Elements of Ecology, 8e (Smith/Smith)

Chapter 4 The Terrestrial Environment

4.1 Short Answer Questions

1) Animal life depends on the ________ within a region to provide the essential resources of
food and cover.
Answer: vegetation
Topic: Introduction to Chapter 4

2) About 75%—95% of living cells, both plant and animal, is composed of ________.
Answer: water
Topic: Section 4.1

3) The two physical factors that vary most in terrestrial environments are ________ and
________.
Answer: temperature; precipitation or moisture
Topic: Section 4.1

4) The amount of light at any depth in the canopy is affected by the number of ________ above.
Answer: leaves
Topic: Section 4.2

5) The wavelengths that make up the visible light spectrum are referred to as ________ radiation.
Answer: photosynthetically active
Topic: Section 4.2

6) In the temperate regions of the world, many forest tree species are ________, shedding their
leaves during the winter months.
Answer: deciduous
Topic: Section 4.2

7) A collection of natural bodies of earth, composed of mineral and organic matter and capable of
supporting plant growth, is referred to as ________.
Answer: soil
Topic: Section 4.3

8) Soil formation begins with the ________ of rocks and their minerals.
Answer: weathering
Topic: Section 4.4

9) A rock that is broken into smaller fragments as a result of freezing and thawing has
experienced ________ weathering.
Answer: mechanical
Topic: Section 4.4

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10) The parent material of soils originating from sand and silt carried by the wind is referred to
as ________.
Answer: eolian
Topic: Section 4.5

11) The movement of solutes through the soil is known as ________.

Answer: leaching
Topic: Section 4.5

12) ________ matter (particularly humus) makes soil dark or black.

Answer: Organic
Topic: Section 4.6

13) Particles of ________ control the water-holding capacity of soil and ion exchange.
Answer: clay
Topic: Section 4.6

14) ________ is a property of soils that is determined by the different sizes and types of particles
in soils.
Answer: Soil texture
Topic: Section 4.6

15) The largest particles of soil are referred to as ________.

Answer: gravel
Topic: Section 4.6

16) A sequence of horizontal layers of soil is referred to as a soil ________.

Answer: profile
Topic: Section 4.7

17) Distinct layers in the soil that are created by localized chemical and physical processes are
called ________.
Answer: horizons
Topic: Section 4.7

18) The process of mineral particles such as clay and salts accumulating in the B layer of soils is
referred to as ________.
Answer: illuviation
Topic: Section 4.7

19) When the amount of water in a soil exceeds what the pore space can hold, the soil is
________.
Answer: saturated
Topic: Section 4.8

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20) The ________ point is the stage at which the moisture level in soil decreases to a level at
which plants can no longer extract water.
Answer: wilting
Topic: Section 4.8

21) The amount of water retained by the soil between field capacity and wilting point is the
available water ________.
Answer: capacity
Topic: Section 4.8

22) ________ are positively charged particles in the soil that attract anions.
Answer: Cations
Topic: Section 4.9

23) The ________ exchange capacity is a basic measure of soil quality and increases with higher
clay and organic matter content.
Answer: cation
Topic: Section 4.9

24) Soils with a pH greater than 7 are considered to be ________.

Answer: basic or alkaline
Topic: Section 4.9

25) Regions that are subjected to heavy volcanic activity have dark soils called ________.
Answer: andisols
Topic: Section 4.10

26) ________ is a process common to soils found in humid environments in the tropical and
subtropical regions.
Answer: Laterization
Topic: Section 4.10

27) In low-lying areas with poor drainage, ________ results in a black or bluish-gray soil with a
high organic content.
Answer: gleization
Topic: Section 4.10

28) The vertical reduction or ________ of light through a stand can be estimated by leaf area
index.
Answer: attenuation
Topic: Quantifying Ecology 4.1: Beer's Law and the Attenuation of Light

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4.2 Multiple-Choice Questions

1) A waxy layer coating the aerial parts of most plants, such as stems and leaves, which reduces
water loss is referred to as the
A) meristem.
B) vascular cambium.
C) cuticle.
D) xylem.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.1

2) Organisms that live in aquatic systems experience limited temperature fluctuations due to
water's
A) high specific heat.
B) high viscosity.
C) high surface tension.
D) covalent nature.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.1

3) Each of the following is a challenge faced by a terrestrial plant except

A) buoyancy.
B) desiccation.
C) cells and tissues to maintain structure.
D) variability in air temperature.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.1

4) If a tree 50 m high has 30,000 leaves, the surface area of the leaves is 300 m2, and the amount
of ground covered by the tree's canopy is 75 m2. The leaf area index (LAI) is
A) 4.
B) 6.
C) 100.
D) 400.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.2

