BIOL 107 - Chapter 34
Most of the world's deserts are located around latitudes 30°N and 30°S. Why?
Descending dry air at those latitudes absorbs moisture from Earth's surface.
Temperate broadleaf forests are characterized by _____.
a broad range of temperatures ranging from -30°C to 30°C
You are a birdwatcher visiting the desert southwest. Which of the following birds are you most likely to find?
a ferruginous pygmy owl, which often nests in saguaro cacti and eats insects
A cottontail rabbit living in Illinois survives in a hostile environment. Which of the following is an adaptation that functions primarily to address a biotic factor?
a light-colored winter coat that blends in well with light-colored vegetation, snow, and ice
The study of the interaction of organisms with each other and their environment involves non-living factors, also called _________________, and living factors, which are referred to as __________________.
abiotic components; biotic components
When was DDT first publicly identified as a threat to living things?
about 60 years ago
Which characteristic do chaparral and tundra have in common?
absence of tall trees
After an increase in nutrients due to sewage contamination, a lake often becomes inhospitable to fish. Why?
Nutrient input to a lake causes the explosive growth of algal and cyanobacterial populations. Decomposition of dead algae and cyanobacteria by bacteria results in the depletion of oxygen in the water, which leads to the death of all the fish.
Which of the following proposed research projects would occur at the ecosystem level?
Paula Krenshaw has proposed studying how polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are transferred between organisms living in the desert southwest.
There is snow and ice year round at the polar ice caps. Yet, some animals such as polar bears and penguins can live there. How can the polar ice caps support these animals?
Polar animals such as polar bears, seals, and penguins feed in the neighboring marine biome.
Which of the following statements about the abiotic factors that influence Earth's ecosystems is INCORRECT?
The most important factor that limits plant growth is the availability of sunlight.
The aphotic zone of the ocean begins at approximately what depth?
-200 meters
Freshwater biomes contain about ____ of Earth's water and contain about _____ of all described species of living things.
0.01%: 6%
There are two mountain ranges on the west coast of California: the Coast Range, nearest the ocean, and the much taller Sierra Nevada, farther inland. The two mountain ranges are not very far apart. Which of the following precipitation patterns do you predict for this region?
The western slopes of both ranges receive considerable precipitation, while the area east of the Sierra Nevada is a desert because of the rain shadow.
Sea sponges and the brittle star are benthic organisms. What does this mean?
Their habitat is the ocean floor.
Which of the following statements about tropical atmospheric circulation is true?
As warm air rises, air at the top of the atmosphere is pushed poleward and cools.
Which of the following accurately describes the sea environment over the continental shelves?
Both the pelagic and benthic realms lie within the photic zone.
_______ is the biome characterized by vegetation that is adapted to fires; browsing animals such as deer and seed-eating rodents; and a location usually near a seacoast.
Chaparral
Desert owls are inactive during the day and active at night. They also have small bodies. This describes _____ adaptation to the hot and dry desert.
anatomical and behavioral
Horned lizards are desert animals that are active during the day. Their skin and kidneys are efficient at conserving water; when they get hot, they move to the shade so they can cool off. This describes _____ adaptation to the hot and dry desert.
anatomical, behavioral, and physiological
Kangaroo is to Australia as __________ is to Africa.
antelope
Which of these is a biotic component of an environment?
bacteria on the surface of your skin
Cacti are desert plants with C4 metabolism. In addition, cacti bloom at night. This describes _____ adaptation to the hot and dry desert.
behavioral and physiological
The most inclusive level of organization in nature is the __________.
biosphere
What is the largest hierarchical level that global warming affects?
biosphere
Which of the following options lists the ecological hierarchy in the correct order, from largest to smallest?
biosphere; ecosystem; community; population; organism
Which of the following shared characteristics of living birds and theropod dinosaurs provided support to the hypothesis that birds evolved from dinosaurs?
birds and many theropods have a wishbone (or furcula) birds and many theropods have feathers birds and theropods have S-shaped necks birds and theropods have hollow bones that are strong, but light
In animal populations, DDT causes _____.
birth defects
Mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers are typical of which type of biome?
chaparral
A scientist is studying how sea slugs respond to predators. Which hierarchical level of ecology does this represent?
community
The beavers, squirrels, trout, insects, and ferns that live in a forest are part of the forest's _______.
community
A coniferous forest would be characterized by __________.
cone-bearing evergreen trees
Which of the following biomes, dominated by cone-bearing evergreen trees, is the largest terrestrial biome?
coniferous forest
Which of these is the largest terrestrial biome on Earth?
coniferous forest
Different species that belong to the same biome, but occur in widely separated geographic regions, often appear similar due to __________.
convergent evolution (convergence)
Which of these biomes is characterized by little rainfall?
desert
Which of the following correctly lists the biomes in order from lowest precipitation (at the left) to highest precipitation (to the right)?
desert, tundra, temperate broadleaf forest, tropical rain forest
At lower latitudes, the prevailing winds blow from _____, and at higher latitudes, they blow from _____.
east to west: west to east
The work of Rachel Carson and other ecologists revealed the terrible consequences of the overuse of DDT. These ecologists were working at what level of environmental interaction?
ecosystem
An aquatic biome where freshwater meets the ocean with an average salt concentration of about 1.5% is a(n) ______.
estuary
Which of these aquatic biomes is one of the most productive of all biomes?
estuary
DDT is _____-soluble so it accumulates in _____.
fat ... milk
In contrast to tropical forests, temperate broadleaf forests __________.
have a thick layer of leaf litter
The aphotic zone of an ocean is dependent on __________ for energy.
