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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which of the following is not a reason for the fragility of desert ecosystems?
There is a lack of water
Plant growth is slow
Top predators are usually not checked in growth and can grow exponentially
Nutrients are slow to cycle through the ecosystem
There is a low species diversity
Top predators are usually not checked in growth and can grow exponentially
Top predators will generally never "grow unchecked". By the very nature of their diet (dependent on other populations), predator population growth is limited by the availability of their food. The famous study of lynx-hare population fluctuations demonstrates how a predator population will adjust to lower prey populations.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which of the following does NOT characterize a tropical forest?
Little light reaching the forest floor
Consistently warm temperatures falling between 20-25oC
Highly diverse set of flora and fauna in the local biosphere
Over 2000 mm of annual rainfall
Nutrient-rich and pH-neutral soil
Nutrient-rich and pH-neutral soil
Heavy decomposition of plant and animal matter contribute to highly acidic soil in tropical rainforests. Additionally, abundance of plant life in tropical rainforests results in "soil leaching," which means that the nutrients in the soil are drained and taken up by the plants themselves.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
The __________ is characterized by very low temperatures year round, nutrient-poor soil, and little precipitation, which usually occurs in the form of snow.
evergreen rainforest
temperate deciduous forest
coastal temperate forest
boreal forest / taiga
temperate coniferous forest
boreal forest / taiga
Boreal forests have extremely low temperatures and are characterized by pines and other evergreens. "Temperate forests" are characterized by moderate and more fluctuating temperatures, whereas the taiga stays cold year round. Taiga is found in parts of the world such as Northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
The evaluation of biomes takes into account which of the following?
Temperature
Latitude
Both temperature and precipitation
Precipitation
Both temperature and precipitation
Latitude is not considered in climate evaluations; for instance, the poles are considered deserts based on their precipitation levels per year, meaning deserts can occur along the equator or the poles. Temperate and tropical forests also exhibit similar precipitation levels, but due to their temperature differences, they are considered separate biomes.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which biome is characterized by a short growing season, harsh winters, no trees, mostly migratory animal species, and less than 10in of rain per year?
Conifer forest
Desert
Tundra
Grasslands
Tundra
Though grasslands and deserts share some of these characteristics, the tundra is the only biome listed that is characterized by a short growing season, harsh winters, no trees, mostly migratory animal species, and less than 10in of rain per year.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which biome contains plants that have adapted to minimize water loss, developing features such as smaller leaves with fewer pores?
Temperate rain forest
Temperate seasonal forest
Subtropical desert
Woodland
Tropical rainforest
Subtropical desert
Don't be fooled into associating moisture retention with rainforests: Those plants don't require such an adaptation since rainfall is plentiful. A subtropical desert, however, is characterized by high temperatures, very low precipitation and warm soils, and thus plants must adapt to prevent water loss.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which of the following is not one of the main terrestrial biomes?
Temperate grassland
Tropical dry forest
Tundra
Boreal forest
Temperate brush
Temperate brush
There are many different biomes, but the main terrestrial biomes are:
1. Temperate grassland
2. Temperate forest
3. Alpine
4. Rainforest
5. Taiga
6. Savanna
7. Tundra
8. Desert
9. Chaparral
Example Question #5 : Biomes
In pictures from your family vacation, you see hardwood trees whose leaves have fallen. You know that the region you visited receives 75-250 cm of rain each year. Which biome did you visit?
Desert
Coniferous forest
Coastal chaparral
Prairie grassland
Deciduous forest
Deciduous forest
The correct response is deciduous forest.The unique characteristic of the deciduous forest is that the trees shed their leaves each year. Maple and Oak trees are common in this biome. Prairie grasslands do not contain trees, rather they contain fields of grasses. The desert biome does not receive as much rainfall as the deciduous forest, nor does it contain many hardwood trees that shed their leaves. While the coniferous forest contains lots of hardwood trees, they very rarely shed their leaves. The coastal chaparral biome does not receive as much rainfall, and is dominated by small trees and shrubbery.
Example Question #171 : Ap Environmental Sciences
Biomes are fairly distinct regions with a similar climate, plants, soils, and animals. They can occur on multiple continents.
What two climate factors determine where a biome is located?
Wind and temperature
Temperature and precipitation
Humidity and precipitation
Humidity and atmospheric pressure
Temperature and atmospheric pressure
Temperature and precipitation
Humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind are all aspects of climate but not the determining factors. In the higher latitudes, temperature is the more important factor. In the lower latitudes, precipitation is the more important factor.
Example Question #1 : Biomes
Which of the following environments gets less than 25 cm of rainfall each year?
Desert
None of these
Deciduous forest
Chaparral
Tropical rainforest
Desert
The correct response is desert. The desert environment is characterized by low rainfalls (less than 25 cm per year). They are one of the most dry biomes on the planet. The desert biome also has highly variable temperature swings, with high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night.
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