Chapter 36 An Interactive Living World 3: Ecosystems and Biomes
Updated: Aug 12, 2022
1) Which of the following is a biotic factor of an ecosystem?
A) soil minerals
B) water
C) oxygen
D) bacteria
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.1
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
2) What is the term for movement of water and nutrients between biotic and abiotic portions of an ecosystem?
A) bio-cycling
B) biogeochemical cycling
C) decomposer-detrital cycling
D) energy cycling
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
3) One of the proposed solutions to global warming is to grow a large number of trees. This could be effective because:
A) trees would move carbon from CO2 in the atmosphere to organic molecules.
B) the gross primary production of trees moves CO2 into soil.
C) plant carbon is different from atmospheric carbon.
D) when decomposed, plant carbon is impossible to convert back to CO2.
E) plants are the base of all ecological food chains.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Application/Analysis
4) CO2 makes up about ________ percent of the atmosphere.
A) 0.035
B) 0.35
C) 3.5
D) 35
E) 37
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
5) Photosynthesizers take in carbon dioxide, whereas decomposers ________ carbon dioxide.
A) yield up
B) take in
C) destroy
D) fix
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
6) Nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is converted to forms of nitrogen usable by vegetation via:
A) assimilation.
B) denitrification.
C) fixation.
D) nitrification.
E) decomposition.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
7) Why have legumes been planted as a cover crop to improve the soil fertility of a field?
A) Legumes aid organic decomposition.
B) The leaves of legumes absorb more nitrogen than other plants.
C) Legumes need about 100 times less nitrogen than other plants.
D) Legumes have carbon-fixing bacteria in their root nodules.
E) Legumes have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules.
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
8) What major agricultural innovation in the early twentieth century allowed for production of far more food on arable land?
A) the discovery of crop rotation
B) use of fish as fertilizer
C) concentration of carbon fertilizer
D) industrial nitrogen fixation
E) genetically modified crops
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
9) Why are nitrogen and the nitrogen cycle important to living things?
A) Nitrogen is an essential part of all organic molecules.
B) Nitrogen is an essential part of proteins, RNA, and DNA.
C) Nitrogen is an important biotic component of ecosystems.
D) The release of nitrogen from fossil fuels counteracts global warming.
E) The release of nitrogen during cellular respiration contributes to global warming.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
10) About how much of the atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?
A) 1 percent
B) 23 percent
C) 52 percent
D) 78 percent
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
11) What is the "downside" to extensive use of synthesized nitrogen-containing fertilizers?
A) The use of the fertilizers results in fertilizer resistance in crops.
B) The use of the fertilizers results in loss of a large percentage of crops to fertilizer burn every year
C) Nitrogen-rich runoff contributes to algal blooms and dead zones in bodies of water.
D) The expense of the process makes food less affordable.
E) Synthesized nitrogen interferes with transport in some plants.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
12) Which of the following was historically considered to be the biggest limiting factor in worldwide food production up until the last century?
A) nitrogen
B) carbon
C) seed availability
D) land
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
13) Which of the following statements is true?
A) Glaciers make up about 20 percent of Earth's freshwater pool.
B) An aquifer is a pool of freshwater perched over the base groundwater that is accessible by humans.
C) Transpiration moves saltwater to the atmosphere and then to freshwater pools on Earth's surface.
D) About 2.5 percent of Earth's water is fresh at any given time.
E) The process of respiration is critical for maintaining the freshwater pools on Earth's surface.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
14) The two main processes that return water to the atmosphere are evaporation and:
A) leaching.
B) transpiration.
C) runoff.
D) aquifer containment.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
15) Groundwater that is trapped between two layers of impermeable rock is called a/an:
A) confined well.
B) confined aquifer.
C) unconfined aquifer.
D) unconfined well.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
16) An astounding 20 percent of the world's freshwater runoff comes from what single source?
A) icebergs
B) aquifer discharge
C) the Great Lakes
D) the Mediterranean Sea
E) the Amazon River
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
17) Which of the following water uses is estimated to be the highest in human society?
