Unit 2 Progress Check
A
A team of ecologists are studying four different ecosystems with varying levels of biodiversity. The ecologists categorize the different levels of biodiversity for the four ecosystems as shown in the table below. Ecosystem A (A) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem B (B) - Medium Genetic Diversity - High Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem C (C) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem D (D) - Medium Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - High Habitat Diversity Based on the information above, which ecosystem most likely experienced a recent population bottleneck? A Ecosystem A, because its low genetic diversity could have resulted from an event that reduced the variation in the gene pool. B Ecosystem B, because its high species diversity could have resulted from increased competition among its members. C Ecosystem C, because its low habitat diversity indicates an increase in available niches. D Ecosystem D, because its low species diversity indicates that it also has low species evenness.
A
Based on the data in the graph, which of the following best describes the change in the population of moths as a result of industrialization? A The percentage of dark colored moths increased in the population and the percentage of light-colored moths decreased in the population. B The percentage of dark-colored moths decreased in the population and the percentage of light-colored moths increased in the population. C The percentage of dark colored moths decreased in the population after 1850 and the percentage light-colored moths remained constant throughout the time period. D The percentage of both the dark-colored moths and the light-colored moths remained constant throughout the time period
C
Based on the graph above, which of the following tree species would be the predominant species found during the intermediate stage of succession? A Red maple B Sweetgum C Tulip poplar D White oak
C
Changes in Atmospheric CO2 Concentration and Antarctic Temperature over the Past 800,000 Years Which of the following best describes the change in Antarctic temperature from about 440,000 years ago to about 340,000 years ago? A The temperature increases by about 10°C B The temperature decreases by about 8°C C The temperature increases by about 12°C and then decreases by about 12°C D The temperature decreases by about 10°C and then increases by about 12°C
C
Easter Island is 11,600 km away from mainland Madagascar is 1,200 km away from mainland The image shows two different islands and the relative distance to the nearest mainland. Based on the theory of island biogeography, which of the following best predicts the effect of the introduction of an invasive species on Easter Island compared to Madagascar? A The native species on Easter Island are more likely to survive because the island is further from the mainland. B The native species on Easter Island are more likely to survive because the island is so small that there will be limited space for an invasive species to colonize. C The native species on Madagascar are more likely to survive because the island is larger and provides a greater diversity of habitats and resources. D The native species on Madagascar are more likely to survive because the temperature in the Indian Ocean is warmer than that of the Pacific Ocean.
C
Dead gharials began washing up on the banks of India's Chambal River in December 2007. By mid-January, the dead reptiles—some the length of two tall men, lined up end to end—numbered in the dozens. By March, more than 110 of the skinny-snouted creatures had been found dead, most along a 30-kilometer (18-mile) stretch of river. Among the largest crocodilians in the world, gharials have long, heavy bodies and relatively small heads with bulging eyes and skinny snouts. Although their rows of pointy teeth look menacing, they are specialized for catching and holding onto fish, and pose little danger to people. The relatively healthy breeding population on the Chambal is precisely why the massive 2008 die-off here caused such alarm. The Chambal contains nearly 80 percent of all the gharials left on Earth. It is the only population large enough to be stable. Speculation ensued among researchers and government officials about what caused the die-off. Early theories focused on widespread pollution. Based on a variety of clues, however, [researchers suspect] illegal or accidental dumping of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac that was once commonly used on livestock but was banned in India in 2006. A few years earlier, also in South Asia, the drug was responsible for a sharp decline of vultures, which all showed signs of kidney dysfunction like the dead gharials examined in 2008. The die-off . . . illustrates the potentially catastrophic consequences that disruptions to water bodies can have on aquatic species that are close to the brink. For a species that is struggling, the fate of this river will determine its future. Article Information: Sohn, E. (2018, June 5). Basking on the brink: An "unholy" river in India may be the last, best hope for one of the world's largest and most imperiled crocodilians. This is an excerpt of the article originally appearing in bioGraphic, an online magazine about nature and sustainability powered by the California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved August 30, 2018 from: https://www.biographic.com/posts/sto/basking-on-the-brink Which of the following best identifies the author's claim? A The 2008 die-off of the gharials was caused by extensive overfishing of the Chambal River, leaving little food for the reptiles. B The gharials have a wide ecological tolerance range, so it is unlikely that changes to the water chemistry of the Chambal River would have caused the 2008 die-off. C Anthropogenic disruptions to Earth's resources can have sudden and severe negative consequences to the health of native species, specifically those whose populations are already threatened. D In light of the 2008 die-off of the gharials, Indian government officials need to enact stricter laws to prevent the illegal dumping of drugs and other pollutants into the Chambal River.
