Question 1

Chemistry in lake biomes will vary primarily due to:

Accepted Answer

A) the primary producers that are present in each lake. 
B) runoff from the different soils and rocks that are present around each lake. 
C) tertiary consumers present in each lake. 
D) depth of the photic zone in each lake. 
A) the primary producers that are present in each lake. 
B) runoff from the different soils and rocks that are present around each lake. 
C) tertiary consumers present in each lake. 
D) depth of the photic zone in each lake.

Question 2

Most terrestrial biomes are defined by their average annual temperature and precipitation, and the range of values can be organized in such a way to produce the figure below.   Current predictions of global climate change indicate that temperatures may rise by as much as 5°C in some areas. Imagine a chaparral location that experiences 100 cm of average annual rainfall and an average annual temperature of 15°C. If there were an increase of 5°C, what would you expect?

Accepted Answer

A) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left. 
B) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up. 
C) The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change. 
D) The region would be become a savanna. 
A) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left. 
B) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up. 
C) The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change. 
D) The region would be become a savanna.

Question 3

If rates of nitrogen fixation increased tenfold in aquatic ecosystems, would you expect a tenfold increase in primary productivity?

Accepted Answer

A) yes, because nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems 
B) yes, because there is an abundance of dissolved carbon dioxide in aquatic ecosystems 
C) no, because there are other limiting nutrients in aquatic ecosystems besides nitrogen 
D) no, because there would be a higher increase in primary productivity 
A) yes, because nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems 
B) yes, because there is an abundance of dissolved carbon dioxide in aquatic ecosystems 
C) no, because there are other limiting nutrients in aquatic ecosystems besides nitrogen 
D) no, because there would be a higher increase in primary productivity

Question 4

Why do some water masses in subsurface oceans have little or no oxygen?

Accepted Answer

A) Rates of photosynthesis are low in overlying waters, limiting the availability of oxygen. 
B) Rates of photosynthesis are high in overlying waters, supporting high rates of respiration in waters that deplete the oxygen there. 
C) Waters underneath the surface oceans are cold and so have a limited capacity to carry oxygen in solution. 
D) Large carnivores deplete oxygen in subsurface oceans via their high rates of oxygen metabolism. 
A) Rates of photosynthesis are low in overlying waters, limiting the availability of oxygen. 
B) Rates of photosynthesis are high in overlying waters, supporting high rates of respiration in waters that deplete the oxygen there. 
C) Waters underneath the surface oceans are cold and so have a limited capacity to carry oxygen in solution. 
D) Large carnivores deplete oxygen in subsurface oceans via their high rates of oxygen metabolism.

Question 5

Because tropical plants have very high species diversity, they also have very low population:

Accepted Answer

A) richness. 
B) density. 
C) variation. 
D) numbers. 
A) richness. 
B) density. 
C) variation. 
D) numbers.

Question 6

The growing season is that portion of the year when a plant can grow successfully. The growing season is determined by:

Accepted Answer

A) mean annual temperature. 
B) mean annual precipitation. 
C) annual variation in nutrient availability. 
D) seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation. 
A) mean annual temperature. 
B) mean annual precipitation. 
C) annual variation in nutrient availability. 
D) seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation.

Question 7

Similar to the tundra, but without a permanent ice layer, this biome is characterized by low and slow growing plants with little protection from UV radiation.

Accepted Answer

A) taiga 
B) alpine 
C) chaparral 
D) deciduous forest 
E) rain forest 
A) taiga 
B) alpine 
C) chaparral 
D) deciduous forest 
E) rain forest

Question 8

Autotrophs remove _____ from the air and fix this into tissues providing _____ for secondary consumers.

Accepted Answer

A) nitrogen; energy 
B) carbon dioxide; energy 
C) nitrogen; amino acids 
D) carbon dioxide; inorganic molecules 
A) nitrogen; energy 
B) carbon dioxide; energy 
C) nitrogen; amino acids 
D) carbon dioxide; inorganic molecules

Question 9

Tropical biomes have evolved over _____ years. Biomes at higher latitudes have experienced an ice age within the past _____ years.

