Deck 36: Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere

Question 1

Alpine tundra is found on the top of mountains while arctic tundra is found close to the North Pole. These two biomes have similar plants and animals even though they can be located in very different regions of the world. Why are these two biomes so similar?

A) Both alpine tundra and arctic tundra are found close to coniferous forests.
B) Alpine tundra is cold and dry because it is at a high latitude and arctic tundra is cold and dry because it is at a high altitude.
C) Both types of tundra are located in areas of intense sunshine.
D) Alpine tundra grows mostly grasses because the soil is poor and arctic tundra grows mostly grasses because the soil is frozen.
E) Both types of tundra support large grazing herds that keep the grasses clipped short.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Why is a rocky seashore inhabited by more types of organisms than a sandy seashore?

A) The rocks trap and hold more nutrients.
B) The sand drains water more quickly at low tide.
C) The sand does not hold nutrients.
D) Predators are more likely to hunt along sandy shores.
E) It is easier for organisms to attach to the rocks.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

What causes an ocean breeze to blow?

A) the presence of mountain ranges along the shoreline
B) the fact that water heats rapidly
C) the differential heating of land and water
D) the fact that land heats much more slowly than water
E) the heating of the air around the equator

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following descriptions applies specifically to coniferous forests?

A) The permafrost layer, located below the top soil, is always frozen.
B) The landscape of pools and mires in the tundra is due to melted snow that does not evaporate.
C) The long periods of darkness, sometimes even six months of night, prevents trees and other photosynthetic producers from growing.
D) In the summer, the tundra is alive with insects and birds.
E) The biome is dominated by spruce trees and moose.

Question 5

Why is the energy of the sun less intense at the poles as compared to the equator?

A) The tilt of the Earth moves the poles farther away from the most intense sunlight.
B) Sunlight is spread wider at the poles and, therefore, less intense.
C) The movement of wind across the face of the Earth pulls cooler air from over the oceans and blows it toward the poles. This cools the poles while leaving the region around the equator hot.
D) The movement of cool waters in ocean currents flows away from the equator and cools the air farther from the equator, causing the polar regions to be cooler than the equatorial region.
E) The Earth shifts in its orbit periodically and at times it moves farther from the sun.

Question 6

In the desert, plants and animals are adapted to withstand

A) heat only.
B) dryness only.
C) cactus spines.
D) earthquakes.
E) heat and dryness.

Question 7

How does temperature change in relation to the latitude?

A) Moving away from the equator toward the North Pole, the temperature increases. Moving away from the equator toward the South Pole, the temperature decreases.
B) Moving away from the equator toward either the North Pole or the South Pole, the temperature decreases.
C) Moving away from the equator toward either the North Pole or the South Pole, the temperature increases.
D) Moving away from the equator toward either the North Pole or the South Pole, the temperature increases until 60° and then it decreases.
E) There is no relationship between temperature and latitude.

Question 8

If the Earth was standing still (not rotating), wind directions would

A) cease.
B) all run north and south.
C) all run east and west.
D) remain the same since Earth's rotation does not affect wind directions.
E) all run towards the equator.

Question 9

Which of the following is an area where fresh and salt water meet and mix?

A) lake
B) river
C) estuary
D) stream
E) pond

Question 10

Tropical rainforests have poor soil because

A) the bedrock beneath the soil that lacks iron and phosphorus.
B) intense sunlight bleaches the soil which removes valuable nutrients.
C) there is a lack of leaf litter.
D) the soil lacks fungi and bacteria.
E) high temperatures that allow rapid decomposition and rapid recycling of nutrients.

Question 11

What environmental factor makes it very difficult for organisms that live in estuaries?

A) the movement of water as the river flows into the ocean
B) the constant fluctuation in the salinity of the water as the salt water and fresh water mix
C) the fluctuating nutrient levels as the river brings different levels of nutrients to the estuary
D) the change in water levels as the tide ebbs and flows
E) the change in the temperature of the water since the river water is colder than the ocean

Question 12

Which of the following pairs is mismatched?

A) littoral lake zone-closest to shore
B) benthic zone-lake or ocean floor
C) limnetic lake zone-on surface away from shore
D) profundal zone-division of the open ocean
E) epipelagic-upper part of open waters of ocean

Question 13

A lake that is rich in algae and rooted plants but lacks oxygen is

A) oligotrophic.
B) eutrophic.
C) benthic.
D) pelagic.
E) limnetic.

