Mastering Flashcards
The vegetation of tundra is dominated by
short plants such as sedges, heaths, and willow
In a rank-abundance curve comparing two communities, the community with the greater species richness is characterized by a
greater length of the curve and a more gradual slope
True or False: the boundaries between communities are usually sharply defined and easily discerned
False
What kind of trees dominate in ecosystems characterized by warm, wet climates with no distinct seasonality?
broadleaf evergreen
In a forest community, the layer in which most photosynthesis occurs is the
canopy
Which of the following is not a type of temperate grassland?
chaparral
The vegetation formation dominated by needle-leaf evergreen trees and occurring where growth is restricted to a few months of the year due to low temperatures is referred to as
boreal forest
The dominant biome in mediterranean climates found between 30° and 40° latitude is
temperate shrubland
Fire in the taiga
occurs often, resulting in decreased competition of vegetation adapted to repeated burning
Deciduous leaves usually live for more than a single year or growing season.
false
What is the primary difference between savannas and tropical forests?
savannas have less precipitation
A key limitation of the coefficient of community is that it lacks the ability to
compare relative abundances of each species
True or False: rainfall is greater in temperate deciduous forests than in temperate shrublands and grasslands
true
Which of the following is the predominant leaf form of environments where the growing season is very short or where nutrient availability severely constrains photosynthesis and plant growth?
needle-leaf evergreen leaves
Which is the most dominant species?
-most relative biomass
-highest in relative abundance
-largest in number
Zonation within a community is typically the result of differences in the
physical characteristics of the environment across a spatial gradient.
True or false: mediterranean climates are characterized by relatively dry summers and wet winters.
true
Which of the following allocates the greatest amount of biomass to photosynthetic tissue and the least amount to supportive tissue?
grasses
Campos, llano, and cerrado are all areas of
tropical savanna
True or false: the organismic concept views communities as clusters of species associating together as an interacting, integrated component.
true
The relative abundance of a tree with 100 individuals in a community of 1000 would be
0.1
Distribution patterns of biomes can be determined based almost entirely on
both mean annual temperature and precipitation
True or false: The removal of a keystone species from a community typically results in an increase of diversity.
false
Which of the following biomes contains permafrost?
tundra
Which statement best describes a keystone species?
a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community
Which of the following has the highest species richness? A community with
36 species with very low evenness
When an ecologist compares the diversity of different communities by counting the number of species within each community, the measure of diversity being used is called
species richness
True or false: if a forest canopy is dense and closed, the understory and shrub layers tend to be well developed
false
