ENV 101 Environmental Unit 2 Milestone Science Sophia Course

ENV 101 Environmental Unit 2 Milestone Science Sophia Course

A new housing development was built at the end of a newly constructed highway. Forests with a population of black bear surrounded both sides of the new development.

Select the most likely outcome of this habitat fragmentation on the local bear population.



The bears may be captured and relocated to ensure their survival.



The bear population may move deeper into the forest.



Bears may be restricted from food access and breeding opportunities. 



The bears may break into two separate populations.

CONCEPT

Habitat Fragmentation

2

Which of the following is NOT involved with carbon recycling?



The sun



Plants



Climate



The atmosphere

CONCEPT

Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle

3

Environmental scientists cite several challenges to protecting endangered species. All of the following are difficulties faced by those working to protect an endangered species EXCEPT:



Extinction is natural in nature and its rate of occurrence has remained steady.



Protection efforts may be slowed because of difficulty enforcing new regulations.



Fundraising can be more difficult if the species is not perceived as valuable.



Scientists who are focused on a single species may not recognize another species in peril.

CONCEPT

Endangered Species

4

Efforts to stop or counteract deforestation include all but __________.

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

Planting new trees



Establishing green zones and natural preserves



Introducing new plant and animal species 



Regulating logging practices

CONCEPT

Forests and Deforestation

5

Moss and lichen begin to grow on land revealed by glacial retreat. Over a period of years these plants are replaced by shrubs and then by taller shrubs.

The ecological process that is occurring is called __________.



Species interaction



Ecosystem management



Primary succession    



Secondary succession

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

6

It was raining as we began our long hike. We took a trail to the east and left the ocean behind us. Soon we were in a large grove of eucalyptus trees. Coming out of the forest, the trail became rocky and the incline became steep.  The rain had stopped, but now I was chilly.

“I wish the climate would make up its mind,” I grumbled.

My mother, a biologist and nature lover, gently corrected me. “Weather is what’s happening at the moment, dear. Climate is weather a certain area has over years.”

Which of the following best describes why the temperature has dropped?



Rain along the coastline is following them.



The hikers are walking into a valley.



The hikers are climbing to a higher elevation.   



A large lake is nearby.

CONCEPT

Earth's Features

7

Which of the following is a strategy associated with conservation biology?



Introducing more females into a threatened population.



Restricting hunting in an area so a population can return to its natural state.



Examining biotic and abiotic factors in a specific environment.



Establishing nature preserves with no human interactions.

CONCEPT

Conservation Biology & Restoration Ecology

8

Population ecologists study which of the following characteristics?



Composition, distribution, and interaction of species in a given area.



Atmosphere, rocks, water, and living organisms.



Temperature regulation, nutrition, and metabolism of organisms.



Number, density, age, and sex of organisms.

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems Ecology

9

Choose the true statement about the possible impact of an invasive species.



Natural predators contain its growth.



Most native species adapt to coexist with invasive species.



Biodiversity is improved.   



The health of an ecosystem is reduced. 

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

10

Select the statement that refers to an exponential population growth model.



This model of population growth is more realistic.



The slope of the graph in this model is determined by natural resource availability.



This model considers an environment’s biotic and abiotic conditions.



The slope of the graph in this model is determined by changes in birth and death rates.

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

11

Choose the example of a decomposer in the food chain.



A rabbit eats lettuce growing in a garden.



A wildcat consumes the rabbit.



A head of lettuce grows in a garden.



An earthworm consumes a wilted lettuce leaf in a trash pile.

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

Ecosystems Ecology

12

Select the example that describes a native species.



Citrus trees in Florida originated in sub-tropical Southeast Asia.



Scotch broom quickly dominated the landscape after it escaped from a garden.



Lemurs evolved with natural predators on the island of Madagascar.



English ivy was imported to North America to help provide ground cover.

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

13

Which of the following is NOT an example of overexploitation?



Demands for fur contributed to the near extinction of beaver and other fur-bearing species.



Box turtles are exported illegally as pets, and tens of thousands of them die each year.



Farmers are using new irrigation techniques to sustain groundwater levels and wetlands.



Although it grows slowly and produces few seeds, ginseng is harvested before it has a chance to reproduce.

CONCEPT

Overexploitation

14

Which statement is NOT true about energy and trophic levels within a food web?



The rate at which energy accumulates in plants depends on temperature, sun, and water. 



Most of the energy between trophic levels is lost in the form of metabolic heat. 



Secondary production introduces only 1% of new energy to the food chain. 



About 90% of energy available at one trophic level does not transfer to the next. 

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

15

Which list correctly orders the examples of organism, population, community, and ecosystem?