Question 14

Where would a rain shadow be located?

A) the windward side of a mountain range located near the ocean
B) a mountain range in the middle of a desert
C) a mountain range located next to a large lake
D) the leeward side of a mountain range located near the ocean
E) a mountain range located 30 degrees north of a tropical rainforest

Question 15

What drives the movement of winds across the face of the Earth?

A) the unequal heating of the surface of the Earth by the sun
B) the currents of the oceans
C) the distribution of mountains and valleys
D) the rotation of the Earth
E) the greenhouse effect

Question 16

Which of the following communities will have the highest net primary productivity?

A) prairie grassland
B) temperate deciduous forest
C) tropical rain forest
D) tundra
E) taiga

Question 17

Which of the following factors will have the greatest impact in determining the type of biome in a location?

A) temperature
B) soil conditions
C) types of animals present
D) wind patterns
E) the variety of plants that live in the region

Question 18

Climate is due to temperature and rainfall that in turn are determined by

A) variations in the solar radiation received on a spherical Earth.
B) the tilt of the Earth's axis as it rotates about the sun.
C) the distribution of landmasses and oceans.
D) the topography or landscape, such as mountains.
E) All of the answer choices describe factors that affect climate.

Question 19

A coral reef community would be best described as

A) a hard, stony desert.
B) a group of unique organisms that live deep in the ocean.
C) a densely populated community that only occurs in shallow water near the shoreline.
D) a community based on animals that migrate from one area of the ocean to another.
E) undersea flowers.

Question 20

In the water cycle, evaporated equatorial air masses lose most of their moisture as they rise. The air immediately then flows

A) all the way to the poles where it causes snow.
B) all the way to the poles if it does not encounter mountain ranges, which it usually does.
C) to about 60^° north or south and then cool and condense, supporting a band of moist vegetation.
D) to about 30^° north or south and then descends, creating a band of deserts.
E) to the west.

Question 21

When moist air from over an ocean moves inland and up a mountain slope, it causes heavy precipitation on the windward side. On the leeward side of the mountain, the region receives far less rain. This is referred to as

A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Question 22

Which pair is mismatched?

A) tundra-short grasses
B) savanna-acacia trees
C) prairie-epiphytes
D) coniferous forest-evergreen trees
E) deserts-cacti

Question 23

Which of the following statements is true about biomes?

A) They vary according to climate.
B) They are communities of similar populations.
C) They vary according to latitude and altitude.
D) They are characterized by particular animals and plants.
E) All of the answer choices are true statements about biomes.

Question 24

Worldwide, deserts are primarily located at

A) the equator since the light intensity is greatest there.
B) the centers of all continents which are the farthest points from an ocean.
C) about 30^° north and south latitude.
D) about 60^° north and south latitude.
E) random points wherever wind patterns fail to bring moist air.

Question 25

Trees such as oak and maple and animals such as foxes and deer are found in the

A) tropical rain forest.
B) tundra.
C) taiga.
D) chaparral.
E) temperate deciduous forest.

Question 26

In some parts of the world, spring causes temperature differentials between the land and the ocean that result in a gigantic circulation of air. When this happens, warm air rises over the land, and cooler air comes in off the ocean to replace it. The warm air rises, loses its moisture, creating very wet conditions for almost half the year. This climatic pattern is known as

A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Question 27

Which of the following biomes contains trees?

A) shrublands
B) tundra
C) desert
D) taiga
E) savanna

Question 28

A coniferous forest characterized by trees such as spruce, fir, and pine and animals such as bears, deer, moose, beavers, and muskrats is known as

A) tropical rain forest.
B) tundra.
C) temperate deciduous forest.
D) chaparral.
E) taiga.

Question 29

Grasslands that contain some trees, occur in regions where a relatively cool, dry season is followed by a hot, rainy season are known as

A) savannah.
B) steppes.
C) prairies.
D) taiga.
E) chapparal.

Question 30

A coniferous forest that runs along the west coast of Canada and the United States, due to the moist winds off the Pacific, is called the

A) tropical deciduous forest.
B) tundra.
C) temperate rain forest.
D) taiga.
E) temperate deciduous forest.

Question 31

There is distinctive lack of trees in the tundra because the

A) atmosphere lacks enough oxygen.
B) there is no soil.
C) there are too many earthquakes.
D) subsoil is permanently frozen.
E) shrubs outcompete the trees.

