H.M.H. Unit 1. Lesson 3 Test--Changes in Ecosystems

In 1988, several major wildfires broke out in Yellowstone National Park. What process happened after these fires?

• Pioneer succession

• Primary succession

• Symbiotic succession

• Secondary succession

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Why wouldn't an alder tree be considered a pioneer species?

• alders are a form of lichens

• pioneer species are always animals

• smaller organisms come before trees in succession

• it is not one of the trees that make up the final forest

A coral reef is a low-resistance ecosystem. How would coral reefs be affected if global ocean temperatures increased slightly?

• They would grow

• They would all die.

• They would decline.

• They would not be affected.

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The new island of Surtsey was formed near Iceland by a series of volcanic eruptions. Which of these processes occurred first on Surtsey?

• Plants grew on the island.

• Animals moved onto the island.

• A complex ecosystem developed.

• Lichens converted volcanic rock into soil.

When an ecosystem loses biodiversity, how does it change?

• It becomes less resistant.

• It becomes fragmented.

• It becomes more efficient.

• It becomes easier to live in.

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A farmer has expanded her farming capacity by converting an acre of grassland into tilled, farmed land. What can the farmer most likely expect to see in this acre of land as she continues to farm it over several years?

• The land will quickly turn to its original state.

• The land will gradually return to its original state.

• New species will move in and the land will revert to a grassland.

• Many organisms that once lived there will die or move to a new location.

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How would building a freeway through a forest most likely affect the forest ecosystem?

• It would increase biodiversity in the ecosystem.

• It would change the climate patterns in the ecosystem.

• It would increase the cycling of abiotic factors in the ecosystem.

• It would fragment the ecosystem and change the way species interact.

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In March 2011, a large earthquake hit off the coast of Japan, which triggered a large tsunami. Scientists have studied how that event affected various coastal populations. The graph shows the degree to which various populations were affected.

Which population would most likely be the first to reach the ecosystem’s carrying capacity in the months following the tsunami?

• turtles

• shorebirds

• coral reefs

• coastal primates

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Which of these describes a climax community?

• a community of organisms that has reached a steady state through the process of succession usually after about 150 years

• a community of organisms that develops in a previously populated area after a disaster such as a fire

• a community that forms in an area that has not recently been inhabited, such as recently exposed rock

• a community in which new species that are better adapted to the conditions are replacing existing species

Identify the most important factor in an ecosystem’s resilience.

• pioneer species

• population sizes

• amount of water available

• biodiversity

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