Unit 2 Test

Question 1

Natural abiotic factors that are primarily influences on terrestrial ecosystems are:

Answer 1

sun, water, air, temperature, soil, wind and fire

Question 2

Speciation describes the divergence of one species into two or more species. When this is the result of a geographic barrier, and the two groups adapt to their new environments via natural selection and genetic drift, they will eventually experience reproductive isolation. This type of speciation describes:

Answer 2

both allopatric and peripatric speciation.

Question 3

Which one of the following statements about climate is true?
Climatic changes have occurred since earth’s formation.
Climate is measured in terms of months or years.
Koeppen classified the earth’s climate according to ten zones: tropical, dry, mild, continental, polar, high elevation, desert, arctic, temperate, and marine.
Microclimates only exist for humans.

Answer 3

Climatic changes have occurred since earth’s formation.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?

Growth in a cleared lot after a development project was abandoned
Growth after a volcanic eruption
on rock exposed by glacial retreat
Growth on a newly formed Pacific island

Answer 4

Growth in a cleared lot after a development project was abandoned

Question 5

Humans directly interfere with the carbon cycle by

Answer 5

Clearcutting forests.

Question 6

Which of the following abiotic processes results in nitrogen fixation?
Assimilation
Nitrification 
Lightning
Denitrification

Answer 6

Lightning

Question 7

Humans mostly disturb the phosphorus cycle by:

Answer 7

Mining large amounts of phosphate rock

Question 8

Which defines “community”?
the population of an organism
the nonliving and living components of an area
the total of the populations of all species present in an area
all the animals in an area

Answer 8

the total of the populations of all species present in an area
(doesn’t include nonliving aspects)

Question 9

A forest burns to the ground. What happens in its succession?

Answer 9

the soil remains, often with seeds that become the pioneer species

Question 10

Large ecological regions with characteristic types of natural vegetation are called:

Answer 10

biomes

Question 11

These organisms generally live longer, with a greater range of tolerance, but they do not maximize their current environment, because they do not have a specific niche.
These organisms thrive almost any and everywhere, but don’t have a niche that only they can fill.
These organisms have the ability to withstand environmental change.
These statements best describe:

Answer 11

Generalists

Question 12

The surface down-slope movement of water is known as:

Answer 12

Runoff

Question 13

Abiotic factors, like water, air, soil pH, temperature, and nutrients are just as vital to the ecosystem as biotic processes. Across the globe, these abiotic factors exist at different levels. The reason we don’t see polar bears in the African savannah is because species only exist with a specific

Answer 13

range of tolerance

Question 14

An ecotone:

Answer 14

is the region of transition between biomes

Question 15

The conversion of molecular nitrogen in the atmosphere into a form useful for plants is called:

Answer 15

Nitrogen fixation

Question 16

When a small part of an original population changes, not as the result of geographic isolation, but due to an extreme change in habitat resulting in speciation, this is referred to as:

Answer 16

Parapatric speciation

Question 17

The ______________ biome supports Earth’s natural capital as a sanctuary for species pushed out of lower elevations due to development. It’s ice- and snow-covered surfaces have high albedo, reflecting much solar energy back to space, and it’s melting ice plays an integral part of the hydrologic cycle.

Answer 17

mountain

Question 18

A process by which nitrogen can enter the soil is:

Answer 18

Application of fertilizer

Question 19

The conversion of water from liquid to gas is called:

Answer 19

Evaporation

Question 20

Of the following causes of climate, the primary reason for air circulation is:
the seasonal variations of temperature and precipitation
the rotation of the earth
cycles of solar variations
unequal distribution of heat

Answer 20

Unequal distribution of heat

Question 21

A(n) ___ is a community of biotic organisms that interact with one another as well as the abiotic factors of their environment.

Answer 21

ecosystem

Question 22

Ecology is best described by the following quote:
“The earth’s thin film of living matter is sustained by grand scale cycles of energy and chemical elements.” - Scientific American, September 1970
“Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” - John F. Kennedy
“The old rules may say we can’t protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we’ve always used new technologies - we’ve used science; we’ve used research and development and discovery to make the old rules obsolete.” - Barack Obama
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” - George Bernard Shaw

Answer 22

“The earth’s thin film of living matter is sustained by grand scale cycles of energy and chemical elements.” - Scientific American, September 1970

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a service naturally provided by ecosystems?
waste removal and detoxification
decreasing the global output of low-quality heat
soil formation and renewal
climate control

Answer 23

Decreasing the global output of low-quality heat

Question 24

The factors that limit life in aquatic biomes include temperature, sunlight, and dissolved gasses. However, the limiting factors used to divide the ocean into distinct marine life zones include:

Answer 24

light, distance from shore, and depth

Question 25

The most prevalent biome in the eastern United States is:
  Deciduous forest 
  Grassland 
  Desert 
  Coniferous forest

Answer 25

Deciduous forest

Question 26

Speciation describes the divergence of one species into two or more species. When this is the result of a geographic barrier, and the two groups adapt to their new environments via natural selection and genetic drift, they will eventually experience reproductive isolation. This type of speciation describes:

Answer 26

both allopatric and peripatric speciation.

Question 27

For an organism to fit into a new fundamental niche, it must:

Answer 27

Evolve