Accepted Answer

A) a few million; few million 
B) a few million; thousand 
C) tens of millions of; few million 
D) several thousand; few million 
E) a few thousand; few thousand 
A) a few million; few million 
B) a few million; thousand 
C) tens of millions of; few million 
D) several thousand; few million 
E) a few thousand; few thousand

Question 10

Which of the following hypothetical lines of evidence would MOST strongly refute the hypothesis that there are more species in the tropics because they have existed for longer periods of time than biomes at higher latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A) Phylogenies that show lineages of organisms in the tropics originate earlier than those in higher latitudes. 
B) Evidence that speciation rates of organisms at the equator are faster than those at higher latitudes. 
C) Evidence that landmasses have always been present at the equator. 
D) Evidence that there are more coevolutionary relationships between organisms at the equator than at higher latitudes. 
A) Phylogenies that show lineages of organisms in the tropics originate earlier than those in higher latitudes. 
B) Evidence that speciation rates of organisms at the equator are faster than those at higher latitudes. 
C) Evidence that landmasses have always been present at the equator. 
D) Evidence that there are more coevolutionary relationships between organisms at the equator than at higher latitudes.

Question 11

Which of the following systems is the MOST stable in terms of species composition and distribution?

Accepted Answer

A) populations 
B) communities 
C) ecosystems 
D) biomes 
E) trophic pyramids 
A) populations 
B) communities 
C) ecosystems 
D) biomes 
E) trophic pyramids

Question 12

There are temperate rainforests that occur in higher latitudes (at approximately 25 and 50 degrees). Based on your understanding of rainforests and how they are maintained at the equator, which of the following is a plausible cause for rainforests at higher latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A) Cold air flowing at these latitudes holds water and as it falls to the surface it drops its water. 
B) Warm air deflected north drops its water as it moves away from the equator. 
C) Wind moving across oceans picks up warm water, then drops the moisture as it moves over cooler land masses at these latitudes. 
D) The Coriolis effect is much stronger at the equator. So warm, moist air that rises is deflected further north where the moisture drops out of the air and creates temperate rainforests 
A) Cold air flowing at these latitudes holds water and as it falls to the surface it drops its water. 
B) Warm air deflected north drops its water as it moves away from the equator. 
C) Wind moving across oceans picks up warm water, then drops the moisture as it moves over cooler land masses at these latitudes. 
D) The Coriolis effect is much stronger at the equator. So warm, moist air that rises is deflected further north where the moisture drops out of the air and creates temperate rainforests

Question 13

Tropical rainforests have high species richness of trees. Which of the following statements provides the MOST reasonable explanation why animal species richness is also high in tropical rainforests?

Accepted Answer

A) Animals have had the same amount of time to evolve in rainforest areas as trees. 
B) Animal diversification rates are higher than those of trees. 
C) Animals have diversified into the vast number of niches provided by tree diversity. 
D) Animals are unable to adapt to climate variability in higher latitudes. 
A) Animals have had the same amount of time to evolve in rainforest areas as trees. 
B) Animal diversification rates are higher than those of trees. 
C) Animals have diversified into the vast number of niches provided by tree diversity. 
D) Animals are unable to adapt to climate variability in higher latitudes.

Question 14

If winds did not move away from the equator to the poles:

Accepted Answer

A) temperatures at the poles would be lower. 
B) ocean currents would be stronger. 
C) temperatures at the equator would be lower. 
D) the oceans would release more heat into the atmosphere. 
A) temperatures at the poles would be lower. 
B) ocean currents would be stronger. 
C) temperatures at the equator would be lower. 
D) the oceans would release more heat into the atmosphere.

Question 15

Evaporation from the Earth's surface is determined by all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) wind. 
B) solar radiation. 
C) soil acidity. 
D) altitude. 
E) precipitation. 
A) wind. 
B) solar radiation. 
C) soil acidity. 
D) altitude. 
E) precipitation.

Question 16

Coral reefs have low productivity because their nutrient levels are typically low.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The largest reservoir of the nutrient phosphorus is:

Accepted Answer

A) lakes. 
B) air. 
C) organisms. 
D) rocks 
A) lakes. 
B) air. 
C) organisms. 
D) rocks

Question 18

Why is the inspection of fossils from a specific area useful for understanding the evolutionary history of a region?

Accepted Answer

A) Fossils show the ancestors of present-day organisms in the region. 
B) Fossils show how species turnover has occurred. 
C) Fossils may show adaptations to climatic conditions that were present at earlier times in the region. 
D) All of these choices are correct. 
A) Fossils show the ancestors of present-day organisms in the region. 
B) Fossils show how species turnover has occurred. 
C) Fossils may show adaptations to climatic conditions that were present at earlier times in the region. 
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 19

Estimates of temperature at any given location on Earth that are based solely on the intensity of solar radiation will be:

Accepted Answer

A) very close to actual average annual temperature for that region. 
B) slightly overestimated at the poles because ice at the poles reflects heat. 
C) slightly underestimated at the equator because ocean currents carry heat from the equator toward higher latitudes. 
D) slightly overestimated at the equator and underestimated at the poles because heat moves from the equator to the poles. 
A) very close to actual average annual temperature for that region. 
B) slightly overestimated at the poles because ice at the poles reflects heat. 
C) slightly underestimated at the equator because ocean currents carry heat from the equator toward higher latitudes. 
D) slightly overestimated at the equator and underestimated at the poles because heat moves from the equator to the poles.

