test # 4

ecosystem

A largely self-sustaining collection of organisms and their physical environment.

niche

A niche is the particular biological role of an organism in a community It is a pattern of living

_______ when the number of individuals taken from a wild population is so great that the population becomes severely reduced in number. A. Overexploitation occurs B. A source population is formed C. An "edge effect" occurs D. Eutrophication occurs

A. Overexploitation occurs

______ is a phenomenon in which the edges around a landscape patch provide a slightly different habitat than the favorable habitat in the interior of the patch. A. The edge effect B. Overexploitation C. Sustainable development D. Landscape preservation E. Eutrophication

A. The edge effect

Which of the following statements about tropical rainforests is NOT true? A. Tropical rain forest land contains rich soil that is desirable as farmland. B. Cattle ranchers in South and Central America temporarily benefit from deforestation. C. Tropical rain forests are being destroyed by farmers using slash-and-burn agriculture. D. Government subsidies and roads are necessary to begin the process of deforestation on a large scale. E. Logging is a serious threat to tropical rain forests, as less developed countries cut down their forests for rapid economic gain.

A. Tropical rain forest land contains rich soil that is desirable as farmland.

The use of wheat, corn, rice and other crops derived from wild ancestors is an example of the _______ value of biodiversity. A. agricultural B. medicinal C. consumptive use D. climatic regulation

A. agricultural

The spinning of the Earth A. angles winds away from directly north-south toward the east or west. B. causes mountain ranges to spin off moisture. C. is the initial driving force for generating winds. D. causes ocean currents to be directed "out" to the equator. E. causes the tidal ebb and flow.

A. angles winds away from directly north-south toward the east or west.

Ocean currents A. are generated by friction between winds and ocean surfaces. B. always move clockwise in an ocean basin. C. are important in shipping but have little effect on living environments. D. are driven by the Earth's core rotating faster than the ocean water. E. All of the choices are correct.

A. are generated by friction between winds and ocean surfaces.

The Gulf Stream A. brings tropical Caribbean water to the east coast of North America and upper Western Europe. B. makes local climates uniform so that Great Britain has the same climate as Greenland. C. is the major Atlantic Ocean current that warms the eastern coast of South America. D. is the source of "El Nino" and is a major fishing ground. E. All of the choices are correct.

A. brings tropical Caribbean water to the east coast of North America and upper Western Europe.

In what order do these layers occur in deep lakes in the temperate zone? From the surface to the bottom of the lake, one would find the A. epilimnion - thermocline - hypolimnion. B. thermocline - epilimnion - hypolimnion. C. hypolimnion - epilimnion - thermocline. D. epilimnion - hypolimnion - thermocline.

A. epilimnion - thermocline - hypolimnion.

Animals that are revered by humans due to their appearance or emotional ties are A. flagship species. B. keystone species. C. endangered species. D. threatened species.

A. flagship species.

Which of the following biomes is characterized by rich soils, insufficient rainfall for trees, and many herbivores? A. grasslands B. chaparral C. desert D. taiga E. tundra

A. grasslands

Freshwater and marine microscopic organisms that freely drift in fresh or salt water are called A. plankton. B. benthic. C. abyssal. D. neritic. E. cryptic.

A. plankton.

The tropical grassland in Africa is called the A. savanna. B. chaparral. C. prairie. D. taiga. E. tundra.

A. savanna.

A biome with complex structure, warm weather, plentiful rainfall, and diverse species is a A. tropical rainforest. B. savanna. C. taiga. D. tundra.

A. tropical rainforest.

community

All organisms that live together in an area are called a community. The different species compete and cooperate with each other to make the community stable

_____ lakes are nutrient rich and tend to have large populations of algae. A. Oligotrophic B. Eutrophic C. Temperate D. Stratified

B. Eutrophic

_______ is (are) associated with 85% of the cases of threatened and endangered species. A. Pollution B. Habitat loss C. Overexploitation D. Disease E. Exotic species

B. Habitat loss

Which of the following statements about keystone species is NOT true? A. The extinction of keystone species can lead to other extinctions and a loss of biodiversity. B. Keystone species are defined as a population subdivided into several small isolated populations due to habitat fragmentation. C. Examples of keystone species are grizzly bears, bats, beavers and alligators. D. The numbers of individuals in the keystone species in their respective community may or may not be excessively high.