Prairie dog—family of prairie dogs—animals on the prairie—prairie 



Den of desert foxes—kangaroo rats—cacti and sand—desert



Rabbit—nest of rabbits—wolf pack—arctic tundra  



Seahorse—sponges—group of turtles—coral reef

CONCEPT

Ecology

16

Select the statement that is indicative of valuing species for their intrinsic value.



These wetlands must be protected because they provide flood control.



Wilderness areas are places that provide opportunities for reflection and enjoyment.



Factory farming should be abolished because it condemns chickens to short, miserable lives.



Cotton is an important crop because it can be made into fibers for clothing.

CONCEPT

The Role of Individual Species

17

Which statement is NOT true about emergent properties at different levels of ecology?



At the ecosystem level, an emergent property is interactions of living organisms with abiotic factors.



At the community level, an emergent property is how species interact with each other.



At the organism level, an emergent property is the sex ratio of males to females. 



At the biosphere level, an emergent property is global phenomena such as weather patterns.

CONCEPT

Ecology

18

Which statement about the nitrogen fixation process is FALSE?



Bacteria take nitrogen from the atmosphere.



When animals die, nitrogen is reabsorbed into the atmosphere. 



Animals take in nitrogen by eating plants such as clover, alfalfa, and soybeans.



Atmospheric nitrogen is not usable for life forms.

CONCEPT

Water and Nitrogen Cycles

19

 

Based on the graph, during which decade did the US population reach carrying capacity?



1980s



1970s



1990s



1960s

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

20

Which statement accurately describes the Savanna?



This biome features a level of permafrost and a short growing season during the winter.



This biome features high levels of biodiversity and is located near the equator.



This biome features tropical grasslands and is located near the equator.



This biome features forests and grasslands that go dormant during the winter.

CONCEPT

Biomes

21

Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?



Minerals



Rubber



Ethanol



Sugar

CONCEPT

Natural Resources

22

Which of the following is an example of competition?



An owl captures and eats a field mouse.



Cacti with deeper root systems consume more water than other nearby plants.



Bacteria in a human’s intestine eat food that humans cannot digest.



Leeches attach themselves to a swimmer’s legs.

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

23

Choose the statement that is NOT true about conditions within the given biome.

Biodiversity is very high in the tundra.

Deserts have little to no topsoil and the soil lacks nutrients.

Freshwater biomes include lakes, rivers, and streams.

Many hibernating animals lives in the taiga.

CONCEPT

Biomes

24

Select the food chain that is in the correct order, starting at the first trophic level.



Goats – Tigers – Maggots – Grass 



Grass – Goats – Tigers – Maggots



Maggots – Grass – Goats – Tigers



Grass – Maggots – Goats – Tigers

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

25

All of the following events contribute to carbon recycling except __________.



Animals releasing carbon dioxide.



Plants consuming carbon monoxide from the air.



Coal mining and burning.



Decomposers breaking down dead organisms.   

 

 

Ginu

You passed this Milestone

23 questions were answered correctly.

2 questions were answered incorrectly.

1

Which list correctly orders the examples of organism, population, community, and ecosystem?



Elephant herd – grasslands – lions in the grasslands – river and trees



Tadpole – pond – frog – fish and insects in the pond



Deer – herd of deer - deer and trees in forest – rocks and ponds around the forest



Tundra – moss – reindeer that eat moss – rocks and ice

CONCEPT

Ecology

2

Which statement accurately describes the Savanna?



This biome features forests and grasslands that go dormant during the winter.



This biome features tropical grasslands and is located near the equator.



This biome features a level of permafrost and a short growing season during the winter.



This biome features high levels of biodiversity and is located near the equator.

CONCEPT

Biomes

3

Emergent properties at the ecosystem level include all of the following except __________.



Number of communities



Connections between communities   



Influence on global occurrences 



Interactions between biotic and abiotic factors

CONCEPT

Ecology

4

Which of the following is NOT involved with carbon recycling?



Plants



The atmosphere



Climate



The sun

CONCEPT

Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle

5

Environmental scientists cite several challenges to protecting endangered species. All of the following are difficulties faced by those working to protect an endangered species EXCEPT:



Identifying danger for a species may come too late to reverse the danger.



There is no legislation in the United States to protect species identified as endangered.



It is difficult to enforce protection policies in some environments.



People aren’t that interested in protecting animals they do not consider valuable.

CONCEPT

Endangered Species

6

Choose the statement that correctly describes how carbon is cycled.



Plants consume carbon and release oxygen, and animals consume oxygen and release carbon.    



Animals consume carbon and release oxygen, and plants consume oxygen and produce carbon.



