8.11B Environmental Changes (Progress)

Snowshoe hares are related to rabbits and live in cold regions. In warm weather, they have a brown coat and spend many hours feeding on vegetation. To avoid predators they either remain still and try to blend into their habitat, or use their powerful hind legs to flee. What change brought about by the winter season would help these animals avoid predators in the snowy climate?

• Their bodies slow down and require less food.

• They spend more of the day sleeping.

• Their brown fur changes to white.

• They must search longer to find vegetation.

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A diagram of the anatomy of a catfish is provided. Catfish have dorsal fin spines, which help defend against predators, and caudal fins, which help to propel the fish through the water. A swim bladder controls how high or low the fish sits in the water and gills allow the fish to breathe by taking oxygen out of the water. Catfish spend most of their lives at the bottom of freshwater lakes and streams. What catfish trait may change (over many generations) if the pond habitat in which it lives becomes significantly deeper?

• Dorsal fin

• Caudal fin

• Swim bladder

• Gills

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The Dead Sea has a salt concentration of 33which makes it inhospitable for aquatic plants and animals. During rainy seasons, the concentration of salt decreases and some kinds of algae begin to grow. What changes could be expected when the salt concentration returns to normal?

• Increased algae growth

• Plant life flourishes

• Algae dies off

• Animals return to the area

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The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) is a plant, and like all other green plants, gets its energy from the Sun through photosynthesis. This plant, however, catches flies and breaks down their bodies using chemicals to meet its needs. Which environmental condition has led to this adaptation?

• Excessive insect populations

• Soil with few nutrients

• Low atmospheric oxygen

• Increased average daily temperatures

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Three-toed tree sloths are mammals which live in the jungle trees of Central and South America. The majority of a sloth’s diet consists of leaves and buds from trees. As rainforest habitats are being destroyed, how will these organisms most likely be affected?

• Most sloths will become carnivores.

• The sloth population will likely decrease.

• Some sloths will start to hibernate.

• A cave-dwelling population will appear.

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Some individuals of the species, Crocodylus niloticus, the Nile Crocodile, have been found living in caves deep underground. The cave dwelling population of crocodiles is thriving, while their counterparts living outside the caves have been almost completely eliminated. Which of the following changes most likely led to these crocodiles relocating to a new habitat?

• Temperatures have steadily increased over time.

• The food sources of these animals are more scarce.

• Expansion of the habitat has led to less competition.

• Annual rainfall levels have changed greatly.

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