Deck 42: Australian Biota

Question 1

There is a suite of plant and animal groups whose distribution is restricted to the continents of the Southern Hemisphere. This phenomenon can be explained by

A) similarities in the climate and soil type of all the southern continents.
B) the dispersal ability of these organisms-they can disperse quite long distances but not as far as the Northern Hemisphere.
C) the past connection of the Southern Hemisphere continents and their subsequent moving apart.
D) movement over ancient land bridges.
E) relatively few human introductions of biota between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Answer 1

the past connection of the Southern Hemisphere continents and their subsequent moving apart.

Question 2

320 million years ago, all previously separated continents on earth united to form the supercontinent called

A) Gondwana.
B) Pangaea.
C) Laurasia.
D) Baltica.
E) Cenozoic.

Answer 2

Pangaea.

Question 3

Australia finally became an island continent when

A) India separated from Australia.
B) Australia drifted northwards from high latitudes to take up a position in mid-to-lower latitudes.
C) the strait between Australia and Antarctica opened 30 million years ago.
D) the sea-floor commenced spreading and the Indian ocean widened as Australia separated from Africa.
E) New Zealand drifted away from Gondwana during the late Cretaceous.

Answer 3

the strait between Australia and Antarctica opened 30 million years ago.

Question 4

During the break up of Gondwana, other southern continents separated from Australia in the following order:

A) India, New Zealand, Antarctica.
B) New Zealand, India, Antarctica.
C) Antarctica, India, New Zealand.
D) India, Antarctica, New Zealand.
E) Antarctica, New Zealand, India.

Question 5

Some Gondwanan-type flora and fauna has been found in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This can be accounted for by the

A) considerable trade, which existed for tens of thousands of years, between Australian aborigines and indigenous people of Sumatra and Kalimantan.
B) fact that all the land masses of the Indo-Pacific region were once part of Gondwana.
C) similar climatic conditions and dispersal.
D) rifting, from Gondwana, of small slivers of continent which drifted north.
E) close proximity of Sumatra and Kalimantan to Australia.

Question 6

Australia shares fossils and extant plant and animal taxa with other continents, particularly Antarctica and South America. The most widely accepted explanation for this is that

A) many plants and animals were able to disperse the long distances to Australia over the oceans.
B) the separate continents were connected to Australia by land bridges, across which flora and fauna dispersed.
C) the continents were once joined together in a larger supercontinent across which the plants and animals were able to disperse.
D) dispersal of these species by land bridges.
E) these taxa evolved independently in the different continents.

Question 7

Living and fossil Nothofagus, the southern beech tree, are found in parts of New Guinea, Australia, Antarctica and South America. This is considered to provide evidence for the theory that

A) extensive sea level changes must have occurred in the past.
B) the pattern of climate change in these areas must have been similar.
C) these continents were close enough for dispersal by air and ocean currents.
D) these continents were once joined in a supercontinent.
E) land bridges connected these continents across which plants and animals could disperse.

Question 8

Between approximately 40 million and 10 million years ago, a profound change occurred in Australia's climate. This change involved

A) a decrease in air temperature and decrease in rainfall.
B) Increased rainfall but no change in temperature.
C) an increase in air temperature and a decrease in rainfall.
D) a decrease in air temperature and an increase in rainfall.
E) an increase in air temperature and an increase in rainfall.

Question 9

The Australian landmass is described as one of the oldest, geologically, because

A) it was one of the first continents to separate from Gondwana.
B) significant alteration of the landscape by non-indigenous Australians has occurred only in the last few centuries.
C) the Australian plate (the lithosphere that carries the Australian continent) was the first of the earth's plates to form.
D) the land was largely empty and subjected to the weather.
E) it has experienced relatively little mountain-building or volcanic activity.

