Deck 20: Terrestrial Biomes

Question 1

Consider rainforests.Compare the percentage of Earth area these occupy to the percentage of species they hold.Which lists the correct percentages?

A)2% of area; 12% of species.
B)7% of area; 50% of species.
C)10% of area; 35% of species.
D)12% of area; 65% of species.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

This biome occurs in equatorial regions with erratic rainfall and typically occurs on the margins of tropical rainforests.Which is this biome?

A)Mediterranean shrubland.
B)Temperate rain forest.
C)Tropical savanna.
D)Tropical seasonal forest and scrub.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The naturalist and father of zoogeography Alfred Russel Wallace noted a distinct difference in the fauna between several islands in the Malay Archipelago (present-day Indonesia).He used these differences to delineate the boundary between the Australian and Oriental biogeographic realms.Which of the following best describes the reason for these differences?

A)Aboriginal tribes in Australia have greatly altered the fauna of Australia relative to the Oriental realm.
B)A deep ocean barrier inhibited dispersal between the two realms.
C)The environments of Australia and Asia are completely different,despite their relative close proximity.
D)Asia and European traders interacted for centuries prior to Wallace's discovery.Among the results of this interaction was an exchange of European (Palearctic)fauna and Oriental fauna.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following best describes an invasive species?

A)An invasive species is any non-native introduced species,whether it becomes established or not.
B)Non-native species become invasive when they become established in a new area,taking over niches that were already occupied by native species.
C)Dispersal,even if anthropogenic,is a normal biogeographic process and,therefore,no cause of alarm.
D)Approximately 90% of all introduced non-native species become invasive species.

Question 5

Which describes the climate of the tropical rain forest biome?

A)Consistently warm,but seasonally dry.
B)Having a distinct cold and warm season.
C)Mild winter with a very hot summer.
D)Consistently warm and wet.

Question 6

Which are large,stable communities of plants and animals whose boundaries are closely linked to climate and soils?

A)Biozones.
B)Ecospheres.
C)Biomes.
D)Biogeographic realms.

Question 7

Which are large woody vines that are rooted in the soil and found in the worlds tropical forests?

A)Understory.
B)Lianas.
C)Epiphytes.
D)Bryophytes.

Question 8

In which of the following regions would one likely find a tropical rain forest?

A)The Amazon region in South America.
B)Northern Africa.
C)Northeast Asia.
D)The Pacific Northwest in the United States.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes biomes?

A)Biomes are defined by species that invade a region.
B)Most biomes have been relatively unaffected by human intervention.
C)The boundaries between most biomes are sharp and easily delineated.
D)Biomes often reflect potential mature vegetation,rather than actual vegetation of an area.

Question 10

Though New Zealand is relatively close to Australia,its faunal assemblages are quite different.For instance,there are no native marsupials in New Zealand.Which of the following best accounts for these differences?

A)New Zealand experienced a major extinction that wiped out its marsupials and other Australian fauna.
B)New Zealand was isolated from Australia during critical evolutionary times.
C)The environments of Australia and New Zealand are completely different,despite their close proximity.
D)New Zealand is an island,whereas Australia is a continent.As such,one wouldn't expect them to have the same faunal assemblages.

Question 11

Which of the following is true about the distribution of Earth's biodiversity?

A)There is a universally accepted manner to delineate Earth's biodiversity.
B)In general,there tends to be greater biodiversity at higher latitudes than lower latitudes.
C)Earth's biodiversity is spread unevenly across the planet.
D)The distribution of Earth's biodiversity is driven solely by climate.

Question 12

Despite the high-level of biodiversity,which biome has infertile soils to which the vegetation has adapted root systems to capture nutrients from litter decay at the soil surface?

A)Boreal and montane forest.
B)Temperate rain forest.
C)Tropical rain forest.
D)Midlatitude grasslands.

Question 13

Which biome is characterized by a well-developed vertical structure with three distinct layers: an overstory,a middle canopy,and understory?

A)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
B)Tropical rain forest.
C)Desert.
D)Mediterranean shrubland.

Question 14

Which are distinct regions of broadly similar flora and fauna?

A)Biozones.
B)Ecospheres.
C)Biomes.
D)Biogeographic realms.

