biology biomes

How much of Earth's surface is covered by the marine biome?

75%

How is alpine tundra different from Arctic and Antarctic tundra?

Alpine tundra areas are found only at high elevations.

Which of the following are ways that deserts form? (Choose all that apply.)

Cold ocean currents Equatorial winds Rain shadow

Which answer describes the tundra biome?

It is Earth's least biodiverse biome.

Which area is characterized by hilly or sloped terrain?

Mediterranean forests

In which zone of the marine biome does constant mixing of warm and cold currents occur?

Pelagic zone

Which of the following are functions of the limestone skeleton of a coral reef? (Choose all that apply.)

Provides shelter and protection for other invertebrates and sea life Provides a surface where algae attach and provide food for the corals Protects the coral

Which of the following are types of adaptations of desert plants that enable them to survive and reproduce? (Choose all that apply.)

Stem and leaf adaptations Root adaptations wrong answer

How does the marine biome retain its salinity?

The salt remains when marine water evaporates.

Why are primary producers also referred to as autotrophs?

They are able to transform energy from an unusable form to a usable form

Why are conifers also called evergreen trees?

They do not shed their leaves.

How are plants called epiphytes adapted to living in the understory of a rainforest?

They have large leaves to capture as much sunlight as possible. wrong answer

What is a trophic level?

a living organism's position in the flow of energy through an ecosystem

What is the BEST definition of latitude?

a region's distance from the equator

Which of the following terms describes specific characteristics that organisms use to survive in their biome?

adaptation

What is the BEST definition of a desert biome?

an area or region where more water moves from the land to the atmosphere than falls to the ground as precipitation

Which zone of a lake is a cold, unlit region populated with mostly heterotrophs?

aphotic zone

Which term describes primary producers?

autotrophs

Which answer shows the correct arrangement of terms from largest to smallest?

biosphere, biome, ecosystem, organism

Which of the following are other names for a coniferous forest biome? (Choose all that apply.)

boreal forest taiga

Which of the following layers is present only in tropical rainforests?

canopy wrong answer

Which of the following adaptations help animals survive the harsh winters of the coniferous forest biome? (Choose all that apply.)

change in fur color and adding body fat migration to warmer areas hibernation to conserve energy

Which of the following types of deserts is an area near the ocean that receives relatively little precipitation each year because it is in a rain shadow?

coastal

Which term refers to plants that bear cones for reproduction?

coniferous trees

Adaptations such as being evergreen and hibernation serve what purpose to the plants and animals that live in the coniferous forest biome?

conserving energy

What are organisms in an ecosystem serve the important role of breaking down the tissues of dead organisms to return to the soil and air as other nutrients and elements?

decomposers

Which two terms describe the state of inactivity used by plants and animals to survive winters in the broadleaf forest biome?

dormancy, hibernation

What is the total of living organisms in an environment, as well as physical factors (like water, light, and temperature) that affect that environment?

ecosystem

Which term means a region characterized by climate, abiotic factors, and plant life?

ecosystem wrong answer

What are two layers of a tropical rainforest?

emergent, understory

What do many ecologists feel is necessary for an area to be classified as a forest?

enough trees to create a close canopy

Which terms refers to marine biomes that are found where freshwater (for example, a river) meets salt water (the ocean)?

estuary

Which type of water is defined as having a salt concentration that is less than 1%?

freshwater

What do you think is the greatest challenge to survival faced by both plants and animals that live in the desert?

getting and keeping enough water in their bodies

Which of the following specialized structures have many aquatic organisms developed to aid in the exchange of gases?

gills

What is the primary food source for many of the animals that live in the temperate grasslands?

grass

Which area is characterized by a flat terrain?

grasslands

On average, how much rain falls in a rainforest yearly?

greater than 100 inches per year

Which term describes a group of organisms that are photoautotrophs?

green plants

Which of the following are ways that plants and animals have adapted to the cold seasons in a broadleaf (deciduous) forest? (Choose all that apply.)

hibernation Migration dormancy

Which of the following are behavioral adaptations for animals to survive in the extreme cold of the tundra biome?

hibernation and resource conservation wrong answer

Which type of desert would most likely contain the greatest number of xerophytes?

hot and dry

Which of the following is a main characteristic of a Mediterranean climate?

hot, dry summers, and cooler, wet winters

Which of these describes a temperate rainforest?

hot; varying to warm in the winter wrong answer

Which of the following are alternative names for tropical storms? (Choose all that apply.)

hurricanes typhoons wrong answer

What word describes an area's distance from the equator?

latitude

Which of the following are characteristics of the tundra biome? (Choose all that apply.)

low biodiversity lack of trees very cold temperatures

Which of the following characteristics apply to a Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrublands biome? (Choose all that apply.)

mountainous terrain rocky and dry with somewhat sandy soil wrong answer

What is migration?

movement to a different area to survive or to reproduce

Where do most tropical storms occur?

near the equator

Which answer shows the correct arrangement of terms from smallest to largest?

organism, ecosystem, biome, biosphere

What type of organisms make up the majority of life on the surface of the pelagic zone?

plankton and algae

What is a xerophyte?

plants that survive without any water wrong answer

Which of the following are types of grasslands? (Choose all that apply.)

prairies steppes savannas

Which term describes why a desert forms next to a mountain?

rain shadow

What adaptation is common to plants that live in Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and grasslands?

resistance to fire

What type of adaptation do organisms called phreatophytes have?

roots that extend deep into the ground

What type of plants have a tough coating on their leaves to help them retain water in dry conditions?

sclerophylls

Which of these is a type of desert recognized by ecologists?

semiarid

What are some adaptations of plant that live in the tundra biome?

shallow roots and leathery leaves

Which answer describes an adaptation used by plants to minimize transpiration?

small leaves or no leaves at all

Which adaptation is common to animals that live in temperate grasslands?

structures to dig burrows

Which of the following are abiotic factors that make up the climate of a terrestrial biome? (Choose all that apply)

sunlight moisture temperature

What are the biggest challenges to organisms in the tundra biome?

surviving the cold temperatures and obtaining and keeping enough water

Which biome type includes prairies and steppes?

temperate grasslands

What do the arrows in food chains and webs represent?

the flow of energy between organisms in an ecosystem

Why do plants flourish in the temperate grassland biome?

the soil is rich and deep and the climate is relatively mild

What is the function of the thin, needle-like leaves produced by conifers?

to conserve water

Why do tropical grassland animals migrate to other areas at certain times of the year?

to find water and survive the dry season

Which term describes a living organism's position in the flow of energy through an ecosystem?

trophic level

How many forest layers are present in the coniferous forest biome?

two: emergent and forest floor wrong answer

Which freshwater biome has the highest organism diversity of all the freshwater biomes?

wetlands