Multiple Choice Questions
M 1. The service least likely to be performed by the insect family is
a. plant reproduction.
b. plant pollination.
c. turning the soil.
d. chemosynthesis.
e. None of these answers.
The Nature of Ecology
M 2. The most fundamental (micro) unit of ecology is
a. a species
b. a population
c. a community
d. an ecosystem
e. an organism
M 3. The following choices list levels of organization of matter that claim the attention of ecologists. Which correctly lists these levels in sequence from narrower (micro) to broader (macro) focus?
a. organisms-populations-communities-ecosystems-ecosphere
b. organisms-communities-populations-ecosystems-ecosphere
c. organisms-populations-communities-ecosphere-ecosystems
d. ecosphere-ecosystems-communities-populations-organisms
e. ecosphere-populations-communities- ecosystems-organisms
The Earth's Life Support Systems
E 4. Submarines explore the
a. atmosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. biosphere.
d. hydrosphere.
e. troposphere
E 5. Where would a geologists collect rock and soil samples?
a. atmosphere
b. lithosphere
c. biosphere
d. hydrosphere
e. troposphere
E 6. Children fly kites in the
a. stratosphere.
b. lithosphere.
c. troposphere.
d. hydrosphere.
e. biosphere
M 7. Life on earth depends on interaction of gravity, the cycling of matter and
a. one-way flow of energy.
b. cycling of energy.
c. one-way flow of matter.
d. the destruction of matter.
e. the consumption of matter
D 8. Which of the following statements is false?
a. About one-third of the solar energy hitting the earth is immediately reflected back to space.
b. A spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emanates from the sun.
c. About one-third of the solar energy hitting the earth warms the land and lower atmosphere, runs cycles of matter, and generates winds.
d. Less than 1% of sunlight is captured via photosynthesis.
e. None of these answers.
Ecosystem Components
E 9. The most important factor in determining which biome is found in a particular area is
a. soil type.
b. topography.
c. magnetic fields.
d. climate.
e. longitude
M 10. All of the following are abiotic factors except
a. light.
b. temperature.
c. pH.
d. bacteria.
e. water
D 11. Which of the following statements is false?
a. The existence, abundance, and distribution of a species in an ecosystem are determined by whether the levels of one or more physical or chemical factors fall within the range tolerated by a species.
b. Organisms can adapt to slowly changing new conditions by acclimation.
c. Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population of a species in an ecosystem even if all other factors are at or near the optimum range of tolerance.
d. There is no such thing as too much fertilizer.
e. None of these answers
M 12. A factor for which a population might have a range of tolerance could be
a. light
b. temperature
c. pH
d. salinity
e. All of the above.
M 13. All of the following factors have strong effects on terrestrial ecosystems except
a. temperature.
b. precipitation.
c. nature of the soil.
d. dissolved oxygen.
e. None of these answers.
M 14 The zone in which no member of a population can live is called the
a. zone of intolerance
b. zone of physiological stress
c. lower limit of tolerance
d. upper limit of tolerance
e. optimum range
M 15. The most inclusive (broadest) components of the biotic portion of an ecosystem are
a. producers and consumers.
b. primary and secondary consumers.
c. herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
d. all nonliving chemicals or matter.
e. omnivores
M 16. Autotrophs
a. might eat heterotrophs.
b. are known as decomposers.
c. cannot do photosynthesis.
d. can live without heterotrophs.
e. are omnivores
M 17. Photosynthesis
a. converts glucose into energy and water.
b. requires the combustion of carbon.
c. produces carbon dioxide and oxygen gas.
d. yields glucose and oxygen gas as products.
e. yields glucose and carbon dioxide gas as products
M 18. You are a scientist intrigued by organisms that can create complex molecules through chemosynthesis. The habitat you are most likely to visit is
a. an island paradise.
b. an inland sand dune.
c. a hydrothermal vent.
d. a prairie.
e. a forest
M 19. All of the following live off remains or wastes of organisms except
a. omnivores.
b. decomposers.
c. scavengers.
d. detritivores.
e. None of these answers.
D 20. In the field, you observe a lion chase, kill, and eat a gazelle. A vulture pecks away at the left over meat scraps. Beetles attack the remaining fragments. Finally, bacteria complete the breakdown and recycling of organic material. If you were to apply a general classification to the feeders, what would be the correct sequence?
a. decomposer—>scavenger—>detritus feeder—>carnivore
b. carnivore—>detritus feeder—>scavenger—>decomposer
c. carnivore—>scavenger—>detritus feeder—>decomposer
d. carnivore—>scavenger—>decomposer—>detritus feeder
e. decomposer—> detritus feeder—> scavenger —>carnivore
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
M 21. Most of the energy input in a food chain is
a. in the form of heat.
b. converted to biomass.
c. recycled as it reaches the chain's end.
d. degraded to low-quality heat.
e. converted to carbon dioxide
M 22. Which of the following would be considered a tertiary consumer?
