Question 1

Most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the upper atmosphere is absorbed by

Accepted Answer

A)  CFCs.
B)  ozone.
C)  nitrogen.
D)  carbon dioxide.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 2

Drifting freely in the upper, well-illuminated waters of the ocean, a diverse biological community exists, primarily consisting of microscopic organisms called

Accepted Answer

A)  phytoplankton.
B)  archaeans.
C)  detritus.
D)  benthos.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C) A

Question 3

If you plot mean annual precipitation against mean annual temperature and look at the distribution of major biomes relative to these two variables, which biome would be in the central region of the graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  savanna
B)  hot desert
C)  tropical rain forest
D)  temperate deciduous forestE) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 4

Periodic disturbances of the Pacific currents that cause global weather changes are given the name

Accepted Answer

A)  El Niño.
B)  gyrals.
C)  the Humboldt current.
D)  the Japan current.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 5

Researchers in Alaska were interested in increasing the sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)  population in three coastal lakes.To accomplish this, the ponds were treated with fertilizers.As a result, zooplankton biomass increased between 40% and 700% in the three lakes.The substantial growth in zooplankton would suggest that prior to these experiments, these lakes were __________________.

Accepted Answer

A)  eutrophic
B)  stratified
C)  subject to low light levels
D)  oligotrophicE) A) and D)
F) None of the above

Question 6

Scientists cannot predict when an El Niño will begin.But once it does, forecasters are able to predict changes to weather patterns.What would be a predicted weather effect of an El Niño?

Accepted Answer

A)  Drier and warmer in the southeastern U.S.
B)  Colder than normal across the northeastern United States.
C)  More rain in Peru and Ecuador.
D)  More rain in Indonesia and the Phillipines.E) A) and C)
F) C) and D)

Question 7

Tropical climates are warmer than temperate climates because

Accepted Answer

A)  temperate climates have more mountains and thus more snow causing the landmasses to warm slower.
B)  tropical climates have more vegetation and thus can absorb more heat.
C)  temperate climates are closer to the poles and the polar surfaces cause a reduction in heat gain.
D)  tropical climates receive the sun's rays at an almost perpendicular angle; since Earth is a sphere, the temperate climates receive the sun's rays at a much steeper incidence thus spreading the radiation over a broader area.E) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 8

In a temperate zone lake, what should the temperature profile be immediately after the fall overturn?

Accepted Answer

A)  coldest water at the top, 4  °\degree°  C water at the bottom
B)  warmest water at the top, 4  °\degree° C water at the bottom
C)  4  °\degree°  C water throughout
D)  10  °\degree°  C water throughout E) B) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 9

CO2 and other gases, which absorb the longer wavelengths of infrared light and radiated heat from Earth, are responsible for causing the

Accepted Answer

A)  ozone layer depletion.
B)  greenhouse effect.
C)  decreased biodiversity.
D)  acid rain.E) B) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 10

Which one of the following marine ecosystems would be expected to have the lowest species diversity and primary production per unit area?

Accepted Answer

A)  oligotrophic oceans
B)  upwelling regions of ocean
C)  coral reefs
D)  estuariesE) B) and C)
F) A) and D) A

Question 11

The great deserts and associated arid areas of the world mostly lie along the western sides of the continents at about

Accepted Answer

A)  0  °\degree°  north and south latitude.
B)  15  °\degree°  north and south latitude.
C)  30  °\degree° north and south latitude.
D)  60  °\degree°  north and south latitude. E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 12

Which two countries are both likely to have prevailing winds blowing from west to east?

Accepted Answer

A)  United States and Argentina
B)  United States and Panama
C)  Canada and Brazil
D)  Panama and BrazilE) A) and C)
F) B) and C) A

Question 13

Temperate grasslands and temperate deciduous forests are two different biomes that are located in the same latitudes.Which one of the following abiotic conditions is most likely to account for the differences in their community composition?

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature
B)  precipitation
C)  sunlight
D)  soil nutrientsE) None of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 14

The relatively shallow part of the ocean extending from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  surface zone.
B)  abyssal zone.
C)  neritic zone.
D)  littoral zone.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 15

Which statement best describes the relationship between elevation and latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  Elevation and latitude are related because they are both measurements of distance.
B)  Elevation and latitude are related because as one increases the other increases.
C)  Elevation and latitude are related because they have similar effects on temperature.As the elevation increases, the temperature of the air increases, which is likewise with latitude.
D)  Elevation and latitude are related because they have similar effects on temperature.As the elevation increases, the temperature of the air decreases, which is likewise with latitude.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 16

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a fungal disease that affects spruce trees.Which of the following biomes would be most severely affected by an outbreak of this disease?

