Exam 53: The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life

An ecologist studying water samples from a lake measures pH, oxygen levels, temperature, turbidity (cloudiness), and chemical concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.The ecologist is studying the lake's

Ecological studies encompass both biotic and abiotic factors in the environment.The amount of moisture in a desert ecosystem limits which organisms can live there.This is an example of a(n) _______ factor.

There is a desert east of the Cascade Mountains in the U.S.Pacific Northwest.The very low precipitation in this region results from the occurrence of

Measurements show that, on average, Northern Hemisphere temperatures are approximately 2°C warmer than Southern Hemisphere temperatures, and they are also more variable.What factor do scientists think might be responsible for these differences?

In terms of temperature, the regions of Earth between 20° and 40° N and S latitude are

A large area is deforested and remains bare.The loss of evapotranspiration from this forest will likely leave the regional climate

The gases in the atmosphere that maintain Earth's temperature by trapping heat radiating up from the surface and keeping it in the atmosphere are called _______ gases.

Northwestern Europe is warmer than comparable latitudes in North America due to the influence of a current called the _______.