Biodiversity & Adaptation

If a population of insect's experiences hotter summers, which individuals are most likely to survive?

• Insects that prefer cooler temperatures

• Insects with heat‑tolerant traits

• Insects that reproduce the slowest

• All insects equally

Explain how climate change can cause certain traits to become more common in a population over time.

How can rising temperatures act as a selective pressure on a species living in a freshwater ecosystem?

• Only heat‑tolerant individuals survive and reproduce, so the population changes over time.

• Rising temperatures make all species reproduce faster

• Warmer water gives fish more oxygen

• All individuals survive equally in higher temperatures

What is biodiversity and why is it important for an ecosystem?

How do adaptations help organisms survive in their environment?

• They make all organisms identical so there is no competition.

• They allow organisms to change their traits instantly whenever the environment changes.

• They give organisms traits that help them survive and reproduce in their specific environment.

• They prevent any environmental changes from affecting organisms.

What happens when biodiversity is low in an ecosystem?

• Nothing changes because biodiversity has no effect on ecosystem stability.

• All species become better adapted because they no longer need to compete for resources.

• The ecosystem becomes stronger because fewer species means less competition.

• The ecosystem becomes more fragile because losing even one species can cause major disruptions.

How are species connected in an ecosystem?

• Only predators depend on prey, but no other relationships exist.

• Species depend on one another for survival through feeding, shelter, and other interactions.

• Species only interact when resources run out.

• Species live near each other but do not affect one another.

How do biodiversity and adaptations work together to support ecosystem resilience?

• High biodiversity ensures all species respond to change in the same way, reducing the need for adaptations.

• Adaptations eliminate the need for biodiversity because well‑adapted species can handle all environmental changes alone.

• Greater biodiversity provides a wide range of adaptations, increasing the chance that some species can survive disturbances and maintain ecosystem functions.

• Low biodiversity strengthens ecosystems by reducing competition and limiting the number of adaptations needed.

How can a change in temperature affect which species survive?

• All species survive equally because temperature has no impact on living organisms.

• Species instantly adapt to any temperature change, so survival is never impacted.

• Only predators are affected by temperature changes, not prey or plants.

• Species with traits suited to the new temperature are more likely to survive and reproduce, while others may decline.

How does biodiversity help ecosystems recover after a disaster?

• High biodiversity gives the ecosystem many species with different roles, increasing the chance that some can survive and rebuild the system.

• High biodiversity prevents any species from dying, so disasters have no impact.

• High biodiversity stops natural disturbances from happening, keeping the ecosystem unchanged.

• High biodiversity reduces genetic variation, making recovery slower.