SAT Subject Test in Biology › Ecological Principles
Which of the following biomes is dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, with some trees and shrubs, and characterized by seasonal rains, a pronounced dry season, and often large migratory mammals?
Savanna
Temperate deciduous forest
Tundra
Desert
Tropical rainforest
The characteristics listed describe a savanna. Deserts can also have pronounced periods of rain and dryness but are not dominated by grasses and not populated by large migratory animals. Tropical rainforests and deciduous forests are dominated by trees and tundras tend to be colder and may not receive much rainfall, but often have moist soil due to low evaporation rates.
Which of the following biomes is dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, with some trees and shrubs, and characterized by seasonal rains, a pronounced dry season, and often large migratory mammals?
Savanna
Temperate deciduous forest
Tundra
Desert
Tropical rainforest
The characteristics listed describe a savanna. Deserts can also have pronounced periods of rain and dryness but are not dominated by grasses and not populated by large migratory animals. Tropical rainforests and deciduous forests are dominated by trees and tundras tend to be colder and may not receive much rainfall, but often have moist soil due to low evaporation rates.
Which of the following is not an abiotic component of an ecosystem?
Molds
Temperature
Humidity
Minerals
Wind speed
Abiotic factors are non-living and molds are living.
An ecosystem includes which of the following?
Communities and populations
Biomes, communities, and populations
Communities only
Populations only
Biomes and populations
Ecosystems are composed of communities and communities are composed of populations. A biome is a larger unit than an ecosystem, as it includes multiple ecosystems.
Which of the following is not an abiotic component of an ecosystem?
Molds
Temperature
Humidity
Minerals
Wind speed
Abiotic factors are non-living and molds are living.
Which biome is characterized by hot, dry weather with mild, rainy winters, some vegetation, and occasional fires?
Chaparral
Desert
Savanna
Temperate grassland
Temperate forest
The chaparral biome is known for being rather dry and for having these characteristics. They are different than deserts, as deserts do not have a rainy season. While savannas are often warm, they have a longer 6-8 month rainy season.
An ecosystem includes which of the following?
Communities and populations
Biomes, communities, and populations
Communities only
Populations only
Biomes and populations
Ecosystems are composed of communities and communities are composed of populations. A biome is a larger unit than an ecosystem, as it includes multiple ecosystems.
Which biome is characterized by hot, dry weather with mild, rainy winters, some vegetation, and occasional fires?
Chaparral
Desert
Savanna
Temperate grassland
Temperate forest
The chaparral biome is known for being rather dry and for having these characteristics. They are different than deserts, as deserts do not have a rainy season. While savannas are often warm, they have a longer 6-8 month rainy season.
Which of the following is not true about an ecosystem?
Only internal processes control and impact the ecosystem.
An ecosystem is not static: it can change over time.
An ecosystem describes the biotic and abiotic factors of the environment interacting.
An ecosystem is made up of interactions between multiple species.
Ecosystems can be terrestrial or aquatic.
External process also affect the ecosystem. For example, climate is a very important external factor that will affect temperature and precipitation within the ecosystem.
Which of the following is not generally a characteristic of an organism that is a k-strategist?
Short life span
Large body size
Efficient use of energy
Slow maturation
Reproduction at a late age
"k" and "r" refer to two different reproductive strategies. K-strategists tend to occupy a more stable environment and have a larger body size as adults and at birth, fewer offspring, longer life spans, more efficient use of energy, later age of reproduction, slower maturation, more parental care, and longer gestation times. The question asked which characteristic is not generally true of k-strategists, and the correct answer is "shorter life spans," which describes r-strategists instead.