Deck 38: The Biosphere

Question 1

Producers in hydrothermal vent ecosystems use ___ as their source of energy.

A)Sunlight
B)Radiation
C)Acidity
D)Chemicals
E)Water

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is not a major component of soil?

A)Rock fragments
B)Organic matter
C)Microbes
D)Bacteria
E)Water

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following is not a characteristic or component of a hydrothermal vent ecosystem?

A)Archaea
B)Tube worms
C)Sunlight
D)Very low pH
E)Temperatures of 100 degrees Celsius

Answer 3

C

Question 4

An El Nino brings warm water to the coasts of:

A)Brazil and Argentina
B)Peru and Ecuador
C)Brazil and Chile
D)Ecuador and Brazil
E)Chile and Argentina

Question 5

The highest elevation at which trees can grow is:

A)The Arctic tree line
B)Usually determined by salt spray
C)Determined by temperature
D)The Antarctic tree line
E)Usually determined by oxygen concentration in the atmosphere

Question 6

Which of the following is not a major terrestrial biome of Earth?

A)The temperate grasslands
B)The tundra
C)The taiga
D)The Antarctic
E)The tropical forest

Question 7

Small plants that grow on the bark or leaves of another plant are called:

A)Epiphytes
B)Endophytes
C)Parasites
D)Lianas
E)All are correct

Question 8

Which of the following is not an abiotic component or condition of an ecosystem?

A)Water
B)Archaea
C)Rock
D)Salinity
E)Temperature

Question 9

Producers in hydrothermal vent ecosystems:

A)Are archaea and plants
B)Are bacteria and archaea
C)Are plants
D)Are bacteria
E)Are archaea

Question 10

Tropical rain forest soils are usually:

A)Nutrient rich
B)High in organic matter
C)Nutrient poor and high in organic matter
D)Nutrient rich and high in organic matter
E)Nutrient poor

Question 11

The Earth has an essentially constant tilt of ____________ on its axis from its plane of orbit.

A)12.5 degrees
B)23.5 degrees
C)30 degrees
D)9 degrees
E)5.5 degrees

Question 12

On Earth,solar energy is most intense at:

A)The South Pole
B)The North Pole
C)60 degrees North latitude
D)The equator
E)60 degrees South latitude

Question 13

An El Nino occurs about every:

A)Year
B)Ten years
C)Twelve to fifteen years
D)Two to seven years
E)Fifty years

Question 14

The biosphere is defined as:

A)The portion of the Earth where life exists
B)The portion of the atmosphere where life exists
C)The portion of the ocean where life exists
D)The portion of land on Earth where life exists
E)The portion of fresh and salt water where life exists

Question 15

An El Nino prevents:

A)Cold, nutrient rich waters from rising to the surface
B)Warm, nutrient poor waters from rising to the surface
C)Cold, nutrient poor waters from rising to the surface
D)Warm, nutrient rich waters from rising to the surface

Question 16

The major types of ecosystems are termed:

A)Habitats
B)Niches
C)Biospheres
D)Terrestrial zones
E)Biomes

Question 17

The rain shadow associated with mountains:

A)Is on the downwind side and has a wetter climate than the upwind side of the mountain
B)Is on the upwind side and has a drier climate than the downwind side of the mountain
C)Is on the downwind side and has a drier climate than the upwind side of the mountain
D)Is on the upwind side and has a wetter climate than the downwind side of the mountain

Question 18

The different seasons of the year are due to:

A)The tilt of the Earth's axis as Earth travels around the Sun
B)The rotation of the Earth around the Sun
C)The rotation of the Earth on its axis
D)The rotation of the moon around the Earth
E)The gravitational pull of the moon as it travels around the Earth

Question 19

It is amazing that life can exist around deep sea hydrothermal vents because the pressure is ___________ times greater than on the surface of the Earth.

A)Three hundred
B)Two hundred
C)One hundred
D)Fifty
E)Ten

Question 20

An El Nino is periodic global climate shift in which a slack in the trade winds sends unusually ______ water from the western _______________ ocean eastward.

A)Cold, Arctic
B)Warm, Atlantic
C)Cold, Atlantic
D)Cold, Pacific
E)Warm, Pacific

Question 21

The taiga:

A)Consists of mostly coniferous trees
B)Has nutrient rich soil
C)Has a long growing season
D)Is warm and dry
E)Consists of mosses and lichens

Question 22

Desert plants often have:

A)Broad leaves
B)Thick vines
C)Long taproots
D)Shallow roots
E)Soft bark

Question 23

Water covers about ____ percent of the Earth's surface.

