Question 1

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

Accepted Answer

A)  tundra and coniferous forest 
B)  chaparral and savanna 
C)  desert and savanna 
D)  tropical forest and temperate broadleaf forest 
E)  grassland and tundra 
A)  tundra and coniferous forest 
B)  chaparral and savanna 
C)  desert and savanna 
D)  tropical forest and temperate broadleaf forest 
E)  grassland and tundra B

Question 2

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes?

Accepted Answer

A)  savanna 
B)  temperate broadleaf forest 
C)  temperate grassland 
D)  tropical rain forest 
E)  coniferous forest 
A)  savanna 
B)  temperate broadleaf forest 
C)  temperate grassland 
D)  tropical rain forest 
E)  coniferous forest E

Question 3

Which of the following is responsible for the differences in summer and winter temperature stratification of deep temperate zone lakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water is densest at 4°C. 
B)  Oxygen is most abundant in deeper waters. 
C)  Winter ice sinks in the summer. 
D)  Stratification is caused by a thermocline. 
E)  Stratification always follows the fall and spring turnovers. 
A)  Water is densest at 4°C. 
B)  Oxygen is most abundant in deeper waters. 
C)  Winter ice sinks in the summer. 
D)  Stratification is caused by a thermocline. 
E)  Stratification always follows the fall and spring turnovers. A

Question 4

In the development of terrestrial biomes, which factor is most dependent on all the others?

Accepted Answer

A)  the species of colonizing animals 
B)  prevailing temperature 
C)  prevailing rainfall 
D)  mineral nutrient availability 
E)  soil structure 
A)  the species of colonizing animals 
B)  prevailing temperature 
C)  prevailing rainfall 
D)  mineral nutrient availability 
E)  soil structure

Question 5

Turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  warm, less dense water layered at the top 
B)  cold, more dense water layered at the bottom 
C)  a distinct thermocline between less dense warm water and cold, dense water 
D)  the changes in the density of water as seasonal temperatures change 
E)  currents generated by nektonic animals 
A)  warm, less dense water layered at the top 
B)  cold, more dense water layered at the bottom 
C)  a distinct thermocline between less dense warm water and cold, dense water 
D)  the changes in the density of water as seasonal temperatures change 
E)  currents generated by nektonic animals

Question 6

The diagram shows a generalized cross section of the marine environment with various zones labeled with letters. Choose the letter that best answers the question. Letters may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
  
-Which zone experiences the most abiotic change over a 24-hour period?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 7

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 33 1/2 degrees?

Accepted Answer

A)  Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively. 
B)  Winters and summers in Australia would likely become less distinct seasons. 
C)  Seasonal variation at the equator might decrease. 
D)  Both northern and southern hemispheres would experience summer and winter at the same time. 
E)  Both poles would experience massive ice melts. 
A)  Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively. 
B)  Winters and summers in Australia would likely become less distinct seasons. 
C)  Seasonal variation at the equator might decrease. 
D)  Both northern and southern hemispheres would experience summer and winter at the same time. 
E)  Both poles would experience massive ice melts.

Question 8

Which of the following examples of an ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect is most correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  When seeds are not plentiful, trees produce more seeds. 
B)  A few organisms of a larger population survive a drought and then these survivors emigrate to less arid environments. 
C)  A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age, and the reproducing survivors of the ice age all have long fur. 
D)  Fish that swim the fastest in running water catch the most prey and more easily escape predation. 
E)  The insects that spend the most time exposed to sunlight have the most mutations. 
A)  When seeds are not plentiful, trees produce more seeds. 
B)  A few organisms of a larger population survive a drought and then these survivors emigrate to less arid environments. 
C)  A few individuals with denser fur survive the coldest days of an ice age, and the reproducing survivors of the ice age all have long fur. 
D)  Fish that swim the fastest in running water catch the most prey and more easily escape predation. 
E)  The insects that spend the most time exposed to sunlight have the most mutations.

