Question 1

Generally speaking, deserts are located in places where air masses are usually

Accepted Answer

A) tropical. 
B) humid. 
C) rising. 
D) descending. 
E) expanding. 
A) tropical. 
B) humid. 
C) rising. 
D) descending. 
E) expanding.

Question 2

Use this description to answer the following question.
In areas of permafrost, stands of black spruce are frequently observed in the landscape, while other tree species are noticeably absent. Often these stands are referred to as "drunken forests" because many of the black spruce are displaced from their normal vertical alignment.
-Which statement about dispersal is false?

Accepted Answer

A) Dispersal is a common component of the life cycles of plants and animals. 
B) Colonization of devastated areas after floods or volcanic eruptions depends on dispersal. 
C) Dispersal occurs only on an evolutionary time scale. 
D) Seeds are important dispersal stages in the life cycles of most flowering plants. 
E) The ability to disperse can expand the geographic distribution of a species. 
A) Dispersal is a common component of the life cycles of plants and animals. 
B) Colonization of devastated areas after floods or volcanic eruptions depends on dispersal. 
C) Dispersal occurs only on an evolutionary time scale. 
D) Seeds are important dispersal stages in the life cycles of most flowering plants. 
E) The ability to disperse can expand the geographic distribution of a species.

Question 3

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Accepted Answer

A) Remove, to the mineral soil, all of the organisms from an experimental plot and monitor the colonization of the area over time in terms of both species diversity and abundance. 
B) Look back at the changes that occurred since the Ice Age and how species redistributed as glaciers melted, then make predictions on future distribution in species based on past trends. 
C) Compare and contrast the flora and fauna of warm/cold/dry/wet climates to shed light on how they evolved to be suited to their present-day environment. 
D) Quantify the impact of human activities on present-day populations of threatened and endangered species to assess the rate of extirpation and extinction. 
E) There is no scientific investigation that can help make predictions on the future distribution of organisms. 
A) Remove, to the mineral soil, all of the organisms from an experimental plot and monitor the colonization of the area over time in terms of both species diversity and abundance. 
B) Look back at the changes that occurred since the Ice Age and how species redistributed as glaciers melted, then make predictions on future distribution in species based on past trends. 
C) Compare and contrast the flora and fauna of warm/cold/dry/wet climates to shed light on how they evolved to be suited to their present-day environment. 
D) Quantify the impact of human activities on present-day populations of threatened and endangered species to assess the rate of extirpation and extinction. 
E) There is no scientific investigation that can help make predictions on the future distribution of organisms.

Question 4

Which of the following choices includes all of the others in creating global terrestrial climates?

Accepted Answer

A) differential heating of Earth's surface 
B) ocean currents 
C) global wind patterns 
D) evaporation of water from ocean surfaces 
E) Earth's rotation on its axis 
A) differential heating of Earth's surface 
B) ocean currents 
C) global wind patterns 
D) evaporation of water from ocean surfaces 
E) Earth's rotation on its axis

Question 5

The eight climographs below show yearly temperature (line graph and left vertical axis) and precipitation (bar graph and right vertical axis) averages for each month for some locations on Earth. Choose the climograph that best answers the questions or completes the statement. Climographs may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
  
-Which climograph shows the climate for location 4?

Accepted Answer

A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) E 
E) G 
A) A 
B) B 
C) C 
D) E 
E) G

Question 6

Imagine that a deep temperate zone lake did not "turn over" during the spring and fall seasons. Based on the physical and biological properties of limnetic ecosystems, what would be the difference from normal seasonal turnover?

Accepted Answer

A) The lake would be uniformly cold during the winter and summer. 
B) The lake would fail to freeze over in winter. 
C) An algal bloom of algae would result every spring. 
D) Lakes would suffer a nutrient depletion in surface layers. 
E) The pH of the lake would become increasingly alkaline. 
A) The lake would be uniformly cold during the winter and summer. 
B) The lake would fail to freeze over in winter. 
C) An algal bloom of algae would result every spring. 
D) Lakes would suffer a nutrient depletion in surface layers. 
E) The pH of the lake would become increasingly alkaline.

