Deck 20: Terrestrial Biomes

Question 1

Which of the following best describes an invasive species?

A) An invasive species is any non-native introduced species, whether it becomes established or not.
B) Non-native species become invasive when they become established in a new area, taking over niches that were already occupied by native species.
C) Dispersal, even if anthropogenic, is a normal biogeographic process and, therefore, no cause of alarm.
D) Approximately 90% of all introduced non-native species become invasive species.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following regarding biomes is not true?

A) Biomes are defined by native species to a region.
B) Most biomes have been greatly altered by human intervention.
C) The boundaries between most biomes are sharp and easily delineated.
D) Biomes often reflect potential mature vegetation, rather than actual vegetation of an area.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The naturalist and father of zoogeography Alfred Russel Wallace noted a distinct difference in the fauna between several islands in the Malay Archipelego (present-day Indonesia). He used these differences to delineate the boundary between the Australian and Oriental biogeographic realms. Which of the following best describes the reason for these differences?

A) Aboriginal tribes in Australia have greatly altered the fauna of Australia relative to the Oriental realm.
B) A deep ocean barrier inhibited dispersal between the two realms.
C) The environments of Australia and Asia are completely different, despite their relative close proximity.
D) Asia and European traders interacted for centuries prior to Wallace's discovery. Among the results of this interaction was an exchange of European (Palearctic) fauna and Oriental fauna.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Despite the high-level of biodiversity, this biome has infertile soils, principally Oxisols, to which the vegetation has adapted roots systems to capture nutrients from litter decay at the soil surface.

A) boreal and montane forest
B) temperate rain forest
C) tropical rain forest
D) midlatitude grasslands

Question 5

Distinct regions of broadly similar flora and fauna are called

A) biozones.
B) ecospheres.
C) biomes.
D) biogeographic realms.

Question 6

Though New Zealand is relatively close to Australia, it's faunal assemblages are quite different. For instance, there are no native marsupials in New Zealand. Which of the following best accounts for these differences?

A) New Zealand experienced a major extinction that wiped out its marsupials and other Australian fauna.
B) New Zealand was isolated from Australia during critical evolutionary times.
C) The environments of Australia and New Zealand are completely different, despite their close proximity.
D) New Zealand is an island, whereas Australia is a continent. As such, one wouldn't expect them to have the same faunal assemblages.

Question 7

This biome occurs in equatorial regions with erratic rainfall and typically occur on the margins of tropic rainforests.

A) Mediterranean shrubland
B) temperate rain forest
C) tropical savanna
D) tropical seasonal forest and scrub

Question 8

Which of the following is not one of the major groups of terrestrial vegetation biogeographers often designate?

A) phytoplankton
B) forest
C) grassland
D) desert

Question 9

Rainforests occupy approximately ________ of the world's land area, but represent about ________ of Earth's species.

A) 2%; 12%
B) 7%; 50%
C) 10%; 35%
D) 12%; 65%

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the tropical rain forest biome?

A) seasonal deciduous
B) perennial herbaceous
C) broadleaf evergreen
D) sclerophyllous

Question 11

This biome is characterized by a well-developed vertical structure with three distinct layers: an overstory, a middle canopy, and understory.

A) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
B) tropical rain forest
C) desert
D) Mediterranean shrubland

Question 12

The climate of the tropical rain forest biome is best described as

A) consistently warm, but seasonally dry.
B) having a distinct cold and warm season.
C) mild winter with a very hot summer.
D) consistently warm and wet.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about the distribution of the Earth's biodiversity?

A) There is a universally accepted manner to delineate the Earth's biodiversity.
B) In general, there tends to be greater biodiversity at higher latitudes than lower latitudes.
C) The Earth's biodiversity is spread unevenly across the planet.
D) The distribution of the Earth's biodiversity is driven solely by climate.

Question 14

Large woody vines that are rooted in the soil and found in the worlds tropical forests are called

A) understory.
B) lianas.
C) epiphytes.
D) bryophytes.

