Textbook Question
What makes the Gobi Desert of Asia a desert?
a. The growing season there is very short
b. It is hot
c. Temperatures vary little from summer to winter
d. It is dry
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Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse EnvironmentsProblem 13
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse EnvironmentsProblem 13Chapter 34, Problem 13
Phytoplankton are the major photosynthesizers in
a. The benthic realm of the ocean
b. The ocean photic zone
c. The intertidal zone
d. The aphotic zone of a lake
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the key terms in the question: Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that perform photosynthesis, meaning they require sunlight to produce energy.
Recall the definition of the 'photic zone': It is the upper layer of a body of water where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis to occur. This is where phytoplankton thrive.
Review the options provided: (a) The benthic realm refers to the bottom of a body of water, which often lacks sufficient light for photosynthesis. (b) The ocean photic zone is the sunlit region of the ocean. (c) The intertidal zone is the area between high and low tide, which may not always be submerged in water. (d) The aphotic zone is the deep part of a body of water where sunlight does not reach, making photosynthesis impossible.
Eliminate incorrect options: Phytoplankton cannot survive in the benthic realm (a) or the aphotic zone (d) due to the lack of sunlight. The intertidal zone (c) is not a primary habitat for phytoplankton because it is not consistently submerged in water.
Conclude that the correct answer is (b) the ocean photic zone, as it provides the necessary sunlight for phytoplankton to perform photosynthesis.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms found in aquatic environments. They are crucial to the marine food web, serving as the primary producers that convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis. This process not only supports the growth of phytoplankton but also produces oxygen and forms the base of the oceanic food chain.
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Photic Zone
The photic zone is the upper layer of a body of water where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis to occur. Typically extending to about 200 meters deep in the ocean, this zone is vital for the growth of phytoplankton, as they require light to produce energy. The depth and clarity of water can affect the extent of the photic zone, influencing the distribution of marine life.
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Benthic Realm
The benthic realm refers to the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers. Unlike the photic zone, the benthic realm is often devoid of light, making it unsuitable for photosynthesis. Organisms in this zone primarily rely on detritus and other organic matter for energy, contrasting with the primary production that occurs in the photic zone.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Which of the following sea creatures might be described as a pelagic animal of the aphotic zone?
a. A coral reef fish
b. An intertidal snail
c. A deep-sea squid
d. A harbor seal
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Textbook Question
Why do the tropics and the windward side of mountains receive more rainfall than areas around latitudes 30° north and south and the leeward side of mountains?
a. Rising warm, moist air cools and drops its moisture as rain.
b. Descending air condenses, creating clouds and rain.
c. There is more solar radiation in the tropics and on the windward side of mountains.
d. Earth's rotation creates seasonal differences in rainfall.
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Textbook Question
An ecologist monitoring the number of gorillas in a wildlife refuge over a five-year period is studying ecology at which level?a. organismb. populationc. communityd. ecosystem
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Textbook Question
Tropical rain forests are the most diverse biomes. What factors contribute to this diversity?
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Textbook Question
What biome do you live in? Describe your climate and the factors that have produced that climate. What plants and animals are typical of this biome? If you live in an urban or agricultural area, how have human interventions changed the natural biome?
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