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Questions and Answers
What is the range of trophic efficiencies in ecosystems?
What is the range of trophic efficiencies in ecosystems?
- 5-20% (correct)
- 50-100%
- 20-50%
- 0-5%
What is biological magnification and how does it affect birds?
What is biological magnification and how does it affect birds?
Biological magnification is the process in which certain pollutants become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. It affects birds by accumulating in their tissues and interfering with their reproduction.
What is the range of trophic efficiencies in ecosystems?
What is the range of trophic efficiencies in ecosystems?
- 50-75%
- 5-20% (correct)
- 20-50%
- 1-5%
What is the percentage range of trophic efficiencies?
What is the percentage range of trophic efficiencies?
What is the main reason for the decline of top-level carnivores?
What is the main reason for the decline of top-level carnivores?
What is the primary cause of the decline of top-level carnivores due to the use of DDT?
What is the primary cause of the decline of top-level carnivores due to the use of DDT?
Which of the following is NOT one of the elements discussed in the text as being cycled in ecosystems?
Which of the following is NOT one of the elements discussed in the text as being cycled in ecosystems?
True or false: Biological magnification refers to the increase in the concentration of toxic substances as they move up the food chain.
True or false: Biological magnification refers to the increase in the concentration of toxic substances as they move up the food chain.
Explain the importance of decomposers in ecosystems.
Explain the importance of decomposers in ecosystems.
True or false: Production efficiencies are always higher than trophic efficiencies in ecosystems.
True or false: Production efficiencies are always higher than trophic efficiencies in ecosystems.
True or false: Biological magnification is the process by which chemicals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
True or false: Biological magnification is the process by which chemicals become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.
Which of the following is NOT one of the essential elements discussed in the passage?
Which of the following is NOT one of the essential elements discussed in the passage?
Efficiency refers to the percentage of production that is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Trophic efficiencies are always lower than production efficiencies because they take into account energy lost through ______ and feces, as well as energy in organic material at lower trophic levels that is not consumed. Answer: Respiration
Efficiency refers to the percentage of production that is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Trophic efficiencies are always lower than production efficiencies because they take into account energy lost through ______ and feces, as well as energy in organic material at lower trophic levels that is not consumed. Answer: Respiration
True or false: The passage discusses the cycling of only two essential elements in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
True or false: The passage discusses the cycling of only two essential elements in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
Trophic efficiencies range from about 5% to 20%, with most being around ______%. Answer: 10
Trophic efficiencies range from about 5% to 20%, with most being around ______%. Answer: 10
What is the main reason for the limited abundance of top-level carnivores in food webs?
What is the main reason for the limited abundance of top-level carnivores in food webs?
What is the main reason for the loss of energy in a food chain?
What is the main reason for the loss of energy in a food chain?
True or false: Trophic efficiencies range from 20% to 30% in most food webs.
True or false: Trophic efficiencies range from 20% to 30% in most food webs.
What is the impact of increased CO2 levels on global temperatures?
What is the impact of increased CO2 levels on global temperatures?
Which of the following cycles is NOT discussed in the text?
Which of the following cycles is NOT discussed in the text?
True or false: The general model of chemical cycling mentioned in the passage includes the main reservoirs of elements but not the processes that transfer elements between reservoirs.
True or false: The general model of chemical cycling mentioned in the passage includes the main reservoirs of elements but not the processes that transfer elements between reservoirs.
What are biogeochemical cycles? Give examples.
What are biogeochemical cycles? Give examples.
True or false: The use of DDT had no impact on bird populations.
True or false: The use of DDT had no impact on bird populations.
What is the main reason for the limited abundance of top-level carnivores in food webs?
What is the main reason for the limited abundance of top-level carnivores in food webs?
What is the main cause of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and what are the consequences?
What is the main cause of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and what are the consequences?
What does the general model of chemical cycling described in the passage include?
What does the general model of chemical cycling described in the passage include?
True or false: The use of DDT had no negative impact on top-level carnivores.
True or false: The use of DDT had no negative impact on top-level carnivores.
What is the main consequence of rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
What is the main consequence of rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
What is the main factor regulating nutrient cycling in ecosystems?
What is the main factor regulating nutrient cycling in ecosystems?
True or false: Rising atmospheric CO2 levels have no effect on plant communities.
