Geography Final Part 3

A self-sustaining association of living plants and animals and their nonliving physical environment is termed a(n) A) ecosystem. B) ecotone. C) symbiont. D) community. E) niche.

A) ecosystem.

From the perspective of energy, which of the following is the most efficient trophic level? A) primary producer B) primary consumer C) secondary consumer D) tertiary consumer E) decomposers

A) primary producer

Where would one likely find the deepest soil development? A) over the oldest geological formations in an area, regardless of slope B) on level or nearly level grounds C) on moderately sloping, south facing hills (in the Northern Hemisphere) D) on steep slopes E) in biologically productive areas, regardless of slope or aspect

B) on level or nearly level grounds

In food webs, toxic chemicals tend to accumulate and concentrate most in the A) primary consumers. B) tertiary consumers. C) secondary consumers. D) producers. E) detritivores.

B) tertiary consumers.

The energy that powers the biosphere comes almost entirely from ________. A) endogenic processes. B) the Sun. C) fluvial action. D) soil nutrients. E) abiotic chemical reactions.

B) the Sun.

The more than 300,000 plant species with conductive tissues and material flow systems to absorb nutrients and water are known as A) bryophytes. B) vascular plants. C) cyanobacteria. D) xerophytes. E) blue-green algae.

B) vascular plants.

The gaseous oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere was produced as a by-product of A) volcanic outgassing. B) decay of organic matter. C) nitrogen fixation. D) photosynthesis. E) photochemical reactions breaking down ozone (O3) to form oxygen (O2).

D) photosynthesis.

The proposition that no two species can occupy the same ecological niche is known as A) symbiosis. B) natural selection. C) trophic pyramid theory. D) ecological niche theory. E) competitive exclusion.

E) competitive exclusion.

The horizon that is commonly called topsoil is the ________ horizon. A) A B) E C) O D) B E) C

A) A

Organisms that dwell in dark caves, in wells, or on the ocean floor often depend on which of the following biogeochemical processes? A) photosynthesis B) nitrogen fixation C) endogenic processes D) chemosynthesis E) nutrient leaching

D) chemosynthesis

Which of the following best describes the role of biological activity influencing soil development? A) Since soil is primarily inorganic matter, the role that organisms play in soil formation and development is obvious only on the surface and top layer of soil. B) The largest contribution organisms make to soil development is through fertilization via their waste products. C) While burrowing animals churn soil, the role of other organisms in soil formation and development is mostly muted. D) Given the amount of time it takes soil to form, the contribution organisms make to soil development is through decomposition, alone, adding needed organic matter to soils. E) All organisms living in, on, and over the soil may influence the development and characteristics of soil.

E) All organisms living in, on, and over the soil may influence the development and characteristics of soil.

Which of the following is correct regarding soil color? A) Soil color is related to the internal temperatures of soils. The darker the color, the cooler the soil. B) Dark soils always indicate high organic content. C) Soil color is a relatively unimportant physical property of soil. D) Soil color is used solely to determine the moisture content of soil-darker soils have a higher moisture content, whereas lighter soils have less water content. E) Color reflects composition and chemical makeup of a soil.

E) Color reflects composition and chemical makeup of a soil.

The horizon in which water moves fine particles downward in a process called eluviation is the ________ horizon. A) O B) A C) C D) B E) E

E) E

________ biodiversity in an ecosystem leads to ________ long -term stability and productivity. A) Less; greater B) Greater; less C) Less; slightly more D) Less; less E) Greater; greater

E) Greater; greater

________ refers to the biotic and abiotic characteristics in the environment that determine species distribution. A) Range of tolerance B) Habitat C) Ecological niche D) Ecological succession E) Limiting factor

E) Limiting factor

The organic rich horizon found at the top of the soil profile is the ________ horizon. A) A B) B C) O D) E E) C

C) O

Epiphytic plants, such as various species of orchids (Orchidaceae), grow upon another plant, using the plants for physical support, but bringing no harm to the host plant. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship? A) parasitism B) mutualism C) commensalism D) amensalism E) synnecrosis

C) commensalism

Scientists have linked increased wildfire in the American West since 2000 to all of the following except A) El Niño events. B) changes in natural fire regimes. C) increased spring and summer temperatures. D) fuel load build-up due to fire suppression. E) earlier spring snowmelt.

A) El Niño events.

Which of the following is incorrect regarding the spatial-temporal variability of net primary productivity? A) Net primary productivity is highest in the winter in the midlatitudes and high latitudes. B) Nutrient levels in oceans affect productivity. C) At temperate and high latitudes, the rate of carbon fixing is seasonally variable. D) Productivity rates are constantly high throughout the year in the tropics. E) Productivity rates in deserts is much less than that of tropical regions.

