Interaction of Life Forms - SOL 2015

Which is an activity that increases the genetic variation within a population of earthworms?

• Binary fission

• Sexual reproduction

• Fragmentation

• Budding

A group of ponies lives in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Reserve in Virginia. The development of longer legs over time would be selected for if —

• it increased the survival rate of the long-legged ponies

• it decreased the rate of reproduction of the long-legged ponies

• it made the long-legged ponies run more slowly

• it prohibited the long-legged ponies from using available food sources

The structural differences between a tadpole and an adult frog are due to the —

• availability of food sources at different stages

• type of DNA present at each developmental stage

• combination of genetic material inherited during fertilization

• different sets of genes expressed at each stage of development

In an ecosystem, a sudden decrease in the number of bacteria in the soil would most likely result in —

• a decrease in the number of fossils formed in the soil

• increased water pollution in the soil

• a reduction in the amount of nitrogen available to the ecosystem

• increased precipitation and flooding of the soil

An insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid was introduced to a Virginia forest ecosystem. This pest feeds on the nutrients stored inside a hemlock tree, resulting in the death of the tree. Which kind of data would best help a student evaluate the effect of this insect?

• An account of how the adelgid was introduced into Virginia ecosystem

• A list of the foreign ecosystems infiltrated by the hemlock woolly adelgid

• A comparison of the adelgid with native pest species

• Information about the ecosystem's characteristics before the adelgid infestation

Seaweeds occupy an important niche in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Which question will best help a student identify the role of seaweeds in this ecosystem?

• Which organisms depend on seaweeds as an energy source?

• Which seaweed species produces the greatest amount of oxygen?

• What wavelengths of light are photosynthesized by seaweed species?

• What is the salinity in areas where seaweed is growing?

Which statement best describes her hypothesis?

• She counts the robins in her yard once a week for 2 years.

• She thinks that some robins must migrate in the winter.

• A student notices fewer robins in her yard during the winter.

• Her research has shown that some robins are not in her yard during winter.

For the growth curve to continue increasing, which of these must occur?

• The organisms must migrate to a new environment.

• The organisms must adapt to a new habit.

• The environment must provide a habitat for a large variety of organisms.

• The resources in the environment must be unlimited.