Answer: their nobility

Context: It is forbidden for the Divine Leader not to be from the family of Muhammad.[citation needed] According to Ali al-Ridha, since it is obligatory to obey him, there should be a sign to clearly indicate the Divine Leader. That sign is his well-known ties of kinship with Muhammad and his clear appointment so that the people could distinguish him from others, and be clearly guided toward him. Otherwise others are nobler than Muhammad's offspring and they are to be followed and obeyed; and the offspring of Muhammad are obedient and subject to the offspring of Muhammad’s enemies such as Abi Jahl or Ibn Abi Ma’eet.[original research?] However, Muhammad is much nobler than others to be in charge and to be obeyed. Moreover, once the prophethood of Muhammad is testified they would obey him, no one would hesitate to follow his offspring and this would not be hard for anyone. While to follow the offspring of the corrupted families is difficult.[original research?] And that is maybe why the basic characteristic of Muhammad and other prophets was their nobility.[original research?] For none of them, it is said, were originated from a disgraced family.[citation needed] It is believed that all Muhammad's ancestors up to Adam were true Muslims. [a][citation needed] Jesus was also from a pious family, as it is mentioned in Quran that after his birth, people said to Mary: O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste."[b][improper synthesis?]

Question: What is the basic characteristis of Muhammad and the prophets?


Answer: Muslims

Question: What religion were all of Muhammad's ancestors?


Answer: Jesus

Question: Who does the Quran say was also from a pious family?


Answer: not to be from the family of Muhammad

Question: What is forbidden for the Divine Leader?


Answer: his well-known ties of kinship with Muhammad

Question: What is the sign that indicates the Divine Leader?


Answer: Imām

Context: The word "Imām" denotes a person who stands or walks "in front". For Sunni Islam, the word is commonly used to mean a person who leads the course of prayer in the mosque. It also means the head of a madhhab ("school of thought"). However, from the Shia point of view this is merely the basic understanding of the word in the Arabic language and, for its proper religious usage, the word "Imam" is applicable only to those members of the house of Muhammad designated as infallible by the preceding Imam.

Question: What word literally means a person who stands or walks in front?


Answer: a person who leads the course of prayer in the mosque

Question: For Sunni Islam, what does the word Imam commonly mean?


Answer: school of thought

Question: What does the word madhhab mean?


Answer: members of the house of Muhammad designated as infallible

Question: What does Imam mean in its proper religious context?


Answer: Shia

Context: Although all these different Shia tariqahs belong to the Shia group (as opposed to the Sunni group) in Islam, there are major doctrinal differences between the main Shia tariqahs. After that there is the complete doctrinal break between all the different Shia tariqahs whose last Imams have gone into Occultation and the Shia Nizari Ismailis who deny the very concept of Occultation. The Shia Nizari Ismailis by definition have to have a present and living Imam until the end of time.[citation needed] Thus if any living Nizari Ismaili Imam fails to leave behind a successor after him then the Nizari Ismailism’s cardinal principle would be broken and it’s very raison d'être would come to an end.

Question: What group do the Shia tariqahs belong to?


Answer: Occultation

Question: What has happened to some of the Shia tariqahs last Imams?


Answer: Shia Nizari Ismailis

Question: Who deny the concept of Occulation?


Answer: present and living

Question: What kind of Imam do Shia Nizari Ismailis have?


Answer: come to an end

Question: What would happen to the Nizari Ismaili if the Imam fails to leave a successor?


Answer: seven

Context: According to Ismā‘īlīsm, Allah has sent "seven" great prophets known as “Nātıq” (Spoken) in order to disseminate and improve his Dīn of Islam. All of these great prophets has also one assistant known as “Sāmad (Silent) Imām”. At the end of each seven “Sāmad” silsila, one great “Nātıq” (Spoken) has ben sent in order to reimprove the Dīn of Islam. After Adam and his son Seth, and after six “Nātıq” (Spoken) – “Sāmad” (Silent) silsila (Noah–Shem), (Abraham–Ishmael), (Moses–Aaron), (Jesus–Simeon), (Muhammad bin ʿAbd Allāh–Ali ibn Abu Tālib); the silsila of “Nātıqs and Sāmads have been completed with (Muhammad bin Ismā‘īl as-ṣaghīr (Maymûn’ûl-Qaddāh)–ʿAbd Allāh Ibn-i Maymûn and his sons).

Question: How many great prophets has Allah sent?


Answer: Nātıq

Question: What are the seven great prophets known as?


Answer: disseminate and improve his Dīn of Islam

Question: What are the seven great prophets supposed to do?


Answer: Sāmad (Silent) Imām

Question: What is the great prophets assistant called?


Answer: the "Shia"

Context: The Shia tariqah with a majority of adherents are the Twelvers who are commonly known as the "Shia". After that come the Nizari Ismailis commonly known as the Ismailis; and then come the Mustalian Ismailis commonly known as the "Bohras" with further schisms within their Bohri tariqah. The Druze tariqah (very small in number today) initially were of the Fatimid Ismailis and separated from them (the Fatimid Ismailis) after the death of the Fatimid Imam and Caliph Hakim Bi Amrillah. The Shia Sevener tariqah no longer exists. Another small tariqah is the Zaidi Shias, also known as the Fivers and who do not believe in The Occultation of their last Imam.

Question: In Shia tariqah, what are the Twelvers commonly known as?


Answer: Ismailis

Question: What are the Nizari Ismailis more commonly known as?


Answer: Bohras

Question: What are the Mustalian Ismailis commonly known as?


Answer: The Shia Sevener

Question: Which tariqah no longer exists?


Answer: Zaidi Shias

Question: Which tariah is known as the Fivers?


Answer: via deputies

Context: During the Minor Occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughrá), it is believed that al-Mahdi maintained contact with his followers via deputies (Arab. an-nuwāb al-arbaʻa or "the Four Leaders"). They represented him and acted as agents between him and his followers. Whenever the believers faced a problem, they would write their concerns and send them to his deputy. The deputy would ascertain his verdict, endorse it with his seal and signature and return it to the relevant parties. The deputies also collected zakat and khums on his behalf.

Question: How did al-Mahdi maintain contact during his Occultation?


Answer: acted as agents between him and his followers

Question: How did deputies represent al-Mahdi?


Answer: write their concerns and send them to his deputy

Question: What would believers do when they had a problem?


Answer: seal and signature

Question: What would the deputy endorse the concerns with?


Answer: zakat and khums

Question: What did the deputies collect in the Imam's behalf?


Answer: living imams

Context: The Ismailis differ from Twelvers because they had living imams for centuries after the last Twelver Imam went into concealment. They followed Isma'il ibn Jafar, elder brother of Musa al-Kadhim, as the rightful Imam after his father Ja'far al-Sadiq. The Ismailis believe that whether Imam Ismail did or did not die before Imam Ja'far, he had passed on the mantle of the imamate to his son Muḥammad ibn Ismail as the next imam. Thus, their line of imams is as follows (the years of their individual imamats during the Common Era are given in brackets):

Question: How do Ismailis differ from Twelvers?


Answer: Isma'il ibn Jafar

Question: Who is the elder brother of Musa al-Kadhim?


Answer: Ja'far al-Sadiq

Question: Who is the father of Isma'il ibn Jafar?


Answer: mantle of the imamate

Question: What did Imam Ismail pass on to his son?


Answer: Bohras/Dawoodi Bohra

Context: The line of imams of the Mustali Ismaili Shia Muslims (also known as the Bohras/Dawoodi Bohra) continued up to Aamir ibn Mustali. After his death, they believe their 21st Imam Taiyab abi al-Qasim went into a Dawr-e-Satr (period of concealment) that continues to this day. In the absence of an imam they are led by a Dai-al-Mutlaq (absolute missionary) who manages the affairs of the Imam-in-Concealment until re-emergence of the Imam from concealment. Dawoodi Bohra's present 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq is His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin (TUS) who succeeded his predessor the 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (RA). Furthermore, there has been a split in the Dawoodi Bohra sect which has led to the formation of Qutbi Bohra sect which was formed and led by Khuzaima Qutbuddin.

Question: What are the Mustali Ismaili Shia Muslims also known as?


Answer: went into a Dawr-e-Satr

Question: What do Bohras believe happened to Taiyab abi al-qasim?


Answer: Dai-al-Mutlaq

Question: Who are the Bohras led by in the absence of an imam?


Answer: manages the affairs of the Imam

Question: What does a Dai-al-Mutlaq do?


Answer: Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin

Question: Who is Dawoodi Bohra's present 53rd Da'i al-Butlaq?


Answer: Muhammad

Context: All Muslims believe that Muhammad had said: "To whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is his Mawla." This hadith has been narrated in different ways by many different sources in no less than 45 hadith books[citation needed] of both Sunni and Shia collections. This hadith has also been narrated by the collector of hadiths, al-Tirmidhi, 3713;[citation needed] as well as Ibn Maajah, 121;[citation needed] etc. The major point of conflict between the Sunni and the Shia is in the interpretation of the word 'Mawla'. For the Shia the word means 'Lord and Master' and has the same elevated significance as when the term had been used to address Muhammad himself during his lifetime. Thus, when Muhammad actually (by speech) and physically (by way of having his closest companions including Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman [the three future Caliphs who had preceded Ali as Caliph] publicly accept Ali as their Lord and Master by taking Ali's hand in both of theirs as token of their allegiance to Ali) transferred this title and manner of addressing Ali as the Mawla for all Muslims at Ghadiri Khum Oasis just a few months before his death, the people that came to look upon Ali as Muhammad's immediate successor even before Muhamamd's death came to be known as the Shia. However, for the Sunnis the word simply means the 'beloved' or the 'revered' and has no other significance at all.

Question: Who do Muslims believe said "To whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is his Mawla?


Answer: 45

Question: How many books can this quote be found?


Answer: the word 'Mawla'

Question: What is the point of conflict between Sunni and Shia?


Answer: beloved

Question: What does the work Mawla mean to Sunnies?


Answer: Lord and Master

Question: What does the word Mawla mean to Shia?


