2018 STAAR Biology Reporting Category 5

Which of these best demonstrates mutualism between certain types of bacteria and humans?

• Intestinal bacteria obtain nutrients from the gut and produce vitamin K used by humans.
• Bacteria become resistant to antibacterial medication that humans use for treatment.
• Invasive bacteria at an area of injury produce toxins that damage healthy tissues of the human body.
• Bacteria in improperly prepared food is consumed by humans, causing food poisoning.

In the mid-1980s an aggressive strain of algae known as Caulerpa was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea when a seaside aquarium cleaned out its tanks. The algae contains a toxin that prevents native herbivores from consuming it. Caulerpa quickly spread over the sea floor, crowding out many species including sponges, corals, sea fans, and lobsters. Which statement explains the most likely impact Caulerpa has had on the biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea?

• The presence of Caulerpa within an ecosystem is an indicator of the ecosystem’s health.
• The spread of Caulerpa improved the habitat for many species of sea grasses, and increased the biodiversity.
• Caulerpa interbred with native species with the same adaptations within the ecosystem.
• Caulerpa became dominant within the ecosystem and reduced the biodiversity.

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A small town in the piney woods of East Texas has a soccer field composed of native grasses. The soccer field is mowed once a week.

What effect does continual mowing have on the ecology of the field?

• Mowing increases the likelihood of nonnative species displacing native species.

• Mowing increases the number of species found in the field.

• Mowing causes different types of communities to form across the field.

• Mowing maintains a low species diversity by inhibiting further succession.

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The table lists some organisms found in a swamp ecosystem and their sources of energy.

• Grass carp

• American alligator

• Eastern mud turtle

• Great blue heron

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Scientists have observed many types of tropical fish moving beyond their traditional ocean ranges into waters that have historically been more temperate. These fish compete for food with native fish, consuming much from the kelp forests and beds of sea grass.

The expansion of the ranges of tropical fish was most likely caused by —

• agricultural runoff that contributes to dead zones in the ocean

• global droughts that raise the salt concentration of ocean waters

• the rising temperatures of ocean waters

• acid rain pollution that lowers the pH of ocean waters

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Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is located in Central Texas. Enchanted Rock is a dome of granite. The area contains four easily identifiable communities. The table describes characteristics of each type of community in the area.

• Open oak woodland

• Mesquite grassland

• Floodplain

• Granite rock

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In North American forests, two species of birds, nuthatches and brown creepers, forage on the same trees for insects. Brown creepers feed on insects found near the bottom of the tree trunk, while nuthatches feed on insects in the top part of the tree.

The difference in foraging behavior most likely affects the nuthatches and brown creepers by —

• allowing the birds to avoid many types of predators

• reducing competition between the birds for resources

• preventing the birds from interbreeding with each other

• establishing dominance between the birds for nesting sites

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A partial meadow food web is shown.

• Aphid Bird Rabbit

• Ladybug Fox Dragonfly

• Frog Butterfly Berries

• Mouse Snake Hawk

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