Deck 7: Climate and Biodiversity

Question 1

Vertical ocean currents are generated by

A)cold and dense ocean water sinking and warm and less-dense water rising
B)warm and dense ocean water sinking and cold and less-dense water rising
C)cold and dense ocean water rising and warm and less-dense water sinking
D)less dense water rising and cold but dense water sinking
E)None of these answers are correct because there are no vertical ocean currents.

Answer 1

cold and dense ocean water sinking and warm and less-dense water rising

Question 2

The rain shadow effect refers to

A)more light on the windward side of mountain ranges
B)more light on the leeward side of mountain ranges
C)drier conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges
D)drier conditions on the leeward side of mountain ranges
E)wetter conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges

Answer 2

drier conditions on the leeward side of mountain ranges

Question 3

All of the following affect the climate of the earth except:

A)solar radiation
B)the earth's rotation
C)the earth's gravity
D)gases in the atmosphere
E)the earth's surface features

Answer 3

the earth's gravity

Question 4

Surface-level ocean currents are caused by

A)dense ocean water sinking
B)cool ocean water rising
C)warm ocean water exchanging with cool ocean water
D)prevailing winds blowing over the ocean surface
E)strong winds coming from warm coastal areas and traveling across the ocean surface

Question 5

Large terrestrial regions with similar climate, soil, plants, and animals are called

A)ecosystems
B)communities
C)populations
D)biomes
E)niches

Question 6

Which of the following microclimate effects is incorrectly described?

A)The leeward sides of high mountains tend to show relatively dry conditions.
B)Oceans and lakes modify temperature extremes.
C)Mountains interrupt the flow of prevailing winds.
D)Cities tend to have lower temperatures and higher wind speeds than the surrounding countryside.
E)The windward sides of high mountains tend to show relatively wet conditions.

Question 7

The term greenhouse effect describes

A)occupational diseases of florists
B)the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere by certain gaseous molecules
C)the trapping of heat energy in the stratosphere by nitrogen
D)efforts by the White House to support environmental legislation
E)the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere by nitrogen

Question 8

The water-covered areas of the earth where life is found

A)are called biomes
B)are called aquatic life zones
C)cover more than 73% of Earth's surface
D)are called aquatic life zones and cover more than 73% of Earth's surface
E)none of these answers

Question 9

What factors determine how air circulates in the lower atmosphere?

A)Uneven heating of the earth's surface by the sun.
B)Rotation of the earth on its axis.
C)The properties of air, water, and land.
D)All of these answers.
E)Rotation of the earth on its axis and the properties of air, water, and land.

Question 10

All of the following are greenhouse gases except

A)carbon dioxide
B)water vapor
C)methane
D)nitrogen
E)nitrous oxide

Question 11

Climate

A)describes weather conditions over long periods of time.
B)describes weather conditions over short periods of time.
C)describes average patterns of weather.
D)both describes weather conditions over long periods of time, and describes average patterns of weather
E)both describes weather conditions over short periods of time, and describes average patterns of weather

Question 12

Convection cells exist on the earth's surface primarily because:

A)Water evaporates from the ocean.
B)Warm, moist air rises.
C)The warm air cools and condenses.
D)Cool, dry air sinks and moves across the earth's surface.
E)All of these answers.

Question 13

Climate and vegetation vary with

A)latitude only
B)elevation only
C)latitude and elevation
D)latitude and longitude
E)elevation and longitude

Question 14

Heated air masses above the equator move north and south to cooler areas because:

A)The equator spins faster than the polar regions as Earth rotates.
B)Cooler areas of air are less dense.
C)Rotational gravity pulls the air north and south.
D)The moon exerts a gravitational pull on the air.
E)The sun exerts a gravitational pull on the air.

