Interdependence within Environmental Systems

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A mushroom absorbs nutrients from a decaying log. Which term describes the mushroom?

Absorption is how a mushroom gets its food (energy).

Correct. A mushroom is both a consumer (gets its food from other organisms) and a decomposer (gets its food from the waste or remains of other organisms).

Incorrect. A mushroom is both a consumer (gets its food from other organisms) and a decomposer (gets its food from the waste or remains of other organisms).

A species of hummingbird has a long bill that allows the birds to reach the nectar of certain flowers. Which term describes the long bill?

The long bill helps the hummingbirds of this species live and better meet their needs.

Correct. The long bill is an adaptation that helps this species of hummingbird live and meet its needs better.

Incorrect. The long bill is an adaptation that helps this species of hummingbird live and meet its needs better.

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Algae in the ocean make their own food using energy from sunlight. To what trophic level do algae belong in an ocean ecosystem?

Algae are producers, because they make their own food.

Correct. Algae are in the first trophic level, because they are photosynthetic, getting their energy from the sun.

Incorrect. Algae are in the first trophic level, because they are photosynthetic, getting their energy from the sun.

In a stream ecosystem, is more biomass and energy stored by fly larvae, minnows, and other primary consumers than by trout?

Trout are secondary consumers in the stream ecosystem.

Correct. Trout are secondary consumers (higher trophic level), so they store less biomass and energy than organisms in the first trophic level. Only ~10% of energy is passed to the next higher trophic level.

Incorrect. Trout are secondary consumers (higher trophic level), so they store less biomass and energy than organisms in the first trophic level. Only ~10% of energy is passed to the next higher trophic level.

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Panda bears in a Chinese bamboo forest feed almost exclusively on bamboo. Which of the following external factors would likely increase the panda population?

Panda bear populations decrease if pandas cannot find enough bamboo to eat.

Correct. A larger protected forest would enlarge panda habitat and food availability for the panda population, allowing members to better survive and reproduce.

Incorrect. A larger protected forest would enlarge panda habitat and food availability for the panda population, allowing members to better survive and reproduce.

What factors may limit the size of the shrimp population in a salt water marsh ecosystem?

Limiting factors can be biotic or abiotic.

Correct. Food availability, environmental conditions, and pressure from predators can all limit the shrimp population.

Incorrect. Food availability, environmental conditions, and pressure from predators can all limit the shrimp population.

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Which of the following are possible signs that an environmental change is causing instability in an ecosystem?

Environmental changes can be caused by nature or by humans.

Correct. Ecosystem instability may result in a reduction in biodiversity or abundance or even in a large increase in a species' abundance.

Incorrect. Ecosystem instability may result in a reduction in biodiversity or abundance or even in a large increase in a species' abundance.

Which of the following change nitrogen from the form found in air into plant-ready nitrates?

Lightning, certain bacteria, and decomposers all produce plant-ready nitrates.

Correct. Lightning and nitrifying bacteria convert nitrogen from the form found in air to plant-ready nitrates.

Correct. Lightning and nitrifying bacteria convert nitrogen from the form found in air to plant-ready nitrates.

Which of the following events might begin a process of secondary ecological succession?

Secondary ecological succession is a rebuilding process that occurs after the disruption or destruction of a community.

Correct. A forest fire kills many organisms, but the soil and some organisms and/or their seeds would remain. Thus, a forest fire would be followed by secondary ecological succession.

Incorrect. A forest fire kills many organisms, but the soil and some organisms and/or their seeds would remain. Thus, a forest fire would be followed by secondary ecological succession.

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Which of the following is a beneficial role of bacteria?

Bacteria can be harmful or beneficial to humans.

Correct. Bacteria can decompose waste oil from a spill, which benefits the ecosystem in which the oil was spilled.

Incorrect. Bacteria can decompose waste oil from a spill, which benefits the ecosystem in which the oil was spilled.

Which of the following is a pioneer organism?

Pioneer organisms break down rocks to create soil during the process of primary succession.

Correct. Shadow lichens are pioneer organisms that can survive and reproduce in an ecosystem experiencing primary ecological succession.

Incorrect. Shadow lichens are pioneer organisms that can survive and reproduce in an ecosystem experiencing primary ecological succession.

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Which of the following is likely to occur if the ecosystem is stable?

A stable ecosystem is one that is not undergoing a significant environmental change(s) that affects populations.

Correct. In a stable ecosystem, the deer population would cycle within "normal" limits, peaking when fawns are born each year.

Incorrect. In a stable ecosystem, the deer population would cycle within "normal" limits, peaking when fawns are born each year.

Which of the following is not a step in the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle moves carbon from storage in one form or location to another.

Correct. Denitrification is a step in the nitrogen cycle, not the carbon cycle.

Incorrect. Denitrification is a step in the nitrogen cycle, not the carbon cycle.

Which of the following is not recycled in an ecosystem?

Energy can only move in one direction through an ecosystem.

Correct. Sunlight, a form of energy, is not recycled in an ecosystem. It is converted to different forms, such as sugar or waste heat.

Incorrect. Sunlight, a form of energy, is not recycled in an ecosystem. It is converted to different forms, such as sugar or waste heat.

Which term describes the relationship between a bromeliad plant and the tree that it lives on (so that the bromeliad can reach sunlight)?

The bromeliad benefits while there is no important effect on the tree.

Correct. The bromeliad benefits while the tree is not harmed, and so this relationship is commensalism.

Incorrect. The bromeliad benefits while the tree is not harmed, and so this relationship is commensalism.

Which term describes the relationship between two plants that uptake water and nutrients from the same area?

The two plants are struggling with each other for the same resources.

Correct. Because the plants compete with each other for the same resourcees, this relationship is competition.

Incorrect. Building dams and dikes is the human-caused change to the ecosystem, reduced flooding is the first effect (caused by the dams/dikes), and poorer soils is the second effect (caused by the reduced flooding).