Chapter 34

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.

Active Lecture Questions forBiology: Concepts & Connections, Sixth EditionCampbell, Reece, Taylor, Simon, and Dickey

Chapter 34Chapter 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s Diverse Environments


Concept CheckThe biosphere is a self-contained, patchy collection of ecosystems that is isolated in space except for

1) a constant source of energy from sunlight.

2) the loss of heat to space.

3) the occasional impact of space objects such as meteorites, comets and asteroids.

4) all of the above.


AnswerThe biosphere is a self-contained, patchy collection of ecosystems that is isolated in space except for:

4) all of the above.


Concept CheckThis image of the earth is simplified to help illustrate how the angle of sunlight affects the solar radiation at different latitudes. However, sometimes the simplifications create misunderstandings. What simplification in the image could most likely lead to a misunderstanding?

1) Continents are brown.

2) The earth’s axis is nottilted.

3) Sunlight is focused inspotlights.

4) There is no ice at thepoles.


AnswerThis image of the earth is simplified to help illustrate how the angle of sunlight affects the solar radiation at different latitudes. However, sometimes the simplifications create misunderstandings. What simplification in the image could most likely lead to a misunderstanding?

2) The earth’s axis is nottilted.


Concept CheckIdentify what is wrong with the following statement: “If the climate in two geographically separate regions is similar, the same type of biome may occur along with the same assemblage of plants and animals.”

1) Biomes are not affected by climate.

2) Each continent has its own, unique biomes.

3) Geographically separate biomes share animal and plants with similar adaptations—usually not the same organisms.

4) Biomes are not geographically separate but instead are continuous.


AnswerIdentify what is wrong with the following statement: “If the climate in two geographically separate regions is similar, the same type of biome may occur along with the same assemblage of plants and animals.”

3) Geographically separate biomes share animal and plants with similar adaptations—usually not the same organisms.


Thinking Like a Scientist

These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Precipitation and temperature patterns help to determine the distributions of particular biomes. Which of the biome climates plotted above are from the Northern Hemisphere?

1) A.

2) B.

3) C.

Temperature = red linePrecipitation = green bars


Answer

These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Precipitation and temperature patterns help to determine the distributions of particular biomes. Which of the biome climates plotted above are from the Northern Hemisphere?

1) A.Temperature = red linePrecipitation = green bars



These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Which of the biome climatograms would you expect to find associated with a temperate grassland?

1) A.

2) B.

3) C.



Answer

These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Which of the biome climatograms would you expect to find associated with a temperate grassland?

3) C.




These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Which of the biome climatograms record is closest to the equator?

1) A.

2) B.

3) C.Temperature = red linePrecipitation = green bars


Answer

These figures represent climatograms—a record of the monthly averages for precipitation and temperature. Which of the biome climatograms record is closest to the equator?

2) B.Temperature = red linePrecipitation = green bars


Science and SocietyMead’s milkweed is a rare and endangered plant found in remnant plots of tall-grass prairie. Near Lawrence, KS in the early 1990’s a landowner chose to plow a parcel of prairie he owned despite the fact that the prairie had Mead’s milkweed. His claim was that the endangered species act did not apply to private land holdings. Do you agree with the landowner that enforcement of the endangered species act should not apply to private holdings?

Disagree Agree Strongly A B C D E

Strongly


Science and SocietyMead’s milkweed is a rare and endangered plant found in remnant plots of tall-grass prairie. Near Lawrence, KS in the early 1990’s a landowner chose to plow a parcel of prairie he owned despite the fact that the prairie had Mead’s milkweed. Local environmental groups were in the process of raising the money to purchase this property when he decided to go ahead and plow the land. Were his actions justifiable?


Strongly


Science and SocietyOther populations of Mead’s milkweed have been found in other local prairies since the episode of the landowner plowing his land. In fact development has spread over some of the populations. Environmental groups in Lawrence have focused, instead on trying to save a wetland from a highway project. Should city planning be required to consider environmental impacts before granting development permits?


Strongly

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Chapter 34