Deck 7: Climate and Biodiversity

Question 1

Tomorrow is forecast to be 10°F warmer than today.This is an example of climate.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Temperate deciduous forests typically have ____.

A) ​cool summers,warm winters,and abundant precipitation
B) ​warm summers,cold winters,and abundant precipitation
C) ​dry summers and rainy winters
D) ​cool summers,cold winters,and little precipitation
E) ​warm summers and dry winters

Answer 2

​warm summers,cold winters,and abundant precipitation

Question 3

Desert ecosystems are fragile because they have slow plant growth,low species diversity,slow nutrient cycling,and very little water.​

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The Arctic,Atlantic,Pacific,Indian,and Southern Oceans are actually a single and continuous body of saltwater.​

Question 5

​Deserts are always hot places.

Question 6

​In terms of diversity,coral reefs are the marine equivalents to tropical rainforests.

Question 7

Climate moderation is an ecosystem service provided by the oceans.​

Question 8

​The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is an interaction between the oceans and the atmosphere that affects the temperature of surface waters in the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 9

Surface-level ocean currents are caused by ____.

A) ​dense ocean water sinking
B) ​cool ocean water rising
C) ​warm ocean water exchanging with cool ocean water
D) ​prevailing winds blowing over the ocean surface and the Coriolis effect
E) ​upwelling near the equator and downwelling near the poles

Question 10

​Biomes are uniform,with sharp boundaries separating them.

Question 11

San Diego,California has,on average,milder winters and cooler summers than Dallas,Texas.This is an example of climate.​

Question 12

Vertical ocean circulation is generated by ____.

A) ​cold and dense ocean water sinking and warm and less-dense water rising
B) ​warm and dense ocean water sinking and cold and less-dense water rising
C) ​cold and dense ocean water rising and warm and less-dense water sinking
D) ​the Coriolis effect
E) ​prevailing winds

Question 13

Deciduous forests are typically located at higher altitudes than coniferous forests.

Question 14

A connected loop of deep and shallow ocean currents transports warm and cool water to various parts of the earth.​

Question 15

Net primary productivity (NPP)is quite low in the open sea,except in upwelling areas,where currents bring up nutrients from the ocean bottom.

Question 16

Lakes that have a small supply of plant nutrients are called oligotrophic lakes.​

Question 17

​Taigas are found in scattered coastal temperate areas with ample rainfall and moisture from dense ocean fogs.

Question 18

Many inland wetlands have been drained or filled to grow crops or have been covered with concrete,asphalt,and buildings.

Question 19

Tropical regions normally receive more precipitation than other areas of the earth because the intense input of solar radiation leads to greatly increased evaporation of moisture.​

Question 20

Overgrazing is a major impact human activities have on grassland ecosystems.​

Question 21

Succulent plants are most likely to be found in ____.

A) aquatic habitats
B) cold ecosystems
C) high elevations
D) temperate deserts
E) coastal ecosystems

Question 22

During El Niño conditions,____.​

A) ​ocean currents accelerate in the Pacific Ocean,bringing warmer weather to Japan
B) ​ocean currents slow in the Atlantic Ocean,bringing cooler weather to Europe
C) ​the thermocline throughout the Pacific Ocean deepens
D) ​the thermocline in the central Atlantic Ocean rises,bringing cold,deep water to the surface
E) ​the thermocline in the eastern Pacific Ocean deepens,disrupting upwelling

Question 23

​The function of the thick outer coverings of insects and reptiles like rattlesnakes in desert biomes is to ____.

A) ​prevent sunburn
B) ​reduce water loss through evaporation
C) ​prevent drowning during typical desert flash floods
D) ​prevent sunburn and reduce water loss
E) ​serve as protection during competitive action during mating seasons

Question 24

​A tropical grassland with widely scattered clumps of trees would be called a ____.

A) ​veldt
B) ​steppes
C) ​savanna
D) ​pampas
E) taiga

Question 25

​A forest that is known for its year-round uniformly warm temperature is the ____.

A) ​temperate deciduous forest
B) ​taiga
C) ​tropical rainforest
D) ​boreal forest
E) ​sub-alpine forest

Question 26

One explanation for why polar regions are colder than equatorial regions is that ____.​

A) ​​the sun never reaches these areas because of the tilt of Earth on its axis
B) ​sunlight strikes the polar regions at an angle and spreads out over a much larger area
C) ​sunlight is more intense at the poles
D) ​the earth is spinning slower at the poles
E) ​the earth is spinning slower and the precipitation is more intense at the poles

Question 27

The prevailing winds are generated by ____.​

A) ​the heating of the ozone layer
B) ​variation in the input of solar radiation as you move east or west along a line of latitude
C) ​surface currents
D) ​major surface winds that blow almost continuously to help distribute heat and moisture over earth's surface
E) ​the gravitational attraction of the moon

Question 28

Much of which biome has disappeared from the earth because it has been converted to farmland for growing crops and grazing cattle?​