Answer: 2:124

Context: By the verse Quran, 2:124, Shias believe that Imamah is a divine position always Imamah is accompanied by the word guidance, of course a guidance by God's Command.A kind of guidance which brings humanity to the goal. Regarding 17:71, no age can be without an Imam. So, according to the upper verse 1.Imamah is a position which is appointed by God and must be specified by Him 2.Imam is protected by a divine protection and no one exceles him in nobility 3. No age can be without an Imam and finally Imam knows everything which is needed for human being to get to the truth and goal.

Question: By what Quran verse to Shias believe that Imamah is a divine position?


Answer: no age can be without an Imam

Question: What does the Quran verse 17:71 say?


Answer: God

Question: Imamah is a position appointed by who?


Answer: divine protection

Question: What is an Imam protected by?


Answer: Imam

Question: Who knows everything that is needed to get to the truth and goal?


Answer: Hussayn ibn 'Alī

Context: According to the majority of Shī'a, namely the Twelvers (Ithnā'ashariyya), the following is a listing of the rightful successors to Muḥammad. Each Imam was the son of the previous Imam except for Hussayn ibn 'Alī, who was the brother of Hassan ibn 'Alī.The belief in this succession to Muḥammad stems from various Quranic verses which include: 75:36, 13:7, 35:24, 2:30, 2:124, 36:26, 7:142, 42:23.[citation needed] They support their discussion by citing Genesis 17:19–20 and Sunni hadith:Sahih Muslim, Hadith number 4478, English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui.[original research?]

Question: Who was the brother of Hassan ibn 'Ali?


Answer: son

Question: Usually, how has each Imam been related to the previous Imam?


Answer: Genesis 17:19–20

Question: What bible verse do Shia use to support their belief of succession?


Answer: the northern hemisphere

Context: Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by humans, and is driven primarily by availability of food. It occurs mainly in the northern hemisphere, where birds are funnelled on to specific routes by natural barriers such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Caribbean Sea.

Question: Where does migration mainly occur?


Answer: availability of food

Question: Why do birds primarily migrate?


Answer: Many species

Question: Which birds migrate?


Answer: the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds

Question: What is bird migration?


Answer: humans

Question: What is a cause of death to birds during migration?


Answer: 3,000 years ago

Context: Historically, migration has been recorded as much as 3,000 years ago by Ancient Greek authors including Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job, for species such as storks, turtle doves, and swallows. More recently, Johannes Leche began recording dates of arrivals of spring migrants in Finland in 1749, and scientific studies have used techniques including bird ringing and satellite tracking. Threats to migratory birds have grown with habitat destruction especially of stopover and wintering sites, as well as structures such as power lines and wind farms.

Question: When was migration first recorded?


Answer: Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job

Question: Who recorded the earliest records of migration?


Answer: Finland

Question: Where was Johannes Leche from?


Answer: storks, turtle doves, and swallows

Question: Which species of birds were recorded 3,000 years ago?


Answer: habitat destruction

Question: What is a major threat to migratory birds?


Answer: The Arctic tern

Context: The Arctic tern holds the long-distance migration record for birds, travelling between Arctic breeding grounds and the Antarctic each year. Some species of tubenoses (Procellariiformes) such as albatrosses circle the earth, flying over the southern oceans, while others such as Manx shearwaters migrate 14,000 km (8,700 mi) between their northern breeding grounds and the southern ocean. Shorter migrations are common, including altitudinal migrations on mountains such as the Andes and Himalayas.

Question: Which birds migrate the furthest?


Answer: between Arctic breeding grounds and the Antarctic

Question: Where does the Arctic tern migrate each year?


Answer: between their northern breeding grounds and the southern ocean

Question: Where do Manx shearwaters migrate?


Answer: albatrosses

Question: which bird migrates by circling the earth?


Answer: altitudinal migrations on mountains such as the Andes and Himalayas

Question: What is an example of a shorter migration?


Answer: changes in day length

Context: The timing of migration seems to be controlled primarily by changes in day length. Migrating birds navigate using celestial cues from the sun and stars, the earth's magnetic field, and probably also mental maps.

Question: What causes the timing of migration?


Answer: celestial cues from the sun and stars

Question: How do migrating birds navigate?


Answer: the earth's magnetic field

Question: How else to migrating birds navigate?


Answer: mental maps

Question: What might help migrating birds navigate?


Answer: Ancient Greek writers

Context: Records of bird migration were made as much as 3,000 years ago by the Ancient Greek writers Hesiod, Homer, Herodotus and Aristotle. The Bible also notes migrations, as in the Book of Job (39:26), where the inquiry is made: "Is it by your insight that the hawk hovers, spreads its wings southward?" The author of Jeremiah (8:7) wrote: "Even the stork in the heavens knows its seasons, and the turtle dove, the swift and the crane keep the time of their arrival."

Question: Who recorded early records of migration?


Answer: the Book of Job (39:26)

Question: Where in the bible does it mention migration?


Answer: hawk

Question: What bird is mentioned in the book of Job?


Answer: Aristotle

Context: Aristotle noted that cranes traveled from the steppes of Scythia to marshes at the headwaters of the Nile. Pliny the Elder, in his Historia Naturalis, repeats Aristotle's observations.

Question: Who noted that cranes traveled from Scythia to the Nile?


Answer: Pliny the Elder

Question: Who repeats Aristotle's observations?


Answer: in his Historia Naturalis

Question: Where did Pliny the Elder repeat Aristotle's observations?


Answer: cranes

Question: What kind of bird did Aristotle and Pliny the Elder write about?


Answer: swallows

Context: Aristotle however suggested that swallows and other birds hibernated. This belief persisted as late as 1878, when Elliott Coues listed the titles of no less than 182 papers dealing with the hibernation of swallows. Even the "highly observant" Gilbert White, in his posthumously published 1789 The Natural History of Selborne, quoted a man's story about swallows being found in a chalk cliff collapse "while he was a schoolboy at Brighthelmstone", though the man denied being an eyewitness. However, he also writes that "as to swallows being found in a torpid state during the winter in the Isle of Wight or any part of this country, I never heard any such account worth attending to", and that if early swallows "happen to find frost and snow they immediately withdraw for a time—a circumstance this much more in favour of hiding than migration", since he doubts they would "return for a week or two to warmer latitudes".

Question: Which bird did Aristotle believe hibernated?


Answer: 1878

Question: Until what year did the belief of hibernating birds persist?


Answer: Elliott Coues

Question: Who wrote 182 papers dealing with the hibernation of swallows?


Answer: Gilbert White

Question: Who wrote "The Natural History of Selborne"?


Answer: the end of the eighteenth century

Context: It was not until the end of the eighteenth century that migration as an explanation for the winter disappearance of birds from northern climes was accepted. Thomas Bewick's A History of British Birds (Volume 1, 1797) mentions a report from "a very intelligent master of a vessel" who, "between the islands of Minorca and Majorca, saw great numbers of Swallows flying northward", and states the situation in Britain as follows:

Question: When was migration finally accepted?


Answer: Thomas Bewick

Question: Who wrote A History of British Birds?


Answer: 1797

Question: What year was Thomas Bewick's book published?


Answer: between the islands of Minorca and Majorca

Question: Where were Swallows seen flying?


Answer: northward

Question: Which directions were the Swallows flying?


Answer: Bewick

Context: Bewick then describes an experiment which succeeded in keeping swallows alive in Britain for several years, where they remained warm and dry through the winters. He concludes:

Question: Who describes an experiment with swallows?


Answer: Britain

Question: Where did this experiment take place?


Answer: they remained warm and dry through the winters

Question: How did the experiment succeed?


Answer: several years

Question: How long did the birds stay alive?


Answer: response to changes in food availability, habitat, or weather

Context: Migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south, undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat, or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular (nomadism, invasions, irruptions) or in only one direction (dispersal, movement of young away from natal area). Migration is marked by its annual seasonality. Non-migratory birds are said to be resident or sedentary. Approximately 1800 of the world's 10,000 bird species are long-distance migrants.

Question: Why do birds migrate?


Answer: resident or sedentary

Question: What are non=migratory birds called?


Answer: 10,000

Question: How many species of birds are there?


Answer: 1800

Question: How many bird species are long distance migrants?


Answer: north and south

Question: Which direction do birds primarily migrate?


Answer: a flyway

Context: Many bird populations migrate long distances along a flyway. The most common pattern involves flying north in the spring to breed in the temperate or Arctic summer and returning in the autumn to wintering grounds in warmer regions to the south. Of course, in the southern hemisphere the directions are reversed, but there is less land area in the far south to support long-distance migration.

Question: Along where do many birds migrate?


Answer: south

Question: What is the most common directionof migration in autumn?


Answer: flying north

Question: What is the most common pattern of migration in the spring?


Answer: to breed

Question: Why do the birds fly north?


Answer: food

Context: The primary motivation for migration appears to be food; for example, some hummingbirds choose not to migrate if fed through the winter. Also, the longer days of the northern summer provide extended time for breeding birds to feed their young. This helps diurnal birds to produce larger clutches than related non-migratory species that remain in the tropics. As the days shorten in autumn, the birds return to warmer regions where the available food supply varies little with the season.

Question: What is the primary motivation for migration?


Answer: hummingbirds

Question: Which birds will not migrate if they are well fed through winter?


Answer: autumn

Question: When do the birds return to warmer regions?


Answer: time for breeding birds to feed their young.

Question: what do the longer days of summer provide the birds?


Answer: larger clutches

Question: What do diurnal birds produce as opposed to non migratory species?


Answer: Predation

Context: These advantages offset the high stress, physical exertion costs, and other risks of the migration. Predation can be heightened during migration: Eleonora's falcon Falco eleonorae, which breeds on Mediterranean islands, has a very late breeding season, coordinated with the autumn passage of southbound passerine migrants, which it feeds to its young. A similar strategy is adopted by the greater noctule bat, which preys on nocturnal passerine migrants. The higher concentrations of migrating birds at stopover sites make them prone to parasites and pathogens, which require a heightened immune response.

Question: What is hightened during migration?


Answer: Mediterranean islands

Question: Where do Eleonora's falcon breed?


Answer: southbound passerine migrants

Question: What do Eleonora's falcon feed their young?


Answer: the greater noctule bat

Question: What preys on nocturnal passerine migrants?