Accepted Answer

A)  tundra
B)  temperate deciduous forest
C)  prairie
D)  taigaE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 17

If the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 30 degrees, the seasons in Boston would become less distinct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Oxygen levels in the photic zone fluctuate over the course of a 24-hr period.If you were measuring dissolved oxygen over the course of the day, when would you expect to see the lowest levels of oxygen and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mid-morning -- because fish are most active and their respiration rates are highest.
B)  Early afternoon -- when the surface water warms up and sinks to the bottom.
C)  Mid-afternoon -- because the activity of the Calvin cycle (the dark reactions)  of photosynthesis are at their peak.
D)  Early evening -- when animals come to feed and disturb the surface waters.
E)  During the night -- because the light reactions of photosynthesis are inactive.F) D) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

During an ecology field trip to a lake, your professor asks you to take temperature readings at various depths and record your data.At 5 meters, you note a temperature of 25  °\degree° C and at 10 meters you record a temperature of 10  °\degree° C.Readings at 20 meters and below stay fairly consistent around 8  °\degree° C.The temperature readings of 25  °\degree° C, 10  °\degree° C, and 8  °\degree° C represent the:

Accepted Answer

A)  epilimnion,thermocline, and hypolimnion.
B)  epilimnion,hypolimnion, and thermocline.
C)  hypolimnion, epilimnion,and thermocline.
D)  hypolimnion, thermocline,andepilimnion. E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following adversely affects the ozone layer?

Accepted Answer

A)  chlorofluorocarbons
B)  greenhouse gases
C)  oil
D)  coal and natural gasE) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Exam 58: The Biosphere

Most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the upper atmosphere is absorbed by

Correct Answer
verified

Drifting freely in the upper, well-illuminated waters of the ocean, a diverse biological community exists, primarily consisting of microscopic organisms called

Correct Answer
verified
A

If you plot mean annual precipitation against mean annual temperature and look at the distribution of major biomes relative to these two variables, which biome would be in the central region of the graph?

Correct Answer
verified

Periodic disturbances of the Pacific currents that cause global weather changes are given the name

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Scientists cannot predict when an El Niño will begin.But once it does, forecasters are able to predict changes to weather patterns.What would be a predicted weather effect of an El Niño?

Correct Answer
verified

Tropical climates are warmer than temperate climates because

Correct Answer
verified

In a temperate zone lake, what should the temperature profile be immediately after the fall overturn?

Correct Answer
verified

CO₂ and other gases, which absorb the longer wavelengths of infrared light and radiated heat from Earth, are responsible for causing the

Correct Answer
verified

Which one of the following marine ecosystems would be expected to have the lowest species diversity and primary production per unit area?

Correct Answer
verified
A

The great deserts and associated arid areas of the world mostly lie along the western sides of the continents at about

Correct Answer
verified

Which two countries are both likely to have prevailing winds blowing from west to east?

Correct Answer
verified
A

Temperate grasslands and temperate deciduous forests are two different biomes that are located in the same latitudes.Which one of the following abiotic conditions is most likely to account for the differences in their community composition?

Correct Answer
verified

The relatively shallow part of the ocean extending from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf is called the

Correct Answer
verified

Which statement best describes the relationship between elevation and latitude?

Correct Answer
verified

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a fungal disease that affects spruce trees.Which of the following biomes would be most severely affected by an outbreak of this disease?

Correct Answer
verified

If the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 30 degrees, the seasons in Boston would become less distinct.

Correct Answer
verified

Oxygen levels in the photic zone fluctuate over the course of a 24-hr period.If you were measuring dissolved oxygen over the course of the day, when would you expect to see the lowest levels of oxygen and why?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following adversely affects the ozone layer?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 58: The Biosphere

Most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the upper atmosphere is absorbed by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Drifting freely in the upper, well-illuminated waters of the ocean, a diverse biological community exists, primarily consisting of microscopic organisms called

Correct AnswerverifiedA

If you plot mean annual precipitation against mean annual temperature and look at the distribution of major biomes relative to these two variables, which biome would be in the central region of the graph?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Periodic disturbances of the Pacific currents that cause global weather changes are given the name

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Scientists cannot predict when an El Niño will begin.But once it does, forecasters are able to predict changes to weather patterns.What would be a predicted weather effect of an El Niño?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Tropical climates are warmer than temperate climates because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a temperate zone lake, what should the temperature profile be immediately after the fall overturn?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

CO2 and other gases, which absorb the longer wavelengths of infrared light and radiated heat from Earth, are responsible for causing the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following marine ecosystems would be expected to have the lowest species diversity and primary production per unit area?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

The great deserts and associated arid areas of the world mostly lie along the western sides of the continents at about

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which two countries are both likely to have prevailing winds blowing from west to east?

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Temperate grasslands and temperate deciduous forests are two different biomes that are located in the same latitudes.Which one of the following abiotic conditions is most likely to account for the differences in their community composition?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The relatively shallow part of the ocean extending from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf is called the

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which statement best describes the relationship between elevation and latitude?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Rhizosphaera needle cast is a fungal disease that affects spruce trees.Which of the following biomes would be most severely affected by an outbreak of this disease?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If the tilt of Earth's axis relative to its plane of orbit was increased to 30 degrees, the seasons in Boston would become less distinct.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Oxygen levels in the photic zone fluctuate over the course of a 24-hr period.If you were measuring dissolved oxygen over the course of the day, when would you expect to see the lowest levels of oxygen and why?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following adversely affects the ozone layer?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Correct Answer
verified
A

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Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

CO₂ and other gases, which absorb the longer wavelengths of infrared light and radiated heat from Earth, are responsible for causing the

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified
A

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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