Deck 56: Ecology and the Geography of Life

Question 1

Which of the following characteristics applies to biomes?

A) They are usually confined to a relatively small geographical area.
B) They encompass interacting landscapes.
C) Their distribution is largely the result of differences in population.
D) Their boundaries extend beyond climate barriers.
E) They include regions with similar climate, but different plants, animals, and soil.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which biome is characterized by weasels, gray wolves, ptarmigan, musk oxen, and lemmings?

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

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Figure 56-1 Based on the temperature range and precipitation, the area on the accompanying figure labeled as 3 represents which of the following biomes?

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which biome has the shortest growing season?

A) tundra
B) taiga
C) grassland
D) desert
E) tropical rain forest

Question 5

Near the poles, what is generally the overriding climate factor?

A) temperature
B) precipitation
C) latitude
D) altitude
E) pH

Question 6

Tundra soils are usually ____ and have ____ in the uppermost layer of soil.

A) nutrient poor; little organic litter
B) nutrient rich; much organic litter
C) frozen; nutrients
D) moist; dead plant material
E) sandy; high pH

Question 7

There are no trees in the tundra because:

A) of the short growing season.
B) of the limited supply of nutrients in the soil.
C) of limited root penetration due to permafrost.
D) of limited precipitation.
E) of low temperatures.

Question 8

Figure 56-1 Based on the temperature range and precipitation, the area on the accompanying figure labeled as 5 represents which of the following biomes?

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

Question 9

Glacier ice occupied about ____% of Earth's land during the last Ice Age, then began retreating about 17,000 years ago. Today, glacier ice occupies about ____% of the land surface.

A) 30; 10.
B) 50; 10
C) 73; 50
D) 80; 50
E) 15; 1

Question 10

____ is characterized by cold temperatures, little precipitation, and few or no trees.

A) Taiga
B) Chaparral
C) Savanna
D) Tundra
E) Desert

Question 11

Which biome has the least primary productivity?

A) tundra
B) taiga
C) grassland
D) desert
E) tropical rain forest

Question 12

Soils of the tundra are very ____ due to ____.

A) old; lack of precipitation
B) young; lack of precipitation
C) old; glaciation
D) young; glaciation
E) thick; high precipitation

Question 13

Which biome has the fewest types of species?

A) tundra
B) taiga
C) grassland
D) desert
E) It is not possible to determine this based on the information provided.

Question 14

Based on the temperature range and precipitation, which area in the accompanying figure is dominated by pine trees?

A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
E) 7

Question 15

Figure 56-1 Based on the accompanying figure, what is the annual precipitation and temperature range for a temperate rain forest?

A) 300 − 400 cm/yr precipitation and 20 − 30 ° C
B) 200 − 300 cm/yr precipitation and 20 − 30 ° C
C) 200 − 300 cm/yr precipitation and 10 − 20 ° C
D) 150 − 250 cm/yr precipitation and 10 − 20 ° C
E) 150 − 250 cm/yr precipitation and 20 − 30 ° C

Question 16

The Southern Hemisphere has no equivalent of the boreal forest of the north. Why?

A) It has no latitudes near the poles.
B) It has insufficient altitudes.
C) It has no land in the corresponding latitudes.
D) It is too close to the sun during the winter.
E) It has an inhospitable temperature.

Question 17

Currently, much commercial lumber and wood products come from which biome?

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

Question 18

Which statement about Earth's biomes is FALSE?

A) Biomes near the poles have less rainfall than biomes on the equator.
B) Altitude can result in biomes that are not characteristic for a particular latitude.
C) Deserts have less rainfall due to their distance from the ocean.
D) Rainforests occur in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
E) Deserts occur in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

Question 19

In tropical and temperate regions, ____ becomes more significant than temperature.

A) altitude
B) precipitation
C) latitude
D) migration
E) pH

Question 20

Which of the following is an adaptation of black-tailed prairie dogs?

A) modified digestive tracts to easily digest seeds and leaves of grasses
B) transition to a carnivore lifestyle
C) movement towards above ground living
D) hibernation throughout the spring
E) movement towards living in small social groups

Question 21

The ____ biome is characterized by plants that are particularly well adapted to periodic fires.

