Biodiversity
Ecosystems will have a greater chance of maintaining equilibrium over a long period of time if they have
(1) organisms imported by humans from other environments
(2) a sudden change in climate
(3) a diversity of organisms
(4) predators eliminated from the food chain
(3) a diversity of organisms
Some organizations are buying up sections of forest land. Once purchased, these sections of forest will never be cut down. The main reason for protecting these sections of forest is to
(1) cause the extinction of undesirable animal species
(2) prevent these trees from reproducing too fast
(3) maintain the diversity of the living environment
(4) provide more land for agricultural purposes
(3) maintain the diversity of the living environment
Increased production of goods makes our lives more comfortable, but causes an increase in the demand for energy and other resources. One negative impact of this situation on ecosystems is an increase in
(1) living space for wildlife
(2) renewable resources
(3) the diversity of plant species
(4) pollution levels in the atmosphere
(4) pollution levels in the atmosphere
Continued depletion of the ozone layer will most likely result in
(1) an increase in skin cancer among humans
(2) a decrease in atmospheric pollutants
(3) an increase in marine ecosystem stability
(4) a decrease in climatic changes
(1) an increase in skin cancer among humans
Researchers performing a well-designed experiment should base their conclusions on
(1) the hypothesis of the experiment
(2) data from repeated trials of the experiment
(3) a small sample size to insure a reliable outcome of the experiment
(4) results predicted before performing the experiment
(2) data from repeated trials of the experiment
When habitats are destroyed, there are usually fewer niches for animals and plants. This action would most likely not lead to a change in the amount of
(1) biodiversity
(2) competition
(3) interaction between species
(4) solar radiation reaching the area
(4) solar radiation reaching the area
The rapid destruction of tropical rain forests may be harmful because
(1) removing trees will prevent scientists from studying ecological succession
(2) genetic material that may be useful for future medical discoveries will be lost
(3) energy cycling in the environment will stop
(4) the removal of trees will limit the construction of factories that will pollute the environment
(2) genetic material that may be useful for future medical discoveries will be lost
Water from nearby rivers or lakes is usually used to cool down the reactors in nuclear power plants. The release of this heated water back into the river or lake would most likely result in
(1) an increase in the sewage content in the water
(2) a change in the biodiversity in the water
(3) a change in the number of mutations in plants growing near the water
(4) a decrease in the amount of sunlight necessary for photosynthesis in the water
(2) a change in the biodiversity in the water
Which process helps reduce global warming?
(1) decay
(2) industrialization
(3) photosynthesis
(4) burning
(3) photosynthesis
A certain plant species, found only in one particular stream valley in the world, has a very shallow root system. An earthquake causes the stream to change its course so that the valley in which the plant species lives becomes very dry. As a result, the species dies out completely. The effect of this change on this plant species is known as
(1) evolution
(2) extinction
(3) mutation
(4) succession
(2) extinction
An established ecosystem may remain stable over hundreds of years because
(1) species interdependence is absent
(2) there is a lack of variety in the species
(3) no competition exists between the species
(4) there are natural checks on species
(4) there are natural checks on species
Cutting down a rainforest and planting agricultural crops, such as coffee plants, would most likely result in
(1) a decrease in biodiversity
(2) an increase in the amount of energy recycled
(3) a decrease in erosion
(4) an increase in the amount of photosynthesis
(1) a decrease in biodiversity
A change in the acidity of mountain lakes would most likely be a result of
(1) ecological succession of the area at the top of the mountain
(2) the introduction of new species into the lakes
(3) air pollution from smokestacks miles away
(4) planting grasses and shrubs around the lakes
3) air pollution from smokestacks miles away
Which action illustrates an increased understanding and concern by humans for ecological interrelationships?
(1) importing organisms in order to stabilize existing ecosystems
(2) eliminating pollution standards for industries that promote technology
(3) removing natural resources at a rate equal to the needs of the population
(4) implementing laws to regulate the number of animals hunted and killed each year
(4) implementing laws to regulate the number of animals hunted and killed each year
What impact do the amounts of available energy, water, and oxygen have on an ecosystem?
(1) They act as limiting factors.
(2) They are used as nutrients.
(3) They recycle the residue of dead organisms.
(4) They control environmental temperature.
(1) They act as limiting factors.
Which statement describes all stable ecosystems?
(1) Herbivores provide energy for the autotrophs.
(2) The populations of predators are dependent on the populations of their prey.
(3) The number of autotrophs equals the number of heterotrophs.
(4) Consumers synthesize ATP from light energy
(2) The populations of predators are dependent on the populations of their prey.
Humans have altered ecosystems in many ways. The most positive impact on an ecosystem would result from
(1) planting a single economically valuable crop in a 25-acre area
(2) seeding an area with valuable plants that are from another ecosystem
(3) planting many different plants that are native to the area in a vacant lot
(4) filling in a swamp and planting grass and trees for a community park
(3) planting many different plants that are native to the area in a vacant lot
Which situation is a result of human activities?
(1) decay of leaves in a forest adds to soil fertility
(2) acid rain in an area kills fish in a lake
(3) ecological succession following volcanic activity reestablishes an ecosystem
(4) natural selection on an island changes gene frequencies
(2) acid rain in an area kills fish in a lake
The burning of fossil fuels has harmed the
environment by
(1) decreasing acid rain in the northeast United
States
(2) adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
(3) increasing biodiversity in the lakes and ponds
of the Adirondacks
(4) depleting the ozone shield directly over
western New York State
(2) adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
Which two structures of a frog would most likely have the same chromosome number?
(1) skin cell and fertilized egg cell
(2) zygote and sperm cell
(3) kidney cell and egg cell
(4) liver cell and sperm cell
(1) skin cell and fertilized egg cell
A fire burns an oak forest down to bare ground. Over the next 150 years, if the climate remains constant, this area will most likely
(1) remain bare ground
(2) return to an oak forest
(3) become a rainforest
(4) become a wetland
(2) return to an oak forest
A forest is cut down and is replaced by a cornfield. A negative consequence of this practice is
(1) an increase in the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
(2) an increase in the size of predators
(3) a decrease in biodiversity
(4) a decrease in the amount of soil that is washed away during rainstorms
(3) a decrease in biodiversity
. In 1859, a small colony of 24 rabbits was brought to Australia. By 1928 it was estimated that there were 500 million rabbits in a 1-million square mile section of Australia. Which statement describes a condition that probably contributed to the increase in the rabbit population?
(1) The rabbits were affected by many limiting factors.
(2) The rabbits reproduced by asexual reproduction.
(3) The rabbits were unable to adapt to the environment.
(4) The rabbits had no natural predators in Australia.
(4) The rabbits had no natural predators in Australia.
What is one irreversible effect of both deforestation and water pollution on the environment?
Extinction of species
Thinning of the ozone shield
Depletion of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
Increase in renewable resources
Extinction of species
All cells in an embryo have the same DNA. However, the embryonic cells form organs, such as the brain and the kidneys, which have very different structures and functions. These differences are the result of
(1) having two types of cells, one type from each parent
(2) rapid mitosis causing mutations in embryo cells
(3) new combinations of cells resulting from meiosis
(4) certain genes being expressed in some cells and not in others
(4) certain genes being expressed in some cells and not in others