Chapter 52

The lithosphere includes all: a. oceans. b. ice caps. c. rocks, soils, and sediments. d. gases and airborne particles. e. places where organisms live.

Earth's \(23.5^{\circ}\) tilt on its axis directly causes: a. latitudinal variation in average annual rainfall. b. ocean currents to rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. c. microclimates to vary dramatically over short distances. d. low rainfall on the leeward side of mountain ranges. e. seasonal variation in the amount of solar radiation.

Adiabatic cooling causes rising air masses to: a. absorb moisture from Earth's surface. b. release precipitation. c. change the direction of the El Nifio current. d. flow toward the equator from the poles. be deflected from a strictly northward or southward flow.

The term "rain shadow" describes the: a. low rainfall that is typical on the leeward side of mountains. b. low rainfall that is typical at \(30^{\circ}\) latitude. c. high rainfall that is typical on the windward side of mountains. d. blocking of rain by vegetation in dense tropical forests. low rainfall that is typical in the interior of continents.

The major climatic factors that govern the distributions of terrestrial biomes are: a. temperature only. b. rainfall only. c. wind speed only. d. temperature and rainfall. e. temperature, rainfall, and wind speed.

Which biome experiences the highest annual rainfall? a. tropical rain forest b. tropical savanna c. chaparral d. temperature grassland e. arctic tundra.

From which biome are trees excluded by periodic fires and grazing herbivores? a. tropical rain forest b. thorn forest c. chaparral d. temperate grassland e. arctic tundra

The major source of nutrients in the headwaters of a small stream is from: a. dead leaves and other organic matter from adjacent land. b. photosynthesis by phytoplankton. c. photosynthesis by floating aquatic plants. d. the activity of chemoautotrophic bacteria. e. minerals from the underlying bedrock.

During the spring overturn in a temperate zone lake: a. oxygen is carried from the surface to the bottom, and nutrients are carried from the bottom to the surface.b. nutrients are carried from the surface to the bottom, and oxygen is carried from the bottom to the surface. c. nutrients and oxygen are carried from the bottom waters to the surface waters. d. nutrients and oxygen are carried from the surface waters to the bottom waters. e. oxygen concentration remains constant at all depths, and nutrients sink to the bottom.

In which habitat must organisms adjust regularly to changing salinity? a. salt marsh b. coral reef c. benthic province d. estuary e. riffle