Question 15

The flora and fauna of this biome is characterized by high biodiversity, including many lianas, epiphytes, and arboreal animal species, such as sloths, monkeys, lemurs, and snakes.

A) tropical rain forest
B) boreal and montane forest
C) temperate rain forest
D) Mediterranean shrubland

Question 16

The boundary zone between adjacent biomes in which traits from both biomes may be found is called the

A) ecotone.
B) boundary layer.
C) edge effect.
D) transitional matrix.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes an invasive species?

A) An invasive species is any non-native introduced species, whether it becomes established or not.
B) Non-native species become invasive when they become established in a new area, taking over niches that were already occupied by native species.
C) Dispersal, even if anthropogenic, is a normal biogeographic process and, therefore, no cause of alarm.
D) Approximately 90% of all introduced non-native species become invasive species.

Question 18

Large, stable communities of plants and animals whose boundaries are closely linked to climate and soils are called

A) biozones.
B) ecospheres.
C) biomes.
D) biogeographic realms.

Question 19

Trees and shrubs that seasonally loose their leaves are called

A) evergreens.
B) annual herbs.
C) deciduous.
D) bryophytes.

Question 20

In which of the following regions would one likely not find a tropical rain forest?

A) the Amazon region in South America
B) equatorial Africa
C) Southeast Asia
D) the Pacific Northwest in the United States

Question 21

In which of the following biomes would one likely find wolf, elk, moose, bear, lynx, beaver, wolverine, and a number of migratory birds?

A) tropical rain forest
B) tropical savanna
C) desert
D) boreal and montane forest

Question 22

Trumpet trees (Tabebuia caraiba), a dry-season deciduous tree would likely be found in which of the following biomes?

A) tropical seasonal forest and scrub
B) tropical rain forest
C) desert
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 23

Moist continental climates support several distinct communities of needleleaf, broadleaf, and mixed forests in this biome found in North America, Europe, and Asia.

A) tropical savanna
B) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
C) tropical rain forest
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 24

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the tropical seasonal forest and scrub biome?

A) semideciduous
B) xerophytic
C) broadleaf evergreen
D) sclerophyllous

Question 25

Characteristic fauna of this biome include large ungulates (hooved mammals), such as giraffe, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, wildebeest, antelope, and rhinoceros.

A) tropical savanna
B) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
C) tropical rain forest
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 26

Which of the following climate types is associated with the midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest biome?

A) marine west coast
B) humid subtropical (warm summer)
C) humid continental (cool summer)
D) Mediterranean

Question 27

The Earth's largest living organism in terms of biomass is the

A) baobab (Adansonia digitata).
B) giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).
C) bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva).
D) sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Question 28

This biome is typically found in areas with marine west coast climates, characterized by high precipitation, moderate air temperatures, summer fog, and an overall maritime influence.

A) boreal and montane forest
B) tropical savanna
C) temperate rain forest
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 29

This biome, with some deciduous trees and an open parkland vegetation type, are transitional between tropical rain forest and grassland.

A) temperate rain forest
B) tropical seasonal forest and scrub
C) Mediterranean shrubland
D) broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 30

Local names of this biome include the Chaco, the Caatinga, the brigalow, and the dornveld.

A) tropical rain forest
B) tropical seasonal forest and scrub
C) Mediterranean shrubland
D) Arctic and alpine tundra

Question 31

This biome occupies large portions of the eastern United States, central Europe, and Asia.

A) temperate rain forest.
B) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
C) boreal and montane forest
D) tropical savanna

Question 32

The Serengeti in east Africa is an example of which biome?

A) Arctic and alpine tundra
B) desert
C) tropical savanna
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 33

The soils of the boreal forest acidic and leached of humus and clays, belonging to the ________ soil order.

A) Oxisols
B) Andisols
C) Spodosols
D) Entisols

Question 34

This biome consists of large expanses of xerophytic grassland and scattered trees and shrubs adapted to drought, grazing by large herbivores, and fire.

