Chapter Questions
In most ecosystems, the primary producers use energy from _______ to build organic compounds.a. inorganic chemicalsb. sunlightc. heatd. lower trophic levels
Decomposers are commonly __________.a. fungib. bacteriac. plantsd. a and b
Organisms at the first trophic level ____________.a. capture energy from a nonliving sourceb. are eaten by organisms at higher trophic levelsc. are shown at the bottom of an energy pyramidd. all of the above
Primary productivity on land is affected by ______________.a. nutrient availabilityb. amount of sunlightc. temperatured. all of the above
A(n) __________is an autotroph.a. primary producerb. herbivorec. detritivored. top carnivore
Most of earth's fresh water is ___________.a. in lakes and streamsb. in aquifers and soilc. frozen as iced. in bodies of organisms
Earth's largest carbon reservoir is ____________.a. the atmosphereb. sediments and rocksc. seawaterd. living organisms
Carbon is released into the atmosphere by ____________.a. photosynthesisb. aerobic respirationc. burning fossil fuelsd. b and c
Greenhouse gases ___________.a. help keep Earth's surface warm enough for lifeb. are released by natural and human activitiesc. are at higher levels than they were 100 years agod. all of the above
The ______________ cycle is a sedimentary cycle.a. phosphorusb. carbonc. nitrogend. water
Earth's largest phosphorus reservoir is ___________.a. the atmosphereb. bird droppingsc. sediments and rocksd. living organisms
Plants obtain __________ by taking it up from the aira. nitrogenb. carbonc. phosphorusd. a and b
Nitrogen fixation converts ___________ to ___________.a. nitrogen gas; ammoniab. nitrates; nitritesc. ammonia; nitratesd. nitrites; nitrogen oxides
Which holds the least carbon?a. soilsb. the airc. seawaterd. rocks
Match each term with its most suitable description._________carbon dioxide_________bicarbonate_________ammonium_________nitrogen gasa. contains triple bondb. product of nitrogen fixationc. marine carbon sourced. greenhouse gas