Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
True / False
1. Tomorrow is forecast to be 10°F warmer than today. This is an example of climate.
a.
True
b.
False
False
2. Tropical regions normally receive more precipitation than other areas of the earth because the intense input of solar
radiation leads to greatly increased evaporation of moisture.
a.
True
b.
False
True
3. Deciduous forests are typically located at higher altitudes than coniferous forests.
a.
True
b.
False
4. Many inland wetlands have been drained or filled to grow crops or have been covered with concrete, asphalt, and
buildings.
a.
True
b.
False
5. San Diego, California has, on average, milder winters and cooler summers than Dallas, Texas. This is an example of
climate.
a.
True
b.
False
True
6. In terms of diversity, coral reefs are the marine equivalents to tropical rainforests.
a.
True
b.
False
7. Biomes are uniform, with sharp boundaries separating them.
a.
True
b.
False
8. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is an interaction between the oceans and the atmosphere that affects the temperature
of surface waters in the Atlantic Ocean.
a.
True
b.
False
False
9. Lakes that have a small supply of plant nutrients are called oligotrophic lakes.
a.
True
b.
False
10. Desert ecosystems are fragile because they have slow plant growth, low species diversity, slow nutrient cycling, and
very little water.
a.
True
b.
False
11. A connected loop of deep and shallow ocean currents transports warm and cool water to various parts of the earth.
a.
True
b.
False
True
12. Taigas are found in scattered coastal temperate areas with ample rainfall and moisture from dense ocean fogs.
a.
True
b.
False
13. Deserts are always hot places.
a.
True
b.
False
14. Overgrazing is a major impact human activities have on grassland ecosystems.
a.
True
b.
False
15. The Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans are actually a single and continuous body of saltwater.
a.
True
b.
False
16. Net primary productivity (NPP) is quite low in the open sea, except in upwelling areas, where currents bring up
nutrients from the ocean bottom.
a.
True
b.
False
17. Climate moderation is an ecosystem service provided by the oceans.
a.
True
b.
False
Multiple Choice
18. Temperate deciduous forests typically have ____.
a.
cool summers, warm winters, and abundant precipitation
b.
warm summers, cold winters, and abundant precipitation
c.
dry summers and rainy winters
d.
cool summers, cold winters, and little precipitation
e.
warm summers and dry winters
19. Vertical ocean circulation is generated by ____.
a.
cold and dense ocean water sinking and warm and less-dense water rising
b.
warm and dense ocean water sinking and cold and less-dense water rising
c.
cold and dense ocean water rising and warm and less-dense water sinking
d.
the Coriolis effect
e.
prevailing winds
a
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
Affecting Them?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.4.1 – Describe how the earth’s water serves as aquatic life zones.
20. Surface-level ocean currents are caused by ____.
a.
dense ocean water sinking
b.
cool ocean water rising
c.
warm ocean water exchanging with cool ocean water
d.
prevailing winds blowing over the ocean surface and the Coriolis effect
e.
upwelling near the equator and downwelling near the poles
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
21. The equator is warmer than the poles because ____.
a.
the sun’s rays strike directly at the equator
b.
cooler air is less dense
c.
the Coriolis effect pulls cold air north and south
d.
polar ice sheets cool the atmosphere
e.
the sun exerts a gravitational pull on the warm air
a
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
22. There are ____ separate belts (Hadley cells) in which warm air rises and cools, then falls and heats up again in great
rolling patterns.
a.
two
b.
four
c.
six
d.
eight
e.
ten
23. One explanation for why polar regions are colder than equatorial regions is that ____.
a.
the sun never reaches these areas because of the tilt of Earth on its axis
b.
sunlight strikes the polar regions at an angle and spreads out over a much larger area
c.
sunlight is more intense at the poles
d.
the earth is spinning slower at the poles
e.
the earth is spinning slower and the precipitation is more intense at the poles
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
24. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?
a.
oxygen
b.
water vapor
c.
sulfur dioxide
d.
nitrogen
e.
argon
25. The transition zone between two ecosystems or biomes is called the ____.
a.
bioline
b.
interbiome
c.
buffer
d.
bio-boundary
e.
ecotone
26. The rain shadow effect refers to ____.
a.
more light on the windward side of mountain ranges
b.
more light on the leeward (facing away from the wind) side of mountain ranges
c.
drier conditions on the windward side of mountain ranges
d.
drier conditions on the leeward (facing away from the wind) side of mountain ranges
e.
reduced sunlight below rain clouds
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1.4 – Discuss how the earth’s surface features affect local climates.
27. The prevailing winds are generated by ____.
a.
the heating of the ozone layer
b.
variation in the input of solar radiation as you move east or west along a line of latitude
c.
surface currents
d.
major surface winds that blow almost continuously to help distribute heat and moisture over earth’s surface
e.
the gravitational attraction of the moon
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
28. A rain shadow is most likely produced by a ____.
a.
forest
b.
ocean
c.
lake
d.
sand dune
e.
mountain
e
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
29. Large terrestrial regions characterized by a particular type of climate and a certain combination of dominant plant life
are called ____.
a.
biozones
b.
communities
c.
populations
d.
biomes
e.
niches
30. In tropical rainforests, vegetation layers are structured according to ____.
a.
how deep the rainfall penetrates into the forest
b.
the plants’ needs for sunlight
c.
how well each plant handles predation by herbivores
d.
nutrient availability and uptake by plant roots
e.
