Biosphere Fall 2022

The Venus flytrap is native to areas around Wilmington, North Carolina. This plant has hinged leaves that trap insects. Glands in these leaves secrete enzymes that break down the insects into nutrients that the plant can use. The carnivorous nature of this plant makes it attractive to nurseries and others who sell plants. What is one likely threat to wild populations of this plant, based on its appeal to humans?

• fire suppression

• inbreeding

• habitat loss

• poaching

Nonnative flathead catfish that prey on smaller fish were accidentally introduced into the Yadkin River in North Carolina. What is the MOST likely effect these catfish could have on the ecology of the Yadkin River?

• they could increase pollution in the water.

• They could damage streambeds and shoreline.

• They could decrease water flow in the river.

• They could reduce native fish populations.

Coal ash is a byproduct produced when coal is burned for energy. Coal ash contains sand, unburned carbon, and a variety of metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc. Some energy companies mix coal ash with water and store this waste in ponds. How could the accidental release of coal ash waste impact ecosystems?

• Unburned carbon could enter waterways and provide food for organisms

• Coal ash particles that mix with rain could acidify lakes and rivers.

• Heavy metals could bioaccumulate in aquatic food chains.

• Leaking waste could increase blooms of toxic algae.

The Southern Blue Ridge ecoregion contains many large blocks of unfragmented temperate forest. These forest blocks support high densities of breeding birds, as well as large populations of other animals, such as forest salamanders. Scientists have identified areas of core forests in this ecoregion that are protected and allowed to undergo natural disturbances. Surrounding these core forest areas are matrix forests, which are managed for multiple uses. Which of the following would be allowed to occur in core forest areas of this ecoregion?

• clear-cutting of trees

• spread of forest fires

• management of game

• building of hiking trails

The walnut twig beetle is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is considered an invasive species in the western United States. This beetle can carry a fungus that causes thousand cankers disease in black walnut trees. Thousand cankers disease can be lethal to trees after only a few years of infection.

In 2013, scientists discovered thousand cankers disease in black walnut trees in North Carolina, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These scientists hypothesized that the disease was transported to the area by humans. Which of these statements BEST supports the scientists’ hypothesis?

• The disease is caused by a fungus that is carried by a beetle.

• Black walnut trees are susceptible to thousand cankers disease

• People from North Carolina visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year.

• Walnut twig beetles were previously found only in the western and southwestern United States.

Biologists have discovered that the beluga whales of Canada’s St. Lawrence River have the highest rates of cancer among animals. What is MOST likely the reason for this high incidence of cancer in these whales?

• chemical and pollutant runoff into the ocean

• average temperatures increased in the region

• depletion of natural prey from the ecosystem

• increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

The Waccamaw Drainage System is a system of interrelated coastal wetlands in southeastern North Carolina. Land-use modification and human population growth threaten these wetlands in a variety of ways. Scientific experts have recommended a number of management practices to protect the Waccamaw Drainage System. Which one of these recommendations would reduce stream bank erosion?

• encourage no-till agriculture near waterways

• remove downed trees from river channels

• dredge certain segments of the river

• plant shoreline buffer zones

Biodiversity can include genetic diversity within a population or variation of populations within an ecosystem. Given this information, which of the following is likely to have the MOST biodiversity?

• a tropical forest

• an arctic tundra

• a deciduous forest

• a residential backyard

The food web below shows the feeding relationships among some of the organisms that live in Lake Ontario.

If the population of walleye in Lake Ontario decreased due to illness, which of these populations would also be MOST likely to decrease?

• diatoms

• slimy sculpin

• mollusks

• American eel

Leafcutter ants live in South and Central American tropical rain forests. Their huge, underground colonies contain an average of 5 million individuals. These ants have a complex society that includes a queen, workers, and soldiers. Leafcutter ants tend fungus gardens within their colony to feed to their larvae. The ants keep the fungus alive by feeding it fresh plant material. How does a leafcutter ant colony help to support the tropical rainforest biome

• The colony recycles nutrients back to the soil for plants to use.

• The colony removes dead leaves from trees and other plants.

• The colony clears the forest floor of living plant material.

• The colony removes fungi from trees and the forest floor.