Question 1

There is a suite of plant and animal groups whose distribution is restricted to the continents of the Southern Hemisphere. This phenomenon can be explained by

Accepted Answer

A)  similarities in the climate and soil type of all the southern continents. 
B)  the dispersal ability of these organisms-they can disperse quite long distances but not as far as the Northern Hemisphere. 
C)  the past connection of the Southern Hemisphere continents and their subsequent moving apart. 
D)  movement over ancient land bridges. 
E)  relatively few human introductions of biota between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. 
A)  similarities in the climate and soil type of all the southern continents. 
B)  the dispersal ability of these organisms-they can disperse quite long distances but not as far as the Northern Hemisphere. 
C)  the past connection of the Southern Hemisphere continents and their subsequent moving apart. 
D)  movement over ancient land bridges. 
E)  relatively few human introductions of biota between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. C

Question 2

Australia finally became an island continent when

Accepted Answer

A)  India separated from Australia. 
B)  Australia drifted northwards from high latitudes to take up a position in mid-to-lower latitudes. 
C)  the strait between Australia and Antarctica opened 30 million years ago. 
D)  the sea-floor commenced spreading and the Indian ocean widened as Australia separated from Africa. 
E)  New Zealand drifted away from Gondwana during the late Cretaceous. 
A)  India separated from Australia. 
B)  Australia drifted northwards from high latitudes to take up a position in mid-to-lower latitudes. 
C)  the strait between Australia and Antarctica opened 30 million years ago. 
D)  the sea-floor commenced spreading and the Indian ocean widened as Australia separated from Africa. 
E)  New Zealand drifted away from Gondwana during the late Cretaceous. C

Question 3

320 million years ago, all previously separated continents on earth united to form the supercontinent called

Accepted Answer

A)  Gondwana. 
B)  Pangaea. 
C)  Laurasia. 
D)  Baltica. 
E)  Cenozoic. 
A)  Gondwana. 
B)  Pangaea. 
C)  Laurasia. 
D)  Baltica. 
E)  Cenozoic. B

Question 4

The incidence of fire in the Australian environment

Accepted Answer

A)  was negligible prior to the arrival of humans. 
B)  declined with the retreat of the rainforests. 
C)  showed an increase with the arrival of humans. 
D)  contributed to the disappearance of the rainforests. 
E)  was negligible prior to the arrival of Europeans. 
A)  was negligible prior to the arrival of humans. 
B)  declined with the retreat of the rainforests. 
C)  showed an increase with the arrival of humans. 
D)  contributed to the disappearance of the rainforests. 
E)  was negligible prior to the arrival of Europeans.

Question 5

Living and fossil Nothofagus, the southern beech tree, are found in parts of New Guinea, Australia, Antarctica and South America. This is considered to provide evidence for the theory that

Accepted Answer

A)  extensive sea level changes must have occurred in the past. 
B)  the pattern of climate change in these areas must have been similar. 
C)  these continents were close enough for dispersal by air and ocean currents. 
D)  these continents were once joined in a supercontinent. 
E)  land bridges connected these continents across which plants and animals could disperse. 
A)  extensive sea level changes must have occurred in the past. 
B)  the pattern of climate change in these areas must have been similar. 
C)  these continents were close enough for dispersal by air and ocean currents. 
D)  these continents were once joined in a supercontinent. 
E)  land bridges connected these continents across which plants and animals could disperse.

Question 6

A native Australian monocot has three sepals and three petals, one of which is a labellum. A male wasp repeatedly attempts to 'mate' with the flower on this plant, all of which strongly indicates it must be from the family

Accepted Answer

A)  Myrtaceae. 
B)  Mimosaceae. 
C)  Fabaceae. 
D)  Orchidaceae. 
E)  Ericaceae. 
A)  Myrtaceae. 
B)  Mimosaceae. 
C)  Fabaceae. 
D)  Orchidaceae. 
E)  Ericaceae.