Through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is changed into food, with oxygen as a waste product.



By converting it into sugars, plants relay carbon to animals, and animals convert it to oxygen.

CONCEPT

Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle

7

Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?



Wind



Wood



Petroleum



Biomass

CONCEPT

Natural Resources

8

A new housing development was built at the end of a newly constructed highway. Forests with a population of black bear surrounded both sides of the new development.

Select the most likely outcome of this habitat fragmentation on the local bear population.



The bears may break into two separate populations.



Bears may be restricted from food access and breeding opportunities. 



The bear population may move deeper into the forest.



The bears may be captured and relocated to ensure their survival.

CONCEPT

Habitat Fragmentation

9

Which statement is characteristic of an invasive species?    



A species that has been domesticated.



A species that has natural predators and competitors.



A species that can reproduce rapidly.



A species that remains in its original environment.

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

10

Moss and lichen begin to grow on land revealed by glacial retreat. Over a period of years these plants are replaced by shrubs and then by taller shrubs.

The ecological process that is occurring is called __________.



Species interaction



Ecosystem management



Secondary succession



Primary succession    

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

11

Select the statement that is indicative of valuing a species for its intrinsic value.



Corn is an essential crop because it helps feed a significant portion of the world’s population.



It’s wrong that a factory-farmed chicken spends its entire life in an 8 1/2 x 11-inch space.



Service dogs visit an elder-care facility each week to sit with and comfort the residents.



A demand for ivory to make carvings, jewelry, and piano keys threatens an elephant population.

CONCEPT

The Role of Individual Species

12

Which of the following is a strategy associated with conservation biology?



Monitoring and evaluating groundwater quality in a formerly contaminated site.



Designating a nature reserve to protect an endangered wildcat species.



Exploring the interdependence of species within ecosystems on a global scale.



Re-establishing a native species of pine tree on an area used previously by loggers.

CONCEPT

Conservation Biology & Restoration Ecology

13

Which statement about the nitrogen fixation process is FALSE?



Bacteria take nitrogen from the atmosphere.



Atmospheric nitrogen is not usable for life forms.



When animals die, nitrogen is reabsorbed into the atmosphere. 



Animals take in nitrogen by eating plants such as clover, alfalfa, and soybeans.

CONCEPT

Water and Nitrogen Cycles

14

Efforts to stop or counteract deforestation include all but __________.



Establishing green zones and natural preserves



Regulating logging practices



Planting new trees



Introducing new plant and animal species 

CONCEPT

Forests and Deforestation

15

Which of the following is an example of competition?



Cacti with deeper root systems consume more water than other nearby plants.



Bacteria in a human’s intestine eat food that humans cannot digest.



Leeches attach themselves to a swimmer’s legs.



An owl captures and eats a field mouse.

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

16

Select the example that describes a native species.



Scotch broom quickly dominated the landscape after it escaped from a garden.



Citrus trees in Florida originated in sub-tropical Southeast Asia.



Lemurs evolved with natural predators on the island of Madagascar.



English ivy was imported to North America to help provide ground cover.

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

17

Select the food chain that is in the correct order, starting at the first trophic level.



Toadstool – Mouse – Grasshopper – Flower



Flower – Grasshopper – Mouse – Toadstool



Toadstool – Flower – Grasshopper – Mouse



Flower – Toadstool – Grasshopper – Mouse 

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

18

“I know the difference between weather and climate,” Josh said softly, “but I’m forgetting the ways physical locations affect climate.”

Aliesha studied her notes. “You mean like it getting colder as you climb a mountain?”

“Yes!” Josh shouted. Aliesha winced and the librarian immediately shushed them with a stern finger to his lips.

“I didn’t mean to get excited,” Josh whispered. “I’m just nervous about this test.”

“Say you’re in a boat headed toward the equator,” Aliesha prodded, “what climate would you expect to find there?”

To correctly answer the question, Josh would say __________.



"Days would be hot and nights would be cool."



"The temperature would be warmer near the equator."    



"Increased cloud cover would cause high humidity and rain."



"There would be little rain near the coastline."

CONCEPT

Earth's Features

19

Choose the statement that is NOT true about conditions within the given biome.

Biodiversity is very high in the tundra.

Deserts have little to no topsoil and the soil lacks nutrients.

Many hibernating animals lives in the taiga.

Freshwater biomes include lakes, rivers, and streams.

CONCEPT

Biomes

20

Choose the statement that is NOT true about energy and trophic levels.



Sunlight provides the energy for primary productivity.



Ten is considered the maximum number of trophic levels in an ecosystem. 



Photosynthesis converts sunlight into sugars.