Question 15

The flora and fauna of this biome are characterized by high biodiversity,including many lianas,epiphytes,and arboreal animal species,such as sloths,monkeys,lemurs,and snakes.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical rain forest.
B)Boreal and montane forest.
C)Temperate rain forest.
D)Mediterranean shrubland.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes an invasive species?

A)An invasive species is any non-native introduced species,whether it becomes established or not.
B)Non-native species become invasive when they become established in a new area,taking over niches that were already occupied by native species.
C)Dispersal,even if anthropogenic,is a normal biogeographic process and,therefore,no cause of alarm.
D)Approximately 90% of all introduced non-native species become invasive species.

Question 17

Which are trees and shrubs that seasonally lose their leaves?

A)Evergreens.
B)Annual herbs.
C)Deciduous.
D)Bryophytes.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the tropical rain forest biome?

A)Seasonal deciduous.
B)Perennial herbaceous.
C)Broadleaf evergreen.
D)Sclerophyllous.

Question 19

Which of the following is one of the major groups of terrestrial vegetation biogeographers often designate?

A)Phytoplankton.
B)Zooplankton.
C)Grassland.
D)Shield.

Question 20

Which is the boundary zone between adjacent biomes in which traits from both biomes may be found?

A)Ecotone.
B)Boundary layer.
C)Edge effect.
D)Transitional matrix.

Question 21

This biome is typically found in areas with marine west coast climates,characterized by high precipitation,moderate air temperatures,summer fog,and an overall maritime influence.Which is this biome?

A)Boreal and montane forest.
B)Tropical savanna.
C)Temperate rain forest.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 22

Local names of this biome include the Chaco,the Caatinga,the brigalow,and the dornveld.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical rain forest.
B)Tropical seasonal forest and scrub.
C)Mediterranean shrubland.
D)Arctic and alpine tundra.

Question 23

Earth's largest living organism in terms of biomass is which of the following?

A)Baobab (Adansonia digitata).
B)Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
C)Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva).
D)Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Question 24

This biome,with some deciduous trees and an open parkland vegetation type,are transitional between tropical rain forest and grassland.Which is this biome?

A)Temperate rain forest.
B)Tropical seasonal forest and scrub.
C)Mediterranean shrubland.
D)Broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 25

Characteristic fauna of this biome include large ungulates (hooved mammals),such as giraffe,zebra,buffalo,gazelle,wildebeest,antelope,and rhinoceros.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical savanna.
B)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
C)Tropical rain forest.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 26

Where is the largest area of tropical savanna found?

A)Africa.
B)North America.
C)Asia.
D)Australia.

Question 27

To which does scrub vegetation refer?

A)Drought resistent.
B)Low shrubs and grasses with some adaptations to semiarid conditions.
C)A plant that survives seasonally unfavorable conditions underground.
D)Woody plants with small,leathery evergreen leaves.

Question 28

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the tropical seasonal forest and scrub biome?

A)Semideciduous.
B)Xerophytic.
C)Broadleaf evergreen.
D)Sclerophyllous.

Question 29

The Serengeti in east Africa is an example of which biome?

A)Arctic and alpine tundra.
B)Desert.
C)Tropical savanna.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 30

Trumpet trees (Tabebuia caraiba),a dry-season deciduous tree would likely be found in which of the following biomes?

A)Tropical seasonal forest and scrub.
B)Tropical rain forest.
C)Desert.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 31

Moist continental climates support several distinct communities of needleleaf,broadleaf,and mixed forests in this biome found in North America,Europe,and Asia.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical savanna.
B)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
C)Tropical rain forest.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 32

Which of the following best describes the climate characteristics of the tropical seasonal forest and scrub?

A)Consistently warm and wet.
B)Moderate due to maritime effects.
C)Low precipitation and exceptionally hot.
D)Monsoonal rains and always warm.

Question 33

This biome consists of large expanses of xerophytic grassland and scattered trees and shrubs adapted to drought,grazing by large herbivores,and fire.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical rain forest.
B)Desert.
C)Tropical savanna.
D)Mediterranean shrubland.

Question 34

The soils of the boreal forest,acidic and leached of humus and clays,belong to which soil order?

