Deck 48: Biomes and Global Ecology

Question 1

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, then the poles would receive the same amount of solar energy as the equator.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The high specific heat of water means that land masses near the equator are:

A)warmer than predicted because of all the heat in the water being released into the air.
B)cooler than predicted because of all the heat carried by ocean waters from low to high latitudes.
C)the same temperature regardless of the presence of water because it is only the amount of solar radiation on the land mass that affects temperature.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Most deserts occur at approximately 30° latitudes. Which of the following statements BEST reflects this finding?

A)Cool dry air descends at 30° latitude.
B)Warm dry air descends at 30° latitude.
C)Trade winds pull all moisture away from land and to the ocean at 30° latitude.
D)Westerlies pull all moisture away from land and to the ocean at 30° latitude.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

If winds did not move away from the equator to the poles:

A)temperatures at the poles would be lower.
B)ocean currents would be stronger.
C)temperatures at the equator would be lower.
D)the oceans would release more heat into the atmosphere.

Question 5

Consider the figure below (Figure 48.1). If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, how might this affect latitudinal differences in incoming solar radiation?

A)There would be no latitudinal difference because the axis of the Earth would be perpendicular to the sun.
B)There would be no latitudinal differences because all points on the Earth would be equidistant from the sun.
C)There would still be latitudinal differences because latitude is not determined by the Earth's position on its axis
D)There would still be latitudinal differences because incoming solar radiation would be spread across a greater area at the poles than at the equator.

Question 6

If you stand at the equator and throw a ball north (really hard), which direction will it deflect relative to where you were standing when you threw the ball?

A)The ball will deflect east.
B)The ball will deflect west.
C)The ball will move at the same speed as you and come right back to you.
D)None of the answer options is correct.

Question 7

At the equator, the Coriolis effect is much smaller than at the poles.

Question 8

If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator:

A)there would be no seasonality in climate.
B)seasonality would increase at high latitudes.
C)seasonality would increase at low latitudes.
D)summers would be warmer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 9

The growing season is that portion of the year when a plant can grow successfully. The growing season is determined by:

A)mean annual temperature.
B)mean annual precipitation.
C)annual variation in nutrient availability.
D)seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation.

Question 10

Which of the following does NOT contribute to rain shadows?

A)the direction of prevailing winds
B)warm air holds more moisture than cool air
C)warm air is less dense than cool air
D)All of the answer options contribute to rain shadows.

Question 11

Deserts caused by a rain shadow occur on the east (leeward) side of the Sierra Nevada range in California. Why does the desert exist on the east side, but not the west side of the range?

A)Warm, moist air coming off the ocean rises as it encounters the mountain range and releases all its water as it moves up the mountain and the air cools. Dry air moving down the other side of the mountain causes arid desert.
B)The air cools as it goes over the mountain and the dry air pulls moisture from the ground on the east side of the mountain.
C)The soil at the top of the mountains is cool so all the water is frozen in the soil and it cannot evaporate into the air to be carried to the east side of the mountain.
D)Lakes on the east side of the mountain keep enough moisture in the air to prevent moist air from releasing its water when it moves to the east side.

Question 12

The Coriolis effect governs the:

A)direction of ocean currents.
B)magnitude of ocean currents.
C)direction and magnitude of ocean currents.

Question 13

Theoretical predictions suggest that the North Pole should be cooler than it actually is. What helps to warm regions at high latitudes?

A)The Earth's tilt on its axis means that for half the year the temperatures at the North Pole will increase.
B)The heat-carrying capacity of water takes warm water toward the poles with ocean currents, and warms some northern regions.
C)Warm air from the equator moves toward the poles before descending.
D)There is a large amount of ice, and the high specific heat of the water in the ice means it holds a lot of heat.

Question 14

There are many climatological factors that contribute to high levels of rainfall at the equator. Which of the following is NOT a reason for high rainfall at the equator?

A)As warm air rises, it cools and water condenses to form rain.
B)There are high levels of solar radiation at the equator.
C)Temperatures are relatively constant.

Question 15

As air moves from the base up the side of a mountain, it cools. What is one consequence of this movement of air?

A)Moisture will drop as rain as the air moves up the side of the mountain.
B)The air is deflected and circles back down to the base of the mountain.
C)The air slows because cold air is less dense than warm air.
D)The air picks up additional moisture that falls on the other side of the mountain.

Question 16

At the equator, warm air rises and absorbs atmospheric water. The water comes out of the air as it falls at 30 degrees latitude.

Question 17

Consider the figure below (Figure 48.2). If the Earth spun on an axis that was perfectly perpendicular to the equator, how might this affect the light at the Arctic Circle?

