Lesson 9: Ecosystem sustainability

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a way air pollutants disrupt the flow of nutrients and energy in an ecosystem?

• Poisoning organisms

• Making organisms more vulnerable to disease, drought, and temperature and predator attacks

• Increasing the oxygen content in the soil

• Altering the chemistry of the soil

Multiple Choice

What is an algal bloom and how does it affect aquatic ecosystems?

• A slow increase in algae that benefits fish populations

• A sudden, rapid growth of algae that can lead to decreased oxygen and harm aquatic life

• A decrease in algae due to pollution

• A process that increases dissolved oxygen in water

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the process of ecological succession?

• A series of changes in an ecological community over time leading to equilibrium

• A sudden change in the population of a single species

• The process of planting crops in rotation to improve soil health

• The destruction of ecosystems by human activities

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a principle of a sustainable ecosystem?

• Ecosystems use sunlight as a non-depletable energy source.

• Ecosystems break down and recycle all wastes as nutrients.

• Ecosystems must have a high level of biodiversity.

• Ecosystems rely solely on human intervention for survival.