Deck 41: The Distribution of Earths Ecological Systems

Question 1

Air temperature decreases by about 0.8°C for every additional degree north or south of the equator.Washington,D.C. ,is at 38.5°N,and its average temperature is 12.0°C.Atlanta,Georgia,is at 33.5°N.Assuming that the only factor affecting temperature differences between Washington and Atlanta is latitude,what is the expected annual average temperature in Atlanta?

A) 4.0°C
B) 16.0°C
C) 17.0°C
D) 18.2°C
E) 20.6°C

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which location would likely receive the most solar energy in late June?

A) 1°N
B) 20°N
C) 45°N
D) 20°S
E) 45°S

Answer 2

B

Question 3

At the winter solstice (in late December),the sun's rays hit most directly at the

A) equator.
B) Tropic of Cancer.
C) Tropic of Capricorn.
D) South Pole.
E) North Pole.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The observation that genetically similar individuals tend to have similar gut flora supports the conclusion that

A) dietary habits can alter gut flora composition.
B) dietary habits cannot alter gut flora composition
C) gut flora composition alters fat metabolism.
D) gut flora composition cannot alter fat metabolism.
E) host genotype can favor certain microbes over others.

Question 5

Use the following to answer questions :
Suppose that Earth's tilt suddenly shifted,such that it was still tilted in the same direction but at a 26° angle instead of a 23° angle.
Which event would most likely result from such a change in Earth's tilt?

A) New York City would receive more sunlight in December.
B) New York City would receive more sunlight in June.
C) All points on Earth would receive more sunlight during the year.
D) A point on the equator would receive more sunlight in June.
E) A point at the North Pole would receive more sunlight in December.

Question 6

Which statement about the individual organism is false?

A) It and its immediate environment is the fundamental unit of ecology.
B) It modifies its environment by its activities.
C) It converts materials and energy into forms that can be used by other organisms.
D) It obtains materials and energy from the environment.
E) It is equivalent to a biosphere.

Question 7

Use the following to answer questions :
Suppose that Earth's tilt suddenly shifted,such that it was still tilted in the same direction but at a 26° angle instead of a 23° angle.
Such a change in Earth's tilt would most likely lead to

A) greater seasonality.
B) less seasonality.
C) a change in the time of the equinoxes.
D) a change in the direction of Earth's rotation.
E) a longer year.

Question 8

Which statement about the borderlands between Arizona and Mexico is true?

A) Native Americans have kept cattle in this region for at least a thousand years.
B) The end of the "Apache wars," the completion of railroads,and other events led to a cattle boom in this region during the latter part of the nineteenth century.
C) The cattle boom ended due to declining demand for beef.
D) The area has always been shrubland during the time humans have inhabited it.
E) Methods used to manage grasslands in Europe also worked here.

Question 9

The term "ecology" was coined by

A) Charles Darwin.
B) Alfred Russel Wallace.
C) Al Gore.
D) Ernst Haeckel.
E) Henrick Walter.

Question 10

Which statement about mammalian gut bacteria is false?

A) The host genotype can affect the environment in which the bacterial community lives.
B) Nutritional inputs can affect the environment in which the bacterial community lives.
C) The composition of the bacterial community can affect the host.
D) The establishment of gut bacteria is facilitated by the benign environment in human stomachs.
E) The composition of gut bacteria has been linked to human disease.

Question 11

A researcher is examining the patterns of rainfall on an island off the coast of South America and is searching for explanations for such patterns.This researcher is best described as engaged in

A) the study of biogeography.
B) ecosystem analysis.
C) the study of physical geography.
D) probiotic therapy.
E) climatology.

Question 12

Which sequence represents the correct ranking,from smallest (least encompassing)to largest (most encompassing)?

A) Biosphere,community,ecosystem
B) Biosphere,ecosystem,community
C) Community,ecosystem,biosphere
D) Community,biosphere,ecosystem
E) Ecosystem,community,biosphere

Question 13

Which level of organization consists of an ecosystem minus its physical component?

A) Population
B) Biosphere
C) Organism
D) Community
E) Landscape

Question 14

Use the following to answer questions :
Lean individuals and obese individuals have been shown to differ in terms of the species compositions of their gut flora.
Which observation would best support the conclusion that a change in an individual's percentage of body fat alters his or her gut flora composition?

