Ch 56

Question 1

biome

Answer 1

a large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with the following characteristics: climate, soil, plants, animals, and interacting landscapes

Question 2

tundra

Answer 2

a frozen layer of subsoil (permafrost) and low-growing vegetation that is adapted to extreme cold and a short growing season characterize tundra; the northernmost biome

Question 3

taiga

Answer 3

coniferous trees adapted to cold winters; a short growing season; and acidic, mineral-poor soil dominate the boreal forest, or taiga

Question 4

temperate rain forest

Answer 4

large conifers dominate temperate rain forest, which receives high precipitation

Question 5

temperate deciduous forest

Answer 5

occurs where precipitation is relatively high and soils are rich in organic matter; broad-leaf trees that lose their leaves seasonally dominate temperate deciduous forest

Question 6

temperate grasslands

Answer 6

typically has a deep, mineral-rich soil and has moderate but uncertain precipitation

Question 7

chaparral

Answer 7

thickets of small-leaf evergreen shrubs and trees and a climate of wet, mild winters and dry summers characterize chaparral

Question 8

desert

Answer 8

found in both temperate (cold deserts) and subtropical or tropical regions (warm deserts) with low levels of precipitation, contains organisms with specialized water-conserving adaptations

Question 9

savanna

Answer 9

tropical grassland, called savanna, has widely scattered trees interspersed with grassy areas, savanna occurs in tropical areas with low or seasonal rainfall

Question 10

tropical rainforest

Answer 10

mineral-poor soil and high rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year characterize tropical rainforest, tropical rainforest has high species richness and high productivity

Question 11

human effect on biomes

Answer 11

in the tundra oil exploration and military exercises result in long-lasting damage; in the taiga and temperate rain forests clear cut logging is destructive; in the temperate and deciduous forests and tropical rain forests the trees and plants are being removed by logging and development

Question 12

What are the two most important factors to determine biomes/climates?

Answer 12

precipitation and temperature; elevation has an effect, too

Question 13

What are the 6 major biogeographic realms?

Answer 13

palearctic, Nearctic, Ethiopian, oriental, Australian, and neotropical; these realms are divided by either a large body of water, large desert, or large mountains

Question 14

important environmental factors in aquatic ecosystems

Answer 14

salinity (saltiness), amount of dissolved oxygen (need 5ppm to support animal life), availability of light for photosynthesis (how deep and cloudy is the water), and depth

Question 15

secondary abiotic factors involved with aquatic ecosystems

Answer 15

temperature, climate, and speed of flow

Question 16

plankton

Answer 16

free-floating organisms

Question 17

nekton

Answer 17

strongly swimming organisms, ex: fish, dolphins, sharks, etc

Question 18

benthos

Answer 18

bottom-dwelling organisms

Question 19

marine biomes salinity

Answer 19

marine biomes have a salt concentration of approximately 3% and cover approximately 75% of the earth’s surface

Question 20

freshwater biomes salinity

Answer 20

freshwater biomes are usually characterized by salt concentration of less that 1% and are closely linked to the soils and biotic components of the terrestrial biomes through which they pass

Question 21

photic zone

Answer 21

the zone through which light penetrates and photosynthesis can occur; the top layer

Question 22

aphotic zone

Answer 22

the zone where very little light can penetrate; bottom layer

Question 23

thermocline

Answer 23

a narrow stratum of rapid temperature change called a thermocline separates a more uniformly warm upper layer from more uniformly cold deeper waters

Question 24

benthic zone

Answer 24

the benthic zone is the bottom of any aquatic biome and contains detritus or dead organic matter

Question 25

flowing-water ecosystems

Answer 25

streams and rivers

Question 26

standing-water ecosystems

Answer 26

ponds and lakes

Question 27

freshwater wetlands

Answer 27

marshes and swamps

Question 28

estuaries

Answer 28

coastal body of water with access to both the ocean and fresh water from rivers; the salinity of these areas can vary greatly but they are crucial feeding areas for many types of water fowl

Question 29

head water streams

Answer 29

fast, clear, cold, and highly oxygenated; contains organisms adapted for the current; detritus is the major energy source

Question 30

downstream rivers

Answer 30

slow moving, more sediment; warmer, less oxygen; organisms similar to those in lakes; more producers

Question 31

littoral zone

Answer 31

the littoral zone is shallow and close to the shore; the shore zone with a lot of leaf litter

Question 32

limnetic zone

Answer 32

the limnetic zone is the open surface water

Question 33

profundal zone

Answer 33

the profundal zone consists of the deep, aphotic regions; not all lakes/ponds have a profundal zone

Question 34

oligotrophic lakes

Answer 34

oligotrophic lakes are deep, nutrient-poor, and do not contain much life; ice melt lake found high up in the mountains; oligotrophic=no feeding

Question 35

eutrophic lakes

Answer 35

eutrophic lakes are shallower and have increased nutrients; lots of feeding/plants; eutrophic=true feeding

Question 36

mesotrophic lakes

Answer 36

have a moderate amount of nutrients and phytoplankton productivity

Question 37

During what two seasons does the water in a lake/pond mix?

Answer 37

autumn and spring; in the summer and winter there is a distinct thermocline

Question 38

freshwater wetlands

Answer 38

areas covered with water that support many types of plants; they can be saturated and include areas known as marshes, bogs, and swamps; they are home to many different types of organisms, from herbivores to crustaceans and are important as habitat refuges; help control flooding as well as recharge and cleanse ground water; wetlands are like sponges that can absorb flood water which is why it's so bad for humans to drain them and build houses

Question 39

intertidal zone

Answer 39

shoreline between low and high tides; sometimes under water, sometimes not but when it is under water it's salt water

Question 40

benthic environment

Answer 40

the ocean floor

Question 41

neritic province

Answer 41

open ocean from shoreline to depth of 200 m

Question 42

oceanic province

Answer 42

ocean deeper than 200 m

Question 43

abyssal zone

Answer 43

deepest part of the benthic zone

Question 44

pelagic zone

Answer 44

the open water

Question 45

neritic zone

Answer 45

includes the shallow regions over the continental shelves

Question 46

oceanic zone

Answer 46

extends past the continental shelves and can be very deep

Question 47

ecotone

Answer 47

transition zone where two communities meet and intergrade; provides habitat diversity; is often inhabited by a greater variety and density of organisms than either adjacent community

Question 48

What zone do coral reefs exist in?

Answer 48

the neritic zone; coral reefs are the marine equivalent of a tropical rain forest and are being affected by ocean acidification