A) Net primary productivity is highest in the winter in the midlatitudes and high latitudes.

A recent viral video entitled "How Wolves Change Rivers" argues that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone after a 70 year absence led to multiple changes in the biodiversity and ecology of the park. This is an example of a(n) A) trophic cascade B) primary succession C) autotroph. D) eutrophication E) pioneer community.

A) trophic cascade

Soil structure can be defined as which of the following? A) crumb or granular only B) prismatic only C) blocky only D) platy only E) crumb or granular, platy, blocky, or prismatic

E) crumb or granular, platy, blocky, or prismatic

Approximately how many plant and animal species have been identified? A) 100,000 B) 1.75 million C) 3.4 million D) 13.6 million E) 111.7 million

B) 1.75 million

Currently, approximately ________ of cultivated acreage in the United States and Canada is planted for animal consumption A) 5% B) 15% C) 30% D) 50% E) 65%

D) 50%

The small pores on the surfaces of plant leaves through which gases move into and out of are known as A) stoma. B) chloroplasts. C) sporangia. D) guard cells. E) chlorophyll.

A) stoma.

The origin of the Earth's biological diversity is embodied in A) the theory of evolution. B) competitive exclusion principle. C) the life zone concept. D) ecological succession principle. E) limiting factor.

A) the theory of evolution.

Which of the following is not considered among the greatest anthropogenic threats to biodiversity? A) air, water, and soil pollution B) sustainable resource management C) climate change D) introduction of non-native species E) habitat loss

B) sustainable resource management

Acidic soils A) are exceptionally rare. B) tend to be less fertile than more neutral soils. C) are generally very high in ammonia. D) typically do not require any additional treatment before planting of agricultural crops. E) are high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium ions.

B) tend to be less fertile than more neutral soils.

Approximately what percent of farmlands are losing soil quicker than it can be formed? A) 15 B) 25 C) 35 D) 45 E) 55

C) 35

Based on the working estimate, approximately how many plants have yet to be identified? A) 10,000 B) 25,000 C) 50,000 D) 75,000 E) 100,000

C) 50,000

Of the total energy intercepted at Earth's surface and available for work, only about ________ is actually fixed by photosynthesis. A) 1% B) 5% C) 10% D) 15% E) 20%

A) 1%

The first species to colonize previously disturbed or damaged ecosystems are called a(n) A) successor. B) pioneer community. C) establishers. D) founders. E) sere.

B) pioneer community.

In which season(s) is net primary productivity highest in the midlatitudes? A) spring only B) spring and summer C) spring and fall D) winter only E) fall only

B) spring and summer

Only about ________ percent of energy at each trophic level is passed to the next trophic level (e.g. from autotroph to primary consumer). A) 5% B) 10% C) 15% D) 20% E) 25%

B) 10%

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 composition as newer communities replace older ones. A) natural selection B) mass extinction C) ecological succession D) patch dynamics E) rejuvenation

C) ecological succession

A study of the dietary requirements of African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana) in a savanna environment, and the role the elephants play in that environment, would be an example of a topic studied in A) pedology. B) phytogeography. C) ecology. D) biogeography. E) plant biology.

C) ecology.

The cones of the jack pine (Pinus banksiana) are serotinous, only opening when exposed to intense heat. This is an example of A) pioneering. B) eutrophication. C) fire adaptation. D) secondary succession. E) primary succession.

C) fire adaptation.

Energy flows through an ecosystem along an idealized unidirectional pathway called a A) food web. B) trophic cascade. C) food chain. D) niche order. E) bioamplifier.

C) food chain.

A monocultural agriculture community is A) not stable, but resilient B) stable, but not resilient C) neither stable nor resilient D) both stable and resilient E) moderately stable and resilient if agriculturalists take proper measures.

C) neither stable nor resilient

Chlorophyll absorbs only the ________ and ________ wavelengths for photochemical operations. A) violet-blue; green-yellow B) yellow-orange; blue-green C) orange-red; violet-blue D) yellow-red; violet-green E) orange-red; green-yellow

C) orange-red; violet-blue

CO2 + H2O + Light g C6H12O6 + O2 is the generalized equation for A) evaporation. B) respiration. C) photosynthesis. D) transpiration. E) chemosynthesis.

C) photosynthesis.

Soil texture refers to A) the roughness or smoothness of a soil as felt by a human hand. B) pebbles, gravel, cobble, and other materials greater than 2 mm in diameter found in soils. C) the mixture and proportions of individual mineral particles. D) the different soil horizons. E) differing soil colors in a pedon.

