This test has two sections: first a series of example questions in a non-interactive format, and then a short set of multiple choice questions with an interactive interface.
Fill in the Blanks (one point for each blank):
An [BLANK] is an organism capable of fixing inorganic carbon into organic compounds. ln contrast, a [BLANK] must consume organic carbon compounds as an energy source.
Water has a high [BLANK] therefore it takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of organisms.
The enzyme [BLANK] has a higher affinity for C02 than the enzyme [BLANK], allowing C4 plants to keep their stomata closed for longer periods than C3 plants.
Freshwater fishes produce the toxic compound [BLANK] as a consequence of protein metabolism, while terrestrial animals produce less toxic compounds like urea in order to save [BLANK].
[BLANK] rule is the ecogeographic trend for related species of homeotherms to have larger bodies in colder climates.
Animals that regulate their temperature within a narrow range used to be called "warm blooded", but a more modern term for them is [BLANK]
A [BLANK] animal is one that is active during the day, a [BLANK] animal is most active at night, and [BLANK] animals are most active at dawn and dusk.
As a general rule, about [BLANK] percent of the energy consumed by one trophic level is passed on to the net trophic level.
[BLANK] primary production is equal to [BLANK] primary production minus [BLANK]
In water, photosynthesis is most often measured using changes in concentration of [BLANK] in the water, but in terrestrial environments, changes in concentration of [BLANK] in the atmosphere are more commonly used.
The geographical extent of a biome is controlled by [BLANK].
The movement of water from areas of low salt content to areas of higher salt content is called [BLANK].
A small patch of hospitable environment within an otherwise inhospitable region is called a [BLANK].
The loss of water from soils by [BLANK] largely balances water gained by soils from [BLANK].
The flow of energy in an ecosystem can be best traced by following the pathways of the cycling of which element? [BLANK].
The cycling of [BLANK] in an ecosystem controls the flow of [BLANK] in the ecosystem by controlling the [BLANK] of the primary producers.
Matching questions List all of the letters a-I that apply to the following types of plant metabolism.
1. C3 Plants
2. C4 Plants
3. CAM Plants
b. RUBPcase
c. water conservation adaptation
d. most trees
e. PEPcase
f. bundle sheaths
g. Calvin cycle
h. segregation in space of C02 fixation and photosynthesis
i. segregation in time of C02 fixation and photosynthesis
j. desert succulents
k. many grasses.
l. Krantz anatomy
Match the letters m-r to these influential ecosystem ecologists. Only 1 letter per ecologist, use each letter only once.
4. Lindeman
5. Clements
6. Odum
7. Elton
8. Tansley
9. Gleason
n. defined the ecosystem
o. food web concept
p. energy flow diagrams
q. trophic-dynamic concept
r. Communities as superorganisms
Short answer questions. Answer the following questions in 3-5 complete sentences, and clear diagrams where appropriate, in the space provided. Show some thought!
1. Compare an ecologist to an environmentalist.
2. Compare the ancient earth atmosphere to the present atmosphere. What has caused the differences?
3. Why are most plants green?
4. In the woodland-grassland-shrubland biome, what controls the dominant vegetation type?
5. Lindeman expanded on Elton's therories of food chains. What did each believe limited the numbers of organisms at each step in the food chain?
6. What determines the efficiency of energy transfer between animal trophic levels?