Deck 29: Earths Diverse Ecosystems

Question 1

________ are large areas that have similar environmental conditions and characteristic plant communities.

A)Climatic zones
B)Biomes
C)Ecosystems
D)Climax communities
E)Biospheres

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The destruction of the ozone layer is caused by a chemical reaction between UV light and:

A)nitrogen.
B)CFCs.
C)oxygen.
D)methane.
E)hydrogen sulfide.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Earth's ozone layer is extremely important because it:

A)maintains high carbon dioxide concentrations so that photosynthesis can occur.
B)traps heat so that Earth's temperature does not fall too much.
C)blocks incoming visible light to protect Earth against the greenhouse effect.
D)blocks incoming UV radiation, which is damaging to animals and reduces photosynthesis in plants and algae.
E)traps harmful infrared rays.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A(n)________ is an area that is very dry because the air in that region has passed over a mountain and lost most of its moisture.

A)basin
B)chaparral
C)tropical desert
D)adiabat
E)rain shadow

Question 5

The temperatures at the equator remain warm year-round because:

A)Earth's rotation on a tilted axis creates more atmospheric friction at the equator.
B)Earth's natural curvature places the equator nearer the sun.
C)the sun shines over the equator more hours in the day.
D)there are large oceans near the equator that absorb large amounts of heat.
E)sunlight strikes the equator relatively directly with little seasonal variation.

Question 6

Incoming sunlight is modified by Earth's atmosphere; for example, the ozone layer absorbs much of the sun's:

A)high-energy UV radiation.
B)low-energy UV radiation.
C)high-energy IR radiation.
D)low-energy IR radiation.
E)visible light.

Question 7

Why do most of the flowers in a temperate deciduous forest bloom in the spring?

A)Most of the rain falls in the spring.
B)The leaves of deciduous trees do not block the light in the spring.
C)The largest number of insect pollinators are available in the spring.
D)Nutrients are most available in the spring.
E)In the spring the trees do not block the wind and thus prevent wind pollination.

Question 8

The thick, green stems and spike-like leaves of cacti and euphorbias are adaptations to:

A)collect light in environments that have limited amounts of light.
B)conserve water in dry environments.
C)increase gas exchange in oxygen-poor environments.
D)speed up heating and cooling in environments that have little temperature fluctuation.
E)take up atmospheric nitrogen in nutrient-poor environments.

Question 9

The major driving force behind winds, ocean currents, and the global water cycle is:

A)geothermal heating from beneath Earth's surface.
B)heating by the sun.
C)Earth's magnetic field.
D)the gravitational pull of the moon.
E)Earth's rotation.

Question 10

The greatest diversity of plants and animals is found in:

A)temperate deciduous forests.
B)tropical rain forests.
C)chaparrals.
D)taigas.
E)savannas.

Question 11

A(n)________ is a cold region with evergreen coniferous trees as the dominant vegetation.

A)savanna
B)tundra
C)taiga
D)arctic
E)chaparral

Question 12

The ozone hole over Antarctica and the general lowering of ozone levels elsewhere in the stratosphere have been attributed to the ozone-destroying properties of:

A)carbon dioxide and methane.
B)chlorofluorocarbons.
C)endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
D)sulfur dioxide.
E)nitrogen oxides.

Question 13

A rain shadow is caused by:

A)ocean currents that heat and cool more quickly than do air or landmasses.
B)ocean currents that heat and cool more slowly than do air or landmasses.
C)cool, dry air that warms as it moves down over a mountain, picking up moisture.
D)warm, moist air that cools as it moves down over a mountain, releasing moisture.
E)large mountain masses in the center of continents that restrict air flow.

Question 14

What is the role of the ozone layer?

A)It increases the amount of sunlight that reaches the poles.
B)It increases photosynthesis in Antarctic phytoplankton.
C)It reduces the amount of UV light that reaches Earth's surface.
D)It increases the levels of CFCs in the upper atmosphere.
E)It increases the gyres.

Question 15

Why do higher-latitude ecosystems experience more pronounced seasons than ecosystems at equatorial latitudes?

