Deck 51: Ecology and the Biosphere

Question 1

Which weather pattern is characteristic of a La Niña event?

A) high pressure over the western Pacific
B) high ocean surface temperatures
C) warm and dry weather in the southern U.S.
D) ocean surface waters moving from west to east
E) air movement from west to east

Answer 1

C

Question 2

An ecologist who studies the distribution of a frog species along a latitudinal gradient is performing a(n) ____ experiment.

A) natural
B) experimental
C) predictive
D) lab
E) modeling

Answer 2

A

Question 3

An ecologist who studies the cycling of nutrients and the flow of energy between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecological community is a(n) ____ ecologist.

A) behavioral
B) behavioral
C) community
D) ecosystem
E) organismal

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Expanding air masses ____.

A) sink
B) rise
C) are cool and dry
D) can hold less water
E) experience no change

Question 5

An ecologist who studies groups of populations that occur together in one area is a(n) ____ ecologist.

A) behavioral
B) population
C) community
D) ecosystem
E) organismal

Question 6

Monsoon cycles are a result of_____. proximity to the ocean

A) rain shadows
B) seasonal reversals of wind direction
C) microclimate
D)
E) adiabatic cooling

Question 7

Cool, dry air descends at which latitude?

A) the equator
B) 30^oN and S
C) 45^oN and S
D) both 30^oand 60^oN and S
E) at the poles

Question 8

Which winds push surface water toward the equator?

A) trade winds
B) westerlies
C) easterlies
D) polar
E) adiabatic

Question 9

Adiabatic cooling takes place when ____.

A) latitudinal differences alter rainfall amounts
B) reversals of wind direction occur seasonally
C) a decrease in air temperature occurs without loss of heat energy
D) an increase in air temperature occurs without loss of heat energy
E) anytime air loses heat energy

Question 10

Where do cold ocean currents generally occur?

A) along the west coast of continents
B) near the poles
C) near the equator
D) along the east coast of continents
E) in the open ocean

Question 11

Which city has a continental climate?

A) London
B) San Francisco
C) Rio De Janeiro
D) Minneapolis
E) Mumbai

Question 12

An increase in air temperature will result in ____ water vapor in the atmosphere because warm air holds ____ water vapor than cold air does.

A) more; less
B) more; more
C) less; less
D) less; more
E) no change in; less

Question 13

Which event occurs during a strong El Niño year?

A) light rains in the central and eastern Pacific ocean
B) upwelling of cold water in the western Pacific ocean
C) death of phytoplankton in western coastal areas
D) cold surface currents flowing from west to east
E) strengthened equatorial winds

Question 14

Adiabatic cooling reduces air temperatures by ____^oC per 1,000 m increase in altitude.

A) 1 - 2
B) 2
C) 3 - 6
D) 8 - 10
E) 20 - 30

Question 15

All environments have both ____ and ____ components.

A) hydrospheric; lithospheric
B) lithospheric; atmospheric
C) ecologic; atmospheric
D) biotic; abiotic
E) organismal; ecologic

Question 16

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Which image represents the position of the Earth during the vernal (March) equinox?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) A and C

Question 17

A rain shadow is created when ____.

A) cool air descends and replaces warm air over land through onshore flow
B) wind direction reverses seasonally
C) cool air descends and replaces warm air over the sea through offshore flow
D) dry air on the windward side rises and absorbs water on the leeward side, such that the leeward side remains dry
E) mountains force air to sink and absorb water on the windward side, causing the leeward side of the mountains to receive excessive rainfall

Question 18

The ____ includes all of the water on Earth.

A) abiotic environment
B) biotic environment
C) hydrosphere
D) lithosphere
E) atmosphere

Question 19

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Which image represents the position of the Earth during the December solstice?

A) A only
B) B only
C) C only
D) D only
E) A and C

Question 20

In the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal variation in temperatures is caused mainly by ____.

A) the Earth's elliptical orbit taking it closer to and farther away from the sun
B) the Earth's tilt on its axis of 23.5^o
C) seasonal variation of energy output from the sun
D) warm equatorial air masses rising and spreading north and south
E) uneven warming of the ocean's surface water

Question 21

What is the average annual rainfall in the desert biome?

