RS300
Quiz
09-09-99
1. In temperate climates grasses are at an advantage when precipitation occurs at a time when temperatures are favorable for growth. (a) true (b) false
2. The coincidence of precipitation (400 mm) and temperature suitable for growth is high and soils are fine texture; which plants are favored? (a) shrubs (b) grasses
3. Which has the highest water availability? (a) sandy soil (b) clay loam soil
4. Conifers are generally more drought tolerant than deciduous trees (a) true (b) false
5. It is impossible for evaporation to exceed precipitation (a) true (b) false
6. If coincidence of precipitation and temperature is low and soils are moderately coarse would you expect to find (a) grasses (b) shrubs
7. The climate is semi-arid. Precipitation ranges between 200 and 350 mm, with an average of 250 mm. Fifty to 60 % of the precipitation comes in the late fall, winter and spring. Summers are quite dry. The area is probably dominated by (a) big sagebrush [a shrub], (b) big bluestem and yellow indiangrass [grasses] (c) ponderosa pine [a tree]
8. Precipitation around Tucson, Arizona peaks in Feb-Mar (about 1″) and Jul-Aug (2″), but total ppt is 275 mm [in this case we say precipitation is bi-modal]. One would expect to find (a) grasses (b) shrubs (c) mix of grasses and shrubs
9. To convert millimeters to inches (?) divide by 25.4 (b) divide by 2.54 (c) multiply by 0.03937
10. A pacific climate is characterized by wet winters and dry summers. (a) true (b) false
11. Have you tried to purchase Bulletin 450-A? (a) yes (b) no
12. Homologues for grasslands around the world include (a) veld [Africa] (b) pampas [So America] (c) prairie [America] (d) steppe [Eur-Asia]
13. You are in the high desert of eastern Oregon; ppt is about 250 mm. What is the structure of the vegetation?
Shrub-steppe Under story is probably perennial
14. You are in the sandhills of Nebraska; ppt is about 400 mm. What is the structure of the vegetation?
Grassland
15. You are in northeast Morocco; ppt is about 250 mm. What is the structure of the vegetation?
Shrub-steppe Under story could be either perennial or annual, depending on past use
16. You are in northeast Montana; ppt is about 450 mm. What is the structure of the vegetation?
Depends on the soils Probably mostly grass
17. You are driving up from Houston, TX on Highway 59 or 69 through a mixed hardwood forest. Suddenly, like someone drew a line on the map, you are in a coniferous forest. What probably happened?
Probably changed soil type, i.e., went from fine textured to course textured soil.
Sands are the more xeric soil.