Ecology #2

Which statement best describes a characteristic of the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

• It can be illustrated with a food web

• It allows organisms to produce populations of unlimited size.

• It is determined directly by an organism’s reproductive success.

• It is limited by the habitat’s available energy and nutrients.

Building large manufacturing facilities can affect ecosystems by increasing the

• atmospheric quality

• biodiversity in the area

• demand for resources such as fossil fuels

• availability of space and resources for organisms

Carnivorous plants, such as pitcher plants and sundews, live in bogs where many other organisms cannot. Due to the high rate of decomposition occurring in bogs, the environment is acidic and contains very little oxygen and nutrients. The bogs only support certain types of organisms because

• organisms in an environment are not limited by available energy and resources

• the growth and survival of organisms depends upon specific physical conditions

• favorable gene mutations only occur when organisms live in harsh environments

• photosynthetic organisms can only inhabit environments that have a low acidity

The governments of many countries have regulations that are designed to prevent the accidental introduction of nonnative insects into their countries. This is because, in these new habitats, the nonnative insects might

• become food for birds

• not survive a cold winter

• not have natural predators

• add to the biodiversity

In a sewage treatment facility, an optimal environment is maintained for the survival of naturally occurring species of microorganisms. These organisms can then break the sewage down into relatively harmless wastewater. For these microorganisms, the wastewater facility serves as

• its carrying capacity

• a food chain

• an ecosystem

• an energy pyramid

Which action could humans take to slow the rate of global warming?

• Cut down trees for more efficient land use.

• Increase the consumption of petroleum products

• Use alternate sources of energy such as wind.

• Reduce the use of fuel-effi cient automobiles

Which human activity can have a negative impact on the stability of a mature ecosystem?

• replanting trees in areas where forests have been cut down for lumber

• building dams to control the fl ow of water in rivers, in order to produce electricity

• preserving natural wetlands, such as swamps, to reduce fl ooding after heavy rainfalls

• passing laws that limit the dumping of pollutants in forests

Which activity is an example of a decomposer recycling organic compounds back into the environment?

• A tree synthesizes starch from simpler molecules.

• A bacterial cell performs photosynthesis.

• A bird digests proteins from its food.

• A fungus breaks down the body of a dead animal.

New York State charges consumers a fee when purchasing beverages sold in aluminum cans and plastic bottles. This money is returned to purchasers when they return these items for recycling. Programs such as these are an attempt to

• encourage people to spend more money on their beverages

• conserve the resources these containers are made from

• reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced by deforestation

• totally eliminate the use of reusable containers

Some birds have recently modified their migratory behavior. Instead of flying to warmer climates during the winter months, the birds are remaining in northern areas where they can consume discarded food that is abundant in landfills. As a result of this change in migratory behavior, many insect populations that the birds normally feed on in the warmer climate areas are now increasing. This is an example of human activity

• interfering with ecological succession

• increasing competition for infinite resources

• disrupting the homeostasis of organisms

• altering the equilibrium of ecosystems