Boundary Lines Practice Level 2
Analysis: Survival Thresholds
Level 2: Analytical
Researcher: ____________________
Lesson 1: Boundary Lines
Critical Thinking Scenarios
1. Genetic Variation & Tolerance: In a population of 100 trout, most can survive water temperatures up to 20°C. However, 5 individual fish have a genetic mutation that allows them to survive up to 23°C. If the river temperature rises to 22°C due to a heatwave, explain what will happen to the population over the next generation.
2. Resource Allocation: Maintaining homeostasis requires metabolic energy (ATP). When a plant is pushed toward its maximum tolerance for drought, it often stops producing flowers or seeds. Using the concept of ecological tolerance, explain why the plant makes this "choice."
Applying Concepts
3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between ecological tolerance and biodiversity?
A) Species with wide tolerance ranges are always more likely to go extinct than specialists.
B) High biodiversity occurs when every species in an ecosystem has the exact same tolerance range.
C) Different species having different tolerance ranges allows them to occupy different niches in the same environment.
D) Ecological tolerance only applies to animals, so it has no impact on total ecosystem biodiversity.
4. Predict: An invasive species of crab is introduced to a coastline. This crab has a much wider range of tolerance for salinity (saltiness) than the native crabs. Why is this an "unfair" advantage in an environment where rainfall and salt levels fluctuate wildly?
