BIOL 1104- MN NATURAL HISTORY
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Scientific Method - Correct Answers -ask question/make observation-research topic-
create hypothesis-test hypothesis-draw conclusions
principle features of science - Correct Answers -skepticism & reproducibility, empirical
evidence, generality
questions a naturalist would ask - Correct Answers -what causes the river to flow South
instead of North, why do certain birds migrate in the winter while others do not
three ecological regions (MN) - Correct Answers -it is highly unusual that an area
without any mountainous regions (such as MN) has 3 different biomes; prairie,
deciduous, coniferous
glacier formation - Correct Answers -accumulated snow packs into ice layers
glacier receding - Correct Answers -ice at the bottom is melting, causing the glacier to
act as a natural bulldozer, transforming the land
major landforms in MN - Correct Answers -created by the last great glaciation, receding
glaciers transformed the landscape as they pushed through, drumlins, eskers, moraines
etc. were formed
lake agassiz - Correct Answers -largest glacial lake in North America, formed because
water melting from the last glaciation had nowhere to go (due to continental divides and
glaciers blocking the path) eventually creating a massive lake
glacial river warren - Correct Answers -eventually, the water in lake agassiz rose to
such a high altitude, water poured over the side, creating glacial river warren, and
eventually created the path for the MN river
geological perspectives - Correct Answers -scientists are able to study landforms
created by the glaciers (moraines, eskers, drumlins, etc.) and ice cores
, biological perspective - Correct Answers -paleoecology, study of fossils to examine
historic changes in plants in animals
dendroecology, study of tree rings (tree growth) to examine historic exchanges
three major soil horizons - Correct Answers -inceptisols-soils in coniferous forest, little
no A horizon, nutrient poor
alfisols-soil in deciduous forests, prominent A horizon, mineral rich
mollisols- soil in prairie biome, huge A horizon, mineral rich
soil fertility influences - Correct Answers -infiltration of water, soil structure, active soil
life, content of organic matter, acidity or PH level, water retention capacity (of soil),
water draining ability of soil
atmosphere composition - Correct Answers -nitrogen (78%), Oxygen(21%), other gases
(1%)
atmosphere layers - Correct Answers -troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere
troposphere - Correct Answers -closest to earth, where winds and weather occur, gets
colder as you go up
stratosphere - Correct Answers -calm, ozone layer found, absorbs U.V. light, gets
warmer as you go up
greenhouse effect - Correct Answers -earth re-emits energy into the atmosphere as
infared red radiation (heat), some is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which warms the
earth and lower atmosphere
major greenhouse gases - Correct Answers -methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous
oxide
urbanization influence on climate - Correct Answers -urban heat islands are created
with more cities being constructed, thus raising the temperature in cities and
surrounding areas, contributes to global warming
scientific study on global warming - Correct Answers -CO2, and temperature readings
have increased a drastic amount in a very short amount of time due to humans and the
burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, etc
climate change impact - Correct Answers -global warming, change in rainfall patterns,
increased frequency of violent storms, wet areas will get wetter, dry areas will get drier,
MN will heat up
study of climate change - Correct Answers -historic records, marine sediments, corals,
lake sediments, tree rings, geomorphical features
FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE
Scientific Method - Correct Answers -ask question/make observation-research topic-
create hypothesis-test hypothesis-draw conclusions
principle features of science - Correct Answers -skepticism & reproducibility, empirical
evidence, generality
questions a naturalist would ask - Correct Answers -what causes the river to flow South
instead of North, why do certain birds migrate in the winter while others do not
three ecological regions (MN) - Correct Answers -it is highly unusual that an area
without any mountainous regions (such as MN) has 3 different biomes; prairie,
deciduous, coniferous
glacier formation - Correct Answers -accumulated snow packs into ice layers
glacier receding - Correct Answers -ice at the bottom is melting, causing the glacier to
act as a natural bulldozer, transforming the land
major landforms in MN - Correct Answers -created by the last great glaciation, receding
glaciers transformed the landscape as they pushed through, drumlins, eskers, moraines
etc. were formed
lake agassiz - Correct Answers -largest glacial lake in North America, formed because
water melting from the last glaciation had nowhere to go (due to continental divides and
glaciers blocking the path) eventually creating a massive lake
glacial river warren - Correct Answers -eventually, the water in lake agassiz rose to
such a high altitude, water poured over the side, creating glacial river warren, and
eventually created the path for the MN river
geological perspectives - Correct Answers -scientists are able to study landforms
created by the glaciers (moraines, eskers, drumlins, etc.) and ice cores
, biological perspective - Correct Answers -paleoecology, study of fossils to examine
historic changes in plants in animals
dendroecology, study of tree rings (tree growth) to examine historic exchanges
three major soil horizons - Correct Answers -inceptisols-soils in coniferous forest, little
no A horizon, nutrient poor
alfisols-soil in deciduous forests, prominent A horizon, mineral rich
mollisols- soil in prairie biome, huge A horizon, mineral rich
soil fertility influences - Correct Answers -infiltration of water, soil structure, active soil
life, content of organic matter, acidity or PH level, water retention capacity (of soil),
water draining ability of soil
atmosphere composition - Correct Answers -nitrogen (78%), Oxygen(21%), other gases
(1%)
atmosphere layers - Correct Answers -troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere,
thermosphere
troposphere - Correct Answers -closest to earth, where winds and weather occur, gets
colder as you go up
stratosphere - Correct Answers -calm, ozone layer found, absorbs U.V. light, gets
warmer as you go up
greenhouse effect - Correct Answers -earth re-emits energy into the atmosphere as
infared red radiation (heat), some is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which warms the
earth and lower atmosphere
major greenhouse gases - Correct Answers -methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous
oxide
urbanization influence on climate - Correct Answers -urban heat islands are created
with more cities being constructed, thus raising the temperature in cities and
surrounding areas, contributes to global warming
scientific study on global warming - Correct Answers -CO2, and temperature readings
have increased a drastic amount in a very short amount of time due to humans and the
burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, etc
climate change impact - Correct Answers -global warming, change in rainfall patterns,
increased frequency of violent storms, wet areas will get wetter, dry areas will get drier,
MN will heat up
study of climate change - Correct Answers -historic records, marine sediments, corals,
lake sediments, tree rings, geomorphical features