B. Keystone species are defined as a population subdivided into several small isolated populations due to habitat fragmentation.

Which of the following statements about stratified temperate zone lakes is NOT true? A. Solar radiation warms the surface layers in summer. B. Rich nutrients from the continual production of detritus accumulate near the surface of the lake. C. Temperature gradients change from summer to winter. D. Populations of plankton and zooplankton depend on both sunlight and nutrient levels. E. Wind aids in the circulation of water.

B. Rich nutrients from the continual production of detritus accumulate near the surface of the lake.

When the factors causing habitat decline are identified and a procedure is developed to remedy this, it is A. the edge effect. B. a habitat restoration plan. C. a population viability analysis. D. a gap analysis. E. landscape dynamics.

B. a habitat restoration plan.

Conservation biology supports all of the following ethical principles EXCEPT A. biodiversity is desirable for the biosphere and humans. B. all animals have the same rights or legal status as humans. C. biodiversity has value in and of itself regardless of any practical human benefits. D. extinctions due to human actions are undesirable. E. the complex interactions of ecosystems support biodiversity and are desirable.

B. all animals have the same rights or legal status as humans.

A treeless region with little rainfall in the far north is the A. grassland. B. arctic tundra. C. taiga. D. chaparral. E. desert.

B. arctic tundra.

A biome characterized by hot days, cold nights, and cacti is the A. tundra. B. desert. C. taiga. D. tropical rain forest.

B. desert.

Kansas and Pennsylvania are approximately at the same latitude. Yet why are the potential natural communities in Kansas mostly grassland and in Pennsylvania mostly temperate forest? A. different temperatures B. different levels of moisture C. different soil texture and pH levels D. different vegetation due to different seed banks E. different altitudes

B. different levels of moisture

All of the following are terrestrial biomes EXCEPT A. tundra. B. lentic systems. C. coniferous forests. D. savannas. E. deserts.

B. lentic systems.

The sunlit portion of a lake is specifically referred to as the A. littoral zone. B. limnetic zone. C. profundal zone. D. benthic zone. E. abyssal zone.

B. limnetic zone.

Rosy periwinkle, the nine-banded armadillo, and some species of fungus and bacteria have _________ value to man. A. agricultural B. medicinal C. consumptive use D. indirect E. no

B. medicinal

Coniferous forests are found in all of the following locations EXCEPT A. coastal areas of the southeastern Unites States. B. northern Africa and the extreme southwestern United States. C. the Pacific coast of North America. D. the northern part of North America and Eurasia.

B. northern Africa and the extreme southwestern United States.

If the Earth was standing still (not rotating) and was a solid, uniform ball, wind directions would A. cease. B. run north and south. C. run east and west. D. remain the same since the Earth's rotation does not affect wind directions.

B. run north and south.

A _______ population survives in unfavorable conditions, has a birthrate that barely equals the death rate, and receives new members from other fragmented populations. A. keystone B. sink C. meta D. exotic E. source

B. sink

A _______ population lives in favorable conditions where the birthrate exceeds the death rate and individuals move into other, less successful, fragmented populations. A. sink B. source C. keystone D. meta E. hotspot

B. source

Wetlands are generally classified by their vegetation. Wetlands dominated by trees and shrubs are _______ and wetlands dominated by grasses and sedges are ____. A. marshes; swamps B. swamps; marshes C. marshes; pine savannas D. bogs; swamps

B. swamps; marshes

Treeless biomes are treeless primarily because A. there is limited sunlight. B. there is a lack of water or the water is frozen. C. there is no source of seed dispersal in the region. D. trees are dependent upon the animals for support. E. trees cannot withstand hot temperatures or below-freezing cold.

