Deck 20: The Biosphere

Question 1

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

Answer 1

C

Question 2

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

Answer 2

C

Question 3

During an El Niño event,

A) sea surface temperatures in the eastern 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.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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 5

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

Question 6

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, soil composition may not allow the biome to develop.
D) Where aquatic and terrestrial biomes meet, no type of biome is able to become established.

Question 7

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

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

Question 8

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 9

The following figure 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) The mountain range is too tall for the clouds to pass.
C) Cold air on the windward side causes the clouds to sink before they cross the mountain range.
D) The leeward side is so warm that the moisture falling from the clouds evaporates before it hits the ground.

Question 10

Species that are accidentally introduced into new geographic regions

A) are usually plants.
B) have no effect on the region.
C) are mostly aquatic organisms.
D) can become pests.

Question 11

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 12

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.

Question 13

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 14

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 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

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 17

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 18

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.

Question 19

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 predators that keep its population in check.
D) In North America, people cultivate zebra mussels and protect them from predators.

Question 20

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 21

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 22

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 23

Bogs and ponds form in the tundra during the summer because

A) there is abundant rainfall at that time.
B) the permafrost melts.
C) highly vascularized plants release moisture into the soil.
D) cool temperatures promote low evaporation of melted ice in upper soil layers.

Question 24

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 25

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 uses 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 26

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 27

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 28

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 north 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 29

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 30

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 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

Which of these biomes typically displays the most fertile soils?

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

Question 35

Coniferous plants are the predominant vegetation in which biome?

A) boreal forest
B) tundra
C) grassland
D) chapparal

Question 36

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 37

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 38

Which of these biomes shows the greatest species diversity?

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

Question 39

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

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

Question 40

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 41

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

Question 42

Which of the following is a consequence of marine pollution?

A) a dramatic increase in greenhouse gases
B) interference with predator-prey relationships
C) an increase in acid rain
D) ozone depletion

Question 43

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 44

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 45

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

Question 46

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 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 47

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

Question 48

A(n)________ studies the many levels of interaction between organisms and their environments.

Question 49

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

Question 50

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

Question 51

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

Question 52

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

Question 53

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

Question 54

The goal of the Ocean Sole project is to

A) bring awareness to endangered species.
B) prohibit ships from releasing waste into the ocean.
C) recycle marine pollution and generate public awareness of marine pollution.
D) generate funds for environmental education.

Question 55

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

Question 56

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

Question 57

The activities,specifically that of ________,greatly affect the location and integrity of both aquatic and terrestrial biomes.

Question 58

Some floating plastic toys were released accidentally 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 59

The ________ consists of all life and its surroundings.

Question 60

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

Question 61

Climate is more predictable than weather.

Question 62

A ________ is a wetland dominated by trees and shrubs.

Question 63

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

Question 64

An easterly wind blows from the east toward the west.

Question 65

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

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

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

Question 69

Dumping ballast water,such as this ship is doing,has the potential to introduce new organisms to aquatic environments far from their native habitats,but no organisms have been transferred this way so far.

Question 70

In the Northern Hemisphere,most ocean currents run clockwise.

Question 71

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

Question 72

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

Question 73

Species introduced into a new environment by humans always become invasive species.

Question 74

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

Question 75

The plastics involved in marine pollution undergo ________in which ultraviolet light from the sun breaks the plastic into tiny pieces.

Question 76

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

Question 77

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

Question 78

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

Question 79

Climate is defined as the prevailing weather conditions in an area over a time period of decades.

Question 80

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