8 Topic 8: Ecosystems

If a flood reduced the zooplankton population, how would the food web be affected?

• The loss of zooplankton would decrease the ocean algae population because they would lose their prey.

• The loss of zooplankton would decrease the polar bear population due to less prey that feed on zooplankton.

• The loss of zooplankton would decrease the entire food web because whales, polar cod, seals, and polar bears would lose their food sources.

• The loss of zooplankton would increase the polar cod population due to less competition.

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How will overhunting toucans affect energy transfer in the food web?

• It will only affect boa constrictors and sloths, increasing their food sources and the producer population.

• It will only affect toucans and boa constrictors, reducing the boa constrictor's food source and decreasing both populations.

• It will only affect toucans and sloths, reducing food for sloths.

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What are the effects of Laguncula pulchella, an invasive snail, on marine ecosystems' energy flow and species diversity? Select two correct answers.

• *L. pulchella* will have no natural predators, leading to unchecked growth, competition with native species, reducing biodiversity and altering energy flow.

• *L. pulchella* will reduce clam numbers, causing an algal bloom, which reduces biodiversity and disrupts energy flow.

• *L. pulchella* will lack prey, resulting in competition with other species, boosting clam numbers and biodiversity.

• *L. pulchella* will have no predators, leading to unchecked growth, competition with native species, enhancing biodiversity and energy flow.

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What type of succession occurs when a landslide leaves bare rocks, and how does it affect species diversity?

• Secondary succession will occur and species diversity will decrease.

• Primary succession will occur and species diversity will increase.

• Secondary succession will occur and species diversity will increase.

• Primary succession will occur and species diversity will decrease.

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park in 1988, 793,880 acres burned, affecting plant and animal life. Lodgepole pine, a producer for elk, recovered quickly, while wheatgrass, a producer for pronghorn, took longer.

What is true about succession in Yellowstone after the 1988 fire?

• This is primary succession.

• This is secondary succession.

• Elk and pronghorn populations decreased.

• Lodgepole pine populations did not recover.

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After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park in 1988, 793,880 acres of land burned. The lodgepole pine populations, a producer that the elk feed on, came back quickly. The wheatgrass populations, a producer that the pronghorn feed on, took longer to repopulate.

Which producer population took longer to regrow after the Yellowstone fire?

• Lodgepole pine

• Wheatgrass

• Oak trees

• Ferns

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How do primary and secondary succession affect species diversity after human disruption?

• Both increase species diversity, making the ecosystem more stable.

• Both decrease species diversity, making the ecosystem less stable.

• Both increase species diversity, making the ecosystem less stable.

• Primary increases and secondary decreases species diversity.

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After a natural disaster, an ecosystem loses all animals and most plants. How will succession occur and what impact will it have? Choose two correct answers.

• Secondary succession will restart from the existing soil, nutrients, and plant species; plant diversity will increase.

• Primary succession will begin with new soil formation and pioneer species introduction.

• Secondary succession will lead to a decrease in plant diversity over time.

• Primary succession will cause a rapid increase in animal species diversity.

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How does secondary succession affect plant diversity?

• It restarts with existing species, decreasing diversity.

• It restarts with existing species, increasing diversity.

• It does not affect diversity.

• Diversity remains constant.

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What happens to animals when plant diversity decreases?

• Animals will thrive and increase.

• Animals will leave to recover elsewhere.

• Animals will remain unaffected.

• Animals will become extinct.

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