15 questions
A new golf course is built next to a river. Over the past several months, the nitrate levels of the water in the river have been increasing. Which best explains the cause of the increasing nitrate levels?
increased growth of algae
decreased biodiversity
runoff from fertilizer
What does pH measure?
acidity/alkalinity
dissolved oxygen
nutrient level
turbidity
Which is the most likely result of an increase in the level of nitrates in a body of water?
increase in turbidity
increase in plant growth
increase in fish population
increase in water temperature
Which would most likely happen if too many nutrients entered an estuary?
Nutrients would be used up by the fish and plants, keeping the estuary in balance.
Algal blooms would lower dissolved oxygen levels, causing fish to suffocate.
Algal blooms would decrease, leaving few food resources for fish.
Nutrients would sink to the bottom, increasing soil deposition.
How are indicator species like a warning system for bodies of water?
They indicate when food sources are declining.
Their illness or death indicates pollution in an aquatic ecosystem.
They indicate when predators are reducing the numbers of a species.
Their illness or death indicates the body of water is becoming more populated.
Why does fertilizer pollution stimulate the growth of algae in a pond?
Algae are producers and use the fertilizer’s nutrients to rapidly multiply.
Algae are producers and use the fertilizer’s nutrients during decomposition.
Algae are parasites and absorb energy from the fertilizers in order to grow.
Algae are herbivores that feed off of the plants, which grow due to the excess fertilizers.
Why should farmers be concerned about unused nitrates contaminating surface water and groundwater supplies?
Unused nitrates reduce algae growth.
Unused nitrates increase oxygen in the water.
Excessive amounts of nutrients cause overpopulation of fish.
Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up the eutrophication process.
If a body of water has high turbidity levels, what can most likely be concluded?
It has a low pH.
It is unsafe to drink.
It is too hot to drink
It contains a lot of chemicals.
Which water quality indicator can be determined by measuring how light travels through water?
turbidity
temperature
nutrient level
dissolved oxygen
Which is the most likely effect of too much nitrogen and phosphorus flowing into a lake?
algal blooms
greater salinity
decreased turbidity
lower temperature
Which process would most likely increase the dissolved oxygen level in a freshwater lake?
algae bloom
lake turnover
photosynthesis
respiration
Which is an accurate prediction of the pH of a lake that receives large amounts of acid rain?
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
Which would be the most likely cause of large numbers of fish dying in a stream?
a lack of nitrogen
high levels of mercury
decreased carbon dioxide
low dissolved oxygen concentration
Why does a cloudy river produce less plant life than a clear river?
A cloudy river flows freely, while a clear river does not.
A cloudy river has few dissolved nutrients, while a clear river has many.
A cloudy river absorbs little heat, while a clear river absorbs much heat.
A cloudy river blocks sunlight from reaching plants, while a clear river allows sunlight to be absorbed by plants.
Which will most likely happen to a biological indicator species if there is a sudden increase in pollution?
There will be a significant increase in the population numbers and the quality of the individuals.
There will be a significant decrease in the population numbers and the quality of the individuals.
The biological indicator species will reproduce at lower rates, which will maintain population numbers.
The biological indicator species will reproduce at higher rates, which will maintain population numbers