Question 32

Arctic winds blowing over inland bodies of water become warmed and saturated with moisture. When these winds rise, they release their moisture as snow. This is referred to as

A) lake effect.
B) eutrophication.
C) a montane successional gradient.
D) a monsoon climate.
E) rain shadow.

Question 33

Which of the following statements pertains specifically to conifers?

A) They include oak, beech, and maple trees.
B) They lose their leaves in the fall.
C) They grow their leaves in the spring.
D) They are found in a moderate climate with a relatively high rainfall.
E) They produce their seeds in cones.

Question 34

Which biome has the greatest diversity of species and total amount of living matter?

A) epipelagic region of the ocean
B) temperate deciduous forest
C) tropical rain forest
D) taiga
E) African savanna

Question 35

The characteristics of a biome are determined by

A) amount of rainfall.
B) solar energy.
C) atmospheric content
D) soil.
E) All of the answer choices describe factors that influence the characteristics of a biome.

Question 36

The coastal biome characterized by dry summers, wet winters, and is highly flammable is called

A) grassland.
B) tundra.
C) taiga.
D) shrublands.
E) desert.

Question 37

As you move north from the equator, what is the correct sequence of biomes?

A) tundra, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tropical forest
B) tundra, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tropical forest
C) tropical forest, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, tundra
D) tropical forest, coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tundra
E) tropical forest, deciduous forest, tundra, coniferous forest

Question 38

Temperate deciduous forests are defined by

A) a humid climate with seasonal droughts.
B) high variation in day and night length.
C) a high amount of organisms living in tree canopies.
D) a growing season between 140 and 300 days.
E) a rich topsoil horizon.

Question 39

Which biome is characterized by little rainfall, no trees, permafrost, and reindeer?

A) grasslands
B) temperate deciduous forest
C) desert
D) taiga
E) tundra

Question 40

The broad term that describes ecosystems based on their characteristic climate and their particular community of plants and animals is

A) biosphere.
B) estuary.
C) tundra.
D) coniferous forest.
E) biome.

Question 41

The flat-topped acacia tree is characteristic of which biome?

A) desert
B) tundra
C) savanna grassland
D) prairie grassland
E) chaparral

Question 42

In a lake ecosystem, aquatic plants are rooted in a shallow region near the shore called the

A) littoral zone.
B) benthic zone.
C) pelagic zone.
D) profundal zone.
E) limnetic zone.

Question 43

Which biome has both a high temperature and plentiful water?

A) desert
B) tundra
C) savanna
D) tropical forest
E) taiga

Question 44

Which would be characterized by rainfall under 25 cm/year, hot days, cold nights, and spiny-leafed plants?

A) grasslands
B) temperate deciduous forest
C) desert
D) taiga
E) tundra

Question 45

The bottom of a lake or stream that harbors worms, clams, and other organisms in the

A) littoral zone.
B) limnetic zone.
C) profundal zone.
D) benthic zone.
E) abyssal zone.

Question 46

Which of the following affect the worldwide distribution of biomes?

A) altitude
B) latitude
C) rainfall patterns
D) sunlight
E) All of the answer choices describe factors that affect the worldwide distribution of biomes.

Question 47

When the upper epilimnion waters become cooler than the hypolimnion waters, and the surface water sinks while the deeper water rises is known as

A) intertidal zonation.
B) upwelling.
C) pelagic division.
D) overturn.
E) eutrophication.

Question 48

The part of a lake where light does not penetrate is the

A) littoral zone.
B) benthic zone.
C) pelagic zone.
D) profundal zone.
E) limnetic zone.

Question 49

Which would be characterized by rich soils, insufficient rainfall for trees, and many herbivores?

A) grasslands
B) chaparral
C) desert
D) taiga
E) tundra

Question 50

The open sunlit layer within a lake is the

A) littoral zone.
B) limnetic zone.
C) profundal zone.
D) benthic zone.
E) abyssal zone.

Question 51

Which aquatic community act as a nutrient trap?

A) oceans
B) lakes
C) sandy beaches
D) estuaries
E) rivers

Question 52

Which of the following is called the nursery of the sea?

A) benthic zone
B) pelagic region
C) tidal pool
D) estuary
E) abyssal zone

Question 53

In the summer, a deep lake contains three layers (in order from top to bottom) known as the

A) epilimnion, thermocline, and hypolimnion.
B) thermocline, hypolimnion, and epilimnion.
C) hypolimnion, epilimnion, and thermocline.
D) epilimnion, hypolimnion, and thermocline.
E) thermocline, epilimnion, and hypolimnion.

