Reef Questions final exam

Ultisols A. are redder than alfisols B. are common in North American west C. are very fertile D. have a relatively high pH

A. are redder than alfisols

Studies have shown that _______ biodiversity in an ecosystem leads to _______ long-term stability and productivity A. greater; greater B. greater; less C. less; greater D. less; slightly more

A. greater; greater

The type of environment in which an organism resides or is biologically adapted to live is a A. habitat B. niche C. community D. population

A. habitat

Which of the following occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in alignment? A. maximum tidal ranges occur B. neap tides occur C. a lower tidal range occurs D. ebb tides occur

A. maximum tidal ranges occur

A coral is a type of _____ that secretes _______ to form an organic rock home. A. polyp; calcium carbonate B. polyp; silica C. algae; calcium carbonate D. algae; silica

A. polyp; calcium carbonate

Which of the following is not an example of an erosional costal landform? A. sea arch B. tombolo C. wave-cut platform D. notched cliff

B. tombolo

Why, specifically, is glacial ice analogous to a metamorphic rock? A. it has a definite chemical composition B. it has a crystalline structure C. It forms as a result of recrystallization caused by pressure D. it is solid

C. It forms as a result of recrystallization caused by pressure

How is atmospheric nitrogen converted to a usable form in the biosphere? A. atmospheric nitrogen is directly available to plants and animals B. it is absorbed into plants via stomata and converted within the plant to a usable form C. bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically combine the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia D. atmospheric nitrogen is completely unavailable to plants and animals and, as a result, synthetic fertilizers must be used.

C. bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically combine the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia

From inland to the ocean, which sequence of zones is correct? A. nearshore, back shore, coast B. beach, surf zone, coast C. coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore D. ocean, beach cliffs

C. coast, backshore, foreshore, nearshore

When a community is disturbed to the point that most or all of its species are eliminated, a process called ________ occurs in which the area undergoes a series of changes in species compositions as a newer communities replace older ones. A. Rejuvenation B. mass extinction C. ecological succession D. patch dynamics

C. ecological succession

A long, narrow, sinuous ridge of stratified sand and gravel located in a till plain is known as a(n) A. drumlin B. kame C. esker D. kettle

C. esker

Organic soils that form in wet locations are A. alfisols B. mollisols C. histosols D. entisols E. ultisols

C. histosols

A soil with 9% clay, 11% silt, and 80% sand is classified as a A. loam B sandy loam C. loamy sand D. Sand

C. loamy sand

Bears eat both plants and animals; therefore, they are A. herbivores B. carnivores C. omnivores D. specialists

C. omnivores

The process in which carbon dioxide, water, and light combine to make carbohydrates is A. mutualism B. respiration C. photosynthesis D. transpiration

C. photosynthesis

Organisms that are capable of using carbon dioxide as their sole source of carbon are A. consumers B. decomposers C. producers D. detritivores E. herbivores

C. producers

Wave action works to straighten a coast as a wave energy focuses around headlands and tends to disperse energy in coves and bays on a process called A. longshore current B. breakers C. wave refraction D. tidal bore

C. wave refraction

During a neap tide, how many relatively "high tides" can potentially occur in a same location at the ocean during one day A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

D. 4

A soil horizon at the top of a pedon that contains at least 20% organic matter is the A. A horizon B. B horizon C. E horizon D. O horizon E. C horizon

D. O horizon

Because the upper regions of a glacier flow _______ than the base of the glacier, the upper part of the glacier tends to be ________. A. faster; compressed B. faster; stretched C. slower; compressed D. Slower; stretched

D. Slower; stretched

Near the shore, waves of transition begin to "feel bottom" and, as a result, the orbits of the water molecules in the wave become more ______________. The process eventually cause __________ to form. A. circular; swells B. circular; breakers C. elliptical; swells D. elliptical; breakers

D. elliptical; breakers

Energy flows through an ecosystem along a circuit called the A. food web B. niche order C. trophic place D. food chain

D. food chain

The most abundant natural elements in living matter are A. silicon, aluminum, and calcium B. oxygen, silicon, and aluminum C. carbon, aluminum, and calcium D. hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon

D. hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon

When two valley glaciers join together, they form a ________ at the point at which they merge A. terminal moraine B. till plain C. recessional moraine D. medial moraine

D. medial moraine

The general name for any distinct layer in a pedon is A. plate B. eluviation zone C. illuviation zone D. soil horizon