A)There would be fewer days where there was no solar radiation at the Arctic Circle.
B)The land area where no solar radiation occurred would be reduced relative to its area now.
C)There would be no days at the Arctic Circle without solar radiation.

Question 18

If Earth had no oceans, would temperatures at the equator be hotter or colder than they are now?

A)Temperatures would be hotter.
B)Temperatures would be colder.
C)Temperatures would remain the same.
D)This question can't be answered without additional information.

Question 19

Temperature differences on Earth are caused primarily by the:

A)different seasons at each latitude.
B)amount of moisture in the air at each latitude.
C)amount of ice covering the landmass at each latitude.
D)amount of solar energy received per unit area at each latitude.

Question 20

What physical properties of the Earth BEST explain why there are different seasons?

A)One side of the Earth does not face the sun for half of each day.
B)The Earth rotates at a slight angle on its axis.
C)The elliptical orbit of the Earth causes seasons.
D)Seasons are caused by the dominant primary producers in any given area.

Question 21

The Mojave Desert lies to the east of the coastal and Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Deserts in Chile lie to the west of the Andes mountains. Both the California and the Andes mountains run along the west coast of their respective continents. What probably accounts for the fact that one desert is on the east side of its neighboring mountain range, while the other is on the west side of its neighboring mountain range?

A)Winds to the west of the Andes dry the air and create the deserts.
B)Winds move from east to west along the Andes in the southern hemisphere.
C)The Andes are very high, and block any wind that might move over.
D)The Andes are a young mountain range and there hasn't been enough time for plants to colonize the range.

Question 22

In either freshwater or marine biomes, which regions would you expect to have the HIGHEST productivity?

A)near the surface where sunlight penetrates
B)just below the deepest level where sunlight penetrates
C)at the deepest depth of the biome
D)in the middle depths of the biome

Question 23

Most terrestrial biomes are defined by their average annual temperature and precipitation, and the range of values can be organized in such a way to produce the figure below. Current predictions of rainfall change in the West have indicated that rainfall may decrease by as much as 40 cm in some areas. Imagine a chaparral location that experiences 100 cm of average annual rainfall and an average annual temperature of 10°C. If there were a decrease in rainfall of 40 cm per year, what would you expect?

A)The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left.
B)The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up.
C)The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change.
D)The region would become a temperate grassland/desert.

Question 24

Most terrestrial biomes are defined by their average annual temperature and precipitation, and the range of values can be organized in such a way to produce the figure below. Current predictions of global climate change indicate that temperatures may rise by as much as 5°C in some areas. Imagine a chaparral location that experiences 100 cm of average annual rainfall and an average annual temperature of 15°C. If there were an increase of 5°C, what would you expect?

A)The area under the curve for chaparral would shift to the left.
B)The area under the curve for chaparral would shift up.
C)The region would still be classified as chaparral because rainfall did not change.
D)The region would be become a savanna.

Question 25

There are temperate rainforests that occur in higher latitudes (at approximately 25 and 50 degrees). Based on your understanding of rainforests and how they are maintained at the equator, which of the following is a plausible cause for rainforests at higher latitudes?

A)Cold air flowing at these latitudes holds water and as it falls to the surface it drops its water.
B)Warm air deflected north drops its water as it moves away from the equator.
C)Wind moving across oceans picks up warm water, then drops the moisture as it moves over cooler land masses at these latitudes.
D)The Coriolis effect is much stronger at the equator. So warm, moist air that rises is deflected further north where the moisture drops out of the air and creates temperate rainforests

Question 26

Estimates of temperature at any given location on Earth that are based solely on the intensity of solar radiation will be:

A)very close to actual average annual temperature for that region.
B)slightly overestimated at the poles because ice at the poles reflects heat.
C)slightly underestimated at the equator because ocean currents carry heat from the equator toward higher latitudes.
D)slightly overestimated at the equator and underestimated at the poles because heat moves from the equator to the poles.

Question 27

Two people place flags simultaneously on the surface of the Earth: one flag just north of the South Pole (at approximately 85 degrees), and one flag at the equator (approximately 0 degrees). Which of the statements is a CORRECT reflection of their speed?

A)Both flags travel at the same speed because the Earth spins on its axis.
B)The flag at the pole travels at a faster speed than the flag at the equator, but it makes multiple revolutions in order to travel the same distance as the flag at the equator.
C)The flag at the equator travels faster than the flag at the pole because it will go further in one day (i.e., one turn on its axis).
D)None of the answer options is correct.

