Environmental Science Quiz 5

Plants that grow in the shallow area around the edge of a lake with their roots in the bottom sediments and their leaves emerging above the water surface are called

emergent vegetation

floating plants

aquatic vegetation

plankton

Why do the swamps of South Florida look so desolate in the winter?

The red maple trees lose their leaves in the colder weather

The cypress trees are deciduous, and are bare between November and March

They spray for mosquitos, which kills a lot of plants

The cypress knees drop off the trees

All of the following are services of wetlands EXCEPT

water purification

control soil erosion

Habitat for wildlife

Prevents extreme fluctuations in temperature

control flooding

If you are looking around a swamp in South Florida, you would most likely see which of the following trees?

slash pine, saw palmetto and sabal palm

live oak, saw grass, and wire grass

gumbo limbo, live oak, and mahogany

cypress, red maple, and cabbage palm

Why are buffer zones needed around natural area like the Green Swamp to preserve the quality of core habitat?

Light and noise pollution disrupts processes in the core habitat

House cat predation

Introduction of invasive exotic plants and animals

All of the above

"Everything is not as it seems" is illustrated by which of the following

The Green Swamp is not a major recharge area for the Floridan Aquifer

The water in the Green Swamp does not flow to surrounding areas

The Green Swamp is an important habitat for a diversity of wildlife

All of the above.

All of the following are free services provided by the Everglades EXCEPT

Sawgrass produces large amounts of nutrients that flow into the water and out into the estuary to fuel algae blooms

coastal communities buffer against storm damage

plants produce oxygen and food that supports a complex food web

marshes filter and purify water

water is stored in the wetlands

As a consequence of channelizing the Kissimmee River

Wildlife habitat was lost when the floodplain marshes disappeared

The current in the channel was much faster than in the meandering river

Development along the sides of the channel cut off the flow of nutrients into the water.

all of the above

Which of the following is true?

Since humans have diverted the natural flow of water in the Everglades, the salinity of Florida Bay has decreased, increasing the size of the estuary.

Salt water intrusion refers to the increasing salinity of Lake Okeechobee

Some CERP projects will concentrate on increasing water storage.

The Everglades “free services” include control of exotic plants and animals

Humans have dried up over 90% of the Everglades through drainage projects.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of Florida Bay?

The water is very deep just a few feet off the coast

It is where the sawgrass marsh serves as a nursery and breeding area for many marine species.

The water is brackish, a perfect area for mangroves to thrive

The coral reefs are extensive here

Which of the following is/are threatening the biodiversity of the Everglades?

Melaleuca

pythons

fragmentation of the habitat

diversion of water

all of the above

Which of the following is a native plant species in South Florida?

Brazilian pepper

Melaleuca

sabal palm

Australian pine

All of the following resulted from the diking of Lake Okeechobee EXCEPT

prevented flooding of lands south of the lake

allowed the lake to be used as a reservoir for storing water

restored the filtering marshes around the lake

allowed farms to be established on land south of the lake

Which of the following has/have resulted from the influence of the growing human population in South Florida?

Change in volume, timing, quality and distribution of water in the Everglades.

Size and quality of habitat to support wildlife

Presence of pesticides, mercury & nutrients in Everglades water.

Spread of invasive, exotic plants and animals

All of the above

All of the following describe the Greater Everglades Ecosystem before humans began changing it EXCEPT

water-driven system

ridge and slough system in the sawgrass marsh area

high levels of phosphate and nitrate that fueled production of food for diverse species that composed the complex food web

fluctuating water levels