Question 1

Which major problem for land-based ecosystems would result from global warming?

Accepted Answer

A) A rise in sea levels would drive in competitors. 
B) A danger would result for species that cannot migrate in response to habitat change. 
C) The excess CO₂ could be lethal. 
D) Increased fire danger would result in northern United States and Canada. 
A) A rise in sea levels would drive in competitors. 
B) A danger would result for species that cannot migrate in response to habitat change. 
C) The excess CO₂ could be lethal. 
D) Increased fire danger would result in northern United States and Canada.

Question 2

Which of the following would produce an ecosystem with a small number of trophic levels?

Accepted Answer

A) an ecosystem with short growing seasons 
B) coldwater ocean ecosystems 
C) an ecosystem in which insects are absent 
D) an ecosystem small in size and biomass 
A) an ecosystem with short growing seasons 
B) coldwater ocean ecosystems 
C) an ecosystem in which insects are absent 
D) an ecosystem small in size and biomass

Question 3

Herbivores would usually be placed in which trophic level?

Accepted Answer

A) first 
B) second 
C) third 
D) fourth 
E) either the third or fourth 
A) first 
B) second 
C) third 
D) fourth 
E) either the third or fourth

Question 4

Respiration is the only major process through which carbon moves from organic molecules back to the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Overall,the abundance of life is higher in the coastal zones of marine ecosystems than the open ocean.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Scientists predict climate change related to CO₂ will increase temperatures over the next century but will have no effect on sea level or precipitation patterns.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Lakes and rivers account for slightly more available freshwater than groundwater does.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

CO₂ makes up about ________ percent of the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) 0)035 
B) 0)35 
C) 3)5 
D) 35 
E) 37 
A) 0)035 
B) 0)35 
C) 3)5 
D) 35 
E) 37

Question 9

Phytoplankton are:

Accepted Answer

A) producers. 
B) primary consumers. 
C) secondary consumers. 
D) tertiary consumers. 
E) detritivores. 
A) producers. 
B) primary consumers. 
C) secondary consumers. 
D) tertiary consumers. 
E) detritivores.

Question 10

The two main processes that return water to the atmosphere are evaporation and:

Accepted Answer

A) leaching. 
B) transpiration. 
C) runoff. 
D) aquifer containment. 
A) leaching. 
B) transpiration. 
C) runoff. 
D) aquifer containment.

Question 11

The coastal zone is best described as the:

Accepted Answer

A) area between high and low tide. 
B) main profundal zone of the ocean. 
C) zone where freshwater and saltwater mix. 
D) area between high tide and the edge of the continental shelf. 
E) area between low tide and the start of the benthic zone. 
A) area between high and low tide. 
B) main profundal zone of the ocean. 
C) zone where freshwater and saltwater mix. 
D) area between high tide and the edge of the continental shelf. 
E) area between low tide and the start of the benthic zone.

Question 12

A marine biologist designs a study to measure net primary productivity in the world's oceans.She travels to the coastal zone of each continent,takes measurements from north,south,east,and west points along the continent,and combines her data into a global average.Will these measurements be accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because ocean productivity is greatest past the intertidal zone. 
B) Yes, but only if she is sure to sample different climatic zones carefully, because production in different climatic zones may vary by an order of magnitude. 
C) No, because the continental edges have much higher productivities than the open ocean. 
D) No, because ocean life is greatest near the poles and decreases toward the equator. 
E) Yes, because although production in different climate zones differs, the open ocean is well mixed because of strong ocean circulation patterns. 
A) No, because ocean productivity is greatest past the intertidal zone. 
B) Yes, but only if she is sure to sample different climatic zones carefully, because production in different climatic zones may vary by an order of magnitude. 
C) No, because the continental edges have much higher productivities than the open ocean. 
D) No, because ocean life is greatest near the poles and decreases toward the equator. 
E) Yes, because although production in different climate zones differs, the open ocean is well mixed because of strong ocean circulation patterns.

Question 13

Most of the gases in the atmosphere are found in the troposphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following was historically considered to be the biggest limiting factor in worldwide food production up until the last century?

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen 
B) carbon 
C) seed availability 
D) land 
A) nitrogen 
B) carbon 
C) seed availability 
D) land

Question 15

Coral reefs are highly productive and diverse ecosystems because :

Accepted Answer

A) they are made of limestone that supports many species of zooplankton with high productivity. 
B) corals produce limestone skeletons that create habitats for many ocean species. 
C) they are composed of polyps that live in and are adapted to warm, shallow tropical waters with high nutrient availability. 
D) they have high turnover rates with high polyp production. 
A) they are made of limestone that supports many species of zooplankton with high productivity. 
B) corals produce limestone skeletons that create habitats for many ocean species. 
C) they are composed of polyps that live in and are adapted to warm, shallow tropical waters with high nutrient availability. 
D) they have high turnover rates with high polyp production.

Question 16

CO₂ is a greenhouse gas because it:

Accepted Answer

A) increases the heat capacity of the stratosphere. 
B) increases the reflection of short-wave energy from the sun. 
C) traps long-wave heat energy near Earth's lower atmosphere. 
D) traps short-wave energy near Earth's lower atmosphere. 
E) causes the destruction of ozone in the near-surface atmosphere. 
A) increases the heat capacity of the stratosphere. 
B) increases the reflection of short-wave energy from the sun. 
C) traps long-wave heat energy near Earth's lower atmosphere. 
D) traps short-wave energy near Earth's lower atmosphere. 
E) causes the destruction of ozone in the near-surface atmosphere.