Question 54

Which biome supports a tremendous variety and number of large herbivores?

A) desert
B) savanna
C) shrubland
D) tundra
E) chaparral

Question 55

Which biome is characterized by hot days, cold nights, cacti, and sagebrush?

A) desert
B) tundra
C) savanna grassland
D) prairie grassland
E) chaparral

Question 56

Freshwater and marine microscopic organisms that freely drift in fresh or salt water are called

A) plankton.
B) fish.
C) larvae.
D) benthos.
E) plants.

Question 57

Grasslands lack trees because

A) they are next to deserts.
B) the soil is poor.
C) of the limited rain.
D) there is too much snow in winter.
E) there is too much sun in summer.

Question 58

The following number of ant species were counted in these biomes. Tundra (5)
Taiga (18)
Conifer Mixed Forest (41)
Temperature Mixed Forest (103)
The most likely reason(s) for the different number of ant species in this list is (are)

A) greater sunlight.
B) variations in soil type.
C) different species of predators.
D) air pressure, humidity, and resulting rainfall.
E) the amount of photosynthetic production, length of the warm season, and diversity of plants.

Question 59

Which of the following biomes has the overall harshest conditions for organism survival?

A) tropical rain forest
B) eastern deciduous forest
C) arctic tundra
D) grasslands
E) savanna

Question 60

Which of the following is a characteristic of an estuary?

A) high nutrient concentration
B) brackish water
C) shallow
D) good sunlight penetration
E) All of the answer choices describe characteristics of estuaries.

Question 61

The ocean region that contains the neritic province and the oceanic province is the

A) littoral zone.
B) benthic zone.
C) pelagic zone.
D) profundal zone.
E) limnetic zone.

Question 62

Which zone of the ocean is characterized by tube worms, clams, brittle stars, and sea urchins?

A) epipelagic
B) mesopelagic
C) bathypelagic
D) benthic
E) littoral

Question 63

When an ocean current brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface, it is called a(n)

A) tide.
B) lake effect.
C) upwelling.
D) monsoon.
E) overturn.

Question 64

The ocean

A) lacks life below the first several hundred feet.
B) has zooplankton but not phytoplankton.
C) covers little of the Earth's surface.
D) is not affected by freshwater pollution.
E) covers three-fourths of the planet.

Question 65

In which of the following ocean zone(s) is there no light?

A) epipelagic
B) mesopelagic
C) bathypelagic
D) abyssal
E) bathypelagic and abyssal

Question 66

Which organisms provide most of the nutrient supply in the ocean?

A) small fishes
B) large fishes
C) seaweeds
D) phytoplankton
E) zooplankton

Question 67

Ocean currents

A) are generated by friction between winds and ocean surfaces.
B) always move clockwise in an ocean basin.
C) are important in shipping but have little effect on living environments.
D) are driven by the Earth's core rotating faster than the ocean water.
E) have no effect on inland weather.

Question 68

Describe how lakes are stratified during the summer.

Question 69

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the different zones in the open ocean (top to bottom)?

A) abyssal, bathypelagic, mesopelagic, epipelagic
B) abyssal, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, epipelagic
C) epipelagic, bathypelagic, mesopelagic, abyssal
D) epipelagic, abyssal, bathypelagic, mesopelagic
E) epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssal

Question 70

There are tube worms and clams that live at the bottom of the ocean near thermal vents. They derive their energy ultimately from

A) the sun, by way of burning fossil fuels like we do with coal and oil.
B) the sun, but they are deep in the dark ocean and live off dead detritus that sinks to them.
C) bacteria that break apart hydrogen sulfide molecules and are therefore not dependent ultimately on sunlight.
D) sources not yet known.
E) photosynthesis.

Question 71

Compare the mean annual temperature and precipitation ranges required for the following biomes: temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, and tundra.

Question 72

The largest biome on Earth is the

A) tundra.
B) taiga.
C) temperate deciduous forest.
D) desert.
E) ocean.

Question 73

Which region of the open ocean is brightly lit and supports the most life?

A) epipelagic
B) mesopelagic
C) bathypelagic
D) abyssal
E) benthic

Question 74

Explain how a mountain range, located near the ocean, can lead to the formation of a desert on the leeward side of the mountain.