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Invasive Species

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 46mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did the zebra mussels end up in the Great Lakes?

a)

In ballast tanks of ships

b)

They were released by pet owners

c)

They have always been in the Great Lakes

d)

They accidentally traveled in someone's luggage

2.
1. What makes a species invasive?
a)
Moving to a new ecosystem and taking resources from natives 
b)
Not having papers
c)
Species that can't adapt
d)
Plants that take up too much space
3.

Which of the following is a main characteristic of most invasive species?

a)

Ability to breathe in the air & in the water

b)

Large, sharp teeth

c)

Produce many offspring; can reproduce quickly

d)

is always an animal

4.

Invasive species have a negative impact on...

a)

the ecosystem

b)

the economy (money)

c)

Both the ecosystem and the economy

d)

None of these

5.
What do invasive species do to the habitat they move into? (paragraph 2)
a)
crowd out local plants and animals
b)
eat all the mice and deer
c)
create a food chain
6.
What's one EFFECT of pythons invading the Everglades?
a)
the number of small mammals, like mice, are decreasing
b)
the number of white-tailed deer is increasing
c)
pythons can grow to be 18 feet long
7.

What's one problem with the pythons preying on all the small animals in the Everglades?

a)

other animals can't find any food

b)

the grass can't grow as fast

c)

the deer have nothing to eat

d)

plants can't photosynthesize

8.

Invasive species can have a major impact on the ecosystem.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

9.

Invasive species can crowd out native species.

a)

TRUE

b)

FALSE

10.
What does the work Invade mean?
a)
To walk into a room and ask directions
b)
To move into and sit down quietly
c)
To move into and harm
d)
To stay put
11.
Why do the populations of invasive species grow so quickly? 
a)
Invasive Species are native to an area. 
b)
Invasive species are prey to many animals.
c)
Invasive species have no predators.
d)
Invasive species keep the ecosystems in equilibrium.
12.

What caused the lionfish to end up in the Atlantic Ocean?

a)

The lionfish swam there from The Pacific Ocean.

b)

Pet owners dumped their unwanted fish into the ocean.

c)

Pet owners lost them and found them in the Atlantic Ocean.

d)

The lionfish migrate there every winter.

13.

It's hard to reduce lionfish numbers because _______.

a)

they often live in spots where divers can't reach them.

b)

they have spines that keep predators from eating them.

c)

they reproduce quickly.

d)

all of the above.

14.
This invasive plant came from Asia and was believed to be a pretty decoration.  Unfortunately, it covers native plants and blocks sunlight from reaching them.
a)
Kudzu Vine
b)
Feral Swine
c)
Sea Lamprepy
d)
Zebra Mussels
15.
This invasive species came over in boats from Europe in the 1980's.  They harm native fish, clog pipes and ruin beaches.  
a)
Sea Lamprey
b)
Zebra Mussel
c)
Asian Carp
d)
Feral Swine
16.
The Asian Carp is causing what type of damage/risks to native animals?
a)
A.  It is eating the food of the native fish.
b)
B.  It is jumping out of the water, injuring boaters.
c)
C.  It destroys crops and clogs pipes.
d)
D.  Both answers A and B are correct.
17.
The sea lamprey is a risk to native fish because:
a)
It attaches to the body and sucks the blood from the fish. 
b)
It eats the alage the fish need.
c)
It is ruining beaches.
d)
The lamprey causes no risk to native fish. 
18.
Why do the populations of invasive species grow so quickly? 
a)
Invasive Species are native to an area. 
b)
Invasive species are prey to many animals.
c)
Invasive species have no predators.
d)
Invasive species keep the ecosystems in equilibrium.
19.

Invasive species cause harm to what?

Choose all that apply

a)

economy (money)

b)

atmosphere only

c)

environment

d)

health of organisms

e)

water only

20.

Invasive species [more than 1 answer]

a)

take over the habitat of other organisms

b)

increases the populations of native organisms

c)

destroy/decrease biodiversity

d)

improves/increases biodiversity

e)

cause the populations of native organisms to decrease

21.

The Nutria was intentionally introduced

a)

to control the algae in catfish ponds

b)

to control the cane beetle in sugar cane fields

c)

to domesticate as a pig

d)

to have similar wildlife as Europe

e)

for the fur trade

22.

How does the European starling cause harm to the ecosystems that it invades?

Choose all that apply.

a)

it eats & damages fruit trees and bushes

b)

it takes over nesting holes of native birds

c)

it eats native fish out of ponds and rivers

d)

it destroys the wood in people's homes

23.

How do the invasive nutria harm the ecosystem?

a)

they eat the vegetation in wetlands

b)

they eat the native birds' eggs

c)

they take over nests of native birds

d)

they go into people's houses

24.

How do animals get from their native habitat to new areas? Choose all that apply.

a)

in the ballast area of ships

b)

from pet owners releasing them into the wild

c)

by traveling on the backs of other animals when they move

d)

by wind blowing them into new areas where they don't belong