High School Biology : Ecology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

Which of the following is an example of human impact on the carbon cycle?

Possible Answers:

The burning of fossil fuels

The cutting down of trees for lumber

All of the above

The increased production of methane gases from cattle farms

None of the above

Correct answer:

All of the above

Explanation:

There are several ways that humans impact the carbon cycle.  One of these is the burning of fossil fuels (often associated with driving cars), which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is important to remember that other human activities also impact the carbon cycle. The cutting down of trees reduces the amount of  that can be taken out of the atmosphere.  One human impact that is not frequently referenced is the amount of methane gas () released into the atmosphere by cattle farms, which is much harder to take out of the air than .

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

If a forest fire occurs, what will happen to the carbon in the forest?  

Possible Answers:

It will go into the atmosphere 

It will go into the soil 

It will runoff into nearby streams and rivers 

It will be destroyed 

Correct answer:

It will go into the atmosphere 

Explanation:

A forest fire will destroy the animals and plants of an ecosystem, but it does not deplete that ecosystem of minerals. Carbon, specifically, will rise into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide . Since this is a gas, it will rise into the atmosphere. Any other minerals will return to the ground as ash. 

Example Question #3 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

Where does all the carbon in organisms originate from? 

Possible Answers:

Soil 

Earth's atmosphere 

Water

Rocks

Correct answer:

Earth's atmosphere 

Explanation:

All the carbon in organisms was originally obtained by plants from the earth's atmosphere. Plants fix carbon in the form of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Then, any animal that comes along and eats the plant gets the carbon too. 

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

How do organism move carbon through the carbon cycle?

Possible Answers:

Decomposition and sedimentation

Respiration only

Respiration, decomposition, sedimentation, and photosynthesis

Decomposition only

Photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition

Correct answer:

Respiration, decomposition, sedimentation, and photosynthesis

Explanation:

While not all organisms are capable of all three means of moving carbon to different stores, there are organisms that do respire, photosynthesize and upon death some will sink into the ocean's bottom and become sediment. All four are methods by which carbon is moved through the biosphere into other stores. Respiration and decomposition release carbon containing compounds into the atmosphere, and decomposition also releases carbon into the soil and ocean. Sedimentation allows carbon trapped in the bodies of phytoplankton and other micro marine photoautotrophs to be eventually moved by geological forces into the lithosphere of the Earth. Photosynthesis is in generally a method by which solar light energy is converted to chemical energy stored in the form of glucose a six carbon sugar using carbon dioxide and water as substrates. 

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

Attempt to draw out the Carbon cycle to the best of your abilities without looking up a photo before answering this problem.

Which of the following is not one of the major carbon stores on Earth?

Possible Answers:

The atmosphere

The biosphere

The ocean

The lithosphere

The ocean floor

Correct answer:

The ocean floor

Explanation:

All of the other choices asides from the ocean floor are major carbon stores. The atmosphere contains large amounts of carbon dioxide despite composing just a fraction of a percent of the Earth's atmosphere. The lithosphere contains large amounts of coal, oil and natural gas all of which are various mixtures of carbon containing compounds. The ocean dissolves and stores large amount of the atmosphere's carbon dioxide and the biosphere is all inclusive of living organism which are carbon based and contain a wide variety of carbon compounds. 

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

By what method is the majority of carbon moved from the lithosphere to the atmosphere?

Possible Answers:

Weathering

Deposition

The burning of fossil fuels

Erosion

Respiration

Correct answer:

The burning of fossil fuels

Explanation:

Only three of the five answers listed move carbon from the lithosphere to the atmosphere and of these the burning of fossil fuels moves the majority of the carbon that is moved from the lithosphere to the atmosphere. 

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Carbon Cycle

What kind of organism sequesters the most carbon from the atmosphere?

Possible Answers:

Archaea

Animals

Bacteria

Plants 

Insects

Correct answer:

Plants 

Explanation:

Due to cell structure containing cell walls composed of cellulose made of the densely interwoven sheets of the six-carbon sugar glucose plants sequester large amounts of carbon in their cell walls.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Nitrogen Cycle

Why can plants not utilize naturally occurring nitrogen gas?

Possible Answers:

Most of the nitrogen is stored as nitrate (NO3-)

Lack of nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Plants cannot break the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms

There are insufficient amounts available in the atmosphere

Correct answer:

Plants cannot break the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms

Explanation:

Like carbon, nitrogen is one the most abundant elements in biotic factors. Nitrogen gas is highly abundant in our atmosphere, however it cannot be utilized by humans and plants while in its gaseous state because of the very strong triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms. For plants to use nitrogen, they must have it converted to ammonium or nitrate by bacteria found in the soil and roots. The process of converting nitrogen gas to ammonium is called nitrogen fixation. Decomposition of plants and animals also releases ammonium into the ground. This ammonium can be further converted to nitrate with the help of nitrifying bacteria. Returning nitrogen back to the atmosphere is called denitrification. This process is carried out by some bacteria found in lakes and swamps. These bacteria are anaerobic, so they use the nitrate and release nitrogen gas into the air.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Nitrogen Cycle

Which of the following is most directly responsible for nitrogen fixation?

Possible Answers:

Humans

Bacteria

Sunlight

Plant roots

Animals

Correct answer:

Bacteria

Explanation:

Nitrogen fixation is mostly done by bacteria living in the soil. Plants need nitrogen to grow, but they cannot use it straight from the atmosphere or as ammonia from the soil.

Humans and animals largely obtain their necessary nitrogen by consuming plants, and do not fix nitrogen or rely directly on bacteria for the process.

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Nitrogen Cycle

Which of the following biological processes is not linked to the nitrogen cycle?

Possible Answers:

Condensation

Ammonification

Nitrogen fixation

Assimilation by plants

Denitrification

Correct answer:

Condensation

Explanation:

Condensation is not part of the nitrogen cycle. It is part of the water cycle, during which water molecules condense together in the atmosphere to form clouds.

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