A)33
B)40
C)50
D)70
E)80

Question 24

The layer of open water in a lake where light penetrates and where most of the photosynthesis in a lake takes place is the:

A)Littoral zone
B)Profundal zone
C)Pelagic zone
D)Benthic zone
E)Limnetic zone

Question 25

The area where the fresh water of a river meets the salty ocean is a(an):

A)Intertidal zone
B)Continental shelf
C)Pelagic zone
D)Benthic zone
E)Estuary

Question 26

A lake is usually ___________________ and ______________________ than a pond.

A)Larger, deeper
B)Smaller, shallower
C)Smaller, deeper
D)Saltier, warmer
E)Larger, shallower

Question 27

Which of the following is not a characteristic of tundra?

A)High latitude
B)Permafrost
C)Contains conifers
D)Contains mosses and lichens
E)Short growing season for plants

Question 28

The area of an ocean between the coast and the edge of the continental shelf is the:

A)Benthic zone
B)Neritic zone
C)Pelagic zone
D)Intertidal zone
E)Littoral zone

Question 29

The deepest region of lake water where light does not penetrate is the:

A)Littoral zone
B)Limnetic zone
C)Profundal zone
D)Pelagic zone
E)Benthic zone

Question 30

Along coastlines,the area between high tide and low tide is the:

A)Benthic zone
B)Littoral zone
C)Intertidal zone
D)Neritic zone
E)Pelagic zone

Question 31

Which of the following is not considered a coniferous tree?

A)Spruce
B)Pine
C)Maple
D)Fir
E)Hemlock

Question 32

The area of an ocean consisting of all the water above the ocean floor is the:

A)Benthic zone
B)Intertidal zone
C)Pelagic zone
D)Neritic zone
E)Littoral zone

Question 33

Which of the following is not characteristic of a tropical rain forest?

A)Warm climate
B)Nutrient rich soil
C)A year-round growing season for plants
D)A tremendous diversity of animal life
E)They are positioned near the equator

Question 34

The sediment at the lake bottom is the:

A)Littoral zone
B)Limnetic zone
C)Profundal zone
D)Benthic zone
E)Pelagic zone

Question 35

A grassland biome:

A)Consists of mostly coniferous trees
B)Has nutrient rich soil
C)Has a long growing season
D)Is warm and dry
E)Consists of mosses and lichens

Question 36

Older lakes that are nutrient rich and have high productivity are termed:

A)Oligotrophic
B)Eutrophic
C)Pelagic
D)Benthic
E)None of the above are correct

Question 37

Trees that usually lose only a few leaves at a time are:

A)Deciduous trees
B)Carnivorous trees
C)Maple trees
D)Hickory trees
E)Coniferous trees

Question 38

Which of the following is not a free floating photosynthetic organism found in a lake?

A)Phytoplankton
B)Green algae
C)Zooplankton
D)Cyanobacteria
E)Diatom

Question 39

The usual yearly rainfall for a biome to be classified a desert is:

A)15 to 20 inches per year
B)25 to 30 inches per year
C)Less than 8 inches per year
D)12 to 15 inches per year
E)8 to 12 inches per year

Question 40

The shallow shoreline region of a lake where enough light reaches the bottom for photosynthesis to occur is the:

A)Limnetic zone
B)Littoral zone
C)Profundal zone
D)Pelagic zone
E)Benthic zone

Question 41

The BWCA is an example of which biome?

A)Boreal forest
B)Tropical rainforest
C)Short grass prairie
D)Tundra
E)Temperate rainforest

Question 42

Most of the ocean is profundal,but in the open ocean most primary productivity is in the photic zone because ___________.

A)Phytoplankton need nutrients for photosynthesis
B)Rooted aquatic plants need light for photosynthesis
C)Rooted aquatic plants need nutrients for photosynthesis
D)Phytoplankton need light for photosynthesis

Question 43

The upper layer of the Pelagic zone is the:

A)Benthic zone
B)Limnetic zone
C)Estuary
D)Photic zone
E)Continental shelf

Question 44

Scientists have reported that hurricane intensity has increased over the past 35 years,coinciding with increasing sea temperature.Why would climate change lead to an increase in hurricane intensity?