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

Question 22

Figure 56-2 Which of the lakes in the accompanying figure may have a thermocline?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 4
D) 1 and 3
E) 2 and 4

Question 23

Lianas and epiphytes are especially common in the:

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

Question 24

Which biome has the greatest number of distinct layers of vegetation?

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

Question 25

The ____ covers approximately 11% of Earth's land and contains numerous lakes and ponds.

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

Question 26

Figure 56-2 Which of the lakes in the accompanying figure may experience turnover?

A) 2 and 4
B) 2 and 3
C) 3 and 4
D) 1 and 2
E) 1 and 3

Question 27

Much precipitation in the tropical rain forest is derived from:

A) evaporation from lakes.
B) evaporation from rivers.
C) groundwater.
D) transpiration.
E) translocation.

Question 28

The tropical rain forest biome is characterized by:

A) high density of plants, but nutrient poor soil.
B) high density of plants and nutrient rich soil.
C) low density of plants due to nutrient poor soil.
D) low density of plants, yet nutrient rich soil.
E) intermediate density of plants and intermediate nutrient supply.

Question 29

The ____ biome is found in states such as Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and other Midwestern states, and is characterized by thick, rich soils, and a thick mat of sod.

A) savannah
B) tallgrass prairie
C) taiga
D) temperate deciduous forest
E) chaparral

Question 30

Which of the following is most characteristic of desert animals?

A) They tend to be quite large in size.
B) They estivate during the rainy season.
C) They mostly only come out at night.
D) They do not include mammals except for rodents.
E) They do not include insects.

Question 31

The ____ biome has the greatest species richness of the terrestrial biomes.

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

Question 32

The greatest proportion of which two biomes have been converted to agriculture?

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

Question 33

Figure 56-2 Refer to the accompanying figure. Which of the following represents the fall turnover?

A) 1 going to 2
B) 2 going to 3
C) 3 going to 4
D) 4 going to 1
E) 4 going to 2

Question 34

The exact elevation at which the treeline occurs depends on the ____ and ____.

A) temperature; distance from the sun
B) altitude; distance from the sun
C) elevation; annual precipitation
D) latitude; distance from the ocean
E) longitude; distance from the equator

Question 35

Overgrazing in savannas by domestic animals has contributed to its conversion into:

A) chaparral.
B) grassland.
C) desert.
D) taiga.
E) ecotones.

Question 36

Which biome has the longest growing season?

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

Question 37

The dominant vegetation of the temperate rain forest includes which of the following?

A) Sitka spruce
B) western red oak
C) beech
D) bamboo
E) Southern pine

Question 38

Climates characteristic of the Mediterranean region are also common in:

A) Nebraska.
B) New York.
C) Florida.
D) Hawaii.
E) California.

Question 39

Which of the following is a characteristic of desert plants?

A) common annuals
B) enlarged leaf size
C) lianas with extensive epiphytes
D) adaptations that conserve water
E) adaptations to stable temperatures

Question 40

Compared to soils of other ecosystems, desert soils are characterized as having:

A) high amounts of organic material and low mineral content.
B) low amounts of organic material and low mineral content.
C) high amounts of organic material and high mineral content.
D) low amounts of organic material and high mineral content.
E) moderate levels of both organic material and minerals.

Question 41

The marine euphotic zone is comparable to the ____ zone of lakes.

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

Question 42

Which factor is most important in determining the distribution of organisms in aquatic biomes?

A) interspecies composition
B) dominant vegetation
C) distance from shore
D) salinity
E) intraspecies composition

Question 43

Sponges and brittle stars are members of the ____ category of organisms:

A) nekton
B) phytoplankton
C) zooplankton
D) benthos
E) profundal zone

Question 44

Which organism would be found exclusively in the benthic environment?

A) painted turtles
B) pond snail
C) bur-reeds
D) cattails
E) bloodworms

Question 45

The Southern Hemisphere has no alpine tundra.

Question 46

What environment is characterized by high nutrient inputs and by relatively great fluctuations in salinity and temperature?

