Human Impact and Ecology

Scientists gathered the following data on lizard populations for several years. The results are shown in the table. Which environmental factor most likely contributes to the change in lizard population? 

• increase in available water and food

• increase in shelter

• increase in predators

• increase in light

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is the most likely cause of algal bloom?

• Humans dumped their trash directly into the pond, causing the water to become unclean

• A seasonal algal cycle caused the water to have too many organisms living in it

• Fertilizers from nearby fields drained into the pond, causing an excess of nutrients

• Acid rain transported pollution from nearby bodies of water through the water cycle.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Which of the following leads to a decrease in biodiversity?

• protection of ecosystems

• pollution control

• selective cutting

• introduction of exotic or invasive species

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

All of the following are examples of environmental changes that can be caused by humans except - 

• clearing land for housing developments

• pesticides

• volcanic eruption

• pollution

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

In the 1850s, Thomas Austin released approximately twenty-four rabbits from Europe into the Australian countryside. By 1900, tens of millions of rabbits were found all over the Australian continent. The warm Australian climate, abundant farmland, and crops provided the perfect habitat for the rabbits. The rabbits caused extensive damage to all vegetation, and the lack of plants increased soil erosion. Why were the rabbits so successful? 

• the rabbits competed with local herbivores for food

• the rabbits did not have natural predators

• erosion of soil benefited the rabbits

• diseases helped decrease rabbit populations

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

___________________ washes agricultural wastes, including animal wastes, fertilizers, and pesticides, into bodies of water, causing algae to grow.

• Runoff

• Peak flow

• Groundwater

• Municipal sewage

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following would INCREASE the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

• increase in predators

• disease

• increase in available food

• drought

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is a niche?

• the job of an organism in an ecosystem

• a tree branch with a notch cut out of it

• water eroding soil from the edge of a river

• plants competing for sunlight

A tapeworm and a cat have this type of relationship.

• mutualism

• parasitism

• commensalism

• competition

We can prevent water pollution by:

• Reduce the use of plastic.

• Properly dispose of chemicals.

• Clean up after your animals.

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-3