University of Michigan
4 MAXE · 171 OIB
M
★ ★
UMICH Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
EST. 1817
ARTES · SCIENTIA · VERITAS
BIO 171 — Exam 4 Learning Objectives
E CO SYST E M E CO LO G Y, B I O G E O C H E M I ST RY, C L I M AT E C H A N G E & CO N S E R VAT I O N
B I O LO G Y
INSTITUTION University of Michigan COURSE CODE BIO 171
PROGRAM Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE BIO 171 Exam 4 — Learning TOTAL QUESTIONS 64 Questions
Objectives Study Guide
COURSE TITLE Introductory Biology: Ecology & FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Evolutionary Biology Single Best Answer
LEARNING OBJECTIVES EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover ecosystem ecology, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, biodiversity,
and conservation biology.
▸ Content is aligned with University of Michigan BIO 171 Exam 4 Learning Objectives.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
, BIO 171 EXAM 4 — ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY,
Questions 1 – 64
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, CLIMATE CHANGE & CONSERVATION
1. Which abiotic factors affect the biological community, and how do they influence energy
flow through an ecosystem?
A. Soil, climate, atmosphere, and matter/solutes in water affect primary productivity, which
links primary producers, consumers, decomposers, and the abiotic environment in
energy flow
B. Only temperature affects ecosystems; other factors are irrelevant
C. Only water availability matters for energy flow
D. Abiotic factors have no effect on energy flow
CORRECT ANSWER A — Soil, climate, atmosphere, and water solutes affect primary
productivity, linking all ecosystem components in energy flow
RATIONALE Per the source material, abiotic factors (soil, climate, atmosphere, water solutes)
influence primary productivity, which is the foundation of energy flow. Energy
links four components: primary producers, abiotic environment, consumers, and
decomposers. If an abiotic factor negatively affects the ecosystem, energy flow to
the next trophic level is impacted.
2. Chemoautotrophs obtain energy from:
A. Chemical energy stored in bonds of inorganic molecules like hydrogen sulfide
B. Sunlight captured by chlorophyll
C. Consuming other organisms
D. Absorbing heat from the environment
CORRECT ANSWER A — Chemical energy from inorganic molecules like hydrogen sulfide
RATIONALE Per the source material, chemoautotrophs obtain energy from chemical bonds in
inorganic molecules (such as hydrogen sulfide), not from sunlight. This is a
unique prokaryotic metabolism found in Bacteria and Archaea domains.
Photoautotrophs (option B) use sunlight. Heterotrophs (option C) consume other
organisms.
,3. Which primary producers are dominant in terrestrial habitats?
A. Non-algal plants, mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
B. Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae
C. Only fungi
D. Only chemoautotrophs
CORRECT ANSWER A — Non-algal plants, mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
RATIONALE Per the source material, terrestrial primary producers are predominantly non-
algal plants: mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Aquatic primary
producers (option B) are primarily microbes — cyanobacteria and eukaryotic
algae (green algae and diatoms).
4. The shared derived trait of land plants is:
A. Alternation of generations (multicellular haploid and diploid life stages)
B. Seeds and pollen
C. Flowers and fruit
D. Vascular tissue (xylem and phloem)
CORRECT ANSWER A — Alternation of generations
RATIONALE Per the source material, land plants share alternation of generations
(multicellular haploid and diploid stages). Vascular plants (option D) have
vascular tissue. Seed plants (option B) have seeds and pollen. Angiosperms
(option C) have flowers and fruit. Each group adds traits on top of the ancestral
ones.
, 5. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is related to Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) by which
equation?
A. NPP = GPP - Respiration (R)
B. NPP = GPP + Respiration (R)
C. NPP = GPP × Respiration (R)
D. NPP = GPP / Respiration (R)
CORRECT ANSWER A — NPP = GPP - Respiration (R)
RATIONALE Per the source material, NPP is the chemical energy remaining after autotrophs
use some of the energy they produced for their own cellular respiration. NPP
represents the energy available to consumers. NPP = GPP - R is the fundamental
relationship.
6. What are the key drivers of global terrestrial NPP patterns?
A. Temperature and precipitation, with a latitudinal pattern (decreases from equator to
poles)
B. Only soil pH
C. Only wind speed
D. Only atmospheric oxygen concentration
CORRECT ANSWER A — Temperature and precipitation; latitudinal pattern decreasing from
equator to poles
RATIONALE Per the source material, global terrestrial NPP is primarily driven by temperature
and precipitation, showing a latitudinal gradient — highest near the equator
(warm, wet) and decreasing toward the poles (cold, dry). Deserts are exceptions
with low productivity despite being at lower latitudes.
