biology eoc exam preparation...

NGSSS: SC.912.L.17.5 Population Ecology

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Dr. M.L. King



BIOLOGY EOC EXAM PREPARATION #1

Populations do not continue to grow to an unlimited size. Their environment, including

food and other natural resources, limits their size eventually. This limit is called the

A. differential population.

B. carrying capacity.

C. prey maximum.

D. predator limit.


Many insects, such as mosquitoes and dragonflies, spend their juvenile stage as

aquatic larvae before becoming winged and airborne adults. Most years, these insects

are extremely abundant in the Arctic tundra in summer. What might account for this?

A. Adult insects spend the long Arctic winter laying thousands of eggs under the ice

of frozen ponds.

B. Many insects migrate long distances to take advantage of good breeding areas in

the tundra.

C. Pools of water which make good breeding areas are plentiful in summer as the

permafrost melts.

D. Summer rains in the Arctic tundra replenish breeding ponds that dried up during

the winter.






Many insects, such as mosquitoes and dragonflies, spend their juvenile stage as

aquatic larvae before becoming winged and airborne adults. Most years, these insects

are extremely abundant in the Arctic tundra in summer. What might account for this?

A. Adult insects spend the long Arctic winter laying thousands of eggs under the ice

of frozen ponds.

B. Many insects migrate long distances to take advantage of good breeding areas in

the tundra.

C. Pools of water which make good breeding areas are plentiful in summer as the

permafrost melts.

D. Summer rains in the Arctic tundra replenish breeding ponds that dried up during

the winter.


Rainbow trout need at least 6.0 mg/L of dissolved oxygen to survive. Biologists are

trying to reestablish rainbow trout in a mountain stream but the stream only has 5.5

mg/L of dissolved oxygen. Which of the following would be the most useful to

encourage the development of the rainbow trout population?

A. Create more bends in the stream to allow the water to slowdown.

B. Cut down trees along the stream to allow more sunlight to warm the water.

C. Pull out aquatic plants growing in the stream to allow oxygen to accumulate.

D. Remove dams along the stream to allow the water to flow faster.






Which of the following describes how an abiotic factor can impact the population

dynamics in an ecosystem?

A. A parasite that invades a host can reproduce and cause a decline in the host

species population.

B. Organisms that compete for the same resources will keep each other from

overpopulating.

C. Predators will prevent herbivores from depleting the plants and other resources in

an ecosystem.

D. Seasonal variations in temperature can cause some of the individuals in a

population to die.


If a snake species were introduced to an ecosystem where it had no natural predators,

what long-term effect do you predict the snakes would have on the population dynamics

of the ecosystem?

A. They would breed with native snake species, resulting in an increase in

biodiversity in the ecosystem.

B. They would compete with native snake species for resources, causing a

decline in native snake populations and possibly extinction.

C. They would form mutualistic relationships with native snakes, since they would

occupy the same niche in the ecosystem.

D. They would serve as a food source for predators of native snakes, causing an

increase in v native snake populations.






The populations of fish and amphibians in a lake more than 100 miles downwind from a

coal- fired power plant suddenly began to decline. Biologists sampled the water in the

lake and found that it had a pH of 2.4. What conclusions could the biologists draw from

their finding?

A. Acid rain that had fallen on the lake had to have come from a pollution source

close to the lake.

B. Pollutants from the power plant could be making the lake water too alkaline to

support life.

C. The pH of the lake water was normal, so the decline in fish and amphibian

populations had some other cause.

D. The lake water had become very acidic, which could be linked to emissions from

the distant power plant.


Two species of finches are in competition for the limited resources of an ecosystem.

One species eats fruit and the second species eats seeds. If a third species of

herbivore finches moves into the area, how will the ecosystem change?

A. Resources will be more abundant.

B. Water will become more available.

C. The climate of the ecosystem will change.

D. Fruit and seed resources will become less abundant.






Which environmental factor would cause the greatest decrease in the number of

species of plants and animals living in some of the lakes in the United States?