A) ​temperate grassland
B) ​temperate forest
C) ​tropical grassland
D) ​cold grassland
E) ​cold desert

Question 29

In the western United States,an area called the Great Basin contains many mountain ranges that are separated from each other by high desert.Because these mountain ranges provide sanctuary for some species,they could be called ____.​

A) ​taiga reserves
B) ​islands of biodiversity
C) ​broadleaf deciduous reserves
D) ​grazing animal reserves
E) ​island reserves

Question 30

The equator is warmer than the poles because ____.​

A) ​the sun's rays strike directly at the equator
B) ​cooler air is less dense
C) ​the Coriolis effect pulls cold air north and south
D) ​polar ice sheets cool the atmosphere
E) ​the sun exerts a gravitational pull on the warm air

Question 31

A rain shadow is most likely produced by a ____.​

A) ​forest
B) ocean​
C) ​lake
D) ​sand dune
E) ​mountain

Question 32

In tropical rainforests,vegetation layers are structured according to ____.​

A) ​how deep the rainfall penetrates into the forest
B) ​the plants' needs for sunlight
C) ​how well each plant handles predation by herbivores
D) ​nutrient availability and uptake by plant roots
E) ​sensitivity to temperature changes

Question 33

Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?​

A) ​oxygen
B) ​water vapor
C) ​sulfur dioxide
D) ​nitrogen
E) ​argon

Question 34

Large terrestrial regions characterized by a particular type of climate and a certain combination of dominant plant life are called ____.​

A) ​biozones
B) ​communities
C) ​populations
D) ​biomes
E) ​niches

Question 35

Some large herbivores in the African tropical savannas have developed niches through ____ eating habits that ____ competition for vegetation.​

A) ​specialized; increase
B) ​specialized; minimize
C) ​generalized; increase
D) ​generalized; minimize
E) ​similar; facilitate

Question 36

There are ____ separate belts (Hadley cells)in which warm air rises and cools,then falls and heats up again in great rolling patterns.​

A) ​two
B) ​four
C) ​six
D) ​eight
E) ​ten

Question 37

The rain shadow effect refers to ____.​

A) ​more light on the windward side of mountain ranges
B) ​more light on the leeward (facing away from the wind)side of mountain ranges
C) ​drier conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges
D) ​drier conditions on the leeward (facing away from the wind)side of mountain ranges
E) ​reduced sunlight below rain clouds

Question 38

Permafrost is characteristic of the ____ biome.​

A) ​tropical savanna
B) ​Arctic tundra
C) ​cold desert
D) ​thorn woodland
E) ​deciduous forest

Question 39

Animals in desert biomes may eat plants for their water content as a survival adaptation.Plants,in turn,may have ____ as a defense against being eaten by animals.​

A) ​poisonous leaves
B) ​camouflaged leaves
C) ​a lack of leaves
D) ​spines
E) ​both camouflaged leaves and spines

Question 40

The transition zone between two ecosystems or biomes is called the ____.​

A) ​bioline
B) ​interbiome
C) ​buffer
D) ​bio-boundary
E) ​ecotone

Question 41

When the algae in coral reefs die off due to environmental stresses,the coral subsequently dies because of lack of food.This process is referred to as ____.​

A) ​coral acidification
B) ​algal blooming
C) ​erosion
D) ​coral bleaching
E) ​parasitism

Question 42

​Mountains ____.

A) ​have deep,rich soils
B) ​recover quickly from vegetation loss
C) ​do not affect climate
D) ​have little biodiversity
E) ​serve as sanctuaries for animals that are driven from lowland areas

Question 43

Aquatic life zones are the aquatic equivalents of ____ on land.​

A) ​lakes
B) ​rivers
C) ​biomes
D) ​mountains
E) ​forests

Question 44

The ocean covers ____ of the earth's surface.​

A) ​15%
B) ​30%
C) ​50%
D) ​71%
E) ​97%

Question 45

Examples of economic services that oceans provide are ____.​

A) ​food
B) ​waste treatment
C) ​drinking water
D) ​timber
E) ​groundwater recharge

Question 46

Tropical rain forests are dominated by ____.​

A) ​succulent plants
B) ​broadleaf evergreen plants
C) ​broadleaf deciduous plants
D) ​coniferous evergreen plants
E) ​saltwater-adapted plants

Question 47

Cone-bearing trees are characteristic of the ____.​

A) ​taiga or boreal forest
B) ​tropical rain forest
C) ​temperate deciduous forest
D) ​savanna
E) ​desert

Question 48

Most photosynthesis in the open sea occurs in the ____.​

A) ​euphotic zone
B) ​abyssal zone
C) ​bathyal zone
D) ​coastal zone
E) ​benthic zone

Question 49

At least half of the known species of terrestrial plants and animals are found ____.​

A) ​in both temperate and tropical rainforests
B) ​only in temperate rainforests
C) ​only in tropical rainforests
D) ​in deciduous forests
E) ​evenly distributed amongst the biomes of the earth

Question 50

The majority of the world's forests are located ____.​

A) ​at the equator
B) ​in the temperate zones
C) ​in mountains
D) ​adjacent to deserts
E) ​by large bodies of water such as oceans,lakes,and bays

Question 51

Water temperature drops rapidly between the euphotic zone and the abyssal zone of the ocean.This transition layer is called the ____.​

A) ​thermocline
B) ​thermosphere
C) ​estuary
D) ​continental shelf decline
E) ​hydrocline

Question 52

​Humans have which of the following major impacts on mountain biomes?

