APES FRQ's ALL UNITS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2023/2024 LATEST UPDATE

APES FRQ's ALL UNITS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2023/2024 LATEST UPDATE River barriers such as dams are an example of which of the following factors that can lead to species endangerment? a. habitat alteration b. pollution c. commercial harvesting d. direct exploitation e. exotic species introduction - correct answera. habitat alteration A population of rabbits with typical variations of traits lives in a meadow with a depression that runs through the middle. overtime, the depression fills with water and becomes a river, separating the one population into two over a period of several years. This is an example of: a. allopatric speciation b. mutation c. artificial selection d. sympatric speciation e. bottleneck effect - correct answera. allopatric speciation Which of the following measures of biodiversity takes into account the number of species present and the relative abundance of the species present? a. biodiversity index b. species evenness c. shannon's index d. hardy-weinberg index e. species richness - correct answerc. Shannon's index Loblolly pine requires a minimum temperature to grow and thrive. Under current conditions, it is common in the southeastern region of the United States. If climate change increases average temperatures, how would you expect the distribution of the loblolly pine to change? The loblolly pine distribution would... a. spread further to the north b. spread further to the south c. spread further to the west d. spread further to the east e. not change - correct answer What occurs when a small group of a population colonizes a new area? a. artificial selection b. founder effect c. genetic drift d. bottleneck effect e. sympatric speciation - correct answerb. founder effect Which type of species would be most vulnerable to environmental changes? a. species with high genetic variation b. species with a large population size c. niche specialists d. species with rapid reproductive rates e. niche generalists - correct answerc. niche specialists The international legislation that establishes a list of endangered species susceptible to trade and thus forth endangerment is called the... a. Lacey Act b. Marine Mammal Protection Act c. Endangered species act d. National Environmental Protection act e. Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species - correct answere. Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species Which of the following statements about mutations is incorrect? a. mutations may be caused by environmental factors such as UV radiations b. All mutations are harmful c. A mutation is a change in an organism's DNA d. Many mutations cause the offspring to die before they are born e. Mutations may lead to greater genetic diversity - correct answerb. all mutations are harmful Which of the following is not considered to be contributing to the current increase in extinction rates? a. introduction of invasive species b. climate change c. natural selection d. habitat destruction e. overharvesting - correct answerc. natural selection When a population suddenly reduces in size either from habitat loss, natural disaster, or other changes in the environment, its genetic variation is affected. When this occurs, this is known as: a. bottleneck effect b. geographic isolation c. genetic drift d. founder effect e. mutation - correct answera. bottleneck effect Which of the following pairs would increase the rate of evolution within a species? a. rapid environmental change and large population size b. slow environmental change and high genetic variation c. short generation time and large population size d. long generation time and low genetic variation e. large population size and slow environmental change - correct answerb. slow environmental change and high genetic variation The facility known as the Svalbard Global seed vault is designed to preserve a. breeding secrets b. emergency food stores c. know seed pests d. seed diversity e. radioactive seeds too dangerous to plant - correct answerd. seed diversity Which of the following is not a key component of the theory of evolution by natural selection? a. differences in traits are not associated with differences in the ability to survive and reproduce b. individuals differ in their traits c. differences in traits can be passed on from parents to offspring d. not all offspring can survive e. individuals produce an excess of offspring - correct answera. differences in traits are not associated with differences in the ability to survive and reproduce A high degree of genetic diversity within a species would be important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: a. higher overall species diversity b. greater protection against environmental change c. lower potential for inbreeding depression d. higher disease resistance e. increased access to beneficial traits - correct answere. increased access to beneficial traits Which of the following is the best description of evolution? a. the genetic change within a population over one generation b. the increased reproduction of a population c. the growth of an individual from birth to adulthood d. the genetic change in an individual over time e. the genetic change within a population overtime - correct answer When non-local species spread rapidly across large areas, they are called: a. invasive species b. endangered species c. native species d. exotic species e. alien species - correct answera. invasive