Question 1

Refer to the figure below.  What type of biome is represented by the data?
A) Tundra
B) Tropical rainforest
C) Temperate rainforest
D) Temperate grassland
E) Temperate evergreen forest

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below.  What...

Question 2

The biome characterized in some areas by coniferous trees, which can include massive redwoods and giant sequoias, is the
A) desert.
B) tundra.
C) tropical rainforest.
D) temperate deciduous forest.
E) temperate evergreen forest.

Accepted Answer

The biome characterized by coniferous trees, including massive redwoods and giant sequoias is the temperate evergreen forest.

Question 3

Alpha diversity patterns are most likely to be driven by which type of interactions?
A) Changes in species diversity and extinction within large regions
B) Species interactions over several interconnecting communities
C) Species interactions in a limited, local area
D) Variation in speciation and extinction over whole continents
E) Dispersal and extinction of species across a landscape

Accepted Answer

Alpha diversity refers to diversity within a local area or ecosystem. Therefore, alpha diversity patterns are most likely driven by species interactions in a limited, local area (such as competition or predation).

Question 4

Refer to the figure below.  The biome represented by the red areas is likely to have what temperature and precipitation characteristics?
A) Warm or hot temperatures, low precipitation
B) Warm or hot temperatures, high precipitation
C) Moderate temperatures, low precipitation
D) Moderate temperatures, high precipitation
E) Moderate temperatures, moderate precipitation

Accepted Answer

The red areas on the map represent tropical rainforests, which are characterized by warm or hot temperatures and high precipitation.

Question 5

A doe and her fawn live in a small forest.They move out to the forest edge and into a nearby field to feed, and they drink from a pond across the field or from a stream that runs out of the forest.Sometimes they venture across the highway to the forest on the other side.The interaction of these animals with several communities suggests they are living at what spatial scale?
A) Local
B) Global
C) Regional
D) Landscape
E) Biogeographic

Accepted Answer

The interaction of the doe and her fawn with their immediate surroundings - the small forest, the field, the highway, the nearby communities - suggests that they are living at the landscape scale. The landscape scale refers to the spatial extent over which ecological processes at the community level interact with abiotic factors. In this case, the landscape includes both natural and human-made features, and the deer's movements and interactions occur at this scale.

Question 6

Alfred Russel Wallace deduced that dramatic differences in flora and fauna between the islands Bali and Lombok were the result of the
A) large distance between the two islands.
B) differing speed of evolution on the two islands.
C) isolation due to the depth of the ocean trench between the two islands.
D) former connection of Lombok with the Asian mainland.
E) dramatic differences in climate and soils between the two islands.

Accepted Answer

Wallace noted the dramatic differences in flora and fauna between Bali and Lombok and attributed this to the deep ocean trench between the two islands, which served as a significant barrier to the movement of species. This observation led to the identification of the Wallace Line, which delineates the faunal boundary between Asia and Australasia.

Question 7

The world's biogeographic regions, originally proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace, divide Earth into groups of species that often change dramatically over relatively small distances.Today, we know that these assemblages of organisms have come together over millions of years primarily through the process of
A) vicariance.
B) biogeography.
C) continental drift.
D) biotic interchange.
E) species diversification.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The world's biogeographic regions, originally proposed by...

Question 8

Refer to the figure, showing Earth's biogeographic regions.(Red arrows show time, in millions of years, since land masses came together.Black arrows show time since two land masses separated.)  Based on the map, which pair of continents came together most recently?
A) Oriental and Palearctic
B) Nearctic and Palearctic
C) Palearctic and Ethiopian
D) Neotropical and Nearctic
E) Neotropical and Antarctic

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure, showing Earth's biogeographic...

Question 9

Biogeographers are studying two similar tree species to determine what processes led to the formation of these species.They might conclude that speciation began due to the process of vicariance if
A) the two species formed after the last Ice Age.
B) the two species are currently on the same continent.
C) continental drift separated two original populations.
D) free dispersal occurred among the original populations.
E) the two species show more than 90 percent similarity.

