Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Due to the thick foliage and canopy of the tropical rain forest, only a small percentage of sunlight reaches the forest floor, resulting in low light levels and limited plant growth on the ground.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Biogeographic regions (realms) are indeed delineated based on species assemblages and their evolutionary history. This approach helps to identify areas of the world that have a unique set of species that have evolved together in isolation or have been affected by shared historical events, such as glaciation, tectonic activity, or climate change. Some examples of biogeographic realms include the Nearctic, Neotropical, Australian, and Antarctic realms.

Question 3

New Zealand and Australiaʹs remarkably similar fauna suggests that they were connected,either as a single land mass or by a land bridge,during critical evolutionary times.

Accepted Answer

New Zealand and Australia have distinct fauna due to their long separation; New Zealand's fauna evolved in isolation after it split from Gondwana, while Australia's fauna developed separately.

Question 4

Alfred Russel Wallaceʹs zoogeographic realms roughly correspond to continental plate boundaries.

Accepted Answer

Alfred Russel Wallaceʹs zoogeographic realms are based on the distribution of animal species, which he found to roughly correspond to continental plate boundaries.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The boundaries between biomes are usually gradual and can be affected by multiple factors, including climate, topography, and human activity. The transition between biomes can often occur over a large geographic area and result in a mosaic of different habitats.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Most non-native species do not become established in new environments due to various ecological barriers and competition with native species.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a biome, which is a recognized ecological term.

Question 8

ʺWallaceʹs line,ʺ 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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ʺWallaceʹs line,ʺ which serves as a dividing...

Question 9

MacArthur and Wilsonʹs theory of island geography posits that the number of species on an island is a dynamic equilibrium between the rates of immigration and extinction.

Accepted Answer

MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island geography does indeed propose that the number of species on an island is determined by a balance between the rates of immigration and extinction. This is known as the equilibrium theory of island biogeography.

Question 10

Biomes are based on potential mature vegetation rather than the actual vegetation.

Accepted Answer

Biomes are defined based on the climate, soil type, and environmental conditions that are capable of supporting certain types of mature vegetation, rather than on the actual vegetation that is currently present.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Ecotones are transitional areas between two different ecosystems, and the variation in environmental conditions in these areas supports a wide range of species, making them areas of high biodiversity.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The biome concept has been applied equally...

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

Invasive species can outcompete native species for resources, prey on native species, or even hybridize with them, leading to declines in their populations and disruption of ecosystem processes.

Question 14

In part,the high diversity of the tropical rain forest is due to the extremely fertile soils found in the biome.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In part,the high diversity of the tropical...

Question 15

Despite widespread tropical deforestation,tropical rain forests are able to quickly regenerate owing to the extremely fertile conditions in the biome.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite widespread tropical deforestation,tropical rain forests are...

Question 16

Earthʹs biodiversity is evenly spread across the planet.

Accepted Answer

Earth's biodiversity is not evenly spread across the planet. Biodiversity is generally concentrated in areas of high productivity such as tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and wetlands, while other areas such as deserts and tundra have lower levels of biodiversity. Additionally, human activity has led to significant declines in biodiversity in many parts of the world.

Question 17

Biomass in a rain forest is concentrated in the dense mass of overhead leaves of the overstory and canopy.

Accepted Answer

Biomass in a rain forest is indeed concentrated in the dense mass of overhead leaves of the overstory and canopy, as these layers receive the most sunlight and support the largest plant species. The understory, on the other hand, receives less light and has fewer and smaller plants, resulting in lower biomass.

Question 18

Each year,an area of tropical rain forest approximately the size of Wisconsin is cleared.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. According to National Geographic, an estimated 18 million acres of rainforest are lost each year, which is roughly equivalent to the size of the state of Wisconsin.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Tropical rainforests occupy only 7% of the world's total land area but account for approximately 50% of Earth's species and about half of its remaining forests, making the statement true.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The boundaries of biogeographic regions are usually...

Quiz 17: Biogeographic Divisions