A)Cryosolic.
B)Vertisolic.
C)Podzolic.
D)Regosolic.

Question 35

This extensive biome is dominated by evergreen needleleaf forests.Which is this biome?

A)Boreal and montane forest.
B)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
C)Tropical seasonal forest and scrub.
D)Temperate rain forest.

Question 36

Which of the following climate types is associated with the midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome?

A)Marine west coast.
B)Humid subtropical (warm summer).
C)Humid continental (cool summer).
D)Mediterranean.

Question 37

Representative animals in this biome include red fox,white-tailed deer,southern flying squirrel,opossum,bear,and a great variety of birds.Which is this biome?

A)Tropical savanna.
B)Desert.
C)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
D)Arctic and alpine tundra.

Question 38

This biome occupies large portions of the eastern United States,central Europe,and Asia.Which is this biome?

A)Temperate rain forest.
B)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
C)Boreal and montane forest.
D)Tropical savanna.

Question 39

This extensive biome stretches from the east coast of Canada to the Canadian Rockies,as well as across the entire extent of Russia to the European Plain and at high elevations at lower latitudes.Which is this biome?

A)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
B)Boreal and montane forest.
C)Desert.
D)Arctic and alpine tundra.

Question 40

In which of the following biomes would one likely find wolf,elk,moose,bear,lynx,beaver,wolverine,and a number of migratory birds?

A)Tropical rain forest.
B)Tropical savanna.
C)Desert.
D)Boreal and montane forest.

Question 41

Succulents,such as the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea)found in southern Arizona,southeastern California,northern Mexico,and the Baja Peninsula,are representative vegetation in which biome? Which biome is this?

A)Tropical savanna.
B)Deserts.
C)Mediterranean shrubland.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 42

Which of the following would one likely find in the Arctic and alpine tundra biome?

A)Sedges and mosses.
B)Broadleaf deciduous trees.
C)Flowering shrubs.
D)Tall grasses.

Question 43

Dry summers and winter precipitation maxima characterize this small biome which is located in 5 disparate locations,typically on the west coast of continents between 30° and 40° latitude.Which is this biome?

A)Midlatitude grassland.
B)Tropical savanna.
C)Mediterranean shrubland.
D)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 44

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the Mediterranean shrubland biome?

A)Semideciduous.
B)Broadleaf deciduous.
C)Needleleaf evergreen.
D)Sclerophyllous.

Question 45

According to MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island biogeography,which of the following is correct?

A)The number of species decreases with island area.
B)The number of species increases with island area.
C)There is no relationship between species number and island area.

Question 46

This biome occupies more than one-third of Earth's land area and is characterized by xerophytic vegetation,low precipitation,and high potential evapotranspiration.Which is this biome?

A)Deserts.
B)Midlatitude grasslands.
C)Tropical savanna.
D)Mediterranean shrubland.

Question 47

Earth's warm deserts develop primarily in response to which of the following?

A)Their location within the subtropical high pressure zone.
B)Their location within the ITCZ.
C)Their location on the leeward side of a mountain range.
D)Their location on the windward side of a mountain range.

Question 48

Which are Earth's tallest trees?

A)Coast douglas fir (Pseudotsunga menziessii).
B)Coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).
C)Giant ash (Eucalyptus regnans).
D)Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Question 49

In which biome would one most likely find xerophytic species?

A)Tropical rain forest.
B)Deserts.
C)Boreal and montane forest.
D)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 50

The 98th meridian marks an important biophysical mark in North America for this biome where increasing aridity produces vegetation of a distinctly different stature.Which is this biome?

A)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
B)Desert.
C)Mediterranean shrubland.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 51

Which biome occurs at high elevations above the treeline,even at lower latitudes?

A)Temperate rain forest.
B)Arctic and alpine tundra.
C)Boreal and montane forest.
D)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 52

This biome is generally located north of the 10°C isotherm for the warmest month,such as the extreme northern areas of North America and Russia.Which is this biome?

A)Temperate rain forest.
B)Arctic and alpine tundra.
C)Boreal and montane forest.
D)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 53

Of all the natural biomes,which one is most modified by human activity?