C) the mixture and proportions of individual mineral particles.

Which of the following best describes soil? A) Soil is a closed system in terms of matter (water, rock, and sediments), but open in terms of energy (insolation). B) Soil lacks biological material. C) Soil is an inorganic substance, yet vital to sustaining life, particularly plants. D) Soil is a dynamic material composed of water, air, mineral fragments, and organic matter. E) Soil is composed of solely mineral fragments less than 2 mm in size.

D) Soil is a dynamic material composed of water, air, mineral fragments, and organic matter.

A study of the spatial distribution of the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the environmental factors that control that distribution would be an example of a topic studied in A) zoology. B) zoogeography. C) systematics. D) pedology. E) biogeography.

E) biogeography.

The study of the distribution of plants and animals, the diverse spatial patterns they create, and the physical and biological processes that produce Earth's species richness is called A) biology. B) ecology. C) geoarchaeology. D) geoinformatics. E) biogeography.

E) biogeography.

Chlorophyll reflects predominately ________ wavelengths of visible light. A) green B) red C) yellow D) indigo E) blue

A) green

In soil science, the term to describe the cohesion of soil particles is A) soil structure. B) consistence. C) soil moisture. D) permeability. E) soil texture.

B) consistence.

The horizon in which leached materials from other horizons is accumulated is the ________ horizon. A) B B) O C) C D) A E) E

A) B

How is atmospheric nitrogen converted to a usable form in the biosphere? A) Bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically change the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia. B) Atmospheric nitrogen combines with atmospheric moisture and a free oxygen molecule to form nitric acids (HNO3), which enters in the biosphere as mildly acidic precipitation. C) It is absorbed into plants via stoma and converted within the plant to a usable form. D) Atmospheric nitrogen is completely unavailable to plants and animals and, as a result, synthetic fertilizers must be used. E) Atmospheric nitrogen is directly available to plants and animals through the photosynthetic process and trophic relationships.

A) Bacteria within root nodules of legumes chemically change the atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and ammonia.

In regards to soil-formation, which of the following best describes the role of climate? A) Temperature and moisture determine the chemical reactions, organic activity, and water movement within soils. B) Because all soils are ancient, they show the climatic conditions of the period in which they formed. C) Of the five principle soil-forming factors, climate is the least significant with little correlation between soil and climates worldwide. D) Relative humidity and atmospheric pressure are the dominant climatic factors that influence soil development. E) Soil forms at such a slow rate, while climate changes more rapidly, so the role of climate is minimal, yet not insignificant.

A) Temperature and moisture determine the chemical reactions, organic activity, and water movement within soils.

Why are soil colloids important in soils? A) Without colloids, leaching will dissolve important chemicals from the soil, making them unavailable to plant. B) As one of the shapes of an individual ped, soil colloids control rooting of plants. C) Soil colloids have a neutralizing effect, increasing the overall alkalinity of soil and making them prime for certain agricultural crops. D) Soil colloids are an indication of soil moisture. The higher number of colloids, the greater the soil moisture is. E) Soil colloids is a measure of the maximum water available for plants use after the water has drained from large pore spaces.

A) Without colloids, leaching will dissolve important chemicals from the soil, making them unavailable to plant.

As chemical pesticides move through the trophic pyramid, they may become increasingly concentrated at each higher level in a process called A) biological amplification. B) competitive exclusion. C) pyramidal decay. D) bioremediation. E) trophic cascading.

A) biological amplification.

The net dry weight of all organic material in an ecosystem is known as A) biomass. B) net primary productivity. C) biodiversity. D) net photosynthesis. E) compensation point.

A) biomass.

A dead zone refers to A) hypoxic (low oxygen) areas in water bodies that limit marine and aquatic life. B) oligotrophic areas in water bodies that cannot support life due to lack of nutrients. C) an ecosystem in which overhunting or overfishing has resulted in the removal of keystone species and, ultimately, faunal collapse. D) terrestrial areas in which excessive nitrogen fertilizer has essentially burned the soil, preventing plants and microorganisms from living there. E) an ecosystem that was cleared of all vegetation for slash and burn agriculture.

A) hypoxic (low oxygen) areas in water bodies that limit marine and aquatic life.

Which of the following has the highest number of known species? A) insects B) chordates C) plants D) bacteria E) viruses

A) insects

The notion that the traits that help a species survive and reproduce are passed along more frequently than those that do not (i.e. differential reproduction and adaptation) is known as A) natural selection. B) punctuated equilibrium. C) competitive exclusion principle. D) Lamarckianism. E) gradualism.

A) natural selection.