A. increase in dissolved oxygen levels

B. global warming

C. ozone destruction

D. acid rain


Zebra mussels are tiny clam-like organisms that strain plankton out of lake water. They

attach to piers, boat hulls, pipes, and any other available surface. They prefer attaching

to surfaces in water that is 2 to 7 feet deep but have been found at depths of 180 feet in

water temperatures ranging from 7˚C to 32˚C. They live mainly in freshwater with

salinities (salt concentrations) of 0.21 to 1.47 parts per thousand (ppt), but they can live

in estuaries with salinities up to 13.40 ppt. Given what is known about the diet of zebra

mussels, which variables influence their fundamental niche?

A. nearby boats, fish larvae, water salinity, availability of plankton

B. water depth, water clarity, availability of plankton, water temperature, water

salinity

C. water clarity, availability of native mussel species, water temperature, water

salinity

D. availability of surfaces for attachment, water depth, water salinity, availability of

plankton






Constance made the table below during a field investigation on ocean life.

Characteristics of Several Ocean Zones

Zones Description

Intertidal Air, sun, and water exposure; crashing waves

Neritic Water depth less than 200 m; lots of sunlight; relatively warm water

Benthic Very deep water; no light; cold except near thermal vents that emit heat and chemicals

Based on Constance’s table, which of the following is a valid conclusion?

A. Organisms in the intertidal zone must be able to withstand very cold water.

B. There are no producers in the benthic zone that rely on photosynthesis.

C. Organisms in the benthic zone must be able to tolerate occasional air exposure.

D. The warm water and abundant sunlight in the neritic zone limits the plankton

population.


After fires destroyed 793,000 acres of aspen and pine forest in Yellowstone National

Park in the unusually dry summer of 1988, biologists were able to study the long-term

effects of fire on an ecosystem. The biologists found that the soil after the fire was more

fertile and soon gave rise to small plants and new pine trees. What ecological process

were the biologists observing?

A. biodiversity

B. equilibrium

C. food web energy flow

D. succession






Forest fires can burn down all of the trees and plants living in an area. However, new

growth can spring from the decaying organic matter left behind. What is the gradual,

sequential regrowth of a community of species after a forest fire?

A. adaptation

B. pioneer succession

C. primary succession

D. secondary succession


A biologist compares how different ecosystems undergo succession. She divides the

series of events that happen during primary succession and secondary succession into

three different stages. Which feature might be used to distinguish secondary succession

from primary succession?

A. the lack of pioneer species in the second stage

B. the presence of pioneer species in the final stage

C. the presence of trees and large plants in the final stage

D. the presence of soil and organic matter in the first stage

NGSSS: SC.912.L.17.9 Energy in Ecosystems





A team of ecologists observed feeding patterns of several populations in the desert. The

energy pyramid shown below depicts the feeding patterns the ecologists observed.

Which of the following best explains the difference in the amount of available energy in

the trophic levels of the desert ecosystem?

A. There is less energy available in the producers because their tissues are less

dense than those at higher trophic levels.

B. There is more energy available in the second

trophic level because less energy is needed for

hunting compared to the higher trophic levels.

C. There is more available energy in the birds of

prey because they have greater muscle mass

for storing energy than organisms in lower

trophic levels have.

D. There is less available energy in the fourth trophic level because of the loss of

energy through metabolism in each of the lower trophic levels.


What is the function of autotrophs in the carbon cycle?

A. to use oxygen to produce glucose

B. to take in excess water

C. to use carbon dioxide to produce

glucose

D. to feed on herbivores






Very rarely do ecosystems contain more than four trophic levels, because there is not

enough energy to support more. In which trophic level is there the least energy

available?

A. producer

B. primary consumer

C. tertiary consumer

D. secondary consumer


Kerry drew the following food chain in her science notebook.

plants → grasshoppers → rats → owls

How would the grasshoppers be classified in this food chain?

