Changes to Ecosystems

Which of the following would have a negative impact on an ecosystem

• constructing highways

• planting trees

• recycling paper

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How would building a highway affect an ecosystem?

• saltwater pollutes fresh water

• marine life is threatened

• it would not change the ecosystem

• animals cannot travel through their ecosystem the same

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What would cause a decrease in the rabbit population?

• An increase in grass growing

• A decrease in caterpillars

• An increase in owls

• An increase in fox

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Which of these populations is most likely to decrease if the number of grasshoppers decreases?

• plants

• frog

• praying mantis

• owl

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An example of a natural change to the ecosystem is:

• highway built in the middle of the desert. 

• Lightening strikes and starts a fire in the forest. 

• rancher placing too many grazers in a small area leading to overgrazing.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A foreign insect is introduced into the Texas. It eats a lot of leaves, and trees start to become leafless. Many different animals feed on the new insect, but even they cannot control its numbers. Eventually, trees begin to die. Why would a rapid increase of the new insect population cause certain species of herbivores to vanish or be fewer in number?

• They would not have enough to eat. 

• They would not have enough space to live.

• They would not have tree bark to eat.

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A manatee is a water-dwelling herbivore on the list of endangered species. If manatees were to become extinct, what would be the most likely result in areas where they had lived?

• Certain producer organisms would become more abundant in the area.

• Other manatees would move into the area and restore balance.

• Predators in the area would have more food to eat.

• The area would not be affected.

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Scientists are concerned about overfishing of shark populations. Sharks feed on rays and rays feed on scallops. Without sharks, rays consume all the scallop beds. This situation demonstrates that:

• humans can improve an ecosystem by removing predators.

• humans can upset an ecosystem by removing species.

• reducing the shark population increases the quantity of scallops that can be taken.

• sharks are not important for the stability of the ecosystem.

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Highways allow people to travel between towns and cities, but it also divides ecosystems into smaller pieces. Animals can become separated from lakes they use for food and shelter. For example, tiger salamanders use lakes for these reasons. How could the building of highways affect animals such as the tiger salamander?

• Tiger salamanders could improve lake ecosystems.

• Tiger salamanders may be cut off from important resources.

• Tiger salamander habitats may have less pollution.

• Tiger salamander habitats within ecosystems would become larger.

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A park is home to a large number of robins, squirrels and rabbits. The robins and squirrels live in the park’s trees. The robins feed on earthworms and insects that live on the ground. The squirrels eat the acorns produced by the park’s oak trees. The rabbits hide in the bushes and feed on the grass. Which factor would negatively impact the number of rabbits living in the park?

• Collecting acorns off the ground.

• Planting more trees.

• Removing park bushes.

• Removing the squirrels.

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