Community Ecology Terrestrial Biomes (1) Terrestrial Biomes (2) Aquatic Ecosystems Actual Test Questions

Any abiotic factor or biotic factor that restricts the numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms

Limiting Factor

The orderly and predictable change that takes place after a community of organisms has been removed but the soil has remained intact

Secondary Succession

The stable, mature community that results when there is little change in the number of species

Climax Community

The ability of any organism to survive when subjected to abiotic factors or biotic factors

Tolerance

The establishment of a community in an area of exposed rock that does not have any topsoil

Primary Succession

The distance of any point on the surface of Earth north or south from the equator

Latitude

The average weather conditions in an area, including temperature and precipitation

Climate

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: 10 o C – 40 o C; Geographic location: surrounds the Mediterranean Sea, western coast of North and South America, South Africa, and Australia; Abiotic Factors: summers very hot and dry, winters are cool and wet

Temperate Woodland and Shrubland

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range:high 20 o C – 49 o C, low: 2 o C – 26 o C ; Geographic location: every continent except Europe; Abiotic Factors: varying temperatures, low rainfall

Desert

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: -68 o C – 32 o C; Geographic location: Northern part of North America, Europe, and Asia; Abiotic Factors: summers are short and moist, winters are long, cold, and dry

Boreal Forest

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: -30 o C – 30 o C; Geographic location: South of the boreal forests in eastern North America, eastern Asia, and Europe; Abiotic Factors: well-defined seasons, summers are hot, winters are cold

Temperate Forest

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: -40 o C – 38 o C; Geographic location: North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia; Abiotic Factors: summers are hot, winters are cold, moderate rainfall, fires possible

Temperate Grassland

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: 24 o C – 49 o C; Geographic location: Africa, South America, and Australia; Abiotic Factors: summers are hot and rainy, winters are cool and dry

Tropical Savanna

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: 20 o C – 34 o C; Geographic location: Central and South America, southeastern Asia, western Africa, and northeastern Australia; Abiotic Factors: humid all year, hot and wet

Tropical Rainforest

Average Precipitation: cm/yr; Temperature range: 20 o C – 25 o C; Geographic location: Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central America; Abiotic Factors: rainfall is seasonal

Tropical Seasonal Forest

The area closest to the shore in a lake with many different types of organisms

Littoral Zone

The deepest areas of a large lake which is much colder and lower in oxygen than the other two zones

Profundal Zone

An ecosystem that is formed where a freshwater river or stream merges with the ocean

Estuary

The area along the ocean floor that consists of sand, silt, and dead organisms

Benthic Zone

The deepest region of the ocean with very cold water

Abyssal Zone

A student notices that her guppies reproduce most when her fish tank water is slightly alkaline. They stop reproducing if the water becomes acidic or if the water becomes too alkaline. This is an example of ___ a. secondary succession b. zones of tolerance c. communities d. intertidal zones

b. zones of tolerance

What single feature is primarily responsible for the variation of climate in different parts of the world? a. intensity of wind b. angle of incoming sunlight c. length of daylight d. amount of precipitation

b. angle of incoming sunlight

Which of these species would you classify as a profundal zone organism? a. frog b. plankton c. crayfish d. floating water plants

c. crayfish

Which of these species might be classified as a pioneer species? a. ponderosa pine b. choke cherry c. aspen d. lichen

d. lichen

In a climax community there is very little change in the number of ________________

Species