29 Questions
What is a key difference between an ecosystem and a community?
An ecosystem includes abiotic factors, but a community does not.
What determines the characteristics of a biome?
Characteristic environmental conditions
What does the term 'trophic structure' refer to?
The different feeding relationships in an ecosystem
What is represented by a food chain or food web?
The trophic structure of an ecological community
What is the primary difference between a community and a biome?
The geographical area they cover
What determines the route of energy flow in an ecosystem?
The feeding relationships in the ecosystem
What percentage of visible light that reaches algae and leaves is converted to chemical energy via photosynthesis?
1-2%
What is the term for the amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs in an ecosystem during a given time period?
Primary productivity
What is the difference between gross primary productivity and net primary productivity?
Net primary productivity is the total organic matter produced minus the energy used by autotrophs for respiration
Which ecosystems have a high net primary productivity?
Swamps, marshes, and tropical rain forests
What is the approximate amount of organic matter produced per square meter per year in deserts?
Less than 800 kcal/m2/year
What is the formula for net primary productivity?
NPP = GPP - R
What is the typical pattern observed in most pyramids of biomass?
A sharp decrease in biomass at higher trophic levels
What is the characteristic of phytoplankton that allows them to support a large population of zooplankton despite their low biomass?
Short turnover time with high productivity
What is the primary reason for the inverted pyramid of biomass in some aquatic ecosystems?
Zooplankton consume phytoplankton quickly
What is the main difference between the flow of energy and matter through ecosystems?
Matter can be recycled, but energy cannot
What is an example of a nutrient that is cycled between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem?
Carbon
What is the primary mechanism by which energy and matter are transferred through ecosystems?
Photosynthesis, feeding relationships, and decomposition
What is the primary source of nitrate for plants in the nitrogen cycle?
Nitrification of ammonium
What is the role of certain bacteria in the nitrogen cycle?
Fixing atmospheric nitrogen
What is the net effect of the reciprocal processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration on atmospheric CO2?
A balance between the removal and addition of CO2
What happens to dissolved carbon dioxide in aquatic ecosystems?
It reacts with water to form bicarbonates
What is the main reason for the increase in atmospheric CO2?
The burning of wood and fossil fuels
What is the dynamic equilibrium involved in the carbon cycle?
Between atmospheric CO2 and bicarbonates in aquatic ecosystems
What happens to phosphorus that is lost from the ecosystem due to chemical precipitation?
It gradually accumulates in sediments
What is the primary source of phosphorus gains in terrestrial ecosystems?
Weathering of rocks
What is the fate of phosphorus in the soil when plants and animals decompose?
It is re-deposited in the soil
How can phosphorus that has accumulated in sediments become available to ecosystems again?
Through geological uplifting
What is a characteristic of phosphorus in the environment?
It tends to cycle within the soil and water
This quiz covers the basics of ecosystem ecology, including trophic structure, energy flows, and bio-geochemical cycles. Students will learn about the components of an ecosystem and how they interact with each other.
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