Question 1

Question

A) Which is most likely a keystone species? (1 point)
wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers
depend to build their dams
feral cats, which hunt a wide variety of animals, including birds, lizards, rodents, and insects
deer, which eat a variety of plants, including shrubs and young trees, and are consumed by
large predators like mountain lions, wolves, and bears
cane toads in Australia, which were introduced to eat cane beetles, but eat anything and
survive in various habitats
Question 2
A) Environmental changes like increased temperature can stress an ecosystem. Why is this
an issue with regard to invasive species? (1 point)
Ecosystems are destroyed by environmental changes, and then invasive species establish a
new ecosystem, so the original organisms can never reintegrate.
Invasive species are more easy to introduce to a stressed ecosystem.
Invasive species thrive in stressed ecosystems like those with warmer temperatures.
Ecosystems are unable to recover as quickly from damage due to invasive species and
environmental changes.
Question 3
A) Direct ecosystem services include benefits such as (1 point)
photosynthesis.
transportation
soil decomposition.
recreational parks.
Question 4
A) What is the definition of ecological resistance? (1 point)
an ecosystem’s ability to endure in changing conditions
an ecosystem’s ability to manage population density
an ecosystem’s ability to improve after a setback
an ecosystem’s ability to replace species that are wiped out
Question 5
A) Which ecosystem service do decomposers provide? (1 point)
nutrient cycling
food production
soil creation
water cycling
Question 6
A) Which statement is true? (1 point)
Insects can delay the decomposition process.
Composting speeds up the decomposition of organic material.
Organic material will not decompose without the help of composting.
Decomposition only involves microorganisms like bacteria.
Question 7
A) How do traditional food production practices contribute to a reduction in biodiversity?
(1 point)
Air, land, and water are used to produce food, so food that is thrown away is a waste of those
original resources.
Livestock raised for meat are not as diverse as wild species.
Land that is converted to agriculture is no longer a suitable habitat for native species.
Agricultural crops are not a good source of food for wild or native species.
Question 8
A) Which option would be the best way to reuse food waste? (1 point)
compost scraps for fertilizer
feed scraps to livestock
incinerate scraps to make space
convert scraps to biofuel
Question 9
A) The Northern Pacific seastar is a particularly successful invasive species. Which of the
following explains why it is so successful in the waters of southeastern Australia, outside
of its native environment? (1 point)
It can cling to the bottom of ships and other vessels.
It consumes the eggs of the spotted handfish.
It breeds rapidly and has no predators in this environment.
It is accustomed to a cold climate.
Question 10
A) Aside from killing native species, what other negative issue might an invasive species
present? (1 point)
They might introduce other organisms, like viruses and bacteria.
They might avoid interacting with other organisms.
They might increase the diversity of native species.
They might provide economic benefit.
Question 11
A) What happens after coral is bleached? (1 point)
The coral produces peroxides.
The coral is susceptible to starvation.
The coral releases algae on to a sand dune.
The coral dies immediately.
Question 12
A) The most biodiverse ecosystem in the world is likely a (1 point)
coral reef.
tundra.
cold desert.
taiga.
Question 13
A) Marine biologist Dr. James Estes researched sea otters and their habitats in the Aleutian
Islands of the North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters feed on animals such as crabs and urchins.
Islands with sea otters contained a lot of kelp, a seaweed that is an important food source
for fish and other sea animals. However, Islands without otters had large populations of
urchins but no kelp since sea urchins feed on this seaweed. Since sea otters are able to
control the population of urchins, this allows for kelp to freely grow in those areas. Given
this information, what term best describes the otter in the Aleutian Islands ecosystem?
(1 point)
apex predator
producer
keystone species
decomposer
Question 14
A) “Green” material has high amounts of (1 point)
nitrogen.
magnesium.
carbon.
phosphorus.
Question 15
A) What aspect of an organism makes it an invasive species? (1 point)
It is from a different ecosystem.
It does harm and is introduced to the ecosystem.
It is harmful to organisms in all ecosystems.
It has no predators in the new ecosystem.
Question 16
A) The Kudzu vine was brought to the United States from Japan. Which of the following
additional characteristics of the Kudzu vine determined that it was an invasive species?
(1 point)
it has no economic benefit
it was believed to be a "miracle plant"
it protects vulnerable grounds against wind erosion
it grows rapidly, robbing other plants of sunlight
Question 17
A) Why are invasive species such a huge threat to ecosystems? (1 point)
Invasive species can do intense damage, so much so that ecosystems may not be able to
recover.
Invasive species provide no added benefit or diversity to the ecosystem.
Invasive species are impossible to control once they are introduced and spread rapidly.
Invasive species can replace native species, forcing their migration out of the area.
Question 18
A)
Imagine that an ecosystem contains rabbits, foxes, wolves, and deer. The following
predator
prey relationships exist:
Rabbits are eaten by foxes and wolves
Deer are eaten by wolves
Foxes are eaten by wolves
Select the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the
ecosystem.
(1 point)
rabbit
deer
fox
wolf
Question 19
A) In an ecosystem with low biodiversity, the removal of a species will (1 point)
not affect the ecosystem because another species will take its place.
disturb the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.
not affect the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.
disturb the ecosystem because another species will take its place.
Question 20
A) Biodiversity is measured by (1 point)
examining the usefulness of a specific trait in a species that interacts within an ecosystem.
counting the total number of one species population and how they interact within an
ecosystem.
counting the number and variation of different species of plants, animals, and other
organisms that interact within an ecosystem.
only analyzing animal species that interact within an ecosystem

