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Human Induced Change Quiz

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Human Induced Change Quiz

Human activities can change ecosystems and affect the living things that depend on them. Read the investigation and use the results table to answer the questions. For written answers, explain your thinking and use evidence where you can.

Investigation: Te Awa stream

A community group compared two sites on a stream in Aotearoa New Zealand. Site A is upstream beside a native bush reserve. Site B is downstream of a growing town, where some stream banks have been cleared for roads and buildings. After heavy rain, water from roads and bare soil can flow into the stream. The group took samples on the same day. More mayfly nymphs usually indicate better water quality because these insects are sensitive to pollution. The results are simplified observations, not proof that one factor caused every difference.

Measure

Site A: upstream bush

Site B: downstream town

Water clarity

Clear

Cloudy after rain

Mayfly nymphs counted

Stream bank shade

Mostly shaded

Some shaded patches

Read the evidence

Use the Te Awa investigation and results table.

1.Which site had clearer water on the sampling day?

Site A
Site B
Both sites were equally clear
The table does not say

2.How many more mayfly nymphs were counted at Site A than at Site B?

3.True or false: The results prove that town development was the only cause of the differences between the sites. Give one reason for your answer.

TrueFalse

4.After rain, water running over bare soil can carry sediment into a stream. What is one likely effect of extra sediment on stream life?

It can make the water cloudier and cover places where small stream animals live.
It always makes the stream warmer and safer for every species.
It removes all pollutants from the water.
It increases the amount of shade on the stream bank.

5.The table says Site B had only some shaded patches. Explain one way that clearing stream-bank trees could affect the stream ecosystem.

Human impacts and solutions

Think about how human choices can affect connected parts of an ecosystem.

6.Match each human activity in the left list to the most likely environmental impact in the right list.

A. Burning petrol and diesel
B. Clearing native bush
C. Fertiliser washing from land into water

2. Can add excess nutrients to waterways
1. Removes habitat and can expose soil to erosion
3. Adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere

7.Increasing the amount of gases in the atmosphere can strengthen the greenhouse effect.

8.A stronger greenhouse effect can contribute to global .

9.A council wants to reduce sediment and dirty stormwater entering Te Awa. Suggest two practical actions it could take near roads or stream banks.

10.A friend says, “Renewable energy has no environmental impacts at all.” Is this statement accurate? Name one renewable energy source and explain a more balanced view.

11.Use at least two details from the results table to explain why restoring native plants along Site B’s stream bank could help the ecosystem. Include one reason the group should collect more evidence before deciding whether restoration worked.