FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Destructive Nonnative Species
Quiz about Destructive Nonnative Species

Destructive Non-native Species Quiz


This is a quiz about alien plant and animal species that have had negative impacts on local ecosystems and/or human life.

A multiple-choice quiz by ArtieChoke. Estimated time: 6 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Science Trivia
  6. »
  7. Environment
  8. »
  9. Environmental Problems

Author
ArtieChoke
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
90,562
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
2087
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. This ornamental plant from South America has spread all over the globe because of human actions. The dense mats of this plant choke out native vegetation and kill fish by reducing the dissolved oxygen content of the water. It has even been blamed for choking out human life in Papua New Guinea. Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This amphibian was intentionally introduced into the vast sugarcane fields of Hawaii to control a beetle problem. Predators, in turn, began eating this poisonous animal, causing a decline in native predator populations. The animal is now considered a pest in Australia and on many Pacific and Carribean islands. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This mildly venomous snake, Boiga irregularis, was inadvertently introduced to Guam from the New Guinea area some time in the early 1950s. Since its introduction, it has wiped out at least 12 bird species endemic to Guam, some now extinct, and has been responsible for at least 1200 power outages. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This "vine that ate the South" was originally introduced into the southern United States as an ornamental but was later spread intentionally by government agencies to prevent soil erosion. It has been known to grow 60 feet in a single year and to damage forests by preventing trees from getting enough sunlight. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This omnivorous pest turtle, Trachemys scripta, has established populations in Japan, France, and Australia though it is native to North America. Its spread is due largely to its intentional exportation as food or as a pet. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. A 1985 task force found that this predatory fish, introduced to Lake Victoria in 1959 by British anglers for sport, simultaneously threatened more vertebrate species with extinction (at least 150) than any other animal ever. While bringing prosperity to the fish industry surrounding Lake Victoria, the fish has brought ruin to the way of life of the native people. Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The "grey blanket" over Australia refers to the spread of what animal that now causes over $300 million in agricultural damage to Australia every year? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This invertebrate that can kill large trees by tunneling into branches and trunks was discovered to be infesting hardwood trees in Brooklyn, New York in 1996 and in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. It is thought to have spread to the United States via solid wood packing material from China. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This pest insect was intentionally imported into the United States to start a silk enterprise. Its larvae eat oak leaves voraciously and can be easily identified by the blue spots on their first few segments and the red spots on the remaining segments. Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This oddball Southeast Asian fish species' environmental impact in Florida is not yet well known. From 1968 to 1978, the fish spread itself from 3 counties in Florida to 20 counties. Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This ornamental plant from South America has spread all over the globe because of human actions. The dense mats of this plant choke out native vegetation and kill fish by reducing the dissolved oxygen content of the water. It has even been blamed for choking out human life in Papua New Guinea.

Answer: Water Hyacinth

Scientists have recently found that Thrypticus flies that thrive in the Amazon may be the best natural enemy to the water hyacinth. People in Papua New Guinea have starved to death because the water hyacinth mats prevented native people from fishing and traveling to market.
2. This amphibian was intentionally introduced into the vast sugarcane fields of Hawaii to control a beetle problem. Predators, in turn, began eating this poisonous animal, causing a decline in native predator populations. The animal is now considered a pest in Australia and on many Pacific and Carribean islands.

Answer: Cane Toad

Bufo marinus, the Cane Toad, can reach over 23 centimeters in length, which explains why it is also called the Giant Toad.
3. This mildly venomous snake, Boiga irregularis, was inadvertently introduced to Guam from the New Guinea area some time in the early 1950s. Since its introduction, it has wiped out at least 12 bird species endemic to Guam, some now extinct, and has been responsible for at least 1200 power outages.

Answer: Brown Tree Snake

Brown Tree Snakes now exist in very large numbers in some parts of Guam. They frequently invade homes in search of food or a good hiding place. The power outages they cause are a particularly bad threat to the United States because of the naval installations located on Guam.
4. This "vine that ate the South" was originally introduced into the southern United States as an ornamental but was later spread intentionally by government agencies to prevent soil erosion. It has been known to grow 60 feet in a single year and to damage forests by preventing trees from getting enough sunlight.

Answer: Kudzu

Kudzu, Pueraria lobata, has somewhat of a cult following as a multi-purpose plant. People have been known to make baskets, paper, jellies, pies, tea, medicine, and other products out of various parts of the Kudzu.
5. This omnivorous pest turtle, Trachemys scripta, has established populations in Japan, France, and Australia though it is native to North America. Its spread is due largely to its intentional exportation as food or as a pet.

Answer: Red-eared Slider

The United States exports 8.4 million Red-eared Sliders from the swamps and turtle farms of Louisiana per year. It is one of very few reptile species to be considered an alien pest.
6. A 1985 task force found that this predatory fish, introduced to Lake Victoria in 1959 by British anglers for sport, simultaneously threatened more vertebrate species with extinction (at least 150) than any other animal ever. While bringing prosperity to the fish industry surrounding Lake Victoria, the fish has brought ruin to the way of life of the native people.

Answer: Nile Perch

Since Nile Perch are valuable for sale as food, their rise in price has caused a 50% reduction in per capita fish consumption by the native Kenyans and Ugandans.
7. The "grey blanket" over Australia refers to the spread of what animal that now causes over $300 million in agricultural damage to Australia every year?

Answer: Rabbit

The man blamed for releasing rabbits into Australia introduced 20 onto his property one year. Ten years later, over 2 million had been killed on his property alone.
8. This invertebrate that can kill large trees by tunneling into branches and trunks was discovered to be infesting hardwood trees in Brooklyn, New York in 1996 and in Chicago, Illinois in 1998. It is thought to have spread to the United States via solid wood packing material from China.

Answer: Asian Long-horned Beetle

These beetles have been found in warehouses (though not infesting trees) in many U.S. cities including my home town of Lansing, Michigan.
9. This pest insect was intentionally imported into the United States to start a silk enterprise. Its larvae eat oak leaves voraciously and can be easily identified by the blue spots on their first few segments and the red spots on the remaining segments.

Answer: Gypsy Moth

Gypsy Moths have become pests all over Southeastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. Female adult Gypsy Moths are a pale color and cannot fly.
10. This oddball Southeast Asian fish species' environmental impact in Florida is not yet well known. From 1968 to 1978, the fish spread itself from 3 counties in Florida to 20 counties.

Answer: Walking Catfish

Walking Catfish can migrate over land at night during rainy periods.
Source: Author ArtieChoke

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
11/5/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us