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Total Categories: 8
The Afrotropical biogeographic realm is defined as exclusively encompassing the continent of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
Answer: False
The Afrotropical realm's geographical scope extends beyond sub-Saharan Africa to include Madagascar and the southern Arabian Peninsula, thus it does not exclusively encompass only Africa south of the Sahara.
The Afrotropical realm was previously referred to as the Ethiopian Zone or Ethiopian Region.
Answer: True
Historically, the Afrotropical realm was designated by the terms Ethiopian Zone or Ethiopian Region.
A significant portion of the Afrotropical realm experiences a temperate climate, with only small areas being tropical.
Answer: False
The majority of the Afrotropical realm is characterized by a tropical climate, with temperate zones being limited primarily to the southernmost tip of the continent.
The Palearctic realm is separated from the Afrotropical realm by a wide belt of tropical rainforests.
Answer: False
The Palearctic and Afrotropical realms are primarily demarcated by a broad expanse of deserts, such as the Sahara, rather than tropical rainforests.
Which of the following regions is NOT part of the Afrotropical realm?
Answer: North Africa excluding the Sahara Desert
The Afrotropical realm encompasses Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and the southern Arabian Peninsula, but typically excludes North Africa beyond the Sahara Desert.
What were the former names used for the Afrotropical realm?
Answer: The Ethiopian Zone or Ethiopian Region
The Afrotropical realm was historically referred to as the Ethiopian Zone or the Ethiopian Region.
Which geographical feature primarily separates the Afrotropical realm from the Palearctic realm?
Answer: A broad belt of deserts like the Sahara
A broad belt of deserts, including the Sahara, serves as the primary geographical demarcation between the Afrotropical and Palearctic realms.
The Sahel is a zone of dense tropical rainforest located south of the Sahara Desert.
Answer: False
The Sahel is characterized as a semi-arid zone of short grassland and acacia savanna situated south of the Sahara Desert, not a dense tropical rainforest.
The Sudd wetland and the Niger Inland Delta are examples of major flooded grasslands found within the Sudanian Savanna.
Answer: True
The Sudd wetland and the Niger Inland Delta are indeed recognized as significant flooded grasslands located within the Sudanian Savanna biome.
The Zambezian region is primarily characterized by dense tropical rainforests.
Answer: False
The Zambezian region is primarily characterized by woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and thickets, such as Miombo woodlands, rather than dense tropical rainforests.
What ecological zone is described as a semi-arid area of short grassland and acacia savanna, located south of the Sahara?
Answer: The Sahel
The Sahel is defined as a semi-arid zone of short grassland and acacia savanna situated immediately south of the Sahara Desert.
Which two major flooded grasslands are located within the Sudanian Savanna?
Answer: The Sudd wetland and the Niger Inland Delta
The Sudd wetland in South Sudan and the Niger Inland Delta in Mali are recognized as the two major flooded grasslands within the Sudanian Savanna.
Which of the following is NOT listed as a characteristic vegetation type of the Zambezian region?
Answer: Tropical moist broadleaf forests
The Zambezian region is characterized by woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and thickets, but not typically by tropical moist broadleaf forests.
The Guineo-Congolian region is characterized by arid desert landscapes.
Answer: False
The Guineo-Congolian region is predominantly characterized by lowland tropical moist broadleaf forests, contrasting sharply with arid desert landscapes.
The Dahomey Gap is a zone of forest-savanna mosaic that separates the Upper Guinean forests from the Lower Guinean forests.
Answer: True
The Dahomey Gap functions as a transitional zone of forest-savanna mosaic, effectively separating the Upper Guinean forests from the Lower Guinean forests.
The Congolian forests, located in the Congo Basin, represent the smallest tropical forest zone in Africa.
Answer: False
The Congolian forests, situated within the Congo Basin, constitute the largest tropical forest zone in Africa, not the smallest.
The Somali-Masai region is primarily characterized by dense, humid tropical rainforests.
Answer: False
The Somali-Masai region is primarily characterized by semi-arid Acacia-Commiphora woodlands, savannas, and bushlands, rather than dense, humid tropical rainforests.
Vachellia (formerly Acacia) and Commiphora species are the dominant trees in the Somali-Masai region's woodlands.
Answer: True
Thorny, dry-season deciduous species of Vachellia (formerly Acacia) and Commiphora are indeed the dominant trees found in the woodlands of the Somali-Masai region.
The Guineo-Congolian region is primarily characterized by what type of ecosystem?