B. there is a lack of water or the water is frozen.

Which of the following does NOT characterize tundra? A. permafrost B. trees C. shrub D. caribou

B. trees

Which of the following biomes is characterized by little rainfall, permafrost, and an average temperature below 0C? A. grasslands B. tundra C. desert D. taiga E. temperate deciduous forest

B. tundra

Which of the following statements about pollution is NOT true? A. When the ozone shield is destroyed, excess ultraviolet light reaches the Earth. B. Water vapor and sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides combine to form wet or dry acid deposits. C. A lake can die due to eutrophication, which is a lack of nutrients. D. Synthetic chemicals can mimic hormones and cause abnormal growth and behavior in wild animals. E. CFCs, like Freon, have chlorine atoms that breakdown the ozone shield.

C. A lake can die due to eutrophication, which is a lack of nutrients.

The _____ support(s) the greatest variety and number of large herbivores. A. chaparral of California B. ocean C. African savanna D. taiga of Russia E. tropical rainforests of South America

C. African savanna

Which of the following statements about extinction is TRUE? A. Overexploitation by hunting and fishing is the major threat to tropical animals and plants. B. Without human activity, all species would survive and there would be no extinctions. C. Endangered wild species often become extinct due to different combinations of factors. D. Commercial hunting and fishing are careful not to deplete animal reserves. E. Introduction of new exotic species helps preserve biodiversity and slow extinction.

C. Endangered wild species often become extinct due to different combinations of factors.

Which of the following statements concerning the indirect values of biodiversity is NOT correct? A. Trees take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they photosynthesize. B. Forests act as a sponge to soak up water and release it during drier periods. C. If biodiversity cannot maintain the biogeochemical cycles, then technology will have to artificially create those cycles. D. Diverse organisms are critical in breaking down wastes and immobilizing pollutants. E. All of the choices are correct. None of these statements are incorrect.

C. If biodiversity cannot maintain the biogeochemical cycles, then technology will have to artificially create those cycles.

The Earth is actually farther from the sun during the period when the Northern Hemisphere is having summer. How can this be explained? A. The sun grows more powerful on a half-year cycle. B. There is a six-month lag phase between sunlight being absorbed and lost. C. The tilt of the Earth presents the Northern Hemisphere in a more perpendicular angle, and this increased sunlight more than offsets the decrease in sunlight due to the added distance. D. There must be some mistake in measuring the Earth's orbit because if the Earth were farther away, we would be cooler.

C. The tilt of the Earth presents the Northern Hemisphere in a more perpendicular angle, and this increased sunlight more than offsets the decrease in sunlight due to the added distance.

The greenhouse effect is A. due to increased sunlight in recent years. B. caused by increased plant life and photosynthesis. C. a natural phenomenon due to absorption of sunlight and re-radiating of the heat. D. a manmade hazard due to decreased levels of carbon dioxide and ozone in the atmosphere in recent years. E. All of the choices are correct.

C. a natural phenomenon due to absorption of sunlight and re-radiating of the heat.

Nitrogen oxides from automobile exhaust and sulfur dioxides from power plants combine with atmospheric water vapor to produce a weak acids, that may result in A. the greenhouse effect. B. ozone depletion. C. acid rain or snow. D. photochemical smog. E. global warming.

C. acid rain or snow.

The science of collecting, analyzing, and making readily available biological information is A. habitat restoration planning. B. landscape preservation. C. bioinformatics. D. a population viability analysis.

C. bioinformatics.

The temperature is nearly uniform throughout a lake A. during winter when the ice forms an insulating cover. B. during summer when the sunlight warms the surface and the wind mixes the layers. C. by the end of the fall and spring overturn. D. at all times due to winds causing constant mixing of the layers. E. never. The lake always has different temperature layers and they are reversed in winter and summer.

C. by the end of the fall and spring overturn.

There are tubeworms and clams that live at the bottom of the ocean near thermal vents. They derive their energy ultimately from A. the sun by way of burning fossil fuels like we do with coal and oil. B. the sun, but they are deep in the dark ocean and live off dead detritus that sink to them. C. chemosynthetic bacteria. D. sources not yet known.

