Unit 1 Ecosystems MCQ Version 2

1

Which of the following most directly explains the periodic fluctuations of the curve?

Seasonal variations in ocean water temperature

Daily variations in air temperature

Daily variations in sea level

Seasonal variations in photosynthetic activity

1

Which of the following is most likely a significant cause of the general trend indicated by the graph?

Increase in consumption of fossil fuels

Reduction of ozone concentrations in the upper atmosphere

Reduction in size of polar ice caps

Increase in evaporation of ocean water

1

Which environment is characterized by the highest diversity of tree species?

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1

Which environment is most likely to be characterized by dry scrub with frequent fires?

null

1

Which environment is characterized by a short season of growth and reproduction?

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1

Which of the following best helps to explain why phosphorus is often a limiting factor in many ecosystems?

Phosphate is not readily taken up by plants

Under many conditions, phosphorus forms stable insoluble compounds (rocks)

Phosphorus cycles very quickly through environments

There is usually a gaseous phase in the phosphorus cycle

1

Which of the following is a characteristic of tropical rain forests?

They rarely receive more than 100 cm of rain per year

Their soils are relatively poor in nutrients

Their soils typically have a high pH

They do not exhibit a great deal of species diversity

1

Boreal forests tend to have a thick layer of organic material but the soil is poor in nutrients. What is the BEST explanation for this?

The rapid growth rate of plants uses the nutrients rapidly

Low precipitation rates and cold temperatures slow decomposition

The soils have a low permeability and the nutrients do not dissolve in the soils

The organic material is low in nutrients

1

In August of 2014, residents of several Ohio cities that use Lake Erie as a drinking water source were warned not to drink tap water because of the presence of toxins released by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Which of the following is the most likely cause of recent blooms of blue-green algae in Lake Erie?

Increased recreational use of Lake Erie

Carbon in wastewater from fracking operations

Phosphorus contained in agricultural runoff

Cooler average summer temperatures

1

A forest has a gross primary productivity (GPP) of 3.8 kg C/m²/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m²/year. What is the net primary productivity (NPP)?

1.0 kg C/m²/year

6.2 kg C/m²/year

1.4 kg C/m²/year

9.12 kg C/m^2/year

1

Which of the following best explains why decomposers in soils and water are important to ecosystems?

They remove heavy metals

They store carbon dioxide

They recycle nutrients

They neutralize acid deposition

1

A field is abandoned, and an invasive plant that can live in nutrient-poor soil moves into the field. If the land is later cleared of this invasive species and it is discovered that the soil has an abundance of nitrogen compounds, what conclusion can best be made?

The plants were able to produce nitrogen in their leaves

Primary succession always produces and abundance of nitrogen

Bacteria in soil and in root nodules converted free nitrogen into nitrogen compounds

The plants used up all of the phosphorus and potassium and left the nitrogen behind

1

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the TOP (apex) predator?

Giraffe

Vulture

Grass

Lion

1

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the lowest trophic level?

Vulture

Grass

Giraffe

Lion

1

Which of the following is an example of a carbon sink?

Decomposition of food waste by bacteria

Combustion of fossil fuels in power plants

Clearing of trees in the Amazon forest

Deposition of organic matter on the deep ocean floor

1

Looking at Figure 3-3, what would be the MOST likely number of joules to fill in X, Y, and Z?

X=1; Y=500; Z=10,000

X=50; Y=50,000; Z=500,000

X=100; Y=1,000; Z=10,000

X=10,000; Y=500; Z=1

1

Approximately how much potential energy available from the sun’s rays hitting the Earth is used in photosynthesis?

10%

90%

1%

50%

1

Which group of organisms performs photosynthesis?

Autotrophs

Scavengers

Consumers

Heterotrophs

1

Which of the following is released by the process of photosynthesis?

Oxygen

Water

Carbon dioxide

Sunlight

1

Choose the correct sequence for energy flow within an ecosystem.

Producers --> herbivores --> carnivores --> scavengers

Producers --> carnivores --> herbivores --> carnivores

Herbivores --> producers --> carnivores --> scavengers

Scavengers --> producers --> herbivores --> carnivores

1

How is the MAJORITY of energy within an ecosystem lost?

