Answers5120VA Environmental Science Sem ACareers in Environmental Science

Topic Test Answers

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1
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Which of the following is most likely to be a limiting factor for growth on the floor of a tropical rainforest?

A
water
B
shelter
C
sunlight
D
prey
2
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Which of the following is not a part of Darwin’s theory of evolution?

A
Changes in organisms occur immediately.
B
Organisms change over time.
C
Species evolution occurs through natural selection.
D
Organisms developed from common ancestors.
3

What types of organisms will be affected by a decreased supply of water in an ecosystem?

A
Producers, consumers, and decomposers will be affected.
B
Producers and consumers will be affected.
C
Consumers and decomposers will be affected.
D
No organisms will be affected.
8

Organisms that have a physical trait that makes it easier for them to access food supplies are unlikely to pass on that trait to their offspring.

A
T
B
F
9

Which of the following represents change to an ecosystem brought about by abiotic factors?

A
the decrease in plant populations due to a decrease in the available water supply
B
the increase in a predator population due to the increase in prey population
C
the decrease in plant species due to herd grazing
D
the extinction of a plant species due to bacterial infection
12

What distinguishes rainforests from temperate forests?

Answer:

While temperate forests can get up to 60 inches of precipitation a year, rainforests receive 80 inches on average. Rainforests also enjoy a mostly constant temperature of about 75°F year-round, while temperate forests have four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter.

13

What can you conclude about the importance of marine ecosystems to global food webs and the biosphere?

Answer not available
14

How does competition for resources lead to adaptations?

Answer:

Organisms that are best suited for survival in their environment will be able to compete for limited resources better than organisms that are not well suited to their environment. The organisms that are able to get the resources they need are more likely to survive and pass their beneficial traits on to their offspring, which is what leads to species adaptation.

15

Compare the productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems against the percent of Earth’s surface area they occupy.

Answer:

Approximately 72% of Earth’s surface is covered by aquatic ecosystems, but they only account for supporting about 1/3 of the biosphere’s primary producers. This compares to terrestrial ecosystems which cover 28% of Earth’s surface yet account for the remaining 2/3 of the biosphere’s primary producers. Taken together this means terrestrial ecosystems are 5-6 times more productive than aquatic ecosystems per unit area.

16

What types of organisms will be affected by a decreased supply of water in an ecosystem?

A
Producers, consumers, and decomposers will be affected.
B
Producers and consumers will be affected.
C
Consumers and decomposers will be affected.
D
No organisms will be affected.
18

Which of the following is not a part of Darwin’s theory of evolution?

A
Changes in organisms occur immediately.
B
Organisms change over time.
C
Species evolution occurs through natural selection.
D
Organisms developed from common ancestors.
19

It is advantageous for a predator to prey exclusively on a single prey species.

A
T
B
F
20

What discovery led Darwin to develop his theories on adaptation?

A
The Galapagos islands contain a range of habitats.
B
The Galapagos islands originate from volcanoes.
C
The birds Darwin found in the Galapagos were different types of finches, not separate types of birds.
D
Many of the organisms in the Galapagos lived in hostile environments.

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