Question 1

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month.While you are collecting data,a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration.What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Accepted Answer

A)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed in plant material by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and add that amount to the total nitrogen in the ecosystem.
B)  Find out how much nitrogen is eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period, multiply this number by 100, and subtract that amount from the total nitrogen in the ecosystem.
C)  Find out how much nitrogen is consumed and eliminated by a Canada goose over about a 12-hour period and multiply this number by 100; enter this +/- value into the nitrogen budget of the ecosystem.
D)  Do nothing. The Canada geese visitation to the lake would have negligible impact on the nitrogen budget of the pond.
E)  Put a net over the pond so that no more migrating flocks can land on the pond and alter the nitrogen balance of the pond.F) B) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 2

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square metre?

Accepted Answer

A)  a salt marsh
B)  an open ocean
C)  a coral reef
D)  a grassland
E)  a tropical rain forestF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

Which statement most accurately describes how matter and energy are used in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Matter is cycled through ecosystems; energy is not.
B)  Energy is cycled through ecosystems; matter is not.
C)  Energy can be converted into matter; matter cannot be converted into energy.
D)  Matter can be converted into energy; energy cannot be converted into matter.
E)  Matter is used in ecosystems; energy is not.F) A) and B)
G) C) and E)

Question 4

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photosynthetic organisms absorb more visible light in the 350-750 wavelengths.
B)  Satellite instruments can detect reflectance patterns of the photosynthetic organisms of different ecosystems.
C)  Sensitive satellite instruments can measure the amount of NADPH produced in the summative light reactions of different ecosystems.
D)  Satellites detect differences by comparing the wavelengths of light captured and reflected by photoautotrophs to the amount of light reaching different ecosystems.
E)  Satellites detect differences by measuring the amount of water vapour emitted by transpiring producers.F) C) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 5

Two key strategies in biological restoration include

Accepted Answer

A)  reversing the damage, adding fertilizer.
B)  removing dams, increasing water flow.
C)  adding soil, planting trees.
D)  bioremediation, biological augmentation.
E)  removing toxic soil, introducing fungi.F) B) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 6

During a year,plants never use 100% of the incoming solar radiation for photosynthesis.What is a reasonable explanation for this?
I.Plants cannot photosynthesize as well during winter (in cold winter climates) .
II.Plants cannot photosynthesize as well on cloudy days.
III.The pigments that drive photosynthesis respond to only a fraction of the wavelengths that are available.

Accepted Answer

A)  only I
B)  only II
C)  only III
D)  I, II, and IIIE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

Aquatic primary productivity is most limited by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  light and nutrient availability
B)  predation by primary consumers
C)  increased pressure with depth
D)  pollution
E)  temperatureF) C) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 8

Aquatic ecosystems are least likely to be limited by which of the following nutrients?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen
B)  carbon
C)  phosphorus
D)  iron
E)  zincF) All of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 9

Gross primary production

Accepted Answer

A)  is equal to NPP - respiration of autotrophs.
B)  is about half of NPP.
C)  is the total biomass of all photosynthetic autotrophs.
D)  is the total energy from light converted to chemical energy of organic molecules per unit time.
E)  is not as important as net primary production.F) A) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 10

To recycle nutrients,an ecosystem must have,at a minimum,

Accepted Answer

A)  producers.
B)  producers and decomposers.
C)  producers, primary consumers, and decomposers.
D)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers.
E)  producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, top carnivores, and decomposers.F) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 11

Why is net primary production (NPP) a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  NPP can be expressed in energy/unit of area/unit of time.
B)  NPP can be expressed in terms of carbon fixed by photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem.
C)  NPP represents the stored chemical energy that is available to consumers in the ecosystem.
D)  NPP is the same as the standing crop.
E)  NPP shows the rate at which the standing crop is utilized by consumers.F) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 12

Secondary consumers that can eat only primary consumers receive what percentage of the energy fixed by primary producers in a typical field ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A)  0) 1%
B)  1%
C)  10%
D)  20%
E)  80%F) All of the above
G) C) and D)

Question 13

Use the following figure to answer the questions below.
 
-On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle,which number represents nitrite (NO₂) ?

Accepted Answer

A)  1
B)  2
C)  3
D)  4E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 14

How can biodiversity affect the way we decontaminate industrial sites?
I.Bacteria have been found to be able to detoxify certain chemicals; perhaps there are more.
II.Trees produce sawdust,which can be used to soak up chemicals.
III.Species evolving in contaminated areas could adapt and detoxify the area.

