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- 1. Multiple Choice
The diagram shows the amount of phosphorus measured in teragrams (1 teragram = 1×10^12) grams), in the various reservoirs of the phosphorus cycle. Which of the following is the best explanation for why there is such a small amount of phosphorus that moves into aquatic systems?
Phosphorus is highly stable in the atmosphere and remains there for long periods of time.
The amount of phosphorus in the cycle has been greatly reduced because of the use of catalytic converters in automobiles.
There is not a gaseous phase of the phosphorus cycle, and therefore the movement of phosphorus into oceanic reservoirs is very slow.
The phosphorus cycle occurs so rapidly that it does not exist in any one reservoir for a very long time.
- 2. Multiple Choice
According to the diagram, the movement of phosphorus between biological organisms and soil is in a steady state in an undisturbed system. Which of the following best explains the reason for this steady movement?
Phosphorus is taken up by plants during photosynthesis to create carbohydrates.
A decrease in buffer zones prevents phosphorus runoff in waterways.
There is a rapid influx of phosphorus from the weathering of rocks.
Readily available organic phosphorus in the soil is assimilated by plants.
- 3. Multiple Choice
Based on the diagram, which of the following reservoirs contains the most phosphorus?
Plants
Sediments
Soil
Oceans
- 4. Multiple Choice
The diagrams above show an area that was once a pasture that has since undergone changes to the vegetation over time. Which of the following changes in the hydrologic cycle is most likely to occur as a result of the change in vegetation in the area?
Increased infiltration
Increased runoff
Decreased transpiration
Decreased precipitation
- 5. Multiple Choice
Which letter correctly identifies the part of the hydrologic cycle that is most directly affected by impervious building materials, such as concrete and asphalt?
A
B
C
D
- 6. Multiple Choice
Which letter correctly identifies a process of the hydrologic cycle in which the phase of water is changed from a liquid to a gas?
A
B
C
D
- 7. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes gross primary productivity in an ecosystem?
Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy captured by producers plus the energy used by consumers over time.
Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy captured by producers minus the energy that producers respire over time.
Gross primary productivity is the total amount of energy lost as heat during energy transfer between trophic levels.
Gross primary productivity is the total amount of solar energy captured by producers through photosynthesis over time.
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the net primary productivity of an ecosystem?
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy captured by producers through photosynthesis over time.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost by producers through respiration over time.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost through respiration by producers subtracted from the gross primary productivity of an ecosystem.
Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost through respiration by producers added to the gross primary productivity of an ecosystem.
- 9. Multiple Choice
Scientists calculated the net primary productivity at two different forest sites. Both forests have the same gross primary productivity. Forest A has a net primary productivity of 1,650kcal/m^2/year, and forest B has a net primary productivity of 1,110kcal/m^2/year. Which of the following statements is best supported by the data?
Forest A has a higher rate of decomposition by bacteria than forest B.
Forest A has more biodiversity than forest B.
Forest A producers have lower rates of cellular respiration than forest B producers.
Forest A producers have more biomass than forest B producers.
- 10. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the movement of energy in an ecosystem?
Energy is constantly recycled by decomposers for use by producers.
Energy is harnessed by producers, and available energy decreases with each trophic level transfer.
Energy is absorbed by plants through water and soil and then moves up the food chain through consumers.
Energy is magnified as it moves up the trophic levels, and tertiary consumers store the most energy in a food web.
- 11. Multiple Choice
The table above shows the balanced chemical equations that represent three processes that are part of the nitrogen cycle. Which of the following is exemplified by the equations above?
Approximately 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next.
In a food web, energy flows and matter is cycled.
Each biogeochemical cycle demonstrates the conservation of matter.
The major reserve for nitrogen is in the atmosphere.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best explains why terrestrial trophic pyramids usually do not have levels higher than tertiary consumers?
Tertiary consumers are the largest organisms in an ecosystem and require the most space to survive.
Plants can only perform photosynthesis during the day, so tertiary consumers cannot get enough energy from consuming plants.
A large proportion of energy is lost as heat as it is transferred up the pyramid, so there is not enough energy available to support another level.
Tertiary consumers are often indicator species and are the first to be affected by environmental disturbances.
- 13. Multiple Choice
In a given ecosystem, producers convert solar energy into 15,000kcal of chemical energy stored in organic compounds. Which of the following is the most likely amount of energy available to secondary consumers?
1.5 kcal
150 kcal
1,500 kcal
13,500 kcal
- 14. Multiple Choice
Algae in an aquatic food chain convert solar energy into 93,000 kilocalories of plant tissue. Which of the following values best represents the amount of energy available for primary consumers in the food chain?
930 kilocalories
9,300 kilocalories
93,000 kilocalories
930,000 kilocalories
- 15. Multiple Choice
Algae in an aquatic food chain convert solar energy into 93,000 kilocalories of plant tissue. Which of the following values best represents the amount of energy available for secondary consumers in the food chain?
930 kilocalories
9,300 kilocalories
93,000 kilocalories
930,000 kilocalories
- 16. Multiple Choice
The X in a cell indicates that the organism is eaten by the consumer in the first column.
Based on the data in the table, which of the following pairs of organisms has two ecological relationships, both competition and predation?
Spiders and shrews
Hawks and snakes
Spiders and snakes
Spiders and grasshoppers
- 17. Multiple Choice
Which of the following categories of organisms, which are required for the cycling of matter in an ecosystem, is missing from the table?
Producers
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers
Decomposers
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