Question 1

Which biome is dominated by grasses and shrubs and experiences cold temperatures and relatively low levels of precipitation?
A) Tundra
B) Savanna
C) Desert
D) Grasslands

Accepted Answer

The biome described is the tundra, which is characterized by low temperatures and limited precipitation. It is dominated by grasses and shrubs adapted to cold, dry conditions. Savannas are characterized by grasses and trees, and experience higher temperatures and rainfall. Deserts receive very little precipitation and can have a variety of vegetation, but are not typically dominated by grasses and shrubs. Grasslands, also known as prairies, have similar vegetation to the tundra but experience warmer temperatures and more rainfall.

Question 2

Which of the following are examples of provisioning ecosystem services?
A) Soil formation and nutrient cycles
B) Climate, water flow, and disease
C) Aesthetic beauty and recreation
D) Food, water, and fiber

Accepted Answer

Food, water, and fiber are all examples of provisioning ecosystem services, as they directly provide resources for human use and consumption. A, B, and C are examples of other types of ecosystem services (regulating, supporting, and cultural, respectively).

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?
A) Providing food to the malnourished
B) Ensuring flow of traffic in and out of a city
C) Enjoying the beauty or inspiration provided by a forest
D) Ensuring good health access for populations in a community
E) Constructing a "green" building

Accepted Answer

Enjoying the beauty or inspiration provided by a forest is an example of a cultural ecosystem service. Cultural ecosystem services refer to the non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems, such as spiritual enrichment, recreation, and aesthetic experiences. Providing food, ensuring flow of traffic, ensuring good health access, and constructing a "green" building are all important services, but they do not fall under the category of cultural ecosystem services.

Question 4

What organisms are involved in the process of transpiration?
A) Fish and other aquatic creatures
B) Plants
C) Grazers such as deer and elk
D) Insects

Accepted Answer

Transpiration is a process by which water is lost from plant leaves through tiny pores on their surface called stomata. Therefore, the organisms involved in this process are plants.

Question 5

Soil layers with distinct properties are called _ .
A) horizons
B) tiers
C) bands
D) profiles

Accepted Answer

Soil layers with distinct properties are called horizons.

Question 6

involves the breakdown of parent material by reactions with water and acids.
A) Erosion
B) Chemical weathering
C) Physical weathering
D) Leaching

Accepted Answer

Chemical weathering involves the breakdown of parent material through chemical reactions with water and acids, such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and carbonation. Erosion refers to the movement of weathered material, physical weathering refers to the breakdown of parent material through physical processes like frost wedging or abrasion, and leaching is the removal of nutrients and minerals from soil by water.

Question 7

-All of the following can be inferred from the figure except .
A) areas classified as tundra tend to be very cold and dry
B) temperate coniferous forests tend to be wetter than temperate broadleaf forests
C) plants in tropical dry forests experience both a wet season and a dry season
D) only the warmest deserts receive greater than 50 cm of precipitation annually

Accepted Answer

The answer of 
-All of the following can be inferred...

Question 8

What process converts atmospheric carbon to organic carbon?
A) Photosynthesis
B) Evapotranspiration
C) Transpiration
D) Respiration

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis is the process by which atmospheric carbon (in the form of CO2) is converted into organic carbon (in the form of glucose) by plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Question 9

-This figure depicts a ecosystem service.
A) provisioning
B) cultural
C) supporting
D) regulating

Accepted Answer

The answer of 
-This figure depicts a ecosystem service.
A) provisioning
B)...

Question 10

Which of the following biomes tends to be dominated by coniferous trees?
A) Tropical moist broadleaf forest
B) Boreal forest
C) Mediterranean forest
D) Temperate broadleaf forest

Accepted Answer

The boreal forest, also known as the taiga, is a biome dominated by coniferous trees such as spruce, pine, and fir. It is found in Northern Hemisphere regions with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The other three biomes listed (tropical moist broadleaf forest, Mediterranean forest, and temperate broadleaf forest) are not dominated by coniferous trees.

Question 11

Biomes with permafrost usually .
A) are covered in coniferous forests at high latitudes
B) are located at high altitudes nearest the equator
C) are in temperate zones and have deciduous trees
D) lack trees and are located in polar regions

Accepted Answer

Biomes with permafrost lack trees and are located in polar regions. Permafrost is a layer of soil which remains frozen year-round and thus prevents trees from growing deep roots. These types of biomes are found in Arctic and subarctic regions, such as the tundra.

Question 12

Biomes are regions with similar .
A) soils, water systems, and animals
B) animals, plants, and climatic conditions
C) rocks, soil, minerals, and water
D) terrain and elevations

Accepted Answer

Biomes are characterized by the presence of similar plants, animals, and climatic conditions. Soils, water systems, rocks, minerals, and terrain may differ within a given biome, but the key factor is the shared biological and climatic features.