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5) Which wavelength of light penetrates through plant cover the farthest?
A) violet (400 nm)
B) green (500 nm)
C) red (660 nm)
D) far-red (730 nm)
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.2

6) The leaf area index (LAI) of a temperate deciduous forest is highest during
A) fall.
B) spring.
C) summer.
D) winter.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.2

7) Light availability within a forest is lowest in the

A) canopy layer.
B) midstory layer.
C) understory layer.
D) ground layer.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.2

8) All the following factors affect the attenuation of light in water, except
A) phytoplankton.
B) water itself.
C) intensity of light.
D) dissolved substances.
Answer: D
Topic: Quantifying Ecology 4.1: Beer's Law and the Attenuation of Light

9) Soil is formed from the layer of unconsolidated debris overlaying hard, unweathered rock
referred to as
A) regolith.
B) topsoil.
C) till.
D) loam.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.3

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10) The mechanical destruction and/or chemical modification of rock into smaller particles is
called
A) leaching.
B) mineralization.
C) percolation.
D) weathering.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.4

11) Soils developing from sand and silt carried by the wind are referred to as
A) till.
B) eolian.
C) colluvium.
D) fluvial.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.5

12) Under which conditions are the processes of weathering, leaching, and input of organic
material from plants into soil maximized?
A) warm temperatures and abundant water
B) cool temperatures and abundant water
C) cool temperatures and scarce water
D) warm temperatures and scarce water
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.5

13) Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A) Topography affects the erosion of parent material.
B) Soil develops very rapidly, within several years.
C) Plants move nutrients from deep in the soil to the surface.
D) Plant roots stabilize the soil surface.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.5

14) Soil particles are classified on the basis of

A) age.
B) color.
C) water content.
D) size.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.6

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15) Soils rich in iron oxide are
A) blackish.
B) yellowish-brown or reddish.
C) whitish or grayish.
D) greenish.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.6

16) The smallest particles occurring in soil are referred to as

A) clay.
B) gravel.
C) sand.
D) silt.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.6

17) The most shallow soils occur in or on

A) steep slopes.
B) native grasslands.
C) valleys.
D) floodplains.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.6

18) The surface layer of soils is referred to as the

A) A horizon.
B) B horizon.
C) C horizon.
D) O horizon.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.7

19) The E horizon of soils is characterized by the maximum amount of

A) biological activity.
B) decomposition.
C) leaching of mineral particles.
D) accumulation of leached mineral particles.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.7

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20) The soil horizon in which leached mineral particles such as clay and salts tend to accumulate
is the
A) A horizon.
B) B horizon.
C) C horizon.
D) O horizon.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.7

21) The amount of water a soil holds at field capacity is greatest for
A) clay.
B) sand.
C) silt.
D) loam.
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.8

22) When the amount of water in soil exceeds what the pore space can hold, the soil is
A) at field capacity.
B) at the wilting point.
C) saturated.
D) desiccated.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.8

23) Which of the following soils holds the most water?

A) clay loam on a ridgetop
B) sandy loam in a valley
C) clay loam in a valley
D) sandy loam on a ridgetop
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.8

24) The available water capacity is highest for

A) clay soils.
B) silty soils.
C) sandy soils.
D) intermediate clay loam soils.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.8

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25) Which of the following is a common soil anion?
A) NH4+
B) Ca2+
C) NO3—
D) Mg2+
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.9

26) Generally, an ion with a ________ positive charge and ________ size will bind most
strongly to a soil particle.
A) greater; smaller
B) smaller; larger
C) smaller; smaller
D) greater; larger
Answer: A
Topic: Section 4.9

27) As soil acidity increases, the concentration of ________ increases.

A) Ca2+
B) Al3+
C) Na+
D) NH4+
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.9

28) Aluminum is toxic to plants because it

A) destroys chlorophyll in the leaves, reducing the rate of photosynthesis.
B) inhibits production of pollen, reducing the rate of reproduction.
C) damages the roots, reducing nutrient uptake.
D) inhibits mitosis within the meristem tissues, reducing growth of the stems.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.9

29) Dark clay soils that show significant expansion and contraction due to wetting and drying are
referred to as
A) mollisols.
B) vertisols.
C) spodosols.
D) andisols.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.10

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30) The soil-forming process occurring in cool, moist climates of midlatitude regions where
coniferous vegetation dominates is referred to as
A) laterization.
B) podzolization.
C) gleization.
D) calcification.
Answer: B
Topic: Section 4.10

