Questions and Answers
If a disease killed all of the frogs in the food web, which population would be most directly affected in a negative way?
What will happen to the minnow population if a rapid increase in algae is followed by their death?
It will soon start to decline.
What is the most likely explanation for the change in wild mice population that occurred at 1.5 years?
A severe hurricane passed through the area.
Which of the following is a major factor leading to extinction?
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What might happen to a desert population limited by water availability during a long drought?
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Which of the following would be a likely characteristic of an ecosystem that has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds to thousands of years?
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What will most likely occur if the rodent species' habitat continues to be destroyed?
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Which of the following would likely increase the population size of an established plant species?
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How would a forest ecosystem look that has not experienced any natural disasters in the past 100 years?
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What will happen to the elm tree population if the elm bark beetle population grows due to a lack of natural predators?
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How do ecosystems respond to natural disasters such as fires and floods?
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Based on the information about influenza, which of the following is true?
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What would happen to the food pyramid if a fire swept through the ecosystem and killed all of the plant life?
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Loss of biodiversity ______.
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What might happen to a food web if climatic change caused most of its streams to dry up?
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Stable ecosystems can be altered through which of the following events?
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What is true regarding the loss of biodiversity due to deforestation and new medicines?
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What characteristic is generally associated with an ecosystem that recovers relatively quickly after a disturbance?
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How long can a healthy ecosystem remain stable?
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What criteria must be met for an ecosystem to be stable?
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The greater an ecosystem's ______, the more likely it is that some organisms could survive catastrophic environmental changes.
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What is a consequence of the loss of biodiversity?
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Study Notes
Biological Diversity and Ecosystem Stability
- Diseases can severely impact food webs; for example, the extinction of frogs would negatively affect owls directly.
- An increase in algae due to runoff can lead to a decline in minnows as bacterial blooms deplete oxygen in water bodies.
- Environmental disturbances, like hurricanes, can significantly alter wildlife populations, causing fluctuations seen in population graphs.
- Extinction is often driven by lack of genetic diversity within species, making them vulnerable to changes.
- Species in water-limited ecosystems can face extinction during prolonged droughts, emphasizing the importance of water availability.
- Ecosystems that remain stable for extended periods typically exhibit characteristics like old growth trees, stable climates, and developed soils.
- Habitat destruction from human activities can lead rodent populations in forest ecosystems toward extinction over time.
- Population size of established plant species in ecosystems can increase with more available nutrients, showcasing interdependence within ecosystems.
- Forest ecosystems with hundred-year stability experience a balance of plant and animal species.
- Dutch elm disease, caused by a fungal infection spread by beetles, threatens elm populations, leading to increased death rates among infected trees.
- Ecosystems typically recover from natural disasters in stages, gradually restoring their original structure and function.
- Ecosystem resilience can be enhanced by selecting species that contribute to stability in artificial simulations.
- Epidemic diseases like influenza can disrupt population balance, temporarily increasing mortality rates among vulnerable groups.
- Destruction of plant life from fires would jeopardize food pyramids, potentially causing collapse of the entire ecosystem.
- Biodiversity is crucial; its loss weakens ecosystems, impacting their health and resilience.
- Climatic changes leading to drought can result in starvation for apex predators like bears, showcasing food web fragility.
- Ecosystems can be altered by human actions, natural disasters, and climatic changes, impacting their stability and biodiversity.
- Deforestation threatens medicinal biodiversity; loss could hinder the development of new pharmaceuticals.
- Ecosystems with high biodiversity tend to recover more quickly after disturbances, highlighting the significance of species diversity.
- Healthy, stable ecosystems can exist for hundreds to thousands of years, provided they maintain resource availability predictably.
- Greater species diversity reinforces ecosystem resilience, increasing the likelihood that some organisms can survive environmental catastrophes.
- Loss of biodiversity can lead to the local extinction of key species, adversely affecting community richness and ecological balance.
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Description
This quiz explores the intricate relationships between biological diversity and ecosystem stability. It covers the impact of diseases, environmental disturbances, and human activities on various species and food webs, highlighting the importance of genetic diversity and water availability. Understand how these factors contribute to the overall health and stability of ecosystems.