Energy used to capture prey

Heat loss

Cellular metabolism

1

Which of the following statements BEST describes the concept of NPP (Net Primary Production)?

Total amount of energy produced from photosynthesis

Energy captured minus energy lost

Total amount of energy available for the sun

Total amount of energy available within an ecosystem

1

The second law of thermodynamics states that

New energy is available in all systems

Matter can be neither created nor destroyed

All systems move toward increased entropy (choas/heat loss)

In an energy conversion, no energy is lost

1

MOST energy on Earth comes from

Water

The Sun

Volcanoes

Trees

1

For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture?

Oxygen

Glucose

Proteins

Carbon dioxide

Unit 1 Ecosystems MCQ Version 2

Which of the following most directly explains the periodic fluctuations of the curve?

Which of the following is most likely a significant cause of the general trend indicated by the graph?

Which environment is characterized by the highest diversity of tree species?

Which environment is most likely to be characterized by dry scrub with frequent fires?

Which environment is characterized by a short season of growth and reproduction?

Which of the following best helps to explain why phosphorus is often a limiting factor in many ecosystems?

Which of the following is a characteristic of tropical rain forests?

Boreal forests tend to have a thick layer of organic material but the soil is poor in nutrients. What is the BEST explanation for this?

A forest has a gross primary productivity (GPP) of 3.8 kg C/m2/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m2/year. What is the net primary productivity (NPP)?

Which of the following best explains why decomposers in soils and water are important to ecosystems?

A field is abandoned, and an invasive plant that can live in nutrient-poor soil moves into the field. If the land is later cleared of this invasive species and it is discovered that the soil has an abundance of nitrogen compounds, what conclusion can best be made?

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the TOP (apex) predator?

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the lowest trophic level?

Which of the following is an example of a carbon sink?

Looking at Figure 3-3, what would be the MOST likely number of joules to fill in X, Y, and Z?

Approximately how much potential energy available from the sun’s rays hitting the Earth is used in photosynthesis?

Which group of organisms performs photosynthesis?

Which of the following is released by the process of photosynthesis?

Choose the correct sequence for energy flow within an ecosystem.

How is the MAJORITY of energy within an ecosystem lost?

Which of the following statements BEST describes the concept of NPP (Net Primary Production)?

The second law of thermodynamics states that

MOST energy on Earth comes from

For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture?

Which of the following most directly explains the periodic fluctuations of the curve?

Which of the following is most likely a significant cause of the general trend indicated by the graph?

Which environment is characterized by the highest diversity of tree species?

Which environment is most likely to be characterized by dry scrub with frequent fires?

Which environment is characterized by a short season of growth and reproduction?

Which of the following best helps to explain why phosphorus is often a limiting factor in many ecosystems?

Which of the following is a characteristic of tropical rain forests?

Boreal forests tend to have a thick layer of organic material but the soil is poor in nutrients. What is the BEST explanation for this?

A forest has a gross primary productivity (GPP) of 3.8 kg C/m2/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m2/year. What is the net primary productivity (NPP)?

Which of the following best explains why decomposers in soils and water are important to ecosystems?

A field is abandoned, and an invasive plant that can live in nutrient-poor soil moves into the field. If the land is later cleared of this invasive species and it is discovered that the soil has an abundance of nitrogen compounds, what conclusion can best be made?

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the TOP (apex) predator?

Which of the organisms illustrated above would be the lowest trophic level?

Which of the following is an example of a carbon sink?

Looking at Figure 3-3, what would be the MOST likely number of joules to fill in X, Y, and Z?

Approximately how much potential energy available from the sun’s rays hitting the Earth is used in photosynthesis?

Which group of organisms performs photosynthesis?

Which of the following is released by the process of photosynthesis?

Choose the correct sequence for energy flow within an ecosystem.

How is the MAJORITY of energy within an ecosystem lost?

Which of the following statements BEST describes the concept of NPP (Net Primary Production)?

The second law of thermodynamics states that

MOST energy on Earth comes from

For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture?

A forest has a gross primary productivity (GPP) of 3.8 kg C/m²/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m²/year. What is the net primary productivity (NPP)?

A forest has a gross primary productivity (GPP) of 3.8 kg C/m²/year and the rate of cellular respiration is 2.4 kg C/m²/year. What is the net primary productivity (NPP)?