Biodiversity and Sustainability

A farmer digs a small pond in a pasture. The farmer adds young individuals from two species of algae-eating fish to the pond and plants some reeds around the edge of the pond. The farmer wants the pond to be a sustainable ecosystem.

Which of the following would be most helpful in increasing the pond ecosystem’s sustainability?

• Decreasing the number of pond species around the edges of the pond

• Introducing older fish of the same species into the population of algae-eating fish

• Having a greater diversity of living organisms in the pond

• Adding water between the water and where the reeds are planted

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What does biodiversity indicate about an ecosystem?

• the location of the ecosystem

• the overall size of the ecosystem

• the ability of the ecosystem to survive change

• the identity of the organisms that began ecological succession in the ecosystem

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The warmer the environment is and the closer an environment is to the equator, the higher the biodiversity of the environment. Based on these observations, which of these environments has the greatest biodiversity?

• Tundra

• Desert

• Tropical rainforest

• Grasslands

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NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Which term best describes the number and variety of organisms in a given area during a specific period of time?

• limiting factor

• biodiversity

• succession

• sustainability

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The following table lists the number and variety of organisms in four different ecosystems.

Based on the table, which ecosystem is likely the most sustainable?

• Ecosystem 1

• Ecosystem 2

• Ecosystem 3

• Ecosystem 4

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In which biome would you expect to find many coniferous trees?

• taiga

• Tundra

• Savanna

• Tropical rainforest

What is one way that a temperate rainforest is different from a temperate deciduous forest?

• A temperate rainforest has large populations of grasses rather than tall trees.

• A temperate rainforest is made up of palm trees rather than coniferous trees.

• A temperate rainforest has a long rainy season rather than moderate, year-round rainfall.

• A temperate rain forest has trees that lose their leaves in winter rather than keeping them year-round.

You observe a garden in a schoolyard. Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, and other crops thrive in the garden. What is most likely true of the soil in this microhabitat?

• It is dry and frozen.

• It is rocky, sandy, and dry.

• It is deep, dark, and nutrient rich.

• It is thin, acidic, and nutrient poor.

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What important role does fire play in a grassland biome?

• It helps seeds germinate.

• It spreads seeds to distant locations.

• It causes flowers on plants to bloom.

• It prevents animals from eating plant populations.

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How are tropical plants such as bromeliads adapted to the biome in which they live?

• They grow from tree branches rather than the forest floor, which helps them to absorb more sunlight.

• They have long, thick roots, which helps them to gather the nutrients that are found deep within the soil.

• They have hollow leaves and stems for storing water, which helps them to survive long periods with little rainfall.

• They lose their leaves during the winter, which helps them to save energy when the temperature falls and prevents the buildup of snow.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

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