When we study a(n) ______, we are concerned with the community plus its

1 CORRECT
physical and chemical environment.

A habitat
)

B)niche

C)ecosystem

D)population

E species
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

An ecosystem possesses _________.

2 CORRECT

A)only living components

B)only non-living components

C)both living and non-living components

Feedback: Correct Answer

______ are autotrophic organisms with the ability to carry on photosynthesis

3 CORRECT
and to make food for themselves.

A Herbivores
)

B)Carnivores

C)Omnivores

D)Producers

E)Consumers

Feedback: Correct Answer

Examples of consumers include ____________.

4 CORRECT
 A)herbivores

B)carnivores

C)omnivores

D)all of the above

Feedback: Correct Answer

Decomposers break down detritus, which is living organic matter.

5 INCORRECT

A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Decomposers break down detritus, which is dead or

decomposing organic matter.

Every ecosystem is characterized by which fundamental phenomena?

6 INCORRECT

A)energy flow and chemical cycling

B)energy and matter

C)water and soil

D)evaporation and precipitation

E)a balance in energy production and energy loss

Feedback: Every ecosystem is characterized by energy flow and

chemical cycling.

______ flows through an ecosystem and does NOT cycle.

7 INCORRECT

A)Water

B)Nitrogen

C)Energy

D)Carbon
 E)Oxygen

Feedback: Energy flows through an ecosystem and does not cycle.

Energy flow begins when producers take inorganic nutrients from the physical
8 INCORRECT
environment.

A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Energy flow begins when producers absorb solar energy;

chemical cycling is continuous but includes organisms taking
inorganic nutrients from the physical environment.

Energy flows through an ecosystem because when one form of energy is

9 CORRECT transformed into another form, and there is always a loss of some energy as
heat.

A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

With every energy transformation, some energy is degraded into a less

1 CORRECT available form such as ___________ .
0
A)chemical energy

B)fossil fuels

C)biomass

D)calories

E)heat

Feedback: Correct Answer

INCORRECT A ___________ indicates who eats whom in an ecosystem.

1
1
A)food pyramid

B)food web

C)biomass weight

D)calorimeter

E)trophic level

Feedback: A food web indicates who eats whom in an ecosystem.

When numerous food chains link to each other in an ecosystem, it is known

1 INCORRECT as a(n) _________.
2
A)food pyramid

B)food web

C)food cluster

D)feeding guild

E)energy pyramid

Feedback: When numerous food chains link to each other in an

ecosystem, it is known as a food web.

All organisms that feed at each link in a food chain comprise a/an ______.
1 INCORRECT
3
A)trophic level

B)biomass

C)food pyramid

D)energy pyramid

E)calorie

Feedback: All organisms that feed at each link in a food chain

comprise a trophic level.
 In some ecosystems, there is more energy stored in the forest floor and the
1 CORRECT primary consumer feeds mostly on detritus.
4
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

Because some organisms move from soil to above ground plants, the ______
1 INCORRECT food chain is connected to a grazing food chain.
5
A)detritus

B)pyramidal

C)energy

D)climax

E)trophic

Feedback: Because some organisms move from soil to aboveground

plants, the detritus food chain is connected to a grazing food chain.

The trophic structure of an ecosystem can be summarized in the form of an

1 INCORRECT ______.
6
A)detritus dendrogram

B)ecological pyramid

C)energy network

D)climax schematic

E)trophic level chart

Feedback: The trophic structure of an ecosystem can be summarized

in the form of an ecological pyramid.
 An ecological pyramid contains __________.
1 UNANSWERED
7
A)a producer trophic level

B)a consumer trophic level

C)higher predator level(s)

D)all of the above

Ecological pyramids are built from a ____________.

1 CORRECT
8
A)pyramid of numbers

B pyramid of energy
)

C)pyramid of biomass

D)all of above

Feedback: Correct Answer

______ is the weight of living material at some particular time.

1 CORRECT
9
A)Energy content

B Trophic level
)

C)Biomass

D)An ecosystem

E)A pyramidal cross section

Feedback: Correct Answer

A pyramid of energy shows that there is an increasing amount of energy

2 INCORRECT available at each successive trophic level.
0
 A)True

B False
)

Feedback: A pyramid of energy shows that there is

an decreasing amount of energy available at each successive trophic
level.

Less energy is available at each successive trophic level of the pyramid of

2 CORRECT energy because __________.
1
A)only a fraction of the available food is captured by the next trophic
level

B some of the food that is eaten cannot be digested

)

C)only a portion of the food that is digested becomes part of the

organism's body

D)all of the above

Feedback: Correct Answer

Because only about ten percent of the energy of one trophic level is
2 UNANSWERED converted into organisms at the next trophic level, ___________.
2
A food chains are rarely longer than 4 or 5 links
)

B there are far fewer big fierce animals

)

C)a lot of tissue is available to decomposers

D)there will nearly always be more herbivore tissues than carnivore

tissues

E)all of the above are true

It is generally stated that only about ______ % of the energy available at one
2 INCORRECT trophic level is incorporated into the tissues of animals at the next level.
3
A)10
 B)20

C)30

D)40

E 80
)

Feedback: It is generally stated that only about 10% of the energy

available at one trophic level is incorporated into the tissues of
animals at the next level.

In contrast to energy, ___________ do/does cycle through large natural

2 INCORRECT ecosystems.
4
A)aquifers

B inorganic chemicals
)

C)trophic levels

D)ATP

E)vital life forces

Feedback: In contrast to energy, inorganic chemicals do cycle

through large natural ecosystems.

For each chemical element essential for life the cycling process involves
2 CORRECT __________.
5
A a reservoir
)

B an exchange pool
)

C)the biotic community

D)all of the above

Feedback: Correct Answer

 The two general categories of biogeochemical cycles are the ________
2 INCORRECT cycles.
6
A)biological and geological

B biogeographical and geological

)

C)solid and liquid

D)gaseous and sedimentary

E)costly and free

Feedback: The two general categories of biogeochemical cycles are

the gaseous and sedimentary cycles.

Groundwater located in permeable layers of rock is called a/an ___________.

2 INCORRECT
7
A reservoir
)

B)aquifer

C)artesian well

D)spring

E)transpiration zone

Feedback: Groundwater located in permeable layers of rock is called

an aquifer.

Given enough time, all water eventually returns to the ________.

2 INCORRECT
8
A)aquifers

B)lakes and ponds

C)atmosphere through transpiration

D)atmosphere through evaporation

 E)oceans

Feedback: Given enough time, all water eventually returns to the

oceans.

In the carbon cycle, both terrestrial and aquatic organisms exchange

2 INCORRECT _________ with the atmosphere.
9
A)sugar (C6H12O6)

B)oxygen gas

C)carbon monoxide

D)carbon dioxide

E)methane (CH4)

Feedback: In the carbon cycle, both terrestrial and aquatic organisms

exchange carbon dioxide with the atmosphere.

Respiration releases carbon dioxide, the molecule needed for photosynthesis.

3 CORRECT
0
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

When aquatic organisms respire, the carbon dioxide they give off
3 CORRECT becomes bicarbonate.
1
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

CORRECT Most of the fossil fuels were formed during the Cretaceous period.
3
2
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

The oceans are a primary reservoir for carbon in the form of ________.
3 INCORRECT
3
A marine plants
)

B)calcium carbonate shells

C)marine animals

D)coal

E)oil

Feedback: The oceans are a primary reservoir for carbon in the form
of calcium carbonate shells.

There is much concern that an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the

3 CORRECT atmosphere is causing global ______.
4
A)warming

B)shortage of carbon

C)shortage of oxygen

D)cooling

E ozone depletion
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

From 1850 to the present, monitoring stations recorded an increase of carbon

3 INCORRECT dioxide measuring ______ ppm.
5
 A)7 ppm

B)70 ppm

C)700 ppm

D)7000 ppm

E)70,000 ppm

Feedback: From 1850 to the present, monitoring stations recorded an

increase of carbon dioxide measuring 70 ppm.

The relationship between ______ and aerobic cellular respiration should be

3 CORRECT kept in mind when discussing the carbon cycle.
6
A)photosynthesis

B)trophic levels

C)pollution

D)food pyramids

E)food webs

Feedback: Correct Answer

Examples of greenhouse gases are ________.

3 CORRECT
7
A)carbon dioxide

B)nitrous oxide

C)methane

D)water vapor

E)all of the above

Feedback: Correct Answer

 There has been a recent increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the
3 CORRECT atmosphere.
8
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

If nothing is done to control the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,

3 CORRECT a/an ______ in global temperature is expected.
9
A)rise

B)drop

C)evening off

D)random fluctuation

Feedback: Correct Answer

The ecological effects of a 5 degree C rise in global temperature would be

4 CORRECT minor.
0
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

Nitrogen makes up ______ % of the atmosphere by volume.

4 INCORRECT
1
A)48

B)68

C)78

D)94
 Feedback: Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere by volume.

Plants cannot incorporate nitrogen into organic compounds and therefore

4 INCORRECT depend on ______ to make nitrogen available to them.
2
A)animals

B)viruses

C)geological uplift

D)bacteria

E)humans

Feedback: Plants cannot incorporate nitrogen into organic

compounds and therefore depend on bacteria to make nitrogen
available to them.