A)Midlatitude grassland.
B)Tropical savanna.
C)Tropical rainforest.
D)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.

Question 54

The near annihilation of the American bison (Bison bison)has restricted its occurrence to a few protected remnants and preserves in this biome.Which is this biome?

A)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
B)Tropical savanna.
C)Boreal and montane forest.
D)Midlatitude grassland.

Question 55

According to MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island biogeography,which of the following is correct?

A)The number of species decreases with island isolation.
B)The number of species increases with island isolation.
C)There is no relationship between species number and island isolation.

Question 56

Which of the following is a topic of research in conservation biogeography?

A)The distribution and effects of invasive species.
B)The effects of climate change on biodiversity.
C)Conservation planning and the establishment of protected areas.
D)Invasive species,climate change,and conservation planning are all topics of research in conservation biology.

Question 57

Which of the following is a regional name for the Mediterranean shrubland biome?

A)Chaparral.
B)Savanna.
C)Taiga.
D)Tundra.

Question 58

Which of the following soil types is most associated with the tallgrass prairie (midlatitude grassland)?

A)Chernozemic.
B)Podzolic.
C)Organic.
D)Regosolic.

Question 59

Which is the subdiscipline of biogeography that utilizes biogeographic principles,theories,and analyses to solve problems in biodiversity management?

A)Island biogeography.
B)Phylogenetic biogeography.
C)Conservation biogeography.
D)Historical biogeography.

Question 60

Home to the endangered Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina),this biome is now characterized by anthropogenic disturbance and mostly secondary-growth forest.Which is this biome?

A)Midlatitude grassland.
B)Temperate rain forest.
C)Arctic and alpine tundra.
D)Desert.

Question 61

"Wallace's line," which serves as a dividing line between different biogeographic realms and separates several present-day Indonesian islands from one another,is so named to show the arbitrary nature of such delineations.

Question 62

Invasive species can alter community dynamics and may lead to declines in native species.

Question 63

Which are distinctive oceanic regions identified on the basis of organisms,ocean floor topography,currents,areas of nutrient-rich upwelling circulation,or areas of significant predation?

A)Mariregions.
B)Large marine ecosystems (LMEs).
C)The ocean biome.
D)The littoral zone.

Question 64

The boundaries of biogeographic regions are usually quite arbitrary,usually following political boundaries rather than being based on biophysical criteria.

Question 65

Though occupying only 7% of the world's total land area,tropical rain forests account for approximately 50% of Earth's species and about half of its remaining forests.

Question 66

Earth's biodiversity is evenly spread across the planet.

Question 67

New Zealand and Australia have remarkably similar fauna indicating the two were likely once directly connected as a single land mass or via a land bridge during critical evolutionary times.

Question 68

Alfred Russel Wallace's zoogeographic realms roughly correspond to continental plate boundaries.

Question 69

Due to the dense tropical rain forest canopy,only about 1% of the sunlight arriving at the canopy reaches the forest floor.

Question 70

The range of environmental conditions frequently found in ecotones make them areas of high biodiversity.

Question 71

Biomes are defined based on idealized potential mature vegetation in a given area rather than the actual vegetation.

Question 72

A biome is a large,stable community of plants and animals whose boundaries are closely linked to climate.

Question 73

Most non-native species introduced to a new community become established.

Question 74

Which is the most powerful biotic agent on Earth,influencing all ecosystems on a planetary scale?

A)The sun.
B)Humans.
C)Tertiary consumers.
D)Detritivores.

Question 75

The biome concept has been applied equally to marine and aquatic systems as it has to terrestrial systems.

Question 76

The boundaries between biomes are usually abrupt and related to rapid environmental changes,such as in climate or topography.

Question 77

The biosphere-reserve effort specifically involves principles from which area?

A)Geography.
B)Biology.
C)Geology.
D)Island biogeography.

Question 78

Which of the following is an anthropogenic biome?

A)Temperate rain forest.
B)Populated forest.
C)Midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest.
D)Boreal and montane forest.

Question 79

Which is the most extensive anthropogenic biome?

A)Cropland.
B)Rangelands.
C)Settlements.
D)Forested lands.

Question 80

Biogeographic regions (realms)are delineated based on species assemblages and their evolutionary history.