GEOL Exam 4

Changes in the tilt angle of Earth's rotational axis occurs approximately in _________ year cycles. a. 26,000 b. 41,000 c. 1 d. 100,000

41,000

A few centimeters thickness of prime soil takes approximately _____________ to mature. a. 5 years b. 100 years c. one million years d. 500 years

500 years

Millennial climatic oscillations that occur over time periods of several thousand years or less are mainly attributed to,,, a. Milankovitch cycles b. Ice sheet instabilities and changes in thermohaline circulation patterns in oceans c. Volcanic eruptions and asteroid impacts d. Plate tectonics

?

The figure below illustrates features associated with a continental glacier. Which of the following letters corresponds to the outwash plain? a.Ab.Bc.Cd.De.Ef.F

A

Which of the following lines is (are) pointing to an Arete? a.A b.B c.C d.D

A

Which of the following structures is a breakwater? a.Ab.Bc.Cd.D

A

Which of the following would most likely be a result of calcification? a. An O- and A-horizon in Mollisols rich in humus b. A leached soil high in iron and aluminum in Oxisols c. A hardened layer called caliche in the B horizon of Aridisols d. A churned and mixed soil in Gelisols resulting from repeated freezing and thawing

A hardened layer called caliche in the B horizon of Aridisols

What happens in allopatric speciation? a. Several different species eventually evolve into one common species b. A natural disaster reduces the number of species within an ecosystem c. Any new variant within a large population is quickly swamped by interbreeding with normal individuals d. A small group is separated (isolated) from the larger (main) population and eventually evolves into a new species

A small group is separated (isolated) from the larger (main) population and eventually evolves into a new species

Why would a farmer plant rows of trees in a field? a. Farm on steep slopes b. Prevent soil erosion via surface runoff in gullies c. Prevent colloids from forming in the soil d. Prevent wind erosion of the soil

A,C, OR D

Studies of cores obtained from continental glaciers and deep-sea sediment indicate that... a. Atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane concentrations tend to be lower during glacial periods b. Glacial-interglacial episodes over the past two million years occur at approximately 100,000 year cycles c. Smaller-scale millennial climatic oscillations are embedded within longer climatic cycles d. Atmospheric and oceanic temperature changes over the past two million years are recorded by oxygen isotopes in ice cores and marine fossils e. All of the above

All of the above

Which of the following factors influences the distribution and biogeography of plant species? a. Soil type b. Air and soil temperatures c. Solar insolation d. Amount of precipitation e. Regional climate f. All of the above

All of the above

Alkaline soils are generally found in... a. Frozen tundra b. Swamps and bogs c. Arid regions d. Humid regions

Arid regions

Which of the following cannot be directly used by plants, but rather must first be coverted into usable compounds by lightening and certain soil bacteria? a. Atmospheric nitrogen b. Carbohydrates (sugars) c. Water d. Atmospheric oxygen

Atmospheric nitrogen

Ice cores recovered in Greenland and Antarctica provide a record of changes in atmospheric temperature and compositon dating back to over 100,000 years ago. Based on ice core data, which of the following statements is TRUE? a.Atmospheric temperature has been steadily increasing over the last 12 thousand years and we are presently in an interglacial cycle b.The concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases increase dramatically during periods of glaciation and global cooling. c.The atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane have actually decreased over the last 50 years.d.Ice cores indicate that global temperatures have been fairly constant over the last few tens of thousands of years.

Atmospheric temperature has been steadily increasing over the last 12 thousand years and we are presently in an interglacial cycle

Within which soil horizon does clay, iron and aluminum brought down from overlying horizons accumulate? a. O-horizon b. C-horizon c. B-horizon d. A-horizon

B-horizon

Which of the following coastal features is LEAST LIKELY associated with a coastline like the Pacific Coast undergoing uplift and erosion? a. Sea cliff b. Backshore dune c. Wave cut platform/marine terrace d. Sea stack

Backshore dune

____________ decompose organic matter and return nutrients to the soil whereas ___________ are detritivores that consume decaying organisms for food.. a. Bacteria/worms b. Vultures/fungus c. Ticks/bacteria d. Millipedes/slugs

Bacteria/worms

Which of the following statements about beach drift and longshore currents is TRUE? a. Beach drift causes beach sand to remain in place. b. Beach drift transports sediment in the same direction as does longshore current. c. Longshore currents prevent waves from striking the beach. d. The zigzag motion of beach sand in a down-beach direction is primarily caused by rip currents .

Beach drift transports sediment in the same direction as does longshore current.