Question 7

Community ecology focuses on

Accepted Answer

A) analyzing factors that affect population sizes. 
B) organisms' physiology and behaviour that enables them to cope in a particular environment. 
C) interactions among species that affect the structure and organization of a community. 
D) flow of energy and chemical cycling of energy between organisms and the environment. 
E) interactions of individuals in many different populations. 
A) analyzing factors that affect population sizes. 
B) organisms' physiology and behaviour that enables them to cope in a particular environment. 
C) interactions among species that affect the structure and organization of a community. 
D) flow of energy and chemical cycling of energy between organisms and the environment. 
E) interactions of individuals in many different populations.

Question 8

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

Accepted Answer

A) tundra and coniferous forest 
B) chaparral and savanna 
C) desert and savanna 
D) tropical forest and temperate broadleaf forest 
E) grassland and tundra 
A) tundra and coniferous forest 
B) chaparral and savanna 
C) desert and savanna 
D) tropical forest and temperate broadleaf forest 
E) grassland and tundra

Question 9

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents. Although the two species are not at all closely related, they may appear quite similar as a result of

Accepted Answer

A) parallel evolution. 
B) convergent evolution. 
C) allopatric speciation. 
D) introgression. 
E) gene flow. 
A) parallel evolution. 
B) convergent evolution. 
C) allopatric speciation. 
D) introgression. 
E) gene flow.

Question 10

Use this description to answer the following question.
In areas of permafrost, stands of black spruce are frequently observed in the landscape, while other tree species are noticeably absent. Often these stands are referred to as "drunken forests" because many of the black spruce are displaced from their normal vertical alignment.
-The oceans affect the biosphere in all of the following ways except

Accepted Answer

A) producing a substantial amount of the biosphere's oxygen. 
B) removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
C) moderating the climate of terrestrial biomes. 
D) regulating the pH of freshwater biomes and terrestrial groundwater. 
E) being the source of most of Earth's rainfall. 
A) producing a substantial amount of the biosphere's oxygen. 
B) removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 
C) moderating the climate of terrestrial biomes. 
D) regulating the pH of freshwater biomes and terrestrial groundwater. 
E) being the source of most of Earth's rainfall.

Question 11

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

Accepted Answer

A) ground layer, shrub/immature layer, understory, canopy, emergent layer 
B) canopy, emergent layer, understory, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
C) canopy, understory, shrub/immature layer, emergent layer, ground layer 
D) emergent layer, canopy, understory, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
E) emergent layer, understory, canopy, ground layer, shrub/immature layer 
A) ground layer, shrub/immature layer, understory, canopy, emergent layer 
B) canopy, emergent layer, understory, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
C) canopy, understory, shrub/immature layer, emergent layer, ground layer 
D) emergent layer, canopy, understory, shrub/immature layer, ground layer 
E) emergent layer, understory, canopy, ground layer, shrub/immature layer

Question 12

Use this description to answer the following question.
In areas of permafrost, stands of black spruce are frequently observed in the landscape, while other tree species are noticeably absent. Often these stands are referred to as "drunken forests" because many of the black spruce are displaced from their normal vertical alignment.
-Which of the following is characteristic of most terrestrial biomes?

Accepted Answer

A) annual average rainfall in excess of 250 cm 
B) a distribution predicted almost entirely by rock and soil patterns 
C) clear boundaries between adjacent biomes 
D) vegetation demonstrating vertical layering 
E) cold winter months 
A) annual average rainfall in excess of 250 cm 
B) a distribution predicted almost entirely by rock and soil patterns 
C) clear boundaries between adjacent biomes 
D) vegetation demonstrating vertical layering 
E) cold winter months

Question 13

The distribution of species may be limited by many factors, with the exception of

Accepted Answer

A) snow, length of growing season. 
B) inaccessible areas. 
C) predators, competitors. 
D) light, temperature. 
E) good dispersal ability. 
A) snow, length of growing season. 
B) inaccessible areas. 
C) predators, competitors. 
D) light, temperature. 
E) good dispersal ability.

Question 14

The eight climographs below show yearly temperature (line graph and left vertical axis) and precipitation (bar graph and right vertical axis) averages for each month for some locations on Earth. Choose the climograph that best answers the questions or completes the statement. Climographs may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
  
-Which climograph shows the climate for location 3?