Question 15

Microclimates can be produced by

A)mountains
B)bodies of water
C)cities
D)all of these answers
E)only mountains and bodies of water

Question 16

A rain shadow is most likely to be produced by a

A)forest
B)ocean
C)lake
D)sand dune
E)mountain

Question 17

The distribution of the desert, grassland, and forest biomes is determined principally by

A)average annual temperature only
B)average annual precipitation and temperature
C)latitude
D)sunlight
E)wind

Question 18

Areas of the earth lying between the equatorial region and the two poles have a(n)

A)extremely dry and warm climate
B)extremely cold climate
C)temperate climate
D)very wet and cold climate
E)This area is not adequately described by any of the choices.

Question 19

An explanation for why polar regions are colder than equatorial regions is that:

A)The sun never reaches these areas because of the tilt of Earth on its axis.
B)Sunlight strikes the polar regions at an angle and spreads out over a much larger area.
C)Sunlight is more intense at the poles.
D)Earth is spinning slower at the poles.
E)All of these answers.

Question 20

There are ____ separate belts of moving air, or prevailing winds.

A)two
B)four
C)six
D)eight
E)ten

Question 21

Oak, hickory, maple, poplar, and beech are typical tree species in the

A)boreal forest
B)tropical rainforest
C)temperate rainforest
D)temperate deciduous forest
E)coastal coniferous forest

Question 22

Which of the following is not characteristic of desert plants?

A)widespread, shallow root systems
B)deep root systems
C)large leaves that droop in the bright sunlight
D)succulent leaves or stems
E)becoming dormant during dry periods

Question 23

Arctic tundra is perhaps Earth's most fragile biome because of

A)short growing season
B)nutrient-poor soil
C)slow recovery of plants after disturbance
D)bitter cold
E)all of these answers

Question 24

Succulent plants are most likely to be found in

A)aquatic habitats
B)cold ecosystems
C)high elevations
D)deserts
E)coastal ecosystems

Question 25

Tropical, temperate, and cold are categories that apply to which of the following?

A)deserts
B)grasslands
C)forests
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 26

Which of the following is not appropriate to use in describing a tropical rain forest?

A)moist conditions
B)high nutrient content of soil
C)layered
D)diversity
E)rainfall

Question 27

All of the following are common adaptations made by animals to the desert except

A)living underground during the heat of the day
B)having thick outer coverings to minimize water loss
C)drinking and storing large amounts of water
D)becoming dormant during periods of extreme heat or drought
E)all of these answers

Question 28

A tropical grassland with widely scattered clumps of trees would be called a

A)veldt
B)steppes
C)savanna
D)pampas
E)taiga

Question 29

A forest that is known for its year-round uniformly warm temperature is the:

A)temperate deciduous forest
B)taiga
C)tropical rainforest
D)boreal forest
E)none of these answers

Question 30

Permafrost is characteristic of the ____ biome.

A)tropical savanna
B)Arctic tundra
C)taiga
D)thorn woodland
E)deciduous forest

Question 31

Which of the following terms does not belong with the others?

A)taiga
B)tundra
C)boreal forest
D)evergreen forest
E)cold forest

Question 32

In the western United States, an area called the Great Basin contains many freestanding mountain ranges that are separated from each other by high desert. a.These mountain ranges could be called

A)taiga reserves
B)islands of biodiversity
C)broadleaf deciduous reserves
D)grazing animal reserves
E)island reserves

Question 33

The loss of permafrost secondary to global warming in parts of Canada, Russia, China, Mongolia, and Alaska is causing

A)the release of CO2 from the soil into the atmosphere
B)the release of CH4 from the soil into the atmosphere
C)the release of hydrogen gas from the soil into the atmosphere
D)the release of nitrogen gas from the soil into the atmosphere
E)the release of CO2 and CH4 from the soil into the atmosphere

Question 34

In tropical rainforests, vegetation layers are structured according to

A)how deep the rainfall penetrates into the forest
B)the plant's needs for sunlight
C)how well each plant handles predation by herbivores
D)nutrient availability and uptake by plant roots
E)none of these; tropical rainforests are not layered

Question 35

The fragility of the desert ecosystem is indicated by

A)the high growth rate of plants
B)moderate species diversity
C)abundant groundwater
D)long recovery time from disturbance
E)all of these except the high growth rate of plants

Question 36

Through your binoculars you observe a pack of wolves stalking a caribou separated from its herd. a.Geese take to the air, departing the boggy scene.You are most likely in

A)desert
B)topical grassland
C)temperate grassland
D)Arctic tundra
E)savanna

Question 37

Much of this biome has disappeared from Earth because it has been converted to grazing lands for cattle and croplands.