Accepted Answer

Vicariance refers to the splitting of a single population into two or more geographically separated populations due to a physical barrier such as a mountain range, river or continental drift. Therefore, if the two similar tree species were originally part of the same population and were separated due to continental drift, the vicariance process led to the formation of these species. The other answer choices are not relevant to the vicariance process.

Question 10

Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity can be used to describe species diversity and composition in terms of their
A) turnover rates.
B) spatial scales.
C) temporal scales.
D) physical conditions.
E) climatic conditions.

Accepted Answer

Alpha diversity refers to the species diversity within a particular site or habitat, while beta diversity refers to the variation in species diversity between different sites or habitats. Gamma diversity refers to the overall diversity of a larger region or landscape. Therefore, alpha, beta, and gamma diversity are used to describe species diversity and composition in terms of spatial scales.

Question 11

Which feature is most characteristic of the tundra biome?
A) Permafrost
B) Coniferous trees
C) High precipitation
D) Long growing season
E) Plants that conserve water

Accepted Answer

The most characteristic feature of the tundra biome is permafrost, which is frozen soil that remains frozen throughout the year. This is an important factor that influences the types of plants and animals that can survive in the tundra, and it also affects the cycling of nutrients in the ecosystem. The other options (B, C, D, and E) are not as closely associated with tundra ecosystems.

Question 12

Refer to the figure below.  In this diagram, the precipitation curve falls below the temperature (yellow area).This indicates a situation in which plant growth is
A) limited by temperature.
B) limited by water availability.
C) unlimited by temperature.
D) unlimited by water availability.
E) possible only in the winter months.

Accepted Answer

When the precipitation curve falls below the temperature curve, it indicates that there is not enough water available to support plant growth, regardless of temperature. Therefore, plant growth is limited by water availability.

Question 13

Refer to the figure, showing Earth's biogeographic regions.(Red arrows show time, in millions of years, since land masses came together.Black arrows show time since two land masses separated.)  Some regions, including the Palearctic and Ethiopian, and the Palearctic and Oriental, have been moving toward each other.Based on the information given, what would be the expected response of species as these regions come back together?
A) Speciation rates will increase because species will compete more.
B) Speciation rates will decrease because the regions are closer together.
C) Speciation will occur separately in each region because of barriers to dispersal.
D) Species will mix in the two regions, but rates of speciation cannot be determined.
E) Species will mix in the two regions, but rates of speciation will be too gradual to be measured.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure, showing Earth's biogeographic...

Question 14

In Europe the major mountain ranges run east-west, blocking the migration of species during previous glacial periods.Most North American mountain ranges run north-south and did not block the retreat of species during glacial periods.This suggests that speciation in North America during glacial periods was most influenced by the process of
A) vicariance.
B) topography.
C) free dispersal.
D) climate change.
E) continental drift.

Accepted Answer

The fact that North American mountain ranges run north-south and did not block the retreat of species during glacial periods indicates that speciation in North America during these periods was most likely influenced by free dispersal, as species were able to move relatively freely across the continent.

Question 15

Applying the concept of continental drift, if scientists find the same types of fossil pollen in New Zealand and South America, they would probably conclude that
A) the two continents were once a single continent.
B) the plants evolved independently on the two continents.
C) a narrow land bridge once existed across the world ocean.
D) the plants crossed the ocean from Australia to South America.
E) the plants crossed the ocean from South America to Australia.

Accepted Answer

If the same types of fossil pollen are found in New Zealand and South America, it suggests that the two landmasses were once connected and had a common ancestry. This supports the theory of continental drift, which states that the Earth's continents were once joined in a single supercontinent, Pangaea, which then slowly broke apart and drifted to their present positions.

Question 16

Marsupial mammals dispersed from South America to Australia by way of an Antarctic land bridge, which no longer exists.Placental mammals arose later and subsequently spread to other continents, typically outcompeting marsupials wherever they coexisted.Today, Australia has about half marsupials and half placental mammals, mostly bats and rodents.This abundance of marsupials in Australia and their rarity elsewhere is likely due to a lack of
A) dispersal.
B) evolution.
C) vicariance.
D) continental drift.
E) species diversification.