A
In a rapidly changing climate, the decline of animal populations is a very real concern. An international team of researchers reported new evidence of reef fish adjusting to global warming conditions at the genetic level. [R]esearchers . . . have found that reef fish can inherit from their parents the genetic tools to adjust to ocean warming. "When parents are exposed to an increase in water temperature, we found that their offspring improved their performance in these otherwise stressful conditions by selectively modifying their epigenome." Epigenetic change refers to chemical modifications in the DNA that signals genes to be switched on or off. A range of factors, including disease, famine, or in the case of this research, heat stress, can stimulate these subtle changes. In this study, when both parent and offspring experienced the same elevated water temperatures, responsive changes . . . were observed that enhanced the next generation's ability to cope with the new, warmer temperatures. "We reared spiny chromis damselfish . . . for two generations under three different water temperatures, up to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than current-day ocean temperatures. The next generation appeared to be advantaged by parental exposure to elevated temperatures. The offspring's altered gene expression, also referred to as 'acclimation,' allowed them to maximize oxygen consumption and energy use." "Acclimation may buffer populations against the impacts of rapid environmental change and provide time for genetic adaptation to catch up over the longer term." "Reef fish inherit tolerance to warming oceans: Thanks to mom and dad, baby reef fish may have to what it takes to adjust to hotter oceans," Ryu Taewoo, ScienceDaily, April 30, 2018. Which of the following best identifies the author's claim? A Observed adjustments in the ecological tolerance of a species of reef fish is a result of epigenetic changes. B Climate change is damaging coral reefs as a result of warming ocean waters, which affect reef fish survival. C Transferring specific gene sequences of the spiny chromis damselfish to other fish species will help populations acclimate to warming ocean temperatures. D Continued acclimation of fish populations through epigenetics to warmer oceans will eventually replace the process of natural selection.
A
The ability to smell is critical for salmon. They depend on scent to avoid predators, sniff out prey, and find their way home at the end of their lives .... Research from the University of Washington and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center shows this ... sense of smell might be in trouble as carbon emissions continue to be absorbed by our ocean. ... The research team set up tanks of salt water with three different pH levels: today's current average Puget Sound pH, the predicted average 50 years from now, and the predicted average 100 years in the future. They exposed juvenile coho salmon to these three different pH levels for two weeks. After two weeks, the team ran a series of ... tests to see whether the fishes' sense of smell was affected. Fish were placed in a holding tank and exposed to the smell of salmon-skin extract, which indicates a predator attack and usually prompts the fish to hide or swim away. Fish that were in water with current CO2 levels responded normally to the offending odor, but the fish from tanks with higher CO2 levels didn't seem to mind or detect the smell. ... While this study looked specifically at how an altered sense of smell could affect fishes' response to danger, it's likely that other critical behaviors that depend on smell, such as navigation, reproduction, and hunting for food, would also take a hit if fish aren't able to adequately process smells. ... University of Washington Which of the following best identifies the author's claim? A Acidic water affects the salmon's ability to sense danger from attacking predators by their sense of smell. B Salmon can only tolerate certain water temperatures before all of their senses are severely damaged. C Acidic water prevents salmon from maturing and therefore from being able to reproduce and replenish declining salmon populations. D Acidic water is causing a rise in the population of predators as a result of the salmon's increased ability to smell predators.
B
Which of the following best describes the pattern in the atmospheric CO2 concentration data over the past 200,000 years? A The concentration of CO2 fluctuated between 150ppm and 250ppm. B The concentration of CO2 fluctuated between 150ppm and 250ppm until recently, when the concentration rose exponentially. C The concentration of CO2 remained constant at first from 200,000 years ago until 50,000 years ago, and then began a steady decline. D The concentration of CO2 rose exponentially to 400ppm and leveled off at carrying capacity.
