Deck 6: Ecosystems and Evolution

Question 1

What is the main difference between short and tall grass prairies ?

A)One is dominated by grasses and the other is dominated by forbs.
B)Tall grass prairies receive more rainfall than short grass prairies.
C)Short grass prairies occur in warmer latitudes than tall grass prairies.
D)Tall grass prairies typically have colder winters than short grass prairies

Answer 1

Tall grass prairies receive more rainfall than short grass prairies.

Question 2

Which biome is most suitable for the development of farmland ?

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

Answer 2

temperate grassland.

Question 3

Correctly order the following from wettest to driest regions.

A)tall grass prairie,temperate desert,short grass prairie
B)short grass prairie,tall grass prairie,temperate desert
C)temperate desert,short grass prairie,tall grass prairie
D)tall grass prairie,short grass prairie,temperate desert

Answer 3

tall grass prairie,short grass prairie,temperate desert

Question 4

Where do 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 regions around the globe with mild,wet winters,followed by hot,dry summers.

Question 5

Why is tall grass prairie North America's rarest biome ?

A)Historically it only occurred in a very tiny region of North America.
B)Because over 90% of this biome has been converted to agriculture
C)Global warming has resulted in the conversion of most tall grass prairie to short grass prairie.
D)Pollution has degraded most of our tall grass prairie region.

Question 6

Which biome has considerable organic material in the soil,annual precipitation of 10-30 inches,and periodic wildfires to maintain the dominant vegetation ?

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

Question 7

Which of the following organizational hierarchies is correct?

A)ecosystem landscape community biome
B)biome community landscape ecosystem
C)community ecosystem landscape biome
D)landscape community ecosystem biome

Question 8

Which set of three parameters has the MOST effect on biome distributions?

A)latitude,longitude,precipitation
B)precipitation,longitude,temperature
C)temperature,latitude,climate
D)latitude,precipitation,temperature

Question 9

What distinguishes a savanna from other types of grasslands ?

A)Warm dry summers and cold dry winters
B)Widely scattered trees or clumps of trees
C)Large grazing herbivores
D)Large predators

Question 10

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.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best definition of a biome?

A)A distinct aquatic ecosystem,surrounded by wetlands and terrestrial upland.
B)A large distinct terrestrial region similar climate,soil,organisms,regardless of its global location.
C)One of several types of forests occurring across the globe.
D)A natural association that consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact together within an area at the same time.

Question 12

Which of the following would be considered a biome?

A)Lake
B)bay
C)Meadow
D)Desert

Question 13

Which biome is characterized by hot summers and cold winters,topsoil rich in organic material,annual precipitation of 75 to 125 cm (30-50 in),and many hardwood trees ?

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

Question 14

Which of the following biomes has the HIGHEST biodiversity?

A)boreal forest
B)temperate grassland
C)temperate rain forest
D)tropical rain forest

Question 15

Which of the following is a biological control that is used to suppress wild fires in chaparral ?

A)viral diseases
B)goats
C)introduced species
D)insect herbivores

Question 16

Which of the following biomes is characterized by moist winters and hot,dry summers ?

A)temperate grassland
B)desert
C)tundra
D)chaparral

Question 17

How are temperate rain forests and the boreal forest similar?

A)Both have mild winters
B)Both are dominated by conifers
C)Both have tree species that are drought adapted
D)Both experience dense fogs

Question 18

Which of the following statements about wildfires is TRUE ?

A)They are always damaging for natural environments.
B)They release nutrient minerals that were locked in dry organic material.
C)They encourage the growth of shade-resistant plants.
D)They result in the destruction of the underground stems and buds of grasses.

Question 19

What type of trees would you expect to find in a boreal forest?

A)coniferous
B)deciduous
C)temperate
D)hardwoods

Question 20

Which the following is found in tropical rain forests,but not in temperate rainforests?

A)amphibians
B)epiphytes
C)evergreen trees
D)relatively constant temperature

Question 21

Which of the following is an ecosystem service ?

A)Predation
B)Groundwater recharge
C)Habitat fragmentation
D)Fossil fuel emissions

Question 22

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

Question 23

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

A)Elevation
B)Wildfires
C)Droughts
D)Salinity

Question 24

Which of the following statements about deserts is TRUE ?

A)They are the only biome with drought adapted vegetation.
B)They only occur in subtropical or tropical regions.
C)They are the only biome with small animals.
D)They only occur in regions with dry winters and dry summers.

Question 25

Where would you expect to find the littoral zone of a lake ?

