Question 1

In Europe the major mountain ranges run east-west, blocking the migration of species during previous glacial periods.Most North American mountain ranges run north-south and did not block the retreat of species during glacial periods.This suggests that speciation in North America during glacial periods was most influenced by the process of

Accepted Answer

A)  vicariance. 
B)  topography. 
C)  free dispersal. 
D)  climate change. 
E)  continental drift.

Question 2

A hummingbird conservation group wants to find out more about the birds' ecology.Which hummingbird study would best be described as a landscape-level study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Doing a summer count of hummingbirds within a single town 
B)  Studying the feeding habits of a summer hummingbird population in a garden 
C)  Studying the reproductive success of hummingbirds at several sites in the same town 
D)  Marking dates of hummingbird arrival and departure at the organization's home office 
E)  Correlating dates of hummingbird arrival with dates of flowering along a migration corridor

Question 3

Refer to the diagram below.  According to the diagram, the greatest amount of incoming solar radiation is

Accepted Answer

A)  absorbed by the surface. 
B)  absorbed by the atmosphere. 
C)  reflected by the surface. 
D)  reflected by clouds and atmospheric gases. 
E)  turned into heat and released back into space.

Question 4

Applying the theory of island biogeography to habitat fragmentation, what would be the best suggestion conservation managers could make to loggers to maintain the highest species diversity possible?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clear-cut all trees and replant them as quickly as possible. 
B)  When logging, keep fragments large and near each other. 
C)  When logging, keep fragments large and far from each other. 
D)  When logging, keep fragments small and far from each other. 
E)  After logging, burn fragment boundaries to eliminate edge effects.

Question 5

A grasshopper species lives in a temperate grassland.Along the southern edge of the grasshopper's range, drought over several years changes the habitat into a semi-desert.A large population of the grasshopper in this region separates from the rest of the population, moves farther south, and eventually becomes a new species, much better adapted to arid conditions.This instance of speciation apparently resulted from which evolutionary process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dispersal 
B)  Vicariance 
C)  Genetic drift 
D)  Continental drift 
E)  Climate change

Question 6

Due to the tilt of Earth's axis, summer in Australia begins in the month of _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Due to the tilt of Earth's axis,...

Question 7

Much of the length of the Nile River, in Northern Africa, flows through desert, mountains, and plains.When a river flows through a flat desert, such as most of the Sahara, what aspect of its flow would most likely change, and how would it change?

Accepted Answer

A)  The speed of river flow will increase. 
B)  The speed of river flow will decrease. 
C)  The volume of river flow will increase. 
D)  The volume of river flow will decrease. 
E)  Both speed and volume of river flow will increase.

Question 8

In the Amazon rainforest, cutting forests increases hazards around the remaining fragments, including fires, hunting, and disease.These increased hazards are the result of _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the Amazon rainforest, cutting forests increases...

Question 9

Humans have transformed an estimated 50 percent of Earth's land surface for agricultural land, cities, highways, and other uses.What is the most likely effect this has had on world climate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The effect has been minimal because many natural areas still exist. 
B)  Both temperature and precipitation have increased. 
C)  Both temperature and precipitation have decreased. 
D)  Temperature has increased, while precipitation has decreased. 
E)  Temperature has decreased, while precipitation has increased.

Question 10

All of these would be considered strictly ecological studies except

Accepted Answer

A)  examining the winter diet of ducks. 
B)  examining the impact of sedimentation on coral reefs. 
C)  updating endangered species legislation pertaining to fish. 
D)  quantifying the level of competition between mussels and clams. 
E)  studying the impacts of temperature on overwinter survival of pine beetles.

Question 11

Seagrasses are flowering plants that are rooted in the shallow waters off coastal areas.Seagrass beds along the coast of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean are often associated with coral reefs; together, they support an extremely rich and diverse community of organisms.These ecosystems are often compared to rainforests, most likely due to their effect on

Accepted Answer

A)  albedo. 
B)  temperature. 
C)  precipitation. 
D)  biodiversity. 
E)  sedimentation.

