Question 1

Increases in temperature lead to coral bleaching because:

Accepted Answer

A)  warmer temperatures cause the coral exoskeleton to break down 
B)  the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae 
C)  the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food 
D)  the warmer water is too turbid to allow light to penetrate down to the depth of the reef 
E)  the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae and the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food 
A)  warmer temperatures cause the coral exoskeleton to break down 
B)  the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae 
C)  the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food 
D)  the warmer water is too turbid to allow light to penetrate down to the depth of the reef 
E)  the stressed coral polyps lose their zooxanthellae and the stressed coral polyps are unable to acquire enough food

Question 2

Which of the following statements about desert inhabitants is not true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both annual and perennial plants live in the desert. 
B)  Desert animals typically have adaptations for conserving water, but plants require no special adaptations. 
C)  Many desert plants are protected from predation by thorns and toxins. 
D)  Desert animals are typically small and nocturnal. 
E)  All of these choices are true 
A)  Both annual and perennial plants live in the desert. 
B)  Desert animals typically have adaptations for conserving water, but plants require no special adaptations. 
C)  Many desert plants are protected from predation by thorns and toxins. 
D)  Desert animals are typically small and nocturnal. 
E)  All of these choices are true

Question 3

Provide characteristics of desert and tropical rain forest biomes. Compare and contrast the adaptations and types of animals found in deserts to those found in tropical rain forests.

Accepted Answer

A desert biome is characterized by low p

Question 4

Compare and contrast the zonation and ecology of freshwater lakes and the ocean. Identify relevant processes, and incorporate specific examples where appropriate using the following terminology: littoral, limnetic, profundal, intertidal, benthic, pelagic, neritic province, oceanic province

Accepted Answer

In a standing-water ecosystem, such as a

Question 5

Soil in deserts:

Accepted Answer

A)  is high in mineral content. 
B)  is high in organic material. 
C)  often contains large amounts of humus. 
D)  supports extensive vegetation. 
E)  All of these choices are correct 
A)  is high in mineral content. 
B)  is high in organic material. 
C)  often contains large amounts of humus. 
D)  supports extensive vegetation. 
E)  All of these choices are correct

Question 6

The thermocline is the layer in a lake at which

Accepted Answer

A)  pollutants are trapped and held 
B)  the warm upper zone meets the cold lower zone 
C)  nutrient levels are the lowest 
D)  light no longer penetrates enough for photosynthesis to occur 
E)  the oxygen level is the lowest 
A)  pollutants are trapped and held 
B)  the warm upper zone meets the cold lower zone 
C)  nutrient levels are the lowest 
D)  light no longer penetrates enough for photosynthesis to occur 
E)  the oxygen level is the lowest

Question 7

Which of the following does not apply to headwater flowing streams?

Accepted Answer

A)  small streams 
B)  usually highly oxygenated 
C)  shallow and swift flowing 
D)  cold 
E)  cloudy due to suspended particles 
A)  small streams 
B)  usually highly oxygenated 
C)  shallow and swift flowing 
D)  cold 
E)  cloudy due to suspended particles

Question 8

The biological community that characterizes the arctic tundra is composed of:

Accepted Answer

A)  migrating herbivores, small mammals, and predatory birds. 
B)  large trees. 
C)  conifer trees, poplars, and alders. 
D)  diverse amphibians and reptiles. 
E)  migrating herbivores, small mammals, predatory birds, mosses, lichens, and dwarf woody plants 
A)  migrating herbivores, small mammals, and predatory birds. 
B)  large trees. 
C)  conifer trees, poplars, and alders. 
D)  diverse amphibians and reptiles. 
E)  migrating herbivores, small mammals, predatory birds, mosses, lichens, and dwarf woody plants

Question 9

All of the following are fire-adapted except:

Accepted Answer

A)  African savannas 
B)  jack and ponderosa pines 
C)  most hardwood trees 
D)  bur oak 
E)  California chaparrals 
A)  African savannas 
B)  jack and ponderosa pines 
C)  most hardwood trees 
D)  bur oak 
E)  California chaparrals

Question 10

Which of the following abiotic factors does not typically affect biome structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  elevation 
B)  wildfires 
C)  droughts 
D)  salinity 
E)  floods 
A)  elevation 
B)  wildfires 
C)  droughts 
D)  salinity 
E)  floods

Question 11

Which of the following pairs is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  coral reefs - zooxanthellae 
B)  wetlands - estuaries (mangroves) 
C)  kelps - large brown algae 
D)  benthic environment - mud or sand 
E)  euphotic zone - photosynthesis 
A)  coral reefs - zooxanthellae 
B)  wetlands - estuaries (mangroves) 
C)  kelps - large brown algae 
D)  benthic environment - mud or sand 
E)  euphotic zone - photosynthesis

Question 12

Wetlands are important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  They support high species diversity. 
B)  They reduce flooding by slowing the velocity of runoff water. 
C)  They help recharge groundwater aquifers. 
D)  They contribute to asymmetry in urban communities. 
E)  They sometimes detoxify substances in the water. 
A)  They support high species diversity. 
B)  They reduce flooding by slowing the velocity of runoff water. 
C)  They help recharge groundwater aquifers. 
D)  They contribute to asymmetry in urban communities. 
E)  They sometimes detoxify substances in the water.