Accepted Answer

A) B 
B) C 
C) D 
D) E 
E) F 
A) B 
B) C 
C) D 
D) E 
E) F

Question 15

Use this description to answer the following question.
In areas of permafrost, stands of black spruce are frequently observed in the landscape, while other tree species are noticeably absent. Often these stands are referred to as "drunken forests" because many of the black spruce are displaced from their normal vertical alignment.
-Which lake zone would be absent in a very shallow lake?

Accepted Answer

A) benthic zone 
B) aphotic zone 
C) pelagic zone 
D) littoral zone 
E) limnetic zone 
A) benthic zone 
B) aphotic zone 
C) pelagic zone 
D) littoral zone 
E) limnetic zone

Question 16

The eight climographs below show yearly temperature (line graph and left vertical axis) and precipitation (bar graph and right vertical axis) averages for each month for some locations on Earth. Choose the climograph that best answers the questions or completes the statement. Climographs may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
  
-Which climograph shows the climate for location 1?

Accepted Answer

A) A 
B) C 
C) E 
D) G 
E) H 
A) A 
B) C 
C) E 
D) G 
E) H

Question 17

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 33 1/2 degrees?

Accepted Answer

A) Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively. 
B) Winters and summers in Australia would likely become less distinct seasons. 
C) Seasonal variation at the equator might decrease. 
D) Both northern and southern hemispheres would experience summer and winter at the same time. 
E) Both poles would experience massive ice melts. 
A) Summers and winters in the United States would likely become warmer and colder, respectively. 
B) Winters and summers in Australia would likely become less distinct seasons. 
C) Seasonal variation at the equator might decrease. 
D) Both northern and southern hemispheres would experience summer and winter at the same time. 
E) Both poles would experience massive ice melts.

Question 18

Which statement describes how climate might change if Earth was 75% land and 25% water?

Accepted Answer

A) Terrestrial ecosystems would likely experience more precipitation. 
B) Earth's daytime temperatures would be higher and nighttime temperatures lower. 
C) Summers would be longer and winters shorter at midlatitude locations. 
D) Earth would experience an unprecedented global warming. 
E) More terrestrial microclimates would be created because of daily fluctuations in climate. 
A) Terrestrial ecosystems would likely experience more precipitation. 
B) Earth's daytime temperatures would be higher and nighttime temperatures lower. 
C) Summers would be longer and winters shorter at midlatitude locations. 
D) Earth would experience an unprecedented global warming. 
E) More terrestrial microclimates would be created because of daily fluctuations in climate.

Question 19

Use this description to answer the following question.
In areas of permafrost, stands of black spruce are frequently observed in the landscape, while other tree species are noticeably absent. Often these stands are referred to as "drunken forests" because many of the black spruce are displaced from their normal vertical alignment.
-Suppose that the number of bird species is determined mainly by the number of vertical strata found in the environment. If so, in which of the following biomes would you find the greatest number of bird species?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical rain forest 
B) savanna 
C) desert 
D) temperate broadleaf forest 
E) temperate grassland 
A) tropical rain forest 
B) savanna 
C) desert 
D) temperate broadleaf forest 
E) temperate grassland

Question 20

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical forest 
B) coral reef 
C) savanna 
D) temperate forest 
E) abyssal 
A) tropical forest 
B) coral reef 
C) savanna 
D) temperate forest 
E) abyssal

Exam 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Generally speaking, deserts are located in places where air masses are usually

Which of the following investigations would shed the most light on the distribution of organisms in temperate regions that are faced with climate change?

Which of the following choices includes all of the others in creating global terrestrial climates?

Imagine that a deep temperate zone lake did not "turn over" during the spring and fall seasons. Based on the physical and biological properties of limnetic ecosystems, what would be the difference from normal seasonal turnover?

Community ecology focuses on

In which of the following terrestrial biome pairs are both parts dependent upon periodic burning?

Two plant species live in the same biome but on different continents. Although the two species are not at all closely related, they may appear quite similar as a result of

Which series is correctly layered from top to bottom in a tropical rain forest?

The distribution of species may be limited by many factors, with the exception of

Which of the following events might you predict to occur if the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 33 1/2 degrees?

Which statement describes how climate might change if Earth was 75% land and 25% water?

In which community would organisms most likely have adaptations enabling them to respond to different photoperiods?

Introduction: Evolution and Themes of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Dna Tools and Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification: a Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity Ii: the Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signalling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behaviour

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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