Ecosystems Factors, Changes and Biodiversity

(8.11B) The Praries Region and the Cross Timbers are located in north-central Texas. The graph below shows information about eating habits of white-tailed deer in these regions.
A Cross Timbers rancher is concerned about competition between the ranch animals and deer. Based on the graph, which ranch animals compete for the most food with white-tailed deer?

• Cattle that eat grass and feed
• Goats that eat weeds and shrubs
• Turkeys that eat seeds and fruit
• Hogs that eat fruit, seeds, and feed

(8.11B) A scientist named Joseph Connell studied two species of barnacles on the short of a Scottish island. In the area between the average tide and the neap high tide, he found that the population of Species A was smaller than that of Species B. He removed Species B from one areas but left both Species and A and B in a similar area. The graph shows the results of this study.
Based on these data, which hypothesis was Connell most likely testing?

• The populations of both species of barnacles increas more in warm water than in cool water.
• Barnacles grow larger when they are isolated from other species.
• The two species of barnacles compete with each other for resources.
• The two species of barnacles are closely related to each other.

(8.11B) Fish in a lake have to compete for space. Different fish have different optimal temperature ranges. The graph below shows the temperature ranges for four fish species.
At which temperature range will there be the most competition for space among these fish species?

• 5-10
• 10-15
• 15-20
• 20-25

(8.11B) The graph below shows the percent of seeds from two plant species that sprout when grown in water containing different amounts of salt.
Which of the following best summarizes the effect of saltwater on these plant species?

• Species 1 can only sprout in freshwater, and species 2 can sprout only in saltwater.
• Both species can sprout in freshwater and saltwater, but Species 2 can sprout in a higher salt concentration than Species 1.
• Both species need salt in their water, but Species 2 needs more salt than Species 1.
• Species 1 can sprout only in water with a low salt concentration, but Species 2 is not affected by the salt concentration.

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(8.11B) Which organisms in the food web shown above compete for the same food source in this environment?

• Grasshoppers and snakes
• Hawks and frogs
• Frogs and snakes
• Decomposers and grasses

(8.11B) The Couch's spadefoot lives in Texas and his the characteristics listed below.
The Couch's spadefoot is adapted to a certain type of environment. Which of these resources is most likely scarce in this environment?

• Soil
• Sunlight
• Water
• Oxygen

(8.11C) Before the Industrial Revolution in England, the peppered moth was commonly found on tree trunks that had light-colored lichen on the bark. Most of the peppered moths were a light grey-brown color similar to that of the lichen. A few of the moths had a mutation that made them a dark grey-brown color.
During the Industrial Revolution, coal-burning factories produced black soot that covered the tress and killed the lichen in and near cities. In these areas the number of dark peppered moths increased, while the number of light peppered moths decreased. What contributed to this change?

• The soot-covered trees camouflaged the dark moths.
• The dark moths preyed on the light moths.
• Bird populations increased in the areas near the factories.
• The dark moths laid fewer eggs than the light moths. 

(8.11C) Galveston Bay, an estuary in Southeast Texas, is shown below. The amount of salt in the water changes with the tides. Sometimes water is mostly freshwater, and sometimes it is mixed with saltwater. Various plant species live in this environment and provide a habitat for other organisms.
To successfully live in an estuary, a plant species much have an adaptation that allows it to-

• produce large amounts of food
• absorb large amounts of water
• store excess gases
• filter excess salt

(8.11C) The types of organisms that live on the bottom of streams can be good indicators of water pollution. The table groups some organisms by their tolerance of pollution.
A certain stream that was historically clear and clean has become increasingly polluted with fertilizer waste over the years. Which of these describes a likely result of this pollution?

• Mayflies that were previously abundant are no longer present in the stream.
• Stone flies and midges thrive and compete for the same food source.
• Large numbers of crayfish have suddenly died.
• Riffle beetles have become more abundant in the stream.

(8.11C) Wild Soay sheep live in a cold environment on a small Scottish island. The sheep used to be large because they gained extra weight during the summers in order to survive the harsh winters. A recent change in the island's climate has caused grass to be avaliable for a longer period each year. so survival conditions have become less challenging.
Researchers who study these sheep have most likely observed a decrease in the wild Soay's-

• size
• life expectancy
• reproduction rates
• body temperature