Advanced Placement Environmental Science Free Response Questions (APES FRQ 1)

a) Based on the diagram, describe the relationship between the deer population and biodiversity in Forest C.

There is an inverse relationship between deer population and plant biodiversity.

b) Based on the information in the diagram, identify a species of plant that is resistant to deer consumption.

White Oak

c) If each of the three forests is near a different but identical housing development, identify the forest nearest which homeowners will most likely consider deer to be pests, and explain how the deer could have become pests.

The deer are more likely to become pests in Forest A because they are likely to be hit by cars and cause damage to property and lives.

d) Most species of deer are known to eat many different types of plants. Other than being herbivores, identify the category of species that explains how deer are very adaptable to new environments.

generalist species

e) A local homeowner proposes protecting the habitat of the possums in Forest A to reduce the tick population. Describe a possible disadvantage or unintended consequence of the homeowner's proposal.

Possums may transmit diseases, such as fleas, to pets or humans

f) Homeowners living near Forest C believe deer are eating their sugar maple trees. Make a claim based on evidence that supports or refutes the belief of these homeowners.

It is unlikely that deer are eating the homeowners' sugar maples. There is low deer density near Forest C and there are plenty of food resources available to the deer

g) Identify the control group for the investigation

vegetation that can’t be grazed by deer

Identify the hypothesis for the investigation

As the height of boulders increases, the biodiversity of the vegetation increases

The boulders studied in the investigation described above were deposited by a glacial retreat approximately 14,000 years ago. These boulders then eroded over time to form components of the soil in the forest. Describe a different natural occurrence that could lead to soil formation from similar initial conditions

weathering of phosphorous rock/mountains into soil

Describe an anthropogenic occurrence that could require re-establishing a forest in an area with previously established soil

A forest fire set by humans would burn the area and lead to secondary succession