Answer: higher concentrations of migrating birds

Question: What makes birds prone to parasites and pathogens?


Answer: not all populations may be migratory

Context: Within a species not all populations may be migratory; this is known as "partial migration". Partial migration is very common in the southern continents; in Australia, 44% of non-passerine birds and 32% of passerine species are partially migratory. In some species, the population at higher latitudes tends to be migratory and will often winter at lower latitude. The migrating birds bypass the latitudes where other populations may be sedentary, where suitable wintering habitats may already be occupied. This is an example of leap-frog migration. Many fully migratory species show leap-frog migration (birds that nest at higher latitudes spend the winter at lower latitudes), and many show the alternative, chain migration, where populations 'slide' more evenly north and south without reversing order.

Question: What is partial migration?


Answer: the southern continents

Question: Where is partial migration most common?


Answer: 44%

Question: In Australia, what percent of non-passerine birds are partially migratory?


Answer: 32%

Question: In Australia, what percent of passerine species are partially migratory?


Answer: birds that nest at higher latitudes spend the winter at lower latitudes

Question: What is leap frog migration?


Answer: Female

Context: Within a population, it is common for different ages and/or sexes to have different patterns of timing and distance. Female chaffinches Fringilla coelebs in Eastern Fennoscandia migrate earlier in the autumn than males do.

Question: Which sex of the chaffinches Fringilla coelebs migrate earlier?


Answer: Eastern Fennoscandia

Question: Where are chaffinches Fringilla coelebs from?


Answer: autumn

Question: When do the chaffinches Fringilla coelebs migrate?


Answer: the birds starting off in a broad front

Context: Most migrations begin with the birds starting off in a broad front. Often, this front narrows into one or more preferred routes termed flyways. These routes typically follow mountain ranges or coastlines, sometimes rivers, and may take advantage of updrafts and other wind patterns or avoid geographical barriers such as large stretches of open water. The specific routes may be genetically programmed or learned to varying degrees. The routes taken on forward and return migration are often different. A common pattern in North America is clockwise migration, where birds flying North tend to be further West, and flying South tend to shift Eastwards.

Question: How do most migrations begin?


Answer: mountain ranges or coastlines

Question: What to the migrating birds usually follow?


Answer: large stretches of open water

Question: What obsticals will migrating birds avoid?


Answer: clockwise

Question: What is a common pattern in North America migration?


Answer: flyways

Question: What are the preferred routes for migration called?


Answer: in flocks

Context: Many, if not most, birds migrate in flocks. For larger birds, flying in flocks reduces the energy cost. Geese in a V-formation may conserve 12–20% of the energy they would need to fly alone. Red knots Calidris canutus and dunlins Calidris alpina were found in radar studies to fly 5 km/h (3.1 mph) faster in flocks than when they were flying alone.

Question: How do most birds migrate?


Answer: 12–20%

Question: How much energy do geese conserve flying in a flock?


Answer: 3.1 mph

Question: How much faster do Red knots and dunlins fly in a flock?


Answer: energy cost

Question: What does flying in flocks reduce?


Answer: a V-formation

Question: How do birds conserve energy?


Answer: skeletons

Context: Birds fly at varying altitudes during migration. An expedition to Mt. Everest found skeletons of northern pintail Anas acuta and black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa at 5,000 m (16,000 ft) on the Khumbu Glacier. Bar-headed geese Anser indicus have been recorded by GPS flying at up to 6,540 metres (21,460 ft) while crossing the Himalayas, at the same time engaging in the highest rates of climb to altitude for any bird. Anecdotal reports of them flying much higher have yet to be corroborated with any direct evidence. Seabirds fly low over water but gain altitude when crossing land, and the reverse pattern is seen in landbirds. However most bird migration is in the range of 150 to 600 m (490 to 1,970 ft). Bird strike aviation records from the United States show most collisions occur below 600 m (2,000 ft) and almost none above 1,800 m (5,900 ft).

Question: What part of birds was found on an expedition to Mt. Everest?


Answer: Bar-headed geese Anser indicus

Question: Which birds have the highest rates of climb to altitude?


Answer: Seabirds

Question: What kind of birds fly low over water?


Answer: 150 to 600 m

Question: What altitude range is most migration recorded?


Answer: below 600 m

Question: Where do most in air collisions occur?


Answer: by swimming

Context: Bird migration is not limited to birds that can fly. Most species of penguin (Spheniscidae) migrate by swimming. These routes can cover over 1,000 km (620 mi). Dusky grouse Dendragapus obscurus perform altitudinal migration mostly by walking. Emus Dromaius novaehollandiae in Australia have been observed to undertake long-distance movements on foot during droughts.

Question: How do penguins migrate?


Answer: over 1,000 km

Question: How far do penguins travel when they migrate?


Answer: mostly by walking

Question: How do Dusky grouse migrate?


Answer: on foot

Question: How do Emus migrate long distances during droughts?


Answer: Australia

Question: Where are Emus from?


Answer: from Iceland to Britain

Context: The typical image of migration is of northern landbirds, such as swallows (Hirundinidae) and birds of prey, making long flights to the tropics. However, many Holarctic wildfowl and finch (Fringillidae) species winter in the North Temperate Zone, in regions with milder winters than their summer breeding grounds. For example, the pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus migrates from Iceland to Britain and neighbouring countries, whilst the dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis migrates from subarctic and arctic climates to the contiguous United States and the American goldfinch from taiga to wintering grounds extending from the American South northwestward to Western Oregon. Migratory routes and wintering grounds are traditional and learned by young during their first migration with their parents. Some ducks, such as the garganey Anas querquedula, move completely or partially into the tropics. The European pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca also follows this migratory trend, breeding in Asia and Europe and wintering in Africa.

Question: Where do the pink-footed goose migrate?


Answer: arctic climates to the contiguous United States

Question: Where do the dark-eyed junco migrate?


Answer: Asia and Europe

Question: Where do the European pied flycatcher breed?


Answer: Africa

Question: Where does the European pied flycatcher spend the winter?


Answer: during their first migration with their parents

Question: How do young learn migratory routes?


Answer: an hooked or arched line

Context: Often, the migration route of a long-distance migrator bird doesn't follow a straight line between breeding and wintering grounds. Rather, it could follow an hooked or arched line, with detours around geographical barriers. For most land-birds, such barriers could consist in seas, large water bodies or high mountain ranges, because of the lack of stopover or feeding sites, or the lack of thermal columns for broad-winged birds.

Question: What route does a migrating bird usually follow?


Answer: large water bodies or high mountain ranges

Question: What geographical barriers to land birds try to avoid?


Answer: the lack of stopover or feeding sites

Question: Why do migrating land birds avoid large water bodies or mountain ranges?


Answer: lack of thermal columns

Question: Why do broad winged birds avoid geographical barriers?


Answer: a large area of land without bodies of water

Context: The same considerations about barriers and detours that apply to long-distance land-bird migration apply to water birds, but in reverse: a large area of land without bodies of water that offer feeding sites may also be a barrier to a bird that feeds in coastal waters. Detours avoiding such barriers are observed: for example, brent geese Branta bernicla migrating from the Taymyr Peninsula to the Wadden Sea travel via the White Sea coast and the Baltic Sea rather than directly across the Arctic Ocean and northern Scandinavia.

Question: What do water birds avoid while migrating?


Answer: the Taymyr Peninsula

Question: Where do brent geese migrate from?


Answer: the Wadden Sea

Question: Where do brent geese migrate to?


Answer: via the White Sea coast and the Baltic Sea

Question: How do brent geese migrate?


Answer: shorebirds

Context: A similar situation occurs with waders (called shorebirds in North America). Many species, such as dunlin Calidris alpina and western sandpiper Calidris mauri, undertake long movements from their Arctic breeding grounds to warmer locations in the same hemisphere, but others such as semipalmated sandpiper C. pusilla travel longer distances to the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question: What are waders called in North America?


Answer: warmer locations in the same hemisphere

Question: Where do dunlin Calidris alpina migrate to?


Answer: the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere

Question: Where do semiplamated sandpiper C. pusilla migrate to?


Answer: Arctic breeding grounds

Question: Where do western sandpiper Calidris migrate from?


Answer: the availability of certain key food resources

Context: For some species of waders, migration success depends on the availability of certain key food resources at stopover points along the migration route. This gives the migrants an opportunity to refuel for the next leg of the voyage. Some examples of important stopover locations are the Bay of Fundy and Delaware Bay.

Question: What does successful migration depend on for some waders?


Answer: stopover points along the migration route

Question: Where do migrants refuel?


Answer: the Bay of Fundy

Question: Where is an important stopover location?


Answer: Delaware Bay

Question: What is another stopover location?


Answer: bar-tailed godwits

Context: Some bar-tailed godwits Limosa lapponica have the longest known non-stop flight of any migrant, flying 11,000 km from Alaska to their New Zealand non-breeding areas. Prior to migration, 55 percent of their bodyweight is stored as fat to fuel this uninterrupted journey.

Question: Which bird has the longest migration?


Answer: 11,000 km

Question: How far do bar-tailed godwits travel to migrate?


Answer: Alaska

Question: Where do bar-tailed godwits migrate from


Answer: New Zealand

Question: Where do bar-tailed godwits migrate to?


Answer: 55 percent

Question: How much of the bar-tailed godwits bodyweight is stored as fat before migration?


Answer: The Arctic tern

Context: Seabird migration is similar in pattern to those of the waders and waterfowl. Some, such as the black guillemot Cepphus grylle and some gulls, are quite sedentary; others, such as most terns and auks breeding in the temperate northern hemisphere, move varying distances south in the northern winter. The Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea has the longest-distance migration of any bird, and sees more daylight than any other, moving from its Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic non-breeding areas. One Arctic tern, ringed (banded) as a chick on the Farne Islands off the British east coast, reached Melbourne, Australia in just three months from fledging, a sea journey of over 22,000 km (14,000 mi). Many tubenosed birds breed in the southern hemisphere and migrate north in the southern winter.

Question: Which seabird has the longest-distance migration?


Answer: The Arctic tern

Question: Which bird sees more daylight than any other during migration?


Answer: three months

Question: How long did one Arctic tern take to migrate?