A) households
B) agriculture
C) sewage systems
D) industry
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
18) What is the main consideration in determining a trophic level?
A) energy loss level
B) efficiency level
C) feeding level
D) community level
E) production level
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
19) Herbivores would usually be placed in which trophic level?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
E) either the third or fourth
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
20) Which of the following trophic levels could include carnivores?
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth
E) either the third or fourth
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
21) What role is a wolf playing when it eats a rabbit that eats grass on a prairie in Wisconsin?
A) producer
B) primary consumer
C) secondary consumer
D) tertiary consumer
E) detritivore
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
22) Decomposer fungi are examples of a:
A) producer.
B) primary consumer.
C) secondary consumer.
D) tertiary consumer.
E) detritivore.
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
23) A dung beetle is an example of a:
A) producer.
B) primary consumer.
C) secondary consumer.
D) tertiary consumer.
E) detritivore.
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
24) As a general rule, for each jump up in trophic level, about how much does the available energy drop?
A) 10 percent
B) 30 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 90 percent
E) practically 100 percent
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
25) Phytoplankton are:
A) producers.
B) primary consumers.
C) secondary consumers.
D) tertiary consumers.
E) detritivores.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
26) Net primary production is:
A) the amount of material a plant accumulates as a result of photosynthesis.
B) the net energy received by plants after subtracting what is turned into plant material.
C) the total energy received by plants from sunlight.
D) the total energy received by plants from sunlight in usable wavelengths.
E) only the energy received by plants that is converted into protein.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
27) Which of the following would produce an ecosystem with a small number of trophic levels?
A) an ecosystem with short growing seasons
B) coldwater ocean ecosystems
C) an ecosystem in which insects are absent
D) an ecosystem small in size and biomass
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
28) The Venus flytrap is a photosynthetic plant that can trap and eat small insects. The Venus flytrap is a:
A) secondary consumer.
B) producer.
C) tertiary consumer.
D) both a producer and secondary consumer.
E) both a producer and tertiary consumer.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
29) Humans function primarily at which trophic levels?
A) producers; primary consumers
B) all trophic levels
C) secondary consumers; tertiary consumers
D) primary consumers; secondary consumers
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Application/Analysis
30) The lowest layer of the atmosphere, from sea level to about 7.4 miles, is the:
A) troposphere.
B) stratosphere.
C) ozone layer.
D) ionosphere.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.4
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
31) About 99 percent of the UV radiation that the sun showers on Earth is blocked by:
A) stratospheric ozone.
B) stratospheric greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and water.
C) the magnetic fields that surround the Earth.
D) tropospheric greenhouse gases, such as CO2 and water.
E) ground level ozone.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.4
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
32) The "ozone hole" is caused by the:
A) buildup of toxic ozone in the troposphere over cities such as Los Angeles from human-caused pollution.
B) depletion of ozone in the troposphere by chemicals such as CFCs.
C) depletion of ozone in the stratosphere by chemicals such as CFCs.
D) increase in warming due to high levels of ozone in the troposphere.
E) depletion of ozone in the troposphere due to greenhouse gases.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.4
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
33) CO2 is a greenhouse gas because it:
A) increases the heat capacity of the stratosphere.
B) increases the reflection of short-wave energy from the sun.
C) traps long-wave heat energy near Earth's lower atmosphere.
D) traps short-wave energy near Earth's lower atmosphere.
E) causes the destruction of ozone in the near-surface atmosphere.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.5
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
34) Which major problem for land-based ecosystems would result from global warming?
A) A rise in sea levels would drive in competitors.
B) A danger would result for species that cannot migrate in response to habitat change.
C) The excess CO2 could be lethal.
D) Increased fire danger would result in northern United States and Canada.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.5
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
35) Ecosystems in the United States experience seasonality because:
A) Earth is tilted with respect to the orbit around the sun.
B) the rotation of Earth causes a rhythmic circulation of Earth's atmosphere.