True or false: Rising atmospheric CO2 levels have no effect on plant communities.
What is biological magnification?
What is biological magnification?
Why are top-level carnivores limited in abundance in most food webs?
Why are top-level carnivores limited in abundance in most food webs?
True or false: Rising atmospheric CO2 levels have no impact on global temperatures and precipitation patterns.
True or false: Rising atmospheric CO2 levels have no impact on global temperatures and precipitation patterns.
What is the difference between trophic efficiency and production efficiency?
What is the difference between trophic efficiency and production efficiency?
Most food webs are limited to ______ or five trophic levels. Answer: Four
Most food webs are limited to ______ or five trophic levels. Answer: Four
What is the impact of human activities on the nitrogen cycle?
What is the impact of human activities on the nitrogen cycle?
What is the main cause of the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the main cause of the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
True or false: Energy lost through respiration and feces is not taken into account while calculating trophic efficiencies.
True or false: Energy lost through respiration and feces is not taken into account while calculating trophic efficiencies.
What type of pyramid represents the total dry mass of all organisms in each trophic level?
What type of pyramid represents the total dry mass of all organisms in each trophic level?
Which of the following is NOT one of the four major biogeochemical cycles described in the passage?
Which of the following is NOT one of the four major biogeochemical cycles described in the passage?
What is the impact of depletion of atmospheric ozone on human health and ecosystems?
What is the impact of depletion of atmospheric ozone on human health and ecosystems?
True or false: The passage describes the four major biogeochemical cycles as water, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
True or false: The passage describes the four major biogeochemical cycles as water, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.
The dynamics of energy flow through ecosystems have important implications for the human population, as estimates of Earth’s carrying capacity depend greatly on our diet and ______ consumption. Answer: Resource
The dynamics of energy flow through ecosystems have important implications for the human population, as estimates of Earth’s carrying capacity depend greatly on our diet and ______ consumption. Answer: Resource
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
True or false: Deforestation has no role in the increase of atmospheric CO2 levels.
True or false: Deforestation has no role in the increase of atmospheric CO2 levels.
True or false: Deforestation is not a contributor to the increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
True or false: Deforestation is not a contributor to the increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere.
What is the main difference between pyramids of net production and biomass pyramids?
What is the main difference between pyramids of net production and biomass pyramids?
What is the impact of human activities on chemical cycles in ecosystems?
What is the impact of human activities on chemical cycles in ecosystems?
True or false: Nutrient cycling rates in different ecosystems are not affected by variable rates of decomposition.
True or false: Nutrient cycling rates in different ecosystems are not affected by variable rates of decomposition.
What is the primary cause of the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the primary cause of the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the main factor that regulates nutrient cycling according to the passage?
What is the main factor that regulates nutrient cycling according to the passage?
Which biogeochemical cycles are considered global cycles?
Which biogeochemical cycles are considered global cycles?
What efforts have been made to mitigate the impacts of DDT and ozone-depleting chemicals?
What efforts have been made to mitigate the impacts of DDT and ozone-depleting chemicals?
How does biomagnification occur in food webs?
How does biomagnification occur in food webs?
True or false: Pyramids of net production represent the additive loss of energy in a food chain.
True or false: Pyramids of net production represent the additive loss of energy in a food chain.
What is the Montreal Protocol?
What is the Montreal Protocol?
What is the potential consequence of soil with excessive amounts of nitrogenous minerals contaminating water supplies?
What is the potential consequence of soil with excessive amounts of nitrogenous minerals contaminating water supplies?
What is the main factor that limits herbivores from consuming more than one-sixth of global net primary production?
What is the main factor that limits herbivores from consuming more than one-sixth of global net primary production?
Explain the concept of trophic efficiency.
Explain the concept of trophic efficiency.
What is the role of chlorofluorocarbons in the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the role of chlorofluorocarbons in the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the potential impact of increased UV radiation on ecosystems?
What is the potential impact of increased UV radiation on ecosystems?
What is the main factor that limits herbivores' consumption of global net primary production?
What is the main factor that limits herbivores' consumption of global net primary production?
What is the main consequence of human activities on ecosystems, according to the passage?
What is the main consequence of human activities on ecosystems, according to the passage?
True or false: The depletion of atmospheric ozone has no potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.