Question 12

Seabird species diversity is higher at temperate and polar latitudes than in the tropics, in contrast to diversity in most other groups of species.This might be explained by

Accepted Answer

A)  higher ocean productivity at lower latitudes. 
B)  higher ocean productivity at higher latitudes. 
C)  lower species extinction rates at higher latitudes. 
D)  more favorable climatic conditions at higher latitudes. 
E)  more time to accumulate species changes at higher latitudes.

Question 13

An ecologist is studying the growth rate of fish populations in the most pristine, untouched coral reef she can find.The reef is located in a protected natural area where no fishing or other human activities are allowed.What is the most scientifically appropriate way for her to make her study more modern, or "use-inspired"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Relocate the study to an area where fishing is allowed. 
B)  Do the study in a laboratory setting instead of in nature. 
C)  Measure mortality rate rather than growth rate. 
D)  Keep the same study design, but periodically remove fish from the population. 
E)  Set up a second study site in a fished area, and compare growth rates in the two areas.

Question 14

Which factor would not be a problem for a scientist wishing to study reasons for the existence of latitudinal gradients in species diversity?

Accepted Answer

A)  Latitudinal gradients emerge over evolutionary time scales. 
B)  Spatial scales are very large, limiting or preventing experimentation. 
C)  Little is known about the general patterns of latitudinal diversity of species. 
D)  Many factors, such as climate, geography, and productivity, vary with latitude. 
E)  Different species groups may vary in latitudinal diversity for different reasons.

Question 15

A small prairie state park is surrounded by agricultural land.It is the only prairie remaining in the state and is geographically and genetically isolated from remaining stands of prairie in surrounding states.This is an example of habitat _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A small prairie state park is surrounded...

Question 16

A large city suffers from a major heat-island effect, which is becoming more noticeable as climate change progresses.City planners are considering methods for decreasing the heat-island effect.Which of these methods would likely be most effective?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allow cars on the streets only at night. 
B)  Increase the number of parks and green roofs. 
C)  Paint existing roofs and buildings darker colors. 
D)  Build more roads leading out to the country. 
E)  Install large "smokestacks" that pump hot air out of the city.

Question 17

On the west coast of South America, moisture-containing wind blowing west from the Pacific Ocean encounters the coastal Andes mountain range.What are the likely climatic conditions on the two sides of the mountains?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both sides will have wet climates because of moisture from the ocean winds. 
B)  Both sides will have dry climates because rain will only fall high in the mountains. 
C)  The windward side will have a wet climate, but the leeward side will be dry because rain will fall before reaching it. 
D)  The windward side will have a dry climate; moisture will develop in the mountains and will fall on the leeward side, causing a wet climate. 
E)  The windward side will have a wet climate; a temperature inversion in the mountains will produce more moisture from clouds, which will fall on the leeward side.

Question 18

Ecologists use a mixture of observations, experiments, and models to study ecological systems.Explain why all three methods are important in ecological studies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ecologists use a mixture of observations, experiments,...

Question 19

As agriculture and urbanization continue to expand in the United States, more natural areas are lost or fragmented.Even public lands, including national parks, are subject to human activities such as cattle grazing and mining, causing further fragmentation.Given this situation, plus your knowledge of biogeographic patterns and factors affecting them, what overall trend in species diversity might be expected to occur in the next 100 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  Species diversity will likely increase, as most species rapidly adapt to urbanization. 
B)  Species diversity will likely not change, as most species adapt rapidly to urbanization. 
C)  Species diversity will likely decline due to increased extinctions and smaller natural areas. 
D)  Species diversity will likely decline due to limited immigration, but extinction rates will likely not change. 
E)  Species diversity will likely not change; extinctions will increase but will be balanced by increasing immigration.

Question 20

A large river flows across a plain and will soon reach the ocean.A small stream flows rapidly down a mountain.Compared to the river, the stream would have water that is

Accepted Answer

A)  cooler and more oxygenated. 
B)  warmer and more oxygenated. 
C)  cooler and less oxygenated. 
D)  warmer and less oxygenated. 
E)  warmer, with more sediment.

Exam 53: The Physical Environment and Biogeography of Life