Which of the following examples constitutes the most stable ecosystem? a. Habitat fragmentation where a habitat is reduced to a number of isolated patches separated by distance b. Biodiverse ecosystem where each trophic level is occupied by several different species c. A single crop like wheat d. A community that is invaded by new species

Biodiverse ecosystem where each trophic level is occupied by several different species

For the illustration below, which of the following is the secondary consumer? a. Caterpillar on the leaf b. Leaf c. Hawk attacking the bobolink bird d. Bobolink bird ready to devour the caterpillar

Bobolink bird ready to devour the caterpillar

Which of the following factors can affect global climate on a time scale of several decades? a. Plate tectonics b. Milankovitch cycles c. Loss of Arctic sea ice d. Human activity such as burning of fossils fuels e. Both C and D

Both C and D

How did global climate overall change throughout the last 60 million years of the Cenozoic Era? a. Cenozoic climate was warmest 60 million years ago and has gradually cooled since then, culminating in the Pleistocene Ice Age beginning 2 million years ago b. Global climate today is the warmest it has ever been over the last 60 million years c. Global climate was cold throughout the entire Cenozoic Era as evidenced by 60 million year old glaciers found today in Antarctica d. Cenozoic climate started out cold, then warmed about 30 million years ago, and has since cooled again.

Cenozoic climate was warmest 60 million years ago and has gradually cooled since then, culminating in the Pleistocene Ice Age beginning 2 million years ago

A _______________ is a bowl-shaped depression at the head of an alpine glacial valley that feeds the glacier with snow. a. Drumlin b. Terminal moraine c. Tarn d. Cirque

Cirque

Which of the following statements about biodiversity is FALSE? a. Climate change and human activity are today increasing biodiversity throughout the world b. Greater biodiversity in an ecosystem results in greater stability and greater productivity c. Natural selection is an important component of evolution leading to biodiversity d. Evolution is responsible for the richness and variety of species today

Climate change and human activity are today increasing biodiversity throughout the world

Which of the following examples will result in positive feedback? a. Climate cooling increases the snow cover on land, thus increasing global albedo and causing more solar radiation to be reflected back into space b. An increase in plant activity during global warming results in more carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere c. Greater snow cover during climatic cooling reduces the activity of carbon dioxide sinks such as photosynthesis and formation of carbonate rocks, thus causing carbon dioxide to build up in the atmosphere d. Warming of the climate increases evaporation in the oceans, leading to greater cloud cover such that more solar radiation is reflected back into space.

Climate cooling increases the snow cover on land, thus increasing global albedo and causing more solar radiation to be reflected back into space

Atoll, barrier, and fringing describe different types of ________. a. Coral reefs b. Wetlands c. Coastal erosional features d. Coastal depositonal features

Coral reefs

Where do plants with deep roots, spreading root systems, water-holding tissue, and leaves with waxy coatings and fine hair most likely occur? a. Alpine tundra b. Tropical savannas c. Montane forest d. Deserts e. Temperate rain forest

Deserts

An elongated, cigar-shaped feature deposited by a continental glacier and oriented parallel to the direction of glacial flow is called a __________________ a. Recessional moraine b. Kettle lake c. Kame d. Drumlin

Drumlin

Which of the following depositional features along a coast is called a Bay barrier or baymouth bar? a.Ab.Bc.Cd.De.E

E

What does the illustration below best represent? a. Biomass consumption and efficiency b. Patch dynamics c. Limiting factors d. Ecological succession

Ecological succession

Why does ocean water have higher salinity in subtropical regions than along the equatorial belt? a. More streams and rivers empty into the ocean within subtropical regions than along the equatorial belt. b. Precipitation is greater in the subtropics than along the equatorial belt. c. Rainfall within subtropical regions has a higher salt content than along the equator. d. Evaporation exceeds precipitation in the subtropical region, whereas the reverse occurs along the equator.

Evaporation exceeds precipitation in the subtropical region, whereas the reverse occurs along the equator.

Over 50% of the chemical energy generated by the primary producers (plants) is transferred up the food chain to primary consumers (herbivores). True False

False

Plants obtain nitrogen directly from the atmosphere True False

False

Sea ice and ice shelves in the Arctic and Antarctica have increased in area over the past two decades in spite of recent global warming.