Question 9

Suppose that the number of bird species is determined mainly by the number of vertical strata found in the environment. If so, in which of the following biomes would you find the greatest number of bird species?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical rain forest 
B)  savanna 
C)  desert 
D)  temperate broadleaf forest 
E)  temperate grassland 
A)  tropical rain forest 
B)  savanna 
C)  desert 
D)  temperate broadleaf forest 
E)  temperate grassland

Question 10

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

A)  The likelihood of a wildfire occurring in a given ecosystem is highly predictable over the short term. 
B)  Many kinds of plants and plant communities have adapted to frequent fires. 
C)  The suppression of forest fires by man has prevented certain communities, such as grasslands, from reaching their climax stage. 
D)  Chaparral communities have evolved to the extent that they rarely burn. 
E)  Fire is unnatural in ecosystems and should be prevented. 
A)  The likelihood of a wildfire occurring in a given ecosystem is highly predictable over the short term. 
B)  Many kinds of plants and plant communities have adapted to frequent fires. 
C)  The suppression of forest fires by man has prevented certain communities, such as grasslands, from reaching their climax stage. 
D)  Chaparral communities have evolved to the extent that they rarely burn. 
E)  Fire is unnatural in ecosystems and should be prevented.

Question 11

Use this description to answer the following question.
Experts in white-tailed deer ecology generally agree that population sizes of deer that live in temperate climates are limited by winter snow. The deer congregate in "yarding" areas under evergreen trees because venturing out to feed in winter is energetically too expensive when snowfall depths accumulate to above 40 cm. Deer often stay yarded until the spring thaw. Snow depth over 40 inches for more than 60 days results in high mortality due to starvation.
-This observation best illustrates which of the following principles about factors that limit distribution of organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  Abiotic factors, such as weather extremes, ultimately limit distribution. 
B)  Organisms will face extinction unless they adapt to conditions or evolve new mechanisms for survival. 
C)  Environmental factors are limiting not only in amount but also in longevity. 
D)  Daily accumulations in snow depth gradually add up to cause increased deer mortality. 
E)  Temporary extremes in weather conditions usually result in high mortality in the deer population. 
A)  Abiotic factors, such as weather extremes, ultimately limit distribution. 
B)  Organisms will face extinction unless they adapt to conditions or evolve new mechanisms for survival. 
C)  Environmental factors are limiting not only in amount but also in longevity. 
D)  Daily accumulations in snow depth gradually add up to cause increased deer mortality. 
E)  Temporary extremes in weather conditions usually result in high mortality in the deer population.

Question 12

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods?

Accepted Answer

A)  tropical forest 
B)  coral reef 
C)  savanna 
D)  temperate forest 
E)  abyssal 
A)  tropical forest 
B)  coral reef 
C)  savanna 
D)  temperate forest 
E)  abyssal

Question 13

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  sunlight intensity 
B)  precipitation 
C)  day length 
D)  ocean currents 
E)  salinity 
A)  sunlight intensity 
B)  precipitation 
C)  day length 
D)  ocean currents 
E)  salinity

Question 14

If a meteor impact or volcanic eruption injected a lot of dust into the atmosphere and reduced the sunlight reaching Earth's surface by 70% for one year, which of the following marine communities most likely would be least affected?

Accepted Answer

A)  deep-sea vent 
B)  coral reef 
C)  intertidal 
D)  pelagic 
E)  estuary 
A)  deep-sea vent 
B)  coral reef 
C)  intertidal 
D)  pelagic 
E)  estuary

Question 15

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

Accepted Answer

A)  ground layer, shrub/immature layer, under story, canopy, emergent layer 
B)  canopy, emergent layer, under story, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
C)  canopy, under story, shrub/immature layer, emergent layer, ground layer 
D)  emergent layer, canopy, under story, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
E)  emergent layer, under story, canopy, ground layer, shrub/immature layer 
A)  ground layer, shrub/immature layer, under story, canopy, emergent layer 
B)  canopy, emergent layer, under story, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
C)  canopy, under story, shrub/immature layer, emergent layer, ground layer 
D)  emergent layer, canopy, under story, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
E)  emergent layer, under story, canopy, ground layer, shrub/immature layer

Question 16

Which of the following can be said about light in aquatic environments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water selectively reflects and absorbs certain wavelengths of light. 
B)  Photosynthetic organisms that live in deep water probably use red light. 
C)  Longer wavelengths penetrate to greater depths. 
D)  Light penetration seldom limits the distribution of photosynthetic species. 
E)  Most photosynthetic organisms avoid the surface where the light is too intense. 
A)  Water selectively reflects and absorbs certain wavelengths of light. 
B)  Photosynthetic organisms that live in deep water probably use red light. 
C)  Longer wavelengths penetrate to greater depths. 
D)  Light penetration seldom limits the distribution of photosynthetic species. 
E)  Most photosynthetic organisms avoid the surface where the light is too intense.

Question 17

Which of the following environmental features might influence microclimates?

Accepted Answer

A)  forest canopy 
B)  freshly plowed field 
C)  log on the forest floor 
D)  large boulder 
E)  All of the options are correct. 
A)  forest canopy 
B)  freshly plowed field 
C)  log on the forest floor 
D)  large boulder 
E)  All of the options are correct.

Question 18

The main reason polar regions are cooler than the equator is that

Accepted Answer

A)  there is more ice at the poles. 
B)  sunlight strikes the poles at a lower angle. 
C)  the poles are farther from the sun. 
D)  the polar atmosphere is thinner and contains fewer greenhouse gases. 
E)  the poles are permanently tilted away from the sun. 
A)  there is more ice at the poles. 
B)  sunlight strikes the poles at a lower angle. 
C)  the poles are farther from the sun. 
D)  the polar atmosphere is thinner and contains fewer greenhouse gases. 
E)  the poles are permanently tilted away from the sun.

Question 19

Which of the examples below provides appropriate abiotic and biotic factors that might determine the distribution of the species in question?

Accepted Answer

A)  the amount of nitrate and phosphate in the soil, and wildflower abundance and diversity 
B)  the number of frost-free days, and competition between species of introduced grasses and native alpine grasses 
C)  increased predation and decreased food availability, and a prairie dog population after a prairie fire 
D)  available sunlight and increased salinity in the top few meters of the ocean, and the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton communities 
E)  the pH and dissolved oxygen concentration, and the streams in which brook trout can live 
A)  the amount of nitrate and phosphate in the soil, and wildflower abundance and diversity 
B)  the number of frost-free days, and competition between species of introduced grasses and native alpine grasses 
C)  increased predation and decreased food availability, and a prairie dog population after a prairie fire 
D)  available sunlight and increased salinity in the top few meters of the ocean, and the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton communities 
E)  the pH and dissolved oxygen concentration, and the streams in which brook trout can live

Question 20

Species introduced by humans to new geographic locations

Accepted Answer

A)  are usually successful in colonizing the area. 
B)  always spread because they encounter none of their natural predators. 
C)  increase the diversity and therefore the stability of the ecosystem. 
D)  can outcompete and displace native species for biotic and abiotic resources. 
E)  are always considered pests by ecologists. 
A)  are usually successful in colonizing the area. 
B)  always spread because they encounter none of their natural predators. 
C)  increase the diversity and therefore the stability of the ecosystem. 
D)  can outcompete and displace native species for biotic and abiotic resources. 
E)  are always considered pests by ecologists.

Exam 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

The growing season would generally be shortest in which of the following biomes?

Which of the following is responsible for the differences in summer and winter temperature stratification of deep temperate zone lakes?

In the development of terrestrial biomes, which factor is most dependent on all the others?

Turnover of water in temperate lakes during the spring and fall is made possible by which of the following?

The diagram shows a generalized cross section of the marine environment with various zones labeled with letters. Choose the letter that best answers the question. Letters may be used once, more than once, or not at all. -Which zone experiences the most abiotic change over a 24-hour period?

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 33 1/2 degrees?

Which of the following examples of an ecological effect leading to an evolutionary effect is most correct?

Suppose that the number of bird species is determined mainly by the number of vertical strata found in the environment. If so, in which of the following biomes would you find the greatest number of bird species?

Which of the following statements best describes the interaction between fire and ecosystems?

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods?

Coral reefs can be found on the southern east coast of the United States but not at similar latitudes on the southern west coast. Differences in which of the following most likely account for this?

If a meteor impact or volcanic eruption injected a lot of dust into the atmosphere and reduced the sunlight reaching Earth's surface by 70% for one year, which of the following marine communities most likely would be least affected?

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

Which of the following can be said about light in aquatic environments?

Which of the following environmental features might influence microclimates?

The main reason polar regions are cooler than the equator is that

Which of the examples below provides appropriate abiotic and biotic factors that might determine the distribution of the species in question?

Species introduced by humans to new geographic locations

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters