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Carolina Bays Quiz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. In what direction are all Carolina Bays aligned?

       East-West

       Northwest-Southeast

       Northeast-Southwest

 

2. Which of the following is a currently held scientific theory describing how Carolina Bays may have been formed?

       They were formed by a school of pre-historic beached whales trying to get back into the ocean.

       They were formed by underground springs eroding the Earth's surface.

       They were formed by swirling ocean currents.

 

3. Which of the following is NOT a reason why seasonal wetlands such as mineral-based Carolina Bays provide good habitat for amphibians?

       They do not contain fish, which can prey on amphibian eggs and tadpoles.

       They are often filled with dense vegetation, which allows amphibians to hide from birds and other predators.

       They contain both water and land habitat, which are important for the different stages of amphibian life cycles.

 

4. How does peat form?

       When dead plant material becomes trapped underground and there is not enough sunlight available for it to decompose.

       When soils are saturated or flooded for long periods of time and there is not enough oxygen in the soils for microbes to fully break down the dead plant material.

       There are not enough nutrients in the soil to fuel complete decomposition of plant matter.

 

5. Which of the following is NOT a way that longleaf pine tress are adapted to wildfires?

       Their roots grow very slowly to allow gradual establishment of the tree over a long period of time.

       Their pinecones are covered by a hard outer shell that must be burnt before it will open up and release the seeds.

       Seedlings spend the first several years of life as small tufts of needles growing out of the ground, which keeps tip of the stem protected underground and allows the tree to focus energy on root development.

 

 

Click below to find out how you did.  When you have finished reviewing your answers, click on the bird at left to explore another part of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin...

 

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