FBS 36 | 1st Examination Pt. 2

Chapter 2 (Lecture)

Ecosystem

A bounded ecological system consisting of all the organisms in an area and the physical environment with which they interact.

Energy Flow

The unidirectional movement of energy through the trophic levels of a food web.

Homeostasis

The tendency of an ecosystem to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Ecotone

A transition area between two biological communities, often exhibiting unique ecological characteristics.

Producers (or Autotrophs)

Organisms that produce their own food, forming the base of the food web through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Nutrient Cycling (or Biogeochemical Cycles)

The cyclical movement of essential elements through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.

Stability

The ability of an ecosystem to resist and recover from disturbances.

Biodiversity

The variety of genes, species, and habitats within an ecosystem.

Holistic School of Ecology (or Clementsian School)

The school of ecological thought that views the ecosystem as a highly integrated "superorganism" developing through predictable stages.

Ecosystem Services

The direct and indirect contributions of an ecosystem to human well-being.

True

True or False

In accordance with the 10% rule of energy transfer, approximately 90% of the energy at each trophic level is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes.

False

True or False

According to the individualistic school of ecology, community boundaries are typically sharp and well-defined.

False

True or False

Decomposers primarily break down dead organic matter through ingestion and internal digestion.

False

True or False

Agroecosystems generally exhibit higher levels of biodiversity compared to mature natural terrestrial ecosystems.

False

True or False

Homeostasis in an ecosystem implies a complete lack of change in its internal conditions over time.

False

True or False

Nutrient cycling in ecosystems is an open system, with continuous inputs and outputs of elements.

False

True or False

r-strategist species are typically associated with stable, climax ecosystems.

False

True or False

The concept of "formation" in biogeography refers to a broad classification of ecosystems based on dominant fauna.

False

True or False

Sir Arthur George Tansley primarily advocated for the individualistic view of ecosystem organization.

False

True or False

The expansion of agroecosystems invariably leads to an increase in overall regional biodiversity.

J. Trophic Level

The position an organism occupies in a food chain.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

C. Chemosynthesis

The process by which certain organisms produce organic compounds using energy derived from chemical reactions.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

G. Biome

A large-scale ecosystem characterized by specific climate and dominant plant and animal life.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

I. Sustainability

The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its structure and function over time.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

D. Ordination

A statistical technique used in the individualistic approach to analyze vegetation data.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

E. Saprotroph

An organism that obtains nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter externally.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

H. Entitation

The process of identifying and describing discrete vegetation units in the holistic approach.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

B. Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

F. Physiognomy

The appearance or structural characteristics of vegetation.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

A. Ecotone

A transition zone between two ecological communities.

A. Ecotone
B. Resilience
C. Chemosynthesis
D. Ordination
E. Saprotroph
F. Physiognomy
G. Biome
H. Entitation
I. Sustainability
J. Trophic Level

c) Converting inorganic energy sources into organic compounds.

Which of the following best describes the primary role of producers in an ecosystem?

a) Decomposing dead organic matter.
b) Consuming other organisms for energy.
c) Converting inorganic energy sources into organic compounds.
d) Regulating population sizes of herbivores.

b) A predictable and directional sequence of community changes leading to a stable end-point.

The concept of ecological succession, as envisioned by the holistic school, primarily emphasizes:

a) The random colonization of species based on individual tolerances.
b) A predictable and directional sequence of community changes leading to a stable end-point.
c) The independent fluctuations of individual species populations over time.
d) The overriding influence of abiotic factors in determining community composition.

c) A transitional zone between two or more distinct ecological communities.

An ecotone is best characterized as:

a) A stable, self-perpetuating climax community.
b) A region with a high density of a single keystone species.
c) A transitional zone between two or more distinct ecological communities.
d) An area with uniform abiotic conditions supporting low biodiversity.

c) Complex trophic interactions and high biodiversity.

Which of the following is a key characteristic that distinguishes natural terrestrial ecosystems from intensively managed agroecosystems?

a) High levels of primary productivity.
b) Dominance of exotic species.
c) Complex trophic interactions and high biodiversity.
d) Reliance on external energy inputs for maintenance.

c) Essential elements are continuously transformed and reused within an ecosystem.

The principle of nutrient cycling highlights that:

a) Nutrients are constantly lost from ecosystems and must be replenished.
b) The total amount of nutrients in an ecosystem steadily increases over time.
c) Essential elements are continuously transformed and reused within an ecosystem.
d) Nutrient availability is the sole determinant of ecosystem productivity.

a) Allows the ecosystem to return to its original state relatively quickly.

A disturbance that an ecosystem with high resilience can best withstand is one that:

a) Allows the ecosystem to return to its original state relatively quickly.
b) Permanently alters the fundamental abiotic conditions.
c) Completely eliminates all primary producers.
d) Drastically reduces biodiversity at all trophic levels.

c) The independent responses of species to environmental gradients.

The individualistic view of ecological communities suggests that their structure is primarily determined by:

a) Strong interdependencies and co-evolution among species.
b) A shared evolutionary history leading to integrated units.
c) The independent responses of species to environmental gradients.
d) A deterministic process of development towards a climax state.

b) Releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere through respiration.

Which of the following is a primary function of decomposers in the carbon cycle?

a) Converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds.
b) Releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere through respiration.
c) Incorporating carbon into the tissues of primary consumers.
d) Storing large amounts of carbon in long-lived organic molecules.

d) Efficient recycling of nutrients and a reliable energy source.

Sustainability in an ecosystem is most directly supported by:

a) High rates of energy consumption by top predators.
b) Linear and simplified food chains.
c) Continuous human intervention and management.
d) Efficient recycling of nutrients and a reliable energy source.

a) The overall structural appearance of the vegetation.

The concept of "physiognomy" in the context of terrestrial ecosystems refers to:

a) The overall structural appearance of the vegetation.

b) The physiological adaptations of organisms to climate.
c) The genetic diversity within dominant plant species.
d) The chemical composition of the soil.