Answer: 22,000 km

Question: How far did the Arctic tern chick travel?


Answer: the southern hemisphere

Question: Where do tubenosed birds breed?


Answer: pelagic

Context: The most pelagic species, mainly in the 'tubenose' order Procellariiformes, are great wanderers, and the albatrosses of the southern oceans may circle the globe as they ride the "roaring forties" outside the breeding season. The tubenoses spread widely over large areas of open ocean, but congregate when food becomes available. Many are also among the longest-distance migrants; sooty shearwaters Puffinus griseus nesting on the Falkland Islands migrate 14,000 km (8,700 mi) between the breeding colony and the North Atlantic Ocean off Norway. Some Manx shearwaters Puffinus puffinus do this same journey in reverse. As they are long-lived birds, they may cover enormous distances during their lives; one record-breaking Manx shearwater is calculated to have flown 8 million km (5 million miles) during its over-50 year lifespan.

Question: Which species are great wanderers?


Answer: 8 million km

Question: How far did a Manx shearwater fly over it's lifespan?


Answer: Manx shearwater

Question: Which bird broke a record in how far it flew over it's life?


Answer: 50 year

Question: How long did the Manx shearwater live?


Answer: 14,000 km

Question: How far will Puffinus griseus migrate each year?


Answer: thermal columns of rising hot air

Context: Some large broad-winged birds rely on thermal columns of rising hot air to enable them to soar. These include many birds of prey such as vultures, eagles, and buzzards, but also storks. These birds migrate in the daytime. Migratory species in these groups have great difficulty crossing large bodies of water, since thermals only form over land, and these birds cannot maintain active flight for long distances. Mediterranean and other seas present a major obstacle to soaring birds, which must cross at the narrowest points. Massive numbers of large raptors and storks pass through areas such as the Strait of Messina, Gibraltar, Falsterbo, and the Bosphorus at migration times. More common species, such as the European honey buzzard Pernis apivorus, can be counted in hundreds of thousands in autumn. Other barriers, such as mountain ranges, can also cause funnelling, particularly of large diurnal migrants. This is a notable factor in the Central American migratory bottleneck. Batumi bottleneck in the Caucasus is one of the heaviest migratory funnels on earth. Avoiding flying over the Black Sea surface and across high mountains, hundreds of thousands of soaring birds funnel through an area around the city of Batumi, Georgia. Birds of prey such as honey buzzards which migrate using thermals lose only 10 to 20% of their weight during migration, which may explain why they forage less during migration than do smaller birds of prey with more active flight such as falcons, hawks and harriers.

Question: What do some large broad-winged birds rely on to help them soar?


Answer: daytime

Question: When do large birds of pray migrate?


Answer: Batumi bottleneck

Question: What is one of the heaviest migratory funnels?


Answer: 10 to 20%

Question: How much of their body weight do honey buzzards lose during migration?


Answer: hundreds of thousands

Question: How many birds funnel through Batumi, Georgia each year?


Answer: usually at night

Context: Many of the smaller insectivorous birds including the warblers, hummingbirds and flycatchers migrate large distances, usually at night. They land in the morning and may feed for a few days before resuming their migration. The birds are referred to as passage migrants in the regions where they occur for short durations between the origin and destination.

Question: When do many insectivorous birds migrate?


Answer: smaller insectivorous birds

Question: Which kinds of birds land for a few days before resuming migration?


Answer: passage migrants

Question: What are smaller insectivorous birds referred to?


Answer: a few days

Question: How long do passage migrants stop and feed before resuming migration?


Answer: minimize predation

Context: Nocturnal migrants minimize predation, avoid overheating, and can feed during the day. One cost of nocturnal migration is the loss of sleep. Migrants may be able to alter their quality of sleep to compensate for the loss.

Question: What is a benefit of nocturnal migration?


Answer: loss of sleep

Question: What is a cost of nocturnal migration?


Answer: Migrants may be able to alter their quality of sleep

Question: How do nocturnal migrants compensate for loss of sleep?


Answer: avoid overheating

Question: What is another benefit of nocturnal migration?


Answer: respond to changing day length

Context: Many long-distance migrants appear to be genetically programmed to respond to changing day length. Species that move short distances, however, may not need such a timing mechanism, instead moving in response to local weather conditions. Thus mountain and moorland breeders, such as wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria and white-throated dipper Cinclus cinclus, may move only altitudinally to escape the cold higher ground. Other species such as merlin Falco columbarius and Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis move further, to the coast or towards the south. Species like the chaffinch are much less migratory in Britain than those of continental Europe, mostly not moving more than 5 km in their lives.

Question: What are many long distance migrants genetically programmed to do?


Answer: response to local weather conditions

Question: How do species that move short distances know when to migrate?


Answer: to escape the cold higher ground

Question: Why do mountain and moorland breeders move only altitudinally?


Answer: the coast or towards the south

Question: Where do the merlin Falco columbarius migrate to?


Answer: 5 km

Question: How far do British chaffinch more in their lives?


Answer: two

Context: Short-distance passerine migrants have two evolutionary origins. Those that have long-distance migrants in the same family, such as the common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, are species of southern hemisphere origins that have progressively shortened their return migration to stay in the northern hemisphere.

Question: How many evolutionary origins do short distance passerine migrants have?


Answer: the common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Question: Which species have long-distance migrants in the same family?


Answer: to stay in the northern hemisphere

Question: Why have some specied progressively shortened their return migration?


Answer: the waxwings Bombycilla

Context: Species that have no long-distance migratory relatives, such as the waxwings Bombycilla, are effectively moving in response to winter weather and the loss of their usual winter food, rather than enhanced breeding opportunities.

Question: What species has no long-distance migratory relatives?


Answer: winter weather and the loss of their usual winter food

Question: What are the waxwings Bombycilla moving in response to?


Answer: enhanced breeding opportunities

Question: Why are the waxwing Bombycilla not migrating for?


Answer: In the tropics

Context: In the tropics there is little variation in the length of day throughout the year, and it is always warm enough for a food supply, but altitudinal migration occurs in some tropical birds. There is evidence that this enables the migrants to obtain more of their preferred foods such as fruits.

Question: Where is there little variation in the length of day throughout the year?


Answer: to obtain more of their preferred foods

Question: Why does altitudinal migration occur in some tropical birds?


Answer: fruits

Question: What are tropical birds preferred foods?


Answer: In the tropics

Question: Where is it always warm enough for food supply?


Answer: a good breeding season followed by a food source failure

Context: Sometimes circumstances such as a good breeding season followed by a food source failure the following year lead to irruptions in which large numbers of a species move far beyond the normal range. Bohemian waxwings Bombycilla garrulus well show this unpredictable variation in annual numbers, with five major arrivals in Britain during the nineteenth century, but 18 between the years 1937 and 2000. Red crossbills Loxia curvirostra too are irruptive, with widespread invasions across England noted in 1251, 1593, 1757, and 1791.

Question: For what reason would birds mor far beyond the normal range?


Answer: five

Question: How many times did Bohemian waxwings come to Britain in the nineteeth century?


Answer: 18

Question: How many times did Bohemian waxwings come to Britain between 1937 and 200?


Answer: 1251, 1593, 1757, and 1791

Question: What years did Red crossbills invade England?


Answer: Northern

Context: Bird migration is primarily, but not entirely, a Northern Hemisphere phenomenon. This is because land birds in high northern latitudes, where food becomes scarce in winter, leave for areas further south (including the Southern Hemisphere) to overwinter, and because the continental landmass is much larger in the Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, among (pelagic) seabirds, species of the Southern Hemisphere are more likely to migrate. This is because there is a large area of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere, and more islands suitable for seabirds to nest.

Question: In which hemisphere does bird migration primarily happen?


Answer: south

Question: Where do birds from high northern latitutes migrate to?


Answer: food becomes scarce

Question: Why do birds migrate south in winter?


Answer: species of the Southern Hemisphere

Question: Which species of seabirds are more likely to migrate?


Answer: there is a large area of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere

Question: Why are seabirds from the southern hemisphere more likely to migrate?


Answer: a primitive trait

Context: The control of migration, its timing and response are genetically controlled and appear to be a primitive trait that is present even in non-migratory species of birds. The ability to navigate and orient themselves during migration is a much more complex phenomenon that may include both endogenous programs as well as learning.

Question: What controls a birds migration?


Answer: endogenous programs as well as learning

Question: How do birds navigate and orient themselves during migration?


Answer: migration

Question: What is a primitive trait present even in non migrating birds?


Answer: The ability to navigate

Question: What is a complex phenomenon in regards to migration?


Answer: changes in the day length

Context: The primary physiological cue for migration are the changes in the day length. These changes are also related to hormonal changes in the birds. In the period before migration, many birds display higher activity or Zugunruhe (German: migratory restlessness), first described by Johann Friedrich Naumann in 1795, as well as physiological changes such as increased fat deposition. The occurrence of Zugunruhe even in cage-raised birds with no environmental cues (e.g. shortening of day and falling temperature) has pointed to the role of circannual endogenous programs in controlling bird migrations. Caged birds display a preferential flight direction that corresponds with the migratory direction they would take in nature, changing their preferential direction at roughly the same time their wild conspecifics change course.

Question: What is the primary cue for migration?


Answer: higher activity

Question: How do birds act in the period before migration?


Answer: migratory restlessness

Question: What does Zugunruhe mean in English?


Answer: preferential flight direction

Question: What do caged birds display that corresponds with migratory direction in nature?


Answer: the same time their wild conspecifics change course

Question: When do caged birds change their preferential direction?


Answer: protandry

Context: In polygynous species with considerable sexual dimorphism, males tend to return earlier to the breeding sites than their females. This is termed protandry.

Question: What is it called when males return earlier to the breeding sites than females?


Answer: males tend to return earlier to the breeding sites

Question: What happens in polygynous species with sexual dimophism?


Answer: sexual dimorphism

Question: Why do males in polygynous species return before the females?


Answer: a variety of senses

Context: Navigation is based on a variety of senses. Many birds have been shown to use a sun compass. Using the sun for direction involves the need for making compensation based on the time. Navigation has also been shown to be based on a combination of other abilities including the ability to detect magnetic fields (magnetoception), use visual landmarks as well as olfactory cues.