Question 10

The history of fire in the Australian environment is recorded in the form of preserved charcoal particles in sedimentary deposits. From this evidence we know that Australia

A) had no fires before the late Tertiary, when the climate became dryer.
B) has had frequent fires since the early Tertiary.
C) has had fires since the early Tertiary.
D) has had fires since the Quaternary.
E) has only had frequent fires since eucalypts came to dominate the landscape.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Radiocarbon dating of archaeological sites suggests that humans have lived in Australia for at least 40 000 years.
B) Studies using thermoluminescence suggest that humans have lived in Australia for at least 50 000 years.
C) Increased levels of charcoal within pollen records suggest that humans may have lived in Australia for as long as 128 000 years.
D) Examination of fossil skuls show that Australia was populated by a number of different immigrant groups.
E) All of the answers are true.

Question 12

The environment of Australia prior to its separation from Antarctica could best be described as

A) glacial, with extensive ice and snow fields.
B) dry with extensive cool deserts.
C) generally dry with conifer forests in the wetter areas.
D) humid with extensive temperate rainforest.
E) fluctuating and so restricting rainforest to small patches of land.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Grassland vegetation has remained relatively important in Australia throughout all geological periods.
B) 'Fire sensitive' open forests increased in importance over time as burning levels increased.
C) 'Fire tolerant' vegetation increased in importance in Australia as geological periods progressed towards modern times.
D) Rainforest and grasslands have been of similar importance in Australia.
E) Rainforest was replaced with fire-tolerant vegetation in early Tertiary.

Question 14

The incidence of fire in the Australian environment

A) was negligible prior to the arrival of humans.
B) declined with the retreat of the rainforests.
C) showed an increase with the arrival of humans.
D) contributed to the disappearance of the rainforests.
E) was negligible prior to the arrival of Europeans.

Question 15

The history of Australian plants and animals has been significantly influenced by

A) the movement of land masses.
B) climate changes.
C) arrival of humans.
D) fire.
E) All of the answers have had an influence.

Question 16

Which statement about Australian landforms is INCORRECT?

A) Extensive deposits of limestone across southern Australia are the remains of ancient coral reefs.
B) Many inland salt basins like Lake Eyre once contained crocodiles.
C) Australia did not experience massive expansions of ice, but some glaciation did occur in the highlands of Tasmania.
D) Rocks from regions like the Pilbara are among the oldest found.
E) Extensive wind-blown dune systems formed during periods of aridity.

Question 17

The types of plant communities growing in different parts of Australia are mainly determined by the

A) rainfall patterns.
B) temperature.
C) nutrient levels in the soil.
D) All of the answers are equally important.
E) geological structure of the soil.

Question 18

Most of Australia's marine fishes live

A) on the shelf and in near-shore environments.
B) on the continental slope.
C) in the deep, nutrient-rich waters beyond the continental slope.
D) in fish farms.
E) in the Southern Ocean.

Question 19

The distinctive appearance of the Australian flora is due to

A) its extensive dominance by Acacia and Eucalyptus.
B) the presence of fire-tolerant species.
C) the high diversity of gymnospermous species
D) the unique climatic conditions.
E) the low number of endemic taxa.

Question 20

In Australia the succulent plants

A) live in environments with a good water supply.
B) are less diverse than elsewhere.
C) are common as in all dry areas.
D) are all C₄ plants.
E) include the Proteaceae.

Question 21

Wattles belong to the family

A) Proteaceae.
B) Epacridaceae.
C) Mimosaceae.
D) Myrtaceae.
E) Fabaceae.

Question 22

A phyllode is a

A) leaf that consists of pinnules arranged along a central axis.
B) leaf found on succulent plants.
C) leaf modified to form a thorn.
D) flattened petiole that functions as a leaf.
E) the linear leaf of grass trees.

Question 23

Which of the following lists contains the names of only succulent plants?

A) Aizoaceae (e.g. pigface); Portulacaceae (e.g. parakeelias); Chenopodiaceae (e.g. samphires).
B) Aizoaceae (e.g. pigface); Portulacaceae (e.g. parakeelias); Proteaceae (e.g. Banksia).
C) Aizoaceae (e.g. pigface); Chenopodiaceae (e.g. samphires); Proteaceae (e.g. Banksia).
D) Aizoaceae (e.g. pigface), Chenopodiaceae (samphires), Myrtaceae (brush box).
E) Epacridaceae (southern heaths); Portulacaceae (e.g. parakeelias); Proteaceae (e.g. Banksia).

