Forest Literacy Quiz - The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

Temperate Forest Quiz!

Test your knowledge of the temperate broadleaf biome.

1. Which of the Earth's 13 terrestrial biomes is the most disturbed by human activity?

A. Tropical Rainforest

B. Grasslands/Savannahs

C. Temperate Broadleaf Forest

D. Tundra

2. In what geographic location(s) can you find the temperate broadleaf forest?

A. In Eastern North America Only

B. In Africa

C. In North America, Europe, and China

D. Throughout South America

3. What do these eastern North American bird species have in common? Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, Labrador Duck and Passenger Pigeon.

A. They have all become extinct since European settlement.

B. They all nest in imperiled swamp habitats.

C. They are some of the species adapted to living in cities.

D. They are protected by endangered species laws in the U.S. and Canada.

4. The temperate broadleaf forest of eastern North America boasts more than half of all the species in the world of what kind of animal?

A. Grasshoppers & Crickets

B. Crayfish

C. Song Birds

D. Butterflies

5. Approximately how many species of trees can the temperate forest of the eastern U.S. claim?

A. 240

B. 43

C. 512

D. 85

6. A person born in 1940 and dying in 2020 will likely see 7-10 tree species become functionally extinct in the eastern temperate forest. As far as we know to date, which one of the below species is least likely to go extinct by 2020?

A. Eastern Hemlock

B. American Chestnut

C. White Ash

D. Sugar Maple

7. An intact temperate forest has thousands of organisms, only a few of which are trees. The largest chunk of old-growth forest left in the forest heartland is in the Great Smoky Mountains, a region being actively bio-inventoried. Approximately how many multi-cellular species do scientists expect to find when they finish with the project?

A. 20,000

B. 50,000

C. 100,000

D. 500,000

8. Does an old-growth forest really claim more species of plants and animals when compared to a healthy secondary forest? Choose the ratio of old-growth diversity to secondary forest diversity.

A. The secondary forest has twice as much diversity as an old-growth forest.

B. There is no difference between them.

C. The old-growth has twice as much diversity as a secondary forest.

D. There is no way to tell.

9. Of the original temperate forest cover that once covered the Eastern third of the United States, approximately how much of it remains as natural undisturbed old-growth forest? (Hint: ten percent of the Pacific Northwest rainforest remains intact as old growth forest.)

A. 0%

B. 0.5%

C. 5%

D. 7.5%

10. The Eastern temperate forest has exceptional diversity in what group of organisms? Pick just one:

A. Woody Plants

B. Aquatic Life

C. Grasses

D. Birds

11. In a healthy old temperate forest in the Smokies, the greatest vertebrate biomass (weight) per acre comes from…

A. Wood Frogs

B. Deer

C. Birds

D. Salamanders

12. Unadulterated forest soils are living earth membranes teaming with life. Good healthy garden soils have a bacteria to fungus weight ratio of 1:1. Which ratio of bacteria to fungus can be expected in a healthy eastern forest soil?

A. 1:1

B. 1:2

C. 1:50

D. 2:1

13. The temperate broadleaf forests of the northern latitudes require what climate conditions?

A. Heavy rainfall in at least nine months of the year and no months with lows averaging below freezing.

B. Moderate rainfall in every month of the year and at least 1 month with lows averaging below freezing.

C. Light rainfall in at least nine months of the year and at least 3 months with lows averaging below freezing.

14. Three of the following groups of animals are found ONLY in North America, and are especially well represented in the eastern deciduous forest. Circle the one that is NOT found only in North America.

A. Lungless Salamanders

B. Hellbenders and Mudpuppies

C. Darters (fish)

D. Snapping Turtles

How did you do?!

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