BIO 212 Exam 4 Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Update 2025-2026
Indicate the main level of ecological study addressed by this question: How does the decline of
bee pollinators affect fruit
production in apple trees? - Answers
PROCESS OF SCIENCE The map was divided into small squares and then the data were
analyzed for each square. Evaluate the benefits of using small squares versus large squares for
the analysis. - Answers Usingsmallsquareswouldgive more resolution to the map and show
more information about variation in the landscape. Larger squares would be easier to work with
but would not contain as much information.
Identify a past and present abiotic factor and a past and present biotic factor that could be
important to the distribution and abundance of sockeye salmon. - Answers Present abiotic:
temperature, salinity of water. Past αbiotic: sea-level change. Present biotic: predation by bears.
Past biotic: fishing by humans as they migrated to North America more than 15,000 years ago.
Use the niche concept to explain this pattern: Douglas fir trees are abundant on the western
slopes of the Cascade Mountains but not the eastern slopes - Answers The western slopes
ofthe Cascade Mountains are wet and the eastern slopes are dry(a rain shadow). Even if fir
trees disperse to the dry areas, they die because they cannot tolerate the dry conditions beyond
their wetter niche
Predict where on the globe the highest risk of skin cancer would occur, and explain why. -
Answers The highest risk of skin cancer is in the tropics, where the Sun
is often directly overhead during midday and there is a large amount of solar radiation per unit
area .
Where do the remaining wildlands occur? - Answers Most of the remaining wildlands occur in
Canada, at the top of the image
If you understand the importance of temperature and precipitation in biomes, you should be
able to explain why NPP is higher in tropical wet forests than in temperate forests. (1067) -
Answers NPP is higher in tropical wet forests than in temperate forests because the tropics
experience more sunlight, warmer temperatures, and more rain all year creating a more
favorable environment for photosynthesis than at higher latitudes, where winter limits the
growth season .
PROCESS OF SCIENCE What other variable besides temperature might be affected by the
transparent chambers? What kind of
experiment could the researchers do to determine if this variable is affecting the species
composition in the chamber? - Answers
,1. SOCIETY Identify which anthropogenic biome, or anthrome, you live in. What natural biome
occurred there before? (1068) - Answers
If you understand the variables that are important in aquatic biomes, you should be able to
predict which zones of oceans and lakes have the highest NPP and to explain your logic. (1072)
- Answers The neritic zone of oceans has the highest NPP because nutrients are available from
runoff and upwelling, and light is also available. The littoral zone of lakes has the highest NPP
because both nutrients and light are abundant.
Predict how a lower rate of turnover and more
stratification in Lake Tanganyika, caused by climatechange, could affect its sardine fishery.
Explain. (1073) - Answers If the lake is more stratified all year, preventing turnovers, this means
that the nutrients from deep water will not be returned to the photic zone at the surface and the
oxygen at the surface will not be mixed to deep water. This trend is likely to reduce the sardine
population because they will havea reduced food supply (due to reduced productivity) and
reduced oxygen availability (due to lack of mixing with the surface). (These consequences have
indeed already occurred, affecting the humans who rely on the sardines for food and income.)
(Chapter 49 TYK)
Name the five main levels of study in ecology from smallest to largest. - Answers Organismal,
population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere/global
Where do rain shadows exist?
a. the part of a mountain that receives prevailing winds and heavy rain
b. the region beyond a mountain range that receives dry air
c. the region along the equator where precipitation is abundant
d. the region near 30°N and 30°8 latitude that receives dry air - Answers b. the region beyond a
mountain range that receives dry air
What is the main type of vegetation in a tropical wet forest?
a. shrubs and bunchgrasses
b. herbs, grasses, and vines
c. broad-leaved deciduous trees
d. broad-leaved evergreen trees - Answers d. broad-leaved evergreen trees
What is one expected consequence of global climate change?
a. Average rainfall will increase.
, b. Average rainfall will decrease.
c. Variability in rainfall will increase.
d. We cannot make predictions about future rainfall - Answers c. Variability in rainfall will
increase.
(Chapter 49 TYU)
Which of these statements about aquatic biomes is true? Select True or False for each
statement.
T/F The ocean is so vast that it is not influenced by human impacts.
T/F Water depth, water flow, salinity, and nutrient availability are important abiotic factors in
aquatic biomes.
，
T/F Once nutrients sink to the bottom of lakes they are no longer available to organisms. -
Answers F,T,.F(Ocean upwelling and lake turnover are examples of how nutrients can be
returned to surface waters.)
Explain how the open ocean is similar to the desert, and how it is not. - Answers Likedeserts,
open oceans have plenty of sunlight but very low productivity. Unlike deserts, which
are water limited, open oceans are nutrient limited
Temperate forest in China and temperate forest in North America are part ofthe same biome
but are distinct ecosystems. Explain - Answers Temperate forests in China and North America
are part of the same biome because they are both dominated by deciduous forests and have
similar temperature and precipitation profiles. However, the particular species found in each are
different due to historical factors , making each ecosystem unique
Compare the distribution of the natural terrestrial biomes of eastern North America with the
distribution of anthropogenic biomes. - Answers The natural biomeof eastern North America is
primarily temperate forest. However, most ofthis area is now occupied by human- influenced
biomes such as cities, suburbs, and farmland
Like Earth, Mars has seasons-its Northern Hemisphere experiences winter when its Southern
Hemisphere experiences summer. Which statement is the best explanation for seasonality on
Mars?
a. Mars is tilted on its axis.
b. Mars has an elliptical orbit that brings it closer to the Sun in summer than in winter.
c. Mars has a circular orbit and maintains a constant distance from the Sun.
