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WorksheetsEnvironmental Science Stability & Change in Ecosystems SEV2
Total questions: 30
Worksheet time: 15mins
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s atmosphere would be _____ to support life.
too hot
too cold
too wet
lacking the oxygen
Which of the following plants is likely to be a pioneer species for primary succession?
lichen
grass
shrub
oak tree
What kind of natural disaster helps some forest communities by allowing some trees to release their seeds, by clearing away deadwood, and by encouraging new growth?
fire
flood
windstorm
drought
Where would an ecologist be least likely to go to study primary succession?
a new island formed by a volcanic eruption
a gravel-filled valley that had been covered by a glacier until recently
a locked, abandoned asphalt parking lot in New York City
the Amazon Rain Forest
Which statement describes how humans are affecting the balance of carbon in the atmosphere?
Fewer agricultural crops are planted, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.
Burning fossil fuels in great quantities has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Overgrazing of grasslands has reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Severe drought in large areas of the world has decreased the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere.
Succession is possible because
climates change over time.
it is a rapid and chaotic process that is very difficult to control.
existing plants reproduce quickly.
new species make the environment less suitable for previous ones.
Which of the following is an example of secondary succession?
breaking down of bare rock by fungi and mosses
pioneer plants begin to grow after glacial melting
growth of plants after a forest is destroyed by fire
appearance of weeds in cracks in a concrete surface
Which of the following is not a likely component of soil formed during primary succession?
cast-off parts of shrubs and trees
decayed lichens and bacteria
dust particles from the air
broken bits of stone and rock
What type of vegetation would you expect to find on an abandoned farm that has remained undisturbed for 150 years?
short grasses
shrubs
young pine trees
tall, mature oak trees
What type of succession occurs after a natural process such as an effusive volcanic eruption?
primary succession
secondary succession
old-field succession
climax community
An endangered species is
a species in danger of extinction.
a species growing on public land.
an organism brought to a place where it has not lived before.
a species that has disappeared entirely.
Which of the following would be most effective in slowing the loss of biodiversity?
freezing fertilized eggs of endangered animals in case the species become extinct in the wild
setting aside small plots of land in a variety of ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and marshes
creating large parks/preserves in biodiversity hotspots
requiring every country to maintain a seed bank
In what part of the world are the greatest number of extinctions occurring?
in tropical rain forests
in deserts
in the Arctic
in Europe and the United States
Reintroducing the gray wolf in certain areas of the northwestern United States
is beneficial for all of those working in that area.
creates a mutualist interaction between wolves and elks.
is in accordance with the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973.
discourages hunters from hunting other animals.
The current rate of species extinction is
slower than at any other time in this century.
attributable to the actions of humans.
the result of natural environmental processes.
of little consequence to Earth’s long-term survival.
The level of biodiversity that involves a variety of habitats is
ecosystem diversity.
genetic diversity.
population diversity.
species diversity.
Reasons for preserving biodiversity include all of the following except
isolating unique genetic material so it can be incorporated into existing crops.
increasing the chances of discovering organisms with medicinal value.
preventing natural evolution
finding new plants that can supplement the world’s food supply.
What level of biodiversity is most commonly equated with the overall concept of biodiversity?
genetic diversity
species diversity
ecosystem diversity
All of the above
What groups of organisms are most in danger of extinction?
a. those with small populations
b. those that migrate or need special habitats
c. those with large populations that breed quickly
Both (a) and (b)
Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
It allows animals to feed permanently from one type of plant.
It increases at each level of the food chain.
It helps populations adapt to ecological changes.
It reduces the number of insects in a given ecosystem.
The major human causes of extinction today are
hunting and destroying habitats.
polluting and introducing non-native species.
Both answers
Neither answer
Where are many critical biodiversity hotspots located?
cities and developed areas of the world
islands, tropical rain forests, and coastal areas
desert and polar environments
All of the above
How can zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks help save species?
a. by preserving threatened species from destruction.
b. by collecting species from remote wilderness areas.
c. by participating in captive breeding programs.
Both (a) and (c)
Which of the following gases is most responsible for the greenhouse effect?
carbon dioxide
methane
oxygen
water vapor
A true statement about greenhouse gases is that they
convert sunlight into heat energy that warms Earth.
are concentrated in the stratosphere.
trap heat that is radiated upward from Earth.
are not affected by human activity.
Which of the following statements related to global warming is not accurate?
Carbon dioxide levels have risen over the last 30 years.
Only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned.
Global temperature and carbon dioxide concentration are related.
By itself, reforestation is not sufficient to slow global warming.
The critical difference between today’s global warming and Earth’s previous climate changes is that
human-made chemicals such as CFCs do not influence global warming.
previous changes in climate were dramatic but very short-lived.
scientists can now save all species from extinction by genetic engineering.
global warming may occur much more rapidly than it did during previous climate changes.
La Niña is the _____ phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
warm
cold
neutral
mixing
The average global temperature has _____ during the 20th century.
remained the same
increased every year
risen some years and fallen others, but has increased overall
risen some years and fallen others, but has decreased overall
Which of the following would not be a consequence of a rise in global temperature?
rising sea level
increased polar ice mass
increased frequency of major storms
increased frequency of major droughts