species The Lacey Act, mandated by the government of the United States, was designed to: a. encourage the harvesting of alien species b. provide a framework of trade of organisms c. inhibit the interstate commerce of illegally harvested species d. raise funds to promote international conservation e. promote the harvesting of species from bordering nations to protect US organisms - correct answerc. inhibit the interstate commerce of illegally harvested species Alien species often pose a threat to native species because: a. the non-native species does not compete with native species b. alien species often have no natural enemies in their new location c. native species refuse to mate with other native species d. native species are less genetically diverse than alien species e. both share similar parasite types - correct answerb. alien species often have no natural enemies in their new location During the winter of 1999, minimum temperatures did not get much below freezing in an Oregon pond, and the following summer large mosquito populations were observed. In the winter of 2000, frost came early, and most ponds froze for 3 months. In the following summer, very low mosquito populations were observed. This is an example of a. exotic regulation b. ecosystem carrying capacity c. density-dependent regulation d. community carrying capacity e. density-independent regulation - correct answere. density-independent regulation Populations of predators increase when populations of prey are high because a. predators' nutrition is better b. reproductive output may increase c. the prey population may be weakened by competition for resources d. it is easier to find prey e. all of the above - correct answer Most parasites have evolved to______their host a. only weaken b. not enough information to tell c. kill d. strengthen e. have no effect on - correct answera. only weaken When all vegetation is removed from a site by human activity or by natural forces such as volcanic activity, ________ species are the first to colonize the site. a. eukaryotic b. pioneer c. prokaryotic d. climax e. deciduous - correct answerb. pioneer An ecosystem's carrying capacity for a population is determined by all of the following factors EXCEPT: a. water b. food c. climatic events, such as tornadoes d. energy e. space - correct answerc. climatic events, such as tornadoes A country's impact on the environment is influenced by i. population ii. technology iii. affluence a. i, ii, and iii b. ii c. ii and iii d. i e. i and iii - correct answera. i, ii, and iii Two species of buttercup can be found in the same field in South Dakota. They emerge at different times: one species emerges and flowers in early spring and the other species emerges in late summer, after the first species has set seed. Both flower species are pollinated by the same insect species, which is common in spring and summer. The different flowering times are likely due to... a. predation b. parasitism c. competitive exclusion d. niche realignment e. resource partitioning - correct answere. resource partitioning A close interaction between two different species, in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected, is called a. commensalism b. parasitism c. predation d. mimicry e. mutualism - correct answera. commensalism The total fertility rate (TFR) is an estimate of.. a. the number of years a typical infant will live b. the number of children each woman in a population will have c. the percentage of women in a population that are able to have children d. the number of births per 1000 people per year e. the number of children that will survive to adulthood - correct answerb. the number of children each woman in a population will have Using the rule of 70, a population growing at 10% would double in a. 17 years b. 7 years c. not enough information to tell d. 10 years e. 15 years - correct answerb. 7 years _____ succession begins on bare rock after glaciers have passed, or on newly formed volcanic islands a. primary b. pioneer c. climax d. secondary e. not enough information to tell - correct answera. primary The concept that two species cannot occupy the same ecological niche is called a. primary succession b. competitive exclusion c. mutualism d. commensalism e. coevolution - correct answerb. competitive exclusion The most critical factor in controlling human population growth is a. controlling reproductive lifespan b. decreasing the age of first birth c. decreasing infant death d. decreasing the average number of births per woman e. increasing overall wellness for the human race - correct answerd. decreasing the average number of births per woman Historically, _______ has/have kept the world population out of food deficit. a. slow population growth b. exponential population growth c. government assistance d. food surplus e. innovations in agricultural practices - correct answere. innovations in agricultural practices Population growth rates are high in developing countries because a. women tend to have children late in life b. family planning is common c. children are often an important economic advantage d. infant mortality rates are low e. all of the above - correct answerc. children are often an important economic advantage Population size can be estimated using the formula a. CBR+Immigration+CDR+Emigration b. CBR-Immigration-CDR-Emigration c. CBR+Immigration+CDR-Emigration d. CBR-Immigration+CDR-Emigration e. CBR+Immigration-CDR-Emigration - correct answer A species that is a mimic often a. secretes chemicals