Chapter 42 Opener
Concept 42.1 Ecological Systems Vary in Space and over Time
Discuss the validity of the following statement:
Ecological systems at the organism, population,
community, and ecosystem scales differ from one
another only with respect to geographic scale (size of
land area or water volume involved).
Figure 42.1 The Hierarchy of Ecological Systems
Concept 42.1 Ecological Systems Vary in Space and over Time
Ecological systems at the organism, population,
community, and ecosystem scales differ from one
another only with respect to geographic scale (size of
land area or water volume involved).
a. True
b. False
c. I don’t understand this question.
Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet
Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet
Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet (Part 1)
Figure 42.2 The Microbial Community of the Human Gut Depends on the Host’s Diet (Part 2)
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
High latitudes are cooler than low latitudes because as a
result of Earth’s spherical shape, high latitudes are
farther away from the sun than low latitudes.
a. True
b. False
c. I don’t understand this question.
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
Discuss the validity of the following statement:
High latitudes are cooler than low latitudes because as a
result of Earth’s spherical shape, high latitudes are
farther away from the sun than low latitudes.
Figure 42.3 Solar Energy Input Varies with Latitude
Figure 42.3 Solar Energy Input Varies with Latitude
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
Winter and summer seasons occur because Earth is farther
from the sun in winter and closer to it in summer.
a. True
b. False
c. I don’t understand the question.
Figure 42.4 The Tilt of Earth’s Axis of Rotation Causes the Seasons
Figure 42.4 The Tilt of Earth’s Axis of Rotation Causes the Seasons
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
Discuss the validity of the following statement:
Winter and summer seasons occur because Earth is farther
from the sun in winter and closer to it in summer.
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
The direction of prevailing winds at Earth’s surface is
determined solely by Hadley cell circulation in the
atmosphere that results from latitudinal gradients in solar
energy input.
a. True
b. False
c. I don’t understand this question.
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
Discuss the validity of the following statement:
The direction of prevailing winds at Earth’s surface is
determined solely by Hadley cell circulation in the
atmosphere.
Figure 42.5 Global Atmospheric Circulation
Figure 42.5 Global Atmospheric Circulation
Figure 42.6 Direction of Prevailing Surface Winds
Figure 42.6 Direction of Prevailing Surface Winds
Figure 42.7 Ocean Currents
Figure 42.8 Walter Climate Diagrams Summarize Climate in an Ecologically Relevant Way
Apply the Concept, Ch. 42, p. 829
Concept 42.2 Climate and Topography Shape Earth’s Physical Environments
Why are tropical latitudes and mountaintops wet?
a. As air rises, it cools.
b. Liquid water evaporates as it is warmed and water
vapor condenses as it is cooled.
c. Both a and b are involved.
d. Neither a nor b is involved.
e. I don’t understand this question.
Figure 42.9 A Rain Shadow
Figure 42.9 A Rain Shadow
Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography
Comparing these two Walter climate diagrams showing rainforest in two different
locations, we can see that
a. the location depicted by diagram A is wetter in January than the location
depicted in diagram B.
b. location A has more seasonal variation than location B.
c. location A is warmer than location B.
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography
With a partner or discussion group, compare the two Walter climate diagrams
below, which show rainforests in two different locations.
Discuss their similarities and differences: Which is (a) wetter in January, (b) more
seasonal, and (c) warmer?
Discuss where on Earth you would expect to find these two different rainforest
biomes. Do you think they would both be found in the Northern Hemisphere?
Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography
Temperate rainforest: Large amount
of rainfall overall but more seasonal
variation in both temperature and
precipitation.
Tropical rainforest: Generally
warm and wet year-round.
Figure 42.10 Temperature and Precipitation Gradients Determine Terrestrial Biomes
Figure 42.11 Global Terrestrial Biomes
Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents
Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 1)
Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 2)
Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 3)
Figure 42.12 Same Biome, Different Continents (Part 4)
Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms
Referring to the figure below, discuss the likelihood of finding closely
related organisms in the following pairs of regions:
• Europe and Asia
• North and South America
• Africa and South America
Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms
Referring to the figure above, the likelihood of finding closely related
organisms is greatest in which of the following pair of regions?
a. Australia and New Zealand
b. North and South America
c. Africa and South America
d. The likelihood is the same for each pair.
e. I don’t understand this question.
Concept 42.3 Physical Geography Provides the Template for Biogeography
Do the same set of factors determine characteristics of
terrestrial and aquatic biomes?
a. Yes
b. No
Table 42.1 Major Aquatic Biomes
Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones
Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones
Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones (Part 1)
Figure 42.13 Water-Depth Zones (Part 2)
Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms
Alfred Russel Wallace proposed that a line (now known as
Wallace’s line) separates two distinct faunal regions in
Southeast Asia, between Bali and Lombok.
Discuss the reasons for the faunal differences between
these two islands.
Concept 42.4 Geological History Has Shaped the Distributions of Organisms
Alfred Russel Wallace proposed that a line (now known as
Wallace’s line) separates two distinct faunal regions in
Southeast Asia, between Bali and Lombok. We now know
that distinctive “line” is a boundary because of
a. distance between the islands.
b. depth of the ocean trench between the islands.
c. climate differences.
d. soil differences.
e. All of the above
Figure 42.14 Wallace’s Line
Figure 42.14 Wallace’s Line
Figure 42.15 Movement of the Continents Shaped Earth’s Biogeographic Regions
Figure 42.15 Movement of the Continents Shaped Earth’s Biogeographic Regions
Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus
Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus
Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus (Part 1)
Figure 42.16 Distribution of Nothofagus (Part 2)
Apply the Concept, Ch. 42, p. 837
Figure 42.17 Human Agricultural Practices Produce a Uniform Landscape
Figure 42.18 Harmonious Grazers
Concept 42.5 Human Activities Affect Ecological Systems on a Global Scale
Referring to Concept 42.5 of the textbook, which of the
following human activities do you think are most
strongly blurring biogeographic boundaries?
a. The moving of organisms on purpose or by accident
b. The clearing of land for agriculture
c. The fragmentation of habitats
d. I don’t understand this question.
Concept 42.6 Ecological Investigation Depends on Natural History Knowledge and
Modeling
One way to investigate the impacts of atmospheric greenhouse gases
on Earth’s climate would be to have several Earths where we burn
fossil fuels to increase atmospheric carbon dioxide, and several
more Earths as controls where the atmospheric CO2 composition is
held constant. Why might modeling be a better way to assess the
potential impacts of greenhouse gases on Earth’s climate?
a. Models are useful in addressing complex problems.
b. We only have one Earth, and no replicates or controls are
available.
c. Modeling allows us to predict effects of CO2 on climate without
having to wait for experimental results.
d. An experiment that affected the whole planet might be difficult to
get approved, very expensive, and might have undesirable or
irreversible impacts.
e. All of the above
Concept 42.6 Ecological Investigation Depends on Natural History Knowledge and
Modeling
Model Predictions
Real World Data