A)Air currents generated by Earth's rotation have stronger effects at higher latitudes.
B)Heated air rises at the equator and falls at mid-latitudes.
C)Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun annually.
D)The mass of the continents is greater at the equator, which evens out temperature variations in ocean circulation.
E)Ocean currents moderate near-shore environments.

Question 16

Which of the following North American biomes has been almost completely destroyed by agricultural use?

A)desert
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)grassland
D)tundra
E)taiga

Question 17

What are the fundamental resources required to support life?

A)nutrients, oxygen, sugar, appropriate temperatures
B)water, nutrients, energy, appropriate temperatures
C)water, energy, oxygen, nutrients
D)oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, water
E)oxygen, water, energy, carbon

Question 18

In the fall, the trees in a temperate deciduous forest lose their leaves primarily as an adaptation to:

A)changing light.
B)cooler temperatures.
C)lack of accessible nutrients.
D)excess rainfall.
E)lack of available water.

Question 19

The prevailing winds in the Glacier National Park area of Montana are from the west. Which side of this mountainous region receives the most rain and snow?

A)east
B)west
C)north
D)south
E)It depends on the season.

Question 20

In a tropical rain forest, the majority of animals are found:

A)in the towering treetops.
B)on the forest floor.
C)in the soil.
D)in the cleared areas.
E)in the shorter trees.

Question 21

Thick, water-storing leaves and stems and wax-coated leaves are adaptations to:

A)tropical rain forests.
B)temperate deciduous forests.
C)taigas.
D)deserts.
E)tropical scrub forests.

Question 22

What is the dominant vegetation of the savanna?

A)trees with waxy needles
B)grasses
C)cocoa
D)trees that lose their leaves
E)lichens and scrub willows

Question 23

Which biome is rapidly expanding into the African Sahel?

A)tropical rain forest
B)tropical deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)desert
E)chaparral

Question 24

In which biome are soils stabilized and enriched by cyanobacterial networks?

A)tropical rain forest
B)tropical deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)desert
E)chaparral

Question 25

Oligotrophic lakes are characterized by:

A)clear water with deep penetration of light.
B)high nutrient levels.
C)low oxygen concentrations.
D)dense "blooms" of algae.
E)the largest number and diversity of organisms.

Question 26

Which biome contains plants that have small leaves coated with protective waxes or reflective hairs that can withstand hot, dry summers and are adapted to fire?

A)tropical rain forest
B)tropical deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)desert
E)chaparral

Question 27

The vast treeless region near the Arctic Ocean is the:

A)savanna.
B)tundra.
C)taiga.
D)permafrost.
E)grassland.

Question 28

Pronounced wet and dry seasons and warm temperatures are characteristic of:

A)tropical rain forests.
B)tropical deciduous forests.
C)savannas.
D)deserts.
E)chaparrals.

Question 29

For centuries before Europeans arrived on the North American continent, Native Americans prevented the encroachment of forests farther west and maintained the tallgrass prairies throughout the area that now includes Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois by:

A)clear-cutting the forests for timber and fuel.
B)establishing an extensive irrigation system to increase soil moisture, thus favoring grasses.
C)plowing much of the land for agriculture.
D)restricting the migrations of bison, which caused them to browse heavily on tree seedlings and thus killed them.
E)setting fires periodically to kill the trees.

Question 30

The taiga is characterized by:

A)dry soils that lack vegetation.
B)tall grasses.
C)fire-adapted plants.
D)long cold winters, short growing seasons, and conifers.
E)few grasses, moist soils, and trees that drop their leaves in the winter.

Question 31

The ________ is the zone near the shore of a lake where a diverse group of organisms lives and where light and nutrients are abundant.

A)phytoplankton
B)littoral
C)stratification
D)limnetic
E)profundal

Question 32

The striking dissimilarities in plant communities among different biomes that have the same average yearly amount of rainfall can be explained by the fact that:

A)plant communities are not influenced by rainfall.
B)plant communities evolve more slowly than changes in weather patterns.
C)temperature and rainfall interact to influence plant communities.
D)plant communities occur randomly, depending on where seeds are blown or carried.
E)plant communities are influenced more by the acidity of rain than by the amount of rainfall.

Question 33

Permafrost is associated with which of these biomes?