that deter predators b. resembles their surroundings c. produces defensive spines or thorns d. uses bright colors to warn that they are harmful e. behaves similar to or resembles another species - correct answere. behaves similar to or resembles another species A population of rabbits, introduced to an island, has rapid growth for a few years; then its growth slows. The population becomes stable because a. environmental resistance declines b. the carrying capacity has been reached c. Bergman's Principle takes effect d. immigration is reduced e. r declines - correct answerb. the carrying capacity has been reached The intrinsic growth of a population a. is the maximum rate at which a population may increase b. directly affects the environmental resistance of the species c. causing changes in birth rates without affecting death rates d. causing changes in death rates without affecting birth rates e. all of the above - correct answer A species that plays a major role in determining the structure of its ecological community is a. a predator b. a keystone species c. the largest species d. a dominator species e. the most abundant species in the community - correct answerb a keystone species The Infant Mortality Rate and Child Mortality Rate are defined as the number of deaths per 1000 live births for children under ____ and ____ of age, respectively. a. six months, five years b. 1 year, 5 years c. 5 years, 12 years d. 2 years, 5 years e. 5 years, 10 years - correct answerb. 1 year, 5 years Which of the following statements BEST describes the reason why bright coloration is an effective defense against predators? a. symbiosis allows predators to coexist with prey so that neither goes extinct b. the predators can see the color and, either through natural selection (if the prey is toxic) or learning (if the prey is merely unplayable), avoid the prey c. the predators are color-blind and cannot see the prey d. commensal relationships such as this are the result of coevolution e. predatory animals cannot learn anything; thus color is unimportant - correct answerb. the predators can see the color and, either through natural selection (if the prey is toxic) or learning (if the prey is merely unplayable), avoid the prey Dams are used for which of the following? i. create reservoirs for drinking water ii. power turbines that generate electricity iii. better conditions for salmon migration a. ii only b. i only c. i and iii d. i and ii e. i, ii, and iii - correct answerd. i and ii The soil that is best for growing plants is composed of a. sand, because water drains most easily b. a mixture of sand to drain well and clay to hold nutrients c. clay, because it retains nutrients and water tightly d. a mixture of sand, silt, and clay that promotes water drainage and retention e. silt, because it is a medium sized particle - correct answerd. a mixture of sand, silt, and clay that promotes water drainage and retention An earthquake that measures 8.0 on the Richter Scale is_______times stronger than an earthquake that measures 5.0. a. 1000 b. 300 c. 10,000 d. 3000 e. 3 - correct answera. 1000 Acid mine drainage a. may be caused by plants in the mining basin b. is only a problem in the northeastern United States c. causes black lung disease d. raises the pH of the surrounding water bodies e. lowers the pH of the soil and streams in the area mined - correct answere. lowers the pH of the soil and streams in the areas mined The elements of Earth are separated such that the a. most dense elements are at the surface, called the crust b. most dense elements are in the center, called the core c. least dense elements are in the center, called the core d. least dense elements are at the surface, called the mantle e. most dense elements are in the center, called the mantle - correct answerb. most dense elements are in the center, called the core Earth's freshwater is found in several forms. Which of the following statements about forms of freshwater is correct? a. 1/2 is groundwater b. 1/2 is above and 1/2 is below ground c. 3/4 is groundwater d. 3/4 is above in ice and glaciers e. 1/4 is below ground as permafrost - correct answerd. 3/4 is above in ice and glaciers The permeability of soil is a measure of a. how quickly fluid passes through it b. how much biological material it contains c. its cation exchange capacity d. how deep its topsoil layer is e. none of these answers are correct - correct answera. how quickly fluid passes through it soil drains most rapidly when it is made up of a. roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay b. roughly equal portions of silt and clay c. primarily clay d. primarily sand e. primarily siltR - correct answerd. primarily sand Lichens are very important in a. chemical weathering because they produce weak acids b. chemical weathering because they create carbon dioxide c. chemical weathering only when they are in contact with limestone d. preventing physical weathering because they cling to plant roots e. physical weathering because they cause landslides - correct answera. chemical weathering because they produces weak acids The least weathered zone in a soil is the a. Both O and A horizons b. B horizon c. C horizon d. A horizon e. O horizon - correct answerc. C horizon Eutrophic lakes a. are formed by glaciers b. have very high productivity as a result of high levels of nutrients c. have low nutrients levels d. have very low productivity as a result of acid rain e. usually have absolutely no fish - correct answerb. have very high productivity