Question
Lake Mojave is an ancient lake that has dried up and no longer exists in the Mojave desert in California.
Which environmental conditions may have occurred to cause the disappearance of the lake and the organisms that live in it? Check all that apply.
decrease in rainfall in the Mojave desert
decrease in temperature in the Mojave desert
decrease in runoff that flows into Mojave lake
increase in blocked streams that flow into Mojave lake
increase in pollution that was deposited into Mojave lake
increase in the nonnative plant population in Mojave lake
Which environmental conditions may have occurred to cause the disappearance of the lake and the organisms that live in it? Check all that apply.
decrease in rainfall in the Mojave desert
decrease in temperature in the Mojave desert
decrease in runoff that flows into Mojave lake
increase in blocked streams that flow into Mojave lake
increase in pollution that was deposited into Mojave lake
increase in the nonnative plant population in Mojave lake
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To assess the disappearance of Lake Mojave and the organisms that lived in it, the following environmental conditions could have contributed:
1. **Decrease in rainfall in the Mojave desert** - This would reduce the water supply necessary to maintain the lake's levels, leading to its disappearance.
2. **Decrease in runoff that flows into Mojave lake** - Less runoff would mean that there is less water entering the lake, contributing to its drying up.
3. **Increase in blocked streams that flow into Mojave lake** - If streams that were feeding into the lake became blocked, it would impede water flow and potentially lead to the lake's disappearance.
The following options would typically not lead to the drying up of a lake in a direct manner:
- **Decrease in temperature in the Mojave desert** - A decrease in temperature alone would not typically cause a lake to dry up; it might even contribute to less evaporation.
- **Increase in pollution that was deposited into Mojave lake** - While pollution can severely affect ecosystems and organisms within a lake, it wouldn't directly cause the lake to dry up.
- **Increase in the nonnative plant population in Mojave lake** - While nonnative plants can disrupt local ecosystems, they would not be a straightforward cause of the lake drying up.
In summary, the conditions that would most likely contribute to the disappearance of Lake Mojave are a decrease in rainfall, a decrease in runoff, and an increase in blocked streams.
1. **Decrease in rainfall in the Mojave desert** - This would reduce the water supply necessary to maintain the lake's levels, leading to its disappearance.
2. **Decrease in runoff that flows into Mojave lake** - Less runoff would mean that there is less water entering the lake, contributing to its drying up.
3. **Increase in blocked streams that flow into Mojave lake** - If streams that were feeding into the lake became blocked, it would impede water flow and potentially lead to the lake's disappearance.
The following options would typically not lead to the drying up of a lake in a direct manner:
- **Decrease in temperature in the Mojave desert** - A decrease in temperature alone would not typically cause a lake to dry up; it might even contribute to less evaporation.
- **Increase in pollution that was deposited into Mojave lake** - While pollution can severely affect ecosystems and organisms within a lake, it wouldn't directly cause the lake to dry up.
- **Increase in the nonnative plant population in Mojave lake** - While nonnative plants can disrupt local ecosystems, they would not be a straightforward cause of the lake drying up.
In summary, the conditions that would most likely contribute to the disappearance of Lake Mojave are a decrease in rainfall, a decrease in runoff, and an increase in blocked streams.