CHAPTER 51—ECOLOGY AND THE BIOSPHERE
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following events would NOT be expected to occur during a strong El Niño year?
a.
heavy rains in the central and eastern Pacific ocean
b.
upwelling of cold water along the west coast of the Americas
c.
death of phytoplankton in western coastal areas
d.
warm surface currents flowing from west to east
e.
weakened equatorial winds
2. Which of the following weather patterns would be characteristic of a La Niña event?
a.
high pressure over the western Pacific
b.
high ocean surface temperatures
c.
warm and dry weather in the southern U.S.
d.
ocean surface waters moving from west to east
e.
air movement from west to east
3. The _____ includes all of the water on earth.
a.
abiotic environment
b.
biotic environment
c.
hydrosphere
d.
lithosphere
e.
atmosphere
4. An ecologist that studies cycling of nutrients and the flow of energy between the biotic components of
an ecological community and the abiotic environments is a(n)______.
a.
behavioral ecologist
d.
ecosystem ecologist
b.
population ecologist
e.
organismal ecologist
c.
community ecologist
5. An ecologist that studies groups of populations that occur together in one area is a(n)______.
a.
behavioral ecologist
d.
ecosystem ecologist
b.
population ecologist
e.
organismal ecologist
c.
community ecologist
6. An ecologist that studies the distribution of a frog species along a latitudinal gradient is performing
a(n)_______.
a.
observational experiment
b.
manipulative experiment
c.
predictive experiment
d.
lab experiment
e.
modeling experiment
7. In the Northern Hemisphere, seasonal variation in temperatures is caused mainly by ____.
a.
the Earth’s elliptical orbit taking it closer to and farther away from the sun
b.
the Earth’s tilt on its axis of 23.5
c.
seasonal variation of output of energy from the sun
d.
warm equatorial air masses rising and spreading north and south
e.
uneven warming of the ocean’s surface water
Use the figure above for the following question(s).
8. Which of these images represents the position of the Earth during the December solstice?
a.
A only
b.
B only
c.
C only
d.
D only
e.
A and C
9. Which of these images represents the position of the Earth during an equinox?
a.
A and B
b.
B and C
c.
C and D
d.
B and D
e.
A and D
10. An increase in air temperature will result in ____ water vapor in the atmosphere because warm air
holds _____ water vapor than cold air does.
a.
more; less
b.
more; more
c.
less; less
d.
less; more
e.
no change in; less
11. Monsoon cycles are a result of_____.
a.
rain shadows
b.
seasonal reversals of wind direction
c.
microclimate
d.
proximity to the ocean
e.
adiabatic cooling
12. Identify the trait that is NOT characteristic of the antifreeze protein of polar-dwelling fish.
a.
beta pleated sheet structure
b.
allows freezing to an ultrafine slush
c.
contains 37 amino acids
d.
ice binding probably by polar amino acids
e.
protein now produced by genetically engineered yeast
13. Hertz and Huey discovered which of the following compensatory mechanisms that allows lizards
living at high altitudes to survive lower mean air temperatures?
a.
hibernation
b.
torpor
c.
increased time spent basking
d.
increased consumption of food
e.
shelter-seeking behavior
14. Which of the following is NOT a documented biological result of global warming?
a.
Warm-adapted marine species are becoming more common and cold-adapted species less
common.
b.
Plants display earlier flowering and growth.
c.
Alpine butterflies are shifting their distribution 6.1 meters higher in altitude per decade.
d.
Animals display earlier migration and breeding.
e.
Massive animal extinction.
15. Which of the following do virtually all scientists agree is occurring?
a.
the distribution of populations is shrinking
globally
d.
the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans are
getting steadily warmer
b.
the distribution of polar species will
contract to lower latitudes
e.
the biosphere is shrinking
c.
global warming will not change the timing
of important biological events
16. A biome is most specifically defined as ____.
a.
a vegetation type plus its associated microorganisms, fungi, and animals
b.
a biological community and the physical environment with which it interacts
c.
the total dry weight of plants present in a specific area at any given time
d.
an assemblage of species living in the same place
e.
a group of organisms of the same species living together at one time
17. Temperate deciduous forest generally has ____ precipitation and ____ temperature than boreal forest.
a.
higher; higher
b.
the same; lower
c.
the same; higher
d.
lower; lower
e.
lower; the same
18. _________ occur where winter drought reduces photosynthesis and most trees drop their leaves.
a.
Tropical montane forests
b.
Tropical deciduous forests
c.
Boreal forests
d.
Dry savannas
e.
Temperate forests
19. Most deserts occur near ____ latitude because of dry descending air masses.
a.
0
b.
10
c.
20
d.
30
e.
40
20. The biologist Donald Perry discovered that rainforest birds interact in what way with the Norantea
sessilis vine?
a.
