Changes to an Ecosystem

A fire destroys all of the trees and plants in the forest. How might this affect the birds in the area?

• The birds will plant seeds and grow new trees.

• The birds will have more food to eat. Their population will increase.

• The birds will plant seeds and grow new trees.

• The birds will have no place to build their homes. The bird population will decrease.

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trees are cut down in large numbers to clear the land; this can lead to erosion and loss of soil

• impact

• restore (restoration)

• deforestation (clear cutting)

• invasive species

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After a forest fire, new plants and those that were not burned will _ because the fire released nutrients into the soil.

• slowly die

• grow faster

• stop growing

• become extinct

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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 decrease 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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problem that occurs when grazing animals like cattle and sheep eat too much vegetation (grass)

• habitat

• overgraze

• thrive

• global warming

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This tree is losing its leaves during the fall. After all its leaves fall to the ground, the tree branches will be bare for the winter. Then new leaves will grow in the spring. How can scientists predict these events will happen?

• The climate is changing quickly.

• The tree is going into hibernation.

• Seasonal changes occur in a cycle.

• An ecosystem disturbance has happened.

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The Coqui frog is native to Puerto Rico. These frogs were accidentally introduced in Hawaii. Coqui frogs are extremely noisy; since they are nocturnal they make loud noises at night. Although these frogs are small, they eat a lot! They eat insects and spiders that are also eaten by birds in Hawaii. Besides being noisy, how do these frogs most likely harm other animals? 

• By causing other animals to reproduce more.

• By competing with other animals for food.

• By eating foods that no other animals eat.

• By moving slower than most other animals.

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What might happen to the rest of the food chain if there was a decrease in the snake population?

• The grasshopper population will increase.

• The mouse population will decrease.

• The hawk population will decrease.

• The grass population will decrease.

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Which organisms would be unable to escape and therefore perish from a fire?

• the deer

• the birds

• the tree

• the raccoon

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