Question 1

Ultimately, the nitrogen cycle is dependent on:

Accepted Answer

A) microorganisms that convert atmospheric N2 into usable forms. 
B) respiration rates of heterotrophs. 
C) addition of fertilizers to the soil. 
D) nitrogenous waste production in different environments. 
A) microorganisms that convert atmospheric N2 into usable forms. 
B) respiration rates of heterotrophs. 
C) addition of fertilizers to the soil. 
D) nitrogenous waste production in different environments.

Question 2

Primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems is highest at the equator because of:

Accepted Answer

A) high levels of direct sunlight. 
B) high levels of rainfall. 
C) relatively constant temperature. 
D) All of the other answer choices contribute to high productivity. 
A) high levels of direct sunlight. 
B) high levels of rainfall. 
C) relatively constant temperature. 
D) All of the other answer choices contribute to high productivity.

Question 3

The Coriolis effect governs the:

Accepted Answer

A) direction of ocean currents. 
B) magnitude of ocean currents. 
C) direction and magnitude of ocean currents. 
A) direction of ocean currents. 
B) magnitude of ocean currents. 
C) direction and magnitude of ocean currents.

Question 4

As you hike from the base of a mountain to the top of a mountain, you would expect see decreasing levels of biodiversity.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Warm air is _____ dense than cold air, and warm air holds _____ moisture than cold air.

Accepted Answer

A) more; less 
B) more; more 
C) less; more 
D) less; less 
A) more; less 
B) more; more 
C) less; more 
D) less; less

Question 6

Deserts caused by a rain shadow occur on the east (leeward) side of the Sierra Nevada range in California. Why does the desert exist on the east side, but not the west side of the range?

Accepted Answer

A) Warm, moist air coming off the ocean rises as it encounters the mountain range and releases all its water as it moves up the mountain and the air cools. Dry air moving down the other side of the mountain causes arid desert. 
B) The air cools as it goes over the mountain and the dry air pulls moisture from the ground on the east side of the mountain. 
C) The soil at the top of the mountains is cool so all the water is frozen in the soil and it cannot evaporate into the air to be carried to the east side of the mountain. 
D) Lakes on the east side of the mountain keep enough moisture in the air to prevent moist air from releasing its water when it moves to the east side. 
A) Warm, moist air coming off the ocean rises as it encounters the mountain range and releases all its water as it moves up the mountain and the air cools. Dry air moving down the other side of the mountain causes arid desert. 
B) The air cools as it goes over the mountain and the dry air pulls moisture from the ground on the east side of the mountain. 
C) The soil at the top of the mountains is cool so all the water is frozen in the soil and it cannot evaporate into the air to be carried to the east side of the mountain. 
D) Lakes on the east side of the mountain keep enough moisture in the air to prevent moist air from releasing its water when it moves to the east side.

Question 7

Which ratio provides a good estimate of vegetation type within biomes?

Accepted Answer

A) evaporation to transpiration 
B) temperature to biomass 
C) evaporation to precipitation 
D) potential evapotranspiration to precipitation 
E) elevation to precipitation 
A) evaporation to transpiration 
B) temperature to biomass 
C) evaporation to precipitation 
D) potential evapotranspiration to precipitation 
E) elevation to precipitation

Question 8

How many "cells" of circulating air are found around the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) 3 
B) 6 
C) 9 
D) 12 
A) 3 
B) 6 
C) 9 
D) 12

Question 9

Consider the following representation of the marine nitrogen cycle: ‬   NH4+ (ammonium ion) plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle, and is excreted by many aquatic organisms. Why is the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen necessary if there is a readily available source of biologically usable nitrogen already present in aquatic biomes?

Accepted Answer

A) Atmospheric nitrogen serves as a reservoir to be converted when other forms of nitrogen have been depleted from an area. 
B) Ammonium ions will eventually be oxidized to nitrogen gas (N2)that will be returned to the atmosphere. 
C) Nitrogen still must be fixed from the atmosphere so that global climate doesn't change. 
D) Nitrogen must be fixed so that terrestrial plants can utilize it for growth. 
A) Atmospheric nitrogen serves as a reservoir to be converted when other forms of nitrogen have been depleted from an area. 
B) Ammonium ions will eventually be oxidized to nitrogen gas (N2)that will be returned to the atmosphere. 
C) Nitrogen still must be fixed from the atmosphere so that global climate doesn't change. 
D) Nitrogen must be fixed so that terrestrial plants can utilize it for growth.

Question 10

As air moves from the base up the side of a mountain, it cools. What is one consequence of this movement of air?

Accepted Answer

A) Moisture will drop as rain as the air moves up the side of the mountain. 
B) The air is deflected and circles back down to the base of the mountain. 
C) The air slows because cold air is less dense than warm air. 
D) The air picks up additional moisture that falls on the other side of the mountain. 
A) Moisture will drop as rain as the air moves up the side of the mountain. 
B) The air is deflected and circles back down to the base of the mountain. 
C) The air slows because cold air is less dense than warm air. 
D) The air picks up additional moisture that falls on the other side of the mountain.

Question 11

Which of the following is a process responsible for removing CO2 from the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) respiration 
B) photosynthesis 
C) weight loss by dieters 
D) decay 
A) respiration 
B) photosynthesis 
C) weight loss by dieters 
D) decay

Question 12

Which of the following is a form of nitrogen that can be utilized by plants?

