Without upwelling zones,

cold, dense water would not be brought to the surface layers of the ocean.

nutrients and organic matter would not be mixed with the warmer waters in oceans.

there would be fewer productive marine fisheries in the world

all of the above*

Which of the following ecosystem has the highest Net Primary Productivity?

desert

open ocean

tundra

grasslands

estuary*

Assume that all plants need nutrients in the following ratio: 100 units of carbon, 15 units of nitrogen, 5 units of phosphorous, and 1 unit of sulfur. A particular plant grows in an environment that contains 300 units of carbon, 30 units of nitrogen, 20 units of phosphorous, and 5 units of sulfur.  The limiting factor for this plant is

carbon

nitrogen *

sulfur

phosphorus

cannot tell from information given.

A defining characteristic of grassland ecosystems is that

animals generally have low water requirements

they frequently have large numbers of herbivores**

the soils are often nutrient-poor

the plants have very deep roots

all of the above

Compared to other types of forests, tropical forests have little organic matter on the soil surface because

plants and trees generally live much longer in tropical forests

the large number and diversity of animals on the ground quickly consume it

decomposition of organic matter is very rapid*

the extreme amounts of precipitation wash the organic matter away

Which of the following is NOT an abiotic environmental factor that organisms have an optimal tolerance range for?

salinity

pH

temperature

competition with another species*

sunlight

Upwelling zones are the source of most of the world's commercial marine fish harvest because

they are usually near the coast and therefore are the cheapest and most accessible regions of the ocean to fish

the shallow coastal water makes it easier to trawl for demersal (bottom-dwelling) fish

most nations have passed laws that prohibit large foreign fishing vessels from their coastal waters

they are usually areas of high rates of primary production*

The most important limiting factor in a tropical rain forest is:

water

sunlight

nutrients *

temperature

Estuaries have high rates of net primary production because

they are relatively shallow

rivers deliver large quantities of nutrients

the existence of a salt wedge and the action of tides deliver nutrients to the surface waters

all of the above *

Changes in environmental conditions over geographic space are called

gradients*

niches

adaptations

environmental estrangements

competition ranges

A terrestrial species’                     describes its location on the landscape, while its __________ refers to the role it plays in an ecosystem.

niche ... habitat           

habitat ... adaptation     

adaptation ... habitat

gradient ... habitat

habitat ... niche *

The ________ a species has allow it to prosper within a narrow ________ of conditions.

adaptations...niche

habitat...niche

adaptations...range *

niche....genere

range....density

The area along a gradient where a species can persist for several generations is its

reproductive range*

habitat

niche

tolerance range

geographic range

A species’ range is determined by

biotic factors such as temperature and precipitation

abiotic factors such as temperature and precipitation

biotic factors such as competition from other species

abiotic factors such as competition from other species

both biotic and abiotic factors *

There are many lizard species in southwestern United States but few in the southeastern region.  Temperatures are similar in these areas, but precipitation is stronger in the southeast.  The reason that lizard species are fewer in the southeastern region is because

there is a strong gradient in precipitation from the arid portions of the southwest to the moist areas in the southeast

ectotherms have a low metabolic rate, an adaptation useful for hot dry environments

endotherms have a high metabolic rate, an adaptation suitable for areas where food energy supplies are abundant

ectotherms can outcompete endotherms in areas with small energy flows (Southwest), whereas endotherms can outcompete ectotherms in areas of higher food energy availability (Southeast) *

The global distribution of marine ecosystems is determined largely by the distribution of:

surface currents

availability of nutrients

sunlight

salinity

b and c**

Areas of the Earth’s surface where the vegetation is similar are called

niches

ranges

biomasses

biomes *

agglomerations

A leaf that has a high surface area/ volume ratio will tend to

lose a lot of moisture and capture a lot of sunlight *

capture little sunlight and a great deal of moisture

capture a lot of sunlight and lose very little moisture

none of the above

A leaf that has a high surface area/ volume ratio has an adaptation more appropriate for

a desert

tundra

tropical forest *

none of the above

Agriculture often is located in areas that were once covered by ______ .

deserts

tropical forests

grasslands*

boreal forests

temperate forests
 

Tropical rain forests are characterized by

relatively constant average monthly precipitation

relatively constant average monthly temperature*

low species richness compared to other biomes

low species evenness compared to other biomes

distinct wet and dry seasons
 

Tropical dry forests are characterized by

relatively constant average monthly precipitation

relatively constant average monthly humidity

low species richness compared to other biomes

low species evenness compared to other biomes

distinct wet and dry seasons*
 

The excretion of metabolic wastes in solid form by animals is an adaptation to conditions in what biome?

deserts

tropical forests

grasslands*

boreal forests

temperate forests

Small thick leaves are most likely to be found in:

hot areas

cold areas

wet areas

dry areas*

In aquatic ecosystems, the two most common limiting factors are:

salinity and light

light and temperature

nutrients and light*

temperature and nutrients

nutrients and salinity

The distribution of lizards in the US is largely determined by:

temperature

precipitation

competition*

human populations

Competition between two similar species tends to

lead to the extinction of one species

lead to different niches*

lead to similar niches

leads to similar habitats

The distribution of plant species along Mt. Lemmon in Arizona is determined largely by

temperature

sunlight

precipitation*

nutrients

Plants with large thin leaves probably live in areas where the limiting condition is

temperature

sunlight*

precipitation

nutrients

Which biome is likely to have the highest net primary production

grasslands*

deserts

tundra

open ocean

Which biome is likely to have the largest biomass of herbivores

boreal forests

tundra*

deserts

open oceans

At the ocean surface, which of the conditions is most likely to have the greatest effect on net primary production

distance to the ocean bottom*

temperature

salinity

oxygen content

Water on coral reefs tends to be very clear because

coral reefs have low rates of net primary production

coral needs warm temperatures

corals live symbiotically with autotrophs*

human settlements usually are far from reefs.

