RC5: Interdependence within Environmental Systems

Which of the following would most likely have a negative effect on the biodiversity of an ecosystem?

• combustion of fossil fuels releasing nitrogen gases and sulfur compounds in the atmosphere

• detoxification of human and industrial waste

• stricter control over transportation of plants or animals between

  state and national borders

• increase in the number of wind turbines

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Which processes are least likely to interfere with the natural process of ecological succession?

• industrialization and habitat destruction

• management of water runoff and soil erosion

• pollution from chemical contaminants

• introduction of non-native species

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A dog walks around a neighborhood marking different objects with urine to mark its territory. The act of doing this is due to (a)  

• Competition

• Predation

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

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The lionfish is a non-native species that is a threat to ecosystems in the Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans. They rapidly reproduce and can destroy massive amounts of coral reefs in a short time period. Which statement best explains why the non-native species is more likely to survive than native

species?

• The native species has acquired an immunity to harmful organisms

  in the ecosystem.

• Both the native and nonnative species are competing for food sources in the ecosystem.

• The non-native species has no natural predators in the ecosystem

• Both the native and non-native species are prey in the ecosystem.

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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemical compounds which were banned by the U.S. Congress in (a)  

• pollution
• toxic contamination
• competition
• biomagnification

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An energy pyramid is represented above. (a)   would be found in level B?

• the Sun
• producers
• Herbivores
• Omnivores

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The photograph below shows a snow-covered spruce forest. A year ago, this spruce forest experienced a mild winter. This year, the spruce forest is experiencing an extremely cold winter. How will the environmental change most likely impact the stability of this ecosystem?

• The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to maintain the same level of stability as the number of large predators will remain constant.

• The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to become

  more stable, as the number of spruce trees in the forest will steadily increase.

• The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to become less stable, as the number of insects will steadily decrease.

• The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to alternate back and forth between being stable and unstable, as the number of shrubs will increase, then decrease.

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Recent evidence indicates that lakes in large areas of Texas are being affected by acid rain. The major effect of acid rain, which affects the stability of the ecosystems in the lakes, is —

• an increase in agricultural productivity.

• the elimination of many species of aquatic life.

• an increase in game fish population levels.

• the stimulation of a rapid rate of adaptation.

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Legumes, a family of plants with fruits or loments, have structures called nodules on their roots. These nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that convert free nitrogen from the air into ammonia, which is utilized to make proteins within the plant. What would be the long-term effect of the loss of nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria to the legumes and their ecosystem?

• It would result in healthy legumes, a decrease in free nitrogen in the air, an increase in legume-eating herbivores, and an increase in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.

• It would result in the death of legumes, a decrease in free nitrogen in the air, an increase in legume-eating herbivores, and a decrease in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.

• It would result in healthy legumes, an increase in free nitrogen in the air, a decrease in legume-eating herbivores, and an increase in consumers that are legume-eating herbivores.

• It would result in the death of the legumes, an increase in free nitrogen in the air, a decrease in legume-eating herbivores, and a decrease in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.

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1. The black-chinned hummingbird, which is native to West Texas, is shown on the left. The ruby-throated

hummingbird, which is native to East Texas, is shown on the right. These two closely related birds share which common feature?

• Large feet, which they use to perch on twigs or branches while

  sipping nectar

• Mottled plumage, which helps them appear less visible

  against leaf cover

• A hooked beak, which they use to sip nectar from bell-shaped flowers

• Broad wings, which they use to balance in the air while soaring above predators

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