Accepted Answer

A) N2 
B) NO2- 
C) NO3- 
D) NH4+ 
A) N2 
B) NO2- 
C) NO3- 
D) NH4+

Question 13

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.   Based on your understanding of wind, air, and water movements, would you expect to find each of these biomes represented in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres at roughly equal latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A) no, because Earth rotates on an axis 
B) no, because land masses are not equally distributed on Earth 
C) yes, because there are circulation cells that form and move in an equal and opposite way on the Northern and Southern hemisphere 
A) no, because Earth rotates on an axis 
B) no, because land masses are not equally distributed on Earth 
C) yes, because there are circulation cells that form and move in an equal and opposite way on the Northern and Southern hemisphere

Question 14

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator:

Accepted Answer

A) there would be no seasonality in climate. 
B) seasonality would increase at high latitudes. 
C) seasonality would increase at low latitudes. 
D) summers would be warmer in the Northern Hemisphere. 
A) there would be no seasonality in climate. 
B) seasonality would increase at high latitudes. 
C) seasonality would increase at low latitudes. 
D) summers would be warmer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 15

Consider the figure below (Figure 48.2).   If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, how might this affect the light at the Arctic Circle?

Accepted Answer

A) There would be fewer days where there was no solar radiation at the Arctic Circle. 
B) The land area where no solar radiation occurred would be reduced relative to its area now. 
C) There would be no days at the Arctic Circle without solar radiation. 
A) There would be fewer days where there was no solar radiation at the Arctic Circle. 
B) The land area where no solar radiation occurred would be reduced relative to its area now. 
C) There would be no days at the Arctic Circle without solar radiation.

Question 16

Why are the bottom waters of some lakes anoxic?

Accepted Answer

A) The respiration of sinking organic particles reduces oxygen in deep waters. 
B) Physical stratification keeps bottom waters from mixing with oxygen-rich surface waters. 
C) Runoff of fertilizers from agriculture can increase the amount of primary production and hence respiration in the lake. 
D) All of these choices are correct. 
A) The respiration of sinking organic particles reduces oxygen in deep waters. 
B) Physical stratification keeps bottom waters from mixing with oxygen-rich surface waters. 
C) Runoff of fertilizers from agriculture can increase the amount of primary production and hence respiration in the lake. 
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 17

Biomes are strictly terrestrial systems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Coastal regions of the ocean have high primary productivity. What is the primary reason for this pattern?

Accepted Answer

A) There are few competitors so more photosynthetic organisms can live there. 
B) Sunlight is able to penetrate coastal waters, so photosynthetic rates are high among autotrophs. 
C) The water is warm, so more autotrophs live in coastal areas. 
D) Erosional runoff from continents supplies abundant nutrients. 
E) Upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters commonly occurs along continental margins. 
A) There are few competitors so more photosynthetic organisms can live there. 
B) Sunlight is able to penetrate coastal waters, so photosynthetic rates are high among autotrophs. 
C) The water is warm, so more autotrophs live in coastal areas. 
D) Erosional runoff from continents supplies abundant nutrients. 
E) Upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters commonly occurs along continental margins.

Question 19

Into which of the following regions in the ocean is sunlight able to penetrate?

Accepted Answer

A) littoral zone 
B) photic zone 
C) benthic zone 
D) neritic zone 
A) littoral zone 
B) photic zone 
C) benthic zone 
D) neritic zone

Question 20

If all terrestrial autotrophs were removed from the planet, how would this alter the rate of carbon cycling on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) The rate of carbon cycling would remain the same because microorganisms would liberate carbon faster into the atmosphere. 
B) The rate of carbon cycling would decrease because the link between primary consumers and primary producers would be eliminated. 
C) The rate of carbon cycling would decrease because there could be no terrestrial animals without plants supporting higher trophic levels. 
D) The rate of carbon cycling would increase because marine primary producers would be able to use all the sunlight and not have to compete with terrestrial plants for light. 
A) The rate of carbon cycling would remain the same because microorganisms would liberate carbon faster into the atmosphere. 
B) The rate of carbon cycling would decrease because the link between primary consumers and primary producers would be eliminated. 
C) The rate of carbon cycling would decrease because there could be no terrestrial animals without plants supporting higher trophic levels. 
D) The rate of carbon cycling would increase because marine primary producers would be able to use all the sunlight and not have to compete with terrestrial plants for light.

Exam 48: Biomes and Global Ecology

Ultimately, the nitrogen cycle is dependent on:

Primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems is highest at the equator because of:

The Coriolis effect governs the:

As you hike from the base of a mountain to the top of a mountain, you would expect see decreasing levels of biodiversity.

Warm air is _____ dense than cold air, and warm air holds _____ moisture than cold air.

Deserts caused by a rain shadow occur on the east (leeward) side of the Sierra Nevada range in California. Why does the desert exist on the east side, but not the west side of the range?

Which ratio provides a good estimate of vegetation type within biomes?

How many "cells" of circulating air are found around the Earth?

As air moves from the base up the side of a mountain, it cools. What is one consequence of this movement of air?

Which of the following is a process responsible for removing CO2 from the atmosphere?

Which of the following is a form of nitrogen that can be utilized by plants?

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator:

Consider the figure below (Figure 48.2). If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, how might this affect the light at the Arctic Circle?

Why are the bottom waters of some lakes anoxic?

Biomes are strictly terrestrial systems.

Coastal regions of the ocean have high primary productivity. What is the primary reason for this pattern?

Into which of the following regions in the ocean is sunlight able to penetrate?

If all terrestrial autotrophs were removed from the planet, how would this alter the rate of carbon cycling on Earth?

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

Warm air is _ dense than cold air, and warm air holds _ moisture than cold air.

Which of the following is a process responsible for removing CO₂from the atmosphere?