Question 7

In Australia the succulent plants

Accepted Answer

A)  live in environments with a good water supply. 
B)  are less diverse than elsewhere. 
C)  are common as in all dry areas. 
D)  are all C4 plants. 
E)  include the Proteaceae. 
A)  live in environments with a good water supply. 
B)  are less diverse than elsewhere. 
C)  are common as in all dry areas. 
D)  are all C4 plants. 
E)  include the Proteaceae.

Question 8

When Australia separated from Antarctica and started gradually moving north, what was the major factor leading to the onset of arid conditions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Changes in both flora and fauna 
B)  Changes in diurnal fluctuations within the troposphere 
C)  Reduced ion concentrations in the mesosphere 
D)  The circum-antarctic current 
E)  The breakdown of thermohaline circulation 
A)  Changes in both flora and fauna 
B)  Changes in diurnal fluctuations within the troposphere 
C)  Reduced ion concentrations in the mesosphere 
D)  The circum-antarctic current 
E)  The breakdown of thermohaline circulation

Question 9

A meteorologist is examining national temperature and precipitation records and notes that recent months have been unusually hot and dry, particularly in the eastern parts of Australia. The meteorologist hypothesises that this could be due to an El Niño event. How could the meteorologist confirm this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Check ocean currents for evidence of stability in the Southern Oscillation which leads to El Niño conditions. 
B)  Check records to see if there was a La Niña event in southern America in the preceding 5 years. If so, it is highly likely an El Niño event will occur in Australia due to the 5-year cyclical pattern of such events. 
C)  Examine air temperature data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low temperature zone present. 
D)  Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a high pressure zone present. 
E)  Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low pressure zone present. 
A)  Check ocean currents for evidence of stability in the Southern Oscillation which leads to El Niño conditions. 
B)  Check records to see if there was a La Niña event in southern America in the preceding 5 years. If so, it is highly likely an El Niño event will occur in Australia due to the 5-year cyclical pattern of such events. 
C)  Examine air temperature data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low temperature zone present. 
D)  Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a high pressure zone present. 
E)  Examine air pressure data for the eastern equatorial pacific and see if there is a low pressure zone present.

Question 10

During the break up of Gondwana, other southern continents separated from Australia in the following order:

Accepted Answer

A)  India, New Zealand, Antarctica. 
B)  New Zealand, India, Antarctica. 
C)  Antarctica, India, New Zealand. 
D)  India, Antarctica, New Zealand. 
E)  Antarctica, New Zealand, India. 
A)  India, New Zealand, Antarctica. 
B)  New Zealand, India, Antarctica. 
C)  Antarctica, India, New Zealand. 
D)  India, Antarctica, New Zealand. 
E)  Antarctica, New Zealand, India.

Question 11

A botanist examines an extant plant specimen from Australia that inhabits a niche environment that is exclusive to Australian habitats. It is found far inland and has an unusually large seed. He notes that it shares many morphological similarities with other species from Africa, India and South America. A likely reason for this is that

Accepted Answer

A)  all the species share strong similarities due to convergent evolution. 
B)  the species are all Gondwanan in origin and share a common ancestor. 
C)  seed has dispersed from the Australian species and it has colonised new continents. 
D)  all the species share strong similarities due to divergent evolution. 
E)  the species are all Laurasian in origin and share a common ancestor. 
A)  all the species share strong similarities due to convergent evolution. 
B)  the species are all Gondwanan in origin and share a common ancestor. 
C)  seed has dispersed from the Australian species and it has colonised new continents. 
D)  all the species share strong similarities due to divergent evolution. 
E)  the species are all Laurasian in origin and share a common ancestor.

