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UA BSC 108-901 Exam 3 Questions and Answers
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UA BSC 108-901 Exam 3 Questions and Answers
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UA BSC 108-901 Exam 3 Questions and AnswersCharacteristics of a Chapparal - ANSWER-Chaparral is a temperate biome that
develops in environments with seasonally extreme moisture gradients, characterized by
a so-called Mediterranean climate with winter rains and summer drought. The chaparral
biome is typically composed of dwarf forest and shrubs, and interspersed herbaceous
vegetation. Chaparral is highly prone to events of catastrophic wildfire. In North
America, chaparral is best developed in parts of the southwest, especially coastal
southern California.
Characteristics of coral reef ecosystem - ANSWER-Coral reefs are a distinctive marine
biome of tropical seas, occurring locally in shallow but relatively infertile areas close to
land. The physical structure of coral reefs is provided by the calcium carbonate
exoskeletons of dead coral polyps. This structure supports a species-rich population of
living coral, crustose algae, invertebrates, and fish. This biome is dominated by corals, a
diverse group of coelenterate animals, living in symbiosis with unicellular algae.
Because this symbiosis is highly efficient in the acquisition and recycling of nutrients,
coral reefs typically sustain a high productivity, even though they occur in nutrient-poor
waters.
Characteristics of desert ecosystem - ANSWER-Desert is a temperate or tropical biome,
commonly occurring in the center of continents, and in the rain shadows of mountains.
The distribution of this biome is determined by the availability of water, generally
occurring where there is less than 9.9 in (25 cm) of precipitation per year. Not
surprisingly, the productivity of desert ecosystems is strongly influenced by the
availability of water. The driest deserts support almost no plant productivity, while less-
dry situations may support communities of herbaceous, succulent, and annual plants,
and somewhat moister places will allow a shrub-dominated ecosystem to develop.
Characteristics of lakes and ponds ecosystem - ANSWER-Ponds and lakes have still or
standing waters, not moving like rivers or streams.
1. Littoral zone - This is the area closest to the shore where aquatic plants grow.
2. Limnetic zone - This is the open surface waters of the lake, away from the shore.
3. Euphotic zone - This is the area below the surface of the water where there is still
enough sunlight for photosynthesis.
4. Benthic zone - This is the floor, or bottom, of the lake.
Lake animals - Animals include plankton, crayfish, snails, worms, frogs, turtles, insects,
and fishes.
Lake plants - Plants include water lilies, duckweed, cattail, bulrush, stonewort, and
bladderwort.
Characteristics of marsh ecosystem - ANSWER-The wetlands biome is a combination
of land and water. The land may be mostly underwater for part of the year or just
flooded at certain times. Supports aquatic plants. Include bogs, swamps, and marshes.
Located near large bodies of water like lakes and rivers and can be found throughout
the world.
, 1. When located near rivers, wetlands can help to prevent flooding and help to purify
and filter water.
2. Wetland animals - Huge diversity in animal life. Amphibians, birds, and reptiles.
Largest predators are alligators and crocodiles. Other animals include beavers, minks,
raccoons, and deer.
3. Wetland plants - Grow entirely underwater or float on top of the water. Other plants
grow mostly out of the water, like large trees. Include milkweed, water lilies, duckweed,
cattail, cypress trees, and mangroves.
Characteristics of ocean ecosystem - ANSWER-Waves, tides, currents, salinity,
temperature, light intensity, and nutrient concentration. Primary productivity is small.
Primary production carried out by phytoplankton of diverse species, ranging in size from
extremely small photosynthetic bacteria, to larger but microscopic unicellular and
colonial algae. The phytoplankton are grazed by small crustaceans known as
zooplankton, and these are eaten in turn by small fish. At the top of the pelagic food
web are very large predators such as bluefin tuna, sharks, squid, and whales. The deep
benthic ecosystems of this biome are supported by a sparse rain of dead biomass from
its surface waters. The benthic ecosystems appear to be extremely stable, rich in
species, and low in productivity.
Characteristics of rivers and streams ecosystem - ANSWER-Rivers and streams have
flowing waters and can vary in size dramatically
Flow - the amount of water and the strength at which it flows will impact the types of
plants and animals that can live in a river.
Light - light has an impact because it provides energy to plants through photosynthesis.
Temperature - The climate will have an impact on the local plant and animal life.
Chemistry - Type of geology that the river is flowing through.
River animals - insects, snails, crabs, salmon and catfish, salamanders, snakes,
crocodiles,and beavers.
River plants - tapegrass, water stargrass, willow trees, and river birch.
Characteristics of taiga ecosystem - ANSWER-The boreal coniferous forest, or taiga, is
an extensive northern biome occurring in moist climates with cold winters. The boreal
forest is dominated by coniferous trees, especially species of fir, larch, pine, and spruce.
Some broad-leaved, angiosperm trees are also important in the boreal forest, especially
species of aspen, birch, poplar, and willow. Usually, particular stands of boreal forest
are dominated by only one or several species of trees. Most regions of boreal forest are
subject to periodic events of catastrophic disturbance, most commonly caused by
wildfire and sometimes by insects, such as spruce budworm, that kill trees through
intensive defoliation. Montane forests, also dominated by conifers and similar in
structure to the boreal forest, can occur at sub-alpine altitudes on mountains in
southerly latitudes.
Characteristics of temperate forest ecosystem - ANSWER-Temperate rainforests
develop under climatic regimes characterized by mild winters and an abundance of
precipitation. Because these systems are too moist to support regular, catastrophic
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