Deck 6: Major Ecosystems of the World

Question 1

Tropical rain forests:

A) are typically composed of at least five distinct layers, or stories, of vegetation.
B) are found in areas with high accumulations of organic material in the soil.
C) occur in areas with ancient, mineral-poor soil.
D) are known for being only moderately productive.
E) are known for having moderate levels of biodiversity.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Transpiration is the most important source of precipitation for which biome?

A) tropical rain forest
B) savanna
C) tundra
D) chaparral
E) tropical desert

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The biome with high amounts of precipitation, large narrow-leaved evergreen trees,
And epiphytes including lichens is the:

A) taiga.
B) temperate deciduous forest.
C) tropical rain forest.
D) boreal forest.
E) temperate rain forest.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

In temperate lakes, falling temperatures in autumn may cause a mixing of the water layers called:

A) thermocline.
B) turnover.
C) benthos.
D) thermal stratification.
E) blooms.

Question 5

The Tallgrass Prairie is currently the rarest biome in North America due to:

A) rampant urbanization
B) recent climate change
C) industrial pollution
D) conversion to agriculture
E) industrial pollution and the conversion to agriculture

Question 6

A relatively distinct terrestrial region characterized by similar temperature and precipitation regardless of where it occurs in the world is called a/an:

A) biome.
B) community.
C) ecosystem.
D) habitat.
E) population.

Question 7

Shortgrass prairies:

A) are moist grasslands with rich soil
B) are very similar to desserts
C) have drought resistant grasses
D) have helpful wildfires
E) are moist grasslands with rich soil and have helpful wildfires

Question 8

Chaparral biomes occur:

A) only in the immediate area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
B) in regions with low levels of annual precipitation.
C) in areas with very fertile soil and a deep topsoil layer.
D) in areas where fires are almost nonexistent.
E) in regions around the globe with mild, rainy winters, followed by hot, dry summers.

Question 9

The biome most suitable for the development of farmland is:

A) taiga.
B) tropical rain forest
C) temperate grassland.
D) chaparral.
E) tundra.

Question 10

The biological community that characterizes the arctic tundra is composed of:

A) migrating herbivores, small mammals, and predatory birds.
B) large trees.
C) conifer trees, poplars, and alders.
D) diverse amphibians and reptiles.
E) migrating herbivores, small mammals, predatory birds, mosses, lichens, and dwarf woody plants

Question 11

Which of the following organizational hierarchies is correctly listed from smallest to largest unit?

A) ecosystem → population → community → biome
B) biome → community → population → ecosystem
C) community → population → ecosystem → biome
D) population → community → ecosystem → biome
E) ecosystem → biome → community → population

Question 12

Soil in deserts:

A) is high in mineral content.
B) is high in organic material.
C) often contains large amounts of humus.
D) supports extensive vegetation.
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 13

Which of the following biomes has the highest biodiversity?

A) temperate deciduous forest
B) savanna
C) taiga
D) tropical rain forest
E) tropical desert

Question 14

The boreal forest is located ______ of the tundra.

A) north
B) south
C) east
D) west
E) in conjunction

Question 15

The boreal forest:

A) has numerous ponds and lakes formed by grinding ice sheets.
B) has warm winters
C) has a layer of permafrost.
D) cannot support amphibians or reptiles.
E) is well suited for conversion to agriculture.

Question 16

Tundra

A) has an extended day length during its growing season.
B) has nutrient-rich soils.
C) is characterized by heavy precipitation.
D) experiences very long winters and long summers.
E) occurs in extreme southern latitudes.

Question 17

Wildfires:

A) are not always damaging for natural environments.
B) release nutrient minerals that were locked in dry organic material.
C) can have an increased negative effect from the efforts to prevent them
D) are increasing due to climate change
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 18

Hot summers and cold winters, topsoil rich in organic material, annual precipitation of 75 to 125 cm (30-50 in), and many hardwood trees are characteristics of the:

A) temperate deciduous forest.
B) temperate grassland.
C) temperate rain forest.
D) boreal forest.
E) chaparral.

Question 19

Tallgrass prairies do not occur in which of the following states?

