1.
What type of ecosystem is the rarest on Earth, among both terrestrial and aquatic exosystems?
- ocean
- freshwater
- grasslands
- tundra
2.
If an ecosystem is considered to be highly resilient, what can be inferred about that ecosystem?
- The ecosystem is in a steady state.
- The ecosystem has the ability to remain in equilibrium despite disturbance.
- The ecosystem recovers quickly from disturbance.
- The ecosystem is exposed to disturbances.
3.
What is a re-created ecosystem in a laboratory environment known as?
- mesocosm
- simulation
- microcosm
- duplication
4.
A scientist wants to analyze how deer grazing alters plant species composition in a forest and sections off a portion of the forest for observation and analysis. What type of system is the scientist using?
- mesocosm
- simulation
- microcosm
- duplication
5.
What term describes the use of mathematical equations in the modeling of linear aspects of ecosystems?
- analytical modeling
- simulation modeling
- conceptual modeling
- microcosm modeling
6.
If a scientist constructs a flow chart to depict the interactions among species in an estuary, what kind of model is she creating?
- analytical model
- stimulation model
- conceptual model
- microcosm model
7.
What are usually the primary producers in an ocean grazing food web?
- plants
- animals
- fungi
- phytoplankton
8.
Which of the following statements is true of trophic levels in an ecosystem?
- Food chains are accurate representations of dynamics in an ecosystem.
- In terrestrial ecosystems, primary producers commonly eat plants.
- Food webs are easier to interpret than food chains.
- The least amount of energy is available at the top of a food chain.
9.
Where are coral reefs found?
- shallow ocean water
- deep ocean water
- deep ocean surfaces
- shallow freshwater
10.
What is the weight of living organisms in an ecosystem at a particular point in time known as?
- energy
- productivity
- entropy
- biomass
11.
If you wanted to measure gross primary productivity in a terrestrial ecosystem, what would you measure?
- rate of energy incorporation by plants
- energy available after a plant incorporates energy for its own biological functions
- amount of energy from plants entering the trophic level of deer
- total mass of plants and animals in an area at a given point in time
12.
What law of chemistry determines how much energy can be transferred when it is converted from one form to another?
- the first law of thermodynamics
- the second law of thermodynamics
- the conservation of matter
- the conservation of energy
13.
What is the primary factor that limits the length of food chains in ecosystems?
- low energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels
- too much net primary productivity
- excess assimilation
- low gross primary productivity
14.
What type of pyramid is considered the most representative of ecosystem structure?
- biomass
- energy
- number of organisms
- number of species
15.
Why are the numbers of primary producers smaller than the number of primary consumers in the English Channel ecosystem?
- The primary consumers have a high turnover rate.
- The primary producers have a low turnover rate.
- The apex consumers have a low turnover rate.
- The primary producers have a high turnover rate.
16.
What forms of life are found in areas where sunlight is unavailable and use inorganic molecules as an energy source?
- photoautotrophs
- chemoautotrophs
- primary consumers
- secondary consumers
17.
What is the process whereby nitrogen is brought into organic molecules called?
- nitrification
- denitrification
- nitrogen fixation
- nitrogen cycling
18.
Which of the following is a mechanism by which phosphorus is released into the environment?
- rock weathering
- decomposition of organic molecules
- volcanic activity
- geothermal vent activity
19.
What is produced by eutrophication via excess nitrogen where a hydrologic reservoir lacks normal flora and fauna?
- fixation
- acid rain
- dead zones
- nitrification
20.
What is a potential consequence of excess phosphorus and nitrogen in an ecosystem?
- This could result in increased global temperatures.
- Subduction can be promoted.
- These elements might be fixed in excess.
- A dead zone could be produced from depleted oxygen.
21.
What term is given for freshwater that flows from rain or melting ice in the hydrologic cycle?
- residence time
- surface runoff
- evaporation
- sublimation
22.
What most strongly influences how much carbon is present in a given location?
- number of bacteria
- runoff
- eutrophication
- atmosphere and water exchange