Question 1

Mangrove trees are found along ________________ shorelines.

Accepted Answer

Mangrove trees are typically found along tropical saltwater shorelines, where they thrive in saline coastal environments.

Question 2

_________ is the basis of marine food webs.

Accepted Answer

Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in watery environments, both salty and fresh. They are the foundation of the aquatic food web, serving as the primary producers that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, much like plants do on land. This energy is then passed on to various marine organisms, making phytoplankton crucial for marine ecosystems.

Question 3

Coral reefs form in

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs form in warm, clear tropical seas because these conditions provide the ideal environment for the symbiotic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae, which is crucial for reef development. Warm water supports the coral's metabolic processes, and clear water allows sunlight to penetrate, which is necessary for photosynthesis by the zooxanthellae living in the coral tissues.

Question 4

_____________ is where fresh water mixes with ocean water.

Accepted Answer

An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Question 5

Freshwater ecosystems

Accepted Answer

Freshwater ecosystems include a variety of habitats such as lakes, marshes, bogs, and fens, each with unique characteristics and biodiversity.

Question 6

Trinity and Neo are in an area that has many lakes and bogs. The majority of the trees are coniferous. As they look around, they also see deciduous trees, including birches, aspens, and maples. What type of forest are they in?

Accepted Answer

Boreal forests, also known as taiga, are characterized by a mix of coniferous trees such as pines, spruces, and larches, but they also include some deciduous trees like birches, aspens, and maples. The presence of lakes and bogs is common in these regions, which are found in high northern latitudes.

Question 7

Why are the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Antarctic waters the most productive?

Accepted Answer

Cold water holds the most dissolved oxygen and can therefore support greater numbers of phytoplankton.

Question 8

If an organism is described as 'benthic," where does it reside?

Accepted Answer

Benthic organisms live at the bottom of aquatic environments, which can include both oceans and lakes.

Question 9

The biome type that has a short growing season and is summer feeding and breeding grounds for caribou and musk-ox is the

Accepted Answer

The Arctic tundra is characterized by a very short growing season and serves as summer feeding and breeding grounds for animals such as caribou and musk-ox. This biome is known for its cold, desert-like conditions.

Question 10

What environmental factor does not change between "b" and "e" in the diagram?

Accepted Answer

All the listed environmental factors (light penetration, temperature, nutrient availability, and oxygen content) typically change between different zones or depths in a diagram representing an aquatic environment.

Question 11

Tundra biomes occur

Accepted Answer

Tundra biomes are found at high latitudes and altitudes, characterized by cold temperatures and a short growing season, which limits tree growth.

Question 12

Tree growth in the taiga is limited by

Accepted Answer

Tree growth in the taiga, a biome characterized by its cold climate and coniferous forests, is primarily limited by extreme cold conditions and short summers. These environmental factors restrict the growing season and the types of vegetation that can survive there.

Question 13

In what continent would you find a polar desert?

Accepted Answer

Antarctica is home to the largest polar desert in the world, characterized by extremely low temperatures, high winds, and minimal precipitation, making it a desert despite its ice cover.

Question 14

Which of the following protects mainland shores from the force of waves?

Accepted Answer

Barrier islands act as a buffer between the mainland and the ocean, absorbing the energy of waves and thus protecting the shores from erosion and the force of waves.

Question 15

Barrier islands are formed of

Accepted Answer

Barrier islands are primarily formed from sand deposited by waves and wind. These processes create long, narrow islands parallel to the coast.

Question 16

Vertical zonation shows that not only do different biomes occur at different latitudes, but also at different ______________.

Accepted Answer

Vertical zonation refers to the pattern of different ecosystems and biomes occurring at different altitudes, similar to how different biomes are distributed across latitudes globally.

Question 17

Morpheus has been led into a wilderness environment and left to fend for himself for the summer. Luckily, he has a good coat because it looks like there may be a frost during the night and the mosquitoes are everywhere. As he looks around, he is relieved because he recognizes some of the plants. There are some mosses, lichens, small shrubs, sedges, and grasses. Which biome is he in?

Accepted Answer

The presence of mosses, lichens, small shrubs, sedges, and grasses, along with the potential for frost even in summer, suggests Morpheus is in the tundra biome. These characteristics are typical of tundra environments, which are known for their cold, harsh conditions, and limited vegetation.

Question 18

Boreal forests are generally

Accepted Answer

Boreal forests are generally cold and dry, with extensive barren areas.

Question 19

Coral bleaching occurs when ___________.

Accepted Answer

Coral bleaching primarily occurs when ocean temperatures are too warm, causing corals to expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, leading to a white appearance. This process can be detrimental to coral health and the ecosystems they support.

Question 20

What marine ecosystem is most similar to a tropical rainforest in terms of diversity?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are most similar to tropical rainforests in terms of diversity because they are both extremely rich in species and are home to a wide variety of life forms.

Quiz 5: Biomes: Global Patterns of Life