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Biology for AP® Courses

Critical Thinking Questions

Biology for AP® CoursesCritical Thinking Questions
23 .
Why does grouping terrestrial organisms into biomes obscure diversity?
  1. Biomes groups terrestrial organisms only on the basis of similar habitat conditions.
  2. Organisms belonging to a similar biome have dissimilarities in their makeup.
  3. There is variation within different types of biomes that biome categorization does not capture.
  4. Terrestrial biomes are defined based only on the growth form of the dominant vegetation.
24 .
Why are mesocosm and microcosm experiments not considered to represent the true nature of ecosystems?
  1. The ecosystem is either recreated or partitioned in both the experiments, which may alter the dynamics of the ecosystem the experiments are aiming to analyze.
  2. In both the experiments, dynamics of the ecosystem may get altered due to differences in species numbers and diversity although there are no alterations in the environment.
  3. In both the experiments, the ecosystem is recreated which may alter the dynamics of the ecosystem the experiments are aiming to analyze.
  4. Altering a natural ecosystem through partitioning, which occurs in both the experiments may change its dynamics due to differences in species numbers and diversity.
25 .
If a scientist wanted to monitor a desert food chain, what type of model might they develop and why?
  1. An analytical model would be ideal because they can address simple, linear ecosystem components that are mathematically complex.
  2. A simulation model would be ideal because they can address simple, linear systems that are mathematically complex.
  3. An analytical model would be ideal as they are considered ecologically more realistic than any other model.
  4. A simulation model would be ideal because it uses numerical techniques to solve problems and visualize the complex relationships that exist in the ecosystem.
26 .
Compare and contrast food chains and food webs. What are the strengths of each concept in describing ecosystems?
  1. Both food chain and food web follow a single path as energy is transferred in an ecosystem. Food chains are easier to follow and experiment with but less accurate whereas food webs are more holistic and complex.
  2. Both food web and food chain describe energy transfer dynamics in an ecosystem. Food chains are non-linear systems which are easier to follow and experiment with whereas food webs are linear, holistic and can be directly used as input for simulation models.
  3. Both food chain and food web follow a single path as energy is transferred in an ecosystem. Food chains are linear systems, easier to follow and used directly as input for simulation models, whereas food webs are non-linear, accurate, holistic and flexible for analytical modeling.
  4. Both food web and food chain describe energy transfer dynamics in an ecosystem. Food chains are linear systems, easier to follow and experiment with whereas food webs are non-linear, accurate and holistic and can be directly used as input for simulation models.
27 .
Name one natural and one human-related type of disturbance. Why are they of concern to conservationists?
  1. Lightening is a type of natural disturbance whereas pollution is a human related disturbance. Both are of concern to conservationists because they affect the entire ecosystem.
  2. Fire is a type of natural disturbances whereas agriculture is a human related disturbance. Both types are of concern to conservationists because ecosystems cannot bounce back from a disturbance.
  3. Pollution is a type of natural disturbance whereas lightening is a human related disturbance. Both are of concern to conservationists because they alter ecosystems.
  4. Lightening is a type of natural disturbance whereas pollution is a human related disturbance. Both are of concern to conservationists because they alter ecosystems.
28 .
(credit: modification of work from Wikiwand, under CC BY-SA 4.0 license)

The image shows the biomass pyramid in a marine ecosystem.

Based on this pyramid, make a claim about phytoplankton.

  1. Phytoplankton have very high net production efficiency compared to rest of the animals.
  2. Phytoplankton have very low net production efficiency compared to rest of the animals.
  3. Phytoplankton are physically very small compared to the rest of the animals shown here.
  4. Phytoplankton are physically large compared to the rest of the animals shown here.
29 .
(credit: modification of work from BioNinja)

The pyramid on the left shows the population numbers of primary producers, and primary, secondary and tertiary consumers. The pyramid on the right gives their biomass.

Which option decribes this ecosystem?

  1. A grassland where primary producers are grasses.
  2. A desert environment where the primary producers are short bushes.
  3. A coral reef where the primary producers are the corals.
  4. A mature forest where the primary producers are large trees.
30 .
Compare the three types of ecosystem pyramids and how well they describe ecosystem structure. Identify which ones can be inverted and give a specific example of an inverted pyramid for each.
  1. The three types of ecosystem pyramids are pyramids of energy, number and biomass out of which number and energy pyramids can be inverted. Examples of inverted pyramids of number and energy are temperate forests in summer and phytoplankton in the English Channel respectively.
  2. The three types of ecosystem pyramids are pyramids of energy, number and biomass out of which number and biomass pyramids can be inverted. Examples of inverted pyramids of number and biomass are temperate forests in summer and phytoplankton in the English Channel respectively.
  3. The three types of ecosystem pyramids are pyramids of energy, number and biomass out of which number and biomass pyramids can be inverted. Examples of inverted pyramids of number and biomass are temperate forests in summer and Silver Springs ecosystem in Florida respectively.
  4. The three types of ecosystem pyramids are pyramids of energy, number and biomass out of which number and biomass pyramids can be inverted. Examples of inverted pyramids of number and biomass are grasslands in summer and phytoplankton in the English Channel respectively.
31 .
Why do scientists more commonly analyze net primary productivity compared with gross primary productivity?
  1. Net primary productivity incorporates features like production at present and next trophic levels, whereas gross primary productivity does not.
  2. Net primary productivity is the rate at which photosynthetic primary producers incorporate energy from the sun.
  3. As net primary productivity is the energy content available to the organisms of the next trophic level.
  4. As respiration and heat loss uses energy of the primary producer, therefore, net primary productivity is what is actually available to primary consumers.
32 .
(credit: modification of work by Gabriele Midolo, et al./Wiley Online Library, under CC BY license)

A research study explored the results of adding nitrogen (nutrients) to plants in various ecosystems. The graphs represent their findings. The left graph shows biodiversity (SR - species diversity) and the right graph shows the population (IA - individual abundance).

Make a claim based on these graphs.

  1. An abundance of nutrients effect all plant species equally.
  2. Some species outcompete others in presence of abundant nitrogen sources.
  3. Nitrogen causes plant biomass to decrase.
  4. Low levels of nitrogen addition has no effect on plant populations.
33 .
(credit: modification of work from World Ocean Review)

The image shows carbon reservoirs and carbon cycling. The red numbers represent changes to the carbon cycle due to human activities. The numbers near the arrows are yearly changes, while the numbers in the reservoir represent total change over many years.

What is the greatest reservoir for carbon on Earth?

  1. The atmosphere.
  2. The fossil fuels.
  3. The oceans.
  4. The vegetation.
34 .
What form of sulfur is found in the atmosphere and how does it leave the atmosphere?
  1. hydrogen sulfide, which leaves the atmosphere as weak sulfur dioxide rain
  2. sulfur dioxide, which leaves the atmosphere as weak sulfur dioxide rain
  3. hydrogen sulfide, which leaves the atmosphere as weak sulfuric acid rain
  4. sulfur dioxide, which leaves the atmosphere as weak sulfuric acid rain
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