True or false: The depletion of atmospheric ozone has no potential impacts on human health and ecosystems.
In some aquatic ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted and primary consumers outweigh producers due to the rapid turnover time of ______. Answer: Phytoplankton
In some aquatic ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted and primary consumers outweigh producers due to the rapid turnover time of ______. Answer: Phytoplankton
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
True or false: Vegetation plays no role in regulating nutrient cycling.
True or false: Vegetation plays no role in regulating nutrient cycling.
What is the Montreal Protocol?
What is the Montreal Protocol?
True or false: Depletion of atmospheric ozone is not a result of human activities.
True or false: Depletion of atmospheric ozone is not a result of human activities.
True or false: The width of each tier in a biomass pyramid is proportional to the number of organisms in each trophic level.
True or false: The width of each tier in a biomass pyramid is proportional to the number of organisms in each trophic level.
How are global temperatures affected by the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels?
How are global temperatures affected by the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels?
True or false: Chlorofluorocarbons have no role in the depletion of atmospheric ozone.
True or false: Chlorofluorocarbons have no role in the depletion of atmospheric ozone.
What is turnover time in ecosystems?
What is turnover time in ecosystems?
What is the main factor limiting herbivores' consumption of global net primary production?
What is the main factor limiting herbivores' consumption of global net primary production?
What do pyramids of net production represent?
What do pyramids of net production represent?
Pyramids of net production represent the multiplicative loss of energy in a food chain. The width of each tier in the pyramid is proportional to the net production of each trophic level, expressed in ______. Answer: Joules
Pyramids of net production represent the multiplicative loss of energy in a food chain. The width of each tier in the pyramid is proportional to the net production of each trophic level, expressed in ______. Answer: Joules
True or false: In some aquatic ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted and top-level carnivores outweigh primary producers.
True or false: In some aquatic ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted and top-level carnivores outweigh primary producers.
What is the difference between trophic efficiency and production efficiency?
What is the difference between trophic efficiency and production efficiency?
What is the main reason for the variable rates of nutrient cycling in different ecosystems?
What is the main reason for the variable rates of nutrient cycling in different ecosystems?
True or false: Human activities have not disrupted the trophic structure, energy flow, and chemical cycling of ecosystems worldwide.
True or false: Human activities have not disrupted the trophic structure, energy flow, and chemical cycling of ecosystems worldwide.
What is biological magnification?
What is biological magnification?
What is the potential impact of increased UV radiation on human health?
What is the potential impact of increased UV radiation on human health?
True or false: Increased UV radiation reaching the surface of Earth can have no impact on human health.
True or false: Increased UV radiation reaching the surface of Earth can have no impact on human health.
What is the impact of rising CO2 levels on precipitation patterns?
What is the impact of rising CO2 levels on precipitation patterns?
What is the reason for the altered precipitation patterns caused by rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
What is the reason for the altered precipitation patterns caused by rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
What are examples of toxins that demonstrate biological magnification?
What are examples of toxins that demonstrate biological magnification?
True or false: The passage suggests that nutrient cycling rates are consistent across all ecosystems.
True or false: The passage suggests that nutrient cycling rates are consistent across all ecosystems.
True or false: The banning of DDT and the signing of the Montreal Protocol are efforts to mitigate the impacts of rising CO2 levels.
True or false: The banning of DDT and the signing of the Montreal Protocol are efforts to mitigate the impacts of rising CO2 levels.
Which of the following is a plausible distractor for the main reservoirs of elements in the general model of chemical cycling?
Which of the following is a plausible distractor for the main reservoirs of elements in the general model of chemical cycling?
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
What is the main reason for the inverted biomass pyramid in some aquatic ecosystems?
What are the potential consequences of altered precipitation patterns caused by rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
What are the potential consequences of altered precipitation patterns caused by rising atmospheric CO2 levels?
True or false: Biogeochemical cycles involve only abiotic components of ecosystems.
True or false: Biogeochemical cycles involve only abiotic components of ecosystems.
Levels also affect production efficiency, with higher trophic levels having lower production efficiencies because they must consume more biomass to obtain the same amount of energy as lower trophic ______. Answer: Levels
Levels also affect production efficiency, with higher trophic levels having lower production efficiencies because they must consume more biomass to obtain the same amount of energy as lower trophic ______. Answer: Levels
How do hippos alter ecosystems?
