Changes in Ecosystems

The process by which the volcanic island Surtsey has progressed from bare lava in 1963 to an island with vegetation and animal life today is known as
1. primary succession
2. secondary succession
3. a climax community
4. an extinction event
Most climate models predict that during this century, the average temperature
1. on land will increase, as will the average ocean temperatures
2. on land will decrease, as will the average ocean temperatures
3. on land will increase, and the average ocean temperatures will decrease
4. on land will decrease, and the average ocean temperatures will increase
After a forest fire, the first signs of ecological recovery occur with the appearance of
1. grasses and small shrubs
2. trees
3. large herbivores
4. predators
During a particularly hot summer, the smallest change in temperature would likely be noted in
1. temperate forests
2. deserts
3. temperate grasslands
4. oceans
Deforestation has the effect of
1. increasing atmospheric CO₂
2. increasing atmospheric oxygen, O₂
3. increasing soil loss through erosion
4. decreasing biodiversity
5. contributing to global warming
Most people have pesticides and other environmental contaminants in their body. This is an example of
1. bioaccumulation
2. biomagnification
3. bioamplification
4. healthy eating
If the ecosystem above was contaminated with the pesticide DDT, the highest concentration of DDT would be found in
1. the sea water
2. microscopic organisms
3. small fish
4. pelicans
If the ecosystem above was contaminated with the pesticide DDT, the highest concentration of DDT in fish and pelicans would be found in
1. bone tissue
2. fat tissue
3. blood
4. muscle
(From Reuters)A golden eagle picks the carcass of a wild boar that was killed by wolves in the 30 km (18 miles) exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor near the village of Babchin some 370 km (217 miles) southeast of Minsk February 3, 2008. Wildlife in the exclusion zone has been teeming despite radiation.
If one were to study organisms in the area, which of these indicates the probable order of increasing concentrations of radiation in living tissue?
1. plants --→ wild boar --→ wolves
2. wolves --→ plants --→ wild boar
3. wild boar --→ plants --→ wolves
4. wolves --→ wild boar --→ plants
Which of the following IS NOT a greenhouse gas?
1. water vapor
2. methane, CH₄
3. carbon dioxide, CO₂
4. oxygen, O₂
A foreign species of organism, introduced into a new ecosystem, will not become invasive unless
1. the population is sufficiently large to allow for natural breeding
2. pregnant females are released
3. it is well suited to the habitat into which it is being released
4. people help care for them until they adapt
5. there is an available niche, or a weaker competitor occupies that niche
Invasive species may harm an ecosystem by
1. altering habitat
2. outcompeting native species
3. introducing new diseases
4. providing humans with a new food source
Starlings, sparrows and other European birds were introduced into the United States during the 1890's, when they were released in New York's Central Park by
1. mad scientists
2. evil Shakespeare fans
3. crazy Spongebob Squarepants fans
4. alien life forms
Most extinctions occurring on the planet today are due to
1. invasive species
2. loss of habitat
3. hunting
4. global warming
The land shown in the picture was once cultivated farmland. The process being shown here is
1. primary succession
2. secondary succession
3. extinction
4. invasion
The plant shown here is Russian thistle, better known as tumbleweed. It was accidentally introduced into the United States in the nineteenth century in contaminated flax seed. The fact that it has spread throughout the western United States suggests that
1. it is being farmed as an agricultural crop
2. regions of Russia have a climate similar to the western United States
3. it is an attractive garden plant
4. it has an efficient seed dispersal mechanism