Ecosystem Impact Questions

Which of the following would occur in a healthy ecosystem?

• Pollution has caused soil and water to become contaminated with chemicals.

• Severe drought has killed many plants, leaving herbivores without food.

• Invasive species have taken over the land, using all available resources.

• Most animals have plenty of water, food, oxygen, and space to thrive.

Which of the following is NOT a cause of pollution in ecosystems?

• Overuse of aerosol sprays

• Recycling

• Chemical spills

• Littering

Which of the following is a human activity that could lead to an ecosystem change?

• Construction of a highway

• Drought

• Wildfire caused by lightning

• Unexpected deep freeze

Which of the following human activities would be considered a negative change to the health of an ecosystem?

• Adding irrigation to an area affected by drought

• Building a neighborhood where a forest once was

• Creating a nature preserve for animal and plant protection

• Removing a harmful invasive species from an area

Suppose that humans cut down the cacti and shrubs in this area to prepare for a new highway. How would that affect the desert ecosystem?

• Hawks would have more food.

• Snakes would begin eating plants.

• All consumers would have less food available.

• Organisms would overpopulate.

What effect can kudzu have on native plants in an ecosystem?

• A. Native plants’ population can decrease.

• B. Native plants’ population can increase.

• C. Native plants will become consumers.

• D. Native plants will become decomposers.

Which of the following human activities would be considered a positive change to the health of an ecosystem?

• Cleaning up a littered beach

• Mining for coal

• Building a highway

• Removing native plants and animals

Which of the following is an effect that mining for coal could have on an ecosystem?

• Enriching the soil with additional nutrients

• Providing more food for animals

• Destroying plant and animal habitats

• Creating more producers in an area

In a prairie ecosystem, an insecticide is sprayed to get rid of grasshoppers. Which is NOT a way that insecticide could affect the ecosystem?

• Less grass will be eaten by insects.

• Omnivores will have less food variety.

• Omnivores will have more food.

• Carnivores will begin eating grass.

A student made a chart of the positive and negative impacts of fishing. Which item on the list is categorized incorrectly?

• More food for humans

• Animal injury from nets or lines left in water

• Decreased animal population

• Pollution from boat exhaust and oil spillage