Question 1

Arid environments that occur in the rain shadow of mountain barriers or are located far inland where moist maritime air rarely penetrates are referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

deserts

Question 2

The broad categories of grasses,shrubs,and trees represent a diverse range of species and characteristics,and they have fundamentally different patterns of

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

Which of the following is the predominant leaf form of environments where the growing season is very short or where nutrient availability severely constrains photosynthesis and plant growth?

Accepted Answer

Needle-leaf evergreen leaves are the best choice because they are adapted to environments with short growing seasons and nutrient-poor soils. The long, thin needles help to minimize water loss and maximize photosynthesis, while the evergreen nature allows the plant to photosynthesize year-round. Winter-deciduous leaves would not be adapted to short growing seasons, and broad-leaf evergreen leaves may struggle in nutrient-poor soils.

Question 4

There are consistent patterns in the distribution and abundance of dominant plant life-forms across the biosphere because these life-forms share ________ to the selection pressures of climate and the physical environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are consistent patterns in the distribution...

Question 5

A(n)________ is a classification of plant formations and associated animal life into biotic units based on the predominant plant types,with at least eight major terrestrial types.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)________ is a classification of plant formations...

Question 6

Which of the following allocates the greatest amount of biomass to photosynthetic tissue and the least amount to supportive tissue?

Accepted Answer

Grasses allocate the greatest amount of biomass to photosynthetic tissue (leaves) and the least amount to supportive tissue (stems). This is because they have evolved to prioritize rapid growth and reproduction over structural support. Trees, on the other hand, allocate a significant amount of biomass to supportive tissue (trunk, branches) to maintain their upright posture. Lianas and shrubs fall somewhere in between, with lianas typically allocating more biomass to supportive tissue than photosynthetic tissue and shrubs allocating a relatively even amount of biomass to both.

Question 7

Deeply weathered soils,with no distinct horizons characteristic of the tropical rain forest,are

Accepted Answer

Oxisols are highly weathered soils found in tropical regions. They have a high concentration of iron and aluminum oxides, giving the soil a deep red color. They lack distinct horizons due to the high level of weathering and leaching of minerals. This type of soil is common in areas with high rainfall and high temperatures, such as tropical rainforests.

Question 8

The highest diversity of plant and animal life occurs in

Accepted Answer

Tropical rain forests have the highest diversity of plant and animal life due to the warm and moist climate, as well as the large variety of habitats and niches within the forest. This allows for numerous species to coexist and adapt to their environment, leading to a high level of biodiversity.

Question 9

Tropical ________ refers to vegetation in the drier tropics and subtropics that is dominated by a ground cover of grasses with scattered shrubs or trees.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tropical ________ refers to vegetation in the...

Question 10

Leaves that live for only a single year or growing season are classified as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Leaves that live for only a single...

Question 11

Decomposition rates in the tropical rain forest are

Accepted Answer

Tropical rain forests are known to have high decomposition rates because they have near-optimal conditions for decomposers, such as warm temperatures, abundant moisture, and high levels of nutrients in the soil. This leads to rapid breakdown of organic matter and nutrient cycling.

Question 12

Distribution patterns of biomes can be determined based almost entirely on

Accepted Answer

The distribution patterns of biomes are determined by both mean annual temperature and precipitation, as these two factors greatly influence the types of vegetation found in an area. Other factors such as soil and weather patterns can also play a role, but they are secondary to temperature and precipitation in determining the biome distribution.

Question 13

A(n)________ climate is characterized by hot,dry summers and cool,moist winters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)________ climate is characterized by hot,dry summers...

Question 14

Native grasslands of North America,influenced by declining precipitation from east to west,consist of three main types distinguished by the ________ of the dominant species.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Native grasslands of North America,influenced by declining...

Question 15

Plants that root and grow on other plants in the tropical rain forest are called

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe plants that root and grow on other plants in the tropical rainforest is "epiphytes." Phreatophytes are plants that have long roots that reach underground water sources, succulents are plants that store water in their tissues, and halophytes are plants that can tolerate saline soils.

Question 16

Tropical rain forests are restricted primarily to the ________ zone between latitudes 10°N and 10°S.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tropical rain forests are restricted primarily to...

Question 17

A belt of coniferous forest,known as ________ forest,occurs in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A belt of coniferous forest,known as ________...

Question 18

________ is the study of the spatial or geographical distribution of organisms,both past and present.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the study of the spatial...

Question 19

________ is the perennially frozen subsurface that develops in boreal and arctic systems where the ground temperatures remain below 0°C for extended periods of time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is the perennially frozen subsurface that...

Question 20

The independent evolution of a similar characteristic in two species,not derived from a recent,common ancestor,is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Convergent evolution is the phenomenon of two unrelated species evolving similar characteristics due to similar environmental pressures. This is different from divergent evolution, which is the evolution of different characteristics in related species, and microevolution, which refers to small changes within a species over time. Macroevolution refers to the larger scale changes in evolution, such as the emergence of new species or groups. Therefore, the best choice for the independent evolution of a similar characteristic in two species is convergent evolution.

Quiz 24: Terrestrial Ecosystems