C. chemosynthetic bacteria.

The use of noncultivated fruit, animal skins, fiber, beeswax, and fish are examples of the ______ value of biodiversity. A. agricultural use B. medicinal use C. consumptive use D. contributions to the biogeochemical cycles

C. consumptive use

Which of the following is NOT strictly a freshwater community? A. lakes B. rivers C. estuaries D. streams E. ponds

C. estuaries

The "nursery" of the sea is the A. rocky beach. B. sandy beach. C. estuary. D. coral reef. E. ocean floor.

C. estuary.

The situation with major oceanic fishing areas is A. good, since the oceans are so large, they are the one remaining natural ecosystem that is not susceptible to extinction. B. generally positive, with only one or two of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas over-exploited. C. generally negative, with 11 of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas overexploited. D. positive for the bottom dwellers that are protected but negative for the schools of swimming fish. E. negative for the bottom dwellers that are over-fished by trawling but positive for the schools of swimming fish that can easily get away.

C. generally negative, with 11 of the 15 major oceanic fishing areas overexploited.

Biodiversity "frontiers" are areas that A. have high rates of extinction. B. lack diversity. C. have many more species than formerly thought. D. are replacing native species with exotic species. E. are fragile in comparison with other ecosystems.

C. have many more species than formerly thought.

Madagascar is considered a biodiversity "hotspot" because A. it originated as a volcanic island. B. it has lost nearly all of its native species to extinction. C. it contains an unusually high concentration of species. D. it has resisted habitat destruction that has caused extinctions elsewhere. E. All of the choices are correct.

C. it contains an unusually high concentration of species.

The effect of global warming on coral reefs is A. negligible, since they will be protected underwater. B. minor since all marine environments are moderated by the great ability of water to hold temperatures constant. C. negative, since a rise of a few degrees will cause them to bleach and become lifeless. D. positive, since the higher temperatures will increase photosynthesis in the mutualistic algae. E. positive, since the greater sunlight to penetrate the sea will increase photosynthesis in the mutualistic algae.

C. negative, since a rise of a few degrees will cause them to bleach and become lifeless.

A forest found in a broad belt in northern Eurasia and North America, with conifers and swamps, is called the A. tropical rain forest. B. tundra. C. taiga. D. chaparral. E. temperate deciduous forest.

C. taiga.

Which biome is characterized by rainfall under 25 cm/year, hot days, cold nights, and quickly blooming plants? A. grasslands B. temperate deciduous forest C. temperate deserts D. taiga E. tundra

C. temperate deserts

When a cold, ocean current brings rich nutrients to the surface, it is called a(n) A. guano. B. lake effect. C. upwelling. D. monsoon. E. profundal zone.

C. upwelling.

competition

Competition is the struggle of two organisms to use the same resource (light, space, or nutrients).

The Everglades ecosystem A. no longer receives water from natural sources as in the past and is drying out. B. contains sawgrass prairie and mangrove sloughs. C. has diverse bird, wildlife, and growing seasons D. A, B, and C are correct. E. B and C only are true.

D. A, B, and C are correct.

Which of the following are of extinction? A. habitat loss B. exotic species C. pollution D. A, B, and C only are correct. E. A and C only are correct.

D. A, B, and C only are correct.

Introduction of alien or exotic species into new ecosystems occurs by A. colonization when new settlers arrive in an area. B. accidental transport by ship or plane without anyone's knowledge. C. agricultural and horticultural activities. D. All of the choices are correct. E. B and C only are correct.

D. All of the choices are correct.

Among the many functions of wetlands is (are) A. providing food and habitats for fish, waterfowl, and wildlife. B. purifying water by filtering it and breaking down toxic wastes and nutrients. C. absorbing storm and overflow waters. D. All of the choices are functions performed by wetlands.

D. All of the choices are functions performed by wetlands.

Incoming solar radiation affects A. the rise and fall of air masses. B. evaporation or precipitation of moisture. C. the seasons. D. All of these choices are directly or indirectly affected by solar radiation. E. A and C only are correct.

D. All of these choices are directly or indirectly affected by solar radiation.

Which of the following statements about biological diversity is NOT true? A. Scientists estimate that 10-50 million species exist. B. Biodiversity is described in terms of genetic, community, and landscape diversity. C. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. D. Biodiversity is evenly distributed throughout the biosphere. E. Many species that are in danger of extinction have not been identified and studied.