A) over 250 cm
B) 80 - 90 cm
C) less than 25 cm
D) 40 - 80 cm
E) 100 - 150 cm

Question 22

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. According to the graph, which biome is defined as having the highest overall mean annual precipitation?

A) savanna
B) grassland
C) tropical rainforest
D) tundra
E) desert

Question 23

Temperate deciduous forests generally have ____ annual precipitation levels and ____ temperatures than boreal forests.

A) higher; higher
B) the same; lower
C) the same; higher
D) lower; lower
E) lower; the same

Question 24

Which biome occurs where winter drought reduces photosynthesis and most trees drop their leaves?

A) tropical montane forests
B) tropical deciduous forests
C) boreal forests
D) dry savannas
E) temperate forests

Question 25

According to Hertz and Huey, which compensatory mechanism allows lizards living at high altitudes to survive lower mean air temperatures?

A) hibernation
B) torpor
C) increased time spent basking
D) increased consumption of food
E) shelter-seeking behavior

Question 26

The cold adaptation of the octopus nervous system ____.

A) is a feature of all octopus species
B) is caused by Na⁺ion flow out of the neurons
C) relies on the temperature sensitivity of K⁺channels in neurons
D) is caused by K⁺ion flow into the neurons
E) relies on the temperature sensitivity of Na⁺channels in neurons

Question 27

Tropical deciduous forests experience ____.

A) mean annual temperature of at least 25^oC
B) summer drought
C) winter drought
D) frequent mists
E) slow growth

Question 28

Which consequence is a documented result of global warming?

A) Cold-adapted species are more common.
B) Plants display later flowering and growth.
C) Minimum temperatures at Yosemite have increased about 3^oover the last century.
D) Animals display later migration and breeding.
E) Minimum temperatures at Yosemite have decreased about 3^oover the last century.

Question 29

In the savanna, ____ lasts for months.

A) cold temperatures
B) storms
C) periods of fast growth
D) fires
E) droughts

Question 30

Forests containing ____ trees once stretched unbroken across eastern North America, Europe, and eastern Asia before farmers cleared the land.

A) white spruce and balsam fir
B) sages
C) epiphytes
D) teak
E) ash, beech, birch, elm, and oak

Question 31

Chaparral dominates coastal land between ____ latitudes?

A) 0^o- 15^o
B) 20^o- 30^o
C) 15^o- 30^o
D) 30^o- 40^o
E) 45^o- 55^o

Question 32

Which biome experiences the driest and warmest conditions?

A) desert
B) tropical rainforest
C) chaparral
D) temperate deciduous forest
E) boreal forest

Question 33

Which physiological process allows many organisms to maintain relatively constant conditions within their cells and tissues?

A) torpor
B) homeostatic responses
C) facultative responses
D) behavioral adaptations
E) photosynthesis

Question 34

What is the main determinant of biome distribution?

A) vegetation type
B) climate
C) ocean currents
D) elevation
E) weather

Question 35

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. According to the graph, the upper mean annual temperature for boreal forests is approximately ____^oC.

A) -7
B) 2
C) 15
D) 25
E) 35

Question 36

A state of extreme sluggishness is known as ____.

A) torpor
B) endothermic
C) migration
D) extinction
E) reproduction

Question 37

A microclimate ____.

A) occurs when the climate is moderated by the ocean
B) occurs when topographic features influence rainfall
C) describes weather conditions prevailing over an extended period of time
D) describes daily maximum and minimum temperatures
E) is the abiotic conditions immediately surrounding an organism

Question 38

A biome is most specifically defined as ____.

A) a vegetation type plus its associated microorganisms, fungi, and animals
B) a biological community and the physical environment with which it interacts
C) the total dry weight of plants present in a specific area at any given time
D) an assemblage of species living in the same place
E) a group of organisms of the same species living together at one time

Question 39

Tropical forests receive ____.