A)Increase in sea level due to melting of the polar ice caps
B)Increased evaporation of water into the atmosphere
C)Increased condensation of water falling as snow over the mainland
D)Increased temperatures at higher latitudes
E)Increased conversion of grassland biomes to desert

Question 45

Convection cells are involved in warm moist air rising from the equator and descending near 20-30 degrees from the equator.They are partially responsible for the distribution of which two biomes?

A)Tropical rain forests & temperate grasslands
B)Boreal forests & subtropical deserts
C)Tropical rain forests & subtropical deserts
D)Tropical rain forests & arctic tundra
E)Boreal forests & temperate forests

Question 46

What types of plants would you expect to find in an alpine tundra?

A)Tall trees
B)Aquatic plants
C)Lichens and mosses
D)Tall grasses
E)Cactus

Question 47

If global temperatures increase,which biome will the BWCA turn into?

A)Tropical rainforest
B)Deciduous forest
C)Boreal forest
D)Short grass prairie
E)Tundra

Question 48

Scientists have observed that over the past 40 years,marmots that live in mountains have been able to live higher up the mountain.What is the best explanation for this observation?

A)The marmots are adapting to the cold temperatures
B)Other species are competing with the marmots for their normal habitat
C)More snow and rain is falling at the top of the mountains
D)It is becoming colder at the top of the mountains
E)It is becoming warmer at the top of the mountains

Question 49

Why are estuaries and coral reefs more productive than deeper regions of the ocean?

A)They have more access to light and nutrients
B)They have more access to light and lower salt concentrations in the water
C)They have more access to light
D)They have more access to nutrients and lower salt concentrations in the water
E)They have lower salt concentrations in the water

Question 50

Desertification can occur from over grazing and over use of ground water.An example was the dust bowl during the 1930s in parts of the Great Plains of the United States.Which of the following could best explain this observation?

A)Deserts only form when rainfall levels drop for hundreds of years
B)Desert plants don't need water to survive
C)Desert plants cannot be eaten by herbivores
D)When grassland plants become dry herbivores will no longer eat them
E)Grassland plants cannot survive if water levels drop

Question 51

If you went diving in a freshwater lake you would see very few rooted aquatic plants after a certain depth.What would limit plant growth in deeper water?

A)Cold temperatures
B)A lack of nutrients
C)A lack of light
D)Too many herbivores
E)A lack of oxygen

Question 52

As temperatures in an African savanna increase and rainfall decreases,it would most likely change into ____.

A)Tiaga
B)Desert
C)Tropical rainforest
D)Temperate forest
E)Tundra

Question 53

Which two parameters most influence the location of biomes?

A)Altitude and Latitude
B)Latitude and Temperature
C)Temperature and Precipitation
D)Precipitation and Altitude
E)Precipitation and Latitude

Question 54

What is a challenge that organisms living in an intertidal zone face that other aquatic organisms normally do not face?

A)Damage from pollution
B)Changes in temperature at different depths
C)Movement of water
D)Light only penetrates through the photic zone
E)Daily changes in water depth

Question 55

As you climb the mountain,why are the biomes changing?

A)The air is thinner
B)The latitude is changing
C)More rain falls in a rain shadow
D)Some animals live better at higher elevations
E)It is colder

Question 56

Why do fish kills occur more often in eutrophic lakes?

A)Nutrients spark an algal bloom and as the algae decay the oxygen is used up
B)Nutrients spark and algal bloom, and the algae produce toxic amounts of oxygen
C)A lack of nutrients prevents enough algae from growing and the fish starve
D)A lack of nutrients prevents enough algae from growing and not enough oxygen is produced
E)Too many nutrients are toxic to the fish by harming their gills

Question 57

Scientists have reported that hurricane intensity has increased over the past 35 years,coinciding with increasing sea temperature.At the equator,the Earth receives the:

A)Maximum amount of solar radiation per unit area
B)Minimum amount of solar radiation per unit area
C)Maximum amount of solar radiation only over the ocean
D)Maximum amount of solar radiation only over the land mass

Question 58

Which of the following biomes would you predict to be dependent on fire to prevent succession by trees?

A)Grassland and desert
B)Desert and chaparral
C)Grassland and chaparral
D)Desert and deciduous forest
E)Tundra and taiga

Question 59

What is a challenge that organisms living in an estuary face that other aquatic organisms normally do not face?