Answer: Lowland tropical moist broadleaf forests
The Guineo-Congolian region is predominantly characterized by lowland tropical moist broadleaf forests.
What is the function of the Dahomey Gap within the Guinean forests?
Answer: It is a zone of forest-savanna mosaic that separates the Upper and Lower Guinean forest regions.
The Dahomey Gap functions as a zone of forest-savanna mosaic, acting as a significant biogeographical barrier that separates the Upper Guinean forests from the Lower Guinean forests.
Which area is identified as the largest tropical forest zone in Africa?
Answer: The Congolian forests in the Congo Basin
The Congolian forests, situated within the Congo Basin, are recognized as the largest tropical forest zone in Africa.
The Somali-Masai region is a center of endemism characterized by what type of vegetation?
Answer: Semi-arid Acacia-Commiphora woodlands, savannas, and bushlands
The Somali-Masai region is characterized by semi-arid Acacia-Commiphora woodlands, savannas, and bushlands, making it a significant center of endemism.
The Afromontane region extends from the Atlas Mountains in North Africa down to the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa.
Answer: False
The Afromontane region extends from the Ethiopian Highlands in the north to the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa, but it does not include the Atlas Mountains in North Africa.
The Namib Desert is known for its extensive inland grasslands and savannas.
Answer: False
The Namib Desert is characterized by its coastal location and arid conditions, featuring towering dunes and unique desert-adapted flora and fauna, rather than extensive inland grasslands and savannas.
The Cape floristic region is notable for its high number of endemic plant families, including the Proteaceae.
Answer: True
The Cape floristic region is indeed distinguished by a high concentration of endemic plant families, prominently featuring the Proteaceae.
What is a notable characteristic of the Cape floristic region?
Answer: It is a Mediterranean climate zone with many endemic plant families.
The Cape floristic region is distinguished by its Mediterranean climate and a remarkable concentration of endemic plant families, including the Proteaceae.
Madagascar and the Seychelles are remnants of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
Answer: True
Madagascar and the Granitic Seychelles are recognized as remnants of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, distinguishing them biogeographically.
Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands host only one endemic family of flowering plants.
Answer: False
Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands host ten endemic families of flowering plants, with eight endemic to Madagascar itself, contradicting the assertion of only one.
Madagascar and the Granitic Seychelles are distinct within the Afrotropical realm because they are:
Answer: Remnants of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana
Madagascar and the Granitic Seychelles are biogeographically distinct as they represent remnants of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
Giant Lobelias and Senecios are characteristic flora found in the Zambezian region.
Answer: False
Giant Lobelias and Senecios are characteristic flora of the Afromontane region, not typically associated with the Zambezian region's vegetation.
The East African Great Lakes Victoria, Malawi, and Tanganyika are significant centers for freshwater fish biodiversity, particularly cichlids.
Answer: True
The East African Great Lakes—Victoria, Malawi, and Tanganyika—are globally significant centers for freshwater fish biodiversity, especially renowned for their extensive radiation of cichlid species.
Ostriches (Struthionidae) and mousebirds (Coliidae) are examples of endemic mammal families found in the Afrotropics.
Answer: False
Ostriches and mousebirds are examples of endemic *bird* families found in the Afrotropics, not mammal families.
Gorillas and chimpanzees, both species of great apes, are endemic to Central Africa.
Answer: True
Both species of gorilla and both species of chimpanzee are indeed endemic to Central Africa.
Which of the East African Great Lakes are highlighted as significant centers of biodiversity for freshwater fishes, especially cichlids?
Answer: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi, and Lake Tanganyika
Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi, and Lake Tanganyika are highlighted as major centers of freshwater fish biodiversity, particularly for their diverse cichlid populations.
Which of the following is an example of an endemic order of mammals found in Africa?
Answer: Tubulidentata (aardvarks)
Tubulidentata (aardvarks) is one of the three endemic orders of mammals found exclusively in Africa.
Where are both species of gorilla and both species of chimpanzee endemic?
Answer: Central Africa
Both species of gorilla and both species of chimpanzee are endemic to the Central African region.
Tropical African forest constitutes approximately 18 percent of the world's total tropical forest area.
Answer: True
Tropical African forests indeed account for approximately 18 percent of the world's total tropical forest area.
African rainforests generally receive more consistent rainfall and exhibit higher flora diversity compared to rainforests on other continents.
