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Short-term Long-term Environmental Changes

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 34mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is an example of how organisms respond to short term changes in the environment?

a)

Animals tend to eat a lot more.

b)

Animals will hibernate.

c)

Animals must be able to adapt to a new environment.

d)

Animals will go extinct or die due to the short term change.

2.

Natural Disasters such as, earthquakes, flooding, and volcanic eruptions can cause ...

a)

short term changes

b)

long term changes

3.
The environmental impact of mining includes erosion, loss of biodiversity,contamination of soil and water
a)
This is a short term impact.
b)
This is a long term impact.
4.

The transition from fall to winter could be considered an environmental change. Which kind of change is winter?

a)

short-term, because it lasts less than a year

b)

long-term, because it lasts more than a year

c)

long-term, because it lasts more than a year

d)

long-term, because it does not cause changes to the DNA of a species

5.

An environmental change is occurring due to continents shifting and moving to different parts of Earth’s surface. What kind of change is this?

a)

a short-term change due to tectonic plate movement

b)

a long-term change due to tectonic plate movement

c)

a short-term change due to increasing levels of solar energy

d)

a long-term change due to increasing levels of solar energy

6.
A living or once-living organisms in an ecosystem is a
a)
population
b)
biotic factor
c)
abiotic factor
d)
community
7.

The first organisms to reappear after an ecosystem is damaged.

a)

Abiotic Community

b)

Pioneer species

c)

Succession

d)

Biomass

8.

The progression of life in an area that starts with bare rock or sand but no soil. Example: a volcanic island.

a)

Climax Community

b)

Pioneer Species

c)

Secondary Succession

d)

Primary Succession

9.
The picture shows what type of succession?
a)
primary
b)
secondary
c)
tertiary
d)
quadanary
10.
A dichotomous key for insects is given. To what order does an insect with two pairs of scaly wings belong?
a)
Coleoptera
b)
Heteroptera
c)
Diptera
d)
Lepidoptera
11.

Which of the following human activities will have the greatest negative impact on the balance of organisms within ocean ecosystem?

a)

monitoring of major, global ocean currents

b)

recreational boating

c)

commercial fishing to provide food for humans

d)

mapping of the ocean floor by marine scientists

12.

Overflow during a heavy rainstorm from a wastewater treatment plant would result in...

a)

weakened housing foundations

b)

polluted runoff into nearby ponds

c)

flooding in the local aquifer

d)

over-treated drinking water

13.
Raccoons eat aquatic animals. If chemicals entered the lake with rain water and destroyed the plants, how would this impact the raccoon population?
a)
Raccoons would have more aquatic animals to eat.
b)
Raccoons would begin eating land plants.
c)
Raccoons would have less aquatic animals to eat.
d)
Raccoons would only drink water.
14.

What is one way humans are trying to positively impact (help restore) the ocean?

a)

Over fishing

b)

Drilling for oil and natural gas

c)

Creating artificial reefs

d)

Dumping plastics in the ocean

15.

The Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula) is a plant, and like all other green plants, gets its energy from the Sun through photosynthesis. This plant, however, catches flies and breaks down their bodies using chemicals to meet its needs. Which environmental condition has led to this adaptation?

a)

Excessive insect populations

b)

Soil with few nutrients

c)

Low atmospheric oxygen

d)

Increased average daily temperatures

16.
Scientists are concerned about overfishing of shark populations. Sharks feed on rays and rays feed on scallops. Without sharks, rays consume all the scallop beds. This situation demonstrates that: 
a)
humans can improve an ecosystem by removing predators.
b)
humans can upset an ecosystem by removing species.
c)
reducing the shark population increases the quantity of scallops that can be taken.
d)
sharks are not important for the stability of the ecosystem.
17.

A glacier in Alaska sweeps through leaving bare rock in its path. Which of the following will most likely be the pioneer species?

a)

grass

b)

lichen

c)

insects

d)

birds

18.

Which of the following is the best definition for Short Term Environmental changes?

a)

Short-term environmental changes tend to not affect the environment and the organisms living in it since it happens rather quickly.

b)

Short-term environmental changes do not have a significant effect on the environment.

c)

Short-term environmental changes, like droughts, floods, and fires DO NOT give populations time to adapt to the change and force them to move or become extinct. The changes happen rather quickly and there is no time for adaptations to occur which can lead to massive die-off.

19.

Which of the following is the best definition for Long-term environmental changes?

a)

Long-term environmental changes tend to not affect the environment and the organisms living in it since it happens rather quickly.

b)

Long-term environmental changes do not have a significant effect on the environment.

c)

Long-term environmental changes, like pollution and deforestation are more gradual and allow populations to adapt. Overtime, organisms that are affected by these changes have a chance to survive as they can develop adaptations that will help them cope with the change.

20.

An illustration of a water lily is provided. If annual rainfall increased and caused ponds in this habitat to become deeper, how, after many generations, might the traits of these water lilies change?

a)

Brighter flowers

b)

Wider leaves

c)

Thicker roots

d)

Longer stems