end of chapter quiz: chapter 23

Question 1

1. Your college campus, including all the humans and other living
   things that occupy it as well as its physical environment, such
   as the buildings, soil, water, and air, is a(n):
   a. population
   b. community
   c. ecosystem
   d. biosphere

Answer 1

c

Question 2

2. Which of the following will affect the biotic potential of
   a species?
   a. length of time it takes an individual to reach maturity
   b. number of members of the population at reproductive age
   c. number of offspring produced by each reproducing
   member
   d. all of the above

Answer 2

d

Question 3

3. If a population has taken 18 years to double in size, what has
   been its growing rate per year?
   a. 2%
   b. 2.5 %
   c. 4%
   d. 5%

Answer 3

c

Question 4

The large intestine of humans is populated by a complex
community of benign microorganisms (not harmful) which
compete for nutrients and may prevent pathogenic (harmful)
microorganisms from becoming established. Which term would
best describe this?
a. competitive exclusion
b. selective pressure
c. succession
d. environmental resistance

Answer 4

a

Question 5

5. Which of the following characterizes mature communities?
   a. They contain a limited number of different species.
   b. They are generally stable and long-lived.
   c. They contain equal numbers of producers and consumers.
   d. They can be reestablished quickly following significant environmental change.

Answer 5

b

Question 6

6. __________ flow(s) one-way through ecosystems while
   __________ is/are recycled.
   a. Biomass . . . elements
   b. Energy . . . elements
   c. Elements . . . energy
   d. Producers . . . consumers

Answer 6

b

Question 7

7. Which of the following consumers is incorrectly paired to their
   source of food?
   a. omnivores – plants and animals
   b. decomposers – bacteria and fungi
   c. herbivores – plants
   d. carnivores – animals

Answer 7

b

Question 8

8. Plants (__________) provide energy and nutrients to animals
   (__________). In turn, animals supply plants with __________.
   a. consumers . . . producers . . . O2
   b. producers . . . carnivores . . . H2O
   c. producers . . . consumers . . . CO2
   d. producers . . . consumers . . . O2

Answer 8

c

Question 9

9. All of the following processes are involved in the carbon cycle
   except:
   a. photosynthesis
   b. cell respiration
   c. evaporation
   d. decomposition

Answer 9

c

Question 10

10. The shape of an ecological pyramid, with each successive layer
    being smaller than the one below it, can be explained most
    readily by:
    a. the first law of thermodynamics
    b. inefficient geochemical cycles
    c. the second law of thermodynamics
    d. industrialization

Answer 10

c

Question 11

11. Plant growth is most likely to be limited by the available supply
    of usable:
    a. nitrogen
    b. carbon
    c. oxygen
    d. phosphorus

Answer 11

a

Question 12

12. Which biogeochemical cycle does not include exchange with
    the atmosphere?
    a. nitrogen
    b. carbon
    c. phosphorus
    d. water

Answer 12

c

Question 13

13. The biogeochemical cycles involve the cycling of key
    molecules and elements between a reservoir, an exchange
    pool, and:
    a. the biomass
    b. producers
    c. consumers
    d. decomposers

Answer 13

a

Question 14

14. What would happen to the human population if the number of
    births becomes equal to the number of deaths?
    a. The human growing rate would be 1.1% per year.
    b. The human population curve would acquire a J-shape.
    c. The Earth’s carrying capacity would decrease.
    d. The human population would stop growing.

Answer 14

d

Question 15

15. Which statement about the human fertility rate is true?
    a. Fertility rates are the same in all human populations.
    b. Fertility rates can apply to both men and women.
    c. A sustained fertility rate of 2.1 would eventually lead to zero
    population growth.
    d. Death rates are factored in when calculating fertility rates.

Answer 15

c