Question 24

Which of the following is a trait that allows Australian plants to survive in arid environments?

A) Succulent leaves and stems.
B) Sclerophylly.
C) C₄ physiology
D) Maintaining small height.
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 25

Fabaceae (peas) and Mimosaceae (wattles) have which of the following important ecological characteristics in common?

A) Root mycorrhizae.
B) Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nodules on their roots.
C) Seed in woody cones.
D) Thick bark to resist fire.
E) C₄ physiology.

Question 26

Adaptive radiation is

A) moving out from a colonisation point into environments to which an organism is better suited.
B) a phenomenon in which weed species spread over, and in the process modify, their environment.
C) a floral structure seen in many native daisies that enables them to attract insects in the cool of the night.
D) the rapid evolution of a large number of closely related species.
E) where a species is represented through all parts of the earth.

Question 27

The frog family Myobatrachids is described as Gondwanan because myobatrachids

A) are only found in Australia.
B) are virtually restricted to Australia, Central America and South America.
C) have diversified life styles due to isolation in Australia.
D) often have bizarre life histories.
E) entered Australia only after collision with the Asian plate.

Question 28

The mammal group called Prototherians

A) became extinct in Australia with the introduction of the dingo.
B) lack any specialised morphological or ecological features.
C) do not secrete milk from mammary glands.
D) have reptile-like bones in their limbs and girdles.
E) have fossils found only in Australia.

Question 29

Australian reptiles

A) include species that are Gondwanan and Asian in origin.
B) show adaptive radiation resulting in numerous species.
C) are all descended from dinosaurs.
D) are all relatively modern in origin arriving only after the separation of Australia from Antarctica.
E) never included any dinosaurs.

Question 30

Mesophytes are

A) plants with rigid, small leaves and short internodes.
B) plants which grow in sandy, dry soil.
C) plants which survive in salty conditions because they have a mucilagenous, watery sap.
D) succulent plants.
E) plants which live where there is sufficient water supply.

Question 31

Lignotubers

A) are fire-resistant plants.
B) are plants with thick, insulating bark that protects them from fire.
C) are dormant buds at the base of the stem of trees which sprout after fire.
D) occur in species of wet forest plants and are stimulated to grow by fire.
E) are a complex root system which food storage to enable sprouting after fire.

Question 32

Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

A) Hipsilophodonts are small plant-eating dinosaurs.
B) Australia had a diverse replitian fauna, which now has no modern decendents.
C) Some Australian dinosaurs had enlarged eyes and were well adapted to the long polar nights they experienced.
D) DNA evidence suggests that some reptiles may be related to African dragon lizards.
E) Most modern reptiles appear to have originated from Asia before the break up of Australia.

Question 33

Many taxa are restricted to the southern hemisphere. These include

A) elephant birds.
B) extinct moas.
C) ostriches.
D) emus.
E) All of these species are restricted to the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 34

Australia severed its links with Antarctica and became an island about how many years ago?

A) 320 million.
B) 230 million.
C) 80 million.
D) 30 million.
E) 10 million.

Question 35

Many changes in the biota occurred from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic. These include all of the following EXCEPT

A) Seed ferns replaced clubmosses as the dominant forests.
B) Ancient conifer forests expanded along with the expansion of flowering plants.
C) Ginkgo, which was widely distributed became restricted to China.
D) Unique fauna evolved after the break-up of Gondwana.
E) Dinosaurs became extinct.

Question 36

There is direct fossil evidence that humans colonised Australia at least how many years ago?

A) 40,000.
B) 10,000
C) 1 million.
D) 4 million.
E) 40 million.

