TEST #1 CH’s 4, 5, 10 FRQ’s
FRQ
- Suppose that you have just started a summer internship working for a cooperative extension service, where you will collect soil samples, conduct lab and field tests, and make recommendations on soil conservation and agricultural practices.
A)Identify and describe one chemical soil test and one physical soil test that could be performed and explain how the results of these tests will allow the cooperative extension service to make specific recommendations for sustainable agriculture?
B)Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to using inorganic commercial fertilizers?
C)Describe 2 soil conservation practices that are designed to decrease soil erosion?
D)Identify one biome that is characterized by soil that is rich in humus. Describe how humus originated in the soils of this biome and 2 ways that humus improves soil conditions for plant growth?
FRQ
- Suppose you are an ecologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Your current research is studying the life cycle of monarch butterflies and the relationships of energy transfer between food webs. On your current research you determine the monarch caterpillar to have 5000g biomass as a secondary consumer.
A)If the food chain of the monarch has 4 levels and your following the 10% rule what would the biomass of the tertiary level be? What organism could be at this level?
B)The 10% law follows what scientific law? Explain how this law relates to trophic levels
C)If the produce is milkweed explain the difference between Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)
D)The monarch butterfly migrates form Mexico to the Northern United States, which biome would have the highest NPP and why?
FRQ
- In a recent Fremont town hall meeting Dr. Omar Amin suggested a total ban on all inorganic fertilizers containing Nitrogen. He goes on to suggest that it would be cheaper and more environmentally sound to plant Nitrogen Fixing cover crops to enrich N fertility in soils.
A. Give one advantage and one disadvantage to using “organic” fertilizers?
B. How does planting a cover crop enhance N fertility? What process is occurring in this step of the N. CYCLE?
C. Describe one chemical transformation that occurs in the N cycle and discuss the importance of the step in the ecosystem (do not mention the step in part B).
D. Humans alter the N. cycle in many ways. Aside from the use of inorganic fertilizers how else do people alter the N cycle?
FRQ
- Read the following article from the Fremont Examiner “Worm Invasion”: A researcher studying the ecology of the deciduous forest outside of Fremont has made an alarming discovery. While taking an inventory on the species present on the forest floor, Professor Tate discovered many earthworms of an Asian species not previously know to live in the area. The Asian worms, unlike native worms, have voracious appetites. The forest floor is home to a myriad of species that live in the leaf litter, which is composed of years of decomposing leaves. Tate says the leaf litter is critical to the survival of local species of forest plants. The Asian worms consume the entire layer of leaf litter in a single season, which sets the stage for a take over of invasive exotics like Japanese stilt grass.
A)Support Dr. Tate’s assertion that “the leaf litter is critical to the survival of local species of forest plants” Include in your discussion the roles of leaf litter in a deciduous forest ecosystem.
B)Describe 3 abiotic changes that would be likely to result if the exotic worms consumed all the leaf litter in a single year
C)For one of the changes you identified in part B explain how the change could set the stage for the takeover of Japanese stilt grass or other exotic species
D)Design a controlled experiment to determine whether the worms in fact do change the forest ecosystem. Identify the environmental factor you will measure and include the specific hypothesis you will test and the data you will collect