Chapter 11

Question 1

The living portion of an ecosystem is called the abiotic component.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Bioremediation is an example of a service that an ecosystem can provide.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The ecological pyramids of most terrestrial systems have a minimum of five levels.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Simple ecosystems are less vulnerable to destruction compared to complex ecosystems.

Answer 4

False

Question 5

The entire process of ecological succession requires up to 20 years to complete

Answer 5

False

Question 6

Carbon tends to be the limiting elemental nutrient in terrestrial systems.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

Non-nitrogen fixing terrestrial plants take up nitrogen mostly as NH4

Answer 7

False

Question 8

Tillage helps release mineralized nitrogen in the soil.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Deserts are never utilized for agricultural purposes.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

One of the most common agroecosystems in the United States is the corn-soybean rotation.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Alfalfa can be a common component of an animal-based agroecosystem.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Modern agriculture has resulted in greatly accelerated rates of erosion.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

Wetlands are no longer being drained in the United States

Answer 13

False

Question 14

Which of the following would be considered an abiotic factor of an ecosystem?

Answer 14

water

Question 15

Which component is the start of every food chain?

Answer 15

sun

Question 16

In a food chain, an eagle would be an example of a

Answer 16

secondary consumer

Question 17

In a food chain a plant would be an example of a

Answer 17

primary producer

Question 18

How much energy is generally transferred to each successive level of an ecological pyramid?

Answer 18

10 percent

Question 19

The chemical formula for atmospheric nitrogen is

Answer 19

N2

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the pathways through which atmospheric nitrogen is converted to a usable form for plants?

Answer 20

denitrification fixation

Question 21

Which is the first product in industrial fixation?

Answer 21

NH3

Question 22

Performed by microbes the reverse of the immobilization process is called

Answer 22

mineralization

Question 23

The average percentage of nitrogen in the soil is in the range of

Answer 23

1 to 10 percent

Question 24

Which of the following biomes once occupied 80 percent of North and South America?

Answer 24

grasslands

Question 25

How much of the world’s area is occupied by cultivated cropland and managed pastures?

Answer 25

40 percent

Question 26

Modern agriculture could also be called

a. industrialized agriculture
b. convential agriculture
c. high-input agriculture
d. all of the above are correct

Answer 26

ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE CORRECT

Question 27

One of the reasons the Dust Bowl occured was

Answer 27

tillage of an arid region prone to droughts