Question 1

Why does rapid climate change pose a potential threat to organisms?

Accepted Answer

A) plants may be unable to recolonize an area fast enough to survive. 
B) habitat expansion will occur for plants. 
C) habitat expansion will occur for animals that depend on plant ecosystems that are more dispersed. 
D) temperature limiting factors may cause some ecosystems and communities to be strengthened. 
A) plants may be unable to recolonize an area fast enough to survive. 
B) habitat expansion will occur for plants. 
C) habitat expansion will occur for animals that depend on plant ecosystems that are more dispersed. 
D) temperature limiting factors may cause some ecosystems and communities to be strengthened.

Question 2

If climate change occurs too rapidly,species may become extinct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Lake turnover occurs when the upper layers of water cool to about 4°C.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Elements principally involved in mineral and solid phases-such as phosphorus,calcium,and sulfur-form

Accepted Answer

A) gaseous cycles. 
B) biocycles. 
C) sedimentary cycles. 
D) nutrient systems. 
E) moisture cycles. 
A) gaseous cycles. 
B) biocycles. 
C) sedimentary cycles. 
D) nutrient systems. 
E) moisture cycles.

Question 5

Discuss two biogeochemical cycles.Feel free to draw diagrams if it helps your explanation.

Accepted Answer

Two important biogeochemical cycles are

Question 6

Which of the following lists gives the correct sequence of trophic levels in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

A) autotrophs,decomposers,heterotrophs 
B) producers,primary consumers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers 
C) consumers,producers,decomposers 
D) omnivores,carnivores,herbivores,autotrophs 
E) primary consumers,producers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers 
A) autotrophs,decomposers,heterotrophs 
B) producers,primary consumers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers 
C) consumers,producers,decomposers 
D) omnivores,carnivores,herbivores,autotrophs 
E) primary consumers,producers,secondary consumers,tertiary consumers

Question 7

Write an essay in which you first discuss the short-term and long-term factors that affect ecosystem stability.Then move on to examine the process of terrestrial succession.

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem stability is influenced by a c

Question 8

In the northern hemisphere midlatitudes,north-facing slopes tend to be ________ vegetated than south-facing slopes because ________.

Accepted Answer

A) less they are colder 
B) less they receive less sunlight 
C) more they are more moist 
D) more they are less windy 
E) less they are drier 
A) less they are colder 
B) less they receive less sunlight 
C) more they are more moist 
D) more they are less windy 
E) less they are drier

Question 9

The practice of repeatedly planting huge acreages of land in a single crop,such as wheat,is an example of ________,and it makes an area ________ susceptible to disease.

Accepted Answer

A) monoculture more 
B) monoculture less 
C) multiple cropping more 
D) multiple cropping less 
A) monoculture more 
B) monoculture less 
C) multiple cropping more 
D) multiple cropping less

Question 10

The landscape devastated by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens that still had some soil,young trees ,and plants

Accepted Answer

A) is recovering through secondary succession. 
B) has formed a pioneer community as succession begins. 
C) is now a climax community. 
D) will never recover. 
A) is recovering through secondary succession. 
B) has formed a pioneer community as succession begins. 
C) is now a climax community. 
D) will never recover.

Question 11

What would happen if death and decay did not occur?

Accepted Answer

A) the decomposer component of the food chain would be operating well. 
B) the wastes generated by organisms would not decompose and,consequently,the surface of Earth would become covered with nondecaying animal wastes. 
C) nutrient cycling would continue,so soils would eventually become more fertile,plants would grow,and the food chain would operate efficiently. 
D) nutrient cycling would slow down and operate less efficiently. 
A) the decomposer component of the food chain would be operating well. 
B) the wastes generated by organisms would not decompose and,consequently,the surface of Earth would become covered with nondecaying animal wastes. 
C) nutrient cycling would continue,so soils would eventually become more fertile,plants would grow,and the food chain would operate efficiently. 
D) nutrient cycling would slow down and operate less efficiently.

Question 12

Which of the following usually occurs with ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

A) the establishment of less complex ecosystems 
B) an decrease in biodiversity 
C) an decrease in stability 
D) modification of the physical environment 
E) disturbances do not interrupt the successional sequence 
A) the establishment of less complex ecosystems 
B) an decrease in biodiversity 
C) an decrease in stability 
D) modification of the physical environment 
E) disturbances do not interrupt the successional sequence

Question 13

Describe the competitive exclusion principle and explain its ramifications.

Accepted Answer

The competitive exclusion principle, als

Question 14

Provide a hypothetical example of secondary succession.

Accepted Answer

A hypothetical example of secondary succ

Question 15

Describe the main abiotic ecosystem components.Give at least two regional examples of how these elements combine to form ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the main abiotic ecosystem components.Give at...

