castillo mid term multiple choice and fill in the blanks
animals that live in the desert
are usually nocturnal
An estuary functions as a mineral trap due to
The mixing action of river water and ocean water
chaparral plants usually survive fires because
They can resprout from small amounts of surviving plant tissue.
biomes
are usually described by their vegetation
which of the following statements is not correct
rivers, generally move faster, and their oxygen levels decrease, as they near the ocean
which of the following adaptations are used by animals of the arctic tundra
rodents burrow underground for winter protection
excessive nutrient growth in an aquatic ecosystem can be accelerated by -
runoff
the amount of dissolved salts in water is known as -
salinity
Which ecosystem has the highest level of salinity?
salt marsh
Adaptations of desert animals that help them survive in the hot, dry desert often include
searching for food at night
the main factors that determines what type of plants grow in a biome is
temperature and precipitation
the types of organisms food in a pond or lake depend on
the amount of sunlight, the presence of nutrients, the temperature of the water
An arctic ecosystem depends almost entirely on ____________________ for its available food.
the ocean
coral reefs are intricately shaped rocklike structures that are formed as a result of
the secretion of calcium carbonate by tiny marine animals
Why doesn't photosynthesis occur in deep ocean water?
there is no sunlight
which of the following is not a characteristic of wetlands
they are limited to inland freshwater environments
which of the following is an adaptation of coniferous trees in the taiga
they have a unique overall shape in order to accumulate snow, which sets as a heavy insulating layer
which of the following is not true about temperate deciduous forests
trees grow lush green leaves in the spring but loose their leaves in late summer
As they flow down a mountain to flatter ground, rivers generally become
wider, slower, and warmer
the --------layer f a tropical rain forest receives the most sunlight
emergent
a forest with the greatest species diversity would be located near the -
equator
a - lake has a large amount of plant growth due to nutrients
eutrophic
the distance north or south of the equator, as measured in degrees, is called
latitude
coral polyps secrete skeletons of - that slowly accumulate and form coral reefs
limestone or calcium
in the -------- zone, life is diverse and abundant
littoral
all of the following are characteristics of temperate rain forests except
low rainfall in summer but abundant snow in winter
mosses use - to anchor themselves to rocks near churning river headwaters
rhizoids
Estuaries are very productive ecosystems because they receive fresh nutrients from
rivers and oceans
an estimated - percent of all coral reefs are threatened by human activities
27
taiga is
A forested biome dominated by coniferous trees
which of the following is a threat to coral reefs
Oil spills, sewage, and pesticides.
What mainly distinguishes nekton from benthos?
One swims freely and the other often lives attached to a hard surface.
which of the following statements is not correct
Tropical rain forests are resistant to change because the plants contain so many nutrients.
because water - sunlight, photosynthesis is limited to the upper 100 meters of the ocean
absorbs
Plants in a particular biome have ___________ that help them to survive in that biome.
adaptations
tropical rain forests are being destroyed primarily by logging for lumber and to create open land for -
agriculture
the arrangement of organisms in the open ocean is determined by the
amount f nutrients and sunlight that are available
a forest that receives relatively little rainfall and has acidic soul would be located near the
arctic circle
estuaries
are ecosystems where both fresh water and salt water are present
Grasslands, such as the prairies of North America,
are threatened by soil erosion because native grasses have been damaged or destroyed by plowing and overgrazing
long, thin - islands typically run parallel to a shore
barrier
plankton form the - of the marine food web
base
barnacles are a type of -, or bottom-dwelling organisms
benthic
in the ------ zone, the water is cool and dark
benthic
which of the following is not a characteristic of salt marshes and mangrove swamps
both are dominated by marsh grasses
the water in salt marshes is saltier than the water in - marshes
brackish
a common adaptation of animals living in the chaparral is --
camouflage
most of the animals in the tropical rain forests live in the - layer, where fruits and flowers are abundant
canopy
which of the following is located primarily in coastal areas that have mediterranean style climates with warm dry summers and mild wet winters
chaparral
most -- plants are low-lying evergreen shrubs and trees with small leathery leaves
chapparal
the biome that has trees that lose their leaves during fall is called--
decidious
plants that have adaptations, such as rhizomes, for surviving harsh winters would most likely be found in a temperate ----- forest
deciduous
tropical rain forests are threatened by
deforestation and the trade of rain forest plants and animals
a - biome has an annual precipitation of less than 25 cm
desert
animals that have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss would most likely be found in a - biome
desert
which of the following would you expect to see in the emergent layer of the tropical rain forest
eagles, bats, and snakes
what adaptation prevents phytoplankton from sinking into deep waters
flagella
Swamps are commonly found on
flat, poorly drained land
the deforestation of the rain forests may cause climate changes which, in turn, may affect
flooding
animals such as pronghorn, bison, and badgers live on the north american -
grasslands
Many forest biomes are experiencing __________ destruction, when land inhabited by an organism is destroyed or altered.
