UNIT 1

The diagrams above show an area that was once a pasture that has since undergone changes to the vegetation over time. Which of the following changes in the hydrologic cycle is most likely to occur as a result of the change in vegetation in the area? A Increased infiltration B Increased runoff C Decreased transpiration D Decreased precipitation

A

This biome is characterized by long dry seasons and is dominated by grasses, shrubs, and grazing animals. A Savanna B Boreal forest C Tropical rain forest D Desert

A

Where is the majority of fresh water found on Earth? A Groundwater B Ice caps and glaciers C Lakes D Oceans

B

Which of the following best describes a symbiotic relationship? A Striped bass and bluefish eat the same variety of mackerel. B Intestinal bacteria inhabit the gut of humans. C Mountain lions feed on white-tailed deer. D Marsupial animals carry their young in a pouch.

B

Which of the following statements is true of aquatic biomes? A Freshwater and marine biomes are evenly distributed on Earth. B Freshwater biomes are a vital source of drinking water. C Freshwater biomes supply a greater portion of Earth's oxygen than marine biomes. D Marine biomes include streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.

B

Five different species of warblers, seed-eating birds, live in the same species of conifer trees. All of the birds migrate to coniferous forests during the summer, and different species reside in different areas in the same tree. They feed on the seeds of the conifer trees, but the different species do not mate with each other. Which of the following best explains why the different warbler species can all have habitats in the same conifer trees? A Not all the warblers are residents in the forest at the same time of the year because of different migration patterns. B Physiological differences in beak structure allow the warblers to consume different species of seeds through symbiotic relationships. C Resource partitioning of the seeds reduces competition, and the five different species can live in the same tree. D Niche overlap occurs between the five different species, and living in the same tree increases competition for seeds.

C

In a fish species, the number of eggs that hatch and survive for one year varies depending on the number of eggs that were produced. As the number of eggs produced increases past a threshold number, the survival rate of the offspring decreases. Which of the following statements best explains why only a limited number of offspring can survive in a fish population? A Resource partitioning allows similar species to coexist in the same ecological community. B The number of fish surviving after one year is proportional to the number of eggs produced. C The chance of survival decreases when there is intraspecific competition for resources among surviving yearlings. D More yearling fish survive beyond one year when there is an abundance of prey species present.

C

One example of the tragedy of the commons occurs when trees are harvested from tropical rain forests without any regulations. Which of the following best describes why this is an example of the tragedy of the commons? A Tropical rain forests have a thin layer of decaying organic matter and relatively low nutrient levels slowing tree growth. B Trees are an important resource, but not all individuals can access the resource. C Timber producers remove as much timber as possible as cheaply as possible. D Tropical rain forests have the highest number of species per unit area, and trees are important for stability in the ecosystem.

C

This biome is warm and wet, with little seasonal variation in temperature and frequent precipitation. A Savanna B Boreal forest C Tropical rain forest D Desert

C

Which of the following pathways indicate how nitrogen is added to the largest nitrogen reservoir? A Nitrifying bacteria and lightning B Decomposing plant and animal material C Denitrifying bacteria and volcanic activity D Nitrates taken up by plant roots

C

One way a local community might regulate a shared and limited resource and reduce the tragedy of the commons is to A eliminate ownership of the resources and make them available to all B reduce the cost of access to the resources C offer subsides to users of the resources in the form of tax breaks D divide the resources into parcels and assign them to individuals

D

This biome contains plants that are adapted to prevent water loss due to the low average rainfall and high temperatures year-round. A Savanna B Boreal forest C Tropical rain forest D Desert

D

Which of the following biomes is best characterized as an area that forms the narrow band along the coast that experiences a range of environmental conditions (including daily changes in sunlight, temperature, and water) ? A Open ocean B Lakes C Coral reefs D Intertidal zones

D

Which of the following scenarios best explains the concept of the tragedy of the commons? A Fish farming, a type of aquaculture, produces fish through selective breeding to produce a cheap source of protein, reducing the fishing pressure on wild stock fish. B A collapse of the fishing industry leads to a loss of fishing-related jobs, which will have negative consequences on the economy. C Declines in the fish population lead to a decline in the population of fish predators, affecting the entire food chain. D Fish are shared resources, and as the fishing industry competes for the fish, the resource extraction is no longer sustainable.

D