as a result of high levels of nutrients Drip irrigation a. involves dripping water near the roots of a plant b. reduces weed growth c. reduces the rate of water loss to evaporation d. is 95% water efficient e. all of these answers are correct - correct answere. all of these answers are correct Reverse osmosis is preferable to distillation as a method of desalination because a. it produces less salty brine which is damaging to wildlife b. the salt it produces can be deposited safely on land c. the salt is safely returned to the ocean d. the equipment is more efficient and often less costly. e. both b and d - correct answerd. the equipment is more efficient and often less costly Select the correct rock type connected with its mode of origin a. sedimentary-compression of magma b. sedimentary-exposure to high temperatures and pressures c. igneous-liquid magma d. metamorphic-compression of mud by overlying sediments e. all of the above are correct - correct answerc. igneous-liquid magma The water table is a. where water under pressure rises b. anywhere water is visible on the surface c. where streams and lakes intersect d. the uppermost level at which water fully saturates rock or soil e. synonymous with groundwater - correct answerd. the uppermost level at which water fully saturates rock or soil The difference between weathering and erosion is that a. there is no difference between weathering and erosion b. weathering refers to the breakdown of the rock; erosion refers to the removal of the rock from its landscape c. weathering is a chemical process; erosion is strictly physical d. weathering happens in the tropics; erosion happens in temperate environments e. erosion refers to the breakdown of the rock; weathering refers to the removal of the rock from its landscape - correct answerb. weathering refers to the breakdown of rock; erosion refers to the removal of the rock from it's landcape Of the world's freshwater, roughly _____ percent is used for agriculture, ______ percent is used for industry, and ______ percent is for household use a. 70; 20; 10 b. 10; 20; 70 c. 33; 33; 31 d. 70; 10; 20 e. 40; 20; 40 - correct answera. 70; 20; 10 Freeze thaw is an example of a. physical erosion b. both physical and chemical weathering c. chemical weathering d. physical weathering e. chemical erosion - correct answerd. physical weathering Overall, the greatest percentage of household water use in the United States is for a. drinking b. outdoor vegetable gardens c. flushing toilets d. laundry e. watering lawns - correct answerc. flushing toilets A cone of depression may develop a. in areas adjacent to a deep well from which a great deal of water is rapidly pumped b. only in unconfined aquifers c. where artesian wells are common d. if groundwater is deep e. where groundwater is abundant - correct answera. in areas adjacent to a deep well from which a great deal of water is rapidly pumped The function(s) of soil is/are the following: a. habitat for organisms b. location for recycling of organic matter c. anchor for plants d. filter of water and atmospheric chemical compounds e. all of these are correct - correct answere. all of these are correct The following are characteristics of confined aquifers: i. they are polluted more easily than unconfined aquifers ii. they are recharged directly overhead from waters falling at the surface iii. they are surrounded b layers of impermeable rock iv. they may contain water that is 10-20,000 years old a. i, ii, iii, iv b. i and ii only c. iii and iv d. iii only e. ii and iii only - correct answerc. iii and iv An example of a positive feedback loop is i. warmer temperatures of Earth's surface decreasing the evaporation of water ii. water evaporation creating low-altitude clouds reflecting sunlight back into clouds iii. water evaporation creating high-altitude clouds absorbing terrestrial energy that would have escaped the atmosphere a. i and ii b. i, ii, and iii c. i only d. iii only e. ii only - correct answerd. iii only "An experiment is set up to determine if wheat grows better when it is planted by itself or together with clover. The setup involves 3 pans of each treatment. Set-up A, B, and C contain wheat alone. Set-ups D, E, and F contain clover and wheat planted together, in rows alternating one seed of each type. One hundred seeds are planted in each pan. All treatments contain the same type of soil, are planted in the same size of pan, are exposed to the same amount of sunlight, and are maintained at the same temperature throughout the course of the experiment." The following statement provides a hypothesis for this experiment: a. wheat grows taller when planted by itself than when it is alternated with clover b. clover grows better when planted by itself c. wheat grows better when planted together with clover d. clover grows better when planted together with wheat e. both a and c are legitimate hypotheses for this experiment. - correct answerc. wheat grows better when planted together with clover "An experiment is set up to determine if wheat grows better when it is planted by itself or together with clover. The setup involves 3 pans of each treatment. Set-up A, B, and C contain wheat alone. Set-ups D, E, and F contain clover and wheat planted together, in rows alternating one seed of each type. One hundred seeds are planted in each pan. All treatments contain the same type of soil, are planted in the same size of pan, are exposed to the same amount of sunlight, and are maintained at the same temperature throughout the