The net photosynthesis for an entire ecosystem is known as the A) net primary productivity. B) net radiation. C) net photosynthesis. D) free air CO2 enrichment. E) compensation point.

A) net primary productivity.

The specific, unique role that a species performs within a given area is known as a(n) A) niche. B) habitat. C) community. D) trophic level. E) ecotone.

A) niche.

An ecosystem is a(n) ________ system in terms of energy, and a(n) ________ system in terms of matter. A) open; open B) closed; open C) closed; closed D) open; closed E) open; partially closed (though a small amount of matter does get in and out)

A) open; open

Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) infest many taxa of plants, often causing the branches of the host species to become swollen and distorted and making the trees more susceptible to insect infestations. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship? A) parasitism B) mutualism C) commensalism D) amensalism E) synnecrosis

A) parasitism

Which of the following is not an example of an abiotic component of an ecosystem? A) plants B) mineral nutrients C) precipitation D) sunlight E) atmospheric gases

A) plants

The term used to denote the part of a volume of soil that is filled with air, gases, or water is A) porosity. B) soil structure. C) permeability. D) soil texture. E) soil moisture.

A) porosity.

C6H12O6 + 6O2 g 6CO2 + 6H2O + heat energy is the generalized equation for A) respiration. B) chemosynthesis. C) transpiration. D) photosynthesis. E) evaporation.

A) respiration.

Consider a simple food chain in which a grasshopper eats grass, the grasshopper is eaten by a frog, the frog is eaten by a snake, and a burying beetle feeds on the snake after it dies . Which of the following is not correctly matched A) snake-primary consumer B) grasshopper-herbivore C) grass-producer D) frog-secondary consumer E) beetle-detritivore

A) snake-primary consumer

A vertical section of soil is generally organized into distinct horizontal layers called A) soil horizons. B) soil section. C) polypedons. D) pedons. E) soil profiles.

A) soil horizons.

Which of the following is not correct regarding nitrogen? A) Nitrogen is very important to organisms. B) Atmospheric nitrogen is accessible directly to most organisms. C) The atmosphere contains about 78% nitrogen. D) Bacterial action is key to the nitrogen cycle. E) Over fertilization of agricultural fields with synthetic nitrogen has led to water pollution.

B) Atmospheric nitrogen is accessible directly to most organisms.

Which of the following is the correct sequence from the surface to the bedrock in a typical soil horizon. A) C, B, E, A, O B) O, A, E, B, C C) A, B, C, O, R D) O, E, C, B, A E) S, O, I, L

B) O, A, E, B, C

A stable, self-sustaining assemblage of species that would exist until the next major disturbance is known as a A) symbiont. B) climax community. C) life zone. D) sere. E) pioneer community.

B) climax community.

A ________ is a complex network of interconnected food chains with multidirectional branches. A) food pyramid B) food web C) niche order D) trophic level E) trophic cascade

B) food web

Which of the following is not one of the five primary soil-forming factors? A) climate B) human activity C) biological activity (organisms) D) parent material E) topography

B) human activity

A roughly equal mix of sand, silt, and clay is called A) pedon. B) loam. C) solum. D) regolith. E) humus.

B) loam.

In coral reefs, clownfish live unharmed among the poisonous tentacles of sea anemones. The sea anemones protect the clownfish from predation, while the clownfish scare off predators, such butterfly fish, which would otherwise eat the anemones. The clownfish may also provide important nutrients to the anemones. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship? A) parasitism B) mutualism C) commensalism D) amensalism E) synnecrosis

B) mutualism

Lichen are made up of algae and fungi living together. In this relationship, the alga is the produce and food source for the fungus and the fungus provides structure and physical support for the alga. This is an example of which symbiotic relationship? A) parasitism B) mutualism C) commensalism D) amensalism E) synnecrosis

B) mutualism

Which of the following would not be a limiting factor for a plant species? A) soil phosphorus content B) natural selection C) average daily insolation D) daily precipitation values E) days below freezing

B) natural selection

The difference between the photosynthetic production of carbohydrates and the respiration loss of carbohydrates is known as A) compensation point. B) net photosynthesis. C) net radiation. D) free air CO2 enrichment. E) net primary productivity.

B) net photosynthesis.

________ refers to the size and shape of the aggregates of particles of soil. A) Soil texture B) Soil porosity C) Soil structure D) Soil plasticity E) Soil consistence

C) Soil structure

The horizon identified as regolith (weathered bedrock and parent material) is the ________ horizon. A) O B) A C) C D) E E) B

C) C

________ is the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbance. A) Natural selection B) Disturbance C) Resilience D) Climax E) Vulnerability

C) Resilience

Of the following, which group is most vulnerable to anthropogenic changes? A) plants B) mammals C) amphibians D) birds E) fish

C) amphibians

The interacting populations of living plants and animals in a particular location are described as a(n) A) metapopulation. B) niche. C) community. D) ecosystem. E) trophic level.

