Chapter 5: Biomes and Biodiversity
Alpine tundra
A biome that occurs near mountaintops and has a short, intense growing season
Umbrella
A species that requires a large area, and therefore its protection includes the protection of many other species; Tiger
Phytoplankton (blank). A. Activity is greatest near coastlines B. Are the base of the marine food web C. Include tiny, free-floating plants D. Are found in numerous biomes including the ocean, lakes, and tropical rainforests
A. Activity is greatest near coastlines B. Are the base of the marine food web C. Include tiny, free-floating plants D. Are
Some of the criticism against the Endangered Species Act is that it (blank). A. Doesn't consider the economic loss of the protected habitats B. Only protects high-profile species C. Puts the welfare of wildlife above humans
A. Doesn't consider the economic loss of protected habitats. C. Puts the welfare of wildlife above humans.
Which of the following are true with regard to mangroves? A. They help stabilize shorelines B. They grow in both low and high latitudes C. Their forests serve as critical nursery grounds for many crustaceans and fish D. They grow in salt water
A. They help stabilize shorelines C. Their forests serve as critical nursery grounds for many crustaceans and fish D. They grow in salt water
Why are freshwater ecosystems biologically important? A. They support high levels of biodiversity. B. They are the source of most nutrients on land. C. They are linked to the ocean system. D. They support terrestrial communities.
A. They support high levels of biodiveristy. D. They support terrestrial communities.
Human population growth is a threat to biodiversity because (blank). A. People will find smarter ways to live with other creatures on earth B. More food for people requires more land to grow it on C. More people require more land for them to live on D. More people require more water and natural resources
B. More food for people requires more land to grow it on C. More people require more land for them to live on D. More people require more water and natural resources
Biodivesity (blank) humans in many ways, including air purification, food production, solar energy absorption, soil formation, and waste disposal.
Benefits
An important characteristic of each biome is its (blank), or the number and variety of different biological species that live there.
Biodiversity
A large biological community is a(n) (blank). Desert and tundra are two examples.
Biome
The treaty (blank) protects endangered flora and fauna by preventing their international trade and movement.
CITES
Littoral zone
Cattails (Cattails are anchored in wet sediment and need air and sunshine)
Aquaculture
Clear-cutting of mangrove forests for fish farm
According to the theory of island biogeography, species diversity is a balance between (blank) and extinction rates.
Colonization
Rhino horns, tiger coats, and orchids are just some examples of (blank) posing a serious threat to a species' survival.
Commercial exploitation
Wild turkeys and wood ducks were on the brink of extinction until (blank) were enacted allowing these species to recover. The American bison was saved from extinction in the late 1800s through (blank).
Conservation measures; hunting laws
Streams
Contain area known as riffles and pools
Since all of our food comes from other species, if we protect (blank) then we are protecting our food resources.
Diversity
If an endangered species dwindles down to just a few remaining individuals, and the chances of their survival as a species are gone, their population level has (blank) the minimum viable population size.
Dropped below
(blank) species are those that are considered to be in imminent danger of extinction.
Endangered
(blank) are bays where empty into the sea, and (blank) marshes are shallow wetlands flooded regularly or occasionally with seawater along the coastlines.
Estuaries; salt
The (blank) species concept defines a species according to evolutionary history and common ancestors.
Evolutionary
(blank) is the elimination of a species.
Extinction
One of the industries that may lead to overharvesting of species includes (blank), which has developed highly efficient technology in addition to rising size of fleets that participate in the exploitation.
Fishing
All of our (blank) originates from other organisms; therefore, it is important that we preserve biodiversity to ensure we have enough to eat.
Food
(blank) analysis involves looking for unprotected landscapes, mapping protected conservation areas, and overlaying the two to easily identify priority spots for conservation.
Gap
The three kinds of biodiversity are (blank), (blank), and (blank) diversities.
Genetic; species; ecological
What is the greatest threat to coral reefs?
Global warming, which causes coral bleaching
A difficulty with establishing an endangered species protection plan is that the animal's or plant's (blank) is likely already compromised and degraded.
Habitat
Rivers
Include the merging of small waterways
Ecosystem threat
Loss of natural nursery grounds for fish and shrimp
Which of the following statements best describes soil nutrient conditions in tropical rainforests?
Nutrients are low because they are rapidly recycled into the living plant community.
Water column
Plankton (Plankton can exist in suspension in the water column and are moved by currents and wave action)
Parks, wildlife (blank), and nature (blank) are ways in which humans are attempting to protect biodiversity.
Refuges; preserves
Commercial threat
Removal of mangrove habitats for timber
Where are sea-grass beds generally found?
Shallow, warm sandy coastlines
Benthos
Snails (Snails live on the bottom of lakes)
Indicator
Species that may be used to determine habitat health as they are dependent on a strict set of conditions; Brook trout
Keystone
Species whose elimination would affect many other members of the biological community; Bison
Using the graph representing annual temperature and precipitation patterns, pick the best suggestion for why grasslands have been converted to farmland.