course of the experiment." Constants in this experiment are: a. temperature, number of seeds in each pan, sunlight b. number of seeds in each pan, sunlight, one pan of wheat and clover c. the same as the independent variable d. the pans of wheat alternated with clover e. the pan of wheat, temperature, soil type - correct answera. temperature, number of seeds in each pan, sunlight "An experiment is set up to determine if wheat grows better when it is planted by itself or together with clover. The setup involves 3 pans of each treatment. Set-up A, B, and C contain wheat alone. Set-ups D, E, and F contain clover and wheat planted together, in rows alternating one seed of each type. One hundred seeds are planted in each pan. All treatments contain the same type of soil, are planted in the same size of pan, are exposed to the same amount of sunlight, and are maintained at the same temperature throughout the course of the experiment." The dependent variable in this experiment could be the a. height of the clover b. presence of nodules on the roots of the clover c. number of leaves on the clover d. number of clover seeds that germinate e. height of the wheat - correct answera. height of the clover Inorganic compounds i. never contain carbon ii. may contain carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen iii. always contain carbon bound to hydrogen a. iii only b. i and ii c. i, ii, and iii d. ii only e. i only - correct answerd. ii only Environmental justice is a. a social movement that works toward equal enforcement of environmental laws in poor communities b. not needed because pollution is equitably distributed around the world c. the body of law that deals with environmental issues d. the type of legal system that environmental lawyers use to defend nature e. a type of legal punishment for polluters - correct answera. a social movement that works toward equal enforcement of environmental laws in poor communities A negative feedback loop is a. when feed back into the system increases the rate of progress b. seen in the example of increased greenhouse gases leading to global warming c. seen int he example of world population growth d. when a system responds to a change by returning it to its original state e. both b and d - correct answerd. when a system responds to a change by returning it to its original state The Neuse River is considered a system because it involves a. specifically interacting biotic components that influence each other b. components that influence one another through water c. components that influence each other irreversibly d. components that interact and influence one another through material or energy change e. interacting abiotic components - correct answerd. components that interact and influence one another through material or energy change An ecosystem is a location on Earth that includes i. only biotic components ii. only abiotic components iii. interacting living and non-living components a. ii only b. i, ii, and iii c. iii only d. i and ii only e. i only - correct answerc. iii only If a forest is cleared at a rate of 875 acres per day, approximately how many hectares per year are being cleared? a. 129,000 b. 319,000 c. 2160 d. 3500 e. 13,000 - correct answera. 129,000 The salinity problem at Mono Lake was corrected after a. water was diverted and the lake filled back to historical levels b. legislation required that the lake should not be used for fishing c. the Aububon Society worked together with the Los Angeles Department of Water d. additional water was extracted for use by agriculture e. both a and c are correct - correct answere. both a and c are correct The difference between potential and kinetic energy is that a. kinetic energy cannot be captured at a dam b. potential energy is measured in calories, whereas kinetic energy is measured in joules c. potential energy has not yet been released d. kinetic energy has not yet been released e. potential energy is measured in watts, whereas kinetic energy is measured in joules - correct answerc. potential energy has not yet been released The rate of radioactive decay a. doesn't happen spontaneously b. is measured in half-lives c. requires an input of a second element to become a third element d. cannot change the type of element e. is measured in number of electrons - correct answerb. is measured in half-lives The second law of thermodynamics states that a. matter can be neither created nor destroyed b. all systems move toward increased entropy c. velocity increases as a dropped object nears the earth's surface d. new energy is available in all systems e. in an energy conversion, no energy is lost - correct answere. in an energy conversion, no energy is lost The systems approach to studying the flow of matter and energy in the environment a. prevents scientists from recognizing complex relationships b. is not important in environmental science c. is not as effective as studying individual organisms d. is only necessary in open systems e. enables scientists to recognize complex relationships - correct answere. enables scientists to recognize complex relationships Elements that gain or lose electrons to form compounds create a. protons b. covalent bonds c. ionic bonds d. molecular bonds e. isotopes - correct answerc. ionic bonds The difference between an environmentalist and an environmental scientist is a. an environmentalist is generally a radical b. that an environmentalist is involved in a social movement; whereas an environmental scientist is concerned with the methods of science c. an environmentalist is involved in a social movement; whereas an environmental scientist is concerned with politics d. negligible because both care about Earth e. that an environmental scientist has a background in biology and chemistry; whereas an environmentalist studies the humanities - correct answerb. that an environmentalist is involved in a social movement; whereas an environmental scientist is concerned with methods of science A substance with a pH of 4 has _____ times the hydrogen ion concentration of a substance with a pH of 6. a. 2 b. 1000 c. 5 d. 10 e. 100 - correct answere. 