Deck 21: The Biosphere

Question 1

Although the terms climate and weather are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing; climate differs from weather in that

A)weather includes amount of rainfall per year and climate does not.
B)climate is based on biomes, whereas weather is not.
C)climate describes long-term patterns, whereas weather describes short-term fluctuations.
D)climates are described in terms of long-term average temperature, and weather is described by other factors, such as prevailing winds.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Hawaii is positioned near the center of the north Pacific current system; the general flow of ocean water to the south of Hawaii would be to the

A)east.
B)north.
C)south.
D)west.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following would have the greatest climatic effect over the largest area?

A)the Missouri River
B)the Great Lakes
C)tropical rainforests
D)the Gulf Stream current

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the northern ocean basins, ocean currents generally flow _____ between continents.

A)from the equator to the South Pole
B)along the lines of longitude
C)counterclockwise
D)clockwise

Question 5

A rain shadow effect can develop when

A)an air mass rises up the windward slope of a mountain, cools, and drops its moisture before reaching the leeward side.
B)any two of the large atmospheric convection cells come together.
C)hot air blowing off a desert evaporates surface moisture from an adjacent biome.
D)an air mass moves over a large lake and picks up moisture from the water's surface.

Question 6

Which of the following best explains how a single volcanic eruption in Hawaii can have an effect on the weather elsewhere in the world?

A)The ash thrown from the volcano enters Earth's atmosphere. Winds then carry it around the world, where it may interfere with the amount of sunlight that reaches Earth's surface.
B)The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the volcano cause global warming.
C)The humans who live in areas where volcanoes occur leave the area, thus changing the conditions in the areas to which they move.
D)The ash and lava combine to form a rain shadow, which is capable of affecting the weather great distances away.

Question 7

Species that are accidentally introduced to new geographic regions

A)can become serious pests.
B)usually quickly die out.
C)can form hybrids with native species.
D)all of the above

Question 8

One of the primary forces that cause atmospheric circulation is convection, which occurs when

A)the rotation of Earth exerts friction on the atmosphere.
B)warm air at the surface rises and displaces the cooler air above it.
C)winds blowing north or south are deflected to the left or right by the Earth's rotation.
D)the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation causes the atmosphere to slide toward the equator.

Question 9

The particular type of terrestrial biome that develops is strongly influenced by

A)the animal species living in the area.
B)temperature, rainfall, and altitude.
C)other nearby biomes.
D)the plant species living in the area.

Question 10

Which of the following is not a major factor in shaping the climate of a local region?

A)the intensity of solar radiation
B)global patterns of atmospheric circulation
C)the dominant herbivorous organisms of a region
D)global patterns of oceanic circulation

Question 11

Which of the following terms describes all organisms on Earth plus their environments?

A)biosphere
B)ecosystem
C)habitat
D)species

Question 12

The biosphere is considered to consist of all living things and the physical environments where they live. To more conveniently characterize it, the biosphere is subdivided into

A)ecosystems.
B)biomes.
C)populations.
D)habitats.

Question 13

Chemicals used by humans have reduced the concentration of ozone (O₃)in the stratosphere over both the North and South poles. Why is the reduction of ozone dangerous to humans?

A)Localized changes in the Earth's atmosphere can alter the general global circulation and rainfall patterns.
B)The ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet light, a known mutagen; if it is reduced, the UV exposure at ground level will significantly increase.
C)Ozone is critical for the recycling of oxygen from carbon dioxide.
D)With reduced ozone concentrations the fixation of nitrogen gas to nitrate (NO3) will occur too slowly.

Question 14

Which of the following would best be considered an aspect of climate?

A)a thunderstorm
B)average seasonal rainfall
C)a hurricane
D)a blizzard

Question 15

Imagine a situation where the prevailing winds blow across the ocean toward the western side of a mountain range. Where would you expect to find cactus as the most common plant?

A)near the shore on the western side of the mountains
B)inland on the western side of the mountains
C)on the eastern side of the mountains
D)on both sides of the mountains but higher up on slopes on the western side of the mountains

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why a given biome is not found in each location where it could potentially exist?