Secondary production introduces no additional energy into the food chain.

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

21

Population ecologists study which of the following characteristics?



Composition, distribution, and interaction of species in a given area.



Number, density, age, and sex of organisms.



Atmosphere, rocks, water, and living organisms.



Temperature regulation, nutrition, and metabolism of organisms.

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems Ecology

22

Which of the following is NOT an example of overexploitation?



The passenger pigeon population in America was in the billions before they became extinct.



Twenty-five million bison once roamed the American landscape; by 1880, only 1,091 remained.



Each time salmon are harvested from a fish farm, new salmon are brought in to replace them.



Ginseng is slow growing, produces few seeds, and is highly sought for its medicinal properties.

CONCEPT

Overexploitation

23

Select the statement that refers to an exponential population growth model.



This model of population growth is more realistic.



The slope of the graph in this model is determined by natural resource availability.



This model considers an environment’s biotic and abiotic conditions.



The slope of the graph in this model is determined by changes in birth and death rates.

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

24

Choose the example of a producer in the food chain.



A gull that eats a grasshopper.



A grasshopper that eats grass.



Fungi that develop on a fallen log.



Tomatoes that grow in a garden.

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

Ecosystems Ecology

25

According to the graph, on what date was carrying capacity for the rabbit population reached?

 



October 1



April 1



June 1



August 1

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

Sobiakhizr

You passed this Milestone

14 questions were answered correctly.

11 questions were answered incorrectly.

1

An oil company is laying new pipeline through a forest and has separated a population of wild turkeys from its food range.

Choose the least likely outcome of this habit fragmentation.



The turkeys may create an artificial corridor to move to a new environment. 



The turkeys may be isolated from other groups.   



The turkeys may change their diet to adapt to the new environment.



The turkeys may establish themselves in the edge habitat.

CONCEPT

Habitat Fragmentation

2

Which of the following is a strategy associated with conservation biology?



Establishing nature preserves with no human interactions.



Introducing more females into a threatened population.



Examining biotic and abiotic factors in a specific environment.



Restricting hunting in an area so a population can return to its natural state.

CONCEPT

Conservation Biology & Restoration Ecology

3

Select the food chain that is in the correct order, starting at the first trophic level.



Acorn – Squirrel – Hawk – Earthworm



Earthworm – Acorn – Squirrel – Hawk



Acorn – Earthworm – Squirrel – Hawk



Earthworm – Hawk – Squirrel – Acorn

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

4

Several factors contribute to the challenges of protecting endangered species. All of the following are difficulties that environmental scientists face EXCEPT:



There may be a lack of interest from research organizations for species that are not "cute" enough.



Scientists often study a single species rather than an entire ecosystem, so they may miss threats.



Scientists often raise the alarm too early, which undermines credibility.



Some protection efforts are slowed by lack of funding.

CONCEPT

Endangered Species

5

Which statement is NOT true about energy and trophic levels within a food web?



Secondary production introduces only 1% of new energy to the food chain. 



About 90% of energy available at one trophic level does not transfer to the next. 



The rate at which energy accumulates in plants depends on temperature, sun, and water. 



Most of the energy between trophic levels is lost in the form of metabolic heat. 

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

6

Which statement about the nitrogen fixation process is FALSE?



When animals die, nitrogen is reabsorbed into the atmosphere. 



Atmospheric nitrogen is not usable for life forms.



Bacteria take nitrogen from the atmosphere.



Animals take in nitrogen by eating plants such as clover, alfalfa, and soybeans.

CONCEPT

Water and Nitrogen Cycles

7

Which of the following is NOT an example of overexploitation?



Slow-growing medicinal plants are harvested before they have a chance to reproduce.



Little more than one thousand bison existed in North America by the 1880s.



Ninety species of Asian turtles are collected in Singapore and Cambodia for Chinese restaurants.



Fur processing in Canada is carefully regulated to protect both the animals and the environment.

CONCEPT

Overexploitation

8

Select the example that describes a non-native species.



Domestic livestock multiplied rapidly throughout eastern North America after their introduction by English colonists.



A species of parrot has evolved to occupy a key niche within the Amazon rainforest ecosystem.



This particular species of orchid has remained within the same environment for hundreds of years.



Populations of deer and wolves in Arizona have evolved in relationship with each other.

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

9

Which list correctly orders the examples of organism, population, community, and ecosystem?



Parrot—flock of parrots—animals in the rainforest—rainforest 



Honey bee—hive of bees—meadow of flowers—river



Fungi—trees—forest—a stream running through the forest



Algae—insects—fish—pond 

CONCEPT

Ecology

10

Select the statement that is indicative of valuing species for their intrinsic value.



