©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chapter 56 HW Exam Questions With
Verified Answers
Part A
From 1930 to 1939 fire ants spread inland about 60 miles from their point of introduction in
Mobile, Alabama. What was the cause of their spread over this distance? - Answers✔a natural
spread
Part B
From 1940 to 1970 fire ants spread through many southern states, sometimes at a rate of 100
miles in a year. What was the cause of their spread over this distance? - Answers✔being
transported along with plants and soil
Part C
In 1958 federal law restricted the movement of soil and plants from areas where fire ants were
established. Why was this law unsuccessful in stopping the spread of fire ant colonies? -
Answers✔People were unaware of the federal law and, when they moved, transported plants
bearing fire ant colonies; a single mated queen can be transported without being noticed; and
many states thought to be free of fire ant colonies already had them.
Part D
Techniques used, or are being considered for use, in controlling the spread of fire ants include
_____. - Answers✔setting baits that kill the queen when they are carried back to the nest,
applying chemical powders that kill the colony, introducing a protist to infect the fire ant queen
and her eggs, and introducing a fly that lays eggs in fire ants so that the eggs will hatch into
larvae that eat their way into the ants' heads, which will then fall off
Part E
As of the time of the writing of Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants, fire ants have caused
about _____ deaths in the United States. - Answers✔20
Part A
1
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The single greatest current threat to biodiversity is _____. - Answers✔habitat destruction
Part A
The estimated density or number of individuals needed for a species to maintain or increase its
numbers in a region is the _____. - Answers✔minimum viable population (MVP)
Part A - Levels of biodiversity
Biodiversity can be studied at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem
diversity.
Drag the words or phrases on the left to the appropriate blanks on the right to complete the
sentences. Words or phrases can be used once, more than once, or not at all. - Answers✔1.
increases
2. increases
3. decreases
4. decreases
5. increases
Part B - Threats to biodiversity
Three types of threats to biodiversity are:
habitat loss and fragmentation
the introduction of exotic, or non-native, species
overexploitation, or overharvesting
Determine the type of threat that each of the following statements describes.
Drag each statement to the appropriate bin. - Answers✔Habitat loss and fragmentation:
-a wetland is drained to make room for a housing development.
-some fishing nets damage the seafloor.
-small rainforest remnants have less diversity than larger rainforest remnants.
-Florida panthers were geographically cut off from other panthers about 100 years ago.
Exotic species:
-South American rodents called nutria eat wetland plants and cause bank erosion in the United
States.
2
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chapter 56 HW Exam Questions With
Verified Answers
Part A
From 1930 to 1939 fire ants spread inland about 60 miles from their point of introduction in
Mobile, Alabama. What was the cause of their spread over this distance? - Answers✔a natural
spread
Part B
From 1940 to 1970 fire ants spread through many southern states, sometimes at a rate of 100
miles in a year. What was the cause of their spread over this distance? - Answers✔being
transported along with plants and soil
Part C
In 1958 federal law restricted the movement of soil and plants from areas where fire ants were
established. Why was this law unsuccessful in stopping the spread of fire ant colonies? -
Answers✔People were unaware of the federal law and, when they moved, transported plants
bearing fire ant colonies; a single mated queen can be transported without being noticed; and
many states thought to be free of fire ant colonies already had them.
Part D
Techniques used, or are being considered for use, in controlling the spread of fire ants include
_____. - Answers✔setting baits that kill the queen when they are carried back to the nest,
applying chemical powders that kill the colony, introducing a protist to infect the fire ant queen
and her eggs, and introducing a fly that lays eggs in fire ants so that the eggs will hatch into
larvae that eat their way into the ants' heads, which will then fall off
Part E
As of the time of the writing of Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants, fire ants have caused
about _____ deaths in the United States. - Answers✔20
Part A
1
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The single greatest current threat to biodiversity is _____. - Answers✔habitat destruction
Part A
The estimated density or number of individuals needed for a species to maintain or increase its
numbers in a region is the _____. - Answers✔minimum viable population (MVP)
Part A - Levels of biodiversity
Biodiversity can be studied at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem
diversity.
Drag the words or phrases on the left to the appropriate blanks on the right to complete the
sentences. Words or phrases can be used once, more than once, or not at all. - Answers✔1.
increases
2. increases
3. decreases
4. decreases
5. increases
Part B - Threats to biodiversity
Three types of threats to biodiversity are:
habitat loss and fragmentation
the introduction of exotic, or non-native, species
overexploitation, or overharvesting
Determine the type of threat that each of the following statements describes.
Drag each statement to the appropriate bin. - Answers✔Habitat loss and fragmentation:
-a wetland is drained to make room for a housing development.
-some fishing nets damage the seafloor.
-small rainforest remnants have less diversity than larger rainforest remnants.
-Florida panthers were geographically cut off from other panthers about 100 years ago.
Exotic species:
-South American rodents called nutria eat wetland plants and cause bank erosion in the United
States.
2