Accepted Answer

A)  only I
B)  only II
C)  only III
D)  only II and IIIE) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 15

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems,yet net primary productivity per square metre is relatively low?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oceans contain greater concentrations of nutrients compared to other ecosystems.
B)  Oceans receive a lesser amount of solar energy per unit area.
C)  Oceans have the largest area of all the ecosystems on Earth.
D)  Ocean ecosystems have less species diversity.
E)  Oceanic producers are generally much smaller than oceanic consumers.F) B) and C)
G) B) and D)

Question 16

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created,yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem.What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chemoautotrophic organisms can convert matter to energy.
B)  Matter can be moved in/out of an ecosystem from/to another ecosystem.
C)  Photosynthetic organisms convert solar energy to sugars.
D)  Detrivores convert matter to energy.
E)  Heterotrophs convert heat to energy.F) D) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 17

The following questions refer to the description below.
Fynbos are endemic shrubs found in the Cape province of South Africa.A small botanical region known as the Cape Floral Kingdom,is one of the richest areas in the world in terms of plant diversity.Fynbos shrubs,readily recognized by their small,hard,tough,leathery leaves,are well adapted to summer droughts,nutrient-poor soils,and periodic fires.The fynbos shrub community plays a key role in maintaining a regional supply of water.In recent decades,exotic plant species,such as acacia trees from Australia and pine trees from Europe,have been introduced to South Africa and have invaded the fynbos.Researchers are now observing that stream flow from fynbos watersheds is inversely proportional to plant biomass and natural fire cycles have changed.
-Restoration ecology projects,including the removal of exotic species from the fynbos shrub community described above,are important because

Accepted Answer

A)  they target many species that have low genetic variation.
B)  fire is a threat to many restored ecosystems.
C)  many habitats that are part of ecology restoration projects are those that have been highly degraded and cannot return to their natural state without human intervention.
D)  areas that are being restored are those most threatened by global warming.
E)  practices such as captive propagation are not as successful as they were predicted to be.F) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 18

Consider the food chain grass → grasshopper → mouse → snake → hawk.How much of the chemical energy fixed by photosynthesis of the grass (100%) is available to the hawk?

Accepted Answer

A)  0) 01%
B)  0) 1%
C)  1%
D)  10%
E)  60%F) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 19

Which of these ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity per square metre?

Accepted Answer

A)  savanna
B)  open ocean
C)  boreal forest
D)  tropical rain forest
E)  temperate forestF) B) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 20

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  population viability analysis.
B)  landscape ecology.
C)  conservation ecology.
D)  restoration ecology.
E)  resource conservation.F) A) and B)
G) C) and E)

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Correct Answer
verified

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created,yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem.What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square metre?

Correct Answer
verified

Why is net primary production (NPP) a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP) ?

Correct Answer
verified

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement most accurately describes how matter and energy are used in ecosystems?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems,yet net primary productivity per square metre is relatively low?

Correct Answer
verified

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month.While you are collecting data,a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration.What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Correct Answer
verified

Aquatic ecosystems are least likely to be limited by which of the following nutrients?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Secondary consumers that can eat only primary consumers receive what percentage of the energy fixed by primary producers in a typical field ecosystem?

Correct Answer
verified

Two key strategies in biological restoration include

Correct Answer
verified

Gross primary production

Correct Answer
verified

Which of these ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity per square metre?

Correct Answer
verified

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Correct Answer
verified

Aquatic primary productivity is most limited by which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle,which number represents nitrite (NO₂) ?

Correct Answer
verified

Consider the food chain grass → grasshopper → mouse → snake → hawk.How much of the chemical energy fixed by photosynthesis of the grass (100%) is available to the hawk?

Correct Answer
verified

To recycle nutrients,an ecosystem must have,at a minimum,

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 55: Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created,yet matter is sometimes gained or lost to an ecosystem.What is the reason for this seeming contradiction?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these ecosystems has the lowest net primary production per square metre?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why is net primary production (NPP) a more useful measurement to an ecosystem ecologist than gross primary production (GPP) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The discipline that applies ecological principles to returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state is known as

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement most accurately describes how matter and energy are used in ecosystems?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How is it that the open ocean produces the highest net primary productivity of Earth's ecosystems,yet net primary productivity per square metre is relatively low?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Suppose you are studying the nitrogen cycling in a pond ecosystem over the course of a month.While you are collecting data,a flock of 100 Canada geese lands and spends the night during a fall migration.What could you do to eliminate error in your study as a result of this event?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Aquatic ecosystems are least likely to be limited by which of the following nutrients?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Secondary consumers that can eat only primary consumers receive what percentage of the energy fixed by primary producers in a typical field ecosystem?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Two key strategies in biological restoration include

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gross primary production

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these ecosystems has the highest net primary productivity per square metre?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How is it that satellites can detect differences in primary productivity on Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Aquatic primary productivity is most limited by which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Use the following figure to answer the questions below. -On the diagram of the nitrogen cycle,which number represents nitrite (NO₂) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Consider the food chain grass → grasshopper → mouse → snake → hawk.How much of the chemical energy fixed by photosynthesis of the grass (100%) is available to the hawk?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To recycle nutrients,an ecosystem must have,at a minimum,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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