A)Shallow water area along the shore
B)Open water area farther from shore with enough sunlight for photosynthesis
C)Deepest known,where light typically does not penetrate effectively
D)Bottom region where organisms tend to attach themselves to one spot

Question 26

The biological community that characterizes the arctic tundra is:
1)migrating herbivores,small mammals,and predatory birds.
2)large trees.
3)mosses,lichens,and dwarf woody plants.

A)1 only
B)2 only
C)3 only
D)1 and 3

Question 27

Which of the following distinguishes tundra from other biomes ?

A)An extended day length during its growing season.
B)Nutrient-rich soils.
C)Continuous heavy precipitation.
D)Very long winters and long summers.

Question 28

Which the following statements typifies tropical rain forests ?

A)They are usually composed of at least ten distinct layers,or stories,of vegetation.
B)They are found in areas with high accumulations of organic material in the soil.
C)They occur in areas with ancient,mineral-poor soil.
D)They are known for being only moderately productive.

Question 29

Which of the following BEST defines ecosystem services ?

A)Important environmental benefits provided by ecosystems
B)Environmental services that humans invest in conserving ecosystems
C)Environmental activities that are unique to each ecosystem or biome
D)Economic use of ecosystems as sinks

Question 30

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

Question 31

What are the three main ecological categories of organisms found in aquatic ecosystems ?

A)plankton,nekton,fish
B)plankton,benthos,littoral
C)plankton,nekton,benthos
D)benthos,mangal,littoral

Question 32

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)temperate rain forest.

Question 33

Deciduous forests:

A)are adapted to extremely cold climates
B)have trees that bear seeds in cones
C)have trees that shed their leaves seasonally
D)are not useful commercially

Question 34

What ecosystem service do meanders provide ?

A)They provide additional habitat.
B)They absorb pollutants from the water
C)They slow down water flow
D)They increase river length

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT an ecosystem service supported by the wetland ?

A)They provide biological habitat.
B)They trap pollution.
C)They replenish groundwater supply.
D)They provide fertile agricultural soils.

Question 36

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

A)Microscopic plankton
B)Frogs and their tadpoles
C)Cattails and other emergent vegetation
D)Worms,insect larvae,and crayfish

Question 37

Excluding soil organisms,what percentage of tropical rainforest inhabitants are adapted to live in the canopy ?

A)90%
B)70%
C)50%
D)40%

Question 38

Which biome is mismatched with the statement that follows it ?

A)Tropical rain forest: plants grow in layers -- canopy,understory
B)Tundra: a layer of permafrost
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.

Question 39

The biomes that commonly have fire-adapted species and are known for supporting herds of grazing animals are:

A)temperate grassland and temperate deciduous forest.
B)temperate grassland and savanna.
C)chaparral and boreal forest.
D)boreal forest and temperate deciduous forest.

Question 40

Which of the following arguments would be MOST compelling to an economist considering the development of a wetland ?

A)Wetlands are enjoyed by bird watchers.
B)Biodiversity is sometimes low in wetlands.
C)Wetlands provide habitat for muskrats and beavers.
D)Wetlands provide ecosystem services like water purification that would cost millions to replace.

Question 41

Aquatic organisms that are weak swimmers are known as:

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

Question 42

Which of the following BEST illustrates the process of evolution ?

A)A lizard changes color from green to brown to match the rock it is sitting on.
B)A bear goes into hibernation to avoid the environmental stress of winter.
C)A plant loses its leaves in a drought.
D)A population of mosquitoes develops resistance to a pesticide.

Question 43

What term or phrase is used to describe cumulative genetic changes in populations that occur over generations ?

A)natural selection
B)evolution
C)genetic variation
D)biodiversity

Question 44

Which of the following is the BEST example of primary succession ?

A)A forest develops on abandoned farmland
B)A forest develops on the edge of a retreating glacier
C)A forest develops in the area of a forest fire
D)A forest develops in the area of a devastating flood

Question 45

Individuals within a population each have a unique combination of traits,which is known as:

A)Genetic variation.
B)Reproductive capacity.
C)Evolution.
D)Differential reproductive success.

Question 46

Modern synthesis refers to:

A)The major changes that have been recently made to Darwin's theory of natural selection.
B)The modern rejection of Darwin's theory of natural selection based on new evidence.
C)Evidence for the Darwin's theory of natural selection.
D)The unified explanation of evolution based on a synthesis of Darwin's theory of natural selection with the principles of genetic.