Question 13

Wetlands and estuaries are highly productive and provide enough food to support a variety of organisms.
a) Define an estuary and provide three reasons why estuaries are among the most fertile ecosystems in the world.
b) Discuss TWO roles that coastal wetlands play that are ecologically important.
c) Identify and explain TWO ways in which humans have had a negative impact on estuaries and wetlands.

Accepted Answer

a) An estuary is a coastal body of water

Question 14

Which of the following organizational hierarchies is correctly listed from smallest to largest unit?

Accepted Answer

A)  ecosystem → population → community → biome 
B)  biome → community → population → ecosystem 
C)  community → population → ecosystem → biome 
D)  population → community → ecosystem → biome 
E)  ecosystem → biome → community → population 
A)  ecosystem → population → community → biome 
B)  biome → community → population → ecosystem 
C)  community → population → ecosystem → biome 
D)  population → community → ecosystem → biome 
E)  ecosystem → biome → community → population

Question 15

What are the two problems that override all other problems in the Everglades today?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Everglades receives too little water, and the water it receives is polluted with nutrient minerals from agricultural runoff 
B)  The Everglades has too many foreign species crowding out natives, and as a National Park cannot expand in size. 
C)  The Everglades receives too much water, and the water it receives comes in destructive floods due to breeches in the levee system. 
D)  Urban growth and expansion of agriculture into the southernmost areas are responsible for loss of biodiversity in the area. 
E)  The Everglades depends on the Florida aquifer for clean, fresh water, however that water is being diverted to golf courses and the aquifer is running dry. 
A)  The Everglades receives too little water, and the water it receives is polluted with nutrient minerals from agricultural runoff 
B)  The Everglades has too many foreign species crowding out natives, and as a National Park cannot expand in size. 
C)  The Everglades receives too much water, and the water it receives comes in destructive floods due to breeches in the levee system. 
D)  Urban growth and expansion of agriculture into the southernmost areas are responsible for loss of biodiversity in the area. 
E)  The Everglades depends on the Florida aquifer for clean, fresh water, however that water is being diverted to golf courses and the aquifer is running dry.

Question 16

Free-floating aquatic organisms are known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  benthos. 
B)  nekton. 
C)  pelagic inhabitants. 
D)  zooxanthellae. 
E)  plankton. 
A)  benthos. 
B)  nekton. 
C)  pelagic inhabitants. 
D)  zooxanthellae. 
E)  plankton.

Question 17

Which of the following does not apply to a biome?

Accepted Answer

A)  level of ecological organization above ecosystem 
B)  boundaries are determined by climate barriers 
C)  near poles temperature overrides climate 
D)  usually confined to a relatively small geographical area 
E)  in tropical and temperate regions precipitation is more significant then temperature 
A)  level of ecological organization above ecosystem 
B)  boundaries are determined by climate barriers 
C)  near poles temperature overrides climate 
D)  usually confined to a relatively small geographical area 
E)  in tropical and temperate regions precipitation is more significant then temperature

Question 18

Which of the following is not a major component of desert animal life?

Accepted Answer

A)  insects 
B)  reptiles 
C)  amphibians 
D)  owls 
E)  rodents 
A)  insects 
B)  reptiles 
C)  amphibians 
D)  owls 
E)  rodents

Question 19

The benthic environment includes all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  the bathyal zone 
B)  the ocean floor from the intertidal zone to the deep ocean trenches 
C)  the abyssal zone 
D)  the bendal 
E)  the hadal zone 
A)  the bathyal zone 
B)  the ocean floor from the intertidal zone to the deep ocean trenches 
C)  the abyssal zone 
D)  the bendal 
E)  the hadal zone

Question 20

The dominant vegetation of the temperate rain forest includes all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

A)  western hemlock. 
B)  Douglas fir. 
C)  western red cedar. 
D)  hickory. 
E)  Sitka spruce. 
A)  western hemlock. 
B)  Douglas fir. 
C)  western red cedar. 
D)  hickory. 
E)  Sitka spruce.

Exam 6: Major Ecosystems of the World

Increases in temperature lead to coral bleaching because:

Which of the following statements about desert inhabitants is not true?

Provide characteristics of desert and tropical rain forest biomes. Compare and contrast the adaptations and types of animals found in deserts to those found in tropical rain forests.

Compare and contrast the zonation and ecology of freshwater lakes and the ocean. Identify relevant processes, and incorporate specific examples where appropriate using the following terminology: littoral, limnetic, profundal, intertidal, benthic, pelagic, neritic province, oceanic province

Soil in deserts:

The thermocline is the layer in a lake at which

Which of the following does not apply to headwater flowing streams?

The biological community that characterizes the arctic tundra is composed of:

All of the following are fire-adapted except:

Which of the following abiotic factors does not typically affect biome structure?

Which of the following pairs is incorrect?

Wetlands are important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Which of the following organizational hierarchies is correctly listed from smallest to largest unit?

What are the two problems that override all other problems in the Everglades today?

Free-floating aquatic organisms are known as:

Which of the following does not apply to a biome?

Which of the following is not a major component of desert animal life?

The benthic environment includes all of the following except

The dominant vegetation of the temperate rain forest includes all of the following except:

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