Birds nest within the shelter of the thorny vine, which repels predators.
b.
Birds feed on the fruits of the vine, distributing the seeds around the forest in their
droppings.
c.
Birds appear to be overfeeding on the vine’s succulent fruits, probably limiting the plant’s
chances of long-term survival.
d.
Birds that feed on the nectar of the flowers inadvertently transfer pollen from one vine to
another on their feet.
e.
Birds that feed on the nectar of the flowers inadvertently transfer pollen from one vine to
another on their beaks.
21. Dissolved oxygen would be expected to be highest in which of these bodies of water?
a.
warm eutrophic lake
b.
slow-moving tropical river
c.
pool within a cool forest stream
d.
white water stretch of a cold river
e.
dissolved oxygen should be the same in all waters
Use the figure above for the following question(s).
22. Which of the zones of a lake supports detritivores and decomposers but no photosynthesizers?
a.
zones A & B
b.
zones B & C
c.
zones C & A
d.
zones D & E
e.
zones A & D
23. Which letter in the figure above represents the limnetic zone?
a.
A
b.
B
c.
C
d.
D
e.
E
24. Which letter in the figure above represents the littoral zone?
a.
A
b.
B
c.
C
d.
D
e.
E
25. The addition of excess phosphorous causes lakes to become eutrophic because the nutrients trigger
blooms of photosynthetic cyanobacteria. Why do these blooms cause low oxygen levels in lakes?
a.
Cyanobacteria use up more oxygen than they produce.
b.
Excess phosphorous binds to dissolved oxygen in the water.
c.
Cyanobacteria are net producers of oxygen while alive, but when they die aerobic bacteria
use oxygen while decomposing them.
d.
Cyanobacterial blooms only occur in waters naturally low in oxygen.
e.
Cyanobacteria are aerobic heterotrophs, consuming oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.
26. Coastal regions where seawater mixes with fresh water from rivers, streams, and runoff are called
____.
a.
neritic zones
b.
estuaries
c.
benthos
d.
wetlands
e.
intertidal zones
Use the figure above for the following question(s).
27. Letter “C” in the diagram above represents the ____ zone.
a.
neritic
b.
abyssal
c.
oceanic
d.
benthic
e.
intertidal
28. The benthic province includes the intertidal zone, represented by letter ____, and the abyssal zone,
represented by letter ____.
a.
G; H
b.
B; H
c.
E; H
d.
B; C
e.
E; F
29. The oceanic zone is represented by letter ____.
a.
A
b.
B
c.
C
d.
D
e.
E
30. According to researchers Parmesan and Yohe, how are living systems responding to anthropogenic
global warming?
a.
All biomes are remaining intact and all are shifting their distributions northward.
b.
Some species are moving northward and others are not, so communities are being
disrupted.
c.
All biomes are remaining intact, but some biomes are shifting their distributions and other
biomes are not.
d.
Most plants are shifting their distributions northward, but most animals are not.
e.
Most animals are shifting their distributions northward, but most plants are not.
31. Some studies suggest that, as global warming progresses, tropical lowland trees may be limited in their
ability to move northward because of ____.
a.
predicted desertification of temperate areas
b.
temperatures in the north still being too low
c.
flooding of coastal areas
d.
extreme weather events like hurricanes and blizzards
e.
development and habitat loss
32. Global warming has already brought all of the following changes to the tundra EXCEPT
a.
encroachment of shrubs.
b.
encroachment of trees.
c.
melting permafrost.
d.
drying soil.
e.
mosquitoes carrying malaria.
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Select the Exception
33. Most of the following homeostatic responses of animals are obligate. Select the exception.
a.
carbonic acid buffering system regulating pH of blood
b.
basking in the sun
c.
shivering when cold
d.
kidneys regulating the osmotic content of blood
e.
closing of capillaries near the skin in the cold
34. Four of the five biomes/environments listed below are terrestrial. Select the exception.
a.
boreal forest
b.
temperate deciduous forest
c.
tropical forest
d.
kelp forest
e.
thorn forest
35. Most of the following events are characteristic of a La Niña weather pattern. Select the exception.
a.
low pressure over the western Pacific
b.
air and ocean surface waters moving west to east
c.
low ocean surface temperatures off the coast of South America
d.
cold, wet weather in the northeast U.S.
e.
wet weather on the west coast of the U.S.
36. Four of these five environments are examples of microclimates. Select the exception.
a.
a fallen log on the forest floor
b.
the space under a rock
c.
a moist, shady forest
d.
the sunny side of a rock wall
e.
a crack in a sidewalk
MATCHING
Match each of these terrestrial biomes with its correct description.
a.
Occurs on mountaintops throughout the world; strong winds; plants form low mats; cold
winter temperatures
b.
North of boreal forests; permafrost; very short summers; short low-growing plants
c.
