WorksheetsDiversity of Species
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 40mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
A desert lake has evaporated to half its original size over the past 50 years. This caused a large increase in the lake's salt concentration. Over these 50 years, scientists have observed a decrease in the population of one fish species and an increase in the population of a shrimp species. Which hypothesis about the organisms ability to live with the salt concentration does the evidence suport
a)
The fish are better able to live in areas of high salt concentration
b)
Neither the shrimp nor the fish are able to live in areas of high salt concentration
c)
Both the shrimp and the fish are equally able to live in areas of high salt concentration
d)
The shrimp are better able to live in areas of high salt concentration
2.
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 bushed and feed on the grass. Which factor would directly limit the number of rabbits that could live in this park.
a)
Number of acorns
b)
Number of squirrels
c)
Number of bushes
d)
Number of robins
3.
Highways allow people to travel between towns and cities. These highways also divide ecosystems into smaller pieces. Animals can become separated from lakes they use for breeding. For example, tiger salamanders travel long distances to breed at lakes. How could highway systems affect animals such as tiger salamanders?
a)
Tiger salamanders may be cut off from important resources
b)
Tiger salamander could improve their ability to remember roads
c)
Tiger salamander's habitat within ecosystems could become larger
d)
Tiger salamanders habitat may be exposed to less pollution
4.
Aphids are a common plant-pest insect. They alternate between asexual and sexual reproduction. During the summer, aphid populations grow quickly by asexual reproduction. As winter approaches, aphids switch to sexual reproduction. What advantage does the switch to sexual reproduction give the aphids?
a)
Sexual reproduction maintains a constant level of variation in the population and requires less energy
b)
Sexual reproduction increases variation in the population and provides for adaptability in a changing environment
c)
Sexual reproduction decreases variation in the population and prevents the spread of harmful mutations
d)
Sexual reproduction produces individuals that are clones and allows rapid population growth under stable environmental conditions
5.
Guppies are small fish that live in fresh water. Most guppy species reproduce sexually, but some reproduce asexually. There are two lakes in a particular region. One lake contains a species of guppy that reproduces asexually. The other lake contains a species of guppy that reproduces sexually. A scientist studying these lakes predicts that the sexually reproducing guppies would survive better than the asexually reproducing guppies if a fungus was introduced to both lakes. Which statement supports this hypothesis?
a)
The sexually reproducing guppies are carriers of harmful characteristics
b)
The sexually reproducing guppies require only one individual for reproduction
c)
The sexually reproducing guppies have a variation of inherited characteristics
d)
The sexually reproducing guppies are identical to one another
6.
The reproductive success of an organism depends in part on the ability of the organism to survive. How does the physical appearance of these organisms help them survive?
a)
Their physical appearance helps them find a habitat
b)
Their physical appearance helps them resist parasites.
c)
Their physical appearance helps them avoid predators.
d)
Their physical appearance helps them defend a territory.
7.
How diversity within a species benefit that species if there is an environmental change?
a)
Diversity does not affect a species if there is an environmental change.
b)
Sexual reproduction within a species allows for diversity which benefits the species if there is an environmental change.
c)
Asexual reproduction within a species allows for diversity which benefits the species if there is an environmental change.
d)
None of the choices are correct
8.
Planaria are flatworms that are found in shallow streams often attached to the bottoms of rocks. A class is studying a population of planaria in a near by shallow stream. The graph above shows data collected over 11 weeks. The population started to decrease after 5 weeks. The students concluded that the stream did not have enough food to support a large population of planaria. If this trend continues, how many planaria will be living in the stream by the 12th week?
a)
600
b)
500
c)
400
d)
300
9.
The difference in beak shape and size of the Galapagos Island finches was because...........
a)
birds immigrating from different locations
b)
introduction of non-native bird species to the island
c)
variation within the species which allowed them to adapt to different food sources
d)
cross-breeding of finches with other bird species
10.
What is going to happen to the population of finch that has a BB Genotype?
a)
Increase
b)
Decrease
c)
Stay the same
11.
What is going to happen to the population of finch that has a Bb genotype?
a)
Increase
b)
Decrease
c)
Stay the same
12.
What is going to happen to the population of finch that has a bb genotype?
a)
Increase
b)
Decrease
c)
Stay the same
13.
A scientist studies a newly discovered plant. Which question should the scientist ask to find out whether the plant reproduces sexually or asexually?
a)
How long does the plant live?
b)
How many cells the plant has
c)
How many offspring does the plant produce over its lifespan?
d)
How does the genetic makeup of the plant compare to its offspring?
14.
The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than other members of the same species is called................
a)
Natural selection.
b)
Evolution
c)
Competition
d)
Overpopulation
15.
Select the 3 statements that may explain the changes in the population of the peppered moths during this time:
a)
Options 1, 2, and 3
b)
Options 2, 3, and 4
c)
Options 1, 5, and 6
d)
Options 2, 4 and 5
16.
In the Western Hemisphere, crocodiles can be found only as far north as southern Florida. Crocodiles require warm temperatures to survive. The average annual temperature for southern Florida is 76 degrees F. However, crocodile fossils and fossilized subtropical plants have been found in parts of western Colorado, where the average annual temperature is 53 degrees F.
Which statement explains why crocodile fossils are found in western regions of the United States but living crocodiles are not?
Which statement explains why crocodile fossils are found in western regions of the United States but living crocodiles are not?
a)
Crocodiles used to live in cold climates but adapted to warm climates
b)
The climate changed, and crocodiles could not survive in this region
c)
Crocodiles migrated from Florida to Colorado, where they died
d)
A glacier carried crocodile bones from Mexico to Colorado
17.
Which statement correctly explains why one of the species is more likely to survive an environmental change?
a)
Species 1 because it has fewer genes
b)
Species 2 because it has more genes
c)
Species 1 because it has less genetic diversity
d)
Species 2 because it has greater genetic diversity
18.
Which graph shows a population that would have the greatest chance of surviving a significant change in climate?
a)
A
b)
B
c)
C
d)
D
19.
A species of fish living in a stream displays variation in body color. 50 years ago, most of the fish were light colored but a few were dark colored. Over time, the clear water of the stream became cloudy and the population of dark colored fish increased.
Which statement explains why more dark colored fish were found after the water became cloudy?
Which statement explains why more dark colored fish were found after the water became cloudy?
a)
More of the dark colored fish survived long enough to reproduce
b)
The light colored fish began eating the eggs of the dark colored fish
c)
The dark colored fish mated with other species of dark colored fish
d)
More of the light colored fish switched to asexual reproduction
20.
Select the 4 possible explanations for the results shown in the graph.
a)
A, B, C, D
b)
B, C, D, E
c)
D, E, F, A
d)
C, D, E, F
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