Question 1 (1 point)
How do traditional food production practices contribute to a reduction in biodiversity?
a
Air, land, and water are used to produce food, so food that is thrown away is a waste of those original resources.
b
Livestock raised for meat are not as diverse as wild species.
c
Land that is converted to agriculture is no longer a suitable habitat for native species.
d
Agricultural crops are not a good source of food for wild or native species.
Question 2 (1 point)
Which ecosystem is most resilient to change due to its high diversity?
a
arctic tundra
b
mountain meadow
c
stormwater pond
d
Amazon rainforest
Question 3 (1 point)
The Northern Pacific seastar is a particularly successful invasive species. Which of the following explains why it is so successful in the waters of southeastern Australia, outside of its native environment?
a
It can cling to the bottom of ships and other vessels.
b
It consumes the eggs of the spotted handfish.
c
It breeds rapidly and has no predators in this environment.
d
It is accustomed to a cold climate.
Question 4 (1 point)
Biodiversity is measured by
a
examining the usefulness of a specific trait in a species that interacts within an ecosystem.
b
counting the total number of one species population and how they interact within an ecosystem.
c
counting the number and variation of different species of plants, animals, and other organisms that interact within an ecosystem.
d
only analyzing animal species that interact within an ecosystem.
Question 5 (1 point)
Aside from killing native species, what other negative issue might an invasive species present?
a
They might introduce other organisms, like viruses and bacteria.
b
They might avoid interacting with other organisms.
c
They might increase the diversity of native species.
d
They might provide economic benefits.
Question 6 (1 point)
Environmental changes like increased temperature can stress an ecosystem. Why is this an issue with regard to invasive species?
a
Ecosystems are destroyed by environmental changes, and then invasive species establish a new ecosystem, so the original organisms can never reintegrate.
b
Invasive species are easier to introduce to a stressed ecosystem.
c
Invasive species thrive in stressed ecosystems like those with warmer temperatures.
d
Ecosystems are unable to recover as quickly from damage due to invasive species and environmental changes.
Question 7 (1 point)
Imagine that an ecosystem contains rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following predator-prey relationships exist:
Rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves
Deer are eaten by wolves
Foxes are eaten by wolves
Select the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
a
rabbit
b
deer
c
fox
d
wolf
Question 8 (1 point)
Which is most likely a keystone species?
a
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams
b
feral cats, which hunt a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, rodents, and insects
c
deer, which eat a variety of plants, including shrubs and young trees, and are consumed by large predators like mountain lions, wolves, and bears
d
cane toads in Australia, which were introduced to eat cane beetles, but eat anything and survive in various habitats
Question 9 (1 point)
The Kudzu vine was brought to the United States from Japan. Which of the following additional characteristics of the Kudzu vine determined that it was an invasive species?
a
it has no economic benefit
b
it was believed to be a "miracle plant"
c
it protects vulnerable grounds against wind erosion
d
it grows rapidly, robbing other plants of sunlight
Question 10 (1 point)
Which option would be the best way to reuse food waste?
a
compost scraps for fertilizer
b
feed scraps to livestock
c
incinerate scraps to make space
d
convert scraps to biofuel
Question 11 (1 point)
What is the definition of ecological resistance?
a
an ecosystem’s ability to endure in changing conditions
b
an ecosystem’s ability to manage population density
c
an ecosystem’s ability to improve after a setback
d
an ecosystem’s ability to replace species that are wiped out
Question 12 (1 point)
What happens after coral is bleached?
a
The coral produces peroxides.
b
The coral is susceptible to starvation.
c
The coral releases algae onto a sand dune.
d
The coral dies immediately.
Question 13 (1 point)
Marine biologist Dr. James Estes researched sea otters and their habitats in the Aleutian Islands of the North Pacific Ocean.
Sea otters feed on animals such as crabs and urchins. Islands with sea otters contained a lot of kelp, a seaweed that is an important food source for fish and other sea animals. However, Islands without otters had large populations of urchins but no kelp since sea urchins feed on this seaweed. Since sea otters are able to control the population of urchins, this allows for kelp to freely grow in those areas.
Given this information, what term best describes the otter in the Aleutian Islands ecosystem?
a
apex predator
b
producer
c
keystone species
d
decomposer
Question 14 (1 point)
Which ecosystem service do decomposers provide?
a
nutrient cycling
b
food production
c
soil creation
d
water cycling
Question 15 (1 point)
Direct ecosystem services include benefits such as
a
photosynthesis.
b
transportation.
c
soil decomposition.
d
recreational parks.
Question 16 (1 point)
Which statement is true?
a
Insects can delay the decomposition process.
b
Composting speeds up the decomposition of organic material.
c
Organic material will not decompose without the help of composting.
d
Decomposition only involves microorganisms like bacteria.
Question 17 (1 point)
One of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world is likely a
a
coral reef
b
tundra
c
cold desert
d
taiga
Question 18 (1 point)
Why are invasive species such a huge threat to ecosystems?
a
Invasive species can do intense damage, so much so that ecosystems may not be able to recover.
b
Invasive species provide no added benefit or diversity to the ecosystem.
c
Invasive species are impossible to control once they are introduced and spread rapidly.
d
Invasive species can replace native species, forcing their migration out of the area.
Question 19 (1 point)
In an ecosystem with low biodiversity, the removal of a species will
a
not affect the ecosystem because another species will take its place.
b
disturb the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.
c
not affect the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.
d
disturb the ecosystem because another species will take its place.
Question 20 (1 point)
What aspect of an organism makes it an invasive species?
a
It is from a different ecosystem.
b
It does harm and is introduced to the ecosystem.
c
It is harmful to organisms in all ecosystems.
d
It has no predators in the new ecosystem.
1. c
Land that is converted to agriculture is no longer a suitable habitat for native species.
2. d
Amazon rainforest
3. c
It breeds rapidly and has no predators in this environment.
4. c
counting the number and variation of different species of plants, animals, and other organisms that interact within an ecosystem.
5. a
They might introduce other organisms, like viruses and bacteria.
6. d
Ecosystems are unable to recover as quickly from damage due to invasive species and environmental changes.
7. d
wolf
8. a
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams
9. d
it grows rapidly, robbing other plants of sunlight
10. a
compost scraps for fertilizer
11. a
an ecosystem’s ability to endure in changing conditions
12. b
The coral is susceptible to starvation.
13. c
keystone species
14. a
nutrient cycling
15. d
recreational parks
16. b
Composting speeds up the decomposition of organic material.
17. a
coral reef
18. a
Invasive species can do intense damage, so much so that ecosystems may not be able to recover.
19. b
disturb the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.
20. b
It does harm and is introduced to the ecosystem.