A) intense solar radiation and heavy rainfall
B) moderate solar radiation and heavy rainfall
C) intense solar radiation and virtually no rainfall
D) moderate solar radiation and moderate rainfall
E) low solar radiation and heavy rainfall

Question 40

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. According to the graph, which biomes are defined by a mean annual precipitation under 50 cm?

A) tropical forest, desert, and savanna
B) temperate deciduous forest, savanna, and tropical forest
C) boreal forest, temperate deciduous forest, and tundra
D) desert, tundra, and chaparral
E) desert, tundra, and grassland

Question 41

Alpine tundra occurs _____.

A) near the equator
B) above 90^olatitude
C) on the windward side of continents
D) on the leeward side of continents
E) on high mountaintops

Question 42

In a lotic system ____.

A) there is no border between freshwater and terrestrial systems
B) water stands in an open basin
C) freshwater and marine systems intermix
D) water flows through channels
E) marshes predominate

Question 43

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Which letter represents the littoral zone?

A) A only
B) B only
C) C only
D) A and B
E) B and C

Question 44

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Which letter(s) represent(s) the limnetic zone?

A) A only
B) B only
C) C only
D) A and B
E) B and C

Question 45

The addition of excess phosphorus causes lakes to become eutrophic because the nutrients trigger blooms of photosynthetic cyanobacteria. Why do these blooms cause low oxygen levels in lakes?

A) Cyanobacteria use up more oxygen than they produce.
B) Excess phosphorus binds to dissolved oxygen in the water.
C) Cyanobacteria are net producers of oxygen while alive, but when they die aerobic bacteria use oxygen while decomposing them.
D) Cyanobacterial blooms only occur in waters naturally low in oxygen.
E) Cyanobacteria are aerobic heterotrophs, consuming oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.

Question 46

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. The benthic province includes the intertidal zone, represented by letter ____, and the abyssal zone, represented by letter ____.

A) G; H
B) B; H
C) E; H
D) B; C
E) E; F

Question 47

The thermocline prevents ____ the top layer of the limnetic zone and the deep profundal zone.

A) plankton growth in
B) vertical mixing between
C) autumn overturn in
D) photosynthesis in
E) detritus formation in

Question 48

In marine environments, salinity averages about ____%.

A) 1
B) 3
C) 8
D) 12
E) 25

Question 49

Stands of white spruce and balsam fir dominate North America's ____.

A) tropical montane forests
B) temperate grasslands
C) boreal forest
D) temperate rainforest
E) chaparral

Question 50

In streams flowing through dense forest, ____; therefore, nutrients from organic detritus are particularly important.

A) dissolved oxygen levels are high
B) dissolved oxygen levels are low
C) the water moves slowly
D) dense vegetation blocks light necessary for photosynthesis
E) photosynthetic organisms make up most of the life in these streams

Question 51

According to Donald Perry, how do rainforest birds interact with the Norantea sessilis vine?

A) Birds nest within the shelter of the thorny vine, which repels predators.
B) Birds feed on the fruits of the vine, distributing the seeds around the forest in their droppings.
C) Birds appear to be overfeeding on the vine's succulent fruits, probably limiting the plant's chances of long-term survival.
D) Birds that feed on the nectar of the flowers inadvertently transfer pollen from one vine to another on their feet.
E) Birds that feed on the nectar of the flowers inadvertently transfer pollen from one vine to another on their beaks.

Question 52

Which organisms live in the profundal zone?

A) amphibians
B) bacterial decomposers
C) plants
D) zooplankton
E) photosynthetic algae

Question 53

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Which lake zone(s) support(s) detritivores and decomposers, but not photosynthesizers?

A) A only
B) B only
C) C only
D) A and B
E) B and C

Question 54

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. Letter "C" in the diagram represents the ____ zone.

A) neritic
B) abyssal
C) oceanic
D) benthic
E) intertidal

Question 55

Most deserts occur near ____ latitude because of the presence of dry descending air masses.

A) 0^o
B) 10^o
C) 20^o
D) 30^o
E) 40^o

Question 56

What makes temperate rainforests different from their tropical counterparts?