A)littoral
B)tundra
C)taiga
D)temperate deciduous forest
E)northern coniferous forest

Question 34

In which biome would you expect to find large numbers of black bears, snowshoe hares, moose, lynx, wolves, and deer?

A)tropical rain forest
B)temperate deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)taiga
E)chaparral

Question 35

What are the major limiting factors that determine the distribution of organisms in aquatic ecosystems?

A)availability of water and appropriate temperatures
B)excess water and nutrients
C)appropriate temperatures and excess water
D)light and excess water
E)light and nutrients

Question 36

Which biome probably contains the largest number and most diverse group of large mammals?

A)tropical rain forest
B)tropical deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)desert
E)chaparral

Question 37

If global warming makes the southeastern United States warmer but does not change the amount of rainfall, we might expect to see a shift from the present temperate deciduous forest biome to:

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

Question 38

In aquatic ecosystems, the highest nutrients levels are found in areas that have:

A)the highest light levels.
B)the lowest light levels.
C)the highest temperatures.
D)the fewest sediments.
E)the lowest oxygen levels.

Question 39

Which biome is characterized by widely spaced trees surrounded by grasses?

A)tropical rain forest
B)tropical deciduous forest
C)savanna
D)desert
E)chaparral

Question 40

Multiple layers of vegetation, ranging from shade-tolerant undergrowth up to towering sun-loving canopy trees, are characteristic of:

A)tropical rain forests.
B)tropical deciduous forests.
C)savannas.
D)deserts.
E)chaparrals.

Question 41

The primary producers in hydrothermal vent communities are:

A)phytoplankton.
B)sulfur bacteria.
C)zooplankton.
D)kelp.
E)coral.

Question 42

Oligotrophic lakes:

A)support dense plant communities.
B)depend on sulfur bacteria as the primary producers.
C)have low levels of nutrients and few organisms.
D)remove nutrient-rich sediments from field runoff.
E)provide breeding grounds for many fish and crustacean species.

Question 43

If global warming raises sea levels rapidly due to the melting of glaciers but does not change water temperatures, what will likely be the direct effect on coral reefs throughout the world?

A)Coral reefs in deep waters will die because insufficient light reaches them for photosynthesis.
B)Coral reefs in shallow waters will grow more rapidly due to added protection against harmful UV radiation.
C)Coral reefs will be stimulated to grow faster due to the dilution of the seawater's salt content.
D)Productivity will decrease as the pure water from the glaciers dilutes the nutrients in the sea.
E)Productivity will increase as nutrients trapped in the glacial ice are released and spread throughout the oceans by currents.

Question 44

Why do areas of upwelling tend to have large and diverse populations of organisms?

A)Upwelling brings nutrient-rich water up from the ocean depths.
B)Upwelling brings aphotic organisms to the ocean surface.
C)Upwelling lowers the level of oxygen in the water.
D)Upwelling mixes deep-ocean fresh water with salt water from rivers.
E)Upwelling moves dinoflagellates to the aphotic zone.

Question 45

Plants with reduced leaves and thick stems that store water are more likely to be found growing in a rain shadow. True or False?

Question 46

Patterns of temperature and precipitation that prevail over years are referred to as weather. True or False?

Question 47

What is the ecological significance of shallow bays and coastal wetlands such as estuaries and salt marshes?

A)They are the breeding grounds for a wide variety of sea-dwelling animals.
B)They are an important source of crude oil.
C)They serve as the habitat for many endangered species.
D)Coral reefs occur in these areas.
E)They are safe from most human impact because humans do not live there.

Question 48

The Atlantic cod population off the coast of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada decreased dramatically during the 1900s due to overfishing. What conservation measure, presently being applied, is most likely to help this fish population recover?

A)putting a bounty on sharks and tuna in the area that would otherwise eat the cod
B)establishing marine reserves in the area that prohibit fishing until stocks recover
C)fertilizing the ocean with raw sewage to cause eutrophication, thus increasing productivity
D)encouraging selective fishing on haddock, turbot, and other species that compete with cod for food
E)spreading silt in the water to reduce UV radiation damage to sensitive cod eggs

Question 49

Organisms that spend their lives in open water swimming or floating are:

A)pelagic.
B)benthic.
C)littoral.
D)intertidal.
E)profundal.

