Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between primary and secondary succession in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession occurs on surfaces where no soil exists, such as after a lava flow, while secondary succession occurs in areas where a disturbance has destroyed a community but left the soil intact, such as after a forest fire.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a reason why biodiversity is important in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity ensures that all organisms are genetically identical.

Question 3

A scientist is studying the movement of energy through a grassland ecosystem. She observes that only about 10% of the energy at one trophic level is transferred to the next. Which law of thermodynamics best explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

The second law of thermodynamics, which states that energy transformations are inefficient and some energy is lost as heat.

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why nutrients, unlike energy, do not need to be constantly replaced in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Nutrients are recycled through biogeochemical cycles such as the nitrogen and carbon cycles.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about cladograms is correct?

Accepted Answer

Cladograms show evolutionary relationships based on shared derived characteristics.

Question 6

Which of the following is a key piece of evidence supporting the Endosymbiotic Theory for the origin of eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own circular DNA similar to that of prokaryotes.

Question 7

Which of the following correctly distinguishes between bacteria and archaea?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, while archaea do not.

Question 8

Which process is an example of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

A bacterium acquires a gene from another bacterium through conjugation.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus, while eukaryotes have a membrane-bound nucleus.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a role of bacteria and archaea in the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Carrying out mitosis to produce gametes.

Question 11

A pond is drained and left dry for several years. When water returns, algae and small plants quickly colonize the area. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Secondary succession, because the soil remained intact.

Question 12

Which of the following is a reason why viruses are not classified within the three domains of life?

Accepted Answer

Viruses lack cellular structure and do not carry out metabolism.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes how energy and nutrients move through an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Energy flows in one direction and must be continually replaced, while nutrients are recycled.

Question 14

Which of the following is a basic group of protists?

Accepted Answer

Algae, which are photosynthetic protists.

Question 15

A food web in a forest ecosystem includes plants, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers. If the plants capture 10,000 J of energy from sunlight, approximately how much energy would be available to the herbivores, assuming a 10% transfer efficiency?

Accepted Answer

$$1000\ \mathrm{J}$$

Question 16

Which of the following is a real-world example of horizontal gene transfer?

Accepted Answer

A bacterium acquires antibiotic resistance genes from another bacterium via transformation.

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct interpretation of a cladogram showing the evolutionary relationships among mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians?

Accepted Answer

Birds and reptiles share a more recent common ancestor with each other than with mammals.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why energy must be continually replaced in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Energy is lost as heat at each trophic level, according to the second law of thermodynamics.

Question 19

Which of the following is a difference between protists and prokaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Protists have membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotes do not.

Community and Ecosystem Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity of Life: Study Guide for Exam 2 (Biology 190)

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