Question 13

-Which one of the following would be a physical component of the desert ecosystem of the southwestern United States?
A) Deer
B) Rocks
C) Ferns
D) Cacti

Accepted Answer

Rocks are a physical component of ecosystems, including deserts, as they are non-living elements that contribute to the physical landscape and habitat structure.

Question 14

Tropical dry forests are characterized by all of the following except .
A) a dry season
B) high biodiversity
C) trees that retain their leaves throughout the year
D) warm temperatures year- round

Accepted Answer

Tropical dry forests typically have a distinct dry season during which many trees lose their leaves to conserve water, unlike evergreen forests where trees retain their leaves throughout the year.

Question 15

-Which of the following are examples of regulating ecosystem services?
A) Soil formation and nutrient cycles
B) Food, water, and fiber
C) Pollination and chlorophyll
D) Aesthetic beauty and recreation
E) Climate, water flow, and disease control

Accepted Answer

Climate, water flow, and disease control are all examples of regulating ecosystem services. These services regulate the overall health and functioning of ecosystems, which in turn supports other ecosystem services such as food production and aesthetic beauty. Soil formation and nutrient cycles, pollination and chlorophyll, and aesthetic beauty and recreation are examples of other types of ecosystem services such as supporting and cultural services.

Question 16

Which biome is characterized by the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity?
A) Tropical broadleaf forests
B) Tropical grasslands and prairies
C) Temperate deciduous forests
D) Temperate grasslands and prairies

Accepted Answer

Tropical broadleaf forests have the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity, with an average rainfall of 2,000-10,000mm per year and a high rate of biodiversity.

Question 17

-Which of the following statements accurately describes gross and net primary production?
A) Gross primary production involves plants, while net primary production involves animals.
B) Gross primary production is always greater than net primary production.
C) Net primary production is always greater than gross primary production.
D) Gross primary production takes into consideration autotrophic respiration, while net primary production does not.

Accepted Answer

Gross primary production (GPP) is the total amount of chemical energy as biomass that primary producers create in a given length of time. Net primary production (NPP) is the gross primary production minus the energy used by the primary producers for respiration. Therefore, GPP is always greater than NPP because it includes the total production before subtracting the energy used by plants for respiration.

Question 18

Of the following, the most water would be held by a soil consisting of equal amounts of .
A) small stones and sand
B) silt and clay
C) clay and sand
D) sand and silt

Accepted Answer

Silt and clay particles are smaller and more closely packed than sand or small stones, allowing them to hold more water due to their higher surface area and the capillary action between the particles.

Question 19

-Which of the following would occur if all photosynthetic processes on Earth were to cease?
A) Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the atmosphere would decrease.
B) Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the atmosphere would increase.
C) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would decrease, and oxygen levels would increase.
D) Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would increase, and oxygen levels would decrease.

Accepted Answer

If all photosynthetic processes on Earth were to cease, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would increase because there would be no organisms performing photosynthesis that take in carbon dioxide. The decrease in oxygen levels would occur because photosynthesis is the primary process that produces oxygen in the atmosphere. Therefore, without photosynthesis, there would be no significant production of oxygen, causing oxygen levels to decrease.

Question 20

-The physical weathering of large rocks into smaller pieces is .
A) caused by wind, water, and ice
B) primarily caused by topsoil erosion
C) called mineralization
D) a major cause of topsoil erosion

Accepted Answer

The physical weathering of large rocks into smaller pieces is primarily caused by natural processes like wind, water, and ice. This process is known as mechanical weathering and it contributes to the breakdown of rocks, which in turn contributes to the formation of soil.

Quiz 6: Ecosystems and Biomes

Which biome is dominated by grasses and shrubs and experiences cold temperatures and relatively low levels of precipitation?

Which of the following are examples of provisioning ecosystem services?

Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?

What organisms are involved in the process of transpiration?

Soil layers with distinct properties are called _ .

involves the breakdown of parent material by reactions with water and acids.

-All of the following can be inferred from the figure except .

What process converts atmospheric carbon to organic carbon?

-This figure depicts a ecosystem service.

Which of the following biomes tends to be dominated by coniferous trees?

Biomes with permafrost usually .

Biomes are regions with similar .

-Which one of the following would be a physical component of the desert ecosystem of the southwestern United States?

Tropical dry forests are characterized by all of the following except .

-Which of the following are examples of regulating ecosystem services?

Which biome is characterized by the highest annual rainfalls and primary productivity?

-Which of the following statements accurately describes gross and net primary production?

Of the following, the most water would be held by a soil consisting of equal amounts of .

-Which of the following would occur if all photosynthetic processes on Earth were to cease?

-The physical weathering of large rocks into smaller pieces is .