Quiz: Environmental Microbiology

Created on July 14, 2024

The Environmental Microbiology Challenge

Delve into the unseen world where microbes shape our planet. Test your mastery of the microscopic forces that drive ecosystems, remediate pollution, and influence global cycles.

1 / 20

1. What is the primary electron acceptor in dissimilatory metal reduction?

A. Nitrate

B. A metal cation (e.g., Fe3+)

C. Oxygen

D. Sulfate

2 / 20

2. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

B. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

C. They only play a role in bioremediation in aquatic environments.

D. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

3 / 20

3. Which of the following bioremediation strategies primarily relies on enhancing the indigenous microbial population to degrade contaminants?

A. Phytoremediation

B. Bioaugmentation

C. Bioventing

D. Biostimulation

4 / 20

4. Which type of microbial metabolism is used to treat acid mine drainage?

A. Nitrogen fixation

B. Sulfate reduction

C. Methanogenesis

D. Iron oxidation

5 / 20

5. Which of the following is a major concern associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment?

A. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

B. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

C. ARGs can be transferred to human pathogens, making infections harder to treat. b) d)

D. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

6 / 20

6. Which of the following microbial processes is crucial for the removal of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants?

A. Nitrification

B. Denitrification

C. Anammox

D. Nitrogen fixation

7 / 20

7. The concept of ‘rare biosphere’ primarily refers to:

A. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

B. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

C. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

D. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

8 / 20

8. The primary role of fungi in the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus is:

A. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

B. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

C. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

D. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

9 / 20

9. What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms?

A. Autotrophs use organic carbon, while heterotrophs use inorganic carbon.

B. Autotrophs produce their own food, while heterotrophs consume other organisms.

C. Autotrophs are found in soil, while heterotrophs are found in water.

D. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

10 / 20

10. What are the three domains of life?

A. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

B. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

C. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

D. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

11 / 20

11. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

B. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

C. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

D. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

12 / 20

12. Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship between a microbe and a plant?

A. Both a and b

B. Neither a nor b

C. Rhizobia

D. Mycorrhizae

13 / 20

13. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

A. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

B. Sterilization is used on living tissue, while disinfection is used on inanimate objects.

C. Sterilization kills all microorganisms, while disinfection only reduces their number.

D. There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.

14 / 20

14. In anaerobic digestion, the conversion of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to methane is primarily carried out by:

A. Methanogenic archaea

B. Acetogenic bacteria

C. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

D. Syntrophic bacteria

15 / 20

15. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good indicator organism for fecal contamination in water?

A. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

B. Capable of causing disease in humans

C. Easy to detect and quantify

D. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

16 / 20

16. Which of the following is NOT a common method for identifying microorganisms?

A. Gram staining

B. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

C. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

D. Electron microscopy

17 / 20

17. Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the microbial diversity in soil?

A. Atmospheric pressure

B. Temperature

C. Moisture content

D. pH

18 / 20

18. The concept of ‘microbial dark matter’ refers to:

A. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

B. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

C. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

19 / 20

19. Which of the following is NOT a primary mechanism by which microbes contribute to soil aggregate formation?

A. Mineral weathering

B. Exopolysaccharide production

C. Hyphal entanglement

D. Nitrogen fixation

20 / 20

20. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

B. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

C. Direct physical contact between cells

D. Exchange of genetic material

Your score is

The average score is 50%

Author

kanwar

Kanwar Bhan Godara UGC NET JRF Environmental Science
View all posts

Author

1 Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply