Biology (Raven), 9th Edition

Chapter 58: Dynamics of Ecosystems

Post-Test

1
Which of the following statements about the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles is NOT true?
A)Phosphorus does not cycle through the atmosphere, while nitrogen does.
B)Nitrogen found in urine which is released by mammals into the soil has to be converted into a usable form by microbes.
C)Weathering of rocks releases phosphates but not nitrogen-containing compounds into terrestrial environments.
D)Phosphorus exists in a single oxidation state, while nitrogen exists in several different chemical forms.
E)Decomposition of animal and plant tissues releases usable phosphates and nitrogen-containing compounds that plants and algae can use.
2
In terrestrial ecosystems, the vast majority of moisture in the air gets there from
A)transpiration by plants.
B)photosynthesis by plants.
C)exhalation by animals.
D)sweating by animals.
E)evaporation from swimming pools.
3
The single greatest reservoir for freshwater in the United States is
A)glaciers.
B)springs.
C)rivers and streams.
D)lakes and ponds.
E)groundwater.
4
Which of the following reservoirs contains the most carbon on a global basis?
A)the atmosphere
B)the oceans
C)fossil fuels
D)they all contain equally large amounts.
E)none of them contain carbon.
5
The limiting nutrient in two-thirds of the oceans and in many terrestrial ecosystems is which of the following?
A)Carbon
B)Oxygen
C)Nitrogen
D)Phosphorus
E)Iron
6
Approximately what percentage of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen gas?
A)0%
B)0.03%
C)10%
D)52%
E)78%
7
Why is the nitrogen cycle particularly complicated?
A)It involves more steps than the other cycles.
B)Nitrogen is used in so many compounds in an animal's body.
C)Because bacteria are involved in some stages.
D)Because it involves multiple changes in the chemical form of nitrogen.
E)all of these are true.
8
How is it possible to get an inverted pyramid of biomass (e.g. biomass of copepods greater than that of algae)?
A)It is not possible.
B)It's possible if each individual primary producer is very rich in energy.
C)It's possible if the system is very productive and the primary producer is consumed as it is produced.
D)This is the usual condition.
E)While possible, we are at a loss to explain it.
9
Why would increasing the amount of sunlight increase carnivore biomass?
A)Carnivores would be able to see their prey better.
B)It will increase the amount of energy, and therefore the amount of biomass, in the system.
C)There will be a smaller percentage of energy wasted in the system.
D)More than one of these is correct.
10
Using the theory of island biogeography, predict the number of species you would find on a small island near the mainland versus the number of species on a large island far from the mainland.
A)The large island would have more species.
B)The small island would have more species.
C)They would both have approximately the same number of species.
D)It would depend on the actual sizes of the islands and their actual distances from the mainland.
E)The actual rates of colonization and extinction would have to be known.
11
Consider the biogeochemical cycle of water. Since it is a compound and not an element, what two processes should be in approximate balance to give a relatively constant amount of water in the biosphere?
A)transpiration/condensation
B)evaporation/precipitation
C)cellular respiration/photosynthesis
D)photosynthesis/transpiration
E)precipitation/condensation
12
Why is some energy always lost as it passes through the various trophic levels (e.g. Primary producer -> Herbivore -> Carnivore)?
A)The digestion of food requires energy.
B)Not all of the food consumed is digested.
C)More than one of these is correct.
D)Chemical reactions produce heat that cannot be used.
E)None of these is correct.
13
Algal biomass was monitored in an experiment where trout were either excluded or included in enclosures in a stream. What would you predict the algal biomass to be?
A)the same in both
B)greater without trout
C)greater with trout
D)impossible to predict
E)lesser with trout
14
Tropical regions have greater biodiversity than temperate regions. What hypothesis could account for this?
A)Tropics have greater overall productivity due to more solar energy.
B)Tropics have more stable conditions.
C)Tropics have more intense predation leading to less competition.
D)Tropics have many complex microhabitats.
E)All are plausible.
15
The principle of island biogeography is that the species richness of an island results from:
A)the size of the island.
B)the equilibrium between extinction and colonization.
C)the distance of the island from the mainland.
D)the type of organism.
E)the latitude of the island.
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