1
Created by Boundless
A fire breaks out in a temperature grassland. Although it appears at first that
almost all life has been destroyed, the grassland appears unchanged the following
year. This is an example of:
A
ecosystem resistance
B
ecosystem equilibrium
C
ecosystem decomposition
D
ecosystem resilience
2
Created by Boundless
Which of the following correctly describes the flow of energy through a food web?
A
energy is lost as it is transferred between trophic levels
B
there is unlimited number of trophic energy transfers
C
energy a maximum of three trophic levels
D
energy is recycled as it is transferred between trophic
levels
3
Created by Boundless
Which model best predicts the effects of environmental disturbances?
A
analytical model
B
simulation model
C
holistic ecosystem model
D
conceptual model
4
Created by Boundless
Which of the following statements describes the difference between microcosms
and mesocosms?
A
microcosms are partitions of ecosystems; mesocosms are
re-creations of ecosystems
B
microcosms are produced by complex algorithms;
mesocosms are produced by simple formulas
C
mesocosms are produced by complex algorithms;
microcosms are produced by simple formulas
D
mesocosms are partitions of ecosystems; microcosms are
re-creations of ecosystems
5
Created by Boundless
A scientist wants to predict the levels of the nutrient nitrogen (N) as it moves up a
food chain after an environmental disturbance. Which model would be the best
predictor of linear components of ecosystems?
6
A
a conceptual model
B
an analytical model
C
all of the above
D
a simulation model
Created by Boundless
A scientist creates a conceptual model of the water cycle. Which of the following
most accurately describes how the scientist would create the diagram?
A
all of the organisms and resources would be put into a
table
B
arrows would illustrate the transfer of water between
different mathematical equations
C
organisms and resources are grouped into compartments,
while arrows show the transfer of water
D
organisms and resources are grouped into a linear chain of
compartments
7
Created by Boundless
A diagram shows grass at the bottom, then a rabbit, then a hawk, in ascending
order. There are arrows between them, pointing upward. This diagram shows a:
A
food web
B
food chain
C
nutrient cycle
D
trophic pyramid
8
Created by Boundless
Food webs are examples of _____, while flow charts are examples of _____.
A
simulation models; analytical models
B
holistic ecosystem models; analytical models
C
holistic ecosystem models; conceptual models
D
9
simulation models; experimental models
Created by Boundless
If an ecosystem is in equilibrium, which of the following is true?
A
the ecosystem is equally affected by external and internal
factors
B
the ecosystem is consistent and contains very little
variation
C
energy flows through both abiotic and biotic factors within
the ecosystem
D
the ecosystem is both resistant and resilient to
disturbances
10
Created by Boundless
Fill in the blank. Ecological/trophic pyramids are a good way to illustrate energy
needs in an ecosystem. This is because the energy is ______ as it passes from one
trophic level to the next.
11
A
gained and then lost
B
constant
C
gained
D
lost
Created by Boundless
Why do grasslands typically exhibit an upright pyramid shape during the summer?
There are more primary producers than primary
A
There are more primary producers than primary
consumers.
B
Organisms at the top of the pyramid are subject to greater
predation.
C
The number of organisms increases at each trophic level.
D
There are more primary consumers than primary
producers.
12
Created by Boundless
Organisms that can make their own food using inorganic molecules are called
_____, while organisms that make their own food using light energy are called
_____.
A
photoautotrophs; chemoautotrophs
B
heterotrophs; photoautotrophs
C
heterotrophs; chemoautotrophs
D
chemoautotrophs; photoautotrophs
13
Created by Boundless
The English Channel ecosystem has an inverted shape because the ______.
A
lack of productivity of primary producers
B
primary producers have a low turnover rate
C
primary consumers have a high turnover rate
D
primary producers have a high turnover rate
14
Created by Boundless
Which of the following is a result of biomagnification?
A
organisms at the lowest trophic levels are unaffected by
toxic substances
B
toxic substances are brought through the ecosystem by
the apex consumers
C
organisms at the highest trophic levels accumulate the
greatest amount of toxic substances
D
all of these answers
15
Created by Boundless
Which of the following about the energy transfer between trophic levels is true?
A
Endotherms utilize energy more efficiently than ectotherms.
B
Ectotherms utilize energy more efficiently than endotherms.
C
Energy can only be transferred once within a food chain.
D
There is an infinite number of energy transfers within a food
chain.
16
Created by Boundless
The rate at which photosynthetic primary producers incorporate solar energy is
referred to as ______, while the energy that remains in the primary producers
following respiration and heat loss is referred to as ______.
A
net primary productivity; gross primary productivity
B
gross primary productivity; net primary productivity
C
biomass; gross primary productivity
D
photoautotrophy; chemoautotrophy
17
Created by Boundless
Ammonification is the process by which _____.
A
nitrogenous wastes from living and dead animals are
converted to ammonium
B
ammonium is converted to nitrites and nitrates by nitrifying
bacteria
C
gaseous nitrogen is fixed to produce ammonia
D
nitrates are converted into nitrogen gas so they can enter
the atmosphere
18
Created by Boundless
The biogeochemical cycle can be described as which of the following?
19
A
release of minerals into the atmosphere by the burning of
fossil fuels
B
weathering, erosion, water drainage, and the subduction of
the continental plates
C
movement of mineral nutrients through the hydrosphere
D
movement of mineral nutrients and water through
organisms and their environment
Created by Boundless
What happens to water molecules after energy from the sun warms the water's
surface?
A
water precipitates, evaporates, and then condenses
B
water sublimates, evaporates, and then precipitates
C
water precipitates, condenses, and then sublimates
D
water evaporates, condenses, and then precipitates
20
Created by Boundless
Which of the following is a function of the hydrologic cycle?
A
keeps water locked in the earth's surface
B
replenishes the earth with fresh water
C
all of these answers
D
increases water's residence time
21
Created by Boundless
Dead zones are caused by which of the following?
A
depletion of phosphorus from marine ecosystems
B
depletion of nitrogen from marine ecosystems
C
the movement of phosphorus from marine ecosystems to
land
D
excess phosphorus entering marine ecosystems
22
Created by Boundless
Which of the following about the phosphorus cycle is true?
A
the main goal of the phosphorus cycle is to remove excess
phosphorus from the atmosphere
B
phosphates can only enter the atmosphere via synthetic
fertilizers
C
the movement of phosphates from the ocean to land is
extremely rapid
D
phosphates can enter the atmosphere through the
weathering of rocks
23
Created by Boundless
Which of the following is true about the sulfur cycle?
A
it is a major producer of acid rain
B
all of these answers are true
C
the burning of fossil fuels hinders the sulfur cycle
D
sulfur can only enter the atmosphere via precipitation and
fallout
24
Created by Boundless
Which of the following describes the difference between the biological and
biogeochemical carbon cycles?
A
The biological cycle occurs at a more rapid rate than the
biogeochemical cycle.
B
The biogeochemical cycle occurs among heterotrophs; the
biological cycle occurs among autotrophs.
C
The biological cycle occurs via decomposition; the
biogeochemical cycle occurs via respiration.
D
The biogeochemical cycle occurs at a more rapid rate than
the biogeochemical cycle.
25
Created by Boundless
How is carbon stored in the soil?
A
in bicarbonate ions
B
from the decomposition of living organisms
C
through the raising of livestock
D
through pockets of carbon stored between tectonic plates