False

The concept of Life Zones states that the zonation of plants and animals with altitude is very different from the zonation with respect to latitude True False

False

Which of the following is LEAST characteristic of Spodosols and the process of Podzolization? a. Surface horizon consists of acid-rich forest litter b. Oxides and clays brought down from higher horizons accumulate in the B-horizon c. Common in northern coniferous forests d. Form from young volcanic ash and cinders e. Sandy-bleached layer occurs below the A-horizon

Form from young volcanic ash and cinders

___________ soils occur in regions of permafrost where cryoturbation is common and supports tundra-type of vegetation. a. Ultisols b. Histosols c. Andisols d. Gelisols

Gelisols

Stratified drift is most likely deposited by ___________ a. Frost action in permifrost b. Glacial ice and snow c. Glacial meltwater d. Terminal moraines

Glacial meltwater

Which of the following statements is TRUE? a. The sea surface is everywhere smooth and flat. b. Coastlines are always in equilibrium with oceans and therefore never change. c. Ocean currents generate the tides. d. Global sea level has risen and fallen many times throughout Earth history.

Global sea level has risen and fallen many times throughout Earth history.

Which of the following will cause a global rise in sea level? a. Removing fish from the oceans b. Decrease in the volume of mid-ocean ridges c. Assembly of continents into a supercontinent. d. Global cooling during an ice age e. Global warming during an interglacial cycle

Global warming during an interglacial cycle

The salinity of oceans vary from 34 to 37 parts per thousand. What is the definition of salinity? a. Grams of sodium per kilogram of dissolved ions. b. Grams of solution per cubic kilometer of seawater. c. Grams of dissolved ions in 1 kilogram of solution. d. Grams of water in 1 kilogram of solution.

Grams of dissolved ions in 1 kilogram of solution.

Which of the following statements regarding biodiversity is CORRECT? a. Agricultural ecosystems with single crops like wheat are more stable than ecosystems containing many different crops b. Agricultural ecosystems with single crops like wheat generally do not require fertilizers or pesticides to remain vibrant c. Greater biodiversity in an ecosystem results in greater stability and greater productivity d. Ecosystems with large numbers of species are less likely to survive relative to ecosystems containing only a few species

Greater biodiversity in an ecosystem results in greater stability and greater productivity

Which of the follow will eventually lead to cooler global temperatures on Earth? a. Greater tilt angle of Earth's rotational axis b. Increased volcanic activity during breakup of a supercontinent c. Greater ellipticity of Earth's orbit around the Sun d. Diminished Arctic sea ice and thawing of permifrost

Greater ellipticity of Earth's orbit around the Sun

How could sunspot activity possibly affect Earth's atmosphere? a. Sunspot activity never changes and therefore cannot affect Earth's climate b. Greater sunspot activity increases the solar wind, which in turn warms Earth's upper atmosphere c. Greater sunspot activity pushes Earth's orbit farther from the Sun, thus cooling the planet d. Diminished sunspot activity allows more solar radiation to escape the Sun and reach Earth, thus warming the planet

Greater sunspot activity increases the solar wind, which in turn warms Earth's upper atmosphere

For the following figure, where is the greatest amount of coastal erosion occuring? a. Bay b. Coastal erosion is the same everywhere c. Headlands d. Cove

Headlands

______________ are animals that typically consume plants directly a. Secondary consumers b. Decomposers c. Carnivores d. Herbivores

Herbivores

This type of soil consists largely of partially decomposed organic material associated with bogs and is commonly referred to as peat. a. Entisol b. Vertisol c. Aridosol d. Histosol

Histosol

Which of the following factors is most likely the cause of coral bleaching, which is today destroying coral reefs around the world? a. Increased acidity of the oceans due to rising concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide b. Greater frequency and strength of tropical storms and hurricanes c. Polluting of the oceans with plastics and other discarded material d. Overfishing along many coastal areas

Increased acidity of the oceans due to rising concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Which of the following features of an Alpine glacier is (are) formed by sediment deposition rather than erosion? a. Cirque b. Lateral moraine c. Horn d. Paternoster lakes e. U-shaped valley

Lateral moraine

Oxisols form by a process known as ___________ a. Cryoturbation b. Podzolization c. Calcification d. Laterization

Laterization

The figure below illustrates the soil-forming process known as ____________. a. Cryoturbation b. Laterization c. Calcification d. Podzolization

Laterization

Which of the following does NOT add fertility to a soil? a. Available water b. Leaching of cations c. Rich in humus d. Good porosity e. Presence of soil colloids

Leaching of cations

Which of the following statements is LEAST consistent with a Mediterranean Shrubland Biome? a. Stunted, woody shrubs b. Monsoonal rains c. Dry summer climate d. Southern California is an example

Monsoonal rains

How does the collision and assembly of continents promote global cooling over time scales of millions of years? a. Greater volcanic acitivity emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere b. Reduced surface runoff results in less calcium ions carrried to the oceans c. More mountains create more alpine glaciers that increase Earth's albedo d. Continental collisions reduce the elevation of mountains, which in turn leads to more clouds and cooler surface temperatures

More mountains create more alpine glaciers that increase Earth's albedo

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding surface water in the oceans? a. The surface layer is heated by the sun. b. Motion of the surface layer is primarily driven by wind and deflected by the Coriollis force. c. The temperature of surface water varies with latitude and the seasons. d. Most surface water originates near Greenland and Antarctica and afterwards flows as surface water towards the equator.