A) As an obese individual loses weight,his or her gut flora changes.
B) As an obese individual loses weight,his or her gut flora does not change.
C) An obese individual who is given gut flora from a lean individual loses weight.
D) An obese individual who is given gut flora from a lean individual does not lose weight.
E) The gut flora from an obese individual has reduced species diversity compared to the gut flora of a lean individual.

Question 15

Which level of organization must include members from only a single species?

A) Population
B) Community
C) Ecosystem
D) Landscape
E) Abiota

Question 16

Use the following to answer questions :
Lean individuals and obese individuals have been shown to differ in terms of the species compositions of their gut flora.
Which observation would best support the conclusion that particular gut flora compositions alter fat metabolism?

A) As obese individuals lose weight,their gut flora changes.
B) As obese individuals lose weight,their gut flora does not change.
C) Obese individuals who are given gut flora from lean individuals lose weight.
D) Obese individuals who are given gut flora from lean individuals do not lose weight.
E) The gut flora from obese individuals has reduced species diversity,compared to those of lean individuals.

Question 17

Which statement about climates is true?

A) On average,regions near the equator receive substantially more hours of sun each year than do regions near the 45° latitudes.
B) Air temperature usually increases with increasing elevation.
C) There is no difference between "weather" and "climate."
D) The rate at which solar energy reaches any part of Earth depends on the angle of the sunlight.
E) Responses to climate generally are short term.

Question 18

Which statement about the human intestine is false?

A) It can act as an ecosystem for bacteria.
B) It is densely populated with bacteria.
C) It receives a steady supply of nutrients.
D) Its environment is regulated within narrow physiological limits.
E) All of the above are true;none is false.

Question 19

The long-term average atmospheric conditions of a region are referred to as its

A) weather.
B) biotic factor.
C) biome.
D) community.
E) climate.

Question 20

Which of the following would be considered a biotic factor in the environment of an aquatic mammal?

A) Gut flora
B) pH
C) Salinity
D) Temperature
E) Oxygen concentration

Question 21

The sun's rays fall most directly on the equator in

A) early January.
B) early December.
C) mid May.
D) late June.
E) late March.

Question 22

The rule of adiabatic cooling says that temperature drops about 1°C for every additional 220 meters of elevation.The town of Amherst,Massachusetts,is at 90 meters elevation.The nearby town of Shutesbury is at 420 meters.Assuming that differences in climate between these two towns are solely due to elevation,what should the average temperature in Shutesbury be if the average temperature for a given day in Amherst is 5°C?

A) 1.7°C
B) 3.5°C
C) 6.5°C
D) 7.0°C
E) 8.3°C

Question 23

If the rotational speed of Earth decreased somewhat,the most likely result would be

A) increased seasonality.
B) decreased seasonality.
C) a reversal in the direction of the prevailing winds.
D) an increased prevailing wind speed.
E) a decreased prevailing wind speed.

Question 24

If the Gulf Stream were to shut down,as some models of global climate change predict,_______ would become _______.

A) California;warmer
B) California;colder
C) London;warmer
D) London;colder
E) Lima,Peru;colder

Question 25

In general,ocean surface currents circulate

A) clockwise in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
B) counterclockwise in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
C) clockwise in the Atlantic Ocean and counterclockwise in the Pacific Ocean.
D) counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
E) clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 26

Which term refers to variation in the elevation of Earth's surface?

A) Adiabatic relief
B) Biogeography
C) Coriolis features
D) Topography
E) Biotic interchange

Question 27

When do the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight?

A) Only during the equinoxes
B) Only during the solstices
C) During both the solstices and at the equinoxes
D) Never;the Northern Hemisphere always receives more sunlight.
E) Never;the Southern Hemisphere always receives more sunlight.

Question 28

Hadley cell circulation and the Coriolis effect both describe movements of air masses,although there are major differences between the two phenomena.Both processes,however,involve movement

A) east and west.
B) north and south.
C) toward the equator only.
D) east only.
E) west only.

Question 29

Winds in the middle (40-60°N)latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere generally come from the

A) north.
B) south.
C) east.
D) west.
E) None of the above;the winds are unpredictable and come from no particular direction.

Question 30

Because of the rotational movement of Earth,an air mass moving north in the Northern Hemisphere will

A) be deflected east.
B) be deflected west.
C) not be deflected.
D) be deflected east during winter and west during summer.
E) be deflected east during summer and west during winter.

