,
problems such as chemical pollution that affect any link will eventually affect the killer whales.
PTS: 4 DIF: Difficult OBJ: Critical Thinking

BLOOM’S TAXONOMY: SYNTHESIS
6. Briefly explain why clearing a rainforest can affect local weather.
ANS:
Because the primary source of rainfall in tropical rainforest areas is the vegetation, with so many
plants transpiring water into the atmosphere, cutting down the forest reduces rainfall.
PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

ESSAY
1. Clearly explain the significant differences between UV and infrared radiation and how this relates to
the greenhouse effect.
ANS:
The wavelengths of UV and infrared radiation are very different, the wavelengths of UV being
relatively small, while the wavelengths of infrared radiation being relatively large. The larger
wavelength radiation of infrared has an increasingly difficult time passing back out through the Earth's
atmosphere as the concentrations of greenhouse gases increase.

2. Clearly explain the relationship between the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the typical pyramid
of biomass.
78
ANS:
The second law of thermodynamics indicates that no energy transformation is 100% efficient, and in
transformations there is always a net loss of energy. This idea is appropriately applied to energy
transformations as energy is passed through the food chains of an ecosystem. As a result of the second
law of thermodynamics, the amount of energy that is stored in lower trophic levels is higher than that
which can possibly be transferred to higher trophic levels. This results in an ever-decreasing amount of
energy contained with increasing trophic levels in an ecosystem.

3. Why is it that most top predators (e.g., lions, tigers, bears, and wolves) have extremely large territories
and are relatively rare?
ANS:
The second law of thermodynamics, as it applies to ecological pyramids of biomass, means that a
substantially higher amount of ecosystem productivity is required to provide sufficient energy for
organisms that feed on a third or fourth trophic level. This results in a need for a large ecological
territory to provide sufficient autotrophic surface area to convert enough solar energy to provide for
the energy required to be passed through three trophic levels. As a result, an ecosystem can only
support a very few of these top predators.

4. Clearly explain the distinction between Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Net Primary
Productivity (NPP).
ANS:
GPP is the rate at which an ecosystem's producers convert solar energy into chemical energy as
biomass. However, producers must use some of the chemical energy stored in the biomass they make
for their own respiration. NPP is the rate at which producers use photosynthesis to produce and store
chemical energy minus the rate at which they use some of this stored chemical energy through aerobic
respiration.

5. Given the nature of the phosphorous cycle, what are the long-term impacts on South American soil
quality through the exportation of beef cattle?
ANS:
79
Beef cattle raised in South America are feeding on grasses grown on South American soils. These
plants require phosphorous resources from the soils in which they grow. As a result, the South
American soil phosphorous is transferred to the beef cattle. If the cattle are then exported to North
American consumers, the phosphorous is also exported. This prevents the phosphorous from being
recycled back into the South American soils, as is typical in a naturally functioning ecosystem. Over
long periods, this results in a depletion of South American soil nutrients (phosphorous).

6. When sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere combines with water in precipitation, sulfuric acid rain is
deposited on the Earth. What human activities contribute to this process?
ANS:
Human activities that release large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere are burning coal to
produce electricity, refining sulfur-containing petroleum to make gasoline, and converting (smelting)
mineral ores into free metals.

7. A critically important part of the hydrologic cycle is the transpiration of water through plants into the
atmosphere. This water has traveled from the roots up to the top leaves and then moves out as water
vapor. In the case of some plants, such as redwood trees, this can be a distance of hundreds of feet.
Explain how it is that water can move up naturally, when forces of gravity might make one think that
this is impossible.
ANS:
The forces of attraction between water molecules allow liquid water to adhere to a solid surface. This
enables narrow columns of liquid water to move up through small vessels inside of plants to the top of
the plant, in a process called capillary action.

80

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CHAPTER 3—ECOSYSTEMS: WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

2. The tropical rain forests

4. The innermost layer of the atmosphere is the

5. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

7. Fossil fuels and minerals are found in the

8. Submarines explore the

9. Geologists find rock and soil samples in the

12. Which of the following statements is most accurate?

13. As energy flows in ecosystems, it can be said to

16. Which one of the following contains all of the others?

17. Ecology is the study of how:

26. Phytoplankton in the ocean

27. What do giraffes and caterpillars have in common?

30. The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy occurs in

32. Which of the following groups can be called autotrophs?

35. Earthworms, some insects, and vultures are all examples of

36. Aerobic respiration requires

37. The coyotes would be classified as

41. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary consumer?

42. Complex arrangements of feeding patterns in ecosystems are best described as

46. Net primary productivity

50. Nitrogen makes up approximately ____% of the volume of the atmosphere.

52. Where in a mammal would there be the highest concentrations of phosphorous?

53. The hydrologic cycle refers to the movement of

55. The hydrologic cycle is driven primarily by

57. Transfer of carbon among organisms depends primarily on

58. The most common gas in the atmosphere is

59. Nitrogen is a major component of all of the following except

60. Nitrogen fixation is accomplished by

61. The form of nitrogen most usable to plants is

66. All of the following are sources of phosphorus except

67. The major plant nutrient most likely to be a limiting factor is

69. Which of the following is NOT a property of water?

70. Ocean sediments and volcanoes are sources of:

72. All of the following statements describe field research except

73. Which statement least characterizes laboratory research?

74. Which statement least describes ecosystem modeling?

77. The study described above is best categorized as

1. Ecology is the study of connections in the natural world.

2. Populations make up communities.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

4. An ecosystem's nutrient cycle cannot be described.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

5. “Muddy boots biology” is actually a description of typical research by geologists

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

12. Plants utilize a portion of their GPP for respiration.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Easy

14. According to the second law of thermodynamics, energy can be recycled.

ANS: F PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate

16. Green plants undergo aerobic respiration.

ANS: T PTS: 1 DIF: Moderate