Question 1

Briefly discuss the role of autotrophs in an ecosystem.

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Question 2

What is the human impact on net primary productivity? What are the potential environmental problems associated with this impact and what changes would be required to minimize human impact?

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Question 3

Consider the city or town that you live in. Is it an example of an open system or a closed system? Explain your answer.

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Question 4

Cellular respiration occurs in both plant and animal cells while photosynthesis only occurs in plant cells. How are plants and animals connected via these two processes? Be sure to include balanced chemical equations as part of your answer.

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Question 5

Define each component of the following equation and explain the equation in terms of energy available as food for an ecosystem's consumers.
Net primary productivity = gross primary productivity - plant cellular respiration

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Question 6

Discuss the contributions of saprotrophs and detritivores to a balanced ecosystem. Identify two representatives of each group in your discussion.

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Question 7

Briefly summarize the first and second laws of thermodynamics and then explain how each is applicable to the study of ecosystems and energy.

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Question 8

Briefly explain the process of cellular respiration and uses of the energy obtained from the process. Your answer should include the following terms: glucose, water, carbon dioxide, chemical energy, and oxygen. What organisms carry on this process?

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Question 9

How does a food web differ conceptually from a food chain? Which is more realistic, and why?

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Question 10

Define energy and briefly describe how the different forms contribute to the continual energy needs of organisms.

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Question 11

Compare and contrast potential energy and kinetic energy using biological or ecological examples and references.

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Question 12

As organisms grow and develop, body form typically becomes more complex. Does such development conform to the Second Law of Thermodynamics? Why or why not?

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Question 13

What are krill? Using appropriate terminology, discuss the role of krill in the Antarctic food web, and describe what has been happening to the population of these animals over that past 150 years and why. What has been the impact on this Antarctic ecosystem of human related change in the global environment?

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Quiz 3: Ecosystems and Energy