A. producer

B. primary consumer

C. tertiary consumer

D. secondary consumer

NGSSS: SC.912.L.17.20 Human Impact on the Environment





Human expansion often has a negative impact on the environment. However, these

effects can be minimized to achieve sustainability. Which of the following best describes

an action that will help meet this goal?

A. Allowing new construction only in areas that are not near fresh water supplies

B. Fining companies that use nonrenewable resources to operate

C. Monitoring environmental systems to learn how human activities affect them

D. Growing large quantities of the same crop in a given field each year.


The choices that humans make every day affect the environment. Sometimes, our

lifestyles can harm the environment rather than protect it. Which of the following would

be most helpful in protecting the environment and achieving sustainability?

A. Buying paper products made from harvested trees

B. Buying fewer mass produced products

C. Using natural gas as a fuel source instead of petroleum

D. Using solar power to generate electricity






The activities that take place to meet human needs can often be harmful to ecosystems.

By developing sustainable practices, however, we can help protect our environment.

Which of the following changes would be most helpful in reaching sustainability?

A. Building more water treatment facilities

B. Planting trees to replace those that are cut down by logging

C. Tilling soil to improve soil fertility and increase crop production

D. Using natural gas for fuel instead of burning petroleum


Before implementing any one solution to an environmental problem, scientists first

analyze collected data to predict the consequences of the different possible solutions.

Why is it important to perform such a risk analysis before taking action?

A. It can prevent the environmental problem from ever occurring in any other

unrelated area.

B. It can convince the public that there is no need to waste money on follow-up

investigations.

C. It can help officials avoid or prepare for any negative effects associated with a

plan of action.

D. It can solve the environmental problem without the need of public education or

political action






Carbon dioxide is released when people burn fuel. It is also used by plants during

photosynthesis. Why is carbon dioxide then considered an air pollutant?

A. Too much carbon dioxide can lead to illness in humans.

B. Carbon dioxide can cause undesirable changes in climate.

C. Carbon dioxide is responsible for changes in the ozone layer.

D. Carbon dioxide can mix with other gases to cause air pollution.


The construction of a new coal-burning power plant would have the greatest impact on

which environmental issue?

A. depletion of the ozone

B. production of acid rain

C. release of radiation

D. increase in deforestation






If worldwide deforestation is not regulated, what could most likely result?

A. Acid rain could lower the pH of rivers and lakes to dangerous levels for aquatic

life.

B. CO2 levels in the atmosphere could increase and contribute to global warming

problems.

C. Plants and animals could become better adapted to living in desert conditions.

D. Future generations of humans could have an excess of wood and paper products.


The tropical rain forests have been called the lungs of the planet. They take huge

quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and give off

large quantities of oxygen. Vast tracts of tropical rain forests are being cleared for farms

by people cutting down and burning the trees. Which of the following is the best

hypothesis about the effect that rain forest destruction may have on atmospheric carbon

dioxide levels?

A. Rain forest destruction will not influence overall carbon dioxide levels, because it

will affect only areas around the equator.

B. Any carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere because of rain forest destruction

will fall into the oceans and be used in building coral reefs.

C. Cutting down rain forest trees will decrease atmospheric carbon dioxide levels,

because plants give off carbon dioxide as a result of cellular respiration.

D. Cutting down trees, which take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and burning

the trees, which adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, will increase atmospheric

carbon dioxide levels.






Sustainable agriculture is farming that remains productive and profitable while still

conserving natural resources. Which of the following is an example of a sustainable

agriculture practice?

A. preventing cattle from ever grazing on pastures

B. removing all manure from pastures where cattle graze

C. allowing cattle to graze over an entire pasture year round

D. rotating parts of a pasture on which cattle get to graze throughout the year


The world’s population exceeded 6 billion in October 1999, and the annual increase is

now about 94 million people. About 260,000 people are added to the world population

each day, or about 180 every minute. Which of the following is not a result of the

increasing human population?

A. fewer old-growth forests

B. more stress on natural resources such as water

C. increased carrying capacity of many ecosystems

D. less undeveloped land available for animal habitats

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