C HAPTER 21: N UTRIENT C YCLES
Test Bank for Brock Biology of Microorganis m 16th Edition by Michael T.
Madigan
21.1 Multiple Choice Questions
1. ________ is a term used to describe dead organic matter.
A) Humus
B) Loam
C) Pyrite
D) Xenocompost
2. Which of the following is/are NOT a degradation product of organic
material?
A) carbon dioxide
B) methane
C) oxygen
D) All of these answer choices are degradation products of organic
material.
3. Which organisms form the foundation of the carbon cycle?
A) anaerobic chemolithotrophs
B) chemoheterotrophs
C) chemoorganotrophs
D) phototrophs
4. Frozen methane molecule s are called
A) anhydrous methane.
B) anoxic methane.
, C) methane anhydrates.
D) methane hydrates.
5. A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a
compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called
A) allotrophy.
B) ammensalis m.
C) commensalism.
D) s yntrophy.
6. The calcium cycle is tightl y coupled to the
A) carbon cycle through calcium carbonate formation in ocean waters.
B) phosphorus cycle through calcium phosphate formation in sediments
and rocks.
C) silica cycle through calcium silic ate formation in coastal ocean
sediments.
D) nitrogen cycle because nitrogenase requires calcium ions.
7. The largest reservoir of methane is found
A) as methane hydrates trapped under permafrost and marine sediments.
B) in the rumen of cows and other ruminant an imals.
C) in the atmosphere in gaseous form.
D) trapped in volcanic rocks in tropical environments around the world.
8. Lignin is a complex pol ymer of methox ylated _________ compounds and
is present in ________.
A) silica / aquatic environments
B) mineral / rocks
C) oil / fossil fuels
D) aromatic / vascular plant material
9. The primary energy source for termites comes from
Test Bank for Brock Biology of Microorganis m 16th Edition by Michael T.
Madigan
21.1 Multiple Choice Questions
1. ________ is a term used to describe dead organic matter.
A) Humus
B) Loam
C) Pyrite
D) Xenocompost
2. Which of the following is/are NOT a degradation product of organic
material?
A) carbon dioxide
B) methane
C) oxygen
D) All of these answer choices are degradation products of organic
material.
3. Which organisms form the foundation of the carbon cycle?
A) anaerobic chemolithotrophs
B) chemoheterotrophs
C) chemoorganotrophs
D) phototrophs
4. Frozen methane molecule s are called
A) anhydrous methane.
B) anoxic methane.
, C) methane anhydrates.
D) methane hydrates.
5. A process where different microbial taxa work in cooperation to degrade a
compound that neither can perform entirely on their own is called
A) allotrophy.
B) ammensalis m.
C) commensalism.
D) s yntrophy.
6. The calcium cycle is tightl y coupled to the
A) carbon cycle through calcium carbonate formation in ocean waters.
B) phosphorus cycle through calcium phosphate formation in sediments
and rocks.
C) silica cycle through calcium silic ate formation in coastal ocean
sediments.
D) nitrogen cycle because nitrogenase requires calcium ions.
7. The largest reservoir of methane is found
A) as methane hydrates trapped under permafrost and marine sediments.
B) in the rumen of cows and other ruminant an imals.
C) in the atmosphere in gaseous form.
D) trapped in volcanic rocks in tropical environments around the world.
8. Lignin is a complex pol ymer of methox ylated _________ compounds and
is present in ________.
A) silica / aquatic environments
B) mineral / rocks
C) oil / fossil fuels
D) aromatic / vascular plant material
9. The primary energy source for termites comes from