A)temperate grassland
B)temperate forest
C)tropical grassland
D)cold grassland
E)cold desert

Question 38

Many species of hoofed animals can live together in the African tropical savannas because they have ____ eating habits that ____ competition for resources.

A)specialized, maximize
B)specialized, minimize
C)generalized, maximize
D)generalized, minimize
E)none of these answers

Question 39

Animals in desert biomes may eat plants for their water content as a survival adaptation. a.Plants, in turn, may have ____ as a defense against being eaten by animals.

A)poisonous leaves
B)camouflaged leaves
C)a lack of leaves
D)spines
E)both camouflaged leaves and spines

Question 40

At least half of the known species of terrestrial plants and animals are found in:

A)Temperate and tropical rainforests combined.
B)Temperate rainforests only.
C)Tropical rainforests only.
D)Deciduous forests.
E)They are evenly distributed amongst the biomes of Earth.

Question 41

The coastal zone has ____ of all marine species and ____ of its surface area.

A)95%, 5%
B)90%, 10%
C)90%, 25%
D)80%, 25%
E)80%, 10%

Question 42

Humans have affected grasslands by

A)the introduction of livestock
B)plowing and conversion to croplands
C)oil exploration
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 43

The ocean zone that extends to the continental shelf is the

A)estuary
B)coastal zone
C)littoral zone
D)benthic zone
E)abyssal zone

Question 44

Most photosynthesis in the open sea occurs in the

A)euphotic zone
B)abyssal zone
C)bathyal zone
D)coastal zone
E)benthic zone

Question 45

The majority of the world's forests are located:

A)at the equator
B)in the temperate zones
C)in mountains
D)adjacent to deserts
E)none of these answers

Question 46

Saltwater or marine life zones include

A)oceans
B)estuaries
C)coral reefs
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 47

Oceans

A)have three major life zones
B)occupy most of the earth's surface
C)are thoroughly understood by humans
D)all of these answers
E)have three major life zones and occupy most of the earth's surface

Question 48

Which of the following is not an economic service provided by marine ecosystems?

A)source of animal and pet feed
B)nutrient cycling
C)provides harbors and transportation routes
D)provides employment
E)source of minerals, oil, and natural gas

Question 49

Marine snow refers to

A)appearance of the water during freezing weather
B)animal and plant plankton that die and drift downward
C)white sand beaches
D)algal blooms
E)none of these answers

Question 50

The deepest part of the ocean is the

A)abyssal zone
B)euphotic zone
C)estuary zone
D)bathyal zone
E)riparian zone

Question 51

Humans affect mountain biomes by

A)extracting trees and minerals
B)increased use for recreation
C)increased air pollution from urban areas
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 52

The darkest zone of the sea is the

A)euphotic zone
B)abyssal zone
C)bathyal zone
D)coastal zone
E)benthic zone

Question 53

Trees of wet tropical rain forests tend to be

A)succulent plants
B)broadleaf evergreen plants
C)broadleaf deciduous plants
D)coniferous evergreen plants
E)coniferous deciduous plants

Question 54

Mountain biomes

A)have deep, rich soils
B)recover quickly from vegetation loss
C)do not affect climate
D)have little biodiversity
E)may act as sanctuaries for animal species driven from lowland areas

Question 55

Cone-bearing trees are characteristic of the

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

Question 56

Which of the following ecosystems could be classified as a coastal zone aquatic system?

A)estuary
B)mangrove forest
C)coral reef
D)coastal wetland
E)all of these answers

Question 57

Which of the following is least descriptive of coniferous forests?