Question: What is navigation based on?


Answer: sun

Question: What do many birds use as a compass?


Answer: the need for making compensation based on the time

Question: What does using the sun for direction involve?


Answer: use visual landmarks

Question: What else is navigation based on?


Answer: the ability to detect magnetic fields

Question: What is magnetoception?


Answer: as young birds

Context: Long distance migrants are believed to disperse as young birds and form attachments to potential breeding sites and to favourite wintering sites. Once the site attachment is made they show high site-fidelity, visiting the same wintering sites year after year.

Question: When do long distance migrants disperse?


Answer: potential breeding sites

Question: What do young birds form attachments to?


Answer: wintering sites

Question: What else do young birds form attachments to?


Answer: they show high site-fidelity

Question: What happens when the site attachment is made?


Answer: the same wintering sites year after year

Question: Where do migrating birds visit?


Answer: making corrections for wind drift

Context: The ability of birds to navigate during migrations cannot be fully explained by endogenous programming, even with the help of responses to environmental cues. The ability to successfully perform long-distance migrations can probably only be fully explained with an accounting for the cognitive ability of the birds to recognize habitats and form mental maps. Satellite tracking of day migrating raptors such as ospreys and honey buzzards has shown that older individuals are better at making corrections for wind drift.

Question: What are older migrating birds better at?


Answer: Satellite

Question: How was the migrating of ospretys and honey buzzards tracked?


Answer: recognize habitats and form mental maps

Question: What do the birds do to successfully perform long distance migration?


Answer: ospreys and honey buzzards

Question: What are examples of day migrating raptors?


Answer: one that is entirely innate and another that relies on experience

Context: Migratory birds may use two electromagnetic tools to find their destinations: one that is entirely innate and another that relies on experience. A young bird on its first migration flies in the correct direction according to the Earth's magnetic field, but does not know how far the journey will be. It does this through a radical pair mechanism whereby chemical reactions in special photo pigments sensitive to long wavelengths are affected by the field. Although this only works during daylight hours, it does not use the position of the sun in any way. At this stage the bird is in the position of a boy scout with a compass but no map, until it grows accustomed to the journey and can put its other capabilities to use. With experience it learns various landmarks and this "mapping" is done by magnetites in the trigeminal system, which tell the bird how strong the field is. Because birds migrate between northern and southern regions, the magnetic field strengths at different latitudes let it interpret the radical pair mechanism more accurately and let it know when it has reached its destination. There is a neural connection between the eye and "Cluster N", the part of the forebrain that is active during migrational orientation, suggesting that birds may actually be able to see the magnetic field of the earth.

Question: What two electromagnetic tools do birds use to find their destinations?


Answer: between the eye and "Cluster N"

Question: Where is the neural connection that is active during migration located?


Answer: the part of the forebrain that is active during migrational orientation

Question: What is Cluster N?


Answer: a boy scout with a compass but no map

Question: What is a young bird on it's first migration compared to?


Answer: let it know when it has reached its destination

Question: How does the magnetic field help the bird at different latitudes?


Answer: flying past their destinations

Context: Migrating birds can lose their way and appear outside their normal ranges. This can be due to flying past their destinations as in the "spring overshoot" in which birds returning to their breeding areas overshoot and end up further north than intended. Certain areas, because of their location, have become famous as watchpoints for such birds. Examples are the Point Pelee National Park in Canada, and Spurn in England.

Question: How can migrating birds lose their way?


Answer: spring overshoot

Question: What is flying past their destinations called?


Answer: Point Pelee National Park

Question: What location has become famous for bird overshooters?


Answer: Spurn in England

Question: What other location is famous for spring overshoot?


Answer: further north than intended

Question: Where do bird overshooters end up?


Answer: Reverse migration

Context: Reverse migration, where the genetic programming of young birds fails to work properly, can lead to rarities turning up as vagrants thousands of kilometres out of range.

Question: What is it called when the genetic programing of young birds fail?


Answer: where the genetic programming of young birds fails to work properly

Question: What is reverse migration?


Answer: rarities turning up as vagrants thousands of kilometres out of range

Question: What does reverse migration lead to?


Answer: thousands of kilometres

Question: How far out of range can rarities get?


Answer: abmigration

Context: A related phenomenon called "abmigration" involves birds from one region joining similar birds from a different breeding region in the common winter grounds and then migrating back along with the new population. This is especially common in some waterfowl, which shift from one flyway to another.

Question: What is it called when birds from one region join birds from a different region?


Answer: waterfowl

Question: What kind of bird is most likely to abmigrate?


Answer: the new population

Question: Who do abmigrating birds return with?


Answer: to teach a migration route to a flock of birds

Context: It has been possible to teach a migration route to a flock of birds, for example in re-introduction schemes. After a trial with Canada geese Branta canadensis, microlight aircraft were used in the US to teach safe migration routes to reintroduced whooping cranes Grus americana.

Question: What is a re-introduction scheme?


Answer: microlight aircraft

Question: What did they use to teach birds a migration route?


Answer: whooping cranes

Question: Which birds did they reintroduce to the US?


Answer: Canada geese

Question: Which birds did they use as a trial run?


Answer: their metabolism

Context: Birds need to alter their metabolism in order to meet the demands of migration. The storage of energy through the accumulation of fat and the control of sleep in nocturnal migrants require special physiological adaptations. In addition, the feathers of a bird suffer from wear-and-tear and require to be molted. The timing of this molt - usually once a year but sometimes twice - varies with some species molting prior to moving to their winter grounds and others molting prior to returning to their breeding grounds. Apart from physiological adaptations, migration sometimes requires behavioural changes such as flying in flocks to reduce the energy used in migration or the risk of predation.

Question: What do birds need to change to meet the demands of migration?


Answer: usually once a year

Question: How often do birds molt?


Answer: through the accumulation of fat and the control of sleep

Question: How do birds store energy?


Answer: feathers of a bird suffer from wear-and-tear

Question: Why do birds need to molt?


Answer: varies with some species

Question: When do birds molt?


Answer: independently

Context: Migration in birds is highly labile and is believed to have developed independently in many avian lineages. While it is agreed that the behavioral and physiological adaptations necessary for migration are under genetic control, some authors have argued that no genetic change is necessary for migratory behavior to develop in a sedentary species because the genetic framework for migratory behavior exists in nearly all avian lineages. This explains the rapid appearance of migratory behavior after the most recent glacial maximum.

Question: How was migration developed?


Answer: Migration in birds

Question: What is highly labile?


Answer: genetic control

Question: What causes the behavioral adaptations necessary for migration?


Answer: genetic framework for migratory behavior

Question: What exists in nearly all avian lineages?


Answer: 20%

Context: Theoretical analyses show that detours that increase flight distance by up to 20% will often be adaptive on aerodynamic grounds - a bird that loads itself with food to cross a long barrier flies less efficiently. However some species show circuitous migratory routes that reflect historical range expansions and are far from optimal in ecological terms. An example is the migration of continental populations of Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus, which fly far east across North America before turning south via Florida to reach northern South America; this route is believed to be the consequence of a range expansion that occurred about 10,000 years ago. Detours may also be caused by differential wind conditions, predation risk, or other factors.

Question: What percentage increase in flight distance will often be adaptive?


Answer: a bird that loads itself with food

Question: What kind of bird flies less efficiently?


Answer: Swainson's thrush

Question: What type of bird show circuitous migratory routes?


Answer: far east across North America

Question: Where do Swainson's thrush fly from?


Answer: climatic changes

Context: Large scale climatic changes, as have been experienced in the past, are expected to have an effect on the timing of migration. Studies have shown a variety of effects including timing changes in migration, breeding as well as population variations.

Question: What is expected to have an effect on migration timing?


Answer: timing changes in migration

Question: What have studies shown regarding climate change?


Answer: breeding as well as population variations

Question: What else is climate change been shown to change?


Answer: ectoparasites such as ticks and lice

Context: The migration of birds also aids the movement of other species, including those of ectoparasites such as ticks and lice, which in turn may carry micro-organisms including those of concern to human health. Due to the global spread of avian influenza, bird migration has been studied as a possible mechanism of disease transmission, but it has been found not to present a special risk; import of pet and domestic birds is a greater threat. Some viruses that are maintained in birds without lethal effects, such as the West Nile Virus may however be spread by migrating birds. Birds may also have a role in the dispersal of propagules of plants and plankton.

Question: What other species does migration help?


Answer: import of pet and domestic birds

Question: What is a greater threat of disease transmission?


Answer: bird migration

Question: What has been studied as a mechanism of disease transmission?


Answer: Birds

Question: What has a role in the dispersal of propagules of plants and plankton?


Answer: West Nile Virus

Question: What virus is maintained in birds without lethal effects?


Answer: Greater noctule bats

Context: Some predators take advantage of the concentration of birds during migration. Greater noctule bats feed on nocturnal migrating passerines. Some birds of prey specialize on migrating waders.

Question: Who takes advantage of migrating birds?


Answer: nocturnal migrating passerines

Question: What do greater noctule bats feed on?


Answer: migrating waders

Question: What do some birds of prey specialize on?


Answer: marking

Context: Bird migration routes have been studied by a variety of techniques including the oldest, marking. Swans have been marked with a nick on the beak since about 1560 in England. Scientific ringing was pioneered by Hans Christian Cornelius Mortensen in 1899. Other techniques include radar and satellite tracking.

Question: What is the oldest way to study migration?


Answer: a nick on the beak

Question: How have swans been marked?


Answer: Hans Christian Cornelius Mortensen

Question: Who was scientific ringing pioneered by?


Answer: 1560

Question: Since when have swans been marked?


Answer: radar and satellite tracking

Question: What are other forms of studying migration?


Answer: the Emlen funnel

Context: Orientation behaviour studies have been traditionally carried out using variants of a setup known as the Emlen funnel, which consists of a circular cage with the top covered by glass or wire-screen so that either the sky is visible or the setup is placed in a planetarium or with other controls on environmental cues. The orientation behaviour of the bird inside the cage is studied quantitatively using the distribution of marks that the bird leaves on the walls of the cage. Other approaches used in pigeon homing studies make use of the direction in which the bird vanishes on the horizon.