Question 31

It tends to rain more in the mountains than in adjacent lowlands because

A) as air travels up mountains,it cools.Cool air holds less moisture than warm air does,and the excess moisture is dropped as rain.
B) as air travels up the mountains,it is compressed.The mountains squeeze the water out of the air,and the water falls as rain.
C) mountains are often in the clouds.
D) as air moves down mountains,it expands and does not form clouds,so no rainfall occurs.
E) the rain has farther to travel from clouds to the lowlands,so more evaporates before reaching the ground.

Question 32

Because oceans have a _______ heat capacity,air over land that is close to oceans shows _______.

A) low;increased average temperatures
B) low;decreased variability in temperature
C) high;increased average temperatures
D) high;increased variability in temperature
E) high;decreased variability in temperature

Question 33

Heinrich Walter developed the climate diagram to

A) determine the rate of adiabatic cooling.
B) measure the strength of the Coriolis effect.
C) easily visualize the growing season of a locality.
D) predict movement of Hadley cells.
E) map topographic features.

Question 34

As compared with low latitudes,high latitudes receive _______ energy from sunlight over the year because the sun's rays are at _______ angle.

A) more;a more shallow
B) more;a steeper
C) the same amount of;the sane
D) less;a more shallow
E) less;a steeper

Question 35

In what way would an area at 60° latitude (North or South)most likely resemble an area near the equator?

A) Both would likely experience rising air currents.
B) Both would likely experience falling air currents.
C) A desert would likely be found in both places.
D) Both would experience more direct sun than an area at 30° latitude.
E) Both would be located in the tropics.

Question 36

The term "adiabatic" usually refers to

A) the cooling of an expanding gas.
B) features of the environment that are not living.
C) the deflection of winds due to Earth's rotation.
D) the seasonality caused by the tilt of Earth's axis.
E) the descending air in the Hadley cells that flows toward the poles.

Question 37

Suppose the sun provided somewhat less heat.This would likely cause Hadley cells to be _______ and would cause the great deserts to be located _______ the equator.

A) larger;closer to
B) larger;farther away from
C) smaller;closer to
D) smaller;farther away from
E) None of the above;changing solar input would not affect Hadley cells.

Question 38

Which statement about air temperature is true?

A) Warm and cold air are equally dense.
B) Cold air is denser than warm air,and thus will rise.
C) Cold air is denser than warm air,and thus will sink.
D) Warm air is denser than cold air,and thus will rise.
E) Warm air is denser than cold air,and thus will sink.

Question 39

Usually,there is _______ precipitation on the windward than the leeward side of a mountain range.In the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere,this means that _______ sides of mountains receive more precipitation.

A) more;eastern
B) more;western
C) less;northern
D) less;eastern
E) less;western

Question 40

At which latitude would you most likely find deserts?

A) 0°
B) 15°
C) 30°
D) 45°
E) No particular latitude is prone to desert.

Question 41

Different terrestrial biomes are typically distinguished primarily by their

A) insects.
B) vegetation.
C) topography.
D) mammals.
E) birds.

Question 42

Biogeographic regions

A) arise because of barriers to dispersal.
B) are smaller than biomes.
C) reflect specific adaptations of organisms.
D) can only be applied to animals.
E) can only be applied to plants.

Question 43

The phytoplankton of the oceans are analogous to the grasses of the grassland biome because both types of life

A) provide nesting sites for animals in their ecosystems.
B) are the dominant autotrophs of their ecosystems.
C) are structurally similar due to convergent evolution.
D) are long-lived perennials adapted to frequent disturbance.
E) are dormant in cold temperatures.

Question 44

Aquatic biomes are distinguished primarily by

A) their temperatures.
B) the speed of their currents.
C) their pH.
D) their turbidity.
E) their salinity.

Question 45

An assumption underlying Walter's determination of growing seasons is that

A) warm air is less dense than cold air and should rise.
B) warm air is more dense than cold air and should sink.
C) water requirements for plant growth decrease with increasing temperature.
D) water requirements for plant growth increase with increasing temperature.
E) areas near oceans usually have less variation in temperature.

Question 46

Where would you most likely find salinity levels varying considerably over space and time?