Question 47

All of the following apply to estuaries EXCEPT:

A)There provide very valuable breeding grounds for commercially important fish and shellfish.
B)There is no salinity in estuarine ecosystems due to large supply of fresh water from a river.
C)Plants and algae that grow here have high tolerance for changing environmental conditions like salinity and light penetration.
D)These coastal ecosystems provide a barrier against the ocean during storms.

Question 48

Who wrote The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) ?

A)G)F.Gause
B)John Muir
C)Carl Linnaeus
D)Charles Darwin

Question 49

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

A)Light penetration
B)Mineral nutrient concentrations
C)Precipitation
D)Salinity

Question 50

Which of the following statements about natural selection is TRUE ?

A)Only the strongest individuals survive to reproduce.
B)Individuals evolve traits that allow them to survive and pass those on to their offspring.
C)The most similar individuals are the most likely to adapt to new environments.
D)Individuals most adapted to their environments are most likely to survive and reproduce.

Question 51

The mechanism of natural selection involves all of the following EXCEPT:

A)overproduction within a species.
B)limits on population growth.
C)genetic variation.
D)a stable community structure.

Question 52

What conclusion did Darwin come to after observing 14 species of finches in Galápagos Islands ?

A)All of the finch species had descended from a single common ancestor.
B)All of the species descended from 14 different founder finches.
C)All of the species resembled finches on the South American mainland.
D)All of the species exhibited identical lifestyles,including diet.

Question 53

If each breeding pair of elephants produces 6 offspring during a 90-year life span,in 750 years,a single pair of elephants will have given rise to a population of 15 million elephants.Yet elephants have not overrun the planet.WHY ?

A)Elephants have a niche that expands with the population.
B)Elephants produce more offspring than will survive to maturity.
C)Most elephants are kept in captivity (circus & zoo)and not allowed to reproduce.
D)Individual elephants in a population exhibit no variation,reducing their reproductive success.

Question 54

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

A)limnetic zone
B)littoral zone
C)profundal zone
D)headwater zone

Question 55

Which of the following does NOT apply to freshwater wetlands ?

A)Anaerobic conditions
B)accumulation of organic material
C)Water-tolerant vegetation
D)Drought resistant plants

Question 56

Which of the following was not understood when Darwin was developing his theory of evolution by natural selection ?

A)Surplus reproductive capacity of species.
B)Variation among members of a species.
C)Differential reproductive success.
D)Mutations (changes in DNA).

Question 57

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.

Question 58

Which of the following is found at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems ?

A)Estuary
B)Intertidal zone
C)Mangrove swamp
D)All of these choices

Question 59

Evidence for natural selection includes:

A)Observations from the fossil record.
B)Evidence from comparative anatomy.
C)Evidence from molecular biology.
D)All of these choices.

Question 60

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.

Question 61

Which of the following statements about secondary succession is TRUE:

A)It leads to a stable,persistent climax community.
B)It reaches completion in about 15 years.
C)It occurs in areas lacking vegetation where soil is present.
D)It typically begins with lichens.

Question 62

Describe the ecological significance of fire.Why has the question of fire in fire-dependent ecosystems become more complicated in recent years
Make a case for humans deliberately setting fires,giving the advantages and disadvantages for the ecosystem.What are three other fire prevention practices that can reduce the threat of fire to those who have homes in fire-vulnerable areas
?

Question 63

Freshwater wetlands and estuaries are highly productive and provide enough food to support a variety of organisms.Define a freshwater wetland and an estuary and discuss the ecologically important roles that these ecosystems play.

Question 64

Compare and contrast the zonation and ecology of freshwater lakes.Identify relevant processes,and incorporate specific examples where appropriate using the following terminology: littoral,limnetic,and profundal.

Question 65

Draw a flow diagram of an old field undergoing succession.What type of succession is this and why
?

Question 66

What is natural selection
?What are the basic requirements for natural selection
?

Question 67

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 homes that will benefit the entire community."

Question 68

Which of the following represents the sequence of primary succession on a bare rock ?

A)lichens → mosses → grasses → shrubs → trees
B)crabgrass → weeds → oak trees → pine trees
C)crabgrass → horseweed → weeds → pine trees → hardwood trees
D)grasses → shrubs → poplars → pine trees → oak trees

Question 69

How are goats useful in the chaparral
?
Why are they needed
?
What challenges do they present as a management tool
?

Question 70

Which of the following organisms would be members of a pioneer community on bare rock ?

A)grass
B)lichens
C)herbs
D)ferns

Question 71

Identify two 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.