A) tropical rain forest
B) desert
C) tropical savanna
D) Mediterranean shrubland

Question 35

This extensive biome is dominated by evergreen needleleaf forests.

A) boreal and montane forest
B) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
C) tropical seasonal forest and scrub
D) temperate rain forest

Question 36

Which of the following best describes the climate characteristics of the tropical seasonal forest and scrub?

A) consistently warm and wet
B) moderate due to maritime effects
C) low precipitation and exceptionally hot
D) monsoonal rains and always warm

Question 37

This extensive biome stretches from the east coast of Canada to the Canadian Rockies, as well as across the entire extent of Russia to the European Plain and at high elevations at lower latitudes.

A) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
B) boreal and montane forest
C) desert
D) arctic and alpine tundra

Question 38

Representative animals in this biome include red fox, white-tailed deer, southern flying squirrel, opossum, bear, and a great variety of birds.

A) tropical savanna
B) desert
C) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
D) arctic and alpine tundra

Question 39

The largest area of tropical savanna is found in

A) Africa.
B) North America.
C) Asia.
D) Australia.

Question 40

Schrub vegetation refers to

A) drought resistent.
B) low shrubs and grasses with some adaptations to semiarid conditions.
C) a plant that survives seasonally unfavorable conditions underground.
D) woody plants with small, leathery evergreen leaves.

Question 41

According to MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island biogeography, which of the following is correct?

A) The number of species decreases with island area.
B) The number of species increases with island area.
C) There is no relationship between species number and island area.

Question 42

Which biome occurs at high elevations above the treeline, even at lower latitudes?

A) temperate rain forest
B) arctic and alpine tundra
C) boreal and montane forest
D) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 43

Which of the following soil types is most associated with the tallgrass prairie (midlatitude grassland)?

A) Mollisols
B) Spodosols
C) Oxisols
D) Andisols

Question 44

The 98th meridian marks an important biophysical mark in North America for this biome where increasing aridity produces vegetation of a distinctly different stature.

A) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
B) desert
C) Mediterranean shrubland
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 45

The near annihilation of the American bison (Bison bison) has restricted its occurrence to a few protected remnants and preserves in this biome.

A) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest
B) tropical savanna
C) boreal and montane forest
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 46

Which of the following is not a subdivision of the desert biome?

A) warm desert
B) tropical desert
C) cold desert and semidesert
D) polar desert

Question 47

Of all the natural biomes, this one is most modified by human activity.

A) midlatitude grassland
B) tropical savanna
C) tropical rainforest
D) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 48

Which of the following is not a regional name for the Mediterranean shrubland biome?

A) chaparral
B) maquis
C) taiga
D) mattoral

Question 49

Home to the endangered Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), this biome is now characterized by anthropogenic disturbance and mostly secondary-growth forest.

A) midlatitude grassland
B) temperate rain forest
C) Arctic and alpine tundra
D) desert

Question 50

The subdiscipline of biogeography that utilizes biogeographic principles, theories, and analyses to solve problems in biodiversity management is known as

A) island biogeography.
B) phylogenetic biogeography.
C) conservation biogeography.
D) historical biogeography.

Question 51

According to MacArthur and Wilson's theory of island biogeography, which of the following is correct?

A) The number of species decreases with island isolation.
B) The number of species increases with island isolation.
C) There is no relationship between species number and island isolation.

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the vegetation of the Mediterranean shrubland biome?

A) semideciduous
B) broadleaf deciduous
C) needleleaf evergreen
D) sclerophyllous

Question 53

Dry summers and winter precipitation maxima characterize this small biome is located in 5 disparate locations, typically on the west coast of continents between 30° and 40° latitude.

A) midlatitude grassland
B) tropical savanna
C) Mediterranean shrubland
D) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 54

This biome is generally located north of the 10°C (50°F) isotherm for the warmest month, such as the extreme northern areas of North America and Russia.

