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WorksheetsRC5: Interdependence within Environmental Systems
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 6hrs 30mins
Which of the following would most likely have a negative effect on the biodiversity of an ecosystem?
combustion of fossil fuels releasing nitrogen gases and sulfur compounds in the atmosphere
detoxification of human and industrial waste
stricter control over transportation of plants or animals between
state and national borders
increase in the number of wind turbines
Which processes are least likely to interfere with the natural process of ecological succession?
industrialization and habitat destruction
management of water runoff and soil erosion
pollution from chemical contaminants
introduction of non-native species
A dog walks around a neighborhood marking different objects with urine to mark its territory. The act of doing this is due to (a)
Competition
Predation
Mutualism
Commensalism
The lionfish is a non-native species that is a threat to ecosystems in the Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans. They rapidly reproduce and can destroy massive amounts of coral reefs in a short time period. Which statement best explains why the non-native species is more likely to survive than native
species?
The native species has acquired an immunity to harmful organisms
in the ecosystem.
Both the native and nonnative species are competing for food sources in the ecosystem.
The non-native species has no natural predators in the ecosystem
Both the native and non-native species are prey in the ecosystem.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemical compounds which were banned by the U.S. Congress in (a)
An energy pyramid is represented above. (a) would be found in level B?
The photograph below shows a snow-covered spruce forest. A year ago, this spruce forest experienced a mild winter. This year, the spruce forest is experiencing an extremely cold winter. How will the environmental change most likely impact the stability of this ecosystem?
The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to maintain the same level of stability as the number of large predators will remain constant.
The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to become
more stable, as the number of spruce trees in the forest will steadily increase.
The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to become less stable, as the number of insects will steadily decrease.
The colder temperatures will cause the spruce forest to alternate back and forth between being stable and unstable, as the number of shrubs will increase, then decrease.
Recent evidence indicates that lakes in large areas of Texas are being affected by acid rain. The major effect of acid rain, which affects the stability of the ecosystems in the lakes, is —
an increase in agricultural productivity.
the elimination of many species of aquatic life.
an increase in game fish population levels.
the stimulation of a rapid rate of adaptation.
Legumes, a family of plants with fruits or loments, have structures called nodules on their roots. These nodules contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria that convert free nitrogen from the air into ammonia, which is utilized to make proteins within the plant. What would be the long-term effect of the loss of nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria to the legumes and their ecosystem?
It would result in healthy legumes, a decrease in free nitrogen in the air, an increase in legume-eating herbivores, and an increase in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.
It would result in the death of legumes, a decrease in free nitrogen in the air, an increase in legume-eating herbivores, and a decrease in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.
It would result in healthy legumes, an increase in free nitrogen in the air, a decrease in legume-eating herbivores, and an increase in consumers that are legume-eating herbivores.
It would result in the death of the legumes, an increase in free nitrogen in the air, a decrease in legume-eating herbivores, and a decrease in consumers that eat legume-eating herbivores.
1. The black-chinned hummingbird, which is native to West Texas, is shown on the left. The ruby-throated
hummingbird, which is native to East Texas, is shown on the right. These two closely related birds share which common feature?
Large feet, which they use to perch on twigs or branches while
sipping nectar
Mottled plumage, which helps them appear less visible
against leaf cover
A hooked beak, which they use to sip nectar from bell-shaped flowers
Broad wings, which they use to balance in the air while soaring above predators
The soil on a farm can quickly become
depleted of the minerals essential to plants. This is because harvesting crops can interfere
with the —
flow of energy.
transport of groundwater.
recycling of inorganic compounds.
amount of sunlight for photosynthesis.
A partial meadow food web is shown. Based on this food web, which organisms are direct sources of energy for secondary consumers? (a)
The Indian leaf butterfly has traits that allow it to resemble a leaf. The bright colors of the monarch
butterfly indicate that the butterfly tastes bad and can be poisonous. How does the appearance of these butterflies help them to survive?
The Indian leaf butterfly can avoid predators while the monarch butterfly warns predators away.
The Indian leaf butterfly frightens predators away while the monarch butterfly poisons predators
before they can eat it.
Both butterflies rely on camouflage to avoid predation.
Both butterflies cooperate with one another to avoid predation.
Which of these bests demonstrates mutualism between certain types of bacteria and humans?
Intestinal bacteria obtain nutrients from the gut and produce vitamin K used by humans.
Bacteria become resistant to antibacterial medication that humans use for treatment.
Invasive bacteria at an area of injury produce toxins that damage healthy tissues of the human body.
Bacteria in improperly prepared food is consumed by humans, causing food poisoning.
In the mid-1980s an aggressive strain of algae known as Caulerpa was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea when a seaside aquarium cleaned out its tanks. The algae contain a toxin that
prevents native herbivores from consuming it. Caulerpa quickly spread over the sea floor, crowding out
many species including sponges, corals, sea fans, and lobsters. Which statement explains the most likely
impact Caulerpa has had on the biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea?
The presence of Caulerpa within an ecosystem is an indicator of the ecosystem’s health.
The spread of Caulerpa improved the habitat for many species of sea grasses, and increased the biodiversity.
Caulerpa interbred with native species with the same adaptations within the ecosystem.
Caulerpa became dominant within the ecosystem and reduced the biodiversity.
A small town in the piney woods of East Texas has a soccer field composed of native grasses. The soccer
field is mowed once a week. What effect does continual mowing have on the ecology of the field?
Mowing increases the likelihood of nonnative species displacing native species.
Mowing increases the number of species found in the field.
Mowing causes different types of communities to form across the field.
Mowing maintains a low species diversity by inhibiting further succession.
The table lists some organisms found in a swamp ecosystem and their sources of energy. When constructing an energy pyramid of the swamp ecosystem, which of these would be placed at the top of the pyramid? (a)
Saprophytes are fungi that feed on dead and decomposing organisms. They secrete enzymes that digest components of cell walls, such as cellulose and lignin. Which statement explains why these fungi are an important part of the biogeochemical cycle?
Saprophytes perform gas exchange that assists the cellular activities of autotrophs.
Saprophytes extract minerals from living tissue to recycle them back into the soil.
Saprophytes transport nutrients through the xylem and phloem in autotrophs.
Saprophytes return organic material to the soil for use by living organisms.
Scientists have observed many types of tropical fish moving beyond their traditional ocean ranges into
waters that have historically been more temperate. These fish compete for food with native fish,
consuming much from the kelp forests and beds of sea grass. The expansion of the ranges of tropical fish
was most likely caused by —
agricultural runoff that contributes to dead zones in the ocean
global droughts that raise the salt concentration of ocean waters
the rising temperatures of ocean waters
acid rain pollution that lowers the pH of ocean waters
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is in Central Texas. Enchanted Rock is a dome of granite. (a)
In North American forests, two species of birds, nuthatches and brown creepers, forage on the same trees
for insects. Brown creepers feed on insects found near the bottom of the tree trunk, while nuthatches feed
on insects in the top part of the tree. The difference in foraging behavior most likely affects the nuthatches
and brown creepers by —
allowing the birds to avoid many types of predators
reducing competition between the birds for resources
preventing the birds from interbreeding with each other
establishing dominance between the birds for nesting sites
As part of the nitrogen cycle, animals acquire some amino acids by doing which of the following? (a)