Factory farming should be abolished because it condemns chickens to short, miserable lives.



Cotton is an important crop because it can be made into fibers for clothing.



These wetlands must be protected because they provide flood control.



Wilderness areas are places that provide opportunities for reflection and enjoyment.

CONCEPT

The Role of Individual Species

11

Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?



Biomass



Wind



Wood



Petroleum

CONCEPT

Natural Resources

12

Choose the example of a decomposer in the food chain.



A wildcat consumes the rabbit.



A rabbit eats lettuce growing in a garden.



A head of lettuce grows in a garden.



An earthworm consumes a wilted lettuce leaf in a trash pile.

CONCEPT

Food Chains and Food Webs

Ecosystems Ecology

13

It was raining as we began our long hike. We took a trail to the east and left the ocean behind us. Soon we were in a large grove of eucalyptus trees. Coming out of the forest, the trail became rocky and the incline became steep.  The rain had stopped, but now I was chilly.

“I wish the climate would make up its mind,” I grumbled.

My mother, a biologist and nature lover, gently corrected me. “Weather is what’s happening at the moment, dear. Climate is weather a certain area has over years.”

Which of the following best describes why the temperature has dropped?



The hikers are walking into a valley.



Rain along the coastline is following them.



The hikers are climbing to a higher elevation.   



A large lake is nearby.

CONCEPT

Earth's Features

14

Which statement is NOT true about the focus of community ecology, population ecology, or ecosystem ecology?



Population ecologists measure populations and also study the factors that influence population growth.



The interactions between the atmosphere, rocks, soil, water, and living organisms are all considerations of ecosystems ecology.



In community ecology, competition between species when both seek the same resources is always negative for both species.



Ecosystems ecology studies the flow of energy and nutrients and the role of decomposers, but not the effects of weather and climate. 

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems Ecology

15

Which of the following is an example of symbiosis?



Rabbits and deer both consume grass.



A honeybee takes pollen from a flower.



Bats snatch mosquitoes out of the air.



A blue jay uses a nest built by another jay.

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

16

 

Based on the graph, during which decade did the US population reach carrying capacity?



1990s



1960s



1970s



1980s

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

17

Moss and lichen begin to grow on land revealed by glacial retreat. Over a period of years these plants are replaced by shrubs and then by taller shrubs.

The ecological process that is occurring is called __________.



Primary succession    



Species interaction



Secondary succession



Ecosystem management

CONCEPT

Community Ecology

18

All of the following are emergent properties at the population level of organization except __________.



Patterns of dispersion



Number of living things in an area



Interactions with abiotic factors 



Sex ratio   

CONCEPT

Ecology

19

Choose the statement that is NOT true about conditions within the given biome.

Grassland biomes do not have enough precipitation to support many trees.

Temperate forest biomes have four seasons.

Tropical rainforests are located near the equator and are hot and humid.

Taiga biomes exist only in the northern hemisphere.

CONCEPT

Biomes

20

Select the FALSE statement about photosynthesis and carbon cycling.



All carbon on Earth is contained in living organisms.



Carbon cycling occurs in both long-term and short-term cycles.



All energy comes from the sun and is captured through photosynthesis.



Carbon flows between the sun, plants, animals (including humans), and the atmosphere.

CONCEPT

Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle

21

Which statement is characteristic of an invasive species?    



A species that has been domesticated.



A species that has natural predators and competitors.



A species that remains in its original environment.



A species that can reproduce rapidly.

CONCEPT

Native and Non-Native Species

22

Choose the statement about carbon cycling that is NOT true.



Animals release carbon through respiration.



Animals eat plants and receive carbon as sugars.



Plants release carbon dioxide into the air.



Plants need carbon dioxide in order to make food.   

CONCEPT

Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle

23

Select the statement that refers to a logistic population growth model.



The growth curve in a graph for this model resembles a J-shape.



This model of population growth is not always realistic.



Considers carrying capacity and resources when examining population growth.



According to this model, growth cannot be sustained for long in any population.

CONCEPT

Population Ecology

24

All of the following are impacts of deforestation except _________.



Loss of forests affects rainfall, humidity, and temperature in nearby areas.



Deforestation of tropical rainforests has led to discoveries of new species. 



Deforested lands are often so degraded that they can sustain very little life.



Trees that are burned release carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.

CONCEPT

Forests and Deforestation

25

Which statement accurately describes the Savanna?



This biome features forests and grasslands that go dormant during the winter.hwacer.com



This biome features a level of permafrost and a short growing season during the winter.



This biome features high levels of biodiversity and is located near the equator.



This biome features tropical grasslands and is located near the equator.