D. soil horizon

Permafrost forms when A. air temperatures remain above freezing for at least six months B. soil is unable to freeze due to high salt concentrations C. most precipitation falls as freezing rain D. soil temperatures remain below freezing for more than two years

D. soil temperatures remain below freezing for more than two years

Tides are produced by A. coastal stream flooding B. the rotation of Earth C. shifting of tectonic plates D. the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun

D. the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun

A depositional landform that takes the shape of a long ridge extending out from a coast is a A. sea arch b. terrace c. lagoon d. tombolo

D. tombolo

Which of the following life-zone lists is in the correct sequence from lowest to highest elevation? A. tropical rain forest, needleleaf forest, temperate deciduous forest, ice and snow, tundra B. ice and snow, tundra, needleleaf forest, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest C.temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, needleleaf forest, Ice and snow, tundra D. tropical rain forest, temperate deciduous forest, needleleaf forest, tundra, and ice and snow

D. tropical rain forest, temperate deciduous forest, needleleaf forest, tundra, and ice and snow

Which of the following ecosystems has the Lowest net primary productivity A. savanna B. Temperate grassland C. boreal forest D. swamp E. Tundra

E. Tundra

_________refers to the biotic and abiotic characteristics in the environment that determines species distribution A. Limiting factor B. range of tolerance C. Ecological niche D. habitat

A. Limiting factor

What season is used to determine the snowlike in a mountain range? A. Summer B. fall C. Winter

A. Summer

Glacial polish results from A. abrasion B. ice plucking C. regelation D. rotation of ice above a vertical axis

A. abrasion

Alpine glaciers include all of the following except A. an ice cap B. a piedmont glacier C. a cirque glacier D. a valley glacier

A. an ice cap

The active layer is usually _________ toward the pole and __________ at lower latitude. A. thinner; thicker B. thicker; thinner C. they are the same D. There is no any consistent pattern

A. thinner; thicker 11/17

Unsorted and unstratified glacial deposits (not landforms) are called A. till B. outwash C. morane D. alluvium

A. till

Periglacial environments are likely to occur in which if the following climate types A. tundra B. mesothermal C. humid continental D. desert

A. tundra

The R horizon refers to A. unweathered sediment or consolidated bedrock B. soils redevelop through reclamation C. a zone of evaluation in the soil horizon D. the basic mapping unit of soils in an area

A. unweathered sediment or consolidated bedrock

Oxisols are found A. where the ITCZ dominates B. under the influence of high pressure C. in areas of low average rainfall D. in areas where temperatures are low throughout the year

A. where the ITCZ dominates

The process of illuviation typically dominates win soul horizon? A. A horizon B. B horizon C. E horizon D. O horizon E. C horizon

B. B horizon

In which of the following regions would you expect the to have the highest levels of seawater salinity? A. Equatorial oceans B. subtropical oceans C. polar oceans D. midlatitude oceans

B. Subtropical Oceans

Unlike a stream-cut valley that assumes a characteristic _______-shape, a glacially- carved valley evidences a characteristic __________- shape. A. U; V B. V; U C. flat; rounded D. steep; shallow

B. V; U

An atoll is approximately ______ in shape because it forms _______. A. circular; around seastacks B. circular; around submerged volcanic islands C. linear; along barrier islands D. linear; along continental shorelines

B. circular; around submerged volcanic islands

A self sustaining system of plants and animals, and their non-living physical environment is a (an) A. population B. ecosystem C. habitat D. community

B. ecosystem

Salinization is likely to occur A. in the tropics B. in areas of high potential evapotranspiration and low actual evapotranspiration C. in humid climate regions D. in areas characterized by sandy soils and coniferous forest

B. in areas of high potential evapotranspiration and low actual evapotranspiration

Net primary productivity is greatest A. where the least rain falls B. in the tropics C. outside the range of the ITCZ D. under the influence of high atmospheric pressure

B. in the tropics

Which of the following is correct regarding the snowline? A. It increases in elevation with increasing latitude B. it decreases in elevation with increasing latitude C. it occurs at approx. the same time elevation at all latitudes because the environmental lapse rate is approx. the same at all latitudes.

B. it decreases in elevation with increasing latitude

Grassland soils with much dark organic material are A. alfisols B. mollisols C. entisols D. Vertisols E. ultisols

B. mollisols

Undercutting action of the sea results in A. barrier splits B. sea cliffs C. lagoons D. tombolos

B. sea cliffs