Question 12

The history of fire in the Australian environment is recorded in the form of preserved charcoal particles in sedimentary deposits. From this evidence we know that Australia

Accepted Answer

A)  had no fires before the late Tertiary, when the climate became dryer. 
B)  has had frequent fires since the early Tertiary. 
C)  has had fires since the early Tertiary. 
D)  has had fires since the Quaternary. 
E)  has only had frequent fires since eucalypts came to dominate the landscape. 
A)  had no fires before the late Tertiary, when the climate became dryer. 
B)  has had frequent fires since the early Tertiary. 
C)  has had fires since the early Tertiary. 
D)  has had fires since the Quaternary. 
E)  has only had frequent fires since eucalypts came to dominate the landscape.

Question 13

Some Gondwanan-type flora and fauna has been found in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This can be accounted for by the

Accepted Answer

A)  considerable trade, which existed for tens of thousands of years, between Australian aborigines and indigenous people of Sumatra and Kalimantan. 
B)  fact that all the land masses of the Indo-Pacific region were once part of Gondwana. 
C)  similar climatic conditions and dispersal. 
D)  rifting, from Gondwana, of small slivers of continent which drifted north. 
E)  close proximity of Sumatra and Kalimantan to Australia. 
A)  considerable trade, which existed for tens of thousands of years, between Australian aborigines and indigenous people of Sumatra and Kalimantan. 
B)  fact that all the land masses of the Indo-Pacific region were once part of Gondwana. 
C)  similar climatic conditions and dispersal. 
D)  rifting, from Gondwana, of small slivers of continent which drifted north. 
E)  close proximity of Sumatra and Kalimantan to Australia.

Question 14

The environment of Australia prior to its separation from Antarctica could best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  glacial, with extensive ice and snow fields. 
B)  dry with extensive cool deserts. 
C)  generally dry with conifer forests in the wetter areas. 
D)  humid with extensive temperate rainforest. 
E)  fluctuating and so restricting rainforest to small patches of land. 
A)  glacial, with extensive ice and snow fields. 
B)  dry with extensive cool deserts. 
C)  generally dry with conifer forests in the wetter areas. 
D)  humid with extensive temperate rainforest. 
E)  fluctuating and so restricting rainforest to small patches of land.

Question 15

Which of the following is a trait that allows Australian plants to survive in arid environments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Succulent leaves and stems. 
B)  Sclerophylly. 
C)  C4 physiology 
D)  Maintaining small height. 
E)  All of the answers are correct. 
A)  Succulent leaves and stems. 
B)  Sclerophylly. 
C)  C4 physiology 
D)  Maintaining small height. 
E)  All of the answers are correct.

Question 16

Most of Australia's marine fishes live

Accepted Answer

A)  on the shelf and in near-shore environments. 
B)  on the continental slope. 
C)  in the deep, nutrient-rich waters beyond the continental slope. 
D)  in fish farms. 
E)  in the Southern Ocean. 
A)  on the shelf and in near-shore environments. 
B)  on the continental slope. 
C)  in the deep, nutrient-rich waters beyond the continental slope. 
D)  in fish farms. 
E)  in the Southern Ocean.

Question 17

Australian reptiles

Accepted Answer

A)  include species that are Gondwanan and Asian in origin. 
B)  show adaptive radiation resulting in numerous species. 
C)  are all descended from dinosaurs. 
D)  are all relatively modern in origin arriving only after the separation of Australia from Antarctica. 
E)  never included any dinosaurs. 
A)  include species that are Gondwanan and Asian in origin. 
B)  show adaptive radiation resulting in numerous species. 
C)  are all descended from dinosaurs. 
D)  are all relatively modern in origin arriving only after the separation of Australia from Antarctica. 
E)  never included any dinosaurs.

Question 18

Many changes in the biota occurred from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic. These include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  Seed ferns replaced clubmosses as the dominant forests. 
B)  Ancient conifer forests expanded along with the expansion of flowering plants. 
C)  Ginkgo, which was widely distributed became restricted to China. 
D)  Unique fauna evolved after the break-up of Gondwana. 
E)  Dinosaurs became extinct. 
A)  Seed ferns replaced clubmosses as the dominant forests. 
B)  Ancient conifer forests expanded along with the expansion of flowering plants. 
C)  Ginkgo, which was widely distributed became restricted to China. 
D)  Unique fauna evolved after the break-up of Gondwana. 
E)  Dinosaurs became extinct.