Question 50

Seasonal variations in temperature are due to the tilt of Earth on its axis. True or False?

Question 51

Coral reefs have formed as the result of:

A)volcanic activity in warm tropical waters.
B)rising ocean levels.
C)skeletons from some types of Cnidarians and algae.
D)seafloor settling.
E)cool water settling over warmer water.

Question 52

The windward side of a mountain range has the drier climate because of the rain shadow. True or False?

Question 53

In the unique seafloor vent community, the primary producers are:

A)sulfur bacteria.
B)phytoplankton.
C)tube worms.
D)plants.
E)giant snails.

Question 54

In hydrothermal vent communities, primary productivity is based on:

A)photosynthesis.
B)herbivory.
C)detritivores
D)chemosynthesis.
E)bacterial decomposition.

Question 55

Which area contains aquatic organisms that can tolerate exposure to air?

A)coral reefs
B)aphotic zone
C)upwelling area
D)intertidal zone
E)twilight region

Question 56

The Atlantic Ocean gyre moderates the climate of the eastern coast of North America by bringing in warm currents from the equator. True or False?

Question 57

The major concentrations of life in the oceans are found in:

A)the aphotic zone due to high light levels.
B)deep, large oceans due to high nutrient concentrations.
C)the oligotrophic zone due to clear and clean water.
D)regions of upwelling and in shallow coastal waters.
E)the anoxic zone.

Question 58

The profundal zone is home to organisms that are:

A)photosynthetic.
B)decomposers and detritus feeders.
C)eutrophic.
D)intertidal.
E)adapted to high levels of light.

Question 59

The most heat-tolerant organisms presently known come from:

A)chaparrals.
B)deep-sea vents.
C)deserts.
D)tropical deciduous forests.
E)tropical rain forests.

Question 60

Why is the human-caused damage to coral reefs of particular concern?

A)The physical structure of reefs has an important influence on the movement of ocean currents.
B)Reefs represent unique ecosystems that obtain energy through chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis.
C)Reefs function in the detoxification of marine pollutants.
D)Reefs provide food and shelter for the world's most diverse collection of marine invertebrates and fish.
E)Reefs are not particularly sensitive to human-caused disturbance.

Question 61

Channeling rivers improves their productivity and decreases erosion. True or False?

Question 62

The defining characteristic of a desert is the high temperature. True or False?

Question 63

The drying and warming of air that flows up and over a mountain range and then down the back side produce a ________.

Question 64

Eutrophic lakes have high nutrient levels. True or False?

Question 65

Wetlands remove toxins, pesticides, and sediments from water, acting as a natural water purifier. True or False?

Question 66

In the Southern Hemisphere, gyres rotate in the ________ direction.

Question 67

Desert wildflowers typically bloom in early fall. True or False?

Question 68

Overgrazing, overharvesting of trees, and depletion of groundwater can lead to desertification. True or False?

Question 69

In the temperate rain forest, the establishment of new tree seedlings is limited by the lack of light reaching the forest floor. True or False?

Question 70

A ________ is a circular ocean current caused by the presence of continents.

Question 71

Rain-forest soils store large amounts of nutrients, which makes them ideal for farming. True or False?

Question 72

The destruction of the ozone layer increases the amount of damaging ________ that reaches Earth's surface.

Question 73

Estuaries have very low productivity and biodiversity. True or False?

Question 74

Plant life in the different biomes is limited by the amount of sunlight. True or False?

Question 75

Savannas are tropical regions characterized by scant, seasonal rainfall that supports grasses and a few drought-resistant trees. True or False?

Question 76

In temperate deciduous forests, trees drop their leaves in response to reduced sunlight. True or False?

Question 77

The highest biodiversity is found in temperate deciduous forests. True or False?

Question 78

The deep ocean floor lacks established communities because it doesn't have enough light to support any producers. True or False?

Question 79

Taiga, characterized by long, cold winters and conifers with short needles, is the largest terrestrial biome. True or False?

Question 80

During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth's axis is tilted ________ the sun.