A) Iowa
B) Kansas
C) Minnesota
D) Florida
E) Illinois

Question 20

Which of the following is characteristic of desert animals?

A) They tend to be quite large in size.
B) They remain inactive during the driest months of the year.
C) They are active throughout the day and night.
D) Rodents are the only group of mammals represented in this biome.
E) Amphibians and reptiles are absent.

Question 21

Deciduous forests

A) have very little precipitation
B) have very week topsoil
C) have trees that shed their leaves seasonally
D) are not useful commercially
E) are not found in the US

Question 22

A coastal body of water partly surrounded by land with input from both sea and fresh water is called:

A) the limnetic zone.
B) an estuary.
C) a freshwater wetland.
D) the oceanic province.
E) a reef.

Question 23

The dominant vegetation of the temperate rain forest includes all of the following except:

A) western hemlock.
B) Douglas fir.
C) western red cedar.
D) hickory.
E) Sitka spruce.

Question 24

Flowing-water ecosystems, especially headwater streams, receive most of their energy from:

A) light.
B) water.
C) wind.
D) organic detritus.
E) minerals.

Question 25

Which of the following biomes is not known for its wood and lumber production?

A) temperate rain forest
B) taiga
C) chaparral
D) temperate deciduous forest
E) tropical rain forest

Question 26

Which of the following organisms are representative of the limnetic zone?

A) phytoplankton and zooplankton
B) frogs and their tadpoles
C) cattails and other emergent vegetation
D) worms, insect larvae, and crayfish
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 27

Free-floating aquatic organisms are known as:

A) benthos.
B) nekton.
C) pelagic inhabitants.
D) zooxanthellae.
E) plankton.

Question 28

Which of the following is not a biome?

A) boreal forest
B) desert
C) mangrove forest
D) savanna
E) tundra

Question 29

What are the two problems that override all other problems in the Everglades today?

A) The Everglades receives too little water, and the water it receives is polluted with nutrient minerals from agricultural runoff
B) The Everglades has too many foreign species crowding out natives, and as a National Park cannot expand in size.
C) The Everglades receives too much water, and the water it receives comes in destructive floods due to breeches in the levee system.
D) Urban growth and expansion of agriculture into the southernmost areas are responsible for loss of biodiversity in the area.
E) The Everglades depends on the Florida aquifer for clean, fresh water, however that water is being diverted to golf courses and the aquifer is running dry.

Question 30

The biomes that commonly have fire-adapted species are:

A) temperate grassland, savanna, and boreal forest.
B) desert, temperate grassland, and savanna.
C) temperate grassland, savanna, and tundra.
D) chaparral, temperate grassland, and savanna.
E) temperate grassland, chaparral, and temperate deciduous forest.

Question 31

The biomes known for supporting herds of grazing animals are:

A) temperate grassland and temperate deciduous forest.
B) temperate grassland and savanna.
C) temperate deciduous forest and boreal forest.
D) boreal forest and temperate grassland.
E) savanna and tropical rain forest.

Question 32

All of the following are fire-adapted except:

A) African savannas
B) jack and ponderosa pines
C) most hardwood trees
D) bur oak
E) California chaparrals

Question 33

Coral reefs:

A) may occur as barrier, fringing, or atoll formations.
B) protect coastlines from erosion.
C) are found in shallow, nutrient poor, tropical waters.
D) are the most diverse of all marine environments.
E) All of these choices are correct

Question 34

The deepest zone in a large lake, below where the sunlight penetrates, is the:

A) limnetic zone.
B) littoral zone.
C) profundal zone.
D) benthic zone.
E) intertidal zone.

Question 35

Which of the following does not apply to the tundra biome?

A) few species are found
B) harsh winters and short summers
C) the biome is dominated by mosses, lichens, sedges and grasses
D) no permafrost
E) tundra plants seldom grow taller than 30 cm (12 in)

Question 36

All of the following apply to the tundra biome except:

A) abundant average precipitation of 75 to 125 cm (30 to 50 in) per year
B) permafrost
C) nutrient-poor soils
D) little organic matter
E) long, harsh winters and short cool summers

Question 37

Which of the following does not apply to a biome?

