Question 1

Chemistry in lake biomes will vary primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

Runoff from different soils and rocks introduces various minerals and nutrients into the lake, significantly affecting its chemistry.

Question 2

Coral reefs have low productivity because their nutrient levels are typically low.

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems despite having low nutrient levels due to efficient nutrient recycling and symbiotic relationships, such as those between corals and zooxanthellae.

Question 3

Why are the bottom waters of some lakes anoxic?

Accepted Answer

All of these choices are correct. The respiration of sinking organic particles reduces oxygen in deep waters, physical stratification keeps bottom waters from mixing with oxygen-rich surface waters, and runoff of fertilizers from agriculture can increase the amount of primary production and hence respiration in the lake. These factors combine to create an anoxic environment in the bottom waters of some lakes.

Question 4

Because tropical plants have very high species diversity, they also have very low population:

Accepted Answer

Tropical plants are known for having a high number of species, but a low density of individuals per species. This is due to factors such as competition for resources and limited space in the tropical environment.

Question 5

A general trend in global biodiversity is a gradient of:

Accepted Answer

The general trend in global biodiversity is decreasing diversity moving from the equator toward the poles. This is known as the latitudinal gradient of biodiversity. It is thought to be influenced by several factors, including climate stability, productivity, and evolutionary history. Generally, areas closer to the equator have more stable climates, higher productivity, and longer evolutionary histories, which all contribute to higher biodiversity.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a hypothesis that can adequately explain global patterns in species' diversity?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT a...

Question 7

In what biome would you expect to find the greatest diversity of insects?

Accepted Answer

Insects thrive in warm, humid environments with lots of vegetation, which is exactly what the tropical rain forest provides. This biome has the highest biodiversity of any biome on Earth, with millions of species, including insects.

Question 8

Why is the inspection of fossils from a specific area useful for understanding the evolutionary history of a region?

Accepted Answer

The inspection of fossils from a specific area is useful for understanding the evolutionary history of a region because fossils can show the ancestors of present-day organisms in the region (A), they can show how species turnover has occurred (B), and they may show adaptations to climatic conditions that were present at earlier times in the region (C). Therefore, all of these choices are correct (D).

Question 9

Which of the following groups of biomes is listed in order of least to greatest in terms of species diversity?

Accepted Answer

Taiga, characterized by its cold, dense forests of conifers, has the least species diversity among the options. Savannahs, with their grasslands and scattered trees, offer more diversity due to a wider range of habitats and climates. Rainforests, known for their warm climates and dense vegetation, have the greatest species diversity due to their complex ecosystems that provide numerous niches for different species.

Question 10

Which of the following hypothetical lines of evidence would MOST strongly refute the hypothesis that there are more species in the tropics because they have existed for longer periods of time than biomes at higher latitudes?

Accepted Answer

Evidence that speciation rates of organisms at the equator are faster than those at higher latitudes would refute the hypothesis that the greater species diversity in the tropics is solely due to a longer period of existence, by suggesting that higher speciation rates in these regions could also be a contributing factor.

Question 11

Climate has been proposed to play a role in the latitudinal diversity gradient. Specifically, some have hypothesized that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Climate has been proposed to play a...

Question 12

Which list of biomes places them in the predicted order of species diversity from lowest to highest?

Accepted Answer

The tundra biome has relatively low species diversity due to its extreme climate and harsh conditions. Temperate grasslands have slightly higher species diversity, but still much lower than tropical rainforests, which are known to have the highest species diversity on the planet. Therefore, the list that correctly places them in order from lowest to highest species diversity is A.

Question 13

The hypothesis that species diversity is greater at lower latitudes than higher latitudes because low-latitude habitats are older would be supported if speciation rates were:

Accepted Answer

If speciation rates are the same at high and low latitudes, the greater species diversity at lower latitudes could be attributed to the longer time available for species diversification in these older habitats, supporting the hypothesis.

Question 14

Consider the characteristics of terrestrial biomes. Would you expect more biomass in a trophic pyramid from the tropical rainforest compared to one from the taiga?

Accepted Answer

Terrestrial biomes near the equator, such as tropical rainforests, have higher productivity rates than those near the poles because of the greater availability of energy from the sun. This means there is more biomass available to support trophic pyramids in tropical rainforests compared to taiga biomes.

Question 15

Latitudinal patterns of biodiversity are similar between plants and animals.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that there are similar latitudinal patterns of biodiversity in both plants and animals, with higher species richness and diversity in tropical regions and lower diversity in polar regions.

Question 16

The latitudinal diversity gradient refers to what pattern of species diversity?

Accepted Answer

The latitudinal diversity gradient refers to the pattern where many kinds of organisms have the highest species diversity near the equator and the lowest near the poles. This pattern is observed across a wide range of taxonomic groups, including plants, animals, and insects.

Question 17

Certain regions on the deep sea floor can achieve constant and high species density near:

Accepted Answer

Hydrothermal vents release mineral-rich fluids that support unique chemosynthetic communities of bacteria and archaea, which in turn support a diverse and specialized group of fauna. These communities often have high species diversity and densities, making hydrothermal vents an important ecological feature of the deep sea floor. The other choices (A, C, and D) may support some form of life, but do not generally result in the high and constant species density seen at hydrothermal vents.

Question 18

High biomass of primary producers in surface waters is important:

Accepted Answer

High biomass of primary producers in surface waters is important because it forms the basis for many aquatic food webs and supports primary consumers. The primary producers (such as phytoplankton) are the base of the food chain in aquatic ecosystems, and the availability of energy and nutrients from these organisms influences the productivity of higher trophic levels. Therefore, a high biomass of primary producers is important for the overall health and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Option B is incorrect as high biomass of primary producers does not directly decrease global warming. Option C is incorrect as the presence of viruses in aquatic ecosystems does not depend on the biomass of primary producers.

Question 19

As you hike from the base of a mountain to the top of a mountain, you would expect see decreasing levels of biodiversity.

Accepted Answer

As elevation increases, the environment becomes harsher (colder, windier, less oxygen) which can support fewer species, leading to a decrease in biodiversity.

Question 20

Which is NOT a hypothesis that attempts to explain the latitudinal diversity gradient?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which is NOT a hypothesis that attempts...

Quiz 48: Biomes and Global Ecology