Photosynthetic organisms are unique to most ecosystems because they
A) synthesize organic compounds they obtain from decaying heterotrophs.
B) synthesize inorganic compounds from organic compounds.
C) use light energy to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds.
D) use chemical energy to synthesize organic compounds.
E) convert light energy into matter.

use light energy to synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds.

A cow's herbivorous diet indicates that it is a(n)
A) primary consumer.
B) secondary consumer.
C) decomposer.
D) autotroph.
E) producer.

primary consumer.

To recycle nutrients, an ecosystem must have, at a minimum,
A) producers.
B) producers and decomposers.
C) producers, primary consumers, and decomposers.
D) producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and decomposers.
E) producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, top carnivores, and decomposers.

producers and decomposers.

Which of the following terms encompasses all of the others?
A) heterotrophs
B) herbivores
C) carnivores
D) primary consumers
E) secondary consumers

heterotrophs

Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem?
A) all of the brook trout in a 500-square-hectare river drainage system
B) the plants, animals, and decomposers that inhabit an alpine meadow
C) a pond and all of the plant and animal species that live in it
D) the intricate interactions of the various plant and animal species on a savanna during a
drought
E) all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest

all of the organisms and their physical environment in a tropical rain forest

If the sun were to suddenly stop providing energy to Earth, most ecosystems would vanish.
Which of the following ecosystems would likely survive the longest after this hypothetical
disaster?
A) tropical rain forest
B) tundra
C) deep-sea vent community
D) grassland
E) desert

deep-sea vent community

Which of the following is true of detritivores?
A) They recycle chemical elements directly back to primary consumers.
B) They synthesize organic molecules that are used by primary producers.
C) They convert organic materials from all trophic levels to inorganic compounds usable by
primary producers.
D) They secrete enzymes that convert the organic molecules of detritus into CO2 and H2O.
E) Some species are autotrophic, whereas others are heterotrophic.

They convert organic materials from all trophic levels to inorganic compounds usable by
primary producers.

The major role of detritivores in ecosystems is to
A) provide a nutritional resource for heterotrophs.
B) recycle chemical nutrients to a form capable of being used by autotrophs.
C) prevent the buildup of the organic remains of organisms, feces, and so on.
D) return energy lost to the ecosystem by other organisms.

recycle chemical nutrients to a form capable of being used by autotrophs.

The major role of detrivores in ecosystems is to
A) provide a nutritional resource for heterotrophs.
B) recycle chemical nutrients to a form capable of being used by autotrophs.
C) prevent the buildup of the inorganic remains of organisms, feces, and so on.
D) return energy lost to the ecosystem by other organisms.

recycle chemical nutrients to a form capable of being used by autotrophs.

In a typical grassland community, which of the following is the primary consumer?
A) hawk
B) snake
C) shrew
D) grasshopper
E) grass

grasshopper

Which of the following statements is true?
A) An ecosystem's trophic structure determines the rate at which energy cycles within the
system.
B) At any point in time, it is impossible for consumers to outnumber producers in an ecosystem.
C) Chemoautotrophic prokaryotes near deep-sea vents are primary producers.
D) There has been a well-documented increase in atmospheric nitrogen over the past several
decades.
E) The reservoir of ecosystem phosphorous is the atmosphere.

Chemoautotrophic prokaryotes near deep-sea vents are primary producers.