The summer months peak in warmth and precipitation, helping crops grow.
The greatest concentration of diversity occurs in (blank).
The tropics
A(n) (blank) is a sharp temperature boundary in a large body of water such as a lake.
Thermocline
Species that are likely to become endangered are termed (blank).
Threatened
True or false: Extinction may be caused by natural events
True
True or false: Most modern medicine has been derived or modeled from wild species.
True
Species that have been locally depleted, or are naturally rare, are considered (blank) species.
Vulnerable
Swamp
Wetlands with trees
Marsh
Wetlands without trees
By causing pollution, introducing invasive species, and destroying habitats, (blank) are accelerating extinction rates.
Humans
E.O. Wilson identified five areas that are threats to biodiversity as HIPPO. The second "P" signifies population of (blank).
Humans
Areas that have exceptionally high biodiversity are known as biodiversity (blank) (blank).
Hot spots
(blank) is responsible for extinction of many species, and occurs when too many individuals are removed over time leaving too few to maintain a viable population.
Overharvesting
We depend on ecosystem biodiversity to provide us with valuable services such as (blank) control because it is estimated that 95 percent of these organisms are controlled by natural predators and competitors.
Pest
The (blank) trade may lead to overharvesting of species because traders tend to lose more than half of the smuggled individual organisms, driving farther exploitation. Aquarium fish and tropical birds are examples.
Pet
Many current and upcoming (blank) have been derived from wild species and discovered in areas rich in biodiversity. Thus, if we wish to protect our own health and the ability to combat disease in the future, we need to protect biodiversity.
Pharmaceuticals
Eurasian milfoil
An exotic aquatic plant, native to Europe, that tends to form a dense canopy on the water's surface
Arctic tundra
An expansive biome with low productivity because it has a very short growing season
Emerald ash borer
An invasive beetle accused of killing more than 40 million trees in the United States
Which of the following characteristics are shared by both cloud forests and tropical rainforests? A. Temperatures are warm to hot year-round B. They have low elevations C. Vegetation is kept wet year-round D. They have high species diversity
C. Vegetation is kept wet year-round D. They have high species diversity
The (blank) species concept states that when organisms are genetically similar they are members of the same species.
Phylogenetic
Flagship
Species that are the cute and fuzzy species that get people to react emotionally; Giant panda
Tundra
A treeless landscape occurring at high latitudes
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the deep-sea thermal vent ecosystem?
Overabundance of oxygen
Rank the following ocean communities from the farthest inland at the top to the farthest out to sea at the bottom.
1. Littoral zone 2. Intertidal zone 3. Continental shelf
Tide pools are (blank). A. Filled with numerous intertidal organisms B. Perfect locations for sea-grass to grow C. Filled with fresh water most of the time D. Depressions in a rocky shoreline that are flooded during high tide but retain water during low tide.
A. Filled with numerous intertidal organisms D. Depressions in a rocky shoreline that are flooded during high tide but retain water during low tide
Species can be vertically stratified in aquatic ecosystems based on (blank). A. Light availability B. Temperature tolerance C. Wind availability D. Oxygen availability
A. Light availability B. Temperature tolerance D. Oxygen availability
Which of the following correctly describe the oceans? A. Phytoplankton are the basis of most food webs. B. Ocean currents transport organisms and nutrients. C. Scientists have discovered just about all there is to know regarding the oceans. D. Oceans cover 3/4 of the earth's surface.
A. Phytoplankton are the basis of most food webs. B. Ocean currents transport organisms and nutrients. D. Oceans cover 3/4 of the earth's surface.
Temperate rainforests have which of the following characteristics? A. They are the wettest coastal forests. B. They are cool, rainy, and often enshrouded in fog. C. In winter, they experience heavy snowfalls.
A. They are the wettest coastal forests. B. They are cool, rainy, and often enshrouded in fog.
Which of the following characteristics produce a temperate shrubland? A. Heavy rainfall in summer B. Cool, moist winters C. Hot season coincides with a dry season D. Cool temperatures all year E. Consistent precipitation all year
B. Cool, moist winters C. Hot season coincides with a dry season
Why is habitat protection potentially better than species protection? A. Habitat protection excludes the extinction of species by ensuring that they have a place to live. B. Habitat protection could support maximum biodiversity instead of spending considerable funding on just a few species that are struggling to survive. C. Species protection may involve costly work to breed the animals in captivity, yet there may be no natural habitat suitable for their reintroduction.
B. Habitat protection could support maximum biodiversity instead of spending considerable funding on just a few species that are struggling to survive. C. Species protection may involve costly work to breed the animals in captivity, yet there may be no natural habitat suitable for their reintroduction.
Which of the following are ways deserts are vulnerable? A. Most desert animals must be nocturnal to avoid the sun's heat and desiccation. B. Overgrazing by livestock leaves the dry soil exposed and susceptible to drifting and destabilization. C. Sparse, slow-growing vegetation is quickly damaged by off-road vehicles.