a. phytoplankton
b. zooplankton
c. osprey
d. jellyfish
e. sea slugs
M 23. If the ecological efficiency at each trophic level of a particular ecosystem is 20% and the green plants of the ecosystem capture 100 units of energy, about _____ units of energy will be available to support herbivores, and about _____ units of energy will be available to support carnivores.
a. 120 . . . 140
b. 120. . . 240
c. 20. . . 2
d. 20. . . 4
e. 20 . . .1
M 24. Which of the following ecosystems has the lowest level of kilocalories per square meter per year?
a. open ocean
b. tropical rain forest
c. agricultural land
d. lakes and streams
e. temperate forest
M 25. Which of the following ecosystems has the highest average net primary productivity?
a. agricultural land
b. open ocean
c. temperate forest
d. swamps and marshes
e. lakes and streams
Soil: A Renewable Resource
M 26. A cross-sectional view of the ___ in a soil is properly termed a soil ____.
a. horizons . . . profile
b. horizons . . . sample
c. profile . . . sample
d. surface litter . . . profile
e. profile … horizon.
M 27. Topsoil contains all of the following except
a. plant roots.
b. humus.
c. freshly fallen leaves.
d. some inorganic minerals.
e. bacteria
M 28. Freshly fallen leaves, organic debris, and partially decomposed organic matter are indicative of the
a. surface litter.
b. zone of leaching.
c. parent material.
d. subsoil.
e. humus
M 29. The dissolving of material from the upper layers of the soil and its movement to lower horizons is called
a. percolation.
b. weathering.
c. accumulation.
d. leaching.
e. humus
M 30. Humus is
a. indicative of poor soils.
b. light colored or nearly white.
c. poisonous to soil microorganisms.
d. partially decomposed organic matter.
e. freshly, fallen leaves.
E 31. Topsoil that is ____ in color is the most highly fertile.
a. gray
b. red
c. dark brown or black
d. yellow
e. green.
M 32. Properties of sand do not include good
a. nutrient-holding capacity.
b. water infiltration.
c. percolation.
d. aeration.
Matter Cycling in Ecosystems
M 33. The hydrologic cycle is driven primarily by
a. solar energy and gravity.
b. solar energy and the moon.
c. solar energy and mechanical energy.
d. mechanical and chemical energy.
e. chemical energy from the moon
M 34. Of the following processes of the water cycle, the one working against gravity is
a. percolation.
b. infiltration.
c. runoff.
d. transpiration.
e. precipitation
M 35. Humans strongly affect the hydrologic cycle through all of the following except
a. water withdrawal in heavily populated areas.
b. clearing vegetation for agriculture.
c. boiling water.
d. paving roads and parking lots.
e. creating housing developments.
E 36. Water covers about ____% of earth's surface.
a. 54
b. 64
c. 74
d. 84
e. 94
M 37. Humans are most likely to alter the earth's thermostat through their impact on the compound
a. carbon dioxide.
b. nitrogen gas.
c. phosphate.
d. hydrogen sulfide.
e. water
M 38. Carbon is a major component of
a. atmospheric gases.
b. sedimentary rocks.
c. the oceans.
d. organic compounds.
e. water cycle
D 39. All of the following increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere except
a. respiration.
b. photosynthesis.
c. combustion.
d. decomposition.
e. None of these answers.
M 40. Transfer of carbon between organisms depends primarily on
a. fuel combustion and decomposition.
b. photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
c. soil bacteria and precipitation.
d. volcanic activity and organic decay.
e. the rock cycle
D 42. The two ways in which humans have most interfered with the carbon cycle are
a. removal of forests and aerobic respiration.
b. aerobic respiration and burning fossil fuels.
c. respiration and photosynthesis.
d. burning fossil fuels and removal of forests and brush.
e. respiration and removal of forests
M 43. Nitrogen is a major component of all of
the following except
a. proteins.
b. nucleic acids.
c. ammonia.
d. groundwater.
e. DNA
M 44. Nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria would be expected to occur on the roots of
a. pine trees.
b. roses.
c. legumes.
d. grasses.
e. oak trees
M 45. The form of nitrogen most usable to plants is
a. ammonia.
b. nitrogen gas.
c. proteins.
d. nitrates.
e. nitrites.
M 46. Inorganic nitrogen-containing ions are converted into organic molecules through
a. nitrification.
b. nitrogen fixation.
c. denitrification.
d. assimilation.
e. leaching
M 47. Nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas through the process of
a. nitrification.
b. nitrogen fixation.
c. denitrification.
d. assimilation.
e. leaching
D 48. When nitrogen is added to aquatic systems, it is least likely to result in
a. depletion of oxygen in the water.
b. stimulated algae growth.
c. immediate decrease in gross primary productivity.
d. fish kills.
e. anoxic conditions
M 49. Which of the following is not one of the common phosphorous reservoirs in the ecosystem?
a. soil
b. organisms
c. atmosphere
d. rocks
e. marine sediment