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

A. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

B. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

C. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

D. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

2 / 20

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

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

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

C. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

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

3 / 20

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

A. Syntrophic bacteria

B. Acetogenic bacteria

C. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

D. Methanogenic archaea

4 / 20

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

A. Mineral weathering

B. Nitrogen fixation

C. Hyphal entanglement

D. Exopolysaccharide production

5 / 20

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

A. Sulfate

B. Nitrate

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

D. Oxygen

6 / 20

6. What are the three domains of life?

A. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

B. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

C. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

D. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

7 / 20

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

A. Neither a nor b

B. Mycorrhizae

C. Both a and b

D. Rhizobia

8 / 20

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

A. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

B. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

C. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

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

9 / 20

9. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

A. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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

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

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

10 / 20

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

A. Sulfate reduction

B. Iron oxidation

C. Methanogenesis

D. Nitrogen fixation

11 / 20

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

A. Nitrogen fixation

B. Anammox

C. Nitrification

D. Denitrification

12 / 20

12. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

B. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

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

D. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

13 / 20

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

A. Bioventing

B. Biostimulation

C. Phytoremediation

D. Bioaugmentation

14 / 20

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

A. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

B. Gram staining

C. Electron microscopy

D. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

15 / 20

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

A. Atmospheric pressure

B. Moisture content

C. pH

D. Temperature

16 / 20

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

A. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

B. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

C. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

D. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

17 / 20

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

A. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

B. Easy to detect and quantify

C. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

D. Capable of causing disease in humans

18 / 20

18. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

B. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

C. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

D. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

19 / 20

19. 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

20 / 20

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

A. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

B. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

C. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

D. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

Your score is

The average score is 55%

Author

kanwar

Kanwar Bhan Godara UGC NET JRF Environmental Science
View all posts

Author

1 Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply