Exam 7: Climate and Biodiversity

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s). For the temperate desert, what is the approximate temperature when the biome receives the largest amount of precipitation?

Many mountains are islands of biodiversity surrounded by a sea of lower-elevation landscapes transformed by human activities.

Tropical rain forests cover only 2% of the earth's land surface but may contain at least half of the earth's known terrestrial plant and animal species.

The forest that grows in regions that receive little precipitation, and have short summers with cool to warm temperatures is the ____.

About ____________________ percent of the world's major terrestrial ecosystems are either being used unsustainably or are being degraded.

The rain shadow effect increases the likelihood that deserts will form on the ____________________ side of mountains.

The biome with the highest diversity is the ____.

Scientists predict that human-enhanced global warming will have several effects. What is not one of these?

Heat is trapped and released more slowly by land than water.

Deserts are commonly cool at night because desert soils have little vegetation or moisture to help store the heat.

What is the best example of a major human impact on mountain ecosystems?

About 5% of the earth's population lives in the mountains or in the foothills. .

Because of a slow rate of ____________________, temperate deciduous forests have nutrient rich soils.

Approximately _____% of the world's major terrestrial ecosystems are being degraded or used unsustainably.

Tropical rain forests are not good for clearing to grow crops or animals, primarily because they are low in which of the following?

Use the figure above to answer the following question(s). What is the mean monthly temperature in the tropical rain forest?

Cities tend to create distinct microclimates.

Which type of desert would have high daytime temperatures in summer, low temperatures in winter, and moderate precipitation?

The level of environmental degradation and destruction of terrestrial systems has leveled off.

The most important factor in determining which biome is found in a particular area is ____.