Nitrogen fixation occurs when nitrogen is converted to a form plants can use
4 CORRECT and becomes part of the organic compounds.
3
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answer

Nitrogen fixation also occurs after plants take up ______ from the soil and
4 INCORRECT produce amino acids and nucleic acids.
4
A)nitrates

B)ammonium

C)nitrates

D)legumes

E)proteins
 Feedback: Nitrogen fixation also occurs after plants take up
ammonium from the soil and produce amino acids and nucleic acids.

______ is the production of nitrates.

4 CORRECT
5
A Nitrogen fixation
)

B)Denitrification

C)Nitrogen cycling

D)Decomposition

E)Nitrification

Feedback: Correct Answer

Denitrification is the conversion of nitrate to ________.

4 CORRECT
6
A)bacteria

B)organic compounds

C)nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas

D)ammonium

E)fertilizer

Feedback: Correct Answer

Photochemical smog contains __________.

4 INCORRECT
7
A)ozone and PAN (peroxylacetyl nitrate)

B)acid rain

C)mostly ammonium
 D)phosphate ions

E)all of the above

Feedback: Photochemical smog contains ozone and PAN

(peroxylacetyl nitrate).

Breathing ozone affects the _________.

4 INCORRECT
8
A)respiratory and nervous systems

B)digestive and circulatory systems

C)nervous and endocrine systems

D)heart and brain

E)reproductive system, primarily causing sterility

Feedback: Breathing ozone affects the respiratory and nervous

systems.

______ deposition is associated with dead or dying lakes and forests.

4 CORRECT
9
A Thermal
)

B)Acid

C)CFC

D)Ozone

E)Nitrogen

Feedback: Correct Answer

Acid deposition can cause ________.

5 INCORRECT
0
A)flooding of low areas
 B)corrosion of marble, metal, and stonework

C)increased tree growth

D)respiratory difficulty

E)all of the above

Feedback: Acid deposition can cause corrosion of marble, metal, and

stonework as well as kill trees. It does not directly cause any
respiratory problems.

When nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor in the
5 CORRECT atmosphere, it produces _______.
1
A)global warming

B)acid deposition

C)the ozone hole

D)photochemical smog

E)a thermal inversion

Feedback: Correct Answer

Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react with one another in the presence of
5 INCORRECT sunlight to produce _______.
2
A)global warming

B)acid deposition

C)the ozone hole

D)photochemical smog

E)a thermal inversion

Feedback: Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react with one another

in the presence of sunlight to produce photochemical smog.

CORRECT During a thermal ______, cold air is found at ground level beneath a layer of
5 warm, stagnant air above.
3
A)aquifer

B deposition
)

C)decline

D)inversion

E)cline

Feedback: Correct Answer

When molecules such as organochlorides are not degraded by natural

5 INCORRECT processes, they accumulate as they move up the food chain, a process called
4 _________.

A)inversion

B)eutrophication

C)deposition

D)biological magnification

E phosphorus cycling
)

Feedback: When molecules such as organochlorides are not degraded

by natural processes, they accumulate as they move up the food
chain, a process called biological magnification.

Phosphorus differs from the nitrogen, carbon and water cycles because
5 INCORRECT phosphorus _________.
5
A)is itself a pollutant

B)is not a necessary nutrient for living organisms

C)is not involved in pollution

D)does not enter the atmosphere and is a sedimentary cycle

E)all of the above

 Feedback: Phosphorus differs from the nitrogen, carbon and water
cycles because phosphorus does not enter the atmosphere and is a
sedimentary cycle.

Ozone shield destruction is primarily caused by ________.

5 INCORRECT
6
A)chlorofluorocarbons and halons

B methane
)

C)nitrous oxide

D)carbon dioxide

E)phosphorus

Feedback: Ozone shield destruction is primarily caused by

chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

One/Some of the concerns associated with air pollutants is/are _______.

5 CORRECT
7
A photochemical smog
)

B)acid deposition

C)global warming

D)destruction of the ozone shield

E)all of the above

Feedback: Correct Answer

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were agents used in production of refrigerants

5 CORRECT and styrofoam.
8
A)True

B False
)
 Feedback: Correct Answer

The atmosphere has two layers, the stratosphere and the ______.
5 INCORRECT
9
A troposphere
)

B)lithosphere

C)cosmosphere

D)biosphere

Feedback: The atmosphere has two layers, the stratosphere and the
troposphere.

The troposphere is the atmospheric layer farthest away from the earth's
6 CORRECT surface.
0
A)True

B False
)

Feedback: Correct Answe