As a part of GCSE Science, students will look at interdependence and adaptation. This is the last of three quizzes on the subject and it looks in particular at the effect environmental change has on the organisms that live in a particular habitat. This covers the effect of human activities, such as farming and pollution, but also natural changes and simple changes which can be observed, such as changing the habitat of woodlice.
Changes in the environment affect the distribution of living organisms in a habitat. Such changes may be caused by living or non-living factors such as the arrival of a new competitor, or changes in the average temperature or rainfall. These changes have an effect on the organisms found in that habitat. Populations of the organisms that are better adapted to the environmental change will increase whilst poorly adapted ones will decrease. Organisms that are highly specialised can disappear entirely as a result of environmental changes.
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It is for that reason that certain species can be used as 'indicator species' for pollution in air or water. Some forms of pollution, especially in water, are obvious, however, others, such as dissolved salts or low oxygen levels, are not so easy to see. To monitor those all the time would be costly and involve lots of time consuming analytical tests. Indicator species provide an easy to see and quick method of qualitatively checking air and water pollution.
Algae and lichens are sensitive to any air pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide. Observing these can tell environmental scientists whether or not the air is polluted. In water, the larvae of certain species are very sensitive to pollution. If they disappear from a stream or river, environmental scientists need to find out why and where the pollution is coming from. The opposite is true too, if they are found in places where they were not originally seen, then the water has become cleaner.
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1.
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Which one of the following is an advantage of using a data logger and temperature probe instead of an ordinary thermometer? |
|
[ ] |
It is more accurate |
[ ] |
Readings can be taken automatically |
[ ] |
It is cheaper and easier to use than a thermometer |
[ ] |
It runs off electricity |
|
|
2.
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The larva of the mayfly can only survive in very clean water. Because of this, how can we use the mayfly? |
|
[ ] |
It can be used as food for fish farms |
[ ] |
It can be used directly to measure the exact amounts of pollutants |
[ ] |
It can be used as an indicator species for pollution |
[ ] |
It can be used as a model fly in fly fishing |
|
|
3.
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Where would you be most likely to find bushy lichens? |
|
[ ] |
On trees close to a factory producing sulfuric acid |
[ ] |
On trees by a busy main road in a town centre |
[ ] |
On trees planted alongside a motorway |
[ ] |
On trees in the countryside |
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4.
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How has the number of farmland birds in Europe been affected as farming has become more intensive? |
|
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds has increased |
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds has not changed |
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds has decreased |
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds is not affected by farming |
|
|
5.
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Humans have been cutting down trees for thousands of years. Which of the following is not an environmental change caused by deforestation? |
|
[ ] |
Acid rain |
[ ] |
Less food and shelter for wildlife |
[ ] |
Changes in rainfall patterns |
[ ] |
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere |
|
|
6.
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The dodo is an extinct flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. Which of the following could explain why it became extinct when humans settled on the island? |
|
[ ] |
People caught and ate lots of dodos |
[ ] |
People brought dogs with them and the dogs ate the dodo's eggs |
[ ] |
People needed space to build homes and create farms which reduced the space available for dodos |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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7.
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Which of the following is an abiotic change in the environment? |
|
[ ] |
Arrival of a new predator |
[ ] |
pH |
[ ] |
Humans cutting down trees |
[ ] |
Arrival of an invasive plant species |
|
|
8.
|
What is the most common source of air pollution? |
|
[ ] |
Volcanoes |
[ ] |
Burning fossil fuels |
[ ] |
Cutting down trees |
[ ] |
Herds of cows |
|
|
9.
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Some pupils investigated the streams near their school. In one of the streams, the water looked very clear and the only creatures they found were rat tailed maggots and sludgeworms. What does that tell them? |
|
[ ] |
The water is very polluted |
[ ] |
The water is moderately polluted |
[ ] |
The water is slightly polluted |
[ ] |
The water is completely unpolluted |
|
|
10.
|
Woodlice are nocturnal crustaceans who absorb water through their skin. They live in dark, damp places including under rocks. If you remove a rock under which woodlice are living what will happen to the woodlice? |
|
[ ] |
They will find somewhere else to live |
[ ] |
They will curl up into a little ball |
[ ] |
They will do nothing |
[ ] |
They will die |
|
|
1.
|
Which one of the following is an advantage of using a data logger and temperature probe instead of an ordinary thermometer? |
|
[ ] |
It is more accurate |
[x] |
Readings can be taken automatically |
[ ] |
It is cheaper and easier to use than a thermometer |
[ ] |
It runs off electricity |
|
|
2.
|
The larva of the mayfly can only survive in very clean water. Because of this, how can we use the mayfly? |
|
[ ] |
It can be used as food for fish farms |
[ ] |
It can be used directly to measure the exact amounts of pollutants |
[x] |
It can be used as an indicator species for pollution |
[ ] |
It can be used as a model fly in fly fishing |
|
|
3.
|
Where would you be most likely to find bushy lichens? |
|
[ ] |
On trees close to a factory producing sulfuric acid |
[ ] |
On trees by a busy main road in a town centre |
[ ] |
On trees planted alongside a motorway |
[x] |
On trees in the countryside |
|
|
4.
|
How has the number of farmland birds in Europe been affected as farming has become more intensive? |
|
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds has increased |
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds has not changed |
[x] |
The number of farmland birds has decreased |
[ ] |
The number of farmland birds is not affected by farming |
|
|
5.
|
Humans have been cutting down trees for thousands of years. Which of the following is not an environmental change caused by deforestation? |
|
[x] |
Acid rain |
[ ] |
Less food and shelter for wildlife |
[ ] |
Changes in rainfall patterns |
[ ] |
More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere |
|
|
6.
|
The dodo is an extinct flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. Which of the following could explain why it became extinct when humans settled on the island? |
|
[ ] |
People caught and ate lots of dodos |
[ ] |
People brought dogs with them and the dogs ate the dodo's eggs |
[ ] |
People needed space to build homes and create farms which reduced the space available for dodos |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following is an abiotic change in the environment? |
|
[ ] |
Arrival of a new predator |
[x] |
pH |
[ ] |
Humans cutting down trees |
[ ] |
Arrival of an invasive plant species |
|
|
8.
|
What is the most common source of air pollution? |
|
[ ] |
Volcanoes |
[x] |
Burning fossil fuels |
[ ] |
Cutting down trees |
[ ] |
Herds of cows |
|
|
9.
|
Some pupils investigated the streams near their school. In one of the streams, the water looked very clear and the only creatures they found were rat tailed maggots and sludgeworms. What does that tell them? |
|
[x] |
The water is very polluted |
[ ] |
The water is moderately polluted |
[ ] |
The water is slightly polluted |
[ ] |
The water is completely unpolluted |
|
|
10.
|
Woodlice are nocturnal crustaceans who absorb water through their skin. They live in dark, damp places including under rocks. If you remove a rock under which woodlice are living what will happen to the woodlice? |
|
[x] |
They will find somewhere else to live |
[ ] |
They will curl up into a little ball |
[ ] |
They will do nothing |
[ ] |
They will die |
|
|