Accepted Answer

The abundance of marsupials in Australia and their rarity elsewhere is primarily due to a lack of dispersal opportunities for marsupials to other continents, as placental mammals often outcompeted them where they coexisted.

Question 17

Refer to the figure below.  The biome represented by the red areas is likely to have what type of primary vegetation?
A) Deciduous trees
B) Coniferous trees
C) Water-conserving plants
D) Perennial grasses and forbs
E) Rainforest trees and epiphytes

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure below.  The...

Question 18

Which is an accurate statement regarding the global distribution of terrestrial biomes?
A) Every biome is found on every continent on Earth.
B) Every biome is found in different locations on the same continent.
C) Every biome is found on different continents in areas having similar climate.
D) Every biome is singular and unique, with only one geographic example of each biome on Earth.
E) Every biome is found in a specific region, with examples of the same biome always located close together.

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial biomes are found in similar climatic conditions across different continents. For example, the tropical rainforest biome is found in South America, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia - all regions with similar warm and wet climatic conditions. Therefore, each biome is not limited to a specific region or continent but can occur in multiple locations with similar environmental conditions.

Question 19

Refer to the figures, showing the locations of two biomes.   Which biomes do these figures most likely represent?
A) Map 1, boreal forest; map 2, tropical forest
B) Map 1, temperate evergreen forest; map 2, chaparral
C) Map 1, temperate deciduous forest; map 2, hot desert
D) Map 1, thorn forest; map 2, tropical savanna
E) Map 1, temperate grasslands; map 2, cold desert

Accepted Answer

Map 1 shows a biome with deciduous trees, which is most likely a temperate deciduous forest. Map 2 shows a biome with sparse vegetation and extreme temperatures, which is most likely a hot desert.

Question 20

In the _______ biome, temperatures fluctuate considerably between summer and winter, and precipitation is fairly constant throughout the year.Species diversity is relatively rich; it includes large animals such as black bears and many bird species that migrate to avoid the cold winters.
A) boreal forest
B) tropical forest
C) temperate grassland
D) temperate evergreen forest
E) temperate deciduous forest

Accepted Answer

The description of fluctuating temperatures between seasons and consistent precipitation throughout the year, along with the presence of large animals like black bears and migratory bird species, match the characteristics of a temperate deciduous forest biome.

Quiz 53: The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life

Refer to the figure below. What type of biome is represented by the data?

The biome characterized in some areas by coniferous trees, which can include massive redwoods and giant sequoias, is the

Alpha diversity patterns are most likely to be driven by which type of interactions?

Refer to the figure below. The biome represented by the red areas is likely to have what temperature and precipitation characteristics?

Alfred Russel Wallace deduced that dramatic differences in flora and fauna between the islands Bali and Lombok were the result of the

Refer to the figure, showing Earth's biogeographic regions.(Red arrows show time, in millions of years, since land masses came together.Black arrows show time since two land masses separated.) Based on the map, which pair of continents came together most recently?

Biogeographers are studying two similar tree species to determine what processes led to the formation of these species.They might conclude that speciation began due to the process of vicariance if

Alpha, beta, and gamma diversity can be used to describe species diversity and composition in terms of their

Which feature is most characteristic of the tundra biome?

Refer to the figure below. In this diagram, the precipitation curve falls below the temperature (yellow area) .This indicates a situation in which plant growth is

Applying the concept of continental drift, if scientists find the same types of fossil pollen in New Zealand and South America, they would probably conclude that

Refer to the figure below. The biome represented by the red areas is likely to have what type of primary vegetation?

Which is an accurate statement regarding the global distribution of terrestrial biomes?

Refer to the figures, showing the locations of two biomes. Which biomes do these figures most likely represent?

In the _______ biome, temperatures fluctuate considerably between summer and winter, and precipitation is fairly constant throughout the year.Species diversity is relatively rich; it includes large animals such as black bears and many bird species that migrate to avoid the cold winters.