CHAPTER 14: ECOLOGY TEST

1) Explain why Nitrogen fixation is necessary to the environment. (20)

2) Explain the relationship between photosynthesis, autotrophs, heterotrophs, detritus,
and decomposers. (20)

3) Why does the initial energy synthesized by producers reduce as it passes through the
trophic levels? (15)
Include these terms: gross primary productivity and net primary productivity
4) Explain the niche of Rhizobium. (15)

5) How do hydrolysis and respiration correlate to ATP? (15)

6) List the 4 steps taken in the process of energy use in animals. (10)

7) What three things does nitrogenase need to convert nitrogen gas to ammonium ions?
(5)

8) What is the role of denitrifying bacteria? (5)

Bonus: Write the chemical formula for photosynthesis and describe what is occurring? (All or
nothing; 5)

ANSWER SHEET
1) Nitrogen fixation is needed for the alteration of N
2
into more reactive forms such as
ammonia or nitrate for it to be usable for living organisms. N
2
form of nitrogen is not
reactive due to its covalent bonding and therefore is able to pass through the human body
and plants stomata unchanged.
2) Autotrophs combine organic molecules to create food, which is consumed by heterotrophs,
which breaks the organic molecules through respiration and transfer its energy into ATP.
When heterotrophs die, they become detritus and are consumed by decomposers.
3) When plants create chemical energy through photosynthesis, the initial energy they obtain
is called gross primary productivity. Then the plant uses some of this energy to conduct
metabolic reactions within its cells. The energy which remains is called net primary
productivity, and it is passed on to the next trophic level. The net productivity reduces from
each trophic level becomes less and less because some energy is released as heat.
4) Rhizobium inhabits the soil, and has the ability to bond to lectins produced by germinating
plants. This action allows the bacteria to invade and spread the root hairs of the plant. It
then causes the roots to divide and form nodules, in which they collaborate with
nitrogenase to catalyse the conversion of nitrogen gas (N
2
) into ammonium ions, NH
4
.
5) Respiration is essential for the dissembling of adenosine triphosphate into adenosine
diphosphate for the usage of cells. Hydrolysis occurs to break down organic molecules such
as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, which are high in energy, in order to attain energy to
make ATP for the cell.
6) Animals feed on plants. They then take in some energy from the carbohydrates, lipids, and
proteins that were in the plants. When animals require energy for their metabolism, they
break down some of these molecules in respiration and make ATP. The ATP is then made
ready for use in cells through hydrolysis.
7) ATP, Anaerobic conditions, and Hydrogen
8) Denitrifying bacteria complete the nitrogen cycle by creating energy through reversing
nitrogen fixation and converting nitrogen into nitrogen gas.
Bonus: 6CO
2
+ 6H
2
0 C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2