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Habitat Destruction and Endangered Species

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 19mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In 2002, fewer than 200 Siberian tigers remained in the wild due to overhunting and habitat destruction. If this trend continues, what will most likely happen to the Siberian tiger species?

a)

they may decrease to the point of extinction

b)

they may develop into a new species

c)

they will increase in number

d)

they will find a new place to live

2.

Which of the following human activities have helped to save the biodiversity of an ecosystem?

a)

draining water from wetlands

b)

removing predators from an ecosystem

c)

setting up wildlife refuges and protected parks

d)

introducing new species to ecosystems

3.

When a species is so rare that it may become extinct it is considered _______________.

a)

diverse

b)

endangered

c)

well camouflaged

d)

recovered

4.

Explain the relationship between extinction and biodiversity.

a)

Extinction contributes to an increase in biodiversity

b)

Extinction contributes to a decrease in biodiversity

c)

Extinction randomly changes biodiversity in one direction or the other

d)

Extinction has no impact on biodiversity

5.

If none of the individuals within a particular species can survive to reproduce, what will happen to that species?

a)

They will increase in number

b)

They will adapt to a new environment

c)

They will become extinct

d)

They will evolve into a new species.

6.

If you are talking about the variety of species that make up a community, you are talking about ________.

a)

biodiversity

b)

biomass

c)

biotic factors

d)

biomes

7.

Key deer are the smallest species of deer found in North America. Clearing the land to build houses has slowly destroyed their habitat. Laws do not allow the deer to be hunted as the species is in danger of dying out. The Key deer can be classified as ________.

a)

a thriving species

b)

an extinct species

c)

a balanced species

d)

an endangered species

8.

What happens when an ecosystem becomes less biodiverse?

a)

The health of the ecosystem increases.

b)

The health of the ecosystem decreases.

c)

The health of the ecosystem remains the same.

d)

The ecosystem cannot survive.

9.

2. If the last three animals of a species are all females, what will happen to the species?

a)

Since females have babies, no males are needed to reproduce.

b)

The species will become extinct because it takes a male and a female to reproduce.

c)

The species will slowly grow in numbers.

d)

The species will not be affected by all three members being female.

10.

If all of the predators in an ecosystem are killed off, what happens to organisms that are their food source?

a)

The number of remaining organisms decreases.

b)

The number of organisms reaches a balance and stays the same.

c)

The number of organisms increases.

d)

Some of the consumers evolve into predators.

11.

What is considered deforestation? (Hint: 2 correct answers)

a)

Cutting down one tree from your backyard

b)

Cutting down trees to start a farm or build an airport

c)

Cutting down a vast or mass amount of trees

d)

Planting new trees

12.

What harmful gas does the rainforest help to get rid of from our atmosphere because it absorbs it?

a)

Oxygen

b)

Carbon Dioxide

13.

True or False: Deforestation can cause soil erosion.

a)

True because the soil can get easily washed or blown away. This can cause flooding and landslides.

b)

False because the soil should still stay in place and it would be hard for it to be washed or blown.

14.

Biodiversity is ...

a)

The amount of different living things (plants and animals) in an area.

b)

The name of a habitat.

c)

The adaptation of the animals and plants in the rainforest to all the rain.

15.

True or False: Deforestation is a benefit to rainforest biodiversity.

a)

True. Deforestation is good for biodiversity.

b)

False. Deforestation lessens biodiversity.