C) community.

The study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment is called A) biology. B) biogeography. C) zoology. D) ecology. E) pedology.

D) ecology.

The gradual nutrient enrichment in water bodies is known as A) mesotrophication. B) dystrophication. C) hypereutrophication. D) eutrophication. E) oligotrophication.

D) eutrophication.

The environment in which an organism resides or is biologically adapted to live is called a(n) A) ecotone. B) trophic level. C) niche. D) habitat. E) community.

D) habitat.

Together, these three natural elements make up 99% of the Earth's biomass. A) oxygen (O), argon (Ar), and helium (He) B) hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and helium (He) C) carbon (C), nitrogen, and helium (He) D) hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C) E) hydrogen (H), helium (He), and oxygen

D) hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C)

A soil that is 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay is classified as A) silty clay. B) clay loam. C) silt loam. D) loam. E) sandy clay.

D) loam.

A soil that is 20% sand, 60% silt, and 20% clay is classified as A) sandy clay. B) clay loam. C) sandy clay loam. D) silt loam. E) clay.

D) silt loam.

Since life arose on Earth, ________ major extinctions have occurred. A) one B) two C) four D) six E) eight

D) six

Photosynthesis involves A) a process known as respiration. B) reactions within the stems and roots of plants that enable the conduction of water and nutrients. C) the release of stored carbon dioxide in a process using sunlight. D) the conversion of carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight to oxygen and carbohydrates. E) the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by cyanobacteria and cyanobacteria associated lichens.

D) the conversion of carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight to oxygen and carbohydrates.

The zonation of flora and fauna along an altitudinal transect similar to that found along latitudinal transects is known as the A) altitude-latitude hypothesis. B) altitudinal zonation principle. C) vegetation similarity theory. D) the life zone concept. E) limiting factor.

D) the life zone concept.

Broadly defined, the biosphere A) is more a theoretical construct than an observable sphere of study. B) consists of only terrestrial organisms, while the hydrosphere includes aquatic and marine organisms. C) encompasses both the lithosphere and the hydrosphere, but not the atmosphere. D) only includes the biotic components of an ecosystem, with the abiotic components being considered part of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, or atmosphere, respectively. E) extends from the ocean floor to an altitude of approximately 8 km (5 mi) into the atmosphere.

E) extends from the ocean floor to an altitude of approximately 8 km (5 mi) into the atmosphere.

The maximum water available for plant use after water has drained from the large pore spaces is A) soil structure. B) permeability. C) porosity. D) soil texture. E) field capacity.

E) field capacity.

The snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) is a specialist that feeds on only one specific type of snail. By comparison, the Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a generalist that feeds on diverse food sources. Whereas the snail kite has a very limited range, the Mallard Duck has a very broad range. The snail kite's diet is an example of a(n) A) habitat. B) ecological niche. C) natural selection. D) range of tolerance. E) limiting factor.

E) limiting factor.

Which of the following is not an example of a biotic component of an ecosystem? A) plants B) carnivores C) decomposers D) herbivores E) mineral nutrients

E) mineral nutrients

When a random occurrence produces altered genetic material and inserts new traits into the inherited stream, ________ has occurred. A) Lamarckian evolution B) limiting factor C) vicariance D) punctuated equilibrium E) mutation

E) mutation

A consumer, such as a bear, that eats both producers (plants) and consumers (animals) is a(n) A) carnivore. B) autotroph. C) detritivore. D) herbivore. E) omnivore.

E) omnivore.

The basic sampling unit, in soil surveys representing all the characteristics and variability used for classification, is the A) soil profile. B) polypedon. C) soil horizon. D) soil section. E) pedon.

E) pedon.

The composition of soil is best described as A) primarily mineral matter (approximately 72%), but also consists of organic matter (10%), and water (18%). B) approximately 45% organic matter, 50% mineral matter, and 5% water and air. C) pebbles, gravel, cobbles, and a varying combination of sands, silts, and clays. D) the very thin surface layer rich in organic matter with some other mineral matter in the mix. E) roughly 45% mineral matter, 5% organic matter, and 50% air and water.

E) roughly 45% mineral matter, 5% organic matter, and 50% air and water.

Organisms that share the same feeding level (e.g. primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, etc.) are said to be at the same A) food web strand. B) food chain link. C) niche order. D) food pyramid level. E) trophic level.

E) trophic level.