hydrothermal vents and organic matter that sinks down from the photic zone
How did Dr. Jack Horner's discovery of dinosaur nesting grounds support the hypothesis that birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs?
it provided evidence that dinosaurs raised and cared for their young in colonies like many birds
Which of these is a freshwater biome?
lake
In studying fish that live below 1,000 feet in the ocean, where light never penetrates, which of the following characteristics would you NOT expect to observe?
large, prominent eyes
In lakes, the nutrients that usually limit the growth of phytoplankton are _____.
nitrogen and phosphorus
The largest terrestrial biome is the _______.
northern coniferous forest
In the state of Washington, the prevailing winds blow eastward off the ocean and up and over two mountain ranges. Biologists are searching for a rare fern plant that is known to prefer cool and wet environments, but hasn't been seen in this state for many decades. Where would the biologists most likely find the plant?
on the west sides of the mountain ranges at higher elevations
Ecology is the study of environmental interactions at the following levels, from least inclusive to most inclusive: __________.
organism, population, community, ecosystem
Earth's biosphere is not completely self-contained (or closed) because _____.
plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria obtain energy from sunlight, and heat escapes from the biosphere into space
Which hierarchical level is represented by a survey of students and their habits?
population
Terrestrial biomes are distinguished from each other mainly by the ______. This, in turn, depends upon the regional ______.
predominant vegetation: climate
In terrestrial systems, the two major climatic factors affecting the distribution of organisms are __________.
rainfall and temperature
Which of the following is NOT a common animal adaptation to desert conditions?
reliance on algal blooms as a main food source
Grasses and scattered trees are a dominant part of the plant community in the __________.
savanna
Fire helps to maintain the existence of which biomes?
savanna, chaparral, and temperate grassland
The three biomes that benefit from regular fire activity are ________.
savanna, temperate grasslands, chaparral
Which of the following factors would have the LEAST impact on a deep-sea hydrothermal vent community?
solar energy
A key characteristic of modern birds is flight powered by feathered wings. Which of the following pieces of evidence support the hypothesis that the first feathers served a purpose other than flight?
some feathered theropods were not capable of flight
Tropical rain forests are high in __________ and low in __________.
species diversity; soil nutrients
The ocean's pelagic realm contains what type(s) of organisms?
swimming and drifting organisms
Which of the following biomes is dominated by gymnosperm or conifer trees (pines, firs, spruces)?
taiga
The 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx fossil has birdlike features such as feathered wings, but it also has characteristics that we associate with living reptiles. Which of the following are considered reptilian characteristics of Archaeopteryx?
teeth in the jaws long, bony tail claws on the ends of each digit in the "hands"
The __________ biome contains land that can be used for highly productive agriculture.
temperate grassland
Agriculture now flourishes in areas of North America that were formerly _____.
temperate grasslands
What are the two major factors determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes?
temperature and rainfall
Which of the following is the most variable factor in determining the kind of vegetation that grows in a tropical forest?
the amount of rainfall
Why was the discovery of organisms, such as Archaeopteryx, that have a mix of traits usually associated with two different groups considered validation of Darwin's theory of evolution?
the discovery provided evidence that species descend with modification from other species
Which discovery ultimately overturned the prevailing perception that all dinosaurs were large, slow, and lumbering?
the small theropod dinosaur Deinonychus, which had a large sickle-shaped claw on each of its hind limbs
Which of the following was a likely biotic factor leading to the evolution of the very fast running speed of the pronghorn "antelope" in North America?
the speed of the American cheetah
In which of the following biomes would you expect decomposers to work most rapidly and efficiently?
tropical rain forest
Which biome is characterized by an extensive canopy that allows little light to penetrate to the ground and by the presence of epiphytes?
tropical rain forest
Which biome is characterized by the presence of permafrost?
tundra
Savannas are found in ____ climates, while temperate grasslands are found in _____ climates. Which of these two biomes has a higher density of trees?
warmer: colder: savanna
Which of these would be considered a biotic component of your environment?
your friends
Which of the following statements about the water cycle is true?
Airborne pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, can be distributed by the water cycle.
Why are many of the world's deserts located at latitudes of about 30 degrees north and south?
Dry air descends toward Earth's surface at about 30 degrees north and south.
Which location on Earth receives the most solar radiation per unit area?
Equator
True or false. Rain shadows are wet regions on the windward side of mountain ranges.
False
Which of the following statements about bird evolution are accurate based on the evidence presented?
Feathers may have originally evolved for insulation. Feathers may have originally evolved for interspecies communication and display.
Which of the following is true of the Tropic of Cancer?
It lies between the equator and latitude 23.5°N.
How does permafrost affect the tundra vegetation?
It prevents roots from penetrating very far into the ground, which means it cannot support trees.
Which answer choice correctly describes the tropical forest floor?
Its soil is poor.
Which one of the following statements is true?
Many African governments concluded that the potential long-term health effects of DDT were not as serious as the immediate problem of insect control.
Which of the following is a correct statement of the position and temperature of the Southern Hemisphere during the December solstice?
The Southern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun and the temperature there is warm.
Which of the following statements about oceans is true?
The aphotic zones of oceans do not typically have a high abundance of organisms.
Which of the following statements about ecology or ecologists is INCORRECT?
The goal of ecology is to improve the ability of humans to control nature.
What is a unique feature of many plants that inhabit tropical forests, such as orchids?
They are epiphytes.
What is the major direct effect of deforestation on the global water cycle?
Transpiration is reduced, which redues the amount of water vapor released by plants into the air.