Question 37

At an international cargo port a shipping container has been discovered that is bereft of identification but was known to have been unloaded from an Australian vessel. Authorities need to ascertain where in Australia the container may have come from so as to gauge quarantine concerns. The only clue to its origins is a small, leafed branch that is found inside it. Upon examination it is found to have small, hard leaves, short internodes, thick cuticles, sunken stomata in grooves, a high proportion of lignified cells and thick-walled hypodermal cells between the epidermis and photosynthetic mesophyll. What kind of flora is this, and how useful is it in determining where the container may have been loaded?

A) Sclerophyllous, which is of very limited assistance given that such plants dominate the Australian landscape.
B) Sclerophyllous, which limits the container's origins to northern tropical regions.
C) Matorall, which limits the container's origins to southern alpine or subalpine regions.
D) Chaparral, which is of very limited assistance given that such plants dominate the understory of most Australian environments.
E) Phrygana, which limits the container's origins to the southern tip of Tasmania or Macquarie island.

Question 38

Most of Australia's fauna of reptiles are thought to have been colonised from Asia after the Australian continent drifted north. However, molecular data has conclusively demonstrated that at least one group is Gondwanan in origin. What is this group called?

A) Crusperatineae
B) Florkenariums
C) Diplodactyloids
D) Varanidae
E) Elapidae

Question 39

A botanist examines an extant plant specimen from Australia that inhabits a niche environment that is exclusive to Australian habitats. It is found far inland and has an unusually large seed. He notes that it shares many morphological similarities with other species from Africa, India and South America. A likely reason for this is that

A) all the species share strong similarities due to convergent evolution.
B) the species are all Gondwanan in origin and share a common ancestor.
C) seed has dispersed from the Australian species and it has colonised new continents.
D) all the species share strong similarities due to divergent evolution.
E) the species are all Laurasian in origin and share a common ancestor.

Question 40

When Australia separated from Antarctica and started gradually moving north, what was the major factor leading to the onset of arid conditions?

A) Changes in both flora and fauna
B) Changes in diurnal fluctuations within the troposphere
C) Reduced ion concentrations in the mesosphere
D) The circum-antarctic current
E) The breakdown of thermohaline circulation

Question 41

A meteorologist is examining national temperature and precipitation records and notes that recent months have been unusually hot and dry, particularly in the eastern parts of Australia. The meteorologist hypothesises that this could be due to an El Niño event. How could the meteorologist confirm this?

A) Check ocean currents for evidence of stability in the Southern Oscillation which leads to El Niño conditions.
B) Check records to see if there was a La Niña event in southern America in the preceding 5 years. If so, it is highly likely an El Niño event will occur in Australia due to the 5-year cyclical pattern of such events.
C) Examine air temperature data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low temperature zone present.
D) Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a high pressure zone present.
E) Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low pressure zone present.

Question 42

Chlorodesmis (Caulerpa) and Halimeda are what type of algae, and in which area do they dominate?

A) Transpophyta (colourless algae), dominant in the Gulf of Carpentaria
B) Anthophyta (purple algae), dominant in the rocky, warm coastal areas of far eastern Australia
C) Phaeophyta (brown algae), dominant in the north-west tropical coast
D) Chlorophyta (green algae), dominant in the Great Barrier Reef
E) Rhodophyta (red algae), dominant in southern temperate zones

Question 43

Sclerophyllous flora has several features that make them well-suited to several environmental conditions. Which of the following is NOT one of them?

A) Water stress
B) Fire
C) Low soil nutrients
D) Sandy, leached soil
E) Frost

Question 44

A native Australian monocot has three sepals and three petals, one of which is a labellum. A male wasp repeatedly attempts to 'mate' with the flower on this plant, all of which strongly indicates it must be from the family

A) Myrtaceae.
B) Mimosaceae.
C) Fabaceae.
D) Orchidaceae.
E) Ericaceae.

Question 45

New Zealand has no native terrestrial mammals, only three species of frogs and limited bird fauna because of

A) inhospitable climate.
B) geographic isolation.
C) lack of available edible flora.
D) geological instability.
E) pathogenicity.