A) A river
B) An estuary
C) A freshwater wetland
D) Aa large lake
E) The oceanic province

Question 47

Describe the climate, soil, and representative organisms for two of the following terrestrial biomes: savanna, temperate rain forest, chaparral, or taiga.

Question 48

Which of the following applies to the deepest zone of a large lake?

A) effective recycling of minerals
B) anaerobic conditions
C) a mineral-poor zone
D) plentiful light penetration
E) numerous organisms

Question 49

For coral reefs to form in tropical waters, it is necessary for the coral animals to live in symbiosis with:

A) bacteria.
B) parrot fish.
C) zooxanthellae.
D) sea urchins.
E) kelp.

Question 50

The ____ contains the greatest volume of ocean water.

A) oceanic province
B) intertidal zone
C) euphotic zone
D) neritic province
E) limnetic zone

Question 51

The most productive region of a lake is the ____ zone.

A) neritic
B) limnetic
C) profundal
D) littoral
E) oceanic

Question 52

Characteristics of headwaters include:

A) fast flow, high oxygen, and free-floating vegetation.
B) fast flow, low oxygen, and free-floating vegetation.
C) fast flow, high oxygen, and streamlined animal bodies.
D) fast flow, high oxygen, and free-floating vegetation.
E) slow flow, high oxygen, and free-floating vegetation.

Question 53

Marine snow is a major source of energy for the ____ region of the ocean.

A) littoral
B) aphotic
C) euphotic
D) intertidal
E) neustonic

Question 54

Explain the changes in vegetation observed with increasing elevation. BONUS: Compare this to changes in vegetation with latitude.

Question 55

A(n) ____ is the transition zone where two ecosystems meet and intergrade.

A) intertidal zone
B) ecotone
C) range
D) biome
E) thermocline

Question 56

Identify and briefly describe three biogeographical realms as described by Wallace.

Question 57

The ____ realm has long been separated from other land masses and is the area in which marsupials are particularly common.

A) Ethiopian
B) Palearctic
C) Nearctic
D) Oriental
E) Australian

Question 58

Headwater streams depend primarily on ____ as an energy input.

A) photosynthesis
B) detritus
C) phytoplankton
D) zooplankton
E) nekton

Question 59

Adaptations found in inhabitants of the rocky intertidal zone include:

A) soft bodies.
B) an anchor or some other means of attachment.
C) strong swimming abilities.
D) active burrowing.
E) delicate outer coverings or bodies.

Question 60

Microscopic algae typically fall under the classification of:

A) nekton.
B) phytoplankton.
C) zooplankton.
D) benthos.
E) profundal microorganisms.

Question 61

Describe the human impact on at least two aquatic ecosystems discussed. How have these alterations impacted these ecosystems?

Question 62

The upper part of the neritic province is called the euphotic zone.

Question 63

Describe and diagram the various zones and provinces in the ocean. What adaptations to these variable conditions are seen in the biota that inhabit these regions?

Question 64

The hadal zone is that part of the benthic environment deeper than 6000 m.

Question 65

The American kangaroo rat is characteristic of the desert biome.

Question 66

Describe the alteration of five selected biomes by humans. How have different biomes been converted for commercial or agricultural use? Of those selected, which has undergone the most extensive change?

Question 67

A layer of permanently frozen ground is called permafrost .

Question 68

Describe the physical processes that result in the summer and winter stratification in temperate zone lakes. What causes the mixing in the spring and fall? What are major consequences of the winter stratification on the biota of the lake?

Question 69

The United States is part of the Palearctic realm.

Question 70

The boreal forest biome does not contain deciduous trees.

Question 71

Dense coastal fog is characteristic of the temperate deciduous forest biome.

Question 72

The term nekton refers to bottom-dwelling organisms in an aquatic ecosystem.

Question 73

The oceanic province is that part of the ocean that overlies the continental shelf.

Question 75

The chaparral biome is characterized by grasses as high as two meters.

Question 76

The transition zone between biomes is called a(n) ecotone .

Question 77

The limnetic zone is the shallow-water area along the shore of a lake or pond.

Question 78

Small lakes and ponds usually lack a profundal zone.

Question 79

Extensive epiphytes are found in the tropical dry forests.

Question 80

An example of a freshwater wetland is a(n) estuary .