A stream runs through a mountain forest. Willow trees grow on each side of the stream. A small deer population feeds on the willows. Mountain trout rely on the willow shade for shelter. The apex predator in the forest is the mountain lion. Mountain lions eat deer, rodents, and fish, as well as other prey species. Analyze the components of the ecosystem. What is the most likely outcome if the mountain lion population vanishes?
Biodiversity Unit Test
9th Grade Lesson 18 Unit 4
—
1.Scientists who study taxonomy are called <systematists>
2.What group of organisms can be further classified into Kingdoms? <Eukaryotes>
3. Taxonomy is an important tool that helps scientists in a variety of ways. Of the following statements, which is the most impractical and is unlikely to be informed by taxonomy? <Watching species as they evolve in real time gives us the opportunity to name and classify new organisms as speciation occurs.>
4.The Five Kingdom classification system was used until the invention of <the microscope>
5.A light disturbance in an ecosystem could include <a tree falling over from a thunderstorm.>
6.A new species uses photosynthesis to create energy. It must be pollinated by animals because it cannot move. Which kingdom will the species be in? <Plantae>
7. A scientist is trying to classify a new organism. She observes that the organism is a microorganism. It is prokaryotic, and reproduces
was found living in a hydrothermal vent. What is the best classification for the organism? <Archaea>
8. If the amount of algae in the ocean decreases by 50%, the population of its consumers, goby fish, will <decrease to its carrying capacity>
9. The difference between a population and a community is <population references one species while community references all living species in an area.>
10. A dead tree is home to many organisms, including fungi, insects, and some small animals. This is an example of a(n) <community>
11. Consider the following scenario:
Every year, the tropical rain forest has a rainy season. The forest floor floods, covering once dry areas with water. Some organisms are unable to tolerate t
increased water, so they have to move to other locations to survive.
Which word can best be used to describe this scenario? <disturbance>
12.Which situation is an example of interspecific competition? <Bacteria in the colon aid in digestion>
13. Which change would create a new ecosystem? <a dam flooding a valley>
14. À stream runs through a mountain forest. Willow trees grow on each side of the stream. A small deer population feeds on the willows. Mountain trout rely on
the willow shade for sheiter. The apex predator in the forest is the mountain lion. Mountain lions eat deer, rodents, and fish, as well as other prey species.
Analyze the components of the ecosystem. What is the most likely outcome if the mountain lion population vanishes? <The trout population will decrease.>
SHORT ANSWERS:
Use speed write to rewrite these or just do it on your own^^ <3
15. Analyze the graph and identify some factors that may contribute to the rotifer population leveling off in the absence of water fleas. Explain your answer in
1-2 sentences.
{ Looking at this graph, I can see that in this case, once the water fleas were introduced into the ecosystem, the population of the rotifers
began to drop; by day 16, the population dropped from around 1500, to below 500. So its safe to say that in the absence of the water fleas,
they would continue to grow in population until the ecosystem reached its carrying capacity as shown when the population hit 4000, and then leveling off. }
16. Severe weather events can create ecological disturbances, which can impact biodiversity. Think about a severe weather situation you have experienced near your home or have witnessed on the news. In 3-5 sentences, explain how the severe weather event created ecological disturbances that impacted
biodiversity.
{I live in Alabama, and every year when tornado season kicks off, it is detrimental to towns in the areas. For example, a tornado ripped my
neighbor but pretty bad last year, and while my home had little to no damage, my neighbor/neighbors house has half a wall missing. It's the
same for other living organisms. How a large storm could be nothing for one population but be deadly for others, causing the biodiversity to
fluctuate.}
17. You are a mad scientist tasked with the evil job of designing a novel species. This species will be introduced to an ecosystem and must cause as much
damage as possible. What abilities and characteristics will you give this species to make it successful? Be sure to explain why you choose each aspect. Explain your choice in 3-5 sentences.
{If I had to create a species that would cause as much damage as possible, it would mirror the attributes of an average day rich white male
Initialed and lacking in empathy. Destroying ecosystems and killing any organism that it sees fit. It would take up as much space for it's self
and become hostile in a moments notice with little to no provoking. I believe something like that would truly cause the most damage.}
18. In three to five sentences, construct an argument that shows why lichens are necessary to establish a new ecosystem after an extreme disturbance.
{Lichens affect every species in the ecosystem, in 2013 Russia had a dramatic lichen die off which caused 61,000. 20% of the entire
reindeer population to die from starvation. And with fewer deers, the bears and wolves also suffered from the loss of lichens and if it takes a
long time for lichens to grow back in an ecosystem}
Hope this helps, all these are graded except for the Short answers but I’m sure their write. ^^
there are some issues with the short answer question responses this person gave which i just want to point out real quick for anyone still taking the test
15. Analyze the graph and identify some factors that may contribute to the rotifer population leveling off in the absence of water fleas. Explain your answer in
1-2 sentences.
they mentioned what population rotifers can have with and without water fleas, but didn't actually answer the question. the question is asking you to explain WHY the rotifer population would eventually stop growing even when water fleas aren't present. the correct answer to this question should explain that rotifers will eventually run out of food and space to live, thus capping their population at the carrying capacity, even if water fleas aren't present.
16. Severe weather events can create ecological disturbances, which can impact biodiversity. Think about a severe weather situation you have experienced near your home or have witnessed on the news. In 3-5 sentences, explain how the severe weather event created ecological disturbances that impacted
biodiversity.
they talked too much about how severe weather events can impact humans, when they should have focused on how it can impact biodiversity. remember to talk about how severe weather can harm the environment. e.g flooding making environments hostile to non-water based life, snowstorms making the ground too cold for producers and hurting consumers as a side effect, etc. talk about specific domino effects caused by bad weather.
17. You are a mad scientist tasked with the evil job of designing a novel species. This species will be introduced to an ecosystem and must cause as much
damage as possible. What abilities and characteristics will you give this species to make it successful? Be sure to explain why you choose each aspect. Explain your choice in 3-5 sentences.
they brought politics into this, which won't get any points with teachers. you should design your species to kill as many keystone species as possible, since that would destabilize the ecosystem. make sure to demonstrate that you understand the interconnectedness of ecosystems when responding to this. there are a lot of possible ways to answer this question, but anything that demonstrates you understand how all the parts of an ecosystem affect each other will get you points. some options are:
- kill producers to starve consumers
- kill primary consumers to starve tertiary consumers/let producers run rampant
- kill keystone species to destabilize everything
- kill tertiary consumers to cause primary consumers to overeat and destroy producer sources + subsequently starve
- and more, be creative
18. In three to five sentences, construct an argument that shows why lichens are necessary to establish a new ecosystem after an extreme disturbance.
they said that lichens are important, but didn't actually answer the question. the question wants you to explain how lichens create the basis for a healthy ecosystem in a barren environment. lichens are good at establishing a new ecosystem after an extreme disturbance because they can survive in hostile environments (they use photosynthesis for nutrients) & they make the environment nicer for other species (they break down rock to create sand + decompose into soil when they die). explain that in your response.
as always, remember not to ever exactly copy someone else's wording, because your teachers will be able to google it and find out you copied. paraphrase.