Question 1

Fire suppression by humans

Accepted Answer

Fire suppression by humans can disrupt natural fire regimes and lead to changes in the species composition within biological communities. This can result in the loss of species adapted to or reliant on regular fires, and the proliferation of species that are not adapted to fires. This can alter the structure and function of ecosystems and have cascading effects on other species and ecosystem processes.

Question 2

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Many plant species and plant communities have evolved to adapt to fire. Fire is a natural process that helps to maintain healthy ecosystems by clearing out dead and diseased plants, cycling nutrients, and promoting new growth. Some plants have even developed fire-resistant adaptations, such as thicker bark or serotinous cones that require high temperatures to open and release seeds.

Question 3

Generally speaking,deserts are located in places where air masses are usually

Accepted Answer

Deserts are located in places where air masses are descending. Descending air masses tend to be dry and cause little to no precipitation, which is one of the defining characteristics of deserts.

Question 4

-In the figure above,which number would designate the biome with the highest variation in annual precipitation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 
-In the figure above,which number would designate...

Question 5

Community ecology focuses on

Accepted Answer

Community ecology specifically studies interactions among species that affect the structure and organization of a community, such as predator-prey relationships, competition, and symbiotic relationships.

Question 6

Which of the following can be said about light in aquatic environments?

Accepted Answer

Water selectively reflects and absorbs certain wavelengths of light, which affects how different colors are seen at various depths. This selective absorption and reflection influence the availability of light for photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments.

Question 7

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

Accepted Answer

Both chaparral and savanna biomes are dependent upon periodic burning for their ecological maintenance.

Question 8

For plants,what are the most important climatic factors?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight, temperature, and precipitation are the most important climatic factors for plants. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis, temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis and other biochemical processes, and precipitation affects the availability of water for the plant's growth and metabolism. Soil type, elevation, snow, and wind are also important factors, but they are not as critical as the three factors mentioned in choice D.

Question 9

A rain shadow is

Accepted Answer

A rain shadow is the leeward side of a mountain range where the air has lost most of its moisture due to precipitation on the windward side. This results in a dry area on the leeward side.

Question 10

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Accepted Answer

Looking at past trends and how species redistributed during climate change events in the past can provide insight into how they may redistribute in the future. This historical data can be used to make educated predictions on the future distribution of organisms.

Question 11

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

Accepted Answer

The correct layering of a tropical rainforest from top to bottom is: emergent layer (the tallest trees), canopy (the layer below the emergents which forms a dense layer of foliage), under story (smaller trees and plants beneath the canopy), shrub/immature layer (young trees and shrubs), and ground layer (the forest floor).

Question 12

What is the limiting factor for the growth of trees in the tundra?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the limiting factor for the...

Question 13

In deep water,which of the following abiotic factors would most limit productivity?

Accepted Answer

In deep water, light availability is the most limiting factor for productivity as it decreases rapidly with depth. Without enough light, photosynthesis cannot occur, and primary productivity is limited. Temperature and solute concentration may also affect productivity but are not as profound as light availability in deep water.

Question 14

Air masses formed over the Pacific Ocean are moved by prevailing westerlies where they encounter extensive north-south mountain ranges,such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades.Which statement best describes the outcome of this encounter between a landform and an air mass?

Accepted Answer

The warm, moist Pacific air rises and cools, releasing precipitation as it moves up the windward side of the range, and this cool, now dry air mass heats up as it descends on the leeward side of the range. This is known as the orographic effect and is a common occurrence when moist air encounters a mountain range.

Question 15

Which of the following is an important feature of temperate broadleaf forests?

Accepted Answer

The important feature of temperate broadleaf forests is that their vegetation shows vertical layering, with a variety of tree species forming a canopy, understory shrubs, and herbaceous plants growing on the forest floor. Option A is wrong because annual rainfall in temperate broadleaf forests ranges from 75 to 150 centimeters. Option B is incorrect because temperate broadleaf forests are found in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Option C is wrong because summers in temperate broadleaf forests are typically warm and humid.

Question 16

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast.Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?

Accepted Answer

Ocean currents play a significant role in the distribution and diversity of coral reefs. The Gulf Stream, a warm water current, passes along the eastern coast of the United States and brings warm water and nutrients to support coral growth. On the other hand, the western coast of the United States is dominated by a cold water current, which does not provide the necessary conditions for coral growth.

Question 17

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents.Although the two species are not at all closely related,they may appear quite similar as a result of

Accepted Answer

The two plant species are not closely related, so they did not evolve from a recent common ancestor. Instead, they likely evolved independently but developed similar traits as a result of facing similar environmental pressures in their shared biome. This is known as convergent evolution.

Question 18

-In the figure above,which number would designate the arctic tundra biome?

Accepted Answer

The answer of 
-In the figure above,which number would designate...

Question 19

If global warming continues at its present rate,which biomes will likely take the place of the coniferous forest (taiga)?

Accepted Answer

As global warming progresses, temperatures in regions currently characterized by coniferous forests (taiga) are expected to increase, making these areas more suitable for species typical of warmer climates, such as those found in temperate broadleaf forests and grasslands.

Question 20

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?

Accepted Answer

Predation and competition are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities. Precipitation, wind, nutrient availability, soil pH, temperature, water, light intensity, and seasonality are all abiotic factors that can also impact communities, but do not involve interactions between living organisms.

Quiz 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Fire suppression by humans

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems?

Generally speaking,deserts are located in places where air masses are usually

-In the figure above,which number would designate the biome with the highest variation in annual precipitation?

Community ecology focuses on

Which of the following can be said about light in aquatic environments?

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

For plants,what are the most important climatic factors?

A rain shadow is

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

What is the limiting factor for the growth of trees in the tundra?

In deep water,which of the following abiotic factors would most limit productivity?

Air masses formed over the Pacific Ocean are moved by prevailing westerlies where they encounter extensive north-south mountain ranges,such as the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades.Which statement best describes the outcome of this encounter between a landform and an air mass?

Which of the following is an important feature of temperate broadleaf forests?

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast.Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents.Although the two species are not at all closely related,they may appear quite similar as a result of

-In the figure above,which number would designate the arctic tundra biome?

If global warming continues at its present rate,which biomes will likely take the place of the coniferous forest (taiga) ?

Which of the following are important biotic factors that can affect the structure and organization of biological communities?