Question 1

In temperate lakes, the surface water is replenished with nutrients during turnovers that occur in the

Accepted Answer

A) autumn and spring. 
B) autumn and winter. 
C) spring and summer. 
D) summer and winter. 
E) summer and autumn.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about ecology is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A) Ecologists may study populations and communities of organisms. 
B) Ecological studies may involve the use of models and computers. 
C) Ecology is a discipline that is independent from natural selection and evolutionary history. 
D) Ecology spans increasingly comprehensive levels of organization, from individuals to ecosystems. 
E) Ecology is the study of the interactions between biotic and abiotic aspects of the environment.

Question 3

Suppose 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

Question 4

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.

Question 5

Landscape ecology is best described as the study of

Accepted Answer

A) the flow of energy and materials between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. 
B) how the structure and function of species enable them to meet the challenges of their environment. 
C) what factors affect the structure and size of a population over time. 
D) the interactions between the different species that inhabit and ecosystem. 
E) the factors controlling the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms among ecosystem patches.

Question 6

If global warming continues at its present rate, which biomes will likely take the place of the coniferous forest (taiga)?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

Which type of biome would most likely occur in a climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers?

Accepted Answer

A) desert 
B) taiga 
C) temperate grassland 
D) chaparral 
E) savanna

Question 8

The success with which plants extend their range northward following glacial retreat is best determined by

Accepted Answer

A) whether there is simultaneous migration of herbivores. 
B) their tolerance to shade. 
C) their seed dispersal rate. 
D) their size. 
E) their growth rate.

Question 9

Which biome is able to support many large animals despite receiving moderate amounts of rainfall?

Accepted Answer

A) tropical rain forest 
B) temperate forest 
C) chaparral 
D) taiga 
E) savanna

Question 10

Which of the following is True with respect to oligotrophic lakes and eutrophic lakes?

Accepted Answer

A) Oligotrophic lakes are more subject to oxygen depletion. 
B) Rates of photosynthesis are lower in eutrophic lakes. 
C) Eutrophic lake water contains lower concentrations of nutrients. 
D) Eutrophic lakes are richer in nutrients. 
E) Sediments in oligotrophic lakes contain larger amounts of decomposable organic matter.

Question 11

In the development of terrestrial biomes, which factor is most dependent on all the others?

Accepted Answer

A) the species of colonizing animals 
B) prevailing temperature 
C) prevailing rainfall 
D) mineral nutrient availability 
E) soil structure

Exam 52: An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere