Living Environment Regents - Ecosystems
Multiple choice question. Choose the best answer.
- 1.One characteristic of a stable ecosystem is
- A.
A high number of predators
- B.
An interdependence of organisms
- C.
A lack of biodiversity
- D.
An increase in human interference
- 2.The burning of fossil fuels has harmed the environment by
- A.
Decreasing acid rain in the northeast United States
- B.
Increasing biodiversity in the lakes and ponds of the Adirondacks
- C.
Depleting the ozone shield directly over western New York State
- D.
Adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
- 3.Many biotic factors affect individuals in a population. An example of an organism being directly affected by a biotic factor is
- A.
A flood washes away a maple tree
- B.
A plant is in a dark room
- C.
A squirrel cannot find a mate
- D.
A chipmunk finds a rock pile to use for a home
- 4.Which statement best describes what is most likely to occur if an animal population grows larger than the carrying capacity of its environment?
- A.
The birth rate will increase.
- B.
Both the birth rate and death rate will decrease.
- C.
The death rate will increase.
- D.
Neither the birth rate nor the death rate will decrease.
- 5.The hemlock wooly adelgid is an invasive insect species that is destroying native hemlock trees in New York State. These insects can upset natural ecosystems because they
- A.
Disrupt habitats that native species depend on
- B.
Provide food for native bird species
- C.
Can carry diseases that can be spread to pets
- D.
Increase biodiversity in New York State forests
- 6.Humans have an effect on ecosystems when they use native grasslands or forested areas for farming or urban use. One Negative effect of these changes on the ecosystem is that there will be
- A.
Successful economic growth
- B.
More homes
- C.
Less biodiversity
- D.
Increased food production
- 7.Many oak trees are cut down and removed from an oak-hickory forest. A likely result of the direct harvesting of the oak species would be the
- A.
Conservation of these natural forest resources
- B.
Recycling of all the nutrients in the forest
- C.
Disruption of natural cycles
- D.
Prevention of the extinction of animals native to the area
- 8.Which statement describes an event that would most severely disrupt the process of ecological succession in an area?
- A.
The season changes from spring into summer.
- B.
Native plants are planted in an abandoned field.
- C.
Plants and animals begin to colonize a newly formed volcanic island.
- D.
A dam is built on a river to form a reservoir.
- 9.Although we rely on coal, oil, and natural gas to produce energy, some environmental scientists have proposed that we use less fossil fuel. One reason to support this proposal is to
- A.
Enable us to preserve rain forests in tropical areas
- B.
Allow us to decrease the use of fertilizers on crops
- C.
Help us to reduce the production of carbon dioxide gas
- D.
Encourage us to end research on wind and water power sources
- 10.Abandoned farmland that once grew corn is now covered with bushes and small tress. These observed changes resulted directly from
- A.
Evolutionary change
- B.
Loss of biodiversity
- C.
Ecological succession
- D.
Selective breeding
- 11.When rain forests are cut down, there is a
- A.
Loss of genetic material available for research
- B.
Loss of fossil fuels that could be used by industry
- C.
Release of excess oxygen to the atmosphere
- D.
Release of chemicals which cause helpful mutations
- 12.Before a new shopping center can be built on previously undeveloped land, the builders must submit a proposal to the local government for approval. Which statement identifies an environmental concern associated with the development of the shopping center?
- A.
Building the center would decrease resources needed by local organisms.
- B.
The new shopping center would increase competition with already existing businesses.
- C.
Building the center would decrease the amount of pollution in the area.
- D.
The new shopping center would increase the biodiversity of the area.
- 13.Scientists have studied the return of plant life on Mount St. Helens ever since the volcano erupted in 1980. Wildflowers began colonizing the area, followed by shrubs and small trees. Scientists predict that it will likely take hundreds of years before the area returns to a forest dominated by fir and hemlock trees. These changes are an example of
- A.
The growth of a forest through ecological succession
- B.
Humand degrading an ecosystem by removing wildflowers
- C.
The loss of genetic variation in a plant species
- D.
The biological evolution of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees
- 14.As a result of habitat destruction, the size of the Florida panther population has been drastically reduced. It is estimated that there are only 100 to 160 Florida panthers in the wild. Which statement best explains why the Florida panther population may NOT continue to evolve?
- A.
There is no longer a chance of mutations occurring in the population.
- B.
There is a lack of genetic variation for selection to act upon.
- C.
There is a lack of competition for limited environmental resources.
- D.
There is no longer a chance of a trait providing a reproductive advantage to the population.
- 15.Which row represents the most likely changes int he atmosphere due to widespread deforestation?
- A.
Oxygen Increases, Carbon Dioxide Increases
- B.
Oxygen Decreases, Carbon Dioxide Increases
- C.
Oxygen Increases, Carbon Dioxide Decreases
- D.
Oxygen Decreases, Carbon Dioxide Decreases
- 16.Monarch butterflies migrate from the US and Canada to Mexico every winter. Over the past 10 years, there has been a drastic decrease in the number of monarch butterflies. Scientists have estimated that the population may have decreased from about 1 billion to 35 million. Which action would NOT be considered a reason for the decline in monarch butterfly populations?
- A.
Illegal deforestation
- B.
Habitat preservation
- C.
Extreme temperature changes
- D.
Decreasing food supplies
- 17.Homeowners have been encouraged to learn how to identify invasive plants and to remove them if they find them. The most likely reason for removing invasive plants is to
- A.
Allow only one type of native plant to grow
- B.
Eliminate unfamiliar food sources
- C.
Preserve biodiversity
- D.
Increase the rate of ecological succession
- 18.Which method of collecting data would provide the most accurate information about how an ecosystem is being affected by human development?
- A.
The people in the neighborhood record the number of birds they see in the area both before and after the construction of a new building.
- B.
Deer in the area are identified before construction so that scientists can see where they go after the building is finished.
- C.
More trees are planted in the area around the construction site to allow the animals a new place to live.
- D.
The population size is recorded for each species present in the construction area before and after the building is completed.
- 19.Some states require shoppers to pay a deposit on certain beverage containers made of plastic and glass. When shoppers return the containers, their deposits are returned to them. How is this system intended to help the environment?
- A.
It encourages people to buy products that do not have a deposit.
- B.
It reduces the amount of money shoppers actually spend.
- C.
It reduces the amount of plastics and glass put into landfills.
- D.
It forces manufacturers to reduce air pollution when they are making the containers.
- 20.For centuries, humans have used resources from coastal areas and open ocean waters. An example of an activity that would promote the conservation of coastal areas and ocean resources is
- A.
Creating protected zones of natural grasses and shrubs in beach areas
- B.
Harvesting large numbers of different fish species
- C.
Allowing all-terrain vehicles access to beach areas
- D.
Encouraging the construction of factories along the ocean shoreline
- 21.Scientists have recently discovered a community of bacteria and clams living under an ice shelf in Antarctica. These organisms live under 600 feet of ice, in the absence of sunlight, and in temperatures considered too cold for most living organisms. The location where these organisms live is unusual because
- A.
Only biotic factors control the size of the populations
- B.
Bacteria and clams are found in the same area
- C.
Of the abiotic factors found in their environment
- D.
Green plants make energy-rich compounds available
- 22.Ecologists are concerned that the golden-winged warbler population is at a dangerously low level. One reason this could lead to extinction of this warbler is that
- A.
After a species becomes extinct, it won't be able to carry out its role in the ecosystem
- B.
There may not be enough diversity among the birds for the species to be able to survive an environmental change
- C.
Extinction always occurs when populations begin to decrease in number
- D.
An increase in biodiversity within a population often causes the population to be classified as threatened or endangered
- 23.In the 1920s, over 25 million acres of the American southern plains were stripped of prairie grasses to provide more land for farmers to grow wheat. The prairie grasses had served to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion. In the early 1930s, a series of severe dust storms eroded topsoil from more than 13 million acres of the southern plains and dumped it as tons of dust particles over many cities in the the Northeast. Farmland was destroyed and people were sickened from "dust pneumonia." This occurrence illustrates
- A.
Farmers should never clear land to grow crops as it always creates problems
- B.
Once an ecosystem has been altered, it can not be restored to normal
- C.
The farmers deliberately altered the equilibrium of the cities in the Northeast
- D.
When humans alter ecosystems, serious consequences may result
- 24.After feeding at the surface of the ocean during the day, many ocean organisms migrate to deeper waters. While there, they release ammonia in their urine. Many bacteria use the nitrogen from the ammonia as they make amino acids, which eventually end up in food chains on both land and water. These amino acids may even be used in humans. Which statement best explains these observations?
- A.
Chemical elements, including nitrogen, pass through food webs and are combined and recombined in different ways.
- B.
Chemical elements, including nitrogen, are removed from food webs and eliminated from ecosystems.
- C.
Nitrogen is transferred directly from bacteria to humans.
- D.
All elements in the ocean remain there and are not transferred to other ecosystems.
- 25.Rabbits are not native to Australia. They were imported by European settlers. In 1936, the myxoma virus was introduced into Australia as a means of biological control to infect and reduce the rabbit population. this method of controlling the rabbit population was an attempt to
- A.
Stop the overproduction of an introduced species
- B.
Stop the overpopulation of a native species
- C.
Limit the food sources of the rabbit
- D.
Limit the number of rabbits brought into the country
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