A)Ecologists are presently unable to answer this question; biomes appear to develop randomly and are based on unknown factors.
B)Biomes consist of unique assemblages of organisms; each biome can occur at only one place on Earth.
C)Despite the appropriate climatic conditions, the bedrock at any given location may not produce the correct soils that would allow the biome to develop.
D)Where aquatic and terrestrial biomes meet, no type of biome is able to become established.

Question 17

Once released into the atmosphere, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

A)are quickly destroyed by ultraviolet light and are not a cause for environmental concern.
B)reduce the amount of ultraviolet light reaching Earth and negatively impact photosynthesis.
C)react with ozone to form carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas.
D)catalyze the conversion of ozone into molecular oxygen.

Question 18

All of the following except _____ are examples of the major terrestrial biomes.

A)grasslands
B)tropical forests
C)the polar ice caps
D)deserts

Question 19

The figure below illustrates the rain shadow effect.
What best explains why the leeward side of the mountain experiences less rainfall?

A)The air mass simply has no more moisture; it was all released on the windward slope.
B)As the air flows downslope it is compressed and warmed, allowing it not only to retain its own moisture but often removing moisture from the soil beneath as well.
C)The rotation of the Earth causes the air moving downslope to be displaced to the right, reducing rainfall behind the mountain.
D)All of the above contribute to the rain shadow effect.

Question 20

Terrestrial biomes are generally named based on the

A)dominant types of plant life.
B)geographical location of the biome.
C)dominant types of animal life.
D)climate of the region.

Question 21

Which of the following factors has the least effect on aquatic biomes?

A)human actions
B)the number of rain shadows
C)climate
D)local terrestrial biomes

Question 22

Which of these biomes shows the greatest species diversity?

A)desert
B)tundra
C)tropical forest
D)temperate deciduous forest

Question 23

The biome characterized by warmth, rain, and a rich diversity of trees, shrubs, and vines is the

A)tundra.
B)chaparral.
C)tropical forest.
D)temperate forest.

Question 24

The waters along the coast of Peru are unusually cold considering its proximity to the equator. This cold temperature is due to the

A)melting icebergs that calve from Andean glaciers into Peruvian coastal waters.
B)rain shadow effect created by the Andes and the introduction of cool rainwater into the coastal zone.
C)Gulf Stream, a current that transports cold water from the north.
D)Peru Current, which transports cold water from the south.

Question 25

Which of the following features is not a defining characteristic of aquatic biomes?

A)the dominant plants that live there
B)salt content
C)temperature
D)water depth

Question 26

The intertidal zone is somewhat unusual in comparison to the other aquatic biomes because

A)its primary production depends extensively on the photosynthetic output of mutualistic algae.
B)sand is one of the few aquatic substrates that regularly moves.
C)it experiences periodic submersion and exposure during the tidal cycle.
D)the mixing of salt- and freshwater moderates the temperature more so than any other aquatic habitat.

Question 27

The biome occupied primarily by drought-resistant shrubs and characterized climatically by dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters is the

A)temperate forest.
B)chaparral.
C)boreal forest.
D)tundra.

Question 28

How can the latitudinal variation of Earth's average temperatures be explained?

A)The curvature of Earth places the equator closest to the sun and the polar latitudes farthest from the sun.
B)The ocean moderates Earth's climate; the greatest extent of ocean is within the tropical latitudes.
C)Moist air such as that found in the tropics holds more heat than the dry air of the temperate and polar latitudes.
D)Sunlight strikes the equatorial latitudes nearly perpendicularly but strikes obliquely at the temperate and polar latitudes.

Question 29

Problems arise during an El Niño event when

A)warm surface water, depleted of its nutrients, flows toward the South American coast.
B)displaced organisms crowd into adjacent habitats.
C)warm surface waters evaporate water more rapidly, causing increased rainfall in every terrestrial biome.
D)ocean current systems reverse their flow directions and impede migrating marine fish and mammals.

Question 30

Which of these biomes typically displays the most fertile soils?

