Ecology

A scientist studying dolphin populations noticed an increase in dolphin mortality. High levels of a toxin, DDT, have been found stored in the mother's blubber. Which environmental problem does this best demonstrate?

• invasive species; the toxin is invading the dolphin's body

• acid rain; the toxin is the result of acid rain

• bioaccumulation; the toxin builds up in the dolphin's body

• resource depletion; the dolphin population will be depleted due to toxins

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The deer tick survives by feeding on the blood of deer.  The animals are left with itchy bites and sometimes get Lyme disease as a result. How would a scientist most likely classify the deer tick?

• carnivore
• insectivore
• predator
• parasite

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Which is an example of an invasive species?

• rattlesnakes in the desert searching for prey
• the kudzu vine introduced to help prevent soil erosion
• bacteria decomposing dead organic matter in the soil
• algae that produces oxygen in fresh water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which human activity causes an immediate increase in the amount of greenhouse gases?

• deforestation
• reforestation
• burning fossil fuels
• biological magnification

Which is a limiting factor that is dependent on population size?

• disease
• human activity
• natural disasters
• weather patterns

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Which would result if two species shared the same niche at the same time?

• predation
• mutualism
• competition
• commensalism

A population of foxes in a forest ecosystem has become stable, neither growing or becoming smaller.  Which statement would best describe the population of foxes?

• the foxes are not dying or reproducing
• the fox population has reached its carrying capacity
• the foxes are moving into and out of the forest ecosystem
• the fox population has failed to change due to lack of food

Which best describes how the greenhouse effect has caused a rise in global warming?

• Increased production of CO₂ holds in heat and prevents it from escaping
• CFCs used in aerosol sprays have decreased the levels of radiation that enter Earth's atmosphere
• the thickening of the ozone layer has decreased the levels of UV radiation that reach Earth's atmosphere
• the use of heating and cooling has produced increased levels of moisture in the air, which holds heat

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

As energy flows through each trophic level of a food chain, approximately what percentage of energy is available to the next trophic level?

• 1%

• 10%

• 50%

• 100%

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which process puts carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere?

• cellular respiration
• transpiration
• photosynthesis
• chemosynthesis