Population Ecology and Human Impact

The heath hen was a wild bird that was once common from New England to Virginia. By 1900, habitat changes and hunting by humans had reduced the heath hen population size to about 100 birds. The species became extinct in 1932.

Which of the following would have been most effective in preventing the decline in the population size of wild heath hens?

• vaccinating baby heath hens against human diseases

• establishing protected natural areas where heath hens lived

• introducing new bird species to put selective pressure on heath hens

• attaching metal bands to the legs of heath hens to identify them as a protected species

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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The cardinal is a type of bird. Which of the following would increase the size of a population of cardinals in a forest?

• an increase in the birth rate of cardinals

• an increase in the death rate of cardinals

• increased emigration of young cardinals from the forest ecosystem

• increased immigration of cardinal predators into the forest ecosystem

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A population of mosquito larvae is living in a large pond. Mosquitofish are a type of fish that eat mosquito larvae.

Which of the following describes a direct effect on the population of mosquito larvae when mosquitofish are introduced to the pond?

• births decrease

• deaths increase

• emigration increases

• immigration decreases

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The green sea turtle is an endangered species. The graph below shows the estimated number of green sea turtle nests on a beach in Costa Rica between 1970 and 2003.

Based on the information in the graph, which of the following is the most likely way humans affected the green sea turtle population during this time?

• Humans passed laws preventing the collection of green sea turtles.

• Humans collected more green sea turtle eggs for scientists to study.

• Humans passed laws protecting animals that eat green sea turtle eggs

• Humans built more hotels on the beach where green sea turtles build nests

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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In 1937, two male and six female ring-necked pheasants were introduced to an island off the coast of Washington state. The pheasants mainly ate wheat. The only known predators on the island were house cats, hawks, and owls. After five years, the pheasant population on the island had increased to 1,325 individuals. The population size then remained stable.

Which of the following most likely explains why the pheasant population size remained stable after five years?

• The hawks learned to hunt only owls.

• A limited amount of wheat grew on the island.

• All the house cats that lived on the island died.

• The original male and female ring-necked pheasants died.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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What gas from the list below is a cause for global warming?

• Urethane
• Oxygen
• Carbon Dioxide

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

Which natural process removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

• forest fires
• volcanic eruptions
• cellular respiration
• photosynthesis

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Which of the following have been linked to climate change?  

• droughts
• flooding
• melting of polar ice caps
• all of the above

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

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According to the graph, what is causing the deer population to decrease

• They got sick

• The wolf population is decreasing

• The wolf population increased

• They ran out of food

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A change in the acidity of mountain lakes would most likely be a result of

• A) ecological succession of the area at the top of the mountain
• B) the introduction of new species into the lakes
• C) air pollution from smoke stacks miles away
• D) planting grasses and shrubs around the lakes

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