Mastering

Question 1

The vegetation of tundra is dominated by

Answer 1

short plants such as sedges, heaths, and willow

Question 2

In a rank-abundance curve comparing two communities, the community with the greater species richness is characterized by a

Answer 2

greater length of the curve and a more gradual slope

Question 3

True or False: the boundaries between communities are usually sharply defined and easily discerned

Answer 3

False

Question 4

What kind of trees dominate in ecosystems characterized by warm, wet climates with no distinct seasonality?

Answer 4

broadleaf evergreen

Question 5

In a forest community, the layer in which most photosynthesis occurs is the

Answer 5

canopy

Question 6

Which of the following is not a type of temperate grassland?

Answer 6

chaparral

Question 7

The vegetation formation dominated by needle-leaf evergreen trees and occurring where growth is restricted to a few months of the year due to low temperatures is referred to as

Answer 7

boreal forest

Question 8

The dominant biome in mediterranean climates found between 30° and 40° latitude is

Answer 8

temperate shrubland

Question 9

Fire in the taiga

Answer 9

occurs often, resulting in decreased competition of vegetation adapted to repeated burning

Question 10

Deciduous leaves usually live for more than a single year or growing season.

Answer 10

false

Question 11

What is the primary difference between savannas and tropical forests?

Answer 11

savannas have less precipitation

Question 12

A key limitation of the coefficient of community is that it lacks the ability to

Answer 12

compare relative abundances of each species

Question 13

True or False: rainfall is greater in temperate deciduous forests than in temperate shrublands and grasslands

Answer 13

true

Question 14

Which of the following is the predominant leaf form of environments where the growing season is very short or where nutrient availability severely constrains photosynthesis and plant growth?

Answer 14

needle-leaf evergreen leaves

Question 15

Which is the most dominant species?

Answer 15

-most relative biomass
-highest in relative abundance
-largest in number

Question 16

Zonation within a community is typically the result of differences in the

Answer 16

physical characteristics of the environment across a spatial gradient.

Question 17

True or false: mediterranean climates are characterized by relatively dry summers and wet winters.

Answer 17

true

Question 18

Which of the following allocates the greatest amount of biomass to photosynthetic tissue and the least amount to supportive tissue?

Answer 18

grasses

Question 19

Campos, llano, and cerrado are all areas of

Answer 19

tropical savanna

Question 20

True or false: the organismic concept views communities as clusters of species associating together as an interacting, integrated component.

Answer 20

true

Question 21

The relative abundance of a tree with 100 individuals in a community of 1000 would be

Answer 21

0.1

Question 22

Distribution patterns of biomes can be determined based almost entirely on

Answer 22

both mean annual temperature and precipitation

Question 23

True or false: The removal of a keystone species from a community typically results in an increase of diversity.

Answer 23

false

Question 24

Which of the following biomes contains permafrost?

Answer 24

tundra

Question 25

Which statement best describes a keystone species?

Answer 25

a rare or uncommon species that has a strong effect on its community

Question 26

Which of the following has the highest species richness? A community with

Answer 26

36 species with very low evenness

Question 27

When an ecologist compares the diversity of different communities by counting the number of species within each community, the measure of diversity being used is called

Answer 27

species richness

Question 28

True or false: if a forest canopy is dense and closed, the understory and shrub layers tend to be well developed

Answer 28

false