D. Biodiversity is evenly distributed throughout the biosphere.

Each year, both forests and prairie grasslands are burned by fires, some started by lightning strikes and others caused by humans. However, many grasses are fire-adapted or dependent upon occasional fires to maintain their prairie system. Some pine trees are so dependent upon fire that they cannot propagate without it. Does this contradict our concerns about air pollution and carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere? A. Yes; fire is detrimental and further research should be done to correct the apparent biological adaptations that contradict eliminating all fires possible. B. Yes; fire is detrimental in natural environments and these apparent adaptations are artificial situations due to human distortion of natural systems. C. No; the environmental concerns listed in the text are all extremist concerns with no basis in factual data. D. No; as with all complex systems, it is a matter of proportion; the current trend towards atmospheric pollution is far beyond the Earth's normal low level of natural fires, the effects of which were easily handled.

D. No; as with all complex systems, it is a matter of proportion; the current trend towards atmospheric pollution is far beyond the Earth's normal low level of natural fires, the effects of which were easily handled.

Temperate deciduous forests are characterized by A. dry climates with rainfall averages around of 25-75 cm per year. B. the highest variation in day and night length. C. the highest amount of organisms living in tree canopy. D. a growing season that ranges between 140 and 300 days. E. the richest topsoil horizon.

D. a growing season that ranges between 140 and 300 days.

In the water cycle, evaporated equatorial water that rises and does not immediately rain back down proceeds to A. the poles where it causes snow. B. the poles if it does not encounter mountain ranges, which it usually does. C. about 60 north or south and then cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation. D. about 30 north or south and then cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation.

D. about 30 north or south and then cools and condenses, supporting a band of moist vegetation.

Which association between zone and description is NOT correct? A. littoral - lake zone closest to shore B. benthic - stream, lake, or ocean floor C. limnetic - lake zone on surface away from shore D. bathypelagic - sunlit portion of the ocean

D. bathypelagic - sunlit portion of the ocean

The bottom of a lake or stream harbors worms, clams, and other organisms in the A. littoral zone. B. limnetic zone. C. profundal zone. D. benthic zone. E. abyssal zone.

D. benthic zone.

As "civilization" spread around the world, several species benefitted greatly from new human-made habitats, including the house fly, the Norwegian rat, and many crop plants. Generally, with expansion of human populations and agriculture, A. there has been an increase in biological diversity. B. biological diversity has remained the same, with human-associated organisms replacing the few natural species displaced. C. biological diversity has decreased but mainly with the elimination of pests by humans. D. biological diversity is decreasing at an accelerating rate with the elimination of many unstudied species.

D. biological diversity is decreasing at an accelerating rate with the elimination of many unstudied species.

Biodiversity is a resource of immense value. All of the following are ways in which biodiversity is directly valuable to humans EXCEPT A. agricultural. B. medicinal. C. consumptive use. D. contributions to biogeochemical cycles.

D. contributions to biogeochemical cycles.

In spite of hundreds of millions of dollars spent on insecticides targeted at pest control for agricultural and medical purposes, man has been unable to drive any to extinction. On the other hand, the extinction of many species of birds, fishes, plants, and insects species have occurred as a result of A. hunting. B. farming. C. disease. D. habitat destruction. E. scientific collecting.

D. habitat destruction.

In some climates, differences in land and ocean temperatures cause a gigantic circulation of air, with warm air rising over the land and cooler, ocean winds blowing onshore to replace it. As the warm air rises and looses its moisture, the rains begin. This process may last for almost half a year and is called A. rain shadow. B. lake effect. C. upwelling. D. monsoons. E. profundal zone.

D. monsoons.

The part of a body of water where light does not penetrate is the A. littoral zone. B. benthic division. C. pelagic division. D. profundal zone. E. limnetic zone.

D. profundal zone.

Climate is affected and/or characterized by all of the following factors EXCEPT A. temperature. B. variations in solar radiation distribution. C. topography. D. soil type E. rainfall.

