Ecosystems and Food Chains Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason organisms compete within ecosystems?

  • For limited resources such as food and water (correct)
  • For territorial claims over space
  • For reproduction opportunities
  • For dominance over other species

    • Which ecosystem type is the least common on Earth's surface?

  • Marine ecosystems
  • Desert ecosystems
  • Terrestrial ecosystems
  • Freshwater ecosystems (correct)

    • What percentage of photosynthesis on Earth is performed by phytoplankton in marine ecosystems?

  • 25 percent
  • 40 percent (correct)
  • 60 percent
  • 10 percent

    • Which of the following is NOT a critical factor influencing community dynamics in ecosystems?

    <p>Organism's lifespan</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the three basic types of marine ecosystems?

    <p>Shallow ocean, deep ocean water, deep ocean bottom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do terrestrial ecosystems differ from freshwater and marine ecosystems?

    <p>They are grouped into biomes and typically have more biodiversity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which ecosystem typically supports a wider variety of organisms?

    <p>Shallow ocean</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do large numbers of plankton play in marine ecosystems?

    <p>They are primary producers for the ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can cause an ecosystem to lose its resilience?

    <p>Complete destruction or irreversible alteration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly defines a food chain?

    <p>A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of primary consumers in a food chain?

    <p>To consume producers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is energy transfer limited in a food chain?

    <p>Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the apex consumer in a food chain?

    <p>The organism at the top of the food chain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organism is an example of an apex consumer in the Lake Ontario food chain?

    <p>Chinook salmon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What typically forms the base of a food chain?

    <p>Photosynthetic organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a trophic level?

    <p>The position of an organism in a food chain or food web</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do chemoautotrophs play in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?

    <p>They use hydrogen sulfide to synthesize organic molecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is biomagnification a concern in ecosystems?

    <p>It results in toxic substances accumulating at higher trophic levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following substances is mentioned as having biomagnified in ecosystems?

    <p>Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of DDT accumulation in bird populations?

    <p>Decrease in reproduction rates due to fragile eggshells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what depth was the submerged NW Eifuku volcano located, according to the information provided?

    <p>1535 m</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do chemoautotrophic bacteria contribute to the hydrothermal vent ecosystem?

    <p>By using chemical energy to synthesize organic matter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is accurate?

    <p>Their use was banned due to their fat-soluble persistence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main source of energy for organisms living in hydrothermal vent ecosystems?

    <p>Hydrogen sulfide released from vents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been a significant consequence of increased fossil fuel burning since the Industrial Revolution?

    <p>Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process allows autotrophs to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main byproduct of photosynthesis that benefits heterotrophs?

    <p>Oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do terrestrial and marine autotrophs mainly acquire carbon dioxide?

    <p>Terrestrial autotrophs from the atmosphere and marine autotrophs from dissolved forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary role of photosynthetic organisms in the atmosphere?

    <p>Maintaining oxygen levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group of organisms is primarily involved in the exchange of carbon with autotrophs?

    <p>Primary consumers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT directly contribute to the carbon cycle's long-term storage of carbon?

    <p>Increased photosynthesis rates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant chemical change occurs during photosynthesis?

    <p>Conversion of carbon dioxide to organic carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process in the nitrogen cycle directly converts nitrogenous waste into ammonium?

    <p>Ammonification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the final product of the denitrification process?

    <p>Nitrogen gas (N2)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During nitrification, what are nitrates converted from?

    <p>Nitrites (NO2−)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about nitrogen-fixing bacteria is true?

    <p>They convert nitrogen gas (N2) into organic compounds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What human activity is associated with the release of nitrogen oxides into the environment?

    <p>Combustion of fossil fuels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which bacterium is specifically mentioned as playing a role in the denitrification process?

    <p>Pseudomonas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What environmental issue is associated with atmospheric nitrogen other than nitrogen gas?

    <p>Acid rain formation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following processes does NOT play a role in the nitrogen cycle as described?

    <p>Photosynthesis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major consequence of fertilizer runoff?

    <p>Eutrophication of freshwater and saltwater bodies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which processes are involved in the marine nitrogen cycle?

    <p>Ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does nitrogen from rock contribute to the nitrogen cycle?

    <p>It is moved to land over geologic time through sediment uplift</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does phosphorus play in biological systems?

    <p>It is essential for the structure of bones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is phosphorus often considered a limiting nutrient in freshwater ecosystems?

    <p>It restricts the growth of aquatic plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contributes to the natural surface runoff of phosphorus?

    <p>Weathering of phosphate-containing rocks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    From where does phosphorus sediment primarily originate in the ocean?

    <p>Decay of ocean organisms and their excretions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does phosphorus cycle between marine organisms and the ocean?

    <p>It is reciprocally exchanged between organisms and dissolved phosphates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Ecosystems and the Biosphere

    • Ecosystem ecology extends organismal, population, and community ecology
    • Ecosystems encompass all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components in a geographic area
    • These abiotic components include air, water, soil, and climate
    • Ecosystem biologists study nutrient and energy flow between organisms and the surroundings
    • Example habitats include oak-pine barrens in regions like Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin
    • These habitats are characterized by natural disturbances, like fire, and low soil nutrients, like nitrogen

    Energy Flow through Ecosystems

    • Ecosystems are categorized as freshwater, marine, and terrestrial, with various types within each
    • Life in ecosystems involves competition for limited resources like food, water, sunlight, space, and minerals
    • Physical factors like climate, elevation, and geology strongly influence ecosystem dynamics and community composition
    • Some ecosystems are quite diverse, like the Amazon rainforest
    • Others are smaller and more specific, like tidal pools

    Biogeochemical Cycles

    • Energy flows directionally through ecosystems, entering as sunlight or inorganic molecules
    • Matter is conserved and recycled, not flowing like energy
    • The six most common elements in organic molecules (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur): cycle continuously within ecosystems
    • Geologic processes like weathering and erosion play a crucial role in cycling
    • Biogeochemical cycles connect biotic and abiotic environments
    • Water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur are key elements in these cycles

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    Ecosystems and the Biosphere PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on the dynamics of ecosystems, including the roles of different organisms and the structure of food chains. This quiz covers various types of ecosystems, their components, and the factors affecting their balance. Perfect for students studying ecology or environmental science.

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