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

A. Gram staining

B. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

C. Electron microscopy

D. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

2 / 20

2. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

B. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

C. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

D. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

3 / 20

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

A. Nitrate

B. Oxygen

C. Sulfate

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

4 / 20

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

A. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

B. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

C. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

D. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

5 / 20

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

A. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

B. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

C. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

D. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

6 / 20

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

A. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

B. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

C. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

7 / 20

7. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

B. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

C. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

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

8 / 20

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

A. Mycorrhizae

B. Neither a nor b

C. Rhizobia

D. Both a and b

9 / 20

9. What are the three domains of life?

A. Plants, Animals, and Microbes

B. Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, and Viruses

C. Bacteria, Protists, and Fungi

D. Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya

10 / 20

10. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

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

B. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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

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

11 / 20

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

A. Nitrogen fixation

B. Nitrification

C. Anammox

D. Denitrification

12 / 20

12. 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 bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

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

13 / 20

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

A. Sulfate reduction

B. Nitrogen fixation

C. Iron oxidation

D. Methanogenesis

14 / 20

14. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Exchange of genetic material

B. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

C. Direct physical contact between cells

D. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

15 / 20

15. 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 be transferred to human pathogens, making infections harder to treat. b) d)

C. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

D. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

16 / 20

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

A. Syntrophic bacteria

B. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

C. Acetogenic bacteria

D. Methanogenic archaea

17 / 20

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

A. Hyphal entanglement

B. Mineral weathering

C. Nitrogen fixation

D. Exopolysaccharide production

18 / 20

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

A. pH

B. Temperature

C. Atmospheric pressure

D. Moisture content

19 / 20

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

A. Easy to detect and quantify

B. Present in the intestines of warm-blooded animals

C. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

D. Capable of causing disease in humans

20 / 20

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

A. Bioaugmentation

B. Biostimulation

C. Phytoremediation

D. Bioventing

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