Materials to Study:
Unit Study Guide
Energy Transformations Lecture Notes
Carbon Cycle Lecture Notes
Nitrogen Cycle Webquest Notes
Phosphorus Cycle Lecture Notes
Homework Reading Notes
Previous Self Quizzes (Can be found on wikispace)
The term “primary consumer” is used to define
an organism that…
a) eats only plants for energy.
b) eats only animals for energy.
c) makes its own food for energy.
d) doesn’t need any food for energy.
The term “primary consumer” is used to define
an organism that…
a) eats only plants for energy.
b) eats only animals for energy.
c) makes its own food for energy.
d) doesn’t need any food for energy.
In a hypothetical food chain consisting of grass,
grasshoppers, sparrows, and hawks, the
grasshoppers are…
a) primary consumers
b) primary producers
c) secondary consumers
d) secondary producers
In a hypothetical food chain consisting of grass,
grasshoppers, sparrows, and hawks, the
grasshoppers are…
a) primary consumers
b) primary producers
c) secondary consumers
d) secondary producers
Photosynthesis is the process in which plants
convert _____ energy to _____ energy.
a. chemical… solar
b. heat… chemical
c. solar… chemical
d. chemical… heat
Photosynthesis is the process in which plants
convert _____ energy to _____ energy.
a. chemical… solar
b. heat… chemical
c. solar… chemical
d. chemical… heat
Which of the following is a reactant for
photosynthesis?
a. glucose
b. water
c. oxygen
d. hydrocarbon
Which of the following is a reactant for
photosynthesis?
a. glucose
b. water
c. oxygen
d. hydrocarbon
Which of the following steps would most likely
be associated with the following reaction:
CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O?
B
A
D
C
Which of the following steps would most likely
be associated with the following reaction:
CH4 + O2  CO2 + H2O?
B
A
D
C
Your biology teacher takes fish, algae, pond weed,
invertebrates, and bottom muck from a local pond and
establishes them in an aquarium. When the system is
stable, the teacher seals it into a large, airtight glass
box and leaves the box in a sunny location. After three
months, the organisms in the aquarium appear alive
and healthy. Which of the following statements about
the experiment is true?
a) No energy has entered or left the glass box during
the three months.
b) Some of the energy in the system has moved from
one organism to another during the three months.
c) The air in the glass box contains no carbon dioxide.
d) The air in the glass box contains no oxygen.
Your biology teacher takes fish, algae, pond weed,
invertebrates, and bottom muck from a local pond and
establishes them in an aquarium. When the system is
stable, the teacher seals it into a large, airtight glass
box and leaves the box in a sunny location. After three
months, the organisms in the aquarium appear alive
and healthy. Which of the following statements about
the experiment is true?
a) No energy has entered or left the glass box during
the three months.
b) Some of the energy in the system has moved from
one organism to another during the three months.
c) The air in the glass box contains no carbon dioxide.
d) The air in the glass box contains no oxygen.
Which of the following pathways is available in
the carbon cycle?
a. deep ocean  soil
b. atmosphere  land plants
c. soil  primary consumer
d. land plants  marine life
Which of the following pathways is available in
the carbon cycle?
a. deep ocean  soil
b. atmosphere  land plants
c. soil  primary consumer
d. land plants  marine life
Which of the following reservoirs in the nitrogen
cycle is abiotic?
a. ocean
b. plants
c. atmosphere
d. animals
Which of the following reservoirs in the nitrogen
cycle is abiotic?
a. ocean
b. plants
c. atmosphere
d. animals
Which of the following is a producer?
a. a cow
b. a mushroom
c. a beetle
d. an oak tree
Which of the following is a producer?
a. a cow
b. a mushroom
c. a beetle
d. an oak tree
Which of the following represents a step in the
nitrogen cycle?
a) nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric
nitrogen to nitrates
b) nitrites bind to soil particles
c) nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric
nitrogen to ammonium
d) nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to
atmospheric nitrogen
Which of the following represents a step in the
nitrogen cycle?
a) nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric
nitrogen to nitrates
b) nitrites bind to soil particles
c) nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric
nitrogen to ammonium
d) nitrifying bacteria convert ammonium to
atmospheric nitrogen
Which of the following forms does nitrogen take
as it cycles through out planet?
a. N2
b. nitrate
c. NH4+
d. all of the above
Which of the following forms does nitrogen take
as it cycles through out planet?
a. N2
b. nitrate
c. NH4+
d. all of the above
In general, the amount of biomass (energy) is
reduced by ____ as you move from one trophic
level to the next.
a. 1%
b. 10%
c. 50%
d. 90%
In general, the amount of biomass (energy) is
reduced by ____ as you move from one trophic
level to the next.
a. 1%
b. 10%
c. 50%
d. 90%
Given that CO2 is produced by cellular
respiration, why does the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere remain relatively constant? (When
answering this question, exclude the impact of
human industrial activities on atmospheric CO2.)
a) CO2 is consumed by photosynthesis to
produce carbohydrates.
b) CO2 is consumed by decomposers.
c) CO2 mostly forms carbonate rocks.
d) CO2 is trapped in dead organisms' bodies.
Given that CO2 is produced by cellular
respiration, why does the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere remain relatively constant? (When
answering this question, exclude the impact of
human industrial activities on atmospheric CO2.)
a) CO2 is consumed by photosynthesis to
produce carbohydrates.
b) CO2 is consumed by decomposers.
c) CO2 mostly forms carbonate rocks.
d) CO2 is trapped in dead organisms' bodies.
In a balanced ecosystem you would expect to
see the biomass of the _____ to be greater than
the biomass of any other group of organisms.
a. producers
b. primary consumers
c. secondary consumers
d. top predators
In a balanced ecosystem you would expect to
see the biomass of the _____ to be greater than
the biomass of any other group of organisms.
a. producers
b. primary consumers
c. secondary consumers
d. top predators
Organisms are classified into trophic levels
according to ______.
a. where they live.
b. the source of their nutrients.
c. how much they weigh.
d. all of the above
Organisms are classified into trophic levels
according to ______.
a. where they live.
b. the source of their nutrients.
c. how much they weigh.
d. all of the above
Energy _______ an ecosystem.
a. flows through
b. cycles within
c. only enters
d. only exits
Energy _______ an ecosystem.
a. flows through
b. cycles within
c. only enters
d. only exits
The atmosphere contains ____ which is needed
for photosynthesis.
a. nitrogen
b. oxygen
c. carbon dioxide
d. all of the above
The atmosphere contains ____ which is needed
for photosynthesis.
a. nitrogen
b. oxygen
c. carbon dioxide
d. all of the above
Which of the following is true about the
phosphorus cycle?
a. It enters the atmosphere.
b. Weathering of sedimentary rock makes
phosphate available.
c. Phosphates are incorporated into organisms’
proteins.
d. all of the above
Which of the following is true about the
phosphorus cycle?
a. It enters the atmosphere.
b. Weathering of sedimentary rock makes
phosphate available.
c. Phosphates are incorporated into organisms’
proteins.
d. all of the above
Which of the following is contributing to an
overload of the carbon cycle?
a. photosynthesis
b. cellular respiration
c. deforestation
d. both B and C
Which of the following is contributing to an
overload of the carbon cycle?
a. photosynthesis
b. cellular respiration
c. deforestation
d. both B and C
The conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas is
called…
a. nitrogen fixation
b. denitrification
c. nitrification
d. ammonification
The conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas is
called…
a. nitrogen fixation
b. denitrification
c. nitrification
d. ammonification
The most abundant element in the atmosphere
is _____.
a. carbon
b. oxygen
c. hydrogen
d. nitrogen
The most abundant element in the atmosphere
is _____.
a. carbon
b. oxygen
c. hydrogen
d. nitrogen
Phosphorus is needed for the synthesis of…
a. proteins
b. carbohydrates
c. DNA
d. glucose
Phosphorus is needed for the synthesis of…
a. proteins
b. carbohydrates
c. DNA
d. glucose
Which of the following best defines a
population?
a. an assemblage of all the populations of organisms
living close enough for potential interaction
b. a group of individuals of the same species living in
a particular geographic area
c. the way in which individuals are spaced in their
environment
d. competition between individuals of the same
species for limited resources
Which of the following best defines a population?
a. an assemblage of all the populations of
organisms living close enough for potential
interaction (this defines an ecosystem)
b. a group of individuals of the same species living
in a particular geographic area
c. the way in which individuals are spaced in their
environment (this defines dispersion pattern)
d. competition between individuals of the same
species for limited resources (this you have not learned)
The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is characterized
by its extremely low levels of ____ in the water.
a. nutrients
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. carbon dioxide
The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is characterized
by its extremely low levels of ____ in the water.
a. nutrients
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. carbon dioxide
Which of the following nutrients can be a
limiting nutrient because of plants' inability to
use its gaseous form?
a. hydrogen
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. carbon
Which of the following nutrients can be a
limiting nutrient because of plants' inability to
use its gaseous form?
a. hydrogen
b. oxygen
c. nitrogen
d. carbon
Which of the following ecological problems
might results from fertilizing a golf course with
nitrogen-rich fertilizer?
a. Poisoning of the grass caused by excess nitrogen.
b. Heavy growth of algae in lakes and rivers cause by
nitrogen runoff.
c. Accumulation of toxic levels of nitrogen in animals
in the area, especially those higher on the food
chain.
d. A slowdown in the soil erosion that releases
nitrogen into the water.
Which of the following ecological problems
might results from fertilizing a golf course with
nitrogen-rich fertilizer?
a. Poisoning of the grass caused by excess nitrogen.
b. Heavy growth of algae in lakes and rivers cause by
nitrogen runoff.
c. Accumulation of toxic levels of nitrogen in animals
in the area, especially those higher on the food
chain.
d. A slowdown in the soil erosion that releases
nitrogen into the water.
A student wanted to design an experiment to
determine the effect of nitrates on algae
growth. Which procedure would create the
most valid results?
a. Vary both the temperature and the amount
of nitrates.
b. Keep the temperature constant and vary the
amount of nitrates.
c. Vary the temperature and keep the amount
of nitrates constant.
d. Keep both the temperature and the amount
of nitrates constant.
A student wanted to design an experiment to
determine the effect of nitrates on algae
growth. Which procedure would create the
most valid results?
a. Vary both the temperature and the amount
of nitrates.
b. Keep the temperature constant and vary the
amount of nitrates.
c. Vary the temperature and keep the amount
of nitrates constant.
d. Keep both the temperature and the amount
of nitrates constant.
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
a) Biomass
b) Coal
c) Natural Gas
d) Propane
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
a) Biomass
b) Coal
c) Natural Gas
d) Propane
A. Annual nitrate concentrations have
increased over time.
B. Stream flow has remained constant over
time.
C. The biggest source of nitrates is the area
farthest from the Gulf of Mexico.
D. Only A and C.
E. A, B, and C are true.
A.(take a look at a map if you
are unsure about letter C)
A. Annual nitrate concentrations have
increased over time.
B. Stream flow has remained constant over
time.
C. The biggest source of nitrates is the area
farthest from the Gulf of Mexico.
D. Only A and C.
E. A, B, and C are true.
Using the image of the nitrogen cycle below, label
which process is taking place at each letter.
A: Denitrification
B: Consumption
C: Nitrification
D: Nitrogen Fixation
Using the carbon cycle diagram, identify what
is occurring at each letter.
A
E
B
C
D
Using the carbon cycle diagram, identify what
is occurring at each letter.
A: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
B: Cellular Respiration
C: Photosynthesis
A
D: Decomposition
E
B
E: Combustion
D
C
Write three
conclusions
that can be
made from
this graph.
Two Example Conclusions:
1.All towns shown have
seen an increase in
nitrates in the water from
1905 to 1980.
2.Cedar, Iowa experienced
the highest concentrations
of nitrate in the rivers in
1980 – 1996.
Note: There are multiple
answers to this question.


Use the images provided to describe the
process OR to compare and contrast ideas.
Some images have corresponding captions
for your convenience.