Ecology

How would a significant decrease in the pH of rainfall likely affect the biodiversity among organisms in an aquatic ecosystem over time?

• How would a significant decrease in the pH of rainfall likely affect the biodiversity among organisms in an aquatic ecosystem over time?

• The number of species is likely to decrease because most aquatic organisms require a specific pH of the water in the ecosystem.

• The number of species is likely to stabilize because most aquatic organisms are brought into balance by highly acidic conditions.

• The number of species is likely to remain unchanged because most aquatic organisms can tolerate any pH level in the water.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Estuaries are aquatic ecosystems that are important both ecologically and economically. An estuary is formed when a river meets a large body of salt water such an ocean or sea. They are often referred to as "nurseries" because many large marine animals relocate into estuaries to birth and raise their young. What unique condition must organisms that live in estuaries be able to tolerate?

• extreme depths

• varying salinities

• ower levels of nutrients

• consistently cold temperatures

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Aquatic organisms can be found throughout fresh and salt water environments at almost all depths. Although, most living things are found in the zones that have the greatest light penetration.

Which of the following is the MOST important reason why light penetration is essential to aquatic life?

• Nutrient levels are usually low in aquatic ecosystems, but light energy is transformed into nutrients such as Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

• Deeper water is normally warmer, so the shallower water cools off the heat from the light.

• All fish and aquatic invertebrates need to see others of their species for reproduction.

• Light energy is the foundation of the food webs within the aquatic ecosystem.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

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A group of students measured a ten-square-meter section of a pond ecosystem and recorded quantitative and qualitative observations about the pond's ecology. Which statement is a testable hypothesis?

• If the fish are given more food, then they will be happier.

• Water is an abiotic component in the pond ecosystem.

• If the frogs hear a loud noise, then they will jump into the water.

• The frogs living in the pond represent a population.

What single feature is primarily responsible for the seasonal variation of climate throughout different times of the year?

• The amount of vegetation in the ecosystem

• The number of top predators in the ecosystem

• The position of the sun compared to the Earth's equator

• The position of the moon compared to the Earth's poles

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Mia is an ecological researcher who studies biodiversity within forest ecosystems in Northern Florida. Each year, when Mia samples biodiversity she finds lower average diversity during winter months than in summer months.

What is the most likely reason for Mia's findings?

• Higher levels of sunlight during the winter months cause animals to hide in natural shelters, so most animals did not appear in Mia's biodiversity samples.

• Increased nutrient availability in the winter causes an increase in the number of plant, animal, and fungi species that Mia observes during winter sampling.

• Since all plants drop their leaves every winter, there is no photosynthesis during these months. Without photosynthesis, all animals go without food and biodiversity is lower.

• Colder temperatures and lower rainfall in the winter limit plant growth, providing less resources to support animals. With fewer plants and animals, biodiversity is lower.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

The deciduous forest ecosystem can sustain a whitetail deer population of only 100 animals because the only source of fresh water in the area is a small stream fed by rainwater.

Which of the following describes the water supply in this scenario?

• unlimited resource

• unlimited resource

• abiotic limiting factor

• exponential resource

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

If a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the environment, which of these is MOST LIKELY to happen?

• The death rate will rise.

• The birth rate will rise steadily

• The death rate will fall.

• The birth rate will double.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

If the number of births is greater than the number of deaths in a population, what will happen to the size of the population?

• It will decrease.

• It will increase.

• It will change randomly over time.

• It will remain the same.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Ecological disasters in an ecosystem sometimes decrease the amount of plant biomass available to primary consumers.

Which of the following most likely will occur as a result of the disaster?

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will increase.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will decrease.

• The amount of fresh water available to organisms will decrease.

• The size of the area encompassed by the ecosystem will increase.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1