100 Economic development goes hand in hand with a. decreased use of non-renewable resources b. better planting strategies for crops c. smaller more efficient living styles d. sustainable use of renewable resources e. increased consumption of resources - correct answere. increased consumption of resources The following are non-renewable resources except a. oil b. copper c. timber d. aluminum e. coal - correct answerc. timber The study of environmental science is concerned with a. biotic and abiotic interactions with human systems b. the interactions among human systems and those found in nature c. only abiotic factors d. only biotic factors e. both a and b - correct answerb. the interactions among human systems and those found in nature Ecosystem services a. can be provided by soil b. are the processes by which life supporting resources are produced c. can be provided by a forest d. can be provided by an aquifer e. all of these answers are correct - correct answere. all of these answers are correct Mass number refers to a. number of protons b. number of protons + neutrons c. same thing as the atomic number d. number of electrons e. number of isotopes - correct answerb. number of protons + neutrons The factor that enabled Pfiesteria to enter the life stage that caused fish kills the Neuse River of North Carolina is that a. the development of a protective coat prevented the work of pesticides b. overfishing caused a decrease in predators c. all Pfiesteria are dangerous to aquatic life forms d. nutrients were added to the water e. drought made conditions appropriate - correct answerc. all Pfiesteria are dangerous to aquatic life forms Human population today is closest to a. 6 billion b. 3 billion c. 5 billion d. 7 billion e. 12 billion - correct answerd. 7 billion A hypothesis is different from a belief because it is a. proven b. testable c. the same as a theory d. false e. sensible - correct answerb. testable Greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere a. are decreasing b. are increasing c. cannot be measured d. prove that inputs are equal to outputs e. are in a steady state - correct answerb. are increasing Isotopes of an element must have the same a. number of neutrons b. number of electrons c. number of protons d. atomic mass e. number of protons and neutrons combined - correct answerc. number of protons Water reaches its highest density at a. 39*F b. 0*C c. 4*C d. 100*C e. 100*F - correct answerc. 4*C Calculating ecological footprint involves consideration of a. water usage for crops and direct consumption b. the impact of activities on the resources of Earth c. lifestyle d. food calories required for continuing normal activity' e. all of these answers are correct - correct answere. all of these answers are correct If the worldwide number of births daily is 364,000 and the number of deaths is 152,000, then annually there are an additional_____ people. a. 212,000 b. 100,000,000 c. 7,000,000 d. 77,380 e. 77,380,000 - correct answere. 77,380,000 Which of the following is the approximate efficiency of the energy transfer as energy flows through the food chain? a. 50% b. 10% c. 90% d. 25% e. 0.1% - correct answerb. 10% Which of the following statements about the Coriolis effect is incorrect? a. the Coriolis effect causes objects to be deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere b. the different rotation speeds of Earth at different latitudes causes the deflection of traveling objects c. the Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of Earth d. Global winds are affected by the Coriolis effect e. The Coriolis effect causes objects to be deflected to the right in the southern hemisphere - correct answere. The Coriolis effect causes objects to be deflected to the right in the southern hemisphere What is the best explanation or the high amounts of rain that occur at the equator? a. the warm air rises at the equator which condenses at a high altitude, leading to rain b. this area experiences a high amount of wind, which leads to storms and rain c. as the air rises, it becomes warmer, leading to more rain d. the low pressure system that develops here cause warm air to sink, leading to rain e. this area has a large amount of water, leading to more rain - correct answera. the warm air rises at the equator which condenses at a high altitude, leading to rain What impact does deforestation have on the carbon cycle? a. increase in the amount of photosynthesis b. increase in the amount of cellular respiration performed by autotrophs c. decrease in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere d. deforestation has no impact on the carbon cycle e. increase in amount of CO2 in the atmosphere - correct answere. increase in amount of CO2 in the atmosphere Which of the following are needed for photosynthesis? a. oxygen and glucose b. water, solar energy and carbon dioxide c. carbon dioxide, energy and glucose d. oxygen, water and energy e. water, solar energy and glucose - correct answerb. water, solar energy and carbon dioxide `Which stage of the hydrologic cycle can be the most direct cause of algal blooms? a. evaporation b. runoff c. transpiration d. precipitation - correct answerb. runoff A rabbit consumes 200 J (joules) worth of grass in a day but utilizes 75 J for cellular respiration. What is the rabbit's NSP that day? a. 125 b. 75 c. 200 d. 275 e. 150 - correct answera. 