Question: How are orientation behavior studies traditionally carried out?


Answer: circular

Question: What shape is the cage in the Emlen funnel?


Answer: The orientation behaviour

Question: What is studied quantitatively inside the cage?


Answer: marks

Question: What does the bird leave on the walls of the cage?


Answer: on the horizon

Question: Where does the homing pigeon vanish?


Answer: Hunting along migration routes

Context: Hunting along migration routes threatens some bird species. The populations of Siberian cranes (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) that wintered in India declined due to hunting along the route, particularly in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Birds were last seen in their favourite wintering grounds in Keoladeo National Park in 2002. Structures such as power lines, wind farms and offshore oil-rigs have also been known to affect migratory birds. Other migration hazards include pollution, storms, wildfires, and habitat destruction along migration routes, denying migrants food at stopover points. For example, in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, up to 65% of key intertidal habitat at the Yellow Sea migration bottleneck has been destroyed since the 1950s.

Question: What threatens some bird species?


Answer: Siberian cranes

Question: What species declined due to hunting in Afghanistand and Asia?


Answer: 2002

Question: When were birds last seen in Keoladeo National Park?


Answer: migratory birds

Question: What can power lines, wind farms and oil rigs affect?


Answer: pollution, storms, wildfires, and habitat destruction

Question: What are other migration hazards?


Answer: Absecon Island

Context: It is on Absecon Island, on the Atlantic coast. Atlantic City was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. The city borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City and West Atlantic City.

Question: What is the name of the island on which Atlantic City is located?


Answer: 1854

Question: In what year was Atlantic City incorporated?


Answer: Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township

Question: What are the names of the two townships that became part of Atlantic City when it was incorporated?


Answer: Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City and West Atlantic City

Question: How many other towns share a border with Atlantic City?


Answer: Atlantic

Question: Which coast is Atlantic City located on?


Answer: The Belloe House

Context: Because of its location in South Jersey, hugging the Atlantic Ocean between marshlands and islands, Atlantic City was viewed by developers as prime real estate and a potential resort town. In 1853, the first commercial hotel, The Belloe House, located at Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenue, was built.

Question: What is the name of the first commercial hotel built in Atlantic City?


Answer: 1853

Question: In what year was the first commercial hotel built in Atlantic City?


Answer: Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenue

Question: What are the names of the two avenues at which The Belloe House is located?


Answer: marshlands and islands

Question: What are the two geographical features that Atlantic City is located between?


Answer: prime real estate and a potential resort town

Question: What were the two potential aspects of Atlantic City that originally attracted developers?


Answer: Philadelphia

Context: The city was incorporated in 1854, the same year in which the Camden and Atlantic Railroad train service began. Built on the edge of the bay, this served as the direct link of this remote parcel of land with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That same year, construction of the Absecon Lighthouse, designed by George Meade of the Corps of Topographical Engineers, was approved, with work initiated the next year. By 1874, almost 500,000 passengers a year were coming to Atlantic City by rail. In Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, "Atlantic City's Godfather" Nelson Johnson describes the inspiration of Dr. Jonathan Pitney (the "Father of Atlantic City") to develop Atlantic City as a health resort, his efforts to convince the municipal authorities that a railroad to the beach would be beneficial, his successful alliance with Samuel Richards (entrepreneur and member of the most influential family in southern New Jersey at the time) to achieve that goal, the actual building of the railroad, and the experience of the first 600 riders, who "were chosen carefully by Samuel Richards and Jonathan Pitney":

Question: What other US city was linked to Atlantic City by the Camden and Atlantic Railroad train service?


Answer: 500,000

Question: By 1874, how many passengers were coming to Atlantic City by rail each year?


Answer: Absecon Lighthouse

Question: What is the name of the lighthouse that is located on the Atlantic City coast?


Answer: Nelson Johnson

Question: Who is considered to be "Atlantic City's Godfather?"


Answer: 1870

Context: The first boardwalk was built in 1870 along a portion of the beach in an effort to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies. Businesses were restricted and the boardwalk was removed each year at the end of the peak season. Because of its effectiveness and popularity, the boardwalk was expanded in length and width, and modified several times in subsequent years. The historic length of the boardwalk, before the destructive 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, was about 7 miles (11 km) and it extended from Atlantic City to Longport, through Ventnor and Margate.

Question: In what year was the first boardwalk built in Atlantic City?


Answer: to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies

Question: Why was the first boardwalk built in Atlantic City?


Answer: 1944

Question: What year was the Great Atlantic Hurricane?


Answer: about 7 miles

Question: What was the historic length of the boardwalk before the Great Atlantic Hurricane?


Answer: Longport

Question: Before the Great Atlantic Hurricane the boardwalk extended from Atlantic City to what other city?


Answer: Pleasantville

Context: The first road connecting the city to the mainland at Pleasantville was completed in 1870 and charged a 30-cent toll. Albany Avenue was the first road to the mainland that was available without a toll.

Question: The first road connected Atlantic City to which mainland town?


Answer: 1870

Question: The first road that connected Atlantic City to the mainland was completed in what year?


Answer: 30-cent

Question: How much of a toll was charged on the first road to connect Atlantic City to the mainland?


Answer: Albany Avenue

Question: What was the name of the first road to the mainland that did not charge a toll?


Answer: 1878

Context: By 1878, because of the growing popularity of the city, one railroad line could no longer keep up with demand. Soon, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was also constructed to transport tourists to Atlantic City. At this point massive hotels like The United States and Surf House, as well as smaller rooming houses, had sprung up all over town. The United States Hotel took up a full city block between Atlantic, Pacific, Delaware, and Maryland Avenues. These hotels were not only impressive in size, but featured the most updated amenities, and were considered quite luxurious for their time.

Question: By what year was demand so great that one railroad line could no longer keep up with the demand?


Answer: Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway

Question: What was the name of the new railway that was constructed to transport tourists to Atlantic City after 1878?


Answer: The United States Hotel

Question: What was the name of the hotel that took up a full city block?


Answer: rooming houses

Question: Besides massive hotels, what else was appearing all over Atlantic City during this period?


Answer: Atlantic, Pacific, Delaware, and Maryland Avenues

Question: What were the names of the four avenues that surrounded The United States Hotel?


Answer: early part of the 20th century

Context: In the early part of the 20th century, Atlantic City went through a radical building boom. Many of the modest boarding houses that dotted the boardwalk were replaced with large hotels. Two of the city's most distinctive hotels were the Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel and the Traymore Hotel.

Question: When did Atlantic City go through a radical building boom?


Answer: large hotels

Question: What replaced many of the modest boarding houses?


Answer: Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel and the Traymore Hotel

Question: What were the names of two of the city's most distinctive hotels?


Answer: a radical building boom

Question: What happened to Atlantic City in the early part of the 20th century?


Answer: the boardwalk

Question: Where were the modest boarding houses located before they were replaced by large hotels?


Answer: 1903

Context: In 1903, Josiah White III bought a parcel of land near Ohio Avenue and the boardwalk and built the Queen Anne style Marlborough House. The hotel was a hit and, in 1905–06, he chose to expand the hotel and bought another parcel of land next door to his Marlborough House. In an effort to make his new hotel a source of conversation, White hired the architectural firm of Price and McLanahan. The firm made use of reinforced concrete, a new building material invented by Jean-Louis Lambot in 1848 (Joseph Monier received the patent in 1867). The hotel's Spanish and Moorish themes, capped off with its signature dome and chimneys, represented a step forward from other hotels that had a classically designed influence. White named the new hotel the Blenheim and merged the two hotels into the Marlborough-Blenheim. Bally's Atlantic City was later constructed at this location.

Question: In what year did Josiah White III by land to build a hotel?


Answer: Marlborough House

Question: What was the name of the hotel built by Josiah White III?


Answer: Queen Anne

Question: In what style was the Malborough House buit?


Answer: 1848

Question: In what year was reinforced concrete invented?


Answer: Blenheim

Question: What was the name of the second hotel built by Josiah White III?


Answer: The Traymore Hotel

Context: The Traymore Hotel was located at the corner of Illinois Avenue and the boardwalk. Begun in 1879 as a small boarding house, the hotel grew through a series of uncoordinated expansions. By 1914, the hotel's owner, Daniel White, taking a hint from the Marlborough-Blenheim, commissioned the firm of Price and McLanahan to build an even bigger hotel. Rising 16 stories, the tan brick and gold-capped hotel would become one of the city's best-known landmarks. The hotel made use of ocean-facing hotel rooms by jutting its wings farther from the main portion of the hotel along Pacific Avenue.

Question: What was the name of the hotel located at the corner of Illinois Avenue and the boardwalk?


Answer: 1879

Question: What year was The Traymore Hotel begun?


Answer: Daniel White

Question: Who was the owner of The Traymore Hotel?


Answer: 16

Question: How many stories was The Traymore Hotel after its renovation?


Answer: Price and McLanahan

Question: What was the name of the firm commissioned to build The Traymore Hotel?


Answer: 1868

Context: One by one, additional large hotels were constructed along the boardwalk, including the Brighton, Chelsea, Shelburne, Ambassador, Ritz Carlton, Mayflower, Madison House, and the Breakers. The Quaker-owned Chalfonte House, opened in 1868, and Haddon House, opened in 1869, flanked North Carolina Avenue at the beach end. Their original wood-frame structures would be enlarged, and even moved closer to the beach, over the years. The modern Chalfonte Hotel, eight stories tall, opened in 1904. The modern Haddon Hall was built in stages and was completed in 1929, at eleven stories. By this time, they were under the same ownership and merged into the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel, becoming the city's largest hotel with nearly 1,000 rooms. By 1930, the Claridge, the city's last large hotel before the casinos, opened its doors. The 400-room Claridge was built by a partnership that included renowned Philadelphia contractor John McShain. At 24 stories, it would become known as the "Skyscraper By The Sea." The city became known as the "The World's Playground.

Question: What year did the Quaker-owned Chalfonte House open?


Answer: 1869

Question: What year did the Haddon House open?


Answer: eight

Question: How many stories was the modern Chalfonte Hotel when it opened in 1904?


