Chapter 5

Question 1

The location of specific biomes can be predicted based on 
A. the Coriolis Effect.
B. the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
C. precipitation and temperature.
D. seasonal variations in sunspots.
E. large landforms in the area.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Desert biomes would fall in the area marked by the letter 
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

3. Temperate forest biomes would fall in the area marked by the letter 
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

You have just been beamed into a biome that has relatively stable temperatures and abundant rainfall. Along with your laser gun, your compass, and rain poncho, you have a graph of precipitation and temperature similar to the one above. Which letter marks the area you are in? 
A. A.
B. B.
C. C.
D. D.
E. E.

Answer 4

C

Question 5

The area marked “A” has a
A. wide precipitation range and narrow temperature range.
B. narrow precipitation and temperature range.
C. wide precipitation and temperature range.
D. wide temperature range and narrow precipitation range.
E. varying temperature and narrow precipitation range.

Answer 5

D

Question 6

6. Historically, the greatest threat to grasslands has been 
A. damage by off-road vehicles.
B. air pollution.
C. conversion to farmland.
D. global climate change.
E. mineral extraction.

Answer 6

C

Question 7

7. In contrast with the ______________, the soil of the ______________ is more nutrient-rich and this type of biome has fewer insects, parasites, and fungal diseases. Therefore, in many places, these areas are highly endangered.
   A. temperate grasslands; tropical seasonal forest
   B. tropical rainforest; tropical seasonal forest
   C. tundra; boreal forests
   D. tropical seasonal forest; tropical rainforest
   E. boreal forests; tundra

Answer 7

B

Question 8

One biome type that has not been as badly threatened as other biomes is 
A. arctic tundra.
B. tropical rainforests.
C. grasslands.
D. temperate forests.
E. southern pine forests.

Answer 8

A

Question 9

We are usually referring to species diversity when we talk about biodiversity. However, genetic diversity is also important to ecological systems because diverse genes
A. increase the efficiency and productivity of a system because all niches are filled.
B. allow an individual organism to adapt to its changing environment.
C. are necessary for a population to evolve in a changing environment.
D. lead to diverse ecological processes in a biological community.
E. are important for a balanced ecosystem.

Answer 9

C

Question 10

Ecological diversity is a measure of the number of
A. different kinds of organisms within a community or ecosystem.
B. different versions of the same gene in an ecological community.
C. sizes, colors, and shapes of organisms within an ecological community.
D. niches, trophic levels, and ecological processes of a biological community.
E. different species in an ecosystem.

Answer 10

D

Question 11

The total number of living species is probably 
A. about 450,000.
B. between 500,000 and 1 million.
C. between 3 million and 50 million.
D. between 75 and 95 million.
E. at least 300 million.

Answer 11

C

Question 12

Approximately how many species have been identified on Earth? 
A. about 500,000
B. a little less than 1 million
C. about 1.7 million
D. a little more than 10 million
E. about 30 million

Answer 12

C

Question 13

Most of the species that are yet undiscovered are probably 
A. mammals and reptiles.
B. birds and fish.
C. fungi.
D. invertebrates.
E. multicellular plants.

Answer 13

D

Question 14

Species diversity is most concentrated in
A. North America and Europe.
B. South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
C. South Africa, Australia, and Europe.
D. Oceania, East Asia, and Antarctica.
E. North America, South America, and Africa

Answer 14

B

Question 15

Habitat fragmentation usually leads to a(n)
A. decrease in biodiversity.
B. reduction in the number of introduced species.
C. increase in biodiversity due to the isolated populations.
D. increase in the number of introduced species.
E. more stable environment.

Answer 15

A

Question 16

16. Which of the following is true?
    A. Humans may have been causing extinctions thousands of years ago, but our impact has recently increased.
    B. Humans are responsible for many of the mass extinctions in the geologic record.
    C. Humans only began causing extinctions in the past 150 years.
    D. Humans have never had significant impact on species extinctions until the past four decades.
    E. Humans have been causing extinctions for thousands of years and we are still causing extinctions at about the same rate.

Answer 16

A

Question 17

17. The main reason for the current high rate of animal extinctions is
    A. uncontrolled sport hunting in the developed world.
    B. commercial harvesting of wildlife in Africa.
    C. drought conditions caused by the greenhouse effect.
    D. habitat destruction worldwide.
    E. None of these by themselves cause high rates of animal extinctions, but together they combine to cause high rates.

