4.12 B: Using Models to Analyze and Predict Population Interactions Quiz
1.
The graph below shows the relationship between temperature and precipitation for six major
ecosystems in North America.
Some scientists predict that global climate change could cause temperatures in North America to
rise by as much as 5oC in the next 100 years. Based on the information in the graph, which
statement describes how areas that are currently occupied by northern coniferous forests will
most likely be affected by the climate change predicted by these scientists?
(A) Much of the area occupied by northern coniferous forests will be transformed into
temperate broadleaf forests and the biodiversity of coniferous forest species will decrease.
(B) Much of the area occupied by northern coniferous forests will be transformed into deserts
and the biodiversity will decrease because of the harsh desert conditions.
(C) Much of the area occupied by northern coniferous forests will be transformed into tropical
forests and the biodiversity will increase because tropical forests have the highest levels of
biodiversity.
(D) Much of the area occupied by northern coniferous forests will be transformed into
temperate grasslands and the biodiversity of coniferous forest species will remain
unchanged.
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4.12 B: Using Models to Analyze and Predict Population Interactions Quiz
2.
Opossum shrimp were introduced into the Flathead Lake watershed in the early 1980s. It was
hoped that the introduction of the shrimp would lead to an increase in the salmon population,
and because bald eagles feed on salmon, an increase in the bald eagle population as well. The
graph below shows the populations of kokanee salmon, bald eagles, lake trout, and opossum
shrimp in the Flathead Lake watershed over a 26-year period.
Based on the information in the graph, which conclusion best explains the effect of the shrimp
on the Flathead Lake watershed?
(A) The opossum shrimp and lake trout populations increased because the kokanee salmon
and bald eagle populations decreased, which caused more resources to become available
for the opossum shrimp and the lake trout.
(B) The opossum shrimp population increased because the opossum shrimp is an invasive
species with no predators and was able to outcompete other aquatic invertebrates for
resources, which decreased resources for all other predatory species.
(C) The bald eagle population decreased because the opossum shrimp are a major food
source for lake trout, and the lake trout were able to outcompete the kokanee salmon for
resources.
(D) The lake trout and kokanee salmon populations decreased because the opossum shrimp
were able to directly outcompete the lake trout and kokanee salmon for resources.
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4.12 B: Using Models to Analyze and Predict Population Interactions Quiz
3.
The diagrams below show the age-structure pyramids for two different countries.
Which statement describes what is most likely causing each country to have the age structures
shown in the diagrams?
(A) Country 1 is experiencing rapid population growth because the majority of the population is
under 20, and country 2 is experiencing negative population growth because the majority
of the population is past the reproductive prime.
(B) Country 1 will experience rapid population growth in about 20 years because the majority
of the population will begin reproducing, and country 2 will most likely experience negative
population growth in about 20 years because a significant percentage of the population will
be very old.
(C) Country 1 is experiencing rapid population growth because it has a high birth rate
compared to its death rate, and country 2 has a stable population because the birth rate
and death rate are nearly equal to one another.
(D) Country 1 is decreasing in size because many individuals in the older age ranges have
died, and country 2 has a growing population because it has more people in each age
class who are surviving.
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4.12 B: Using Models to Analyze and Predict Population Interactions Quiz
4.
Species richness is defined as the number of different species in an area. A scientist determines
the species richness and the relative abundance of trees in woodlot X and woodlot Y. The table
below shows the percent of each species of tree found in the two woodlots.
Which statement best predicts how the species richness, species diversity, and relative
abundance will be affected if all the red maples are destroyed by parasites?
(A) Woodlot X will have a greater species richness than woodlot Y, but woodlot Y will have a
greater relative abundance; however, further analysis will be needed to determine which
woodlot has the greatest species diversity.
(B) Both woodlots will have the same relative abundance, but woodlot Y will have a greater
species richness and therefore a greater species diversity than woodlot X.
(C) Both woodlots will have the same species richness, but woodlot X will have a greater
relative abundance and therefore a greater species diversity than woodlot Y.
(D) Woodlot Y will have a greater species richness than woodlot X, but woodlot X will have a
greater relative abundance; however, further analysis will be needed to determine which
woodlot has the greatest species diversity.
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