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AP®Environmental ScienceCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 9: Global ChangeInvasive Species

Invasive Species (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Exam Questions

10 mins10 questions
11 mark

What defines an invasive species?

  • A species introduced into a new ecosystem that becomes extinct

  • A native species that declines in population

  • A non-native species that spreads and causes ecological or economic harm

  • A genetically modified organism released for agriculture

Choose your answer

21 mark

Why are invasive species often so successful in new environments?

  • They often face few natural predators or controls

  • They evolve to blend in genetically

  • They rely on mutualism with native species

  • They form hybrid species with native organisms

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31 mark

Which of the following is an example of an invasive species in North America?

  • Gray wolf

  • American bison

  • Burmese python

  • Monarch butterfly

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41 mark

What is one economic impact of invasive species?

  • Reduced need for pesticides

  • Increased agricultural yield

  • Costly damage to crops, forests, or fisheries

  • Increased soil fertility

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51 mark

Which of the following human behaviors increases the spread of invasive species?

  • Building wildlife corridors

  • Removing ballast water before shipping

  • Preserving native plants in gardens

  • Releasing pets into the wild

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61 mark

Which of the following characteristics is typical of successful invasive species?

  • Slow reproduction and limited dispersal

  • High reproductive rate and broad tolerance for conditions

  • Dependence on specific food sources

  • Strict seasonal breeding cycles

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71 mark

What is one way to prevent the spread of invasive species?

  • Introduce predators from the invasive species’ native range

  • Import exotic species for garden use

  • Clean hiking boots, boats, and gear before moving between ecosystems

  • Eliminate all non-native plants

Choose your answer

81 mark

Which of the following best defines an invasive species?  

  • A species that naturally evolves to adapt to different habitats over time.

  • A species that is introduced to a new environment, where it establishes, spreads, and causes harm to native species, ecosystems, or human activities.  

  • A species that migrates seasonally in response to environmental changes.

  • A species that exists only in a single, isolated geographic region and does not spread elsewhere.

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91 mark

Which of the following species is least likely to be classified as invasive?

  • European green crab, which was introduced to North America and has disrupted native shellfish populations.

  • Water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that spreads rapidly in non-native regions, choking waterways and depleting oxygen levels.

  • American bison, which once roamed North America in large herds and has been the focus of reintroduction efforts.

  • Cane toads, which were introduced to Australia to control pests but have instead poisoned native predators and disrupted ecosystems.

Choose your answer

101 mark

Which of the following is not a commonly used method for controlling invasive species?

  • Biological control, where natural predators, parasites, or diseases are introduced to reduce invasive populations.

  • Chemical control, which involves using pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals to manage invasive species.

  • Habitat destruction, where entire ecosystems are removed to eliminate invasive populations.

  • Mechanical control, which includes physically removing invasive species through trapping, hunting, or manual removal.

Choose your answer