A) In the aphotic zone
B) In an estuary
C) In the abyssal plain
D) In the pelagic zone
E) In a freshwater lake

Question 47

In many respects,the coast of California and the coasts of Mediterranean countries are similar.They have similar climates with warm,dry summers and mild,rainy winters.They also are inhabited by ecologically similar organisms.These two regions can thus be said to be in the same

A) biogeographic zone.
B) niche.
C) biome.
D) photic zone.
E) biotic interchange.

Question 48

In which biome is most of Massachusetts located?

A) Temperate grassland
B) Tundra
C) Temperate rain forest
D) Boreal forest
E) Temperate seasonal forest

Question 49

In which biome is Topeka,Kansas,located?

A) Temperate grassland
B) Tundra
C) Alpine
D) Boreal forest
E) Temperate seasonal forest

Question 50

If,over a long period of time,a region that is currently in the subtropical desert biome receives substantially more rainfall,this region will most likely become

A) temperate rain forest.
B) tropical rain forest.
C) boreal forest.
D) savanna.
E) temperate grassland.

Question 51

Which sequence best represents the correct ranking of zones in terms of their proximity to the surface of an ocean (from closest to farthest away)?

A) Pelagic,benthic,abyssal
B) Pelagic,abyssal,benthic
C) Abyssal,benthic,pelagic
D) Benthic,pelagic,abyssal
E) Benthic,abyssal,pelagic

Question 52

In addition to being a co-discoverer of evolution by natural selection,Alfred Russel Wallace made important contributions to studies

A) of how ocean currents form.
B) of how rising air cools.
C) of the large-scale distributions of animals and plants.
D) of the use of climate diagrams.
E) involving bioluminescence.

Question 53

Which factor is the most important criterion for determining the different types of tropical biomes?

A) The highest recorded summer temperature
B) The lowest recorded winter temperature
C) Soil conditions
D) The pH of the water
E) The length of the dry season

Question 54

Heinrich Walter's studies of terrestrial plant growth were based on the general rule of thumb that if the average temperature in a given month is 15°C,the amount of precipitation needed to ensure growth during that month is _______ mm.

A) 15
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40
E) 60

Question 55

If,over a long period of time,a region that is currently in the temperate seasonal forest biome becomes considerably colder,this region will most likely become

A) temperate rain forest.
B) savanna.
C) boreal forest.
D) tropical rain forest.
E) subtropical desert.

Question 56

In which country would you most likely find the boreal forest biome?

A) Canada
B) France
C) Mexico
D) China
E) India

Question 57

A region of Europe has moderately high rainfall and mild temperatures,but it also has a history of periodic fires.What would you most likely expect to see there?

A) Succulent plants
B) Trees
C) Shrubs
D) Grasses
E) All of the above are equally likely.

Question 58

Wallace's line in the Malay Archipelago separates the _______ and the _______ biogeographical regions.

A) Malay;Australasian
B) Malay;Antarctic
C) Ethiopian;Oriental
D) Australasian;Oriental
E) Neotropical;Nearctic

Question 59

In which biome is most of Brazil located?

A) Temperate grassland
B) Desert
C) Shrubland
D) Boreal forest
E) Tropical rain forest

Question 60

Which statement about the biogeography of southwestern Australia is false?

A) It has a climate similar to that of coastal California.
B) Its soils are rich in nutrients.
C) The leaves of many plants in this region are long lived.
D) The leaves of many plants in this region protect themselves by means of defensive compounds.
E) The vegetation is highly flammable.

Question 61

The level of moisture found in an area is an example of a(n)_______ factor in the environment.

Question 62

Which statement about biogeography is false?

A) The biota in contemporary biogeographic regions evolved largely independently of one another during the Tertiary period.
B) Phylogenetic methods contribute to our understanding of biogeography.
C) The most likely explanation for the presence of southern beeches in both South America and New Zealand is that those two areas were once part of the same continent.
D) The theory of continental drift helped explain many of the early mysteries in biogeography.
E) The southern biogeographic regions separated from each other after the northern biogeographic regions did.

Question 63

A biologist is observing the movement patterns of robins in a meadow and recording data about these observations,rather than testing a particular hypothesis about the birds.This scientist would be best described as engaged in the study of

A) physical geography.
B) biogeography.
C) biomes.
D) natural history.
E) restoration ecology.

Question 64

Australia will likely slam into Asia many million years in the future.The most likely consequence of this fusion will be

A) continental drift.
B) Hadley cell formation.
C) the formation of a new Wallace line.
D) a biotic interchange.
E) adiabatic cooling.