Indicate the main level of ecological study addressed by this question: How does the decline of
bee pollinators affect fruit
production in apple trees? - Answers
PROCESS OF SCIENCE The map was divided into small squares and then the data were
analyzed for each square. Evaluate the benefits of using small squares versus large squares for
the analysis. - Answers Usingsmallsquareswouldgive more resolution to the map and show
more information about variation in the landscape. Larger squares would be easier to work with
but would not contain as much information.
Identify a past and present abiotic factor and a past and present biotic factor that could be
important to the distribution and abundance of sockeye salmon. - Answers Present abiotic:
temperature, salinity of water. Past αbiotic: sea-level change. Present biotic: predation by bears.
Past biotic: fishing by humans as they migrated to North America more than 15,000 years ago.
Use the niche concept to explain this pattern: Douglas fir trees are abundant on the western
slopes of the Cascade Mountains but not the eastern slopes - Answers The western slopes
ofthe Cascade Mountains are wet and the eastern slopes are dry(a rain shadow). Even if fir
trees disperse to the dry areas, they die because they cannot tolerate the dry conditions beyond
their wetter niche
Predict where on the globe the highest risk of skin cancer would occur, and explain why. -
Answers The highest risk of skin cancer is in the tropics, where the Sun
is often directly overhead during midday and there is a large amount of solar radiation per unit
area .
Where do the remaining wildlands occur? - Answers Most of the remaining wildlands occur in
Canada, at the top of the image
If you understand the importance of temperature and precipitation in biomes, you should be
able to explain why NPP is higher in tropical wet forests than in temperate forests. (1067) -
Answers NPP is higher in tropical wet forests than in temperate forests because the tropics
experience more sunlight, warmer temperatures, and more rain all year creating a more
favorable environment for photosynthesis than at higher latitudes, where winter limits the
growth season .
PROCESS OF SCIENCE What other variable besides temperature might be affected by the
transparent chambers? What kind of
experiment could the researchers do to determine if this variable is affecting the species
composition in the chamber? - Answers
,1. SOCIETY Identify which anthropogenic biome, or anthrome, you live in. What natural biome
occurred there before? (1068) - Answers
If you understand the variables that are important in aquatic biomes, you should be able to
predict which zones of oceans and lakes have the highest NPP and to explain your logic. (1072)
- Answers The neritic zone of oceans has the highest NPP because nutrients are available from
runoff and upwelling, and light is also available. The littoral zone of lakes has the highest NPP
because both nutrients and light are abundant.
Predict how a lower rate of turnover and more
stratification in Lake Tanganyika, caused by climatechange, could affect its sardine fishery.
Explain. (1073) - Answers If the lake is more stratified all year, preventing turnovers, this means
that the nutrients from deep water will not be returned to the photic zone at the surface and the
oxygen at the surface will not be mixed to deep water. This trend is likely to reduce the sardine
population because they will havea reduced food supply (due to reduced productivity) and
reduced oxygen availability (due to lack of mixing with the surface). (These consequences have
indeed already occurred, affecting the humans who rely on the sardines for food and income.)
(Chapter 49 TYK)
Name the five main levels of study in ecology from smallest to largest. - Answers Organismal,
population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere/global
Where do rain shadows exist?
a. the part of a mountain that receives prevailing winds and heavy rain
b. the region beyond a mountain range that receives dry air
c. the region along the equator where precipitation is abundant
d. the region near 30°N and 30°8 latitude that receives dry air - Answers b. the region beyond a
mountain range that receives dry air
What is the main type of vegetation in a tropical wet forest?
a. shrubs and bunchgrasses
b. herbs, grasses, and vines
c. broad-leaved deciduous trees
d. broad-leaved evergreen trees - Answers d. broad-leaved evergreen trees
What is one expected consequence of global climate change?
a. Average rainfall will increase.
, b. Average rainfall will decrease.
c. Variability in rainfall will increase.
d. We cannot make predictions about future rainfall - Answers c. Variability in rainfall will
increase.
(Chapter 49 TYU)
Which of these statements about aquatic biomes is true? Select True or False for each
statement.
T/F The ocean is so vast that it is not influenced by human impacts.
T/F Water depth, water flow, salinity, and nutrient availability are important abiotic factors in
aquatic biomes.
，
T/F Once nutrients sink to the bottom of lakes they are no longer available to organisms. -
Answers F,T,.F(Ocean upwelling and lake turnover are examples of how nutrients can be
returned to surface waters.)
Explain how the open ocean is similar to the desert, and how it is not. - Answers Likedeserts,
open oceans have plenty of sunlight but very low productivity. Unlike deserts, which
are water limited, open oceans are nutrient limited
Temperate forest in China and temperate forest in North America are part ofthe same biome
but are distinct ecosystems. Explain - Answers Temperate forests in China and North America
are part of the same biome because they are both dominated by deciduous forests and have
similar temperature and precipitation profiles. However, the particular species found in each are
different due to historical factors , making each ecosystem unique
Compare the distribution of the natural terrestrial biomes of eastern North America with the
distribution of anthropogenic biomes. - Answers The natural biomeof eastern North America is
primarily temperate forest. However, most ofthis area is now occupied by human- influenced
biomes such as cities, suburbs, and farmland
Like Earth, Mars has seasons-its Northern Hemisphere experiences winter when its Southern
Hemisphere experiences summer. Which statement is the best explanation for seasonality on
Mars?
a. Mars is tilted on its axis.
b. Mars has an elliptical orbit that brings it closer to the Sun in summer than in winter.
c. Mars has a circular orbit and maintains a constant distance from the Sun.
