Biology Test: Chapter 3

wetland

ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface for at least part of the year

humus

material formed from decaying leaves and other organic matter

Plankton

microscopic organisms that live in aquatic environments; includes both phytoplankton and zooplankton

Biosphere

part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere

Abiotic

physical, or nonliving, factor that shapes an ecosystem

Tania is studying a variety of biomes. She finds that in a (Choose... desert taiga tropical dry forest tropical rain forest) , periods of rainy weather are followed by long periods of drought, and the weather is generally warm. In contrast is the (Choose... desert tropical dry forest taiga tropical rain forest) , where the weather is hot and rainy for much or all of the year. In the (Choose... taiga tropical dry forest desert tropical rain forest) biome, the weather is almost always dry, with brief and infrequent precipitation.

tropical dry forest tropical rain forest desert

Using a computer program to predict the growth of a forest IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT

Modeling

Counting the number of migrating geese that visit a pond IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT

Observation

Ecology

Scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment

aphotic zone

dark layer of the oceans below the photic zone where sunlight does not penetrate

weather

day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere, including temperature, precipitation, and other factors

Which factors are used to characterize a biome, such as the desert, tropical rain forest, or temperate grasslands? Select all of the answers that apply. A. biotic factors, such as plant and animal life B. abiotic factors, such as climate and soil C. precise lines of latitude and longitude D. levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A and B

biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

Population

A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area

Species

A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

atmosphere

A thin layer of gases surrounding Earth

Stuart is studying weather data for his region. The data was gathered from 1950 to 2016. Which observation would provide the STRONGEST evidence that the climate of his region has changed during this time? A. Average annual rainfall for 1985-2016 increased by 20 percent compared to the previous 30 years. B. Total rainfall in 2014 was 30 percent greater compared to 1950. C. The lowest recorded temperature occurred in 1954. D. The highest recorded temperature occurred in 2016.

A. Average annual rainfall for 1985-2016 increased by 20 percent compared to the previous 30 years.

The soil of the temperate forest is often rich in humus. Which statement best explains the presence of humus in the temperate forest? A. Humus forms from fallen leaves, dead wood, and other dead organic matter. B. Tree roots break rocks into humus as they grow. C. Cold winter weather preserves humus in the soil. D. Dry conditions allow humus to form.

A. Humus forms from fallen leaves, dead wood, and other dead organic matter.

Most organisms in the biosphere exchange the gases oxygen and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. Which of the following describe an exchange of matter between the atmosphere and the geosphere? A. a volcanic eruption releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere B. carbon dioxide dissolving from the atmosphere into ocean water C. the remains of living things settling on the floor of the ocean, and then becoming rock D. water vapor condensing in the air to form clouds

A. a volcanic eruption releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

A team of deep-sea divers and biologists is exploring the open ocean. As team members dive downward from the surface, they observe significant changes to the ocean community at a depth of about 200 meters. What is the main cause of the changes at this depth? A. loss of brightness of the water B. increasing salinity of the water C. increasing temperature of the water D. decreased oxygen concentration of the water

A. loss of brightness of the water

Estuaries serve which important role for marine ecosystems? A. providing spawning and nursery grounds for many marine animals B. adding oxygen to the ocean water C. removing carbon dioxide from the ocean water D. removing salt from the ocean water

A. providing spawning and nursery grounds for many marine animals

The coastal ocean is home to kelp forests and coral reefs. Which factor explains why the coastal ocean tends to be more productive than waters of similar depths in the open ocean? A. warm water temperature B. brightness of the water C. low salinity of the water D. nutrients supplied by runoff from the land

D. nutrients supplied by runoff from the land

biotic factors

Any living part of the environment with which an organism might interact

Kevin is constructing an explanation of the importance of freshwater ecosystems. Which of these statements would be MOST USEFUL to include in the explanation? A. Freshwater ecosystems are distributed evenly across a continent. B. Freshwater ecosystems hold less than 3 percent of Earth's surface water. C. Freshwater ecosystems keep fresh water in one place, and do not release it. D. Freshwater ecosystems stay about the same during the year.

B. Freshwater ecosystems hold less than 3 percent of Earth's surface water.

An increase in the concentrations of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere would have which of these effects on temperature? A. a decrease in average temperatures on Earth's surface B. an increase in average temperatures on Earth's surface C. an increase in average temperature in the upper atmosphere D. a decrease in average temperature within all Earth systems

B. an increase in average temperatures on Earth's surface

Scientists cite evidence that Earth's climate has been changing significantly over the past 50 years. They also argue that changes to Earth's orbital path are NOT the cause of these significant changes to climate.Which statement provides the STRONGEST evidence in support of the scientists' argument? A. Variations in Earth's orbital path are consistent with accepted laws of planetary motion. B. Earth's orbital path does not affect the amount of solar energy that Earth receives. C. Changes to Earth's orbital path occur in a cycle that repeats every 100,000 years. D. Climate change cannot be demonstrated over a span of 50 years.

C. Changes to Earth's orbital path occur in a cycle that repeats every 100,000 years.

The diagram is a simplified model of Earth systems and their interactions. The model is used to analyze the causes and effects of global changes to Earth systems, such as changes to Earth's climate. Which statement BEST explains why the model is useful for analyzing global changes to Earth systems? A. The causes and effects of global changes involve one Earth system only. B. The causes of global changes involve two Earth systems, and the effects involve the remaining two Earth systems. C. Earth systems interact with one another, and the causes and effects of global changes involve all of the systems. D. The causes and effects of global changes act separately on each Earth system, and the systems do not interact with one another.

C. Earth systems interact with one another, and the causes and effects of global changes involve all of the systems.

Harvey is studying the turtles that live in a pond. His knowledge of ecology will be MOST USEFUL for explaining which of these observations of the turtles? A. The carapace (shell) of the turtle appears to be an extension of its spine. B. A female turtle lays a clutch of eggs along the shore of the lake, and not in the water. C. One summer, the size of the turtle population suddenly increases, but then gradually decreases. D. A turtle may remain underwater for several minutes, but then surfaces for at least a brief moment.

C. One summer, the size of the turtle population suddenly increases, but then gradually decreases.

On a tall mountain, temperatures tend to become colder with increasing elevation. Summer is wetter and warmer than winter. The coldest month is usually January. These are example of what

Climate

The diagram shows that the upwind side of a mountain range tends to receive more precipitation than the downwind side of a mountain range. Which statement is MOST USEFUL for explaining this observation? A. Prevailing winds flow from west to east. B. Water vapor condenses to form droplets of liquid water. C. Evaporation allows water vapor to rise through the air. D. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air.

D. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air.

Which of the following BEST describes the hydrosphere? A. bodies of water on the surface of Earth, but not the water in the atmosphere or underground B. salt water in the oceans, but not fresh water C. water that is underground or mixed into the geosphere D. water in any location on Earth, including the atmosphere, surface, and underground

D. water in any location on Earth, including the atmosphere, surface, and underground

canopy

Dense covering formed by the leafy tops of tall rain forest trees

Raising ants in terrariums, each identical except for the clay content of the soil IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT

Experimentation

The air today is more humid than it was yesterday. A hurricane is likely to reach southeast Florida this afternoon. No rain is likely to fall for the next week. These are example of what

Weather

Are pond water, rain that falls on the pond, and air above the pond biotic or abiotic?

abiotic

Geosphere

all of the rock at and below Earth's surface

Hydrosphere

all of the water --salt water and fresh water, in the form of liquid ice, or vapor--above and below Earth's surface and in the atmosphere

Ecosystem

all the organisms that live in a place, together with their nonliving environment

Community

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

climate

average year-to-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in an area over a long period of time

taiga

biome with long cold winters and a few months of warm weather; dominated by coniferous evergreens; also called boreal forest

Are fish, frogs, and water lilies biotic or abiotic?

biotic

The three main gases that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere are (Choose... nitrogen hydrogen carbon dioxide oxygen) , methane, and water vapor. They contribute to the (Choose... ecosystem greenhouse biosphere climate) effect, which makes Earth's temperatures warmer than they would be otherwise.

carbon dioxide greenhouse

Estuary

kind of wetland formed where a river meets the ocean

Understory

layer in a rain forest found underneath the canopy formed by shorter trees and vines

Permafrost

layer of permanently frozen subsoil found in the tundra

\Lana is studying the deer that live in a forest. She concludes that all of the deer are members of the same (Choose... hydrosphere ecosystem species geosphere) because they look alike and breed with one another. Next, she observes how the deer (Choose... ecosystem population biosphere community) interacts with trees, wolves, and other living things of the forest (Choose... species geosphere community population.)

species population community

Ecology includes studying ecosystems at different levels. Arrange these levels from the narrowest, most specific level to the widest, broadest level. Place the narrowest level on top.

species population community ecosystem biome biosphere

photic zone

sunlight region near the surface of water

greenhouse effect

the process in which certain gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor) trap sunlight energy in Earth's atmosphere as heat