Chapter 6 Free Response

What is climate and what are four major components of

climate? Briefly describe global patterns of solar

radiation, air circulation, and precipitation. How do these

global patterns relate to the distribution of tropical

forests and deserts on the globe

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How do prevailing winds differ across tropical and

temperate latitudes? What causes seasonal variation in

the tropics and temperate regions, and how does

seasonality in these regions differ? Explain one way that

large bodies of water influence regional climate. Explain

one way that mountains influence regional climate. How

does a change in elevation relate to a change in latitude

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Provide a definition for biome. What are the major

features used to characterize terrestrial and aquatic

biomes? Briefly describe seven major terrestrial biomes.

For each one, provide the general name, global

distribution, predominant vegetation, temperature

description, and precipitation description (for example:

high/low/moderate, seasonal/not seasonal

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Choose five of the following terms and provide a brief

definition for the term:

• Ecotone

• Photic

• Aphotic

• Pelagic

• Benthic

• Littoral

• Limnetic

• Estuary

• Thermocline

• Oligotrophic

• Eutrophic

• Microbiome

Ecotone

• Photic

• Aphotic

• Pelagic

• Benthic

• Littoral

• Limnetic

• Estuary

• Thermocline

• Oligotrophic

• Eutrophic

• Microbiome

Define biodiversity and briefly describe the three levels of

biodiversity and what they include. Approximately how many

species have been described globally? Briefly explain what species

discovery curves show us. How do we know that for most

taxonomic groups, we have not come anywhere close to describing

all the species in those groups

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Describe the two major biogeographic factors – latitude and area

– that contribute to global patterns of biodiversity. For each factor,

briefly describe the major pattern that is observed and provide two

potential explanations for those patterns. What does it mean for a

species to have a cosmopolitan distribution? What does it mean for

a species to have an endemic distribution? For each type of

distribution, are those species expected to be generalists or

specialists in habitat, diet, etc.

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Define ecosystem services and briefly describe four

examples. Describe the main goal of restoration ecology.

Explain the difference between bioremediation and

biological augmentation

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What three factors influence decomposition rates?

Does decomposition occur faster in tropical rain forests

or temperate forests? How does this relate to soil

nutrient concentrations in each type of ecosystem?

What is a biogeochemical cycle? Provide an example

of a material that cycles globally and one that cycles

locally

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Choose one of the following global biogeochemical

cycles: water, carbon, or nitrogen. For that cycle,

provide one reason that material is important in

ecosystems. What are the main forms that are used by

organisms? What are the major reservoirs for that

material? Briefly describe three of the key processes that

drive that cycle. What are two human activities that

impact that cycle and how do they impact it

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Describe three reasons the fossil record is biased or

incomplete. How are relative ages established in the

fossil record? What technique is used to establish actual

ages in the fossil record? Briefly describe how that

technique works including the concept of half-life.

What are the four eons of the geologic record and

approximately what range of years does each eon

include

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For each of the three eons that make up the

Precambrian, describe two major events that were

important to the history of life on Earth. Briefly describe

how plate tectonics, continental drift, mass

extinctions, and adaptive radiations influence the

distribution and/or overall diversity of species on Earth

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For each of the three eras that make up the

Phanerozoic Eon:

• Name the era.

• Provide the approximate range of years that era

includes.

• Describe at least two major events that occurred in the

history of life during that era and how they influenced

biodiversity. If applicable, be specific about the period

or epoch during which the event took place

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Briefly describe three major threats to biodiversity

and how they impact species. What are two approaches

to population-level conservation? What are two

strategies for landscape-level conservation

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Choose five of the following terms and provide a brief definition:

• Extinction vortex

• Minimum viable population

• Effective population size

• Movement corridor

• Biodiversity hot spot

• Biological magnification

• Ecological footprint

• Sustainable development

Extinction vortex

Minimum viable population

Effective population size

Movement corridor

Biodiversity hot spot

Biological magnification

Ecological footprint

Sustainable development