Question 28

Why don't we see pronounced seasons at the equator?

A)The sun hits the equator more directly than any other latitude throughout the whole year.
B)The amount of mass at the center of the Earth allows it to hold more heat and achieve constant temperature year-round.
C)There is more water at the equator, and the heat held by the water keeps the temperature constant at the equator.
D)There is more land at the equator; the heat it absorbs during the day heats the air at night, so temperature stays constant.

Question 29

At a minimum, primary producers require water, carbon dioxide, and light. These are things that are readily available in most ecosystems. However, we do not observe the same rates of net primary productivity in every region of the globe. Which of the following statements BEST reflects one reason why rates of productivity are not the same everywhere?

A)Rates of net primary productivity are actually the same everywhere; scientists just need to calculate the rates relative to plant biomass in a given ecosystem.
B)Although water is limited in certain ecosystems, nutrients that are scarce actually limit net primary productivity because they are necessary for growth.
C)Although water is limited in certain ecosystems, irrigation would solve the problem and equalize rates of net primary productivity in every ecosystem.
D)Rates of net primary productivity are actually limited by the amount of solar radiation. If net primary productivity were calculated as a yearly average, then this would show that ecosystems have the same rate of productivity.

Question 30

How many "cells" of circulating air are found around the Earth?

A)3
B)6
C)9
D)12

Question 31

Which of the following would you expect to observe as you go from the base to the top of a mountain?

A)the same climate and biome from the base to the top of the mountain
B)the same pattern of climate and biome change one would experience if hiking from high to low latitude
C)the same pattern of climate and biome change one would experience if hiking from low to high latitude
D)the same biome, but varying climate as you hike up the mountain

Question 32

Primary producers are present in every biome, including the deep sea. How can there be primary producers in the deep sea when sunlight does not penetrate to these depths?

A)There are probably only two trophic levels because there is only light available from bioluminescent organisms.
B)The higher trophic levels (secondary or tertiary consumers)are probably only represented by one or two species because of the low levels of energy available from primary producers.
C)Primary producers in the deep sea use energy from chemical reactions to drive the reduction of CO₂ to organic compounds.
D)The biome is not stable because there is not a constant source of molecules available for primary producers to convert into biomass.

Question 33

Seasons are caused by the Earth's elliptical orbit around the sun.

Question 34

Why are many of the world's deserts found at 23-30 degrees latitude?

A)Rising air at these latitudes wicks moisture away from the Earth.
B)Descending air masses cool as they go, absorbing more water vapor.
C)Descending air masses warm as they go, absorbing more water vapor.
D)The latitudinal belt is where solar energy input per square meter is highest, causing aridity.

Question 35

Warm air is _____ dense than cold air, and warm air holds _____ moisture than cold air.

A)more; less
B)more; more
C)less; more
D)less; less

Question 36

Why are savanna biomes found MOSTLY at subtropical latitudes?

A)Temperatures are warm, causing high rates of evaporation and transpiration.
B)Rainfall is low because of descending air masses.
C)Fires in dry grasslands inhibit the expansion of tree and shrub populations.
D)All of these choices are correct.

Question 37

Which of the following does NOT contribute to high rainfall in the tropics (at the equator)?

A)ability of warm air to hold more moisture than cool air
B)density of air at different temperatures
C)evapotranspiration rate
D)All of these choices are correct.

Question 38

Which latitude typically receives more rainfall than any other latitude?

A)0 degrees
B)30 degrees
C)60 degrees
D)90 degrees

Question 39

Sunlight hits the Earth MOST directly at:

A)the equator rather than at the North Pole because the North Pole tilts away from the sun.
B)the higher latitudes rather than at the lower latitudes.
C)either of the poles rather than at the equator.
D)the equator rather than at either of the poles.

Question 40

What would happen if the Earth were NOT tilted on an axis?

A)The seasons would be longer.
B)The seasons would be shorter.
C)There would be no seasons.
D)The seasons would be more extreme.
E)The seasons would be less extreme.

Question 41

This biome is the coldest, with the lowest biodiversity and a permanent layer of ice beneath the soil.

A)alpine
B)savanna
C)taiga
D)tundra
E)temperate coniferous forest

Question 42

Similar to the tundra, but without a permanent ice layer, this biome is characterized by low and slow growing plants with little protection from UV radiation.

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

Question 43

The pelagic zone includes the photic zone and the aphotic zone.

Question 44

Moderate temperatures and precipitation, as well as nutrient-rich soil due to annual leaf fall, characterize this biome.