31) The soil-forming process that occurs naturally in desert basins and along the coast and is a
problem in agricultural areas where irrigation is practiced is
A) calcification.
B) gleization.
C) laterization.
D) salinization.
Answer: D
Topic: Section 4.10

32) Soil in regions with high rainfall or in low-lying areas associated with poor drainage form
through the process of
A) laterization.
B) calcification.
C) gleization.
D) podzolization.
Answer: C
Topic: Section 4.10

33) The general relationship between available light and leaf area index (LAI) is described by
A) Bohr's law.
B) Beer's law.
C) Leibig's law.
D) the Central Limit Theorem.
Answer: B
Topic: Quantifying Ecology 4.1: Beer's Law and the Attenuation of Light

4.3 True/False Questions

1) The greatest limitation faced by terrestrial organisms is desiccation.

Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.1

2) Trees allocate most of their tissue mass to supportive and conductive tissues in the trunk.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.1

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3) Temperature fluctuation is greater in aquatic environments than in terrestrial environments.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.1

4) The greater the leaf area index (LAI) above the forest floor, the lower the quantity of light
reaching the forest floor.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.2

5) In high-latitude habitats, forest canopies that have leaves positioned at an angle will absorb
light more effectively.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.2

6) In temperate deciduous forest, light penetration to the ground is greater during summer than
during winter.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.2

7) Soil is an abiotic environment.

Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.3

8) Soil formed by water seeping into rock crevices, freezing, and expanding is an example of
chemical weathering.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.4

9) Microorganisms contribute to the formation of soils.

Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.5

10) The greater the depth of water percolation, the greater the depth of weathering and soil
development.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.5

11) More rainfall enters the soil on steep slopes than on level land.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.5

12) Poorly drained soils or soils saturated by water tend to be yellowish-brown or reddish.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.6

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13) In forests, most of the organic matter that enters the soil comes from plant roots.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.6

14) The soil in a particular area is arranged in layers called horizons that will vary in texture,
structure, and consistency from one another.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.7

15) Eluviation refers to the leaching of minerals and finer soil particles from the upper layers to
the lower layers of soil.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.7

16) An E horizon is more likely to develop in grassland soils than in forest soils.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.7

17) Clay soils have smaller pores and hold considerably less water than sandy soils.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.8

18) Coarse-textured soils have a low field capacity and a low wilting point.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.8

19) Soils on ridgetops are generally drier than valley soils.

Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.8

20) Ions carrying a positive charge are cations.

Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.9

21) Most soils contain far more cations than anions.

Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.9

22) An increase in soil acidity is responsible for releasing soluble aluminum, which can be toxic
to plant roots.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.9

23) Oxisols are formed in areas with frozen soil.

Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.10

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24) Entisols are immature soils associated with recently deposited sediments.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.10

25) Calcification results in the buildup of dissolved alkaline salts in the B horizon of soils.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Section 4.10

26) Laterization is a soil-forming process that is typical of cool, moist climates at high latitudes.
Answer: FALSE
Topic: Section 4.10

27) Beer's law can be used to describe the attenuation of light in both aquatic and terrestrial
environments.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Quantifying Ecology 4.1: Beer's Law and the Attenuation of Light

28) The application of Beer's law to attenuation of light in aquatic environments is more complex
than in terrestrial environments.
Answer: TRUE
Topic: Quantifying Ecology 4.1: Beer's Law and the Attenuation of Light

4.4 Essay Questions

1) Describe three structural adaptations of terrestrial plants that allow them to survive on land.
Topic: Section 4.1

2) Identify and discuss the biotic and abiotic factors affecting the amount of light penetrating
through a forest to the forest floor.
Topic: Section 4.2

3) Give several possible definitions of "soil." Why is it difficult to develop a good definition of
soil, even for a pedologist?
Topic: Section 4.3

4) Explain and give examples of how mechanical and chemical weathering lead to the formation
of soils.
Topic: Section 4.4

5) Describe and give specific examples of how biological activities contribute to soil formation.
Topic: Section 4.5

6) Define soil texture and describe two ways that texture may influence the soil function.
Topic: Section 4.6

7) Draw a typical soil profile. Label and describe each of the four horizons.
Topic: Section 4.7

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8) Define the available water capacity of soil and discuss how it is affected by the physical and
topographical characteristics of soil.
Topic: Section 4.8

9) Define soil fertility and explain why cation exchange capacity (CEC) is integral to the
maintenance of soil fertility.
Topic: Section 4.9

10) Explain one example of the influence of climate and vegetation on the type of soil that
develops in an area.
Topic: Section 4.10

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