Answer: nearly 1,000

Question: How many rooms were in the merged Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel?


Answer: Skyscraper By The Sea

Question: What was the name given to the 24 story tall, 400-room Claridge?


Answer: 1883

Context: In 1883, salt water taffy was conceived in Atlantic City by David Bradley. The traditional story is that Bradley's shop was flooded after a major storm, soaking his taffy with salty Atlantic Ocean water. He sold some "salt water taffy" to a girl, who proudly walked down to the beach to show her friends. Bradley's mother was in the back of the store when the sale was made, and loved the name, and so salt water taffy was born.

Question: In what year was salt water taffy conceived?


Answer: David Bradley

Question: Who was the creator of salt water taffy?


Answer: Bradley's shop was flooded after a major storm

Question: What happened to David Bradley's shop that led to the creation of salt water taffy?


Answer: a girl

Question: Who did Bradley sell salt water taffy to for the first time?


Answer: Atlantic Ocean

Question: Where did the water come from for the creation of the first salt water taffy?


Answer: 1920s

Context: The 1920s, with tourism at its peak, are considered by many historians as Atlantic City's golden age. During Prohibition, which was enacted nationally in 1919 and lasted until 1933, much liquor was consumed and gambling regularly took place in the back rooms of nightclubs and restaurants. It was during Prohibition that racketeer and political boss Enoch L. "Nucky" Johnson rose to power. Prohibition was largely unenforced in Atlantic City, and, because alcohol that had been smuggled into the city with the acquiescence of local officials could be readily obtained at restaurants and other establishments, the resort's popularity grew further. The city then dubbed itself as "The World's Playground". Nucky Johnson's income, which reached as much as $500,000 annually, came from the kickbacks he took on illegal liquor, gambling and prostitution operating in the city, as well as from kickbacks on construction projects.

Question: What years do many historians consider Atlantic City's golden age?


Answer: 1919

Question: What year was Prohibition enacted nationally?


Answer: The World's Playground

Question: During Prohibition what name was given to Atlantic City?


Answer: as much as $500,000 annually

Question: During Prohibition how high was Nucky Johnson's income?


Answer: until 1933

Question: How long did Prohibition last?


Answer: Edward L. Bader

Context: During this time, Atlantic City was under the mayoral reign of Edward L. Bader, known for his contributions to the construction, athletics and aviation of Atlantic City. Despite the opposition of many others, he purchased land that became the city's municipal airport and high school football stadium, both of which were later named Bader Field in his honor. He led the initiative, in 1923, to construct the Atlantic City High School at Albany and Atlantic Avenues. Bader, in November 1923, initiated a public referendum, during the general election, at which time residents approved the construction of a Convention Center. The city passed an ordinance approving a bond issue for $1.5 million to be used for the purchase of land for Convention Hall, now known as the Boardwalk Hall, finalized September 30, 1924. Bader was also a driving force behind the creation of the Miss America competition.

Question: During the 1920s, who was the mayor of Atlantic City?


Answer: construction, athletics and aviation

Question: What three contributions to Atlantic City was Edward L. Bader known for?


Answer: 1923

Question: What year did Edward L. Bader lead the initiative to construct the Atlantic City High School?


Answer: $1.5 million

Question: How much was the bond for that was to be used to purchase land for a Convention Center?


Answer: 1924

Question: What year was Boardwalk Hall finished?


Answer: organized crime figures from all across America

Context: From May 13 to May 16 in 1929, Johnson hosted a conference for organized crime figures from all across America. The men who called this meeting were Masseria family lieutenant Charles "Lucky" Luciano and former Chicago South Side Gang boss Johnny "the Fox" Torrio, with heads of the Bugs and Meyer Mob, Meyer Lansky and Benjamin Siegel, being used as muscle for the meeting.

Question: Who was a meeting organized for in 1929 in Atlantic City?


Answer: Charles "Lucky" Luciano and former Chicago South Side Gang boss Johnny "the Fox" Torrio

Question: What family was Charles


Answer: 1929

Question: In what year was there a conference for organized crime figures in Atlantic City?


Answer: Masseria family

Question: For which family was Charles "Lucky" Luciano a lieutenant?


Answer: Lucky

Question: What was Charles Luciano's nickname?


Answer: Johnny "the Fox" Torrio

Question: Who was a former Chicago South Side Gang boss?


Answer: the Fox

Question: What was Johnny Torrio's nickname?


Answer: the "Inlet"

Context: Like many older east coast cities after World War II, Atlantic City became plagued with poverty, crime, corruption, and general economic decline in the mid-to-late 20th century. The neighborhood known as the "Inlet" became particularly impoverished. The reasons for the resort's decline were multi-layered. First of all, the automobile became more readily available to many Americans after the war. Atlantic City had initially relied upon visitors coming by train and staying for a couple of weeks. The car allowed them to come and go as they pleased, and many people would spend only a few days, rather than weeks. Also, the advent of suburbia played a huge role. With many families moving to their own private houses, luxuries such as home air conditioning and swimming pools diminished their interest in flocking to the luxury beach resorts during the hot summer. But perhaps the biggest factor in the decline in Atlantic City's popularity came from cheap, fast jet service to other premier resorts, such as Miami Beach and the Bahamas.

Question: Which Atlantic City neighborhood became particularly impoverished in the mid-to-late 20th century?


Answer: cheap, fast jet service

Question: What was the biggest factor in the decline in Atlantic City's popularity?


Answer: Miami Beach and the Bahamas

Question: What were two other locations people began to fly to instead of going to Atlantic City?


Answer: automobile

Question: After the war, what form of transportation became more readily available to many Americans?


Answer: home air conditioning and swimming pools

Question: What two luxuries that people could have at their own homes led to a diminished interest in luxury beach resorts?


Answer: Democratic National Convention

Context: The city hosted the 1964 Democratic National Convention which nominated Lyndon Johnson for President and Hubert Humphrey as Vice President. The convention and the press coverage it generated, however, cast a harsh light on Atlantic City, which by then was in the midst of a long period of economic decline. Many felt that the friendship between Johnson and Governor of New Jersey Richard J. Hughes led Atlantic City to host the Democratic Convention.

Question: What event was hosted by Atlantic City in 1964?


Answer: Hubert Humphrey

Question: Who was nominated for Vice President during the 1964 Democratic National Convention?


Answer: Lyndon Johnson

Question: Who was nominated for President during the 1964 Democratic National Convention?


Answer: Richard J. Hughes

Question: Who was the Governor of New Jersey in 1964?


Answer: Johnson and Governor of New Jersey Richard J. Hughes

Question: Despite being in the midst of a long period of economic decline many felt that the Convention was only held in Atlantic city because of a friendship between what two men?


Answer: the late 1960s

Context: By the late 1960s, many of the resort's once great hotels were suffering from embarrassing vacancy rates. Most of them were either shut down, converted to cheap apartments, or converted to nursing home facilities by the end of the decade. Prior to and during the advent of legalized gaming, many of these hotels were demolished. The Breakers, the Chelsea, the Brighton, the Shelburne, the Mayflower, the Traymore, and the Marlborough-Blenheim were demolished in the 1970s and 1980s. Of the many pre-casino resorts that bordered the boardwalk, only the Claridge, the Dennis, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Haddon Hall survive to this day as parts of Bally's Atlantic City, a condo complex, and Resorts Atlantic City. The old Ambassador Hotel was purchased by Ramada in 1978 and was gutted to become the Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City, only reusing the steelwork of the original building. Smaller hotels off the boardwalk, such as the Madison also survived.

Question: By what years were many of the great hotels suffering from high vacancy rates?


Answer: demolished

Question: Prior to and during the advent of legalized gaming, what happened to many of the hotels in Atlantic City?


Answer: 1970s and 1980s

Question: When were many of the large hotels demolished?


Answer: Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City

Question: After the Ambassador Hotel was gutted what did it become?


Answer: Ramada

Question: Who purchased the old Ambassador Hotel in 1978?


Answer: 1976

Context: In an effort at revitalizing the city, New Jersey voters in 1976 passed a referendum, approving casino gambling for Atlantic City; this came after a 1974 referendum on legalized gambling failed to pass. Immediately after the legislation passed, the owners of the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel began converting it into the Resorts International. It was the first legal casino in the eastern United States when it opened on May 26, 1978. Other casinos were soon constructed along the Boardwalk and, later, in the marina district for a total of eleven today. The introduction of gambling did not, however, quickly eliminate many of the urban problems that plagued Atlantic City. Many people have suggested that it only served to exacerbate those problems, as attested to by the stark contrast between tourism intensive areas and the adjacent impoverished working-class neighborhoods. In addition, Atlantic City has been less popular than Las Vegas, as a gambling city in the United States. Donald Trump helped bring big name boxing bouts to the city to attract customers to his casinos. The boxer Mike Tyson had most of his fights in Atlantic City in the 1980s, which helped Atlantic City achieve nationwide attention as a gambling resort. Numerous highrise condominiums were built for use as permanent residences or second homes. By end of the decade it was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

Question: In what year did New Jersey voters pass a referendum approving casino gambling for Atlantic City?


Answer: Resorts International

Question: The owners of the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel converted it into what?


Answer: Resorts International

Question: What was the name of the first legal casino in the eastern United States?


Answer: 1978

Question: What year did Resorts International open?


Answer: eleven

Question: How many casinos are there in Atlantic City today?


Answer: to diversify away from gaming

Context: With the redevelopment of Las Vegas and the opening of two casinos in Connecticut in the early 1990s, along with newly built casinos in the nearby Philadelphia metro area in the 2000s, Atlantic City's tourism began to decline due to its failure to diversify away from gaming. Determined to expand, in 1999 the Atlantic City Redevelopment Authority partnered with Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn to develop a new roadway to a barren section of the city near the Marina. Nicknamed "The Tunnel Project", Steve Wynn planned the proposed 'Mirage Atlantic City' around the idea that he would connect the $330 million tunnel stretching 2.5 miles (4.0 km) from the Atlantic City Expressway to his new resort. The roadway was later officially named the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector, and funnels incoming traffic off of the expressway into the city's marina district and Brigantine, New Jersey.

Question: Atlantic City's tourism began to decline due to what failure?


