Exam 4: The Terrestrial Environment

The greatest limitation faced by terrestrial organisms is desiccation.

The soil-forming process that occurs naturally in desert basins and along the coast and is a problem in agricultural areas where irrigation is practiced is

The application of Beer's law to attenuation of light in aquatic environments is more complex than in terrestrial environments.

Light availability within a forest is lowest in the

Eluviation refers to the leaching of minerals and finer soil particles from the upper layers to the lower layers of soil.

About 75%-95% of living cells,both plant and animal,is composed of ________.

The mechanical destruction and/or chemical modification of rock into smaller particles is called

________ matter (particularly humus)makes soil dark or black.

Soils on ridgetops are generally drier than valley soils.

________ is a process common to soils found in humid environments in the tropical and subtropical regions.

Aluminum is toxic to plants because it

The two physical factors that vary most in terrestrial environments are ________ and ________.

Which wavelength of light penetrates through plant cover the farthest?

The leaf area index (LAI)of a temperate deciduous forest is highest during

The soil in a particular area is arranged in layers called horizons that will vary in texture,structure,and consistency from one another.

Poorly drained soils or soils saturated by water tend to be yellowish-brown or reddish.

The movement of solutes through the soil is known as ________.

Most soils contain far more cations than anions.

The soil horizon in which leached mineral particles such as clay and salts tend to accumulate is the

Animal life depends on the ________ within a region to provide the essential resources of food and cover.