Toxins Building Up in Food Chains

Question 1

A city wants to turn a vacant lot into a green space that will help local wildlife and provide ecosystem services such as habitat, storm‑water management, and air purification. Which design proposal would most effectively maintain biodiversity while also delivering the greatest number of ecosystem services?

Accepted Answer

Plant a mix of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, construct a shallow pond with native aquatic plants, and provide permeable mulch paths throughout the site.

Answer

Create a small parking lot with asphalt, plant a few ornamental shrubs, and add a playground with plastic equipment.

Answer

Install a synthetic‑turf sports field, plant a few non‑native decorative trees, and build a storm drain that directs runoff to the municipal system.

Answer

Plant a monoculture of fast‑growing ornamental grass, install a concrete pathway, and add decorative fountains.

Question 2

A city wants to improve a local park so that it supports pollinator insects and helps reduce flooding. Which of the following design solutions best maintains biodiversity while providing ecosystem services such as pollination and water filtration?

Accepted Answer

Plant a variety of native flowering plants and build a small pond surrounded by native vegetation.

Answer

Plant a monoculture of fast‑growing grass and install a concrete drainage channel.

Answer

Plant only non‑native ornamental shrubs and install a synthetic water feature.

Answer

Replace the park with a parking lot and add underground storm drains.

Question 3

Which of the following situations best shows bioaccumulation of a toxin in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Tiny algae absorb PCB pollutants; small fish eat the algae, larger fish eat the small fish, and polar bears eat the large fish, ending up with high PCB levels.

Answer

A farmer sprays a pesticide that kills insects; a robin eats the insects and dies shortly after.

Answer

Sunlight warms a pond, causing the water temperature to rise and frogs to lay twice as many eggs.

Answer

Nutrient runoff causes a massive algae bloom that depletes oxygen, leading to many fish dying in the lake.

Try three questions

A city wants to improve a local park so that it supports pollinator insects and helps reduce flooding. Which of the following design solutions best maintains biodiversity while providing ecosystem services such as pollination and water filtration?

Which of the following situations best shows bioaccumulation of a toxin in a food chain?

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