Question 1

Which of the following best explains why deserts are commonly found at approximately 30º north and south latitude?

Accepted Answer

Dry, descending air masses at these latitudes absorb moisture, creating arid climates.

Question 2

A population ecologist is studying a group of flamingos in a wetland. Which research question would be most appropriate for this level of ecological study?

Accepted Answer

What environmental factors affect the reproductive rate of flamingos?

Question 3

Which of the following is a likely consequence of deforestation in a tropical forest biome?

Accepted Answer

A hotter and drier local climate due to decreased evaporative cooling.

Question 4

A scientist observes that a species of fish is only found in freshwater lakes with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Which abiotic factor is most directly limiting the distribution of this fish?

Accepted Answer

pH of the water

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the process of turnover in temperate lakes?

Accepted Answer

The seasonal mixing of lake waters, redistributing oxygen and nutrients between surface and deep layers.

Question 6

Which adaptation is most likely to be found in plants living in a desert biome?

Accepted Answer

Reduced leaf surface area and CAM photosynthesis to minimize water loss.

Question 7

A species of salmon migrates from freshwater rivers to the ocean and back during its life cycle. Which physiological adaptation allows this migration?

Accepted Answer

Ability to switch gill function from salt uptake to salt excretion.

Question 8

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of convergent evolution in biomes?

Accepted Answer

Cacti in North America and euphorbs in African deserts both have thick, fleshy stems for water storage.

Question 9

Which of the following is a direct effect of upwelling caused by seasonal changes in wind patterns?

Accepted Answer

Increase in phytoplankton populations due to nutrient influx.

Question 10

A researcher transplants a plant species from its native range to a new area with similar climate and soil. The plant thrives in the new location. What does this suggest about the original distribution of the species?

Accepted Answer

Its distribution was limited by dispersal barriers rather than abiotic factors.

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why the range of the long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii) expanded in recent decades?

Accepted Answer

Increased water temperature due to climate change allowed the species to survive in new areas.

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic of oligotrophic lakes?

Accepted Answer

Low nutrient content and high oxygen concentration.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a disturbance that maintains the characteristic vegetation of a savanna biome?

Accepted Answer

Frequent fires that kill woody plants.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the vertical layering found in a mature temperate broadleaf forest?

Accepted Answer

Multiple layers including a closed canopy, understory trees, shrub layer, and herb layer.

Question 15

Which of the following is a likely impact of global climate change on the distribution of terrestrial species?

Accepted Answer

Species with poor dispersal ability may experience range reductions or extinction.

Question 16

Which of the following is a defining feature of the marine benthic zone?

Accepted Answer

Continuous cold temperatures and high water pressure in the abyssal region.

Question 17

A scientist observes that after a hurricane, new plant species begin to grow in the openings created in a forest canopy. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Succession following a disturbance.

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why oxygen concentrations are often low in deep lake waters?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen diffuses slowly in water and is consumed by decomposition of organic matter.

Question 19

Which of the following is a likely effect of removing predators from a guppy population, based on studies in Trinidadian streams?

Accepted Answer

Rapid evolution of guppy color patterns and feeding preferences, altering algal abundance.

Question 20

Which equation best represents the relationship between temperature change and elevation in mountains, as described in the study materials?

Accepted Answer

$$\Delta T = -6^\circ C \text{ per } 1000 \text{ m increase in elevation}$$

Ecology: The Biosphere and the Distribution of Life

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