A) Winters are mild and wet, and summers are cool,
B) Winters are cold, and summers are mild and wet.
C) They receive more rain.
D) They contain more species.
E) They differ only in latitude.

Question 57

Which biome occurs in the interiors of continents where winters are cold and snowy and summers are warm and fairly dry?

A) tropical montane forests
B) temperate grasslands
C) chaparral
D) dry savannas
E) temperate forests

Question 58

Coastal regions where seawater mixes with fresh water from rivers, streams, and runoff are called ____.

A) neritic zones
B) estuaries
C) benthos
D) wetlands
E) intertidal zones

Question 59

Permafrost is a major repository of ____ in the environment.

A) water
B) carbon
C) oxygen
D) carbon dioxide
E) ice

Question 60

Dissolved oxygen is highest in which body of water?

A) warm eutrophic lake
B) slow-moving tropical river
C) pool within a cool forest stream
D) white water stretch of a cold river
E) dissolved oxygen should be the same in all waters

Question 63

Mangroves encourage the erosion of soils on coastlines.

Question 64

Hydrothermal vents allow organisms to live in ____.

A) the open ocean
B) the intertidal zone
C) the deep sea
D) the kelp forest
E) coral reefs

Question 65

Where does most photosynthesis occur in the open ocean?

A) the top 10 meters
B) below 100 meters
C) the top 50 meters
D) below 50 meters
E) photosynthesis occurs uniformly in the open ocean

Question 66

In which of the three vertical intertidal zones is biodiversity the highest? Why?

Question 67

Some studies suggest that, as global warming progresses, tropical lowland trees may be limited in their ability to move northward because of ____.

A) predicted desertification of temperate areas
B) temperatures in the north still being too low
C) flooding of coastal areas
D) extreme weather events like hurricanes and blizzards
E) development and habitat loss

Question 68

Crystal-clear mountain lakes are oligotrophic .

Question 69

In coastal areas, wind blows in from the sea during the night .

Question 70

A climograph portrays the particular combination of temperature and rainfall conditions in each terrestrial biome.

Question 71

Which marine zone supports kelp forests?

A) the pelagic province
B) the benthic province
C) the neritic zone
D) the abyssal zone
E) the intertidal zone

Question 72

Biologists sometimes damage ecosystems in order to study them. For example, researchers have fogged rainforest trees with insecticides to search for undiscovered species that fall to the ground when poisoned. Others have deliberately added phosphates to natural lakes to study the eutrophication process. What is your ethical position on such studies? Should they be banned, or is the knowledge gained worth the harm they cause?

Question 73

Answer the question using the accompanying figure. The oceanic zone is represented by letter ____.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 74

What is the difference between an estuary and a salt marsh?

A) Salt marshes are found far from the ocean, while estuaries border the ocean.
B) Salt marshes are not affected by tides, while estuaries are.
C) Salt marshes are dominated by grasses, while estuaries are defined by tidal influence.
D) Salt marshes border the ocean, while estuaries exist in river environments.
E) Salt marshes are affected by tides, while estuaries are not.

Question 75

Explain how an oligotrophic lake can become eutrophic.

Question 76

In the tropics, warm but nutrient-poor water above continental shelves is often occupied by ____.

A) coral reefs
B) kelp forests
C) rocky shores
D) salt marshes
E) phytoplankton blooms

Question 77

Soils in tropical rain forests are nutrient rich .

Question 78

According to researchers Parmesan and Yohe, how are living systems responding to anthropogenic global warming?

A) All biomes are remaining intact but are shifting their distributions northward.
B) Some species are moving northward and others are not, so communities are being disrupted.
C) All biomes are remaining intact, but some are shifting their distributions and other biomes are not.
D) Most plants are shifting their distributions northward, but most animals are not.
E) Most animals are shifting their distributions northward, but most plants are not.

Question 79

Which marine zone is one of the most stressful habitats on Earth?

A) the pelagic province
B) the continental shelf
C) deep sea trenches
D) the abyssal zone
E) the intertidal zone

Question 80

Which organism is classified as nekton?

A) sponge
B) clam
C) sea anemone
D) fungi
E) whale