A
Which of the following economic consequences to a provisioning ecosystem service will most likely result from increased global warming? A The collapse of local fisheries, because of the damage to coral reefs from ocean acidification B Loss of revenue from the oil industry, because of increased oil spills from offshore oil wells C Widespread crop failure, because of increased acid precipitation in agricultural areas D Increased cost for water filtration, because of loss of coastal wetlands
B
Which of the following ecosystem services is categorized as regulating? A Wood fuel, medicine, and potable water B Pollination, decomposition, and water purification C Recreation, education, and aesthetics D Photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and creation of soils
B
Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem service that would provide protection from a hurricane storm surge? A A lock and dam system B An intact coastal wetland C An energy-producing tidal barrage system D An offshore, deep-water fish farm
A
Based on the graph above, which of the following years postdisturbance did sweetgum experience the greatest biomass? A 50 B 100 C 150 D 200
B
Based on the graph above, which of the following years postdisturbance had the greatest species richness? A 25 B 100 C 175 D 250
B
A team of ecologists are studying four different ecosystems with varying levels of biodiversity. The ecologists categorize the different levels of biodiversity for the four ecosystems as shown in the table below. Ecosystem A (A) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem B (B) - Medium Genetic Diversity - High Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem C (C) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem D (D) - Medium Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - High Habitat Diversity Based on the information above, which ecosystem would most likely recover the fastest from a natural disruption?
D
A team of ecologists are studying four different ecosystems with varying levels of biodiversity. The ecologists categorize the different levels of biodiversity for the four ecosystems as shown in the table below. Ecosystem A (A) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem B (B) - Medium Genetic Diversity - High Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem C (C) - Low Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - Medium Habitat Diversity Ecosystem D (D) - Medium Genetic Diversity - Low Species Diversity - High Habitat Diversity Based on the information above, which of the following best describes Ecosystem C? A Its low species diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has species with very low population sizes. B Its high genetic diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has species that evolve quickly. C Its high genetic diversity indicates that Ecosystem C is most likely the result of the founder effect and a subpopulation originating from Ecosystem A. D Its low habitat diversity indicates that Ecosystem C most likely has a low number of specialist species and few species that utilize large territories.
B
An island off the coast of Africa contains a larger percentage of specialist species than generalist species. Which of the following describes the most immediate effect if an invasive generalist species is introduced to the island? A As predation increases, the population size of the invasive generalist species will decrease. B As competition for resources increases, the population size of the island's specialist species will decrease. C As resources are partitioned, the population sizes of both the generalist species and the specialist species will increase. D As niches overlap, the invasive generalist species will be outcompeted by the island's specialist species.
B
Based on the theory of island biogeography, which of the following islands would most likely have the highest number of species living on it? A An island 30 hectares in size that is 30 kilometers off the coast of the mainland B An island 30 hectares in size that is 10 kilometers off the coast of the mainland C An island 10 hectares in size that is 30 kilometers off the coast of the mainland D An island 10 hectares in size that is 10 kilometers off the coast of the mainland
C
In the 1970s, the amount of industrial pollution decreased and the trees began to return to their preindustrial appearance. Which of the following graphs best demonstrates the change in the frequencies of light-colored moths and dark-colored moths in the population from 1950 to 2000? The dark-colored moths are represented with a solid line and the light-colored moths are represented with a dashed line. *can't input graphs
B
Researchers in the Galápagos Islands measured the average beak size in a population of finches from 1976 to 1984, as shown in the graph below. Birds with smaller beaks are better suited for grasses and soft seeds, while birds with larger beaks are better suited for seeds and nuts. In years with less rainfall, there are fewer grasses to feed on and the finches rely more on seeds for food. In 1977, 1980, and 1982, there were droughts, and the area experienced significantly less rainfall than average Which statement is best supported by the data in the graph? A Finches were better able to find mates, and the population size increased in 1977 because of the abundance of grasses. B Finches with larger beaks were more likely to survive in 1980 because they were able to feed primarily on seeds and nuts during the drought. C The average beak size in 1981 increased to 9.8mm9.8mm because finches had access to unlimited resources. D The finch population declined from 1983 to 1984 due to a decrease in habitat.
C
Which of the following best describes the trends in atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature over the past 800,000 years? A Atmospheric CO2 concentration has remained about the same, and Antarctic temperature has varied widely over the past 800,000 years. B Both atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature have remained about the same over the past 800,000 years. C Atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature are directly correlated over the past 800,000 years. D Atmospheric CO2 concentration and Antarctic temperature are inversely correlated over the past 800,000 years.