Question 16

Which of the following is true regarding possible impacts on ecosystems that might occur as a result of climate change?

Accepted Answer

A) studies have demonstrated there will be no impact on plant distributions. 
B) the prairie grassland/northern forest boundary is now in central Nebraska and is unchanging. 
C) the prairie grassland/northern forest boundary is expected to move northward with increasing temperatures. 
D) beech trees in eastern North America will not change in distribution. 
E) the mountain treeline will not move higher in elevation. 
A) studies have demonstrated there will be no impact on plant distributions. 
B) the prairie grassland/northern forest boundary is now in central Nebraska and is unchanging. 
C) the prairie grassland/northern forest boundary is expected to move northward with increasing temperatures. 
D) beech trees in eastern North America will not change in distribution. 
E) the mountain treeline will not move higher in elevation.

Question 17

The highest net primary productivity potential is in a

Accepted Answer

A) tropical seasonal forest. 
B) savanna. 
C) field of cultivated land in Canada. 
D) tropical rain forest. 
E) temperate deciduous forest. 
A) tropical seasonal forest. 
B) savanna. 
C) field of cultivated land in Canada. 
D) tropical rain forest. 
E) temperate deciduous forest.

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding the practice of setting well-regulated fires in forests?

Accepted Answer

A) this practice was important to Native Americans in managing their game yields. 
B) this practice may have been important to the formation of deciduous forests worldwide. 
C) this practice is an application of the science of astronomy. 
D) this practice has been used by the Forest Services internationally since the 1990s. 
E) this is not regarded as wise forest management. 
A) this practice was important to Native Americans in managing their game yields. 
B) this practice may have been important to the formation of deciduous forests worldwide. 
C) this practice is an application of the science of astronomy. 
D) this practice has been used by the Forest Services internationally since the 1990s. 
E) this is not regarded as wise forest management.

Question 19

A forest has ________ inertial stability and ________ resilience.

Accepted Answer

A) high high 
B) high low 
C) low low 
D) low high 
A) high high 
B) high low 
C) low low 
D) low high

Question 20

If krill disappeared from the food chain,the effect would be catastrophic because krill serve as a major source of food for many other animals in the food chain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 19: Ecosystem Essentials

Why does rapid climate change pose a potential threat to organisms?

If climate change occurs too rapidly,species may become extinct.

Lake turnover occurs when the upper layers of water cool to about 4°C.

Elements principally involved in mineral and solid phases-such as phosphorus,calcium,and sulfur-form

Discuss two biogeochemical cycles.Feel free to draw diagrams if it helps your explanation.

Which of the following lists gives the correct sequence of trophic levels in a food chain?

Write an essay in which you first discuss the short-term and long-term factors that affect ecosystem stability.Then move on to examine the process of terrestrial succession.

In the northern hemisphere midlatitudes,north-facing slopes tend to be ________ vegetated than south-facing slopes because ________.

The practice of repeatedly planting huge acreages of land in a single crop,such as wheat,is an example of ________,and it makes an area ________ susceptible to disease.

The landscape devastated by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens that still had some soil,young trees ,and plants

What would happen if death and decay did not occur?

Which of the following usually occurs with ecological succession?

Describe the competitive exclusion principle and explain its ramifications.

Provide a hypothetical example of secondary succession.

Describe the main abiotic ecosystem components.Give at least two regional examples of how these elements combine to form ecosystems.

Which of the following is true regarding possible impacts on ecosystems that might occur as a result of climate change?

The highest net primary productivity potential is in a

Which of the following is true regarding the practice of setting well-regulated fires in forests?

A forest has ________ inertial stability and ________ resilience.

If krill disappeared from the food chain,the effect would be catastrophic because krill serve as a major source of food for many other animals in the food chain.

Essentials of Geography

Solar Energy to Earth and the Seasons

Earth's Modern Atmosphere

Atmosphere and Surface Energy Balances

Global Temperatures

Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Weather

Water Resources

Climate Systems and Climate Change

The Dynamic Planet

Tectonics, Earthquakes, and Volcanism

Weathering, Karst Landscapes, and Mass Movement

River Systems and Landforms

Eolian Processes and Arid Landscapes

The Oceans, Coastal Processes, and Landforms

Glacial and Periglacial Processes and Landforms

The Geography of Soils

Terrestrial Biomes

Earth and the Human Denominator

Filters

In the northern hemisphere midlatitudes,north-facing slopes tend to be vegetated than south-facing slopes because .

The practice of repeatedly planting huge acreages of land in a single crop,such as wheat,is an example of ,and it makes an area susceptible to disease.

A forest has inertial stability and resilience.