Genetic & Environmental Growth Factors

A homeowner dug and created 5 artificial ponds of differing sizes in the area behind the house. The homeowner filled each pond with water and added five goldfish to each pond. After one year of acclimation and growth, the homeowner massed the fish in the pond and took the average mass for each pond. A graph shown here indicates the effect of pond size on the growth of goldfish in the habitats. Which explanation most accurately reflects the impacts of pond size based on the graphed data?

• As pond sizes are reduced, goldfish lose mass to fit into the smaller habitats.

• As pond sizes increase, goldfish competition increases, limiting the body size to which the fish can grow.

• As pond sizes increase, goldfish masses stabilize. This indicates a maximum growth to which the fish can achieve.

• As pond sizes increase, goldfish can grow to larger sizes. This is due to increased space and resource availability for the fish.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Some plants, like coleus, will wilt completely when water is limited. However, the aloe plant does not typically wilt under the same conditions where water is limited. Which statement best explains the differences in these two plant types? 

• Water availability is a genetic factor that causes the leaves of the plants to move differently in the two plant types. 

• Water availability is an environmental factor that affects coleus plants only since aloe plants do not require water.

• Water availability changes the genetics of the plants, causing them to react differently to the water conditions.

• Water availability is an environmental factor that affects plants, but there are genetic factors that affect how plants deal with the water loss.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which explanation is best supported by the data shown?

• Environmental factors are the only influence on plant growth.

• Environmental factors have no influence on plant growth.

• 
  Environmental factors influence plant growth, but the maximum height is limited by genetic factors.

• Genetic factors are the only influence on plant growth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Look at the table shown above; what evidence supports the conclusion that pigs gain more weight from feed that has more corn than wheat?

• pigs gained 47 pounds on 33% corn

• pigs gained 51 pounds on 50% corn

• pigs gained 61 pounds on 75% corn

• The entire table of data provides evidence that as the corn percentage increases in the feed, the weight gain in pigs also increases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

• Environmental factors are the only influence in plant growth. 

• Genetic factors are the main factor affecting plant growth.

• Genetic factors are not a major influence on plant growth.

• Environmental factors are different for the five plant types, causing the differences in plant growth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which of these studies provides evidence for how environmental factors affect animal growth?

• A study showing that two groups of mice with different genetic backgrounds have the same body weight when raised in the same environment.

• A study showing that juvenile fish grow faster when fed a high-protein diet compared to a low-protein diet, regardless of water temperature.

• A study showing that a particular breed of cattle grows to the same size regardless of whether they are raised in a cold or warm climate.

• A study showing that the body weight of adult dogs is solely determined by their genetics, and environmental factors have no impact.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

William compared two soil samples to check soil’s ability to support the growth of plants. He had read that plants grow best in soil rich in humus. The experimental data is summarized in the table.

What conclusion can be BEST drawn from the data?

• Soils rich in humus improve plant growth.

• Earthworms do not improve the soil’s humus content.

• 
  Plants will not grow in soils that do not have earthworms.

• The growth of plants is poor in soil that has decomposed organic matter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Overall, the oyster population has what type of trend?

• Nothing

• Increasing

• Decreasing

• All over the place

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An environmental changes drastically reduced the population of Lavender plants. The Lavender plants provided the only source of food for a nearby population of bees. Which statement describes the likely effect of this change?

• The number of bees will decrease because they will not have enough food.

• The number of bees will stay the same.

• The number of bees will stay the same because they will find food elsewhere.

• The number of bees will increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which fox is best adapted for a colder climate?

• Both

• Neither

• The red fox

• The white fox

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4