A) temperate rain forest
B) arctic and alpine tundra
C) boreal and montane forest
D) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 55

This biome occupies more than one-third of the Earth's land area and is characterized by xerophytic vegetation, low precipitation, and high potential evapotranspiration.

A) deserts
B) midlatitude grasslands
C) tropical savanna
D) Mediterranean shrubland

Question 56

The Earth's tallest trees are the

A) coast douglas fir (Pseudotsunga menziessii).
B) coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens).
C) giant ash (Eucalyptus regnans).
D) sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Question 57

In which biome would one most likely find xerophytic species?

A) tropical rain forest
B) deserts
C) boreal and montane forest
D) midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest

Question 58

Which of the following would one likely no find in the Arctic and alpine tundra biome?

A) sedges and mosses
B) broadleaf deciduous trees
C) low growing shrubs
D) grasses

Question 59

Succulents, such as the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) found in southern Arizona, southeastern California, northern Mexico, and the Baja Peninsula, are representative vegetation in which biome?

A) tropical savanna
B) deserts
C) Mediterranean shrubland
D) midlatitude grassland

Question 60

Which of the following is a topic of research in conservation biogeography?

A) The distribution and effects of invasive species.
B) The effects of climate change on biodiversity.
C) Conservation planning and the establishment of protected areas.
D) Invasive species, climate change, and conservation planning are all topics of research in conservation biology.

Question 61

Which of the following is not an anthropogenic biome?

A) residential rangelands
B) populated forest
C) pastoral village
D) boreal and montane forest

Question 62

"Wallace's line," which serves as a dividing line between different biogeographic realms and separates several present-day Indonesian islands from one another, is so named to show the arbitrary nature of such delineations.

Question 63

Invasive species can alter community dynamics and may lead to declines in native species.

Question 64

Due to the dense tropical rain forest canopy, only about 1% of the sunlight arriving at the canopy reaches the forest floor.

Question 65

The most extensive anthropogenic biome is

A) cropland.
B) rangelands.
C) settlements.
D) forested lands.

Question 66

Biogeographic regions (realms) are delineated based on species assemblages and their evolutionary history.

Question 67

The boundaries of biogeographic regions are usually quite arbitrary, usually following political boundaries rather than being based on biophysical criteria.

Question 68

Which of the following is not an issue in biodiversity conservation in the 21st Century?

A) Conservation of threatened and endangered species.
B) Mitigating against the possible ill effects of climate change.
C) Reducing human population growth.
D) Biodiversity conservation in the 21st Century requires addressing threats to endangered species, climate change, and human population pressures.

Question 69

Biomes are defined based on idealized potential mature vegetation in a given area rather than the actual vegetation.

Question 70

The range of environmental conditions frequently found in ecotones make them areas of high biodiversity.

Question 71

The biome concept has been applied equally to marine and aquatic systems as it has to terrestrial systems.

Question 72

Alfred Russel Wallace's zoogeographic realms roughly correspond to continental plate boundaries.

Question 73

A biome is a large, stable community of plants and animals whose boundaries are closely linked to climate.

Question 74

New Zealand and Australia have remarkably similar fauna indicating the two were likely once directly connected as a single land mass or via a land bridge during critical evolutionary times.

Question 75

The Earth's biodiversity is evenly spread across the planet.

Question 76

Distinctive oceanic regions identified on the basis of organisms, ocean floor topography, currents, areas of nutrient-rich upwelling circulation, or areas of significant predation are called

A) mariregions.
B) large marine ecosystems (LMEs).
C) the ocean biome.
D) the littoral zone.

Question 77

The boundaries between biomes are usually abrupt and related to rapid environmental changes, such as in climate or topography.

Question 78

Most non-native species introduced to a new community become established.

Question 79

The most powerful biotic agent on Earth, influencing all ecosystems on a planetary scale is

A) the sun.
B) humans.
C) tertiary consumers.
D) detritivores.

Question 80

Though occupying only 7% of the world's total land area, tropical rain forest's account for approximately 50% of the Earth's species and about half of its remaining forests.