Earth's Diversity Bio Review

The majority of marine organisms are found in coastal regions, rather than the open ocean. Which of the following best explains why?

• Ocean currents bring nutrient-rich water into coastal regions

• Salinity is usually much higher in coastal regions.

• The shallow waters of coastal regions provide less oxygen

• Temperatures are cooler in coastal regions.

Which of the following explains the role of fungi and slime molds as pictured in the rainforest food web shown below?

• They are heterotrophs that get their energy by consuming plants, herbivores, and other primary consumers.

• They are producers that make food by converting water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen, using energy from the Sun.

• They are autotrophs that use chemicals as an energy source to produce food when sunlight is not available.

• They are decomposers that break down organic wastes and dead organisms into compounds used by plants for photosynthesis.

A desalination plant is set up in a bay to provide fresh, drinkable water by removing salt from ocean water and returning the removed salt to the bay. How might the resulting increase in salinity in the bay affect the fish populations?

• Temperatures would decrease making a more suitable environment for fish populations.

• Low levels of dissolved oxygen would decrease the diversity of fish populations.

• Fish populations of all the species already living there would increase.

• The food sources available to the fish populations would increase

Which of the following describes what might happen with a sudden increase in precipitation in the grassland biome?

• Rise in drought-tolerant plants

• Salt and sediment deposition

• Increase in plant and animal diversity

• Nutrient loss and soil erosion

How do many of the mammals that inhabit deciduous forests deal with the conditions of the winter season?

• They forage or hunt at night.

• They hibernate or stockpile food.

• They migrate to warmer areas.

• They develop symbiotic relationships

At what points during the year are fish—which need a large amount of dissolved oxygen—most likely to be evenly distributed throughout the water of a lake that freezes over in winter?

• Fall and winter when the water is warmer

• Summer and winter when warm water settles on the bottom

• Spring and fall when warm and cold water mixes

• Spring and summer when the cold water settles on top

Which of the following correctly compares the changes that take place in an ecosystem during primary succession and secondary succession?

• Primary succession takes place quickly on newly formed land, while secondary succession occurs over a long period of time in an area that has been disrupted by a natural disaster

• Primary succession takes place over a long period of time in an area that has been disrupted by a natural disaster, while secondary succession occurs quickly on newly formed land.

• Primary succession takes place quickly in an area that has been disrupted by a natural disaster, while secondary succession occurs over a long period of time on newly formed land.

• Primary succession takes place over a long period of time on newly formed land, while secondary succession occurs quickly in areas that have disrupted by a natural disaster.

Which of the following is an example of how a biotic factor can affect the population dynamics in an ecosystem?

• Excessive rain and flooding cause organisms in an area to relocate.

• The population of a predator increases following an increase in the population of its prey.

• Seasonal temperature changes cause a species to migrate between two ecosystems.

• Excessive rain and flooding cause organisms in an area to relocate.

Pete had grown tired of his fish tank and would like to get rid of the fish and contents of the tank in a nearby freshwater canal. Which argument presents the most devastating consequences of Salvatore's dumping of

the tank?

• He may be killing the creatures living in the tank.

• He may be destroying the opportunity for owning pets in the future.

• He may be introducing an invasive species that will damage the ecosystem.

• He may be polluting the lake with the contents of the tank.

Domestic cats can begin reproducing as young as six months of age. Each female cat can produce two litters per year, containing multiple cats that can also begin reproducing early. What prediction can you make about an

ecosystem in which cat populations are not controlled?

• Within a few years the population of cats would increase slowly, level off, and stabilize.

• Within a few years there would be many starving cats.

• Rats and other small animals would initially suffer but then quickly develop survival skills.

• A predator for the cats would rapidly appear to match the population growth.