D. soil type

What biome has a mean annual precipitation over 250 cm with relatively little seasonal variation, and warm temperatures over 20C? A. tropical dry forest B. temperate rainforest C. taiga D. tropical rainforest E. savanna

D. tropical rainforest

Minute animals that feed on phytoplankton are A. chemosynthetic. B. benthic. C. scavengers. D. zooplankton.

D. zooplankton.

"El Nino" results in A. poor fishing in some areas. B. monsoons associated with Indian Ocean fail. C. hurricanes off the west coast of the United States. D. great warming of ocean water of the west coast of the Americas. E. All of the choices are correct.

E. All of the choices are correct.

Global warming A. is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth. B. may cause a rise in the sea level that will inundate coastal wetlands. C. may cause extinction of some land organisms, but biodiversity may increase. D. is increased by elevated levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. E. All of the choices are correct.

E. All of the choices are correct.

Which of the following organisms is NOT an example of an alien or exotic species? A. zebra mussels introduced to the Great Lakes B. dandelions planted by pioneers as salad greens C. the mongoose brought to Hawaii to control rats D. water hyacinths E. All of these are examples of introduced alien species.

E. All of these are examples of introduced alien species.

Which of the following associations is (are) incorrect? A. biodiversity - variety of life on Earth B. landscape diversity - involves a group of interacting ecosystems C. genetic diversity - variations in the species composition of communities at different locales D. ecosystem diversity - variations among the members of a population E. C and D are incorrect.

E. C and D are incorrect.

Major regional groups of interacting terrestrial ecosystems, characterized by climate and geography, are called A. biospheres. B. estuaries. C. tundras. D. taigas. E. biomes.

E. biomes.

When habitats are fragmented so that populations are subdivided into several small and isolated groups, they form a A. sink population. B. biodiversity hotspot. C. keystone species. D. source population. E. metapopulation.

E. metapopulation.

The largest biome on Earth is the A. tundra. B. taiga. C. temperate deciduous forest. D. desert. E. ocean (marine aquatic).

E. ocean (marine aquatic).

A rain shadow is the region where heavy condensation precipitates out, as warm, moist air rises and then cools on the windward side of mountain ranges. True False

False

Depletion of the ozone layer will lead to increased crop production and enhanced immune systems. True False

False

Release of organic chemicals into surface waters is good for the organisms that live in the waters, since the wastes add to the nutrients present for the food chains in the water. True False

False

Scientists estimate that at least 50-60% of all species now living will most likely become extinct in the next 20-50 years unless planned, coordinated action takes place. True False

False

The early explorers used sailing ships, which were blown by the major winds; therefore, Columbus and other sailors generally traveled from Europe to North America by the mid-latitude westerlies, and returned to Europe by the southern easterlies near the equator. True False

False

competitive exclusion priniciple

No two species can indefinitely occupy the same niche at the same time Resource Partitioning decreases competition between species Resource partitioning leads to niche specialization and less niche overlap between species Examples: Both owls and hawks feed on small rodents but owls feed at night and hawks feed during the day Finches on the Galápagos Islands Warblers in North American forest

habitat

The place where an organism lives

Biodiversity is described in terms of genetic, community, and landscape diversity. True False

True

Bioluminescence is found in some organisms living in the deepest part of the bathypelagic zone of the ocean. True False

True

Forests and other ecosystems may decrease the chances of flooding in an area due to their water-holding capacity. True False

True

Landscape preservation is often intended for one particular organism but may benefit others. True False

True

Penicillin is derived from a fungus and certain species of bacteria produce tetracycline and streptomycin. True False

True

Preliminary studies indicate that biodiversity maximizes resource acquisition and retention within an ecosystem. True False

True

Rabbits were introduced to Australia by pioneer settlers in the mid 1800s for sporting hunters. They have since stressed native marsupial and plant populations. This is an example of the introduction of exotic species through accidental transport. True False

True

Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that attempts to preserve the environment while meeting the needs of humans in the present and future. True False

True

Trade winds are so named because sailors depended on them to fill the sails of their trading ships. True False

True

resource partitioning

decreases competition between species Resource partitioning leads to niche specialization and less niche overlap between species