Most surface water originates near Greenland and Antarctica and afterwards flows as surface water towards the equator.

A type of symbiosis where each organism benefits and is sustained over a long period of time by the relationship is called ___________. a. Mutualism b. Commensalism c. Amensalism d. Parasitism

Mutualism

The photo below is most likely that of a _____________ biome. a. Needleleaf forest b. Tropical savanna c. Tropical rain forest d. Temperate rain forest

Needleleaf forest

The function or occupation of a life form within a community is called a(n) _________. a. Ecosystem b. Niche c. Web d. Habitat

Niche

Where in the soil profile would most of the humus be concentrated? a. C horizon b. A and B horizons c. E and B horizons d. O and A horizons

O and A horizons

Which of the following statements about patch dynamics is FALSE? a. When existing organisms within a patch are disturbed or removed, a new community can emerge to fill the void b. Adjoining patches may be at different stages of development c. Once an individual patch (habitat) arises, it will never fail d. An ecosystem is a pathwork of habitats

Once an individual patch (habitat) arises, it will never fail

__________ are extensively weathered and leached soils generally found in tropical rain forests. a. Vertisols b. Mollisols c. Oxisols d. Aridisols

Oxisols

Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE with regard to photosynthesis? a. Inputs are carbon dioxide and water b. Photosynthesis in plants typically occurs during the daylight c. Plants create carbohydrates via photosynthesis for plant use d. Photosynthesis is an example of a closed system e. Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is an example of a closed system

Which of the following events MOST-LIKELY occurred during the last ice age when glaciers reached maximum extent ~18,000 years ago? a. Land bridges and continental shelves became submerged under water b. Plants and animals characteristic of colder climates migrated southward to lower latitudes c. Earth's crust in areas covered by glaciers rebounded to higher elevations d. Global sea level rose

Plants and animals characteristic of colder climates migrated southward to lower latitudes

In ecology, which of the following most likely fits the definition of a community? a. A tropical rain forest b. Herd of antelope c. Plants, animals, and insects inhabiting a forest floor d. A rabbit

Plants, animals, and insects inhabiting a forest floor

Which of the following statements regarding phytoplankton photosynthesis is TRUE? a. Causes calcium carbonate to dissolve at greater depths b. Removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen to seawater c. Repels (keeps away) zooplankton d. Photosynthesis is inhibited in the Euphotic Zone

Removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen to seawater

Most oxygen at or near Earth's surface is stored in ______________ a. the atmosphere b. Rocks and minerals (the lithosphere) c. the oceans d. plants

Rocks and minerals (the lithosphere)

Loam consists of... a. Sand and clay only b. Humus and sand only c. Clay only d. Sand, silt and clay

Sand, silt and clay

Which of the following statements best describes an esker? a. Sinuous, narrow ridge of coarse sand and gravel formed by a meltwater stream that flowed beneath a glacier b. Elongated deposit of till streamlined in the direction of ice movement by a continental glacier c. Hole in the ground left behind after a large block of ice melts d. Small hill or knob of poorly sorted gravel deposited by a melting glacier

Sinuous, narrow ridge of coarse sand and gravel formed by a meltwater stream that flowed beneath a glacier

What are the two most abundant ions in seawater? a. Potassium and calcium b. Sulfate and bicarbonate c. Silica and magnesium d. Sodium and chloride

Sodium and chloride

Which of the following would LEAST LIKELY characterize a periglacial landscape? a. Ice wedges develop in fractures below the ground surface. b. Melting of permafrost beneath a building constructed on the ground surface causes the structure to collapse. c. Soil is permanently buried beneath a continental glacier. d. Patterned ground forms due to frost action in the soil. e. Expansion of water when freezing disrupts the soil and fractures rocks.

Soil is permanently buried beneath a continental glacier.

