Biodiversity Review

Which action will most likely cause a negative impact on the biodiversity of a small region?

• planting native species in a bare field to attract wildlife

• draining a wetland for the development of a new park

• reducing the amount of pesticides and fertilizers used

• having a controlled burn to remove undergrowth of a forest

How could a global decrease in plant diversity affect the biosphere?

• It could cause an increase in the amount of oxygen gas available for plants and animals.

• It could cause an increase in animal diversity in the biosphere.

• It could cause a decrease in animal populations in the biosphere.

• It could cause a decrease in the amount of water available for plants and animals.

Leafcutter ants live in South and Central American tropical rain forests. Their huge, underground colonies contain an average of 5 million individuals. These ants have a complex society that includes a queen, workers, and soldiers. Leafcutter ants tend fungus gardens within their colony to feed to their larvae. The ants keep the fungus alive by feeding it fresh plant material. How does a leafcutter ant colony help to support the tropical rain forest biome?

• The colony recycles nutrients back to the soil for plants to use.

• The colony removes dead leaves from trees and other plants.

• The colony clears the forest floor of living plant material.

• The colony removes fungi from trees and the forest floor.

Which of the following is an activity that does NOT take place in the biosphere?

• Which of the following is an activity that does NOT take place in the biosphere?

• aerobic bacteria breaking down dead plant material

• ocean waves wearing down a rocky shoreline

• West Nile virus being carried by mosquitoes

Biodiversity can include genetic diversity within a population or variation of populations within an ecosystem. Given this information, which of the following is likely to have the MOST biodiversity?

• a tropical forest

• an arctic tundra

• a deciduous forest

• a residential backyard

Which of these is a threat to the survival of an ecosystem?

• predator-prey population cycles

• less biomass at higher levels of the food web

• a shrinking variety of animal and plant species

• competition among some consumer populations

Why is it important to conserve the biodiversity of Earth?

• to decrease the amount of global predator populations

• to decrease the stability of major global ocean currents

• to increase the stability of ecosystems during environmental changes

• to increase the amount of nonrenewable resources located in the lithosphere

What is the primary reason for the decline in biodiversity in many ecosystems?

• Seasonal changes in climate

• Natural predator-prey cycles

• Human activities such as deforestation and pollution

• Increased natural disasters

Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the resilience of an ecosystem?

• Frequent natural disturbances

• High levels of pollution

• Low species diversity

• High genetic diversity within species

How does the introduction of an invasive species typically affect an ecosystem?

• It increases the native species population.

• It disrupts the balance and can lead to native species decline.

• It stabilizes the ecosystem's food web.

• It has no significant impact on the ecosystem.