Answer 17

D

Question 18

Which of the following statements about trade in endangered species is false?
A. The principal importers of endangered species are developed countries.
B. Overharvesting affects animals more than plants.
C. People who say they are animal lovers are the main contributors to the trade.
D. The principal exporters of endangered species are developing countries.
E. Endangered species are listed globally by the IUCN.

Answer 18

B

Question 19

19. The main reason that there are relatively few invertebrates categorized as endangered species is because
    A. we consider other groups, such as mammals, to be more interesting and desirable.
    B. worldwide there are relatively few invertebrates when compared to plants.
    C. it is extremely difficult to identify and count invertebrates.
    D. Since there are 532 invertebrates considered endangered, none of these are true.
    E. invertebrates are more numerous and the relative percentages are similar.

Answer 19

A

Question 20

20. In general, funding for recovery programs is given to species that are 
A. in the most danger.
B. the most important.
C. most well known.
D. most numerous.
E. keystone species.

Answer 20

C

Question 21

The objective of a species recovery plan is to
A. interbreed threatened species with common species.
B. increase an endangered species population until it is no longer endangered.
C. invest corporate capital in species maintenance.
D. study the species for a better understanding of its role in the biological community.
E. protect the species to aid other organisms and resources in the ecosystem.

Answer 21

B

Question 22

Humid tropical forests have extraordinary biological diversity
A. because of the very fertile tropical soils.
B. because rainfall dissolves soil nutrients and makes them available to plants.
C. because water is not a limiting factor.
D. despite a complete absence of nutrients in the environment.
E. despite the poor, weathered soils.

Answer 22

E

Question 23

What is unique about the Mediterranean climate area biome?
A. It is a highly desirable place to live.
B. It is only found in the Mediterranean area.
C. It has very poor soil but supports an extremely diverse array of species.
D. It has a large total area.
E. It contains a high number of unique species.

Answer 23

E

Question 24

24. What biome is characterized by moderate temperatures and abundant precipitation?
    A. chaparral
    B. tropical rainforest
    C. temperate rainforest
    D. taiga
    E. No biome has moderate temperatures and abundant precipitation.

Answer 24

C

Question 25

25. The primary difference between a bog and a fen is
    A. fens are fed by groundwater, bogs are fed by rainfall.
    B. fens have many trees, bogs have none.
    C. fens are always on the coast, bogs are inland.
    D. bogs are found only in brackish areas.
    E. There are no differences between fens and bogs, they are synonymous.

Answer 25

A

Question 26

26.  Which of the following is not a benefit of high biodiversity?  
A.  aesthetic and cultural value 
B.  potential medicinal value 
C.  potential sources of food 
D.  ecological value 
E.  production of carbon dioxide

Answer 26

E

Question 27

The giant panda is considered to be a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ species. 
A. keystone
B. umbrella
C. flagship
D. indicator
E. principal

Answer 27

C

Question 28

Tropical moist forests have high species diversity because they have highly developed, diverse niche opportunities and habitats.
TRUE

Answer 28

T

Question 29

Zebra mussels are a mussel species from Japan that was introduced without negative consequences into the United States to improve water quality.
FALSE

Answer 29

F

Question 30

Estuaries contain a mix of fresh and salt water.

TRUE

Answer 30

T

Question 31

terms of species diversity and complexity, a coral reef would be similar to which terrestrial biome?  
A.  Savannah 
B.  Arctic tundra 
C.  Tropical rainforest 
D.  Chaparral

Answer 31

C

Question 32

The biome that is most at risk due to over-harvest of organisms might be the  
A.  marine biome. 
B.  tropical rainforest biome. 
C.  tundra biome. 
D.  desert biome.

Answer 32

A

Question 33

Estuaries are often referred to as nursery areas due to the number of organisms that use them for breeding.
TRUE

Answer 33

T

Question 34

34.  The base of the marine food web is  
A.  phytoplankton. 
B.  sharks. 
C.  sea stars. 
D.  coral reef organisms.

Answer 34

A

Question 35

Tuna and great white sharks would be found within the  
A.  benthic zone. 
B.  littoral zone. 
C.  pelagic zone. 
D.  hadal zone.

Answer 35

C

Question 36

The temperature boundary in freshwater lakes is the  
A.  thermocline. 
B.  epilimnion. 
C.  benthos. 
D.  hypolimnion.

Answer 36

A