Rodriguez Ecology Practice

How might the introduction of a non-native species affect the biodiversity of an ecosystem, and what could be the potential impact on ecosystem stability?

• It would increase biodiversity and stabilize the ecosystem.

• It could decrease biodiversity and destabilize the ecosystem.

• It would have no effect on biodiversity or ecosystem stability.

• It would increase biodiversity but destabilize the ecosystem.

Answer explanation

The introduction of a non-native species can lead to competition with native species, potentially decreasing biodiversity. This loss of species can destabilize the ecosystem, disrupting food webs and ecological balance.

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Analyze the potential consequences of increased carbon emissions on the carbon cycle and ecosystem stability.

• Increased carbon emissions would have no effect on the carbon cycle.

• Increased carbon emissions could disrupt the carbon cycle and destabilize ecosystems.

• Increased carbon emissions would stabilize the carbon cycle.

• Increased carbon emissions would only affect the nitrogen cycle.

Answer explanation

Increased carbon emissions can lead to higher atmospheric CO2 levels, disrupting the carbon cycle by enhancing greenhouse effects, which destabilizes ecosystems through climate change, affecting species and habitats.

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Evaluate how a significant reduction in nitrogen-fixing bacteria might impact the nitrogen cycle and ecosystem stability.

• It would have no impact on the nitrogen cycle or ecosystem stability.

• It could disrupt the nitrogen cycle and destabilize ecosystems.

• It would enhance the nitrogen cycle and stabilize ecosystems.

• It would only affect the carbon cycle.

Answer explanation

A significant reduction in nitrogen-fixing bacteria would limit the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants, disrupting the nitrogen cycle and potentially destabilizing ecosystems reliant on this nutrient.

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Using a model, analyze how a decrease in primary producers might affect the flow of energy through trophic levels and ecosystem stability.

• It would increase energy flow and stabilize the ecosystem.

• It would decrease energy flow and destabilize the ecosystem.

• It would have no effect on energy flow or ecosystem stability.

• It would increase energy flow but destabilize the ecosystem.

Answer explanation

A decrease in primary producers reduces the energy available for higher trophic levels, leading to decreased energy flow. This disruption can destabilize the ecosystem as consumers rely on producers for energy.

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Investigate how a change in predator population might influence the ecological relationships and stability of an ecosystem.

• It would have no effect on ecological relationships or ecosystem stability.

• It could alter ecological relationships and destabilize the ecosystem.

• It would stabilize ecological relationships and the ecosystem.

• It would only affect mutualistic relationships.

Answer explanation

A change in predator population can disrupt food webs, leading to overpopulation of prey species and loss of biodiversity, which can destabilize the ecosystem. Thus, it could alter ecological relationships and destabilize the ecosystem.

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Explain how human activities that lead to deforestation might affect biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

• Deforestation increases biodiversity and stabilizes ecosystems.

• Deforestation decreases biodiversity and destabilizes ecosystems.

• Deforestation has no effect on biodiversity or ecosystem stability.

• Deforestation only affects the carbon cycle.

Answer explanation

Deforestation leads to habitat loss, reducing species populations and diversity. This loss destabilizes ecosystems, as fewer species can disrupt food webs and ecological balance, making the correct choice that deforestation decreases biodiversity and destabilizes ecosystems.

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Analyze the impact of agricultural runoff on the nitrogen cycle and ecosystem stability.

• It enhances the nitrogen cycle and stabilizes ecosystems.

• It disrupts the nitrogen cycle and destabilizes ecosystems.

• It has no effect on the nitrogen cycle or ecosystem stability.

• It only affects the carbon cycle.

Answer explanation

Agricultural runoff introduces excess nitrogen into ecosystems, leading to nutrient pollution. This disrupts the nitrogen cycle by causing algal blooms, which deplete oxygen and destabilize aquatic ecosystems.

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Evaluate how a decrease in herbivore population might affect the cycling of matter and energy flow through trophic levels.

• It would increase energy flow and stabilize the ecosystem.

• It would decrease energy flow and destabilize the ecosystem.

• It would have no effect on energy flow or ecosystem stability.

• It would only affect the nitrogen cycle.

Answer explanation

A decrease in herbivore population reduces energy transfer to higher trophic levels, leading to less energy flow and destabilizing the ecosystem. This imbalance can disrupt food webs and nutrient cycling.

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Investigate the role of mutualism in maintaining ecosystem stability and provide an example.

• Mutualism destabilizes ecosystems by increasing competition.

• Mutualism stabilizes ecosystems by enhancing cooperation.

• Mutualism has no effect on ecosystem stability.

• Mutualism only affects predator-prey relationships.

Answer explanation

Mutualism stabilizes ecosystems by enhancing cooperation among species, allowing them to work together for mutual benefit, which promotes biodiversity and resilience against environmental changes.

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Explain how climate change might alter biodiversity and the stability of ecosystems.

• Climate change increases biodiversity and stabilizes ecosystems.

• Climate change decreases biodiversity and destabilizes ecosystems.

• Climate change has no effect on biodiversity or ecosystem stability.

• Climate change only affects the nitrogen cycle.

Answer explanation

Climate change leads to habitat loss, altered species interactions, and increased extinction rates, which decrease biodiversity. This disruption destabilizes ecosystems, making them less resilient to changes.

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