16.
What is a producer?
a)
an organism that gets energy from eating other organisms
b)
an organisms that uses sunlight to make its own food
c)
an organism that gets energy from eating dead organisms, non-living material or waste
d)
an organism that uses chemical energy to make its own food
17.
A community of living and nonliving things in their natural environment makes up a 
a)
food web
b)
ecosystem
c)
food chain
d)
population
18.
What is a herbivore?
a)
an animal that gets energy from eating other animals
b)
an organism that gets energy from eating only plants
c)
an animal that gets energy by eating both plants and other animals
d)
an animal that eats only herbs
19.
An organism that gets energy from eating other organisms is a ______________.
a)
producer
b)
consumer
c)
decomposer
d)
prey
20.
An organism that gets energy from breaking down dead organisms, non-living material or waste is a(an) ___________.
a)
producer
b)
consumer
c)
decomposer
d)
autotroph
21.
What is a carnivore?
a)
an animal that gets energy by eating other animals
b)
An animal that gets energy by eating only plants
c)
an animal that gets energy by eating both plants and animals
d)
an animal that makes its own energy through photosynthesis
22.
A connection of food chains with many food energy paths in an ecosystem is a ____________.
a)
ecosystem
b)
food web
c)
environment
d)
population
23.
Which of the following is NOT a consumer?
a)
grass
b)
dog
c)
shark
d)
fish
24.
Where do all life forms get their energy?
a)
Earth's Core
b)
Water
c)
Plants
d)
The Sun
25.
In the energy pyramid here, how much of the energy in each level gets lost as heat or used by the organism for survival?
a)
80%
b)
90%
c)
10%
d)
20%
26.
The arrows in a food chain or web represents what?
a)
They point to the organism that is being eaten.
b)
It shows how sunlight flows within an ecosystem.
c)
They show what direction the energy is flowing between organisms. 
d)
They represent how water is transferred within a habitat.
27.

The diagram below shows changes occurring in an ecosystem over time.

What is happening in the diagram?

a)

Plants are growing larger over time.

b)

Soil is being removed from an ecosystem over time.

c)

An ecosystem is slowly being eliminated from a region.

d)

Biological communities are gradually being replaced by other communities.

28.

The diagram shows changes to a pond ecosystem over time.

Through which of the following processes are plant communities taking over the ecosystem?

a)

biodiversity

b)

primary succession

c)

climate disturbance

d)

secondary succession

29.

The diagram below shows an example of ecological succession.

What does the presence of soil indicate about this process?

a)

It is unchanging.

b)

It is an example of primary succession.

c)

It is an example of secondary succession.

d)

It is an example of catastrophic change.

30.

Primary succession occurs when pioneer species move into an area that has no plants. Which organisms are common pioneer species?

a)

Conifer trees and tall grasses with roots that loosen the soil.

b)

Mosses and lichens that can grow on rocky surfaces.

c)

Grasses and weeds that arrive as seeds carried by the wind and then germinate in rich soil.

d)

Vines and shrubs that help prevent the erosion of shallow soil.

31.

Both primary and secondary succession begin with pioneer species that —

a)

change the area and make it safer from predatory organisms.

b)

invade the area so that new organisms cannot be established.

c)

modify the area and allow larger and more complex organisms to appear.

d)

use up all the existing resources and prevent establishment of non-native organisms.

32.

How is the number of species in an ecosystem related to the stage of ecological succession?

a)

The number of species increases as succession proceeds.

b)

The number of species decreases as an ecosystem becomes mature.

c)

The number of species present when succession begins remains the same.

d)

The number of species increases and then decreases as succession proceeds.

33.

How do pioneer species make ecological succession possible on an island following a volcanic eruption?

a)

They use chemicals to produce food.

b)

They establish homes in which animals can live.

c)

They break down rock into soil in which plants can grow.

d)

They adjust the climate by altering the average temperature in a region.

34.

How is secondary succession different from primary succession?

a)

Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance in an area that was previously uninhabited.

b)

Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance in an area in which the soil has remained intact.

c)

Secondary succession occurs over a longer period of time than primary succession.

d)

Secondary succession occurs when animals are introduced to an area that had only plants.

35.

An ecosystem experiences a volcanic eruption that covers the area with lava. Which of the following organisms is most likely to be a pioneer species in this ecosystem?

a)

a tall tree

b)

a shrub

c)

moss

d)

a mouse

36.

Some students take care of a vegetable garden. When it is time to plant in the spring, the students leave part of the garden empty in order to observe ecological succession. Which of these will most likely occur first?

a)

development of topsoil

b)

growth of weeds and grasses

c)

growth of trees and shrubs

d)

development of a stream