Ecological Principles Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the source of energy for photosynthetic autotrophs?

Light (correct)

Water

Inorganic molecules

Organic molecules

Which organisms are considered heterotrophs?

Plants

Protists

Bacteria

Fungi (correct)

What is the product of photosynthesis?

Water

Glucose (correct)

Carbon dioxide

Oxygen

Which type of light carries sufficient energy to drive the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis?

Visible light Signup and view all the answers

Why does the feeding rate increase slowly at low prey densities in Type III functional response?

Food organisms may be better protected from predators at low densities Signup and view all the answers

What behavioral characteristic of predators contributes to the S-shaped curve in Type III functional response?

Prey-switching and learning time Signup and view all the answers

Why do animals often ignore uncommon foods and focus more on abundant foods at low prey densities?

Animals may require some learning to exploit food and develop their searching and handling skills Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the solar spectrum does Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) make up?

45% Signup and view all the answers

How is PAR quantified?

Photon flux density Signup and view all the answers

What are the major categories of organic molecules mentioned in the text?

Herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, and detritivores Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary chemical elements that make up the chemical composition of organisms?

C, O, H, N, and P Signup and view all the answers

What do plant tissues contain lower content of compared to fungi, animals, and bacteria?

Nitrogen Signup and view all the answers

What influences the photosynthetic potential of plants?

Nutrient and water abundance, temperature, and light intensity Signup and view all the answers

What divides plants into sun and shade species?

Differences in photosynthetic curves Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of functional responses mentioned in the text?

Type 1 and Type 2 Signup and view all the answers

What do tropical plants contain more of compared to temperate plants?

Toxic alkaloids Signup and view all the answers

What is the rate at which organisms can take in energy limited by?

Internal constraints Signup and view all the answers

What do plant chemical defenses include?

Toxins and digestion-reducing substances Signup and view all the answers

What is the ratio used to express the nitrogen content in plant tissues compared to fungi, animals, and bacteria?

Carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecological Concepts and Principles

Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) makes up about 45% of the solar spectrum, while infrared light accounts for 53% and UV light for 2%.
PAR is quantified as a photon flux density, expressed as micromoles (µmol) striking a square meter surface each second, with 4.6 µmol / m2/s equaling a light intensity of about 1 watt per square meter.
Light changes in quantity and quality with seasons, weather, time of day, landscapes, water, and organisms.
Major categories of organic molecules include herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, and detritivores, with examples such as worms, millipedes, and dung flies.
The chemical composition of organisms is primarily made up of C, O, H, N, and P, with plants having a lower concentration of P and N compared to fungi, animals, and bacteria.
Plant tissues contain lower nitrogen content compared to fungi, animals, and bacteria, expressed as the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N).
Plant chemical defenses include toxins and digestion-reducing substances, with more tropical plants containing toxic alkaloids than temperate plants.
Tropical plants experience higher levels of herbivore attack, suggesting more intense natural selection for chemical defense in tropical plant populations.
The rate at which organisms can take in energy is limited by internal constraints, regardless of energy availability in the environment.
Photosynthetic potential of plants is influenced by environmental factors such as nutrient and water abundance, temperature, and light intensity, leading to different photosynthetic response curves.
Differences in photosynthetic curves divide plants into sun and shade species, with shade plants showing higher photosynthetic rates at very low light intensities.
The relationship between an individual’s rate of consumption and food density is described by functional responses, which can be categorized as type 1 or type 2, with examples such as whales and sharks for type 1 and wolves feeding on deer for type 2.

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Description

Test your knowledge of ecological principles with this quiz covering topics such as photosynthetically active radiation, organic molecules, chemical composition of organisms, plant defenses, photosynthetic potential, and functional responses in ecology.