A) level of ecological organization above ecosystem
B) boundaries are determined by climate barriers
C) near poles temperature overrides climate
D) usually confined to a relatively small geographical area
E) in tropical and temperate regions precipitation is more significant then temperature

Question 38

Which of the following abiotic factors does not typically affect biome structure?

A) elevation
B) wildfires
C) droughts
D) salinity
E) floods

Question 39

The shallow-water area along the shore of a lake or pond is called the __________ zone:

A) limnetic
B) littoral
C) profundal
D) headwater
E) intertidal

Question 40

The thermocline is the layer in a lake at which

A) pollutants are trapped and held
B) the warm upper zone meets the cold lower zone
C) nutrient levels are the lowest
D) light no longer penetrates enough for photosynthesis to occur
E) the oxygen level is the lowest

Question 41

The benthic environment includes all of the following except

A) the bathyal zone
B) the ocean floor from the intertidal zone to the deep ocean trenches
C) the abyssal zone
D) the bendal
E) the hadal zone

Question 42

Ecosystem services supported by the estuarine environment include all of the following except:

A) biological habitat.
B) trapping pollution.
C) groundwater supply.
D) storm buffering.
E) marinas.

Question 43

Which of the following does not apply to freshwater wetlands?

A) anaerobic conditions
B) accumulate organic material
C) water-tolerant vegetation
D) increase potential for flooding
E) help to purify groundwater

Question 44

Which of the following pairs is incorrect?

A) coral reefs - zooxanthellae
B) wetlands - estuaries (mangroves)
C) kelps - large brown algae
D) benthic environment - mud or sand
E) euphotic zone - photosynthesis

Question 45

Which of the following would not be found exclusively in the benthic environment?

A) seagrass beds
B) coral reefs
C) oysters, clams, and barnacles
D) kelp forests
E) nekton

Question 46

Which of the following statements about desert inhabitants is not true?

A) Both annual and perennial plants live in the desert.
B) Desert animals typically have adaptations for conserving water, but plants require no special adaptations.
C) Many desert plants are protected from predation by thorns and toxins.
D) Desert animals are typically small and nocturnal.
E) All of these choices are true

Question 47

Which of the following is not a major component of desert animal life?

A) insects
B) reptiles
C) amphibians
D) owls
E) rodents

Question 48

Humid tropical rain forests have extraordinary biological diversity

A) because of the abundance of nutrient minerals in tropical soils
B) due to human intervention in planting rare and endangered species
C) because of the many pollinators that also call the tropical rain forest home
D) due to local factors, such as varying soil fertility and topography
E) because the plants capture a lot of energy by photosynthesis

Question 49

Which of the following does not apply to headwater flowing streams?

A) small streams
B) usually highly oxygenated
C) shallow and swift flowing
D) cold
E) cloudy due to suspended particles

Question 50

Which of the following is not found at the boundary between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems?

A) estuary
B) oceanic province
C) mangrove forest
D) salt marsh
E) intertidal zone

Question 51

Which of the following does not apply to the profundal zone of a large lake?

A) no light penetration
B) it is the deepest zone
C) effective recycling of minerals
D) lacks oxygen (anaerobic)
E) a mineral-rich zone

Question 52

Humans harm the oceans in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A) Developing along the coast
B) Polluting the land
C) Recycling
D) Killing marine life with trash
E) With chemicals from the agriculture and industry

Question 53

Which of the following is not important in determining the distribution of organisms in aquatic biomes?

A) light penetration
B) mineral nutrient concentrations
C) water
D) salinity
E) waves and currents

Question 54

National Marine Sanctuaries include

A) kelp forests off the coast of California
B) coral reefs in the Florida Keys
C) fishing grounds along the continental shelf
D) deep submarine canyons
E) all of these choices are correct

Question 55

Which biome is mismatched with the statement that follows it?

A) Tropical rain forest - plants grow in layers: canopy, understory
B) Tundra: most fragile biome on this planet
C) Boreal forest: well suited for agriculture because of short growing season and mineral-poor soil
D) Tropical grassland: trees and grasses have fire-adapted features such as extensive underground root systems.
E) Desert: plant cover is sparse and soil is low in organic material but high in mineral content

Question 56

Which of the following human impacts is mismatched with the detrimental effect it has had on a biome?