Answer 1

Here are the suggested answers to the questions:

Question 1 A) Which is most likely a keystone species?
Answer: wolves in Yellowstone National Park, which eat elk, who graze on willows, on which beavers depend to build their dams

Question 2 A) Environmental changes like increased temperature can stress an ecosystem. Why is this an issue with regard to invasive species?
Answer: Invasive species thrive in stressed ecosystems like those with warmer temperatures.

Question 3 A) Direct ecosystem services include benefits such as
Answer: recreational parks.

Question 4 A) What is the definition of ecological resistance?
Answer: an ecosystem’s ability to endure in changing conditions

Question 5 A) Which ecosystem service do decomposers provide?
Answer: nutrient cycling

Question 6 A) Which statement is true?
Answer: Composting speeds up the decomposition of organic material.

Question 7 A) How do traditional food production practices contribute to a reduction in biodiversity?
Answer: Land that is converted to agriculture is no longer a suitable habitat for native species.

Question 8 A) Which option would be the best way to reuse food waste?
Answer: compost scraps for fertilizer

Question 9 A) The Northern Pacific seastar is a particularly successful invasive species. Which of the following explains why it is so successful in the waters of southeastern Australia, outside of its native environment?
Answer: It breeds rapidly and has no predators in this environment.

Question 10 A) Aside from killing native species, what other negative issue might an invasive species present?
Answer: They might introduce other organisms, like viruses and bacteria.

Question 11 A) What happens after coral is bleached?
Answer: The coral is susceptible to starvation.

Question 12 A) The most biodiverse ecosystem in the world is likely a
Answer: coral reef.

Question 13 A) What term best describes the otter in the Aleutian Islands ecosystem?
Answer: keystone species

Question 14 A) “Green” material has high amounts of
Answer: nitrogen.

Question 15 A) What aspect of an organism makes it an invasive species?
Answer: It does harm and is introduced to the ecosystem.

Question 16 A) Which of the following additional characteristics of the Kudzu vine determined that it was an invasive species?
Answer: it grows rapidly, robbing other plants of sunlight.

Question 17 A) Why are invasive species such a huge threat to ecosystems?
Answer: Invasive species can do intense damage, so much so that ecosystems may not be able to recover.

Question 18 A) Select the animal whose absence would have the greatest negative effect on the ecosystem.
Answer: wolf

Question 19 A) In an ecosystem with low biodiversity, the removal of a species will
Answer: disturb the ecosystem because another species will not be able to replace it.

Question 20 A) Biodiversity is measured by
Answer: counting the number and variation of different species of plants, animals, and other organisms that interact within an ecosystem.

Please review these answers and make sure they align with any study materials you may have!