Plants with large thin leaves probably live in an area where the limiting factor is

temperature

water

light

nutrients     

Species can share the same ______ but must have a unique ______

habitat..... niche*

environmental gradient.....habitat

niche.....habitat

habitat.....environmental gradient

The open ocean has very low rates of net primary productivity because

the water is deep*

the water is very cold

the water is very salty

the water has too little light

Estuaries tend to be highly productive because

salt levels are low

nutrients are abundant*

species diversity is high

all of the above

Grasses tend to grow from areas below the soil surface, rather than the top of shoots because:

nutrients limit the growth of plants

water limited the growth of plants

grasses tend to be heavily grazed*

light tends to limit the growth of plants

The largest populations for a given species are found where;

the energy return on investment for food capture is greater than one

energy is available beyond that required for maintenance, growth, storage, protection, and energy capture*

where there is little competition from other species

In areas with high rates of net primary production

In the Alaskan Tundra, grass species use different forms of nitrogen.  This is associated with

differences in habitat

differences in niche*

differences in survival range

differences in reproductive range

In which biome would leaves be thin, large, and evergreen?

deserts

tropical forests*

temperate forests

boreal forests

Which is the limiting factor in tropical rainforests?

temperature

precipitation

sunlight*

biodiversity

Which factor has the largest influence on a species reproductive range?

trophic efficiency

net primary production

EROI of food capture*

Aerobic respiration

Competition generally leads to

a smaller habitat

a narrower niche*

increased rates of net primary production

lower rates of trophic efficiency

In which biome do herbivores eat the greatest fraction of net primary production?

deserts

grasslands*

tropical rain forests

deep layers of the ocean

In which biome is the detrivore most important (in relative terms—the detrivore food chain is not the single most important in any biome)?

deserts

grasslands

tropical rain forests

deep layers of the ocean*

Which ecosystem probably has the highest rate of net primary production

deserts

grasslands

tropical rain forests*

deep layers of the ocean

What type of species is likely to have the shortest active period

endotherms

ectotherms*

r-elected species

k selected species

The water on coral reefs is very clear because

coral reefs have low rates of productivity

coral reefs are limited by nitrogen fixers

coral lives symbiotically with algae*

coral lives in shallow waters

In places where leaves are small and evergreen, the limiting factor probably is

temperature*

precipitation

solar radiation

none of the above

Which of the following is the best definition of a biome?

A distinct aquatic ecosystem, surrounded by wetlands and terrestrial upland.

A large distinct terrestrial region similar climate, soil, organisms, regardless of its

global location.*

One of several types of forests occurring across the globe.

A natural association that consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact together within an area at the same time.

Which biome would occur in the coldest highest latitudes?

boreal forests

temperate desert

tundra*

temperate deciduous forests

What type of trees would you expect to find in a boreal forest?

coniferous*

deciduous

temperate

hardwoods

trees are not found in the boreal forest

Which of the following biomes is characterized by moist winters and hot, dry

summers?

temperate grassland

tropical Desert

tropical dry forest

chaparral*

tropical grassland

What is the main difference between short and tall grass prairies?

One is dominated by grasses and the other is dominated by forbs.

Tall grass prairies receive more rainfall than short grass prairies.*

Short grass prairies occur in warmer latitudes than tall grass prairies.

Tall grass prairies typically have colder winters than short grass prairies.

Tall grass prairies typically hath very nutrient poor soils.

Which of the following is characteristic of desert animals?

They tend to be quite large in size.

They remain inactive during the driest months of the year.*

They are active throughout the day and night.

Rodents are the only group of mammals represented in this biome.

Amphibians and reptiles are absent.

Why is tall grass prairie North America's rarest biome today?

Historically, it only occurred in a very tiny region of North America.

Because over 90% of this biome has been converted to agriculture.*

Global warming has resulted in the conversion of most tall grass prairie to short grass prairie.

Pollution has degraded most of our tall grass prairie region.

Overgrazing and intensive agriculture has resulted in desertification of this biome.

Which of the following distinguishes tundra from other biomes?

an extended day length during its growing season*

nutrient-rich soils

continuous heavy precipitation

very long winters and long summers

occurrence in extreme southern latitudes

Where would you expect to find the littoral zone of a lake?

shallow water area along the shore*

open water area farther from shore with enough sunlight for photosynthesis

deepest known, where light typically does not penetrate effectively

bottom region where organisms tend to attach themselves to one spot

The warmer, upper layer of water in a lake is called the

thermocline

hypolimnion

nekton

neritic zone

epilimnion*

In a stratified lake, the warmer water is separated from the colder water by the

photic zone

epilimnion

hypolimnion

thermocline*

The deep-water areas of the open ocean are called the

abyssal zone*

hypolimnion

neritic zone

profundal zone

intertidal zone

Where would you find coral reefs?

in the epilimnion

in the abyssal zone

in the profundal zone

in the neritic zone*

none of the above

What type of organisms are the primary producers in the deep-sea, warm-water vent ecosystems?

photosynthetic bacteria

crabs and fish

worms

chemosynthetic bacteria*

there are no primary producers in these ecosystems

Which of the following is not characteristic of the taiga biome?

permafrost*

long, cold winters

most of the limited precipitation falls in the summer

conifers

moose

Within lakes, the ________________ zone lies where light cannot penetrate.

limnetic

littoral

profundal*

photic

thermocline

Which biome is characterized by heavy rainfall throughout the year, giant emergent trees, sparse ground vegetation, and a great diversity of organisms?

taiga

temperate forest

tropical rain forest*

tropical dry forest

boreal forest