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. Electron microscopy

B. 16S rRNA gene sequencing

C. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis

D. Gram staining

2 / 20

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

A. Temperature

B. Moisture content

C. pH

D. Atmospheric pressure

3 / 20

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

A. Exopolysaccharide production

B. Hyphal entanglement

C. Mineral weathering

D. Nitrogen fixation

4 / 20

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

A. Fixation of atmospheric phosphorus

B. Solubilization of insoluble phosphorus

C. Immobilization of inorganic phosphorus

D. Mineralization of organic phosphorus

5 / 20

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

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

B. ARGs can increase the virulence of environmental microbes.

C. ARGs can accumulate in the food chain.

D. ARGs can directly harm plant growth.

6 / 20

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

A. Microbes with low abundance but high functional significance

B. Microbes resistant to all known antibiotics

C. Microbes exclusively found in marine ecosystems

D. Microbes inhabiting extreme environments

7 / 20

7. Quorum sensing in bacteria is primarily mediated by:

A. Direct physical contact between cells

B. Signaling molecules called autoinducers

C. Environmental cues like temperature and pH

D. Exchange of genetic material

8 / 20

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

A. Phytoremediation

B. Bioaugmentation

C. Biostimulation

D. Bioventing

9 / 20

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

A. Microbes that are exclusively pathogenic

B. Microbes that thrive in low-light conditions

C. Microbes that are not yet sequenced or characterized

D. Microbes that are resistant to all known cultivation techniques

10 / 20

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

A. Nitrate

B. Sulfate

C. Oxygen

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

11 / 20

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

A. Sulfate reduction

B. Methanogenesis

C. Nitrogen fixation

D. Iron oxidation

12 / 20

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

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

B. Autotrophs are bacteria, while heterotrophs are archaea.

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

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

13 / 20

13. What is the role of biofilms in bioremediation?

A. They hinder bioremediation by protecting contaminants.

B. They have no significant role in bioremediation.

C. They enhance bioremediation by concentrating microbes and nutrients.

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

14 / 20

14. The rhizosphere is characterized by:

A. Predominance of anaerobic microorganisms

B. Absence of plant-microbe interactions

C. Increased microbial activity compared to bulk soil

D. Lower nutrient availability compared to bulk soil

15 / 20

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

A. Sulfate-reducing bacteria

B. Syntrophic bacteria

C. Acetogenic bacteria

D. Methanogenic archaea

16 / 20

16. 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

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. Survives longer than pathogens in the environment

C. Easy to detect and quantify

D. Capable of causing disease in humans

18 / 20

18. 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

19 / 20

19. 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. Rhizobia

D. Both a and b

20 / 20

20. What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

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

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. Sterilization uses heat, while disinfection uses chemicals.

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