C) Earth rotates on it's axis relative to the sun.
D) there is a predictable seasonal solar activity cycle.
E) Earth is closer to the sun in summer and farther away in winter.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
36) The "rain shadow" effect occurs because:
A) cloud shadows move from east to west, dropping moisture on the east of mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere.
B) cool air masses warm as they move closer to the sun, dropping moisture on the west side of mountains.
C) air cools as it rises and drops most of its moisture on one side of the mountain, and then mostly dry air moves to the other side of the mountain.
D) clouds don't drop moisture over mountain chains.
E) precipitation patterns follow the tilt of Earth's axis.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
37) At about 30 degrees north and south of the equator there are dry regions on Earth. Why?
A) Warm air rises and evaporates, leaving dry, cool air with no clouds.
B) Cool air falls, is warmed, and absorbs moisture.
C) Warm air falls and absorbs moisture as it cools near the surface.
D) Cool air rises, and water condenses.
E) Air flows laterally across the land from the temperate zone.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
38) Earth is generally hotter at the equator because:
A) the sun shines over the equator evenly through the year, rather than seasonally.
B) Earth's rotation on a tilted axis increases seasonality.
C) the natural oval shape of Earth places the equator nearer the sun than the poles.
D) the Earth receives the most direct sunlight over the course of the year at the equator.
E) Earth's rotation on a tilted axis creates an atmospheric drag at the equator, warming the air.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
39) Which of the following best describes a biome?
A) large terrestrial regions with similar climate and similar types of plant life
B) small terrestrial regions with similar climate and the similar communities of organisms
C) three different classes of ecosystems based on high, medium, or low rainfall
D) three different classes of ecosystems based high, medium, or low temperature
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
40) Tundra is characterized by:
A) low rainfall, deep water penetration, and trees with a vibrant understory of moss.
B) high rainfall, slowly growing trees, and low temperatures.
C) low rainfall, coniferous trees, and permafrost.
D) low rainfall, dry soils, and permafrost.
E) low rainfall, seasonally wet soils, and permafrost.
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
41) Taiga is characterized by:
A) pines as an early successional stage before deciduous trees, rich understory, and cold climate.
B) few ecological dominants, short growing seasons, and sparse deciduous trees.
C) poor drainage over permafrost, few to no trees, and short growing season; shrubs and sedges dominate.
D) permafrost, short growing seasons, and sparse coniferous trees.
E) coniferous forest, low tree diversity, and no permafrost.
Answer: E
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
42) Nutrient-poor and often acidic soils with low amounts of organic matter are often found in a ________ ecosystem.
A) desert
B) temperate grassland
C) tropical rain forest
D) deciduous forest
E) chaparral
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
43) Which of the following statements is true?
A) The temperate deciduous forest is composed of a high diversity of deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the fall because of low soil fertility.
B) Agriculture is often not very successful in a tropical forest because of the poor soils.
C) The high species diversity of a tropical rain forest is supported by a high diversity of soil organisms, high soil fertility, and high rainfall.
D) Agriculture is often not very successful in grasslands because of the poor soils.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
44) Is there photosynthetic activity in the benthic zone of the ocean?
A) No, because nutrient availability is too low.
B) No, because this is below the photic zone.
C) Yes, because this is the zone of high light penetration and photosynthetic activity.
D) Yes, because this is the richest zone for nutrient turnover due to microbial activity.
E) Yes, because high light and high nutrient conditions are optimal for phytoplankton production.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
45) A marine biologist designs a study to measure net primary productivity in the world's oceans. She travels to the coastal zone of each continent, takes measurements from north, south, east, and west points along the continent, and combines her data into a global average. Will these measurements be accurate?
A) No, because ocean productivity is greatest past the intertidal zone.
B) Yes, but only if she is sure to sample different climatic zones carefully, because production in different climatic zones may vary by an order of magnitude.
C) No, because the continental edges have much higher productivities than the open ocean.
D) No, because ocean life is greatest near the poles and decreases toward the equator.
