Niche/Native Species/Evolution

Biodiversity refers to

• extinct species
• the variety of species on Earth
• nonrenewable resources
• the rate of species decline

When taken to a new habitat, non-native plants often threaten native plants of the new habitat.  Why do they do this?

• Non-native plants are able to mutate rapidly
• Non-native  plants cause native animals to relocate
• Non-native plants are able to be used for medicine
• Non-native plants compete with native plants for resources

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

The field mouse population in Australia has grown so fast that they eat an average of  $4 billion of wheat every year. Their fast growth is caused by:

• A. The mice like to reproduce
• B. A lack of a native species to eat the field mouse
• C. Abundant food supply
• Both B and C

What makes a species invasive?

• Moving to a new ecosystem and taking resources from natives

• Not having papers

• Species that can't adapt

• Plants that take up too much space

Invasive species alter the ecosystem by __________in number quickly,this leads to _____ food for the native species.

• increasing, less

• declining,more

Exotic or invasive species leads to all of these problems except

• increased biodiversity
• loss of biodiversity
• disease
• loss of native species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Does every species have the means to become invasive?

• Depends on the abiotic factors

• Yes, if the food web can support another organism

• Yes, if they are determined enough

• No, only species that pose a threat to ecosystem

Read the following sentence from the selection.
The visitors were admiring the wonders--rivers of golden grass that stretch in all directions, the songs of frogs and crickets chiming in the humid air, the smell of orange blossoms from distant orchards.
The author uses this sentence to--

• support the idea that the Burmese python is a species not naturally found in the Everglades or anywhere in North America.
• help the reader visualize what people normally experience when exploring the Everglades.
• argue that the Everglades should be protected from the invasion of Burmese pythons.
• offer a reason why the semitropical climate is ideal for the Burmese python.

What's one EFFECT of pythons invading the Everglades?

• the number of small mammals, like mice, are decreasing
• the number of white-tailed deer is increasing
• pythons can grow to be 18 feet long

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What's one problem with the pythons gobbling up all the small animals in the Everglades park?

• other animals can't find any food

• the deer weighed a total of 160 pounds

• Scientists don't know exactly how many pythons are out there