Question 65

The collision of India and the rest of Asia occurred about _______ million years ago and led to the formation of the _______ biogeographic zone.

A) 20-40;Oriental
B) 45-80;Palearctic
C) 100-130;Oriental
D) 100-130;Palearctic
E) 130-150;Australasian

Question 66

The Oriental and the Palearctic biogeographic regions are separated by

A) ocean.
B) desert.
C) a mountain range.
D) the Wallace line.
E) Pangaea.

Question 67

Encompassing all other ecosystems,the _______ is the largest ecosystem on the planet Earth.

Question 68

If you went north from a spot in the Oriental biogeographic region,you would most likely reach the _______ biogeographic region.

A) Eurasian
B) Nearctic
C) Antarctic
D) Palearctic
E) Ethiopian

Question 69

Suppose related animals in the Nearctic and the Palearctic biogeographic regions tend to be more distantly related than related animals in the Neotropical and the Ethiopian regions.What would be the most likely explanation for this difference?

A) The Nearctic and the Palearctic separated from each other earlier than the Neotropical and the Ethiopian did.
B) The Nearctic and the Palearctic separated from each other more recently than the Neotropical and the Ethiopian did.
C) There was more biotic interchange between the Nearctic and the Palearctic.
D) There was more adaptive evolution in the Nearctic and the Palearctic.
E) The Wallace line impeded evolution in the Nearctic and the Palearctic.

Question 70

Which statement about the effect of human activity on ecosystems is false?

A) Human activity is generally making ecosystems more similar to one another.
B) Humans use more land for agriculture than for cities.
C) Human activity generally makes ecosystems more complex.
D) Human activity is causing the rapid movement of species across biogeographic boundaries.
E) Human activity often leads to the fragmentation of landscapes.

Question 71

Which statement about natural history is true?

A) Natural history requires the testing of hypotheses.
B) Lacking information about natural history often limits our ability to ask ecological questions.
C) Natural history involves using ecological principles to repair the health of damaged ecosystems
D) Natural history involves using ecological principles to prevent extinction of endangered species.
E) Both a and b

Question 72

One lineage of turtles lives in Madagascar and another lives in India.Which information would best support the hypothesis that the lineages diverged because India and Madagascar separated?

A) Evidence that the lineages diverged about 30 million years ago.
B) Evidence that the lineages diverged about 90 million years ago.
C) Evidence that a lineage related to these lineages lives in Madagascar.
D) Evidence that a lineage related to these lineages lives in India.
E) Evidence that a lineage related to these lineages lives in Europe.

Question 73

Which activity would be most likely categorized as restoration ecology?

A) Surveying genetic variation in a population of an endangered salamander
B) Removing pollutants from the Hudson River
C) Modeling the effects of climate change on the distribution of a plant
D) Determining the effects of traffic noise on singing robins
E) Counting the number of fish species in a lake

Question 74

Rank the following from most to least in terms of land they use: cities,pasture for livestock,and agriculture.

A) Cities,pasture for livestock,agriculture
B) Cities,agriculture,pasture for livestock
C) Pasture for livestock,agriculture,cities
D) Pasture for livestock,cities,agriculture
E) Agriculture,cities,pasture for livestock

Question 75

In addition to interacting with the physical and chemical factors in the environment,organisms interact with other organisms.Such interactions are called _______ factors.

Question 76

Most modern plant families and genera evolved during or after the time when the supercontinent Pangaea was breaking up.Because of this evolutionary history,one would expect the plant families and genera of North America to be most similar to those of

A) Africa.
B) New Zealand.
C) Australia.
D) Asia.
E) South America.

Question 77

Most of Europe is in the _______ biogeographic region.

A) Neotropical
B) Palearctic
C) Nearctic
D) temperate seasonal forest
E) temperate grassland

Question 78

Which consequence of human activity does not have the potential to degrade natural ecological systems?

A) Habitat loss
B) Habitat fragmentation
C) Pollution
D) Water diversion
E) All of the above can lead to degradation of natural ecological systems.

Question 79

The continental United States is in the _______ biogeographic region.

A) Neotropical
B) Palearctic
C) Nearctic
D) temperate seasonal forest
E) temperate grassland

Question 80

The observation of nature that is conducted outside of a formal,hypothesis-testing investigation is called

A) restoration ecology.
B) conservation biology.
C) pseudoscience.
D) biogeography.
E) natural history.