A)chaparral
B)grasslands
C)tropical forest
D)bog

Question 31

Boreal forests receive relatively little rainfall but moisture is adequate during the growing season because

A)these plants do not require much water.
B)evaporation rates are low due to the low temperatures.
C)the deep, nutrient-rich soils retain a great deal of water.
D)permafrost melts and provides water in the summer.

Question 32

Which of the following factors does not represent a significant contribution to desert formation?

A)high temperature
B)lack of liquid water
C)salt content of the soil
D)rain shadows

Question 33

In the oceanic region, how could you increase productivity?

A)pump oxygen into the water
B)mix carbon dioxide into the water
C)decrease the salinity of the water
D)add nutrients to the water

Question 34

The deep waters of tropical lakes are home to very few life forms. What best explains the low number of organisms in deep water?

A)Sunlight is unable to penetrate deeply into the water column.
B)Deep-water organisms are secondary consumers, but in tropical lakes there is very little primary production.
C)Rapid nutrient recycling in the warm upper layers of the lake use nutrients before they reach deeper waters.
D)The warm surface water is too buoyant to permit mixing with cooler, heavier water at depth, and results in low oxygen levels in deep water.

Question 35

Collectively, the biosphere's major terrestrial and aquatic life zones are called

A)biomes.
B)ecosystems.
C)habitats.
D)populations.

Question 36

You are looking at a beautiful vista of a lake with boreal forest in the background. This lake is crystal clear, and you realize that this lake is

A)too low in nutrients to support vigorous plankton growth.
B)filtered by the roots of the trees surrounding it.
C)too deep to support any life in it.
D)too shallow to support any trees in it.

Question 37

During an El Niño event,

A)sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean become significantly warmer.
B)a reversal of the Peru current brings Pacific Ocean water to the tip of South America where it mixes with Atlantic Ocean water.
C)the Earth's rotational axis tilts beyond its normal 23.5°.
D)sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean become significantly warmer.

Question 38

With respect to productivity, why are aquatic biomes more influenced by terrestrial biomes than vice versa?

A)Terrestrial biomes cover more of Earth's surface than aquatic biomes do.
B)Terrestrial biomes are unaffected by climate and thus are more stable than aquatic biomes.
C)Aquatic biomes are low in nutrients and rely on nutritional input from nearby terrestrial biomes.
D)The ocean covers nearly 70 percent of the Earth's surface, but the latitudes where temperature and rainfall are best for photosynthesis are terrestrial.

Question 39

In which of the following would oxygen-rich surface water be most likely to sink seasonally to replenish deeper waters?

A)near the shores of the Atlantic Ocean
B)in Lake Superior
C)in a shallow lake near Miami, Florida
D)in the Tennessee River

Question 40

Understanding plate tectonics has helped ecologists make sense of ancient biomes; when landmasses move in elevation or to different regions of the globe they experience climatic change.
Use the figure above to predict the change for a temperate deciduous forest as it moves south and elevates by 5,000 feet.

A)It becomes a tropical forest.
B)It becomes a grassland.
C)It becomes chaparral.
D)It becomes a boreal forest.

Question 41

An ____________________ studies the many levels of interaction between organisms and their environments.

Question 42

The biosphere is defined as all the living organisms on Earth along with the ____________________ in which they live.

Question 43

Zebra mussels were introduced into the Great Lakes by

A)ballast water from ships.
B)eggs carried on the feet of migratory birds.
C)a massive storm that carried water from Africa to North America.
D)people who were cleaning their fish tanks and poured the water down drains in their houses.

Question 44

A measure of the energy that producers are able to store as biomass is ____________________.

Question 45

The rotation of Earth causes winds to ____________________ as they move across the Earth's surface.

Question 46

Relatively little precipitation falls on the side of a mountain that faces away from prevailing winds because of the ____________________ effect.

Question 47

Introduced species that become serious pests are often called ____________________ species.

Question 48

The Earth's tropical areas are found at ____________________ latitudes than temperate areas.

Question 49

A ____________________ biome forms in a region with low precipitation, generally less than 25 cm/year.

Question 50

The activities of ____________________ greatly affect the location and integrity of both aquatic and terrestrial biomes.

Question 51

Species that are accidentally or intentionally released into new geographic regions are called ____________________ species.