Which of the following soils would LEAST LIKELY be found in Texas? a. Spodosols b. Vertisols c. Mollisols d. Ultisols

Spodosols

The following configuration of the Earth-Moon-Sun system will result in__________. a. Tsunamis b. Neap tide c. Ocean gyres d. Spring tide

Spring tide

The terms blocky, platy, and granular describe the soil's __________ a. Permeability b. Structure c. Consistency d. Texture

Structure

For incoming ocean waves approaching a coast, which of the following wave forms occur closest to the beach? a. Swells b. Crests c. Surf d. Breakers

Surf

Where would residual soil be best developed? a. Area of abundant rainfall but scarce vegetation b. Temperate climate and flat to gently-rolling topography c. Dry climate and steep slopes d. Cold, dry climate and scarce vegetation

Temperate climate and flat to gently-rolling topography

Within a community, which level in the food chain would contain the fewest members? a. Producers b. Primary consumers c. Secondary consumers d. Tertiary consumers

Tertiary consumers

Invasion of a former river valley by seawater during coastal submergence forms a(n) _______________; Give an example. a. Tidal Inlet; San Luis Pass b. Estuary; Galveston Bay c. Barrier Island; Galveston Island d. Delta; Mississippi Delta

Tidal Inlet; San Luis Pass (not that)

Which of the following terrestrial biomes is characterized by three levels of canopy, high insolation, high average annual temperature, and contains the most diverse body of life on earth? a. Tropical savanna b. Mediterranean shrubland c. Tropical rain forest d. Needleleaf forest

Tropical rain forest

An ecosystem is composed of several communities. True False

True

Because the transfer of chemical energy up the food chain is inefficent, there are fewer species at higher trophic levels. True False

True

Large populations tend to be genetically stable and slow to evolve whereas small populations can evolve rapidly. True False

True

Species such as grizzly bears that require a large range for survival are severly threatened by habitat fragmentation True False

True

Which of the following terrestrial biomes occurs at the highest latitudes and highest altitudes? a. Rain forest b. Broadleaf forest c. Tundra d. Savanna

Tundra

Which of the following processes is NOT part of the carbon cycle? a. Plant photosynthesis b. Storage of oil, coal, and gas below Earth's surface c. Release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere via volcanic eruptions d. Growth of shells by marine organisms e. Use of fertilizers on crops f. Subduction of carbon-bearing oceanic sediments and rocks along a convergent plate boundary g. Methane escape onto the seafloor via hydrothermal vents near mid-ocean ridges

Use of fertilizers on crops

Which of the following is NOT a carbon sink for removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? a. Plant photosynthesis b. Volcanic eruptions c. Soil d. Oceans e. Formation of limestone

Volcanic eruptions

Which of the following is LEAST LIKELY associated with wetlands? a. Wave-cut platform b. Salt marshes c. Flood plain d. Mangroves e. Bogs

Wave-cut platform

Which of the following statements regarding waves approaching a coast is FALSE? a. Approaching wave crests align parallel with the coastline in what is known as wave refraction. b. Wave crests bunch closer together when approaching the beach. c. Wave crests increase in height when approaching the beach. d. Waves speed up when approaching the beach.

Waves speed up when approaching the beach.

Which of the following would most likely occupy the third trophic level of a food chain? a. Caterpillar b. snake c. leaf d. bird

bird

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents, volcanic eruptions, chemical exchange between the atmosphere and ocean, buried coal, and transport of dissolved constituents to the oceans by streams are all components of the _______________ a. carbon cycle b. oxygen cycle c. nitrogen cycle d. phosphorous cycle

carbon cycle

In ecology, prairie grass is an example of a(n) _______________. a. population b. ecological niche c. limiting factor d. habitat

habitat

The release of excess ___________ and ___________ from fertilizers and detergents into streams and rivers promotes algal blooms that are ultimately responsible for creating the Gulf Coast Dead Zone where depletion of oxygen in water.harms marine life a. nitrogen and carbon b. nitrogen and phosphorous c. phosphorous and carbon d. carbon dioxide and potassium

nitrogen and phosphorous

The Competetive Exclusion Principle states that... a. endemic and invasive species typically cooperate and thrive together within the same ecological niche b. only species that compete with one another can successfuly live together in the same ecological niche c. no two closely-related species can occupy the same ecological niche successfully d. each trophic level can only sustain one species

no two closely-related species can occupy the same ecological niche successfully

Ecosystem resilience refers to... a. the physical, chemical, or biological characterisitics of an environment that determines a species distribution and population size b. the ability of a population to take over an ecological niche formerly occupied by an endemic species c. the tendancy of a population to resist a disturbance d. the ability of a community to recover after a major disturbance such as wildfire

the ability of a community to recover after a major disturbance such as wildfire