4 MAXE · 171 OIB
M
★ ★
UMICH Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
EST. 1817
ARTES · SCIENTIA · VERITAS
BIO 171 — Exam 4 Learning Objectives
E CO SYST E M E CO LO G Y, B I O G E O C H E M I ST RY, C L I M AT E C H A N G E & CO N S E R VAT I O N
B I O LO G Y
INSTITUTION University of Michigan COURSE CODE BIO 171
PROGRAM Ecology & Evolutionary Biology ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE BIO 171 Exam 4 — Learning TOTAL QUESTIONS 64 Questions
Objectives Study Guide
COURSE TITLE Introductory Biology: Ecology & FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Evolutionary Biology Single Best Answer
LEARNING OBJECTIVES EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover ecosystem ecology, energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, climate change, biodiversity,
and conservation biology.
▸ Content is aligned with University of Michigan BIO 171 Exam 4 Learning Objectives.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question.
, BIO 171 EXAM 4 — ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY,
Questions 1 – 64
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, CLIMATE CHANGE & CONSERVATION
1. Which abiotic factors affect the biological community, and how do they influence energy
flow through an ecosystem?
A. Soil, climate, atmosphere, and matter/solutes in water affect primary productivity, which
links primary producers, consumers, decomposers, and the abiotic environment in
energy flow
B. Only temperature affects ecosystems; other factors are irrelevant
C. Only water availability matters for energy flow
D. Abiotic factors have no effect on energy flow
CORRECT ANSWER A — Soil, climate, atmosphere, and water solutes affect primary
productivity, linking all ecosystem components in energy flow
RATIONALE Per the source material, abiotic factors (soil, climate, atmosphere, water solutes)
influence primary productivity, which is the foundation of energy flow. Energy
links four components: primary producers, abiotic environment, consumers, and
decomposers. If an abiotic factor negatively affects the ecosystem, energy flow to
the next trophic level is impacted.
2. Chemoautotrophs obtain energy from:
A. Chemical energy stored in bonds of inorganic molecules like hydrogen sulfide
B. Sunlight captured by chlorophyll
C. Consuming other organisms
D. Absorbing heat from the environment
CORRECT ANSWER A — Chemical energy from inorganic molecules like hydrogen sulfide
RATIONALE Per the source material, chemoautotrophs obtain energy from chemical bonds in
inorganic molecules (such as hydrogen sulfide), not from sunlight. This is a
unique prokaryotic metabolism found in Bacteria and Archaea domains.
Photoautotrophs (option B) use sunlight. Heterotrophs (option C) consume other
organisms.
,3. Which primary producers are dominant in terrestrial habitats?
A. Non-algal plants, mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
B. Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae
C. Only fungi
D. Only chemoautotrophs
CORRECT ANSWER A — Non-algal plants, mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
RATIONALE Per the source material, terrestrial primary producers are predominantly non-
algal plants: mosses, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Aquatic primary
producers (option B) are primarily microbes — cyanobacteria and eukaryotic
algae (green algae and diatoms).
4. The shared derived trait of land plants is:
A. Alternation of generations (multicellular haploid and diploid life stages)
B. Seeds and pollen
C. Flowers and fruit
D. Vascular tissue (xylem and phloem)
CORRECT ANSWER A — Alternation of generations
RATIONALE Per the source material, land plants share alternation of generations
(multicellular haploid and diploid stages). Vascular plants (option D) have
vascular tissue. Seed plants (option B) have seeds and pollen. Angiosperms
(option C) have flowers and fruit. Each group adds traits on top of the ancestral
ones.
, 5. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is related to Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) by which
equation?
A. NPP = GPP - Respiration (R)
B. NPP = GPP + Respiration (R)
C. NPP = GPP × Respiration (R)
D. NPP = GPP / Respiration (R)
CORRECT ANSWER A — NPP = GPP - Respiration (R)
RATIONALE Per the source material, NPP is the chemical energy remaining after autotrophs
use some of the energy they produced for their own cellular respiration. NPP
represents the energy available to consumers. NPP = GPP - R is the fundamental
relationship.
6. What are the key drivers of global terrestrial NPP patterns?
A. Temperature and precipitation, with a latitudinal pattern (decreases from equator to
poles)
B. Only soil pH
C. Only wind speed
D. Only atmospheric oxygen concentration
CORRECT ANSWER A — Temperature and precipitation; latitudinal pattern decreasing from
equator to poles
RATIONALE Per the source material, global terrestrial NPP is primarily driven by temperature
and precipitation, showing a latitudinal gradient — highest near the equator
(warm, wet) and decreasing toward the poles (cold, dry). Deserts are exceptions
with low productivity despite being at lower latitudes.