Question 52

Why does the zebra mussel cause more trouble in North America than in its original home?

A)In North America, the zebra mussel has a more suitable climate.
B)In North America, the zebra mussel has a better food supply.
C)In its native Eurasia, the zebra mussel has many parasites and predators that keep its population in check.
D)In North America, people cultivate zebra mussels and protect them from predators.

Question 53

The Antarctic ozone hole

A)is most pronounced in April each year.
B)is caused by release of chlorofluorocarbons by treaty-required testing activities on Antarctica.
C)is caused by complex wind patterns that concentrate CFCs over Antarctica.
D)causes an increase in productivity of plankton in the ocean surrounding Antarctica.

Question 54

An ecosystem consists of both biotic (living)and ____________________ (nonliving)factors.

Question 55

The ozone hole shown below is due to destruction of ozone by

A)chlorofluorocarbons produced by seawater spraying on the Antarctic ice.
B)chlorofluorocarbons released by human activities and concentrated by atmospheric circulation patterns.
C)a lack of ultraviolet radiation from the sun during the Antarctic dark period.
D)the presence of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Question 56

Meteorologists use the term ____________________ to describe the temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and other physical conditions at a specific place over a short period of time.

Question 57

Some floating plastic toys were released accidently in the Pacific Ocean in 1992 and were seen in the North Atlantic in 2000 near where the Titanic sank off Newfoundland. Given the general ocean currents in the Atlantic, where would you most likely expect these toys to appear next?

A)on the east coast of South America
B)on the west coast of southern Africa
C)on the west coast of Britain
D)in the Caribbean Ocean

Question 58

How do ozone molecules form in the atmosphere?

A)CFCs react with water vapor and O2 to form hydrogen gas and ozone.
B)Ultraviolet light from the sun reacts with water vapor to form hydrogen gas and ozone.
C)Ultraviolet light from the sun reacts with oxygen gas, which then reacts with other oxygen gas to form ozone.
D)CFCs react with oxygen gas, which then reacts with other oxygen gas to form ozone.

Question 59

The ____________________ consists of all life and its surroundings.

Question 60

Atmospheric circulation occurs primarily within one of the ____________________ major convection cells.

Question 61

Chaparral and grasslands are examples of ____________________ that receive a moderate amount of rainfall.

Question 62

The four atmospheric convection cells significantly affect the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth's equator.

Question 63

The seafloor drops sharply to a depth of about 6,000 meters where the ____________________ ends.

Question 64

When a predator is removed or displaced from its ecosystem, only its preferred prey is affected.

Question 65

Occupying more than 75 percent of Earth's surface, ____________________ biomes are clearly the dominant habitat for life on this planet.

Question 66

When a predator is removed or displaced from its ecosystem, numerous additional species of both plants and animals can be affected.

Question 67

All cities at a given latitude have the same average temperature.

Question 68

Climate is defined as the prevailing weather conditions in an area over a time period of 30 years or longer.

Question 69

In the Northern Hemisphere most ocean currents run clockwise.

Question 70

Climate is more predictable than weather.

Question 71

A ____________________ is a wetland dominated by trees and shrubs.

Question 72

In the tundra, the layers of soil beneath the surface are permanently frozen in a layer called ____________________.

Question 73

For years, currents have been concentrating plastics in the Pacific Ocean in the Great Pacific ____________________.

Question 74

The ____________________ is the ecological zone in the marine biome from the shoreline to the continental shelf, and has high productivity.

Question 75

An easterly wind blows from the east toward the west.

Question 76

____________________ biomes are characterized by slowly flowing shallow water on lands that border larger bodies of water.

Question 77

Rain shadows often form on the side of a mountain that is away from the prevailing winds (leeward side). Rain falls on the windward side due to the air rising and cooling, causing the air to lose water as rain.

Question 78

The biosphere can be divided into major terrestrial and aquatic life zones called ____________________.

Question 79

Tropical regions receive approximately the same amount of solar radiation as the polar regions.

Question 80

Despite the absence of photosynthesis, the continuous settling of detritus makes the ____________________ zone of the coastal ocean a stable habitat.