A)temperate grassland
B)temperate coniferous forest
C)taiga
D)savannah
E)deciduous forest

Question 45

Tropical rainforests occur primarily at the equator. Explain how each of the following contributes to tropical rainforest biomes being found at the equator.
1. high levels of solar radiation
2. high evapotranspiration rates
3. differences in density of warm and cool air
4. moisture differences in warm and cool air

Question 46

Which ratio provides a good estimate of vegetation type within biomes?

A)evaporation to transpiration
B)temperature to biomass
C)evaporation to precipitation
D)potential evapotranspiration to precipitation
E)elevation to precipitation

Question 47

This biome is situated around the equator and boasts the greatest biodiversity of any biome.

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

Question 48

Turbulent, cool-water rivers generally have higher oxygen concentrations than warm-water rivers.

Question 49

In deeper waters, nutrients primarily come from:

A)detritus from more productive shallower waters.
B)thermal vents.
C)surface winds creating deep ocean currents.
D)glacial ice melt.

Question 50

Freshwater biomes include a photic and aphotic zone.

Question 51

Which of these biomes has a plant composition that is MOST similar to the temperate coniferous forest?

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

Question 52

Which of the following systems is the MOST stable in terms of species composition and distribution?

A)populations
B)communities
C)ecosystems
D)biomes
E)trophic pyramids

Question 53

Biomes are strictly terrestrial systems.

Question 54

Some of the characteristics used to describe biomes include precipitation and:

A)number of grass species.
B)average temperature.
C)number of trophic levels in the communities.
D)species richness.

Question 55

Deserts can be found at 30° N and 30° S of the equator. If you visited the deserts in both regions you would see that the dominant plants look very similar. This is MOST likely the result of:

A)common ancestry.
B)convergent evolution.
C)adaptive radiation.
D)biome specialization.

Question 56

On land, _____, which are broad, ecologically uniform areas, are recognized by their characteristic vegetation that reflects adaptation of form and physiology to climate.

A)biomes
B)latitudes
C)continents
D)countries

Question 57

In western mountain ranges of North America (e.g., the Sierra Nevadas and the Rockies), where will you find a rain shadow?

A)on the west facing slope
B)on the east facing slope
C)on the furthest northern tip of the mountain range
D)on the furthest southern tip of the mountain range

Question 58

Broad, ecologically uniform areas with stable and distinctive collections of species are called:

A)interactions.
B)habitats.
C)communities.
D)ecosystems.
E)biomes.

Question 59

Most terrestrial biomes are defined by their average annual temperature and precipitation, and the range of values can be organized in such a way to produce the figure below. Based on your understanding of wind, air, and water movements, would you expect to find each of these biomes represented in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres at roughly equal latitudes?

A)no, because Earth rotates on an axis
B)no, because land masses are not equally distributed on Earth
C)yes, because there are circulation cells that form and move in an equal and opposite way on the Northern and Southern hemisphere

Question 60

Into which of the following regions in the ocean is sunlight able to penetrate?

A)littoral zone
B)photic zone
C)benthic zone
D)neritic zone

Question 61

Plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but do not contribute carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Question 62

Which of the following groups of biomes is listed in order of greatest to lowest potential evapotranspiration ratio?

A)rain forest, deciduous forest, desert
B)desert, deciduous forest, rain forest
C)deciduous forest, desert, rain forest
D)desert, rain forest, deciduous forest
E)deciduous forest, rain forest, desert

Question 63

If phosphorus concentrations were to suddenly increase in a marine ecosystem, which of the following would likely occur?

A)increased primary productivity
B)decreased primary productivity
C)no change in the rate of primary productivity

Question 64

Recent studies indicate that the addition of iron to areas of the ocean could increase productivity. Increased productivity could be beneficial for many reasons. What may be one of the LARGEST negative impacts that could occur with "fertilizing the oceans with iron"?

A)Increased productivity would provide more biomass for subsequent levels on the trophic pyramid.
B)Increased productivity could result in higher respiration rates and regions of depleted oxygen in the ocean.
C)Increased productivity would be matched by increased detritus falling to the ocean floor, burying many deep-sea organisms.
D)Increased productivity could result in depletion of nitrogen available in ocean waters.

Question 65

Consider the following representation of the marine nitrogen cycle: ‬ NH₄⁺ (ammonium ion) plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle, and is excreted by many aquatic organisms. Why is the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen necessary if there is a readily available source of biologically usable nitrogen already present in aquatic biomes?