Question 20

Most terrestrial biomes are defined by their average annual temperature and precipitation, and the range of values can be organized in such a way to produce the figure below.   Current predictions of rainfall change in the West have indicated that rainfall may decrease by as much as 40 cm in some areas. Imagine a chaparral location that experiences 100 cm of average annual rainfall and an average annual temperature of 10°C. If there were a decrease in rainfall of 40 cm per year, what would you expect?

Accepted Answer

A) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left. 
B) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up. 
C) The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change. 
D) The region would become a temperate grassland/desert. 
A) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left. 
B) The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up. 
C) The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change. 
D) The region would become a temperate grassland/desert.

Exam 48: Biomes and Global Ecology

Chemistry in lake biomes will vary primarily due to:

If rates of nitrogen fixation increased tenfold in aquatic ecosystems, would you expect a tenfold increase in primary productivity?

Why do some water masses in subsurface oceans have little or no oxygen?

Because tropical plants have very high species diversity, they also have very low population:

The growing season is that portion of the year when a plant can grow successfully. The growing season is determined by:

Similar to the tundra, but without a permanent ice layer, this biome is characterized by low and slow growing plants with little protection from UV radiation.

Autotrophs remove _____ from the air and fix this into tissues providing _____ for secondary consumers.

Tropical biomes have evolved over _____ years. Biomes at higher latitudes have experienced an ice age within the past _____ years.

Which of the following hypothetical lines of evidence would MOST strongly refute the hypothesis that there are more species in the tropics because they have existed for longer periods of time than biomes at higher latitudes?

Which of the following systems is the MOST stable in terms of species composition and distribution?

There are temperate rainforests that occur in higher latitudes (at approximately 25 and 50 degrees). Based on your understanding of rainforests and how they are maintained at the equator, which of the following is a plausible cause for rainforests at higher latitudes?

Tropical rainforests have high species richness of trees. Which of the following statements provides the MOST reasonable explanation why animal species richness is also high in tropical rainforests?

If winds did not move away from the equator to the poles:

Evaporation from the Earth's surface is determined by all of the following EXCEPT:

Coral reefs have low productivity because their nutrient levels are typically low.

The largest reservoir of the nutrient phosphorus is:

Why is the inspection of fossils from a specific area useful for understanding the evolutionary history of a region?

Estimates of temperature at any given location on Earth that are based solely on the intensity of solar radiation will be:

Life: Chemical, Cellular, and Evolutionary Foundations

The Molecules of Life

Nucleic Acids and Transcription

Translation and Protein Structure

Organizing Principles: Lipids, Membranes, and Cell Compartments

Making Life Work: Capturing and Using Energy

Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Energy From Carbohydrates and Other Fuel Molecules

Photosynthesis: Using Sunlight to Build Carbohydrates

Cell Signaling

Cell and Tissue Architecture: Cytoskeleton, Cell Junctions, and Extracellular Matrix

Cell Division: Variations, Regulation, and Cancer

Dna Replication and Manipulation

Genomes

Mutation and Dna Repair

Genetic Variation

Mendelian Inheritance

Inheritance of Sex Chromosomes, Linked Genes, and Organelles

The Genetic and Environmental Basis of Complex Traits

Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation

Genes and Development

Evolution: How Genotypes and Phenotypes Change Over Time

Species and Speciation

Evolutionary Patterns: Phylogeny and Fossils

Human Origins and Evolution

Cycling Carbon

Bacteria and Archaea

Eukaryotic Cells: Origins and Diversity

Being Multicellular

Plant Structure and Function: Moving Photosynthesis Onto Land

Plant Reproduction: Finding Mates and Dispersing Young

Plant Growth and Development

Plant Defense: Keeping the World Green

Plant Diversity

Fungi: Structure, Function, and Diversity

Animal Nervous Systems

Animal Sensory Systems and Brain Function

Animal Movement: Muscles and Skeletons

Animal Endocrine Systems

Animal Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

Animal Metabolism, Nutrition, and Digestion

Animal Renal Systems: Water and Waste

Animal Reproduction and Development

Animal Immune Systems

Animal Diversity

Animal Behavior

Population Ecology

Species Interactions, Communities, and Ecosystems

The Anthropocene: Humans As a Planetary Force

Filters

Autotrophs remove _ from the air and fix this into tissues providing _ for secondary consumers.

Tropical biomes have evolved over _ years. Biomes at higher latitudes have experienced an ice age within the past _ years.