AP Biology : Understanding Food Webs
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Understanding Food Webs
The energetic hypothesis states that __________.
Biomass increases with energy and trophic level
The lower trophic levels provide sufficient energy for higher trophic levels
The length of a food chain is limited by insufficient energy transfer through the food chain
Several food chains linked together create food webs
The abundance of organisms at higher trophic levels are supported by lower trophic energy
The length of a food chain is limited by insufficient energy transfer through the food chain
The energetic hypothesis states that the length of a food chain is limited by the inefficiency of energy transfer along the chain. Only ten percent of energy stored in organic matter at each trophic level is actually converted to organic matter at the next trophic level. This keeps trophic structures in check and limits the abundance of predatory organisms at the top of the trophic structure.
Example Question #1732 : Ap Biology
Which of the following are commonly referred to as the producers of the biosphere?
Heterotrophs
Detritivores
Autotrophs
None of these
Autotrophs
Autotrophs are the producers of the biosphere in that they turn inorganic materials into organic material. Plants are an example of autotrophs. Heterotrophs feed on autotrophs and other heterotrophs. Animals are an example of heterotrophs.
Example Question #1733 : Ap Biology
Which of the following best describes the consumers within the biosphere?
None of these
Autotrophs
Detritivores
Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs are the consumers of the biosphere in that they do not produce organic material but rather consume other organisms. Animals are an example of heterotrophs. Autotrophs produce their own organic material from inorganic materials. Plants are an example of autotrophs.
Example Question #11 : Ecology
Animals are an example of which of the following categories of organisms?
Heterotrophs
Biosphere producers
Photoautotrophs
Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
Animals are a type of heterotrophs. Heterotrophs are unable to make their own organic materials and so they must consume other organic materials in the form of autotrophs and other heterotrophs.
Example Question #12 : Understanding Food Webs
Which of the following describes a property of a heterotroph?
It obtains energy from the plants it consumes
It uses sunlight filtered through pigment to get energy
It emits
It oxidizes organic molecules to get its energy
It makes organic molecules from
It oxidizes organic molecules to get its energy
Heterotrophs get energy from organic molecules. They are unable to fix carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into organic molecules, nor do they make oxygen as a byproduct of metabolism. They can consume autotrophs and heterotrophs (organic molecules) to get energy and carbon.
Example Question #11 : Ecology
Which of the following processes is an example of primary production?
All of these
Carnivorous consumption
Photosynthesis
Decomposition
Photosynthesis
Primary production is defined as the synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric carbon. The main process through which this synthesis occurs is photosynthesis. Primary production is characterized as the generation of biomass in autotrophs. On the other hand, secondary production is described as the generation of biomass in heterotrophs.
Example Question #11 : Ecology
Which of the following would be considered as a secondary producer?
Flowering plant
Kelp
Antelope
Cacti
Antelope
Secondary production is defined as the generation of biomass by heterotrophs, mainly through the transfer of organic compounds among trophic levels. Organisms that are primarily responsible for secondary production include animals, protists, and fungi.
Example Question #12 : Ecology
Which of the following statements best describes the place of primary consumers on the food chain?
Primary consumers are carnivores
Primary consumers are herbivores and consume primary producers
Primary consumers are carnivores and consume primary producers
None of these
Primary consumers are herbivores and consume primary producers
In the food chain of most ecosystems, primary consumers are the organisms that consume primary producers, making them herbivores.
Example Question #1744 : Ap Biology
In the food chain, which of the following is consumed by secondary consumers?
Primary consumers
Autotrophs
Primary producers
Tertiary consumers
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers consume primary consumers in the food chain (i.e. a snake eating grasshoppers).
Example Question #13 : Understanding Food Webs
Which of the following is true regarding herbivores?
Herbivores eat plant material and are secondary consumers
Herbivores are secondary consumers
Herbivores eat plant material and are primary consumers
Herbivores are primary consumers
Herbivores eat plant material and are primary consumers
Herbivores are organisms that eat plant material. They are considered as the primary consumers in an ecosystem. An example of an herbivore is a deer, which feeds on flowers and grass.
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