Free ESA Ecosystem Ecology Questions and Answers

Question 1

What defines an ecosystem in ecological terms?

Accepted Answer

The community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a system

Answer

A population of a single species in a given area

Answer

All the abiotic components of an environment

Answer

A group of organisms sharing the same habitat

Question 2

Which process is responsible for introducing energy into ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Transpiration

Question 3

Net primary productivity (NPP) is calculated by:

Accepted Answer

Gross primary productivity minus plant respiration

Answer

Total biomass consumed by herbivores

Answer

Total energy stored in the ecosystem

Answer

Energy passed from primary to secondary consumers

Question 4

Which ecosystem generally shows the highest NPP per unit area?

Accepted Answer

Tropical rainforest

Answer

Tundra

Answer

Open ocean

Answer

Desert

Question 5

Who initiates energy flow in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Primary consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Tertiary consumers

Question 6

Which biogeochemical cycle lacks a significant atmospheric component?

Accepted Answer

Phosphorus cycle

Answer

Nitrogen cycle

Answer

Carbon cycle

Answer

Oxygen cycle

Question 7

Ecosystem stability is primarily maintained through:

Accepted Answer

Negative feedback loops

Answer

Species isolation

Answer

High mutation rates

Answer

Low biodiversity

Question 8

Which of the following is an abiotic component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Temperature

Answer

Fungi

Answer

Herbivores

Answer

Bacteria

Question 9

What is the term for energy transfer from one trophic level to the next?

Accepted Answer

Trophic efficiency

Answer

Succession

Answer

Carbon cycling

Answer

Decomposition