FREE Ecology Ecosystem Energy Flow Questions and Answers

Question 1

In a terrestrial ecosystem, if the primary producers generate 10,000 kcal/m²/year of energy, approximately how much energy would be available to the tertiary consumers?

Accepted Answer

10 kcal/m²/year

Answer

1,000 kcal/m²/year

Answer

100 kcal/m²/year

Answer

1 kcal/m²/year

Question 2

Which of the following best defines Net Primary Production (NPP)?

Accepted Answer

The rate of energy stored as biomass by producers and made available to consumers.

Answer

The total rate of photosynthesis, including the energy used by producers for respiration.

Answer

The energy that is transferred from primary producers to primary consumers.

Answer

The rate at which decomposers break down organic matter.

Question 3

The pyramid of energy in an ecosystem is always upright and can never be inverted. What is the fundamental reason for this?

Accepted Answer

Energy is lost as heat at each successive trophic level according to the laws of thermodynamics.

Answer

The biomass of producers is always greater than the biomass of consumers.

Answer

Decomposers are not included in the pyramid, which skews the shape.

Answer

The number of individual organisms always decreases at higher trophic levels.

Question 4

In a deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystem, which type of organism forms the base of the food web by harnessing chemical energy?

Accepted Answer

Chemoautotrophic bacteria

Answer

Photosynthetic algae

Answer

Detritivores

Answer

Bioluminescent fungi

Question 5

A lake is contaminated with a persistent, fat-soluble pesticide. Which of the following organisms would likely have the HIGHEST concentration of this pesticide in its tissues?

Accepted Answer

A large predatory fish that eats other fish

Answer

Phytoplankton

Answer

A small fish that feeds on zooplankton

Answer

Zooplankton that feeds on phytoplankton

Question 6

What is the crucial role of decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, in the flow of energy through an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They release stored energy and nutrients from dead organic matter, making them available to producers.

Answer

They convert solar energy into chemical energy for producers.

Answer

They are the primary food source for all tertiary consumers.

Answer

They create energy through the process of chemosynthesis.