How do hippos alter ecosystems?
What are the two general categories of biogeochemical cycles?
What are the two general categories of biogeochemical cycles?
What is the main reason for the banning of DDT?
What is the main reason for the banning of DDT?
What are the two general categories of biogeochemical cycles?
What are the two general categories of biogeochemical cycles?
True or false: Efforts to mitigate the impacts of human activities on the environment have been successful.
True or false: Efforts to mitigate the impacts of human activities on the environment have been successful.
What is the main impact of the depletion of atmospheric ozone on human health?
What is the main impact of the depletion of atmospheric ozone on human health?
What is the role of decomposition rates in nutrient cycling?
What is the role of decomposition rates in nutrient cycling?
What is the significance of the Montreal Protocol in addressing the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
What is the significance of the Montreal Protocol in addressing the depletion of atmospheric ozone?
True or false: The passage does not mention the importance of chemical cycling in maintaining ecological balance.
True or false: The passage does not mention the importance of chemical cycling in maintaining ecological balance.
True or false: The dynamics of energy flow through ecosystems have no implications for the human population.
True or false: The dynamics of energy flow through ecosystems have no implications for the human population.
Why is understanding energy flow and chemical cycling crucial for managing and conserving ecosystems?
Why is understanding energy flow and chemical cycling crucial for managing and conserving ecosystems?
What is the main reason for higher trophic levels having lower production efficiencies?
What is the main reason for higher trophic levels having lower production efficiencies?
True or false: The depletion of atmospheric ozone can lead to a decrease in global temperatures.
True or false: The depletion of atmospheric ozone can lead to a decrease in global temperatures.
Which of the following is a plausible distractor for the main consequence of human activities on ecosystems?
Which of the following is a plausible distractor for the main consequence of human activities on ecosystems?
What is the law of conservation of mass? How does it relate to nutrient cycles?
What is the law of conservation of mass? How does it relate to nutrient cycles?
Biogeochemical cycles involve both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and there are two general categories of cycles: ______ and local. Answer: Global
Biogeochemical cycles involve both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and there are two general categories of cycles: ______ and local. Answer: Global
What is the main reason for understanding energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems?
What is the main reason for understanding energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems?
What is the reason for the banning of DDT?
What is the reason for the banning of DDT?
True or false: The Montreal Protocol was signed to regulate the use of fossil fuels.
True or false: The Montreal Protocol was signed to regulate the use of fossil fuels.
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Study Notes
levels also affect production efficiency, with higher trophic levels having lower production efficiencies because they must consume more biomass to obtain the same amount of energy as lower trophic levels.
Overall, energy flow and chemical cycling are essential processes in ecosystems that are governed by physical laws and limiting factors. Understanding these processes is crucial for managing and conserving ecosystems and the resources they provide.Efficiency refers to the percentage of production that is transferred from one trophic level to the next. Trophic efficiencies are always lower than production efficiencies because they take into account energy lost through respiration and feces, as well as energy in organic material at lower trophic levels that is not consumed. Trophic efficiencies range from about 5% to 20%, with most being around 10%. This means that only 10% of energy at one trophic level is typically transferred to the next, resulting in a loss of 90% of available energy over the length of a food chain. This loss limits the abundance of top-level carnivores, and most food webs are limited to four or five trophic levels. Pyramids of net production represent the multiplicative loss of energy in a food chain. The width of each tier in the pyramid is proportional to the net production of each trophic level, expressed in joules. Biomass pyramids represent the total dry mass of all organisms in each trophic level. Most biomass pyramids narrow sharply from primary producers to top-level carnivores because energy transfers are so inefficient. In some aquatic ecosystems, the biomass pyramid is inverted and primary consumers outweigh producers due to the rapid turnover time of phytoplankton. The dynamics of energy flow through ecosystems have important implications for the human population, as estimates of Earth’s carrying capacity depend greatly on our diet and resource consumption. Herbivores consume less than one-sixth of global net primary production due to a variety of factors, including plant defenses, low nutrient concentrations, and biotic factors such as competition and predation. Biogeochemical cycles involve both biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and there are two general categories of cycles: global and local. Gaseous forms of carbon, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen occur in the atmosphere, and cycles of these elements are global.
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