E) Yes, because although production in different climate zones differs, the open ocean is well mixed because of strong ocean circulation patterns.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Application/Analysis
46) The coastal zone is best described as the:
A) area between high and low tide.
B) main profundal zone of the ocean.
C) zone where freshwater and saltwater mix.
D) area between high tide and the edge of the continental shelf.
E) area between low tide and the start of the benthic zone.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
47) Coral reefs are highly productive and diverse ecosystems because :
A) they are made of limestone that supports many species of zooplankton with high productivity.
B) corals produce limestone skeletons that create habitats for many ocean species.
C) they are composed of polyps that live in and are adapted to warm, shallow tropical waters with high nutrient availability.
D) they have high turnover rates with high polyp production.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
48) In lakes, rooted plants may grow in the ________ zone but no photosynthesizing life is found in the ________ zone.
A) littoral; profundal
B) profundal; pelagic
C) littoral; pelagic
D) benthic; profundal
E) littoral; benthic
Answer: A
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
49) Oligotrophic lakes have:
A) low oxygen concentrations in the summer.
B) clear water with high production.
C) clear water with low nutrient levels.
D) high nutrient levels and high production by phytoplankton.
E) the largest numbers and diversity of organisms.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
50) Which aquatic ecosystem is characterized by ocean tides and river flow stirring up nutrients and producing abundant life?
A) the pelagic zone
B) the intertidal zone
C) estuaries
D) coral reefs
E) wetlands
Answer: C
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
51) The biotic factors in an ecosystem include all organic materials, living and nonliving.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.1
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
52) Photosynthesis is the main process by which carbon dioxide moves from the atmosphere to biomass.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
53) Respiration is the only major process through which carbon moves from organic molecules back to the atmosphere.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
54) Atmospheric N2 is useless to plants.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
55) Too much nutrient runoff, particularly from nitrogen fertilizers, can cause dead zones in bodies of water.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
56) Lakes and rivers account for slightly more available freshwater than groundwater does.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
57) Human industry is responsible for more nitrogen fixation worldwide than soil bacteria.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
58) An animal that exclusively eats grasses would be both a primary consumer and an herbivore.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
59) An animal that eats a primary consumer is categorized as being in the second trophic level.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
60) There would be roughly the same biomass of secondary consumers as tertiary consumers in an ecosystem.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
61) Most of the gases in the atmosphere are found in the troposphere.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.4
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
62) Recent evidence has shown chlorofluorocarbons have no effect on ozone.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.4
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
63) Scientists predict climate change related to CO2 will increase temperatures over the next century but will have no effect on sea level or precipitation patterns.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.5
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
64) Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
65) Areas near the equator tend to be wetter because of the combination of ocean evaporation and rising air.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.6
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
66) Both the taiga and tundra are known for having permafrost soils.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
67) The North American prairie and the Russian "steppes" are both temperate grasslands.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
68) Hot weather is common to all deserts.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
69) Tropical rainforests are known for having high biodiversity but relatively poor soil.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
70) Overall, the abundance of life is higher in the coastal zones of marine ecosystems than the open ocean.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 36.8
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
Match the following.
A) abundant trees; many woody and herbaceous plants
B) prairie; somewhat lower rainfall than forests
C) evergreen shrubs; rainy winters/dry summers
D) conifers; low species diversity
E) "treeless plain"; permafrost
71) Tundra
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
72) Taiga
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
73) Temperate grassland
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
74) Chaparral
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
75) Temperate deciduous forest
Topic: Section 36.7
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
Answers: 71) E 72) D 73) B 74) C 75) A
76) An aquifer that may contribute some surface water is a/an ________ aquifer.
Answer: unconfined
Topic: Section 36.2
Skill: Knowledge/Comprehension
77) A carnivore, such as a lion, that mainly eats herbivores, such as zebras and wildebeests, would be placed at which trophic level?
Answer: As a secondary consumer, the lion would be in the third trophic level.
Topic: Section 36.3
Skill: Applicatio