Question 19

Australia shares fossils and extant plant and animal taxa with other continents, particularly Antarctica and South America. The most widely accepted explanation for this is that

Accepted Answer

A)  many plants and animals were able to disperse the long distances to Australia over the oceans. 
B)  the separate continents were connected to Australia by land bridges, across which flora and fauna dispersed. 
C)  the continents were once joined together in a larger supercontinent across which the plants and animals were able to disperse. 
D)  dispersal of these species by land bridges. 
E)  these taxa evolved independently in the different continents. 
A)  many plants and animals were able to disperse the long distances to Australia over the oceans. 
B)  the separate continents were connected to Australia by land bridges, across which flora and fauna dispersed. 
C)  the continents were once joined together in a larger supercontinent across which the plants and animals were able to disperse. 
D)  dispersal of these species by land bridges. 
E)  these taxa evolved independently in the different continents.

Question 20

There is direct fossil evidence that humans colonised Australia at least how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A)  40,000. 
B)  10,000 
C)  1 million. 
D)  4 million. 
E)  40 million. 
A)  40,000. 
B)  10,000 
C)  1 million. 
D)  4 million. 
E)  40 million.

Exam 42: Australian Biota

There is a suite of plant and animal groups whose distribution is restricted to the continents of the Southern Hemisphere. This phenomenon can be explained by

Australia finally became an island continent when

320 million years ago, all previously separated continents on earth united to form the supercontinent called

The incidence of fire in the Australian environment

Living and fossil Nothofagus, the southern beech tree, are found in parts of New Guinea, Australia, Antarctica and South America. This is considered to provide evidence for the theory that

A native Australian monocot has three sepals and three petals, one of which is a labellum. A male wasp repeatedly attempts to 'mate' with the flower on this plant, all of which strongly indicates it must be from the family

In Australia the succulent plants

When Australia separated from Antarctica and started gradually moving north, what was the major factor leading to the onset of arid conditions?

During the break up of Gondwana, other southern continents separated from Australia in the following order:

The history of fire in the Australian environment is recorded in the form of preserved charcoal particles in sedimentary deposits. From this evidence we know that Australia

Some Gondwanan-type flora and fauna has been found in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This can be accounted for by the

The environment of Australia prior to its separation from Antarctica could best be described as

Which of the following is a trait that allows Australian plants to survive in arid environments?

Most of Australia's marine fishes live

Australian reptiles

Many changes in the biota occurred from the Palaeozoic to the Cenozoic. These include all of the following EXCEPT

Australia shares fossils and extant plant and animal taxa with other continents, particularly Antarctica and South America. The most widely accepted explanation for this is that

There is direct fossil evidence that humans colonised Australia at least how many years ago?

Nature of Molecules

Biomolecules

The Chemistry of Life

Functioning Cells

Movement Across Membranes

Harvesting Energy

Cells, Tissues and Signals

Cell Division

Inheritance

Genes, Chromosomes and Dna

The Genetic Code

Gene Expression

Genomes, Mutation and Cancer

Viruses

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Reproduction, Growth and Development of Flowering Plants

Structure of Plants

Plant Nutrition, Transport and Adaptation to Stress

Plant Hormones and Growth Responses

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Homeostasis: Water, Solutes and Excretion

Gas Exchange in Animals

Circulation

Metabolism, Temperature Regulation and Environmental Stress

Animal and Human Nutrition

Innate Defences and the Immune System

Hormonal Control in Animals

Nervous Systems

Animal Movement

Animal Behaviour

Evolving Life

Evolving Earth

Mechanisms of Evolution

Bacteria

The Protists

Plants

Fungi

Simple Animals: Sponges to Flatworms

Annelids, Molluscs, Nematodes and Arthropods

Echinoderms and Chordates

Population Ecology

Living in Communities

Ecosystems

Human Impacts

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