A)Atmospheric nitrogen serves as a reservoir to be converted when other forms of nitrogen have been depleted from an area.
B)Ammonium ions will eventually be oxidized to nitrogen gas (N₂)that will be returned to the atmosphere.
C)Nitrogen still must be fixed from the atmosphere so that global climate doesn't change.
D)Nitrogen must be fixed so that terrestrial plants can utilize it for growth.

Question 66

The largest reservoir of the nutrient phosphorus is:

A)lakes.
B)air.
C)organisms.
D)rocks

Question 67

Evaporation from the Earth's surface is determined by all of the following EXCEPT:

A)wind.
B)solar radiation.
C)soil acidity.
D)altitude.
E)precipitation.

Question 68

In which of the following regions would you expect to find river biomes with HIGH levels of oxygen in the water?

A)slow-moving, muddy rivers in the Amazon
B)fast-moving, muddy rivers in the Amazon
C)slow-moving, clear-water rivers in the Rockies
D)fast-moving, clear-water rivers in the Rockies

Question 69

Why do some water masses in subsurface oceans have little or no oxygen?

A)Rates of photosynthesis are low in overlying waters, limiting the availability of oxygen.
B)Rates of photosynthesis are high in overlying waters, supporting high rates of respiration in waters that deplete the oxygen there.
C)Waters underneath the surface oceans are cold and so have a limited capacity to carry oxygen in solution.
D)Large carnivores deplete oxygen in subsurface oceans via their high rates of oxygen metabolism.

Question 70

Which of these biomes receives the least amount of rainfall, and therefore has low primary production, nutrient-poor soil, and plant species that are adapted for water-storage?

A)tundra
B)alpine
C)chaparral
D)desert
E)savannah

Question 71

Primary producers fix phosphorus into biologically useful molecules just like they fix carbon and, in some cases, nitrogen.

Question 72

If rates of nitrogen fixation increased tenfold in aquatic ecosystems, would you expect a tenfold increase in primary productivity?

A)yes, because nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems
B)yes, because there is an abundance of dissolved carbon dioxide in aquatic ecosystems
C)no, because there are other limiting nutrients in aquatic ecosystems besides nitrogen
D)no, because there would be a higher increase in primary productivity

Question 73

Productivity in coastal ecosystems is higher than in other areas of the ocean. How would the removal of viruses from coastal waters affect this productivity?

A)Productivity would increase because fewer organisms would be dying.
B)Productivity would increase because there would be more space for organisms to grow.
C)Productivity would decrease because the turnover of nutrients would be slower.
D)Productivity would decrease because fewer inorganic molecules would be available.
E)Productivity would remain the same.

Question 74

Is the nitrogen cycle different in marine than in terrestrial biomes?

A)Yes, because one is in water and one is on land.
B)Yes, because the organisms living in each area are different.
C)No, because nitrogen cycles between and within all biomes.
D)No, because all nitrogen ultimately comes from the atmosphere.

Question 75

Why are microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and archaeons so important to the carbon cycle?

A)These microorganisms generate the oxygen necessary for aerobic organisms.
B)Many of these microorganisms generate carbon dioxide, making it available for primary producers.
C)These microorganisms form their own portion of the carbon cycle in case other areas of the carbon cycle fail.
D)These microorganisms bridge the carbon cycle between terrestrial and marine environments.

Question 76

Autotrophs remove _____ from the air and fix this into tissues providing _____ for secondary consumers.

A)nitrogen; energy
B)carbon dioxide; energy
C)nitrogen; amino acids
D)carbon dioxide; inorganic molecules

Question 77

Coastal regions of the ocean have high primary productivity. What is the primary reason for this pattern?

A)There are few competitors so more photosynthetic organisms can live there.
B)Sunlight is able to penetrate coastal waters, so photosynthetic rates are high among autotrophs.
C)The water is warm, so more autotrophs live in coastal areas.
D)Erosional runoff from continents supplies abundant nutrients.
E)Upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters commonly occurs along continental margins.

Question 78

A tundra ecosystem would include which of the following?

A)all of the bryophytes inhabiting the tundra
B)all of the mammals inhabiting the tundra
C)the rainfall patterns the tundra experiences
D)the amount/duration of sunlight the tundra receives
E)All of these choices are correct.

Question 79

Which of the following is a process responsible for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere?

A)respiration
B)photosynthesis
C)weight loss by dieters
D)decay

Question 80

If rates of nitrogen fixation increased tenfold in terrestrial ecosystems, would you expect a tenfold increase in primary productivity?

A)Yes, because nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in terrestrial ecosystems.
B)Yes, because there is an abundance of carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems.
C)No, because there are other limiting nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems besides nitrogen.
D)No, because there would be a higher increase in primary productivity.