Compare ways to protect biodiversity and choose the best

Grade 9 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Decision matrix (model data), scores 1 to 5, a higher score is better in every column. Weights: benefit to species counts 3 times, low cost counts 2 times, few side effects counts 1 time. Protected area, benefit to species 5, low cost 2, few side effects 4; Wildlife corridor, benefit to species 4, low cost 3, few side effects 4; Seed bank, benefit to species 2, low cost 5, few side effects 5.

2. 1.

   Pia weights the goals as shown. What is the weighted total for the protected area?

   • 23 points: 15 + 4 + 4
   • 21 points
   • 5 points
   • 11 points

3. Use this

   Decision matrix (model data), scores 1 to 5, a higher score is better in every column. Weights: benefit to species counts 3 times, low cost counts 1 time, few side effects counts 1 time. Invasive-species control, benefit to species 3, low cost 4, few side effects 3; Wildlife corridor, benefit to species 4, low cost 3, few side effects 4; Reducing runoff, benefit to species 4, low cost 3, few side effects 5; Protected area, benefit to species 5, low cost 2, few side effects 4.

4. 2.

   Ren gives benefit a weight of 3 and the other two columns a weight of 1. Which plan has the highest weighted total?

   • Wildlife corridor: its weighted total is 19
   • Invasive-species control: it has the top low-cost score, 4, so it is good value
   • Reducing runoff: its plain sum, 12, is the highest of the rows
   • Protected area: 21 points, the highest weighted total

5. Use this

   Decision matrix (model data), scores 1 to 5, a higher score is better in every column. Weights: benefit to species counts 3 times, low cost counts 2 times, few side effects counts 1 time. Protected area, benefit to species 5, low cost 2, few side effects 4; Wildlife corridor, benefit to species 4, low cost 3, few side effects 4; Seed bank, benefit to species 2, low cost 5, few side effects 5.

6. 3.

   Esme uses the weights shown. By how many points does the protected area beat the wildlife corridor?

   • 2 points
   • 1 point: 23 − 22
   • 0 points
   • 3 points

7. The wildlife corridor and three limits (model data)

   measure	corridor	limit (at most)
   cost (million dollars)	7	8
   land (hectares)	45	50
   time to start (years)	6	4

8. 4.

   Kira checks the wildlife corridor against each limit in the table. Which limit does it break?

   • No limit: its cost of 7 million is under the budget of 8 million
   • Budget: 7 million dollars is too near the 8 million limit
   • Time: 6 years is more than the 4-year limit on time
   • Land: 45 hectares is very close to the 50-hectare limit

9. Beetles in patch B, a second model (model data)

   generation	beetles without a corridor	beetles with a corridor
   0	40	40
   1	38	40
   2	36	40
   3	34	40
   4	32	40
   5	30	40

10. 5.

    Tala runs a simulation of a beetle species in patch B. By generation 5, how many more beetles were there with a corridor?

    • 8 more beetles
    • 10 more beetles: 40 − 30
    • 40 more beetles
    • 2 more beetles

11. Patches in the cool band that beetles reached as it moved uphill, a range-shift model (model data)

    decade	patches reached without a corridor	patches reached with a corridor
    0	0	0
    1	1	1
    2	1	2
    3	1	3
    4	1	4
    5	1	5

12. 6.

    Bo reads a model in which the cool band on a slope moves uphill. Which statement does the output support?

    • Without a corridor beetles reached 5 patches by decade 5, and with one they reached 1
    • By decade 5 beetles reached 5 patches with a corridor and 1 without one
    • The corridor slows the warming, so no other action is needed on the slope
    • In decade 3 beetles reached the same number of patches with and without a corridor
13. 7.

    Zee reads a model graph that tests removing an invasive plant. Which statement matches the graph?

    • Cover with removal was 50% more than without, since 66 − 16 = 50
    • Native cover in the plot without removal stayed level at 40% for the five years
    • In year 5, native cover was 66% with removal and 16% without, a gap of 50 points
    • Removal fixed the problem, so the plot needs no protection from any other driver

14. Use this

    Decision matrix (model data), scores 1 to 5, a higher score is better in every column. Weights: benefit to species counts 2 times, helps species shift range counts 3 times, low cost counts 1 time. Protected area, benefit to species 5, helps species shift range 2, low cost 2; Wildlife corridor, benefit to species 4, helps species shift range 5, low cost 3; Reducing runoff, benefit to species 3, helps species shift range 1, low cost 4; Seed bank, benefit to species 2, helps species shift range 1, low cost 5.

15. 8.

    Luz adds a new goal, helps species shift range, that counts 3 times. Which plan has the highest total now?

    • Wildlife corridor: 8 + 15 + 3 = 26 points, the highest total
    • Wildlife corridor and protected area tie, with 26 points each
    • Seed bank: it has the top low-cost score, 5, so it is good value
    • Protected area: it still has the highest benefit score, 5, so it wins

16. Use this

    Decision matrix (model data), scores 1 to 5, a higher score is better in every column. Weights: benefit to species counts 3 times, low cost counts 2 times, few side effects counts 1 time. Protected area, benefit to species 5, low cost 2, few side effects 4; Wildlife corridor, benefit to species 4, low cost 3, few side effects 4; Reducing runoff, benefit to species 3, low cost 4, few side effects 5; Seed bank, benefit to species 2, low cost 5, few side effects 2.

17. 9.

    Ari changes the weights in the matrix. Which statement is correct?

    • The scores in the table must change too, because a heavier weight raises a score
    • The scores stay the same, and the weighted totals can change
    • The plan with the highest single score wins, whatever the weights
    • A heavier weight on low cost makes the cheapest plan win

18. Four plans, weighted for a land limit of 50 hectares (model data)

    plan	benefit (×3)	low cost (×2)	few side effects (×1)	land (hectares)
    Protected area	5	2	