Question 1

What results from the conversion of plant materials to animal substances?
A)primary productivity
B)secondary productivity
C)stratification
D)first laterization

Accepted Answer

Secondary productivity refers to the generation of biomass of heterotrophic (consumer) organisms in a system. This process occurs when animals consume plant materials and convert them into animal biomass.

Question 2

The total amount of living material in an ecosystem is referred to as ____.
A)biomass
B)a food chain
C)mosaic
D)a life zone

Accepted Answer

Biomass refers to the total mass of all living organisms in a given area or ecosystem at a given time. It is a measure of the amount of living or organic material present in an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Question 3

The process by which natural vegetation at a particular location develops in a sequence of stages involving different plant communities is known as ____.
A)evolution
B)regression
C)natural selection
D)succession

Accepted Answer

Succession is the ecological process by which a sequence of communities replaces one another over time in a given area, leading to a stable climax community.

Question 4

____ is a stored water supply in soils that plants can use.
A)Gravitational water
B)Leached water
C)Capillary water
D)Caliche

Accepted Answer

Capillary water is the type of water stored in soil that is available for plants to use. It is held in the soil pores by capillary action and is accessible to plant roots.

Question 5

Natural catastrophes ____.
A)occur only to animals, not plants and humans
B)are an environmental control on the organization and structure of ecosystems
C)affect only soils
D)are an environmental control on soil distribution

Accepted Answer

Natural catastrophes are events that can cause widespread damage and loss of life. They can be caused by natural forces such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. These events can have a significant impact on the organization and structure of ecosystems. For example, a hurricane can destroy vegetation and disrupt the food chain, which can lead to a decline in the population of animals that depend on that vegetation for food.

Question 6

Soil air supplies plants and microorganisms with what gases that are needed for life processes?
A)nitrogen and helium
B)oxygen and methane
C)carbon dioxide and oxygen
D)nitrogen and carbon dioxide

Accepted Answer

Soil air is crucial for plant and microorganism respiration and photosynthesis, providing essential gases such as carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and oxygen for respiration.

Question 7

Evaporating soil water ____.
A)can only move downward
B)is responsible for creating caliche
C)is bound to the surface of soil particles by strong electrical forces
D)is the primary agent in transporting soil particles from one level to another

Accepted Answer

Evaporating soil water can lead to the formation of caliche, a hardened deposit of calcium carbonate, as it moves upward through the soil and leaves behind mineral deposits.

Question 8

The overlapping area between two major plant-dominated ecosystems is a(n) ____.
A)ecotone where elements of both ecosystems intermingle
B)corridor separating the two ecosystems
C)patch with elements of both ecosystems
D)region with negative ecological optimum

Accepted Answer

Ecotones are transitional areas between two biomes where elements of both ecosystems can intermingle, allowing for a mix of species from both ecosystems.

Question 9

Biogeographers view the landscape of an area as a(n) ____ of interlocking parts.
A)region
B)matrix
C)web
D)mosaic

Accepted Answer

Biogeographers view the landscape of an area as a mosaic of interlocking parts, emphasizing the complex, patchwork nature of ecosystems and how different habitats and biomes are interconnected.

Question 10

Natural catastrophes result in ____.
A)symbiotic relationships
B)patch dynamics
C)island biogeography
D)mosaics

Accepted Answer

Natural catastrophes can lead to patch dynamics, where ecosystems are affected in a way that creates a mosaic of different habitats and successional stages.

Question 11

The soil-forming factor that has the greatest effect in differentiating soil at the global-regional scale is ____.
A)parent material
B)land surface configuration
C)climate
D)vegetation type

Accepted Answer

Climate is the most influential factor in soil formation at the global-regional scale, as it directly affects the temperature and precipitation patterns, which in turn influence the rate of weathering, organic matter decomposition, and the types of vegetation that can grow, all of which are critical in soil development.

Question 12

Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores are subclasses of which one of the four components of a typical ecosystem?
A)abiotics
B)autotrophs
C)decomposers
D)consumers

Accepted Answer

Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores are all types of consumers in an ecosystem. They rely on consuming other organisms for energy, distinguishing them from producers (autotrophs) and decomposers.

Question 13

Formation of new organic matter through photosynthesis by producers is referred to as ____.
A)net production
B)gross production
C)secondary production
D)primary production

Accepted Answer

Primary production refers to the synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or aquatic carbon dioxide, principally through the process of photosynthesis. This process is fundamental in the food chain as it is the creation of new organic matter by producers, such as plants and algae.

Question 14

On a worldwide basis, which of the following factors exerts the greatest influence over natural vegetation?
A)climate
B)soil
C)topography
D)humans

Accepted Answer

Climate is the primary factor influencing the distribution and type of natural vegetation worldwide. It determines temperature and precipitation patterns, which in turn dictate the types of plants that can thrive in a particular region.

Question 15

A(n) ____ is an expression of various environmental factors functioning together.
A)climate
B)biome
C)mosaic
D)landscape

Accepted Answer

A landscape is an expression of various environmental factors functioning together, encompassing the physical features, living elements, and human influences in an area.

Question 16

Which of the following is the correct ordering of soil particle sizes from largest to smallest?
A)clay → sand → silt
B)clay → silt → sand
C)silt → clay → sand
D)sand → silt → clay

Accepted Answer

The correct order from largest to smallest soil particle sizes is sand, followed by silt, and then clay.

Question 17

Residual parent material ____.
A)has been accumulated in place
B)has been transported
C)is manufactured material
D)contains bacteria

Accepted Answer

Residual parent material is material that has been accumulated in place, meaning it has not been transported from elsewhere but originates from the weathering of the underlying rock at its current location.

Question 18

The combination of role and habitat for a particular species is referred to as its ____.
A)environment
B)ecological niche
C)territorial prerogative
D)hunting grounds

Accepted Answer

An ecological niche refers to both the role a species plays in its ecosystem (such as its specific behaviors and interactions with other species) and its habitat, including the physical environment in which it lives and the resources it needs to survive.

Question 19

Red soil color is caused by ____.
A)aluminum compounds
B)mercury compounds
C)iron compounds
D)clay

Accepted Answer

Red soil typically gets its color from iron compounds, particularly iron oxide, which gives the soil a reddish appearance when exposed to air and moisture.

Question 20

A soil rich in organic material will be ____.
A)black or dark brown
B)gray
C)red
D)yellow

Accepted Answer

Soils rich in organic material are typically black or dark brown due to the presence of decomposed plant and animal matter.

Quiz 9: Biogeography and Soils

What results from the conversion of plant materials to animal substances?

The total amount of living material in an ecosystem is referred to as ____.

The process by which natural vegetation at a particular location develops in a sequence of stages involving different plant communities is known as ____.

____ is a stored water supply in soils that plants can use.

Natural catastrophes ____.

Soil air supplies plants and microorganisms with what gases that are needed for life processes?

Evaporating soil water ____.

The overlapping area between two major plant-dominated ecosystems is a(n) ____.

Biogeographers view the landscape of an area as a(n) ____ of interlocking parts.

Natural catastrophes result in ____.

The soil-forming factor that has the greatest effect in differentiating soil at the global-regional scale is ____.

Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and detritivores are subclasses of which one of the four components of a typical ecosystem?

Formation of new organic matter through photosynthesis by producers is referred to as ____.

On a worldwide basis, which of the following factors exerts the greatest influence over natural vegetation?

A(n) ____ is an expression of various environmental factors functioning together.

Which of the following is the correct ordering of soil particle sizes from largest to smallest?

Residual parent material ____.

The combination of role and habitat for a particular species is referred to as its ____.

Red soil color is caused by ____.

A soil rich in organic material will be ____.