Exam 30: Earths Diverse Ecosystems

The prevailing winds in the Glacier National Park area of Montana are from the west. Which side of this mountainous region receives the most rain and snow?

The windward side of a mountain range has the drier climate because of the rain shadow.

Plant life in the different biomes is limited only by the amount of sunlight.

As large tracts of rain forest disappear due to human activities, the region tends to become drier. Why?

One of the most popular hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park is the tundra trail. What effects would you expect from hundreds of people walking on this trail every day during the season?

What are the main factors that determine the locations of terrestrial biomes?

The striking dissimilarities in plant communities among different biomes that have the same average yearly amount of rainfall can be explained by the fact that

Which of the following North American biomes has been almost completely destroyed by agricultural use?

In many parts of the Amazon Basin, farmers have cut down the tropical rain- forest trees and planted crops. However, the farmers often abandon these croplands after a few years and move on. What are some possible reasons for this?

A(n) is an area that is very dry because the air in that region has passed over a mountain and lost most of its moisture.

Rain- forest soils store large amounts of nutrients, which makes them ideal for farming.

The most heat- tolerant organisms presently known come from

-In an attempt to stop desertification, some groups have changed the way they work with the land. They plant trees to stop erosion, build small barriers to slow water runoff on slopes, and bring food to their animals rather than letting them graze freely. Why would these techniques help stop desertification?

What are the major limiting factors that determine the distribution of organisms in aquatic ecosystems?

is the year- round layer of frozen soil that limits the growth of trees and other deep- rooted plants in the arctic tundra.

Desert wildflowers typically bloom in late summer.

What are the fundamental resources required to support life?

In one area is a desert ecosystem and in another area is a tundra. What two fundamental resources differ in the ecosystems of these two areas? Why are these two more important than the other fundamental resources?

A biome that is characterized by an annual rainfall of 10 inches or less is called a .

-What biome would you expect to find at 30° N latitude and elevations of 1,500 meters?