B. Overgrazing by livestock leaves the dry soil exposed and susceptible to drifting and destabilization. C. Sparse, slow-growing vegetation is quickly damaged by off-road vehicles.
Which of the following characteristics allow plants to survive in the desert? A. Deciduous leaves B. Salt tolerance C. Water-storing capacity D. Deep roots E. Thick epidermal layers
B. Salt tolerance C. Water-storing capacity E. Thick epidermal layers
Why are drought-resistant shrubs found in valleys, whereas pine trees are located at higher elevations? A. These two plant types compete with one another. B. Shrubs live in the warm, dry valley, whereas pine trees live in the colder, wetter conditions at higher elevation. C. Vertical zonation means vegetation types change with a change in elevation. D. Humans removed all pine trees from the valley location. E. Plants are adapted to temperature and precipitation patterns of different elevations.
B. Shrubs live in the warm, dry valley, whereas pine trees live in the colder, wetter conditions at higher elevation. C. Vertical zonation means vegetation types change with a change in elevation. E. Plants are adapted to temperature and precipitation patterns of different elevations.
Boreal forest trees are slow-growing because (blank). A. Deer feed on the leaves, stunting their growth. B. They have only a short summer season for growing. C. The land is extremely nutrient-poor. D. Of the cold temperatures
B. They have only a short summer season for growing. D. Of the cold temperatures
Which of the following are ways in which humans benefit from biodiversity? A. Waste production B. Water purification C. Soil formation D. Food production E. Nutrient Cycling
B. Water purification C. Soil formation D. Food production E. Nutrient Cycling
According to the theory of island biogeography, a large island can support more individuals of a species than a small island because (blank). A. Large islands have greater colonization rates B. With more individuals, there is less vulnerability to natural disasters and/or genetic problems C. Large islands tend to have more variation in habitat types
B. With more individuals, there is less vulnerability to natural disasters and/or genetic problems C. Large islands tend to have more variation in habitat types
The chaparral habitat is best identified with which state?
California
Colonial animals that live symbiotically with photosynthetic algae are known as (blank) reefs.
Coral
The Kachina Peaks Wilderness is the most sacred place of both the Navajo and the Hopi, and the tribes' religions have revolved around this area for centuries. The tribes' religious practices require pure natural resources from the peaks. This is an example on how biodiversity benefits us in (blank) ways.
Cultural
Which of the following is an adaptation of grassland plants to the occurrence of frequent fires?
Deep roots
Antarctica is considered to be a(n) (blank); the high atmospheric pressures over the continent result in very little precipitation.
Desert
Of the extinction threats, which one is likely to have the greatest impact (especially for terrestrial species).
Habitat loss
Lake
Open water where vertical zonation may be observed
In the boreal forests of northern Minnesota, what invasive species disrupts nutrient cycling and consumes the leaf litter layer necessary for the survival of local plants, fungi, and invertebrates.
Earthworms
Many (blank) species have wide ranges or are sparsely scattered throughout large areas that encompass privately owned land. Therefore, private landowners are critical in protecting these species.
Endangered
(blank) is the reduction of habitats into small, isolated patches.
Fragmentation
In Arizona, most birds gather in trees and bushes surrounding the few available rivers and streams. This behavior shows that (blank).
Freshwater ecosystems are important to the survival of some terrestrial species
Even though humans have been aggressively describing and naming organisms, less conspicuous organisms such as (blank) have been understudied in the past. As a result, only a small fraction of living organisms have been classified.
Insects
An organism that enters a new area and displaces native species is termed a(n) (blank) species.
Invasive
(blank) species enter a new area that is lacking in the diseases and predators of their native habitat, so they tend to outcome and displace (blank) species.
Invasive; native
Approximately 70 percent of all described species are (blank), or animals without backbones.
Invertebrates
(blank) poisoning of waterfowl from shotgun pellets is an example of how pollution can affect local populations.
Lead
Air-water interference
Mosquitoes (Mosquito larvae hatch in water and then live in the air as adults)
Bog
Saturated ground with peat
One of the industries that may lead to overharvesting of species includes (blank), but to stop it, alternative sources of income must be developed for impoverished locals and alternative sources of protein need to be made available.
The African bushmeat trade
Where is the taiga located?
The extreme, ragged edge of the boreal forest, where forest gradually gives way to the open tundra.
Zebra mussels
Transferred in the ballast water of ships, they quickly multiplied covering fish spawning beds and clogging intake pipes
Evergreen trees
Trees that are cone-bearing
Deciduous trees
Trees that lose their leaves seasonally
Which of the following answers correctly ranks the biomes from high to low precipitation and high to low temperature?
Tropical rainforest, boreal forest, tundra
A community with drought-tolerant forest species, hot temperatures year-round, and low precipitation for most of the year except for periodic rain to support tree growth describes the (blank) biome.
Tropical seasonal forest