A) ​plowing and conversion to cropland
B) ​depletion of groundwater
C) ​overgrazing by livestock
D) ​hydroelectric dams and reservoirs
E) ​conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations

Question 53

Marine snow refers to ____.​

A) ​appearance of the water during freezing weather
B) ​animal and plant plankton that die and drift downward
C) ​white sand beaches
D) ​algal blooms
E) ​weather over the Arctic that contributes to the ice pack

Question 54

​The deepest zone of the sea,which is dark and very cold,is called the ____.

A) ​euphotic zone
B) ​abyssal zone
C) ​bathyal zone
D) ​coastal zone
E) ​pelagic zone

Question 55

Coral reefs occupy about ____ of the ocean floor.​

A) ​0.2%
B) ​14%
C) ​27%
D) ​46%
E) ​68%

Question 56

​Ocean acidification is occurring because ____.

A) ​of agricultural runoff into rivers
B) ​the ocean absorb about 25% of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by human activities
C) ​water changes pH as it warms
D) ​overfishing is changing the structure of ecosystems,harming the plankton that regulate the pH of ocean water
E) ​acid rain has worsened over the last two decades

Question 57

Cultural eutrophication involves ____.​

A) ​clearing forest land for urban expansion
B) ​altering marine food webs by overfishing
C) ​accepting the degraded condition of aquatic ecosystems
D) ​placing excessive nutrients in lakes
E) ​disconnecting people from their environment

Question 58

​Which tree is characteristic of tropical coastal wetlands?

A) ​cypress
B) ​coconut
C) ​mangrove
D) ​palm
E) ​live oak

Question 59

Oak,hickory,maple,poplar,and birch are typical tree species in the ____.​

A) ​boreal forest
B) ​tropical rainforest
C) ​temperate rainforest
D) ​temperate deciduous forest
E) ​coastal coniferous forest

Question 60

​A(n)____ is a partially enclosed body of water where seawater mixes with freshwater from a river.

A) ​benthic zone
B) ​littoral zone
C) ​sea
D) ​estuary
E) ​coral reef

Question 61

____________________ is the general pattern of atmospheric conditions in a given area over periods ranging from at least three decades to thousands of years.​

Question 62

Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice

On the ocean life zones figure,choose the zone in which most organisms get their food from marine snow.​

Question 63

____________________ are the result of a mutually beneficial relationship between polyps and tiny single-celled algae called zooxanthellae that live in the tissues of the polyps.

Question 64

Carbon dioxide and methane are _________________________ released by human activities such as the production and burning of fossil fuels,clearing of forests,and growing of crops.​

Question 65

​The land area around a stream that delivers runoff,sediment,and dissolved substances into the water is called the ____.

A) ​source zone
B) ​littoral zone
C) ​floodplain zone
D) ​transition zone
E) ​watershed or drainage basin

Question 66

Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice

On the ocean life zones figure,choose the zone where coral reefs would be located.​​

Question 67

____________________ is a set of physical conditions of the lower atmosphere,including temperature,precipitation,humidity,wind speed,cloud cover,and other facts,in a given area of a period of hours or days.​

Question 68

Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice

On the ocean life zones figure,choose the zone that contains the majority of all marine species.​​

Question 69

The open sea can be dived into three zones: the euphotic zone,____________________ zone,and abyssal zone.​

Question 70

​The tendency for a transition zone between two different ecosystems to have greater species diversity and a higher density of organisms than are found in either of the individual ecosystems is called the ______________________________.

Question 71

Some desert plants reduce evaporation by closing their pores during the day and opening them at night to take up ____________________.​

Question 72

The tops of trees in tropical rain forests form a dense ____________________ that blocks most light from reaching the forest floor.

Question 73

Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice

On the ocean life zones figure,choose the zone that is dimly lit and contains zooplankton.​​

Question 74

Marshes,swamps,and prairie potholes are all examples of ____________________.

Question 75

Which zone that a stream flows through contains its headwater streams?​

A) ​transition zone
B) ​source zone
C) ​floodplain zone
D) ​delta zone
E) ​meander zone

Question 76

​Because of the ____________________,air masses moving north or south from the equator are deflected to the east.

Question 77

Climate and vegetation vary with changes in latitude and with changes in ____________________.

Question 78

Match the items listed below with the appropriate choice

On the ocean life zones figure,choose the zone that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis.​​

Question 79

​A lake with a large supply of nutrients is called a(n)____________________ lake.

Question 80

____________________ occur primarily in the interiors of continents in areas that are too moist for deserts to form and too dry for forests to grow.