A)Changes in temperature at different depths
B)Daily changes in salinity
C)Movement of water
D)Light only penetrates through the photic zone
E)Damage from pollution

Question 60

As temperatures in the Arctic warm,which of the following changes may occur?

A)Tundra will be replaced by taiga
B)Taiga will be replaced by tundra
C)Temperate forest will be replaced by taiga
D)Tundra will be replaced by desert
E)Taiga will be replaced by temperate rain forest

Question 61

Most of Earth's fresh water is found in lakes,ponds,and streams.

Question 62

Nutrient-rich lakes are termed eutrophic.

Question 63

The tilt of the Earth's axis produces distinct seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres as Earth travels around the Sun.

Question 64

An edge beyond which trees will not grow may be caused by altitude,lack of moisture,and salt spray.

Question 65

One concern with global sea temperatures increasing is the "bleaching" of corals.What did the scientists propose happens to coral when it bleaches?

A)The coral dies
B)The coral loses its ability to perform photosynthesis
C)The coral becomes dormant until the water temperatures drop again
D)The coral releases its symbiotic photosynthetic algae
E)The photosynthetic algae in the coral grow more rapidly

Question 66

How did the scientists use El Nino events to test their hypothesis?

A)In an El Nino event sea temperatures are temporarily warmer than normal, promoting bleaching
B)In an El Nino event sea temperatures are temporarily cooler than normal, promoting bleaching
C)In an El Nino event sea temperatures are temporarily warmer than normal, preventing bleaching
D)In an El Nino event sea temperatures are temporarily cooler than normal, preventing bleaching

Question 67

What do these results suggest about the importance of biodiversity in an ecosystem?

A)That genetic diversity is not important as long as there are enough species around to replace those that don't survive
B)That genetic diversity is not important because species cannot survive large environmental changes
C)Biodiversity is important because the larger a population, the more likely a few will survive any environmental change
D)That genetic diversity is necessary for an ecosystem to respond to environmental changes

Question 68

Tropical rain forest destruction threatens the global water cycle and carbon cycle.

Question 69

figure 38.24
What conclusion was drawn from figure 38.24 c?

A)That corals switch from type C to type D symbiotic algae after an El Nino
B)That corals bleach and die after an El Nino
C)That photosynthesis decreased in all strains of algae at higher temperatures
D)That photosynthesis in strain D of algae was not decreased at higher temperatures
E)That El Nino events do not affect corals

Question 70

figure 38.24
What conclusion was drawn from figure 38.24 a and b?

A)That photosynthesis decreased in all strains of algae at higher temperatures
B)That corals switch from type C to type D symbiotic algae after an El Nino
C)That corals bleach and die after an El Nino
D)That photosynthesis in strain D of algae was not decreased at higher temperatures
E)That El Nino events do not affect corals

Question 71

The "rain shadow" of a mountain is found on the leeward side of the mountain.

Question 72

A coral is ____________.

A)A plant called a cnidarian
B)An animal called a cnidarian
C)An animal called a sponge
D)A plant called a sponge
E)Abiotic

Question 73

A coral reef is a complex ______ of calcium carbonate shells that are home to microbes,algae,invertebrates,and fishes.

A)Ecosystem
B)Community
C)Biome
D)Population
E)Niche

Question 74

Streams include brooks,creeks,and rivers that carry water and sediment toward the ocean or an interior basin.

Question 75

An El Nino brings cold water to the coasts of Peru and Ecuador.

Question 76

Coral and algae are an example of _____.

A)Mutualism
B)Commensalism
C)Parasitism
D)Predation
E)Competition

Question 77

Examples of terrestrial biomes are grasslands,forests,lakes,and deserts.

Question 78

figure 38.24
In Figure 38.24 c how did the scientists measure photosynthesis?

A)By the decrease in carbon dioxide concentration
B)By the decrease in oxygen concentration
C)By the increase in oxygen concentration
D)By the increase in carbon dioxide concentration
E)By absorption of light

Question 79

Coral obtains energy by ____________.

A)Capturing and digesting small animals and through symbiosis with photosynthetic algae
B)Capturing and digesting small animals
C)Through symbiosis with photosynthetic algae
D)By performing photosynthesis
E)By performing photosynthesis and capturing and digesting small animals

Question 80

All deserts are characterized by being hot and dry.