sensitivity to temperature changes
31. In the western United States, an area called the Great Basin contains many mountain ranges that are separated from
each other by high desert. Because these mountain ranges provide sanctuary for some species, they could be called ____.
a.
taiga reserves
Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
b.
islands of biodiversity
c.
broadleaf deciduous reserves
d.
grazing animal reserves
e.
island reserves
32. During El Niño conditions, ____.
a.
ocean currents accelerate in the Pacific Ocean, bringing warmer weather to Japan
b.
ocean currents slow in the Atlantic Ocean, bringing cooler weather to Europe
c.
the thermocline throughout the Pacific Ocean deepens
d.
the thermocline in the central Atlantic Ocean rises, bringing cold, deep water to the surface
e.
the thermocline in the eastern Pacific Ocean deepens, disrupting upwelling
e
7.1 What Factors Influence Climate?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1 – Specify the five key factors that influence an area’s climate.
33. Succulent plants are most likely to be found in ____.
a.
aquatic habitats
b.
cold ecosystems
c.
high elevations
d.
temperate deserts
e.
coastal ecosystems
34. Animals in desert biomes may eat plants for their water content as a survival adaptation. Plants, in turn, may have
____ as a defense against being eaten by animals.
a.
poisonous leaves
b.
camouflaged leaves
c.
a lack of leaves
d.
spines
e.
both camouflaged leaves and spines
35. A tropical grassland with widely scattered clumps of trees would be called a ____.
a.
veldt
b.
steppes
c.
savanna
d.
pampas
e.
taiga
36. Much of which biome has disappeared from the earth because it has been converted to farmland for growing crops and
grazing cattle?
a.
temperate grassland
b.
temperate forest
c.
tropical grassland
d.
cold grassland
e.
cold desert
37. Some large herbivores in the African tropical savannas have developed niches through ____ eating habits that ____
competition for vegetation.
a.
specialized; increase
b.
specialized; minimize
c.
generalized; increase
d.
generalized; minimize
e.
similar; facilitate
38. Permafrost is characteristic of the ____ biome.
a.
tropical savanna
b.
Arctic tundra
c.
cold desert
d.
thorn woodland
biomes.
Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
e.
deciduous forest
39. The function of the thick outer coverings of insects and reptiles like rattlesnakes in desert biomes is to ____.
a.
prevent sunburn
b.
reduce water loss through evaporation
c.
prevent drowning during typical desert flash floods
d.
prevent sunburn and reduce water loss
e.
serve as protection during competitive action during mating seasons
40. A forest that is known for its year-round uniformly warm temperature is the ____.
a.
temperate deciduous forest
b.
taiga
c.
tropical rainforest
d.
boreal forest
e.
sub-alpine forest
41. At least half of the known species of terrestrial plants and animals are found ____.
a.
in both temperate and tropical rainforests
b.
only in temperate rainforests
c.
only in tropical rainforests
d.
in deciduous forests
e.
evenly distributed amongst the biomes of the earth
42. Oak, hickory, maple, poplar, and birch are typical tree species in the ____.
Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
a.
boreal forest
b.
tropical rainforest
c.
temperate rainforest
d.
temperate deciduous forest
e.
coastal coniferous forest
43. Tropical rain forests are dominated by ____.
a.
succulent plants
b.
broadleaf evergreen plants
c.
broadleaf deciduous plants
d.
coniferous evergreen plants
e.
saltwater-adapted plants
44. Cone-bearing trees are characteristic of the ____.
a.
taiga or boreal forest
b.
tropical rain forest
c.
temperate deciduous forest
d.
savanna
e.
desert
45. The majority of the world’s forests are located ____.
a.
at the equator
b.
in the temperate zones
c.
in mountains
d.
adjacent to deserts
e.
by large bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and bays
46. Mountains ____.
a.
have deep, rich soils
b.
recover quickly from vegetation loss
c.
do not affect climate
d.
have little biodiversity
e.
serve as sanctuaries for animals that are driven from lowland areas
47. Humans have which of the following major impacts on mountain biomes?
a.
plowing and conversion to cropland
b.
depletion of groundwater
c.
overgrazing by livestock
d.
hydroelectric dams and reservoirs
e.
conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations
48. The ocean covers ____ of the earth’s surface.
a.
15%
b.
30%
c.
50%
d.
71%
e.
97%
49. Coral reefs occupy about ____ of the ocean floor.
a.
0.2%
b.
14%
c.
27%
d.
46%
e.
68%
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.2.4 – Distinguish between the three major types of forests.
Chapter 07 – Climate and Biodiversity
a
Core Case Study: Why Should We Care About Coral Reefs?
ENVS.MLSP.16.7.1.1 – Differentiate weather from climate.
50. Marine snow refers to ____.
a.
appearance of the water during freezing weather
b.
animal and plant plankton that die and drift downward
c.
white sand beaches
d.
algal blooms
e.
weather over the Arctic that contributes to the ice pack
51. Examples of economic services that oceans provide are ____.
a.
food
b.
waste treatment
c.
drinking water
d.
timber
e.
groundwater recharge
52. Water temperature drops rapidly between the euphotic zone and the abyssal zone of the ocean. This transition layer is
called the ____.
a.
thermocline
b.
thermosphere
c.
estuary
d.
continental shelf decline
e.
hydrocline
53. Most photosynthesis in the open sea occurs in the ____.
a.
euphotic zone