Amplify Populations

In Australia, both opossums and foxes eat rats. The sizes of the populations have been stable for the last 12 years, but recently the size of the opossum population increased. What will likely happen to the fox population?

• increase because there will be more rats to make energy.

• decrease because the opossum population is taking more energy storage molecules from the rats.

• stay the same because there are still energy storage molecules available.

• decrease because the opossum population is using the fox population for energy storage molecules.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Scientists have been studying the size of three populations in a region. In this ecosystem, lions eat wild pigs, and wild pigs eat frogs. The data showed that all three populations were stable. Then the frog population decreased suddenly. What will likely happen to the size of the wild pig population as a result? The size of the wild pig population will . . .

• increase because the wild pigs and lions will find energy storage molecules elsewhere.

• decrease because there are less energy storage molecules available.

• stay the same because the lions are still stable.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

In the Arctic Ocean, sharks eat whales, and whales eat crabs. In the last 10 years, the sizes of the populations have been stable, but recently the size of the crab population increased. What will likely happen to the shark population?

The size of the shark population will . . .

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Scientists have been studying the size of three populations in a swampland. In this ecosystem, herons (a type of bird) eat frogs, and frogs eat dragonflies. The data showed that all three populations were stable. Then the dragonfly population increased suddenly. What will likely happen to the frog population as a result? The size of the frog population will . . .

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

In North America, both bears and eagles eat trout. The sizes of the populations have been stable for the last 9 years, but recently the size of the eagle population decreased. What will likely happen to the bear population?

The size of the bear population will . . .

• increase

• decrease

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A population of mice lives in the northeastern United States. Over the last 50 years, the size of the mouse population decreased. What best explains the decrease in the size of the mouse population?

• Fewer mice were born than died.

• More mice were born than died.

• A lot of mice died and no new mice were born.

• The mouse population is always decreasing because mice are always being eaten.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A large population of ducks lives in an area with a lake. In the last 40 years, the size of the duck population has stayed the same. What must be true about the duck population during the last 40 years?

• The number of ducks that were born was the same as the number of ducks that died.

• Humans started protecting the duck population so they stopped dying.

• No ducks were born and no ducks died.

• The ducks did not have any baby ducks during these years.

In the Arctic region, polar bears eat seals, and seals eat cod (a type of fish). In the last 7 years, the sizes of all the populations stayed stable, but recently the size of the polar bear population decreased. What will likely happen to the cod population? The size of the cod population will . . .

• increase because when one population increases, the others do too.

• decrease because less seals are being eating, making them increase, and eating more cod.

• stay the same

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What is the primary factor that can lead to the amplification of a population in an ecosystem?

• Increased birth rate

• Decreased birth rate

• Increased death rate

• Decreased immigration

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following scenarios would most likely result in an amplified population of a species?

• Introduction of a new predator

• Increase in food supply

• Decrease in habitat size

• Increase in disease prevalence

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4