125 Which element is the most abundant in the atmosphere? a. nitrogen b. sulfur c. phosphorus d. hydrogen e. oxygen - correct answera. nitrogen Which of the following is true about ENSO (El niño)? i. upwelling is suppressed off the coast of South America ii. this phenomenon is human caused and related to global warming iii. the trade-winds weaken, allowing warm water to move eastward a. iii only b. i only c. i and iii d. i, ii, and iii e. ii only - correct answerc. i and iii Which of the following has the biggest impact on the resilience of an ecosystem? a. amount of predators present in the ecosystem b. amount of genetic biodiversity of the ecosystem c. amount of time the ecosystem has been established d. amount of time the disturbance lasts e. amount of human intervention that is allowed - correct answerb. amount of genetic biodiversity of the ecosystem Which level of the atmosphere contains he ozone layer? a. stratosphere b. exosphere c. thermosphere d. mesosphere e. troposphere - correct answera. stratosphere What is the major source of phosphorus on land? a. deposition from atmospheric phosphorus b. compounds formed from bacterial conversion c. compounds released from the weathering of rocks d. compounds that are formed by autotrophs during photosynthesis e. compounds dissolved in precipitation - correct answerc. compounds released from the weathering of rocks What effect would clear cutting within a watershed have on the water quality of a river running through the watershed? a. decrease in the amount of runoff entering the waters of the clear cut watershed b. increase in the biodiversity of the river c. decrease in the nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear cut watershed d. increase in nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear cut watershed clear cutting should not have an effect on the water quality of a river - correct answerd. increase in nutrient concentration in the waters of the clear cut watershed Which of the following is NOT part of the carbon cycle? a. extraction b. transpiration c. combustion d. respiration e. photosynthesis - correct answerb. transpiration Which of the following has the highest albedo: a. croplands b. forest c. water d. fresh snow e. asphalt - correct answerd. fresh snow Which of the following statements best describes the concept of NPP a. total amount of energy produced from photosynthesis b. total amount of cellular respiration conducted within an ecosystem c. energy captured minus energy lost d. total amount of energy available within an ecosystem e. total amount of energy available for the sun - correct answerc. energy captured minus energy lost Which level of the atmosphere is the densest? a. stratosphere b. mesosphere c. troposphere d. thermosphere e. exosphere - correct answerc. troposphere Which of the following would not have a significant effect on the climate of a region? a. a single abnormally wet year due to El Nino b. Earth's orbit around the sun on a tilted axis c. atmospheric convection currents d. the rotation of earth e. the unequal heating of earth by the sun - correct answera. a single abnormally wet year due to El Nino Asume that there are 5000 cubic meters of water in a lake. There is a yearly inflow/outflow flux of 250 cubic meters. What is the residence time of water in the lake? a. 10 years b. 20 years c. 12. 5 years d. 0.5 years e. 125 years - correct answerb. 20 years What law best relates to energy loss within an ecosystem? a. second law of thermodynamics b. third law of thermodynamics c. first law of thermodynamics d. law of conservation of matter e. law of relativity - correct answera. second law of thermodynamics Which ecosystems are considered to be the most diverse? a. ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance b. ecosystems experiencing high levels of disturbance c. ecosystems experiencing no disturbance d. ecosystems experiencing low levels of disturbance e. ecosystems that once had high levels of disturbance but have been stable for hundreds of years - correct answera. ecosystems experiencing intermediate levels of disturbance What best describes the temperature of the atmosphere? a. it does not change b. it increases as you increase in altitude c. it decreases as you increase in altitude in the troposphere d. it maintains a constant level throughout the atmosphere e. it shows random fluctuation as you move through the layers of the atmosphere - correct answerc. it decreases as you increase in altitude in the troposphere A scientist is observing a series of plants and measuring their growth with the addition of nutrients. She notices that the addition of nitrate has no effect on the growth while the addition of phosphorus shows significan growth. What conclusion can she draw about the nutrients in relation to this plant? a. phosphorus is a limiting nutrient b. the plant does not require nitrogen c. nitrogen is a limiting nutrient d. the plant does not require phosphorus e. the plant had an excess of nutrients, limiting growth - correct answera. phosphorus is a limiting nutrient