A) Oil and natural gas exploration: long-lasting injury due to slow regeneration of the tundra
B) Mining, drilling for gas and oil, and farming: loss of boreal forest (deforestation)
C) Overharvesting of old-growth forest: loss of temperate rain forest habitat for endangered and threatened species
D) Off-road vehicle damage and military exercises: erosion and loss of vegetation in the desert
E) Hunting and fishing: desertification of the savanna, tropical grasslands

Question 57

What do inhabitants of the rocky intertidal zone not do to protect themselves?

A) follow tides in and out
B) use an anchor or some other means of attachment.
C) seal in moisture with a closing shell or other adaptations
D) hide under rocks
E) none of these choices is correct

Question 58

Which of the following characterizes both the savanna and the chaparral?

A) periodic fires
B) extensive stands of trees
C) large herds of herbivorous mammals
D) soils with high mineral content
E) moist summers and dry winters

Question 59

Wetlands are important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A) They support high species diversity.
B) They reduce flooding by slowing the velocity of runoff water.
C) They help recharge groundwater aquifers.
D) They contribute to asymmetry in urban communities.
E) They sometimes detoxify substances in the water.

Question 60

Which of the following is not a source of human impact on the marine environment?

A) coastal development, both residential and industrial
B) global warming
C) trash
D) increased levels of O2
E) chemical pollution from pesticides, heavy metals, and synthetic chemicals

Question 61

Wetlands and estuaries are highly productive and provide enough food to support a variety of organisms.
a) Define an estuary and provide three reasons why estuaries are among the most fertile ecosystems in the world.
b) Discuss TWO roles that coastal wetlands play that are ecologically important.
c) Identify and explain TWO ways in which humans have had a negative impact on estuaries and wetlands.

Question 62

Discuss the symbiotic relationship that reef building coral have with zooxanthellae. Define coral bleaching and discuss possible causes for this development and the ecological impact of this process.

Question 63

Compare and contrast the zonation and ecology of freshwater lakes and the ocean. Identify relevant processes, and incorporate specific examples where appropriate using the following terminology: littoral, limnetic, profundal, intertidal, benthic, pelagic, neritic province, oceanic province

Question 64

The major biomes are distributed as the result of two primary abiotic factors. Identify the two factors and briefly discuss how they influence the distribution of biome types. Include two specific biomes and their distribution in your discussion. Outline and explain the ecological basis for the following statement: "Hiking up a mountain is similar to traveling toward the North Pole."

Question 65

Provide characteristics of desert and tropical rain forest biomes. Compare and contrast the adaptations and types of animals found in deserts to those found in tropical rain forests.

Question 66

How would you argue against the following statement made during the zoning board hearings in your local community? "Deserts are barren, hot and dry wastelands. My proposed housing development, including off-road vehicle recreation areas, will replace this scorching, arid, harsh environment with a revenue-generating complex that will benefit the entire community."

Question 67

Identify five abiotic factors that play a role in determining species composition in aquatic ecosystems. Briefly explain the importance of each to aquatic ecosystems and what role, if any, each factor plays in terrestrial biomes.

Question 68

The ocean is so vast it is hard to visualize human activities that could harm it. However, the evidence of human impact is unmistakable. Discuss this evidence of marine ecosystem destruction coupled with recommendations from the 2004 report by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy for improving the situation.

Question 69

The most fundamental attribute that distinguishes aquatic habitats is

A) salinity
B) sunlight
C) estuaries
D) biomes
E) differences in sea life

Question 70

Which of the following can be found in kelp forests?

A) crabs
B) tube worms
C) sea cucumbers
D) sea otters
E) all of these choices are correct

Question 71

Increases in temperature lead to coral bleaching because:

A) warmer temperatures cause the coral exoskeleton to break down
B) the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae
C) the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food
D) the warmer water is too turbid to allow light to penetrate down to the depth of the reef
E) the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae and the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food

Question 72

Compare and contrast the alpine tundra and the arctic tundra.

Question 73

How is climate change currently affecting the earth's ecosystems? Include examples from at least two different geographic regions in your answer.