Environmental Changes

What change could the student make that would have the greatest effect on the ecosystem?

• The student could add more water.

• The student could add more rocks.

• The student could add more plants.

• The student could add more species.

Which MOST LIKELY would cause the greatest harm to a pond community?

• building birdhouses near the pond

• planting a tree next to a pond

• spraying chemicals to kill the insects

• picking a few water plants

How might the number of sharks be changed by the removal of tuna in this area of the ocean?

• They will increase in number because now they do not have to fight as much for food.

• They will decrease in number because they no longer have their primary food source.

• They will increase in number because they will no longer be hunted by tuna.

• They will decrease in number because the mackerel will start eating them.

If, over time, the sand in the desert changed from a light brown to a deep brown color, what would most likely happen to the animals that live there?

• Over time they would grow thicker skin to keep warm.

• Over time they would grow thinner skin to stay cool.

• Over time they would become lighter in color to be seen.

• Over time they would become darker in color to blend in.

In early spring, a lake contained equal numbers of freshwater drum and bluegill. It also contained midges, a type of insect that is eaten by fish. In May, the bluegill population laid a huge number of eggs. The young bluegills ate most of the midge larvae in the lake. The result will be that, in September, there will be

• fewer bluegill in the lake than there were in May

• more midges in the lake than there were in May.

• fewer freshwater drum in the lake than there were in May.

• more freshwater drum in the lake than there were in May.

An ______ includes all living and nonliving things together in an area.

• population

• ecosystem

• consumers

• producers

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When a population thrives, it means that-

• the number of organisms is decreasing.

• it is growing strong and reproducing.

• the number of organisms is increasing.

• the number of organisms stays the same.

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A fire destroys all of the trees and plants in the forest. How might this affect the birds in the area?

• The birds will plant seeds and grow new trees.

• The birds will have more food to eat.

• The birds will plant seeds and grow new trees.

• The birds will have no place to build their homes.

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Changes to an environment may make it more difficult for an organism to find-

• food.

• shelter.

• water.

• all of the above

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A foreign insect is introduced into the Texas. It eats a lot of leaves, and trees start to become leafless. Many different animals feed on the new insect, but even they cannot control its numbers. Eventually, trees begin to die. Why would a rapid increase of the new insect population cause certain species of herbivores to vanish or be fewer in number?

• They would not have enough to eat. 
• They would not have enough space to live.
• They would not have tree bark to eat.

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