habitat
the tundra
has a layer of soil that is permanently frozen beneath the top soil
which of the following is not an environmental function of wetlands
increasing runoff
What causes most coastal pollution in the United States?
industrial waste and sewage
Most pollutants that enter estuaries break down over time, yet they are still considered a problem because
it is the volume of the pollutants, more than the time factor, that harms estuaries
Most ocean pollution can be traced to activities on ____________________.
land
a river changed with the - and - through which it flows
land and climate
If you visited a savanna, you would likely see
large herds of grazing animals, such as rhinos, gazelles, and giraffes.
what are the two types of freshwater wetlands
marshes and swamps
Fish are a type of ___, or free swimming, organisms
nekton
three groups of aquatic organisms include- and benthos
nekton
marshes are dominated by - plants while swamps contain mainly - plants
nonwoody, woody
In estuaries, fresh water and salt water mix, forming a(n) - trap
nutrient
Two threats to ocean ecosystems are
nutrient runoff and industrial waste discharges, overfishing and entanglement of marine mammals in trawl nets, sewage and algal blooms
deserts are
often formed on the dry side of mountain ranges
the least productive marine ecosystem is the
open ocean
you are walking through a forest that gets large amounts of rain, has high humidity, and has moderate temperatures year-round. where might you be located
pacific northwest
in the tundra, the frozen layer of soil just beneath the surface is called
permafrost
Most of the food in aquatic ecosystems is produced by ________.
phytoplankton
which organism produces most of the food in an aquatic ecosystem
phytoplankton
two types of phytoplankton are microscopic plans called - and microscopic animals called -
phytoplankton, zooplankton
the majority of marine organisms are found in
shallow coastal waters
Biomes with higher temperatures and less precipitation tend to have
shorter and less dense vegetation
Downstream, a river often widens and flows more
slowly
Many rivers originate from ___ in mountains
snow
which of the following best describes a tropical rain forest
species of animals with specialized ways of surviving in order to avoid competition
Upstream, a river is usually cold and flows ____________________ through a shallow riverbed.
swiftly
During harsh winters, animals of the _____ have adaptations such as the ability to change color to avoid predators
taiga
the climate of a biome is determined mostly by average - and precipitation
temperature
Adaptations demonstrated by plants in tropical rain forests include
trees with aboveground roots called buttresses, orchids and vines that use tall tree trunks for support, and herbs with large flat leaves located in the understory
The incredibly diverse vegetation in ______________________________ is responsible for the evolution of numerous highly specialized animal species.
tropical rain forest
a - biome receives 200 to 450 cm of rain per year
tropical rain forest
Biomes found up to 30 degrees north or south of the equator are often
tropical rain forests
Due to the extreme temperature conditions and simple, easily disrupted food chains, the __________ is very sensitive to human disturbance.
tundra
As you travel from the North Pole toward the equator, you would expect to see
tundra, then grasslands, then tropical rain forests
Biomes are classified and often named according to their ____________________, which determines which other organisms that can live there.
vegetation
corals live only in shallow - water where there is enough light for photosynthesis
warm
vegetation in biomes where - is scarce consists predominantly of short trees, shrubs, and grasses
water