Question 17

Match between columns
                        Premises: Temperate deciduous forest
Chaparral
Temperate grassland
Taiga
Tundra

Accepted Answer

The Answer of abundant trees; many woody and herbaceous plants is...

Question 18

You have been working with a marine biologist on a trip from Baltimore through the Chesapeake Bay,to the open ocean,and back to test salinity levels and the kinds of plankton that live in each sampled area.The marine biologist is very nearsighted and she cannot see more than a few feet without the eyeglasses she lost two days ago when out on the open ocean.She arises one morning late in the trip,with no idea where the ship is.But after an hour of hearing you report salinity readings that vary by as much as 1 percent,she says,"So,we're in the Chesapeake Bay?" How did she (correctly)make that conclusion based on the information provided?

Accepted Answer

Estuaries such as the Chesapea

Question 19

The "rain shadow" effect occurs because:

Accepted Answer

A) cloud shadows move from east to west, dropping moisture on the east of mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere. 
B) cool air masses warm as they move closer to the sun, dropping moisture on the west side of mountains. 
C) air cools as it rises and drops most of its moisture on one side of the mountain, and then mostly dry air moves to the other side of the mountain. 
D) clouds don't drop moisture over mountain chains. 
E) precipitation patterns follow the tilt of Earth's axis. 
A) cloud shadows move from east to west, dropping moisture on the east of mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere. 
B) cool air masses warm as they move closer to the sun, dropping moisture on the west side of mountains. 
C) air cools as it rises and drops most of its moisture on one side of the mountain, and then mostly dry air moves to the other side of the mountain. 
D) clouds don't drop moisture over mountain chains. 
E) precipitation patterns follow the tilt of Earth's axis.

Question 20

From studying ecosystems and biomes,it may seem as if there is complete "bottom up" control,that the producers determine the life and success of the ecosystem.Yet closer examination shows "top down" control by the third trophic level is essential as well.Evaluate why this is so,citing at least one good example.

Accepted Answer

Producers certainly serve as the foundat

Exam 36: An Interactive Living World 3: Ecosystems and Biomes

Which major problem for land-based ecosystems would result from global warming?

Which of the following would produce an ecosystem with a small number of trophic levels?

Herbivores would usually be placed in which trophic level?

Respiration is the only major process through which carbon moves from organic molecules back to the atmosphere.

Overall,the abundance of life is higher in the coastal zones of marine ecosystems than the open ocean.

Scientists predict climate change related to CO₂ will increase temperatures over the next century but will have no effect on sea level or precipitation patterns.

Lakes and rivers account for slightly more available freshwater than groundwater does.

CO₂ makes up about ________ percent of the atmosphere.

Phytoplankton are:

The two main processes that return water to the atmosphere are evaporation and:

The coastal zone is best described as the:

Most of the gases in the atmosphere are found in the troposphere.

Which of the following was historically considered to be the biggest limiting factor in worldwide food production up until the last century?

Coral reefs are highly productive and diverse ecosystems because :

CO₂ is a greenhouse gas because it:

The "rain shadow" effect occurs because:

Science As a Way of Learning: a Guide to the Natural World

Fundamental Building Blocks: Chemistry, water, and Ph

Lifes Components: Biological Molecules

Lifes Home: the Cell

Lifes Border: the Plasma Membrane

Lifes Mainspring: an Introduction to Energy

Vital Harvest: Deriving Energy From Food

The Green Worlds Gift: Photosynthesis

The Links in Lifes Chain: Genetics and Cell Division

Preparing for Sexual Reproduction: Meiosis

The First Geneticist: Mendel and His Discoveries

Units of Heredity: Chromosomes and Inheritance

Passing on Lifes Information: Dna Structure and Replication

How Proteins Are Made: Genetic Transcription, translation, and Regulation

The Future Isnt What It Used to Be: Biotechnology

An Introduction to Evolution: Charles Darwin, evolutionary Thought, and the Evidence for Evolution

The Means of Evolution: Microevolution

The Outcomes of Evolution: Macroevolution

A Slow Unfolding: the History of Life on Earth

Arriving Late,traveling Far: the Evolution of Human Beings

Viruses,bacteria,archaea,and Protists: the Diversity of Life 1

Fungi: the Diversity of Life 2

Animals: the Diversity of Life 3

Plants: the Diversity of Life 4

The Angiosperms: Form and Function in Flowering Plants

Body Support and Movement: the Integumentary, skeletal, and Muscular Systems

Communication and Control 1: the Nervous System

Communication and Control 2: the Endocrine System

Defending the Body: the Immune System

Transport and Exchange 1: Blood and Breath

Transport and Exchange 2: Digestion, nutrition, and Elimination

An Amazingly Detailed Script: Animal Development

How the Baby Came to Be: Human Reproduction

An Interactive Living World 1: Populations in Ecology

An Interactive Living World 2: Communities in Ecology

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