Stability and Change

When an ecosystem is affected by loss of shelter, what happens to the populations in that ecosystem?

• They can decrease or die out

• They are usually not affected

• They can readily adapt to the changes

• The populations increase

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Describe what would happen to the zebra population and the plant population if the cheetah and hyena both left the ecosystem.

• The zebra population would decrease with the absence of predators; the plant population would stay the same.

• The zebra population would greatly increase, causing the plant population to decrease.

• The zebra population would decrease, causing the plant population to increase.

• The zebra population would greatly increase, causing the plant population to also increase.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Deer are introduced into a grassland ecosystem and their population increases considerably. If the deer population continues to grow, which is the most likely outcome for the ecosystem?

• Biodiversity would decrease, and sustainability would decrease.

• Biodiversity would decrease, and sustainability would increase.

• Biodiversity would increase, and sustainability would increase.

• Biodiversity would increase, and sustainability would decrease.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In a forest ecosystem, a food chain might look like this:
green plants → rabbit → fox → panther

If the green plants are destroyed in a forest fire, which short-term effect will this have on the organisms in this food chain?

• There would be fewer rabbits for the foxes to eat. 

• The panthers would have to begin to eat green plants.

• There would be an increase in the fox population

• There would be more green plants for the rabbits to eat

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What happens to species diversity during secondary succession?

• It decreases.

• It increases over time.

• It remains the same.

• It disappears completely.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

If an ecosystem changes, what are potential effects?

• Nothing happens, it stays the same.

• Total collapse of the ecosystem.

• The amount of organisms die or change.

• Some plants or animals might die.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

If algae overgrows on the surface of a lake, what may occur?

• More plant life will thrive on the lake.

• Nothing will happen.

• Fish will begin to overpopulate the lake.

• Organisms at the bottom of the lake will die since they lack sunlight.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Describe three or more effects on a forest ecosystem if a wildfire occurred.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

How does the introduction of a new predator affect the stability of an ecosystem?

• It increases the stability by controlling prey populations.

• It decreases the stability by causing prey extinction.

• It has no effect on the ecosystem's stability.

• It always leads to an increase in biodiversity.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

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What is the role of keystone species in maintaining ecosystem stability?

• They have little to no impact on the ecosystem.

• They are the most abundant species in the ecosystem.

• They play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecosystem.

• They are always at the top of the food chain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5