A)carpet of needles on forest floor
B)long, cold, dry winter
C)short summer
D)high species diversity
E)south of the Arctic tundra

Question 58

In your explorations in your new job as a marine biologist, you find a new species of algae floating on the surface of a coastal zone body of water. a.You would most likely classify this species as

A)zooplankton or phytoplankton
B)nekton
C)benthic
D)none of these answers
E)all of these answers

Question 59

Which of the following does not belong with the others?

A)taiga
B)savanna
C)boreal forest
D)evergreen coniferous forest
E)coastal coniferous forest

Question 60

Worldwide, coral reefs provide habitat for about 25% of all marine organisms. a.However, coral reefs occupy about _____ of the ocean floor.

A)25%
B)10%
C)15%
D)5%
E)0.2%

Question 61

Lakes that fall between the two extremes of nutrient enrichment are called

A)oligotrophic
B)mesotrophic
C)eutrophic
D)trophic
E)metatrophic

Question 62

Some desert animals are able to exist without drinking any water.

Question 63

Which of the following is not an ecological service provided by freshwater systems?

A)drinking water
B)flood control
C)groundwater recharge
D)biodiversity
E)nutrient cycling

Question 64

The majority of photosynthesis in a lake takes place in the

A)profundal zone
B)limnetic zone
C)phototropic zone
D)littoral zone
E)benthic zone

Question 65

Crater Lake in Oregon is an example of a lake depression caused by

A)displacement of the Earth's crust
B)glaciation
C)intentional digging by man to create a reservoir
D)volcanic activity
E)a meteor strike millions of years ago

Question 66

Inland wetlands include all of the following except

A)prairie potholds
B)wet Arctic tundra
C)marshes
D)swamps
E)estuaries

Question 67

Which of the following trees is characteristic of tropical coastal wetlands?

A)cypress
B)coconut
C)mangrove
D)palm
E)live oak

Question 68

The zone of the ocean with a very high net primary productivity (NPP) is the

A)euphotic zone
B)abyssal zone
C)bathyal zone
D)coastal zone
E)benthic zone

Question 69

Which of the following categories does not belong with the others?

A)the source zone
B)the transition zone
C)the benthic zone
D)the floodplain zone
E)All of these categories belong together.

Question 70

Deciduous forests are typically located at higher altitudes than coniferous forests.

Question 71

Inland wetlands are often lost to

A)croplands
B)fragmentation secondary to construction of dams and canals
C)urban development
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 72

Deserts are primarily located in the hot, tropical regions.

Question 73

In lakes, the nutrient-rich water near the shore is part of the

A)limnetic zone
B)benthic zone
C)littoral zone
D)profundal zone
E)abyssal zone

Question 74

Approximately one-tenth of the global fish catch is produced in the

A)coral reefs
B)open ocean
C)estuaries
D)intertidal zone
E)none of these answers

Question 75

The land area around a stream that delivers runoff, sediment, and dissolved substances into the water is called the

A)watershed
B)drainage basin
C)floodplain zone
D)transition zone
E)watershed and drainage basin

Question 76

The euphotic zone is that region of the ocean just below the limit of light absorption.

Question 77

Estuaries and coastal wetlands are important for all of the following reasons except

A)nursery grounds for a variety of marine species
B)filtering out waterborne pollutants
C)reduction of storm damage
D)providing coral for limestone production and the tourist trade
E)high productivity

Question 78

Fish adapted to cool, dark water are most likely found in the zone of lakes called the

A)limnetic zone
B)benthic zone
C)littoral zone
D)profundal zone
E)abyssal zone

Question 79

Coral reefs

A)support a large variety of marine species
B)provide food, jobs, and building materials
C)protect coastlines from erosion
D)all of these answers
E)none of these answers

Question 80

A lake that is described as oligotrophic is typically

A)low in primary productivity
B)low in plant nutrients
C)high in plant nutrients
D)both low in primary productivity and low in plant nutrients
E)both low in primary productivity and high in plant nutrients