Populations and Ecosystems Investigation

A student is investigating ecosystems. The diagram shows the fish tank that the student will use for her investigation. What change could the student make that would have the greatest effect on the ecosystem?

• The student could add more water.

• The student could add more rocks.

• The student could add more plants.

• The student could add more species.

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The picture shows a model of an ecosystem. Which scenario would have the greatest effect on the organisms in this ecosystem?

• More birds begin to migrate into the area.

• Fish lay more eggs in the underwater plants.

• Water in the pond of the ecosystem disappears.

• A tree in the ecosystem dies and begins to rot.

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What would most likely happen to the populations of organisms in the forest ecosystem if there were no rain for a very long time?

• The populations of all the forest organisms would decrease because producers would not be able to survive to supply nutrients to the consumers.

• The grass and tree populations would increase because they only need sunlight and soil to get nutrients.

• The populations of all the forest organisms would remain the same because water only affects other nonliving factors.

• The hawk and rabbit populations would increase because they would not have to compete with grass and tree populations for water.

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In an ecosystem where some birds depend on insects to survive, which of the following is most likely to happen if someone sprays a pesticide to control the insect population?

• The bird population will increase.

• The bird population will decrease.

• The bird population will decrease, then increase.

• The bird population will increase, then decrease.

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Gopher tortoises typically set up one path for travel and do not like to go off of that path. Since humans have built roads and buildings on gopher tortoise paths, the tortoises have had to adapt. Which of the following is true?

• They changed their path to go around humans.

• They travel the same path as before.

• They rely on humans to carry them across paths.

• They no longer travel any path.

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What would happen if a large number of rain forest plants were cut down?

• The animals would have less light.

• There would be more animals.

• The animals would have less oxygen.

• There would be more shelter.

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Lions hunt and eat antelope that graze in the African grasslands. If Africa has no rain for a long period of time, and plants die, what will happen to the population of lions?

• It will increase.

• It will decrease.

• It will remain unchanged.

• It will adapt to eating plants.

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A bison's primary food source is grass. If the amount of grass in a region where bison live were reduced, which of the following would happen?

• The number of bison would increase.

• The number of bison would decrease.

• The number of bison would increase at first and then decrease.

• There would be little or no change in the number of bison.

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If humans build a large bridge over an area that has many small plants, what will most likely happen to the small plants?

• They will attract more nesting birds.

• They will grow better in the darkness.

• They will grow taller because they will get more food.

• They will die because they will not get as much sunlight.

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How would all of the mammals moving out of a habitat most likely affect the snake population in that habitat?

• The population would increase because there would be more room to find food.

• The population would decrease because there would be less food for them to eat.

• The population would increase because there would be more places to find shelter.

• The population would decrease because there would be less competition for shelter.

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