Grasslands with few trees, adjacent to tropical forests; have wet and dry seasons
d.
Long cold winters, wet summers; dominated by coniferous trees; northern latitudes
e.
Scrubby mix of trees and low shrubs in coastal land between 30 and 40 latitude
f.
Mean annual rainfall > 250 cm; mean annual temperature 25C, humidity > 80%; tall
trees
g.
Warm summers, cold winters; annual precipitation 75−250 cm; most plants shed leaves in
winter
h.
Rainfall < 25 cm per year; near 30 latitude; little organic matter present in topsoil, which
is eroded by rare deluges of rain
i.
West coast of North America; heavy rain and fog; Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and redwoods
37. tropical rain forest
38. savanna
39. chaparral
40. temperate deciduous forest
41. boreal forest
42. arctic tundra
43. alpine tundra
44. desert
45. temperate rain forest
Classification
Use these five terms for the following question(s).
a.
epilimnion
b.
hypolimnion
c.
thermocline
d.
fall overturn
e.
spring overturn
46. The top layer of the limnetic zone is called the ________, and is heated by the sun in summer.
47. The epilimnion cools, becomes denser, and sinks, eliminating the thermocline during the ________.
48. The deep water of a lake’s profundal zone is called the ________.
49. Water temperature is briefly uniform at all depths, and winds create vertical currents during the
________.
50. At the ________, water temperature changes abruptly over a narrow depth range.
Choice
For each of the following ecological problems, choose the most probable cause from the list below.
Some options may be used more than once.
a.
global warming
b.
introduction of exotic species
c.
phosphorous runoff from fertilizers and feedlots
d.
El Niño
51. eutrophication of lakes
52. failure of normal upwellings to occur along western continental coasts
53. distributions of polar species contracting to higher latitudes
54. elimination of the American chestnut tree
55. shifting geographic distributions of species
Classification
Classify the following marine organisms into the province in which they reside.
a.
pelagic
b.
benthic
56. humpback whale
57. giant tube-dwelling worms
58. phytoplankton
59. Himantolophus sp. anglerfish
60. sea anemones
61. clams
62. crabs
63. great white sharks
SHORT ANSWER
64. Distinguish between manipulative experiments and natural experiments.
65. Many polar-dwelling fishes have “antifreeze proteins” that prevent their bodies from freezing solid
even at very low temperatures. Briefly describe how these proteins function.
66. Communities near benthic hydrothermal vents survive in perpetual darkness, where no photosynthesis
is possible. What do the producers of this ecosystem use as an energy source?
67. Explain how an oligotrophic lake can become eutrophic.
68. In which of the three vertical intertidal zones is biodiversity the highest, and why?
MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE
If the statement is true, answer “T“. If the statement is false, answer “F” and make it correct by
changing the underlined word(s) and writing the correct word(s) in the answer blank(s).
69. In coastal areas, wind blows in from the sea during the night.
70. Most ocean currents flow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
71. The Gulf Stream takes relatively cold water toward northwestern Europe.
72. Rain shadows form on the leeward sides of mountain ranges.
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73. Behavioral responses that animals may or may not use are called facultative.
74. The effects of global climate change are restricted to terrestrial environments.
75. A climograph portrays the particular combination of temperature and rainfall conditions where each
terrestrial biome occurs.
76. Soils in tropical rain forests are nutrient rich.
77. Crystal-clear mountain lakes are oligotrophic.
78. Mangroves encourage the erosion of soils on coastlines.
OTHER
79. Write the letter of the ecological level of organization that is the least complex and inclusive next to 1.
Sequence the remaining levels of organization by increasing complexity.
A.
ecosystem ecology
B.
organismal ecology
C.
community ecology
D.
population ecology
1.
2.
3.
4.
80. Write the letter of the terrestrial biome with the lowest mean temperature next to 1. Sequence the
remaining biomes by increasing temperature, finishing by writing the letter of the biome with the
highest mean temperature next to 4.
A.
temperate deciduous forest
B.
savanna
C.
tundra
D.
boreal forest
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
C
2.
D
3.
A
4.
B
81. Write the letter of the terrestrial biome with the lowest mean precipitation next to 1. Sequence the
remaining biomes by increasing precipitation, finishing by writing the letter of the biome with the
highest mean precipitation next to 4.
A.
chaparral
B.
desert
C.
tropical forest
D.
savanna
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
B
2.
A
ESSAY
82. Biologists sometimes damage ecosystems in order to study them. For example, researchers have
fogged rainforest trees with insecticides to search for undiscovered species that fall to the ground when
poisoned. Others have deliberately added phosphates to natural lakes to study the eutrophication
process. What is your ethical position on such studies? Should they be banned, or is the knowledge
gained worth the harm they cause?
83. Describe the five levels of ecological organization in the context of the biosphere and biomes.