WorksheetsEnvSys Unit 3 Test Review
Total questions: 18
Worksheet time: 9mins
Recent climate data suggests a global warming trend. Disruption of which natural cycle most likely contributes to this temperature increase?
Phosphorus cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Potassium cycle
Carbon cycle
Fluctuations in the hydrologic (water) cycle could negatively affect a desert biome in all these ways except ―
change in seasonal cycles causes animal populations to migrate or hibernate
animals breed at a time when there are limited resources available
fluctuation causes species loss
formation of a new ecosystem
Which of the biogeochemical cycles have the greatest interaction with the phosphorus cycle to bring inorganic phosphate to plants?
Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Hydrologic (water) cycle
Sulfur Cycle
Farmers decide to stop growing legume crops. This reduces the number of nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria.
How would this affect the nitrogen cycle?
Precipitation would increase, causing lightning to fix more nitrogen in the atmosphere.
After a few years, plant production would decrease and farmers would have to add more synthetic fertilizers to get the same crop yields.
The amount of atmospheric nitrogen would decrease.
In a biome, elements such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and carbon move between living things and their environment. These transfers of matter are part of —
ecological succession
energy pyramids
biogeochemical cycles
symbiotic relationships
A student made a model of the Earth and its atmosphere by covering a box with plastic wrap and placing thermometers inside and outside of the box. A heat lamp was shined on the box. The temperature inside the box increased at a faster rate than the outside temperature.
This model best represents —
the role of carbon dioxide in trapping heat from radiation in the greenhouse effect
the effects of acid rain on temperature inversions
the role of convection creating the Coriolis Effect in the ocean
ozone depletion and its effect on global temperatures
Deep water ocean currents, sometimes called “conveyer belt currents,” flow as warm waters from the Gulfstream lose thermal energy, decrease in density, and sink in the Northern Atlantic. The waters then flow southward and eventually into the Pacific where they are heated again and rise.
Energy flows through this system due to —
conduction
convection
radiation
deposition
Scientists have observed that ecosystems rarely contain more than a few trophic levels. What is the most likely explanation for this observation, based on the second law of thermodynamics?
Energy transfer efficiency is high because heat is stored at each trophic level.
Energy amounts remain constant when transferred between levels.
Energy cannot be transferred through trophic levels.
Energy transfer efficiency is low because heat is released at each trophic level.
The 10% rule in ecosystems states that a consumer only receives approximately 10% of the energy from the organism consumed. How does the 10% rule adhere to the laws of thermodynamics?
According to the 1st law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be converted to food energy by prey.
According to the 1st law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be created, but it can be destroyed when it is used by the producer.
According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, energy is lost as heat each time it is converted to a new form.
According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, the total energy of prey is always less than the total energy of predators.
Food waste in a compost bin gives off heat as it decomposes. What is the best explanation of this phenomenon?
As worms move through the soil, they generate heat due to friction.
Water in the compost pile heats as it evaporates.
As communities of decomposers break down waste, their cellular respiration gives off thermal energy.
Solar radiation causes the compost pile to heat faster than the surrounding area.
Which of the following is an example of the biosphere using energy from the hydrosphere?
Humans make dams in rivers to generate electricity.
Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce food.
Rain water washes away algal blooms that have grown in still water.
Hippopotamuses use bodies of water to reduce their body temperature.
A food web is best used to show —
the energy interactions among some organisms in an ecosystem
all of the producers and consumers found in an ecosystem
relative population size of many organisms in an ecosystem
the natural selection process of a group of organisms in an ecosystem
Based on the information from the graphic above, how does energy enter into the ecosystem?
Tuna eat all of the consumers and producers below in the food chain, bringing energy into the ecosystem.
Phytoplankton convert radiant energy into food, bringing energy into the ecosystem.
Zooplankton eat phytoplankton, bringing energy into the ecosystem.
The heat of the ocean water is absorbed by all organisms, bringing energy into the ecosystem.
Which of the following natural events would most likely have the longest impact on the affected ecosystem?
Earthquake
Fire
Volcano
Hurricane
What conclusion can be drawn from the graphic below?
Community B developed into Community A after a period of 50 years.
Community C replaced Community D after a period of 100 years.
Community D is the most stable community.
Community E is the most stable community.
What type of succession happens in an area directly after a glacier retreat?
Primary Succession
Secondary Succession
Tertiary Succession
Climax succession
According to the table, which organism served as a pioneer species in this area after the glacier retreat?
Hemlock trees
spruce trees
willow trees
lichens
Which of the following statements about succession is most accurate?
Secondary succession occurs when there is no soil, such as when a glacier recedes.
Primary succession occurs in areas where soil remains after a disturbance, such as plowing a field.
Colonization of the pioneer species is much slower in secondary succession.
Through succession, most communities will become more stable over time.
