Short and Long Term Environmental Changes

Insecticides are sprayed over a large area in an effort to reduce the number of grasshoppers that are eating the corn plants. How will this change affect this food chain? 

• The number of grasshoppers will increase
• The number of lizards will increase
• The number of lizards and hawks will decrease
• The number of grasshoppers, lizards, and hawks will decrease

An organism that cannot adapt to changes in the environment will most likely - 

• produce more offspring
• die
• change its traits to survive
• store more food

All of the following are examples of environmental changes that can be caused by humans except - 

• clearing land for housing developments
• pesticides
• volcanic eruption
• pollution

In the 1850s, Thomas Austin released approximately twenty-four rabbits from Europe into the Australian countryside. By 1900, tens of millions of rabbits were found all over the Australian continent. The warm Australian climate, abundant farmland, and crops provided the perfect habitat for the rabbits. The rabbits caused extensive damage to all vegetation, and the lack of plants increased soil erosion. Why were the rabbits so successful? 

• the rabbits competed with local herbivores for food
• the rabbits did not have natural predators
• erosion of soil benefited the rabbits
• diseases helped decrease rabbit populations

In the 1850s, Thomas Austin released approximately twenty-four rabbits from Europe into the Australian countryside. By 1900, tens of millions of rabbits were found all over the Australian continent. The warm Australian climate, abundant farmland, and crops provided the perfect habitat for the rabbits. The rabbits caused extensive damage to all vegetation, and the lack of plants increased soil erosion. What biotic factor caused the Australian environment to change? 

• climate
• erosion
• producers
• rabbits

A giraffe’s niche is feeding on the canopy of trees.  What physical biological trait must the giraffes keep in order to support this niche?

• a long neck
• small antenna
• short ears
• large brown spots

What are a catastrophic events?

• Events that are naturally occurring such as pollution and smog. These are generally bad for the environment but are necessary for evolution.

• Events that occur naturally such as flooding, deforestation, and land-slide. These change the shape of the land which is better for the environment.

• Occurrences caused by human made changes that affect the environment. These changes are generally good for the environment and can improve the biodiversity of a habitat.

• Natural occurrences that generally have a negative effect on people and or the environment that is affects. These events can cause damage to the shape of the land and to the lives of the people and other living organisms.

Which of the following is the best definition for Short Term Environmental changes?

• Short-term environmental changes tend to not affect the environment and the organisms living in it since it happens rather quickly.

• Short-term environmental changes do not have a significant effect on the environment.

• Short-term environmental changes, like droughts, floods, and fires do not give populations time to adapt to the change and force them to move or become extinct. The changes happen rather quickly and there is no time for adaptations to occur which can lead to massive die-off.

• Short-term environmental changes, like pollution, deforestation, and ice age give populations time to adapt to the change and force them to move or become extinct.

Which of the following are considered to be Short-term environmental effects?

• Hurricanes

• Tornados

• Flooding

• Deforestation

• Wildfire

Which of the following is the best definition for Long-term environmental changes?

• Long-term environmental changes tend to not affect the environment and the organisms living in it since it happens rather quickly.

• Long-term environmental changes do not have a significant effect on the environment.

• Long-term environmental changes, like droughts, floods, and fires do not give populations time to adapt to the change and force them to move or become extinct. The changes happen rather quickly and there is no time for adaptations to occur which can lead to massive die-off.

• Long-term environmental changes, like pollution, deforestation, and ice age are much more gradual and allow populations to adapt. Overtime, organisms that are affected by these changes have a chance to survive as they can develop adaptations that will help them cope with the change.