Answer: False
African rainforests generally receive less consistent rainfall and exhibit lower flora diversity compared to rainforests on other continents, attributed to factors like Miocene infertility and Quaternary dry periods.
Experts estimated in the early 1990s that West African rainforests could disappear by 2020 if deforestation rates continued.
Answer: True
Based on deforestation rates observed in the early 1990s, experts projected that West African rainforests might disappear by the year 2020.
Fuel wood consumption is considered a minor factor contributing to tree stock decline in Africa.
Answer: False
Fuel wood consumption is considered a significant factor contributing to tree stock decline in Africa, as it constitutes a primary energy source for a large portion of the population.
By 1985, over 70% of West Africa's rainforests had been converted into other land uses like fallow lands or timber exploitation areas.
Answer: True
By 1985, a substantial portion, over 70%, of West Africa's rainforests had been converted into fallow lands or areas designated for timber exploitation.
The rate of deforestation in Africa is generally well-documented due to extensive reliable data and surveys.
Answer: False
The rate of deforestation in Africa is often less well-documented compared to other tropical regions due to a lack of extensive and reliable data and surveys in some areas.
What percentage of the world's total tropical forest is constituted by Tropical African forest?
Answer: Approximately 18%
Tropical African forests constitute approximately 18 percent of the global total tropical forest area.
Which factor is cited as a reason for the lower flora diversity in African rainforests compared to those on other continents?
Answer: Gradual infertility since the Miocene and severe dry periods
Gradual infertility since the Miocene epoch and severe dry periods during the Quaternary are cited as primary reasons for the comparatively lower flora diversity in African rainforests.
What is a major threat faced by rare and unique species in the African rainforest?
Answer: Poaching and habitat loss
Poaching and habitat loss represent major threats to the survival of rare and unique species within the African rainforest ecosystem.
According to projections made in the early 1990s, what was the estimated timeframe for the potential disappearance of West African rainforests if deforestation continued?
Answer: By 2020
In the early 1990s, experts projected that West African rainforests could potentially disappear by the year 2020 if current deforestation rates persisted.
Which of the following is a significant challenge complicating forest management and production in many African countries?
Answer: Economic and political changes, coupled with conflict
Economic instability, political changes, and ongoing conflicts significantly complicate forest management and production efforts across many African nations.
Why is the rate of deforestation in Africa often less known compared to other tropical regions?
Answer: There is a lack of dependable data and survey information in some countries.
The rate of deforestation in Africa is often less precisely known due to a deficiency in dependable data and comprehensive survey information within certain countries, hindering accurate assessment of changes in unbroken forest areas.
What role do cash crops like rubber and palm oil play in forest depletion in West African countries?
Answer: Dependence on them contributes to forest depletion and land-use change.
Dependence on cash crops such as rubber and palm oil for economic revenue often drives land-use change and contributes significantly to forest depletion in West African nations.
How did economic growth and environmental protection in industrialized European countries influence demand for West African timber?
Answer: It led to a higher demand for tropical hardwood.
Economic growth and increased environmental regulations in industrialized European nations led to a heightened demand for tropical hardwood, impacting timber extraction from regions like West Africa.
What was the estimated annual forest loss along the Gulf of Guinea in the first half of the 1980s?
Answer: Approximately 7,200 km²
During the first half of the 1980s, the estimated annual forest loss along the Gulf of Guinea was approximately 7,200 km².
What is the believed contribution of fuel wood consumption to tree stock decline in Africa?
Answer: It significantly contributes because demand exceeds forest renewal rates.
Fuel wood consumption is believed to contribute significantly to tree stock decline in Africa, as the demand for firewood, which provides 75% of the energy used in sub-Saharan Africa, often exceeds the rate of forest cover renewal.
Humans and their ancestors are believed to have originated in Asia.
Answer: False
The scientific consensus, supported by extensive fossil and genetic evidence, indicates that humans and their earliest ancestors originated in Africa, not Asia.
Research using the Congo River outflow core indicated that land temperatures in tropical Africa cooled significantly more than the Atlantic Ocean during the last ice age.
Answer: True
Research utilizing the Congo River outflow core data indicated that land temperatures in tropical Africa experienced a more significant cooling than the adjacent Atlantic Ocean during the last ice age.
What did the temperature record derived from the Congo River outflow core reveal about tropical Africa during the last ice age?
Answer: Land temperatures cooled more than the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.
The temperature record from the Congo River outflow core indicated that land temperatures in tropical Africa experienced a more significant cooling than the adjacent Atlantic Ocean during the last ice age.