Answer: Steve Wynn

Question: Who did the Atlantic City Redevelopment Authority partner with in 1999?


Answer: to develop a new roadway

Question: Why did the Atlantic City Redevelopment Authority partner with Steve Wynn?


Answer: The Tunnel Project

Question: What was the project involving Steve Wynn nicknamed?


Answer: Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector

Question: "The Tunnel Project" was later officially named what?


Answer: 2001

Context: Although Wynn's plans for development in the city were scrapped in 2002, the tunnel opened in 2001. The new roadway prompted Boyd Gaming in partnership with MGM/Mirage to build Atlantic City's newest casino. The Borgata opened in July 2003, and its success brought an influx of developers to Atlantic City with plans for building grand Las Vegas style mega casinos to revitalize the aging city.

Question: In what year did the tunnel open?


Answer: The Borgata

Question: What was the name of Atlantic City's newest casino?


Answer: July 2003

Question: When did The Borgata open?


Answer: 2002

Question: In what year was Wynn's plans for development scrapped?


Answer: Boyd Gaming in partnership with MGM/Mirage

Question: The new roadway prompted a partnership between which two companies?


Answer: November 11, 2006

Context: Owing to economic conditions and the late 2000s recession, many of the proposed mega casinos never went further than the initial planning stages. One of these developers was Pinnacle Entertainment, who purchased the Sands Atlantic City, only to close it permanently November 11, 2006. The following year, the resort was demolished in a dramatic, Las Vegas styled implosion, the first of its kind in Atlantic City. While Pinnacle Entertainment intended to replace it with a $1.5–2 billion casino resort, the company canceled its construction plans and plans to sell the land. The biggest disappointment was when MGM Resorts International announced that it would pull out of all development for Atlantic City, effectively ending their plans for the MGM Grand Atlantic City.

Question: When did the Sands Atlantic City close permanently?


Answer: demolished in a dramatic, Las Vegas styled implosion

Question: What happened to the Sands Atlantic City a year after it closed?


Answer: $1.5–2 billion casino resort

Question: What did Pinnacle Entertainment intend to replace the Sands Atlantic City with?


Answer: economic conditions and the late 2000s recession

Question: Why did many of the proposed mega casinos never get further than the initial planning stages?


Answer: Pinnacle Entertainment

Question: Who purchased the Sands Atlantic City?


Answer: 2006

Context: In 2006, Morgan Stanley purchased 20 acres (8.1 ha) directly north of the Showboat Atlantic City Hotel and Casino for a new $2 billion plus casino resort. Revel Entertainment Group was named as the project's developer for the Revel Casino. Revel was hindered with many problems, with the biggest setback to the company being in April 2010 when Morgan Stanley, the owner of 90% of Revel Entertainment Group, decided to discontinue funding for continued construction and put its stake in Revel up for sale. Early in 2010 the New Jersey state legislature passed a bill offering tax incentives to attract new investors and complete the job, but a poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind released in March 2010 showed that three of five voters (60%) opposed the legislation, and two of three of those who opposed it "strongly" opposed it. Ultimately, Governor Chris Christie offered Revel $261 million in state tax credits to assist the casino once it opened. As of March 2011[update], Revel had completed all of the exterior work and had continued work on the interior after finally receiving the funding necessary to complete construction. It had a soft opening in April 2012, and was fully open by May 2012. Ten months later, in February 2013, after serious losses and a write-down in the value of the resort from $2.4 billion to $450 million, Revel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It was restructured but still could not carry on and re-entered bankruptcy on June 19, 2014. It was put up for sale, however as no suitable bids were received the resort closed its doors on September 2, 2014.

Question: In what year did Morgan Stanley purchase land for a new casino resort?


Answer: 20 acres

Question: How much land did Morgan Stanley purchase?


Answer: Revel Entertainment Group

Question: Who was named as the developer for Morgan Stanley's casino resort?


Answer: 90%

Question: What percentage of ownership did Morgan Stanley hold in Revel Entertainment Group?


Answer: Governor Chris Christie

Question: Who offered Revel $261 million in state tax credits?


Answer: 40-year

Context: In the wake of the closures and declining revenue from casinos, Governor Christie said in September 2014 that the state would consider a 2015 referendum to end the 40-year-old monopoly that Atlantic City holds on casino gambling and allowing gambling in other municipalities. With casino revenue declining from $5.2 billion in 2006 to $2.9 billion in 2013, the state saw a drop in money from its 8% tax on those earnings, which is used to fund programs for senior citizens and the disabled.

Question: How long had Atlantic City held a monopoly on casino gambling?


Answer: Governor Christie

Question: Who said that the state would consider a referendum to end the monopoly that Atlantic City holds on casino gambling?


Answer: September 2014

Question: When did Governor Christie say that the state would consider a referendum?


Answer: $5.2 billion

Question: How much was casino revenue in 2006?


Answer: $2.9 billion

Question: How much was casino revenue in 2013?


Answer: October 29, 2012

Context: "Superstorm Sandy" struck Atlantic City on October 29, 2012, causing flooding and power-outages but left minimal damage to any of the tourist areas including the Boardwalk and casino resorts, despite widespread belief that the city's boardwalk had been destroyed. The source of the misinformation was a widely circulated photograph of a damaged section of the Boardwalk that was slated for repairs, prior to the storm, and incorrect news reports at the time of the disaster. The storm produced an all-time record low barometric pressure reading of 943 mb (27.85") for not only Atlantic City, but the state of New Jersey.

Question: When did "Superstorm Sandy" strike Atlantic City?


Answer: 943 mb

Question: "Superstorm Sandy" produced an all-time record low barometric pressure reading of what?


Answer: flooding and power-outages

Question: Although "Superstorm Sandy" left minimal damage to any of the tourist areas it did cause what two other things to occur?


Answer: photograph

Question: What was the source of the misinformation concerning damage to the city's boardwalk?


Answer: the Boardwalk that was slated for repairs, prior to the storm

Question: Why was there a photo of the Boardwalk if it wasn't actually damaged in the storm?


Answer: 17.037 square miles

Context: According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 17.037 square miles (44.125 km2), including 10.747 square miles (27.835 km2) of land and 6.290 square miles (16.290 km2) of water (36.92%).

Question: According to the United States Census Bureau, what is the total area in square miles?


Answer: 10.747 square miles

Question: What is the area of land?


Answer: 6.290 square miles

Question: What is the area of water?


Answer: 36.92%

Question: What percentage of the city is made up of water?


Answer: United States Census Bureau

Question: What organization provided data detailing the size of the city?


Answer: Venice Park

Context: Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Chelsea, City Island, Great Island and Venice Park.

Question: Besides Chelsea, City Island, and Great Island, what other community, locality, or place name is included in the city?


Answer: Great Island

Question: Besides Chelsea, City Island, and Venice Park, what other community, locality, or place name is included in the city?


Answer: City Island

Question: Besides Chelsea, Venice Park, and Great Island, what other community, locality, or place name is included in the city?


Answer: Chelsea

Question: Besides Venice Park, City Island, and Great Island, what other community, locality, or place name is included in the city?


Answer: Unincorporated communities

Question: Besides localities and place names, what else is located partically or completely within the city?


Answer: 75.6 °F

Context: Summers are typically warm and humid with a July daily average of 75.6 °F (24.2 °C). During this time, the city gets a sea breeze off the ocean that often makes daytime temperatures much cooler than inland areas, making Atlantic City a prime place for beating the summer heat from June through September. Average highs even just a few miles west of Atlantic City exceed 85 °F (29 °C) in July. Near the coast, temperatures reach or exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on an average of only 6.8 days a year, but this reaches 21 days at nearby Atlantic City Int'l.[a] Winters are cool, with January averaging 35.5 °F (2 °C). Spring and autumn are erratic, although they are usually mild with low humidity. The average window for freezing temperatures is November 20 to March 25, allowing a growing season of 239 days. Extreme temperatures range from −9 °F (−23 °C) on February 9, 1934 to 104 °F (40 °C) on August 7, 1918.[b]

Question: What is the daily average temperature in July?


Answer: September

Question: Atlantic City is a prime place to beat the heat from June through what month?


Answer: 35.5 °F

Question: What is the average temperature for January in Atlantic City?


Answer: −9 °F

Question: What is the extreme low temperature of Atlantic City?


Answer: 239 days

Question: How many days long is the growing season?


Answer: 40 inches

Context: Annual precipitation is 40 inches (1,020 mm) which is fairly spread throughout the year. Owing to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its location in South Jersey, Atlantic City receives less snow than a good portion of the rest of New Jersey. Even at the airport, where low temperatures are often much lower than along the coast, snow averages only 16.5 inches (41.9 cm) each winter. It is very common for rain to fall in Atlantic City while the northern and western parts of the state are receiving snow.

Question: How many inches of precipitation does Atlantic City receive annually?


Answer: 16.5 inches

Question: What is the average number of inches of snow received at the airport annually?


Answer: Atlantic Ocean

Question: Atlantic City's lack of snowfall is due to its location in South Jersey and its proximaty to which body of water?


Answer: South Jersey

Question: Atlantic City's lack of snowfall is due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its location where?


Answer: rain

Question: Atlantic City is different from the northern and western parts of the state in the winter due to its tendency to receive which type of precipitation?


Answer: 39,558

Context: At the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,558 people, 15,504 households, and 8,558 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,680.8 per square mile (1,421.2/km2). There were 20,013 housing units at an average density of 1,862.2 per square mile (719.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 26.65% (10,543) White, 38.29% (15,148) Black or African American, 0.61% (242) Native American, 15.55% (6,153) Asian, 0.05% (18) Pacific Islander, 14.03% (5,549) from other races, and 4.82% (1,905) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 30.45% (12,044) of the population.

Question: How many people were residing in Atlantic City during the 2010 United States Census?


Answer: 20,013

Question: How many housing units were in Atlantic City during the 2010 United States Census?


Answer: 30.45%

Question: During the 2010 United States Census what percentage of Atlantic City's population was Hispanic or Latino?


Answer: 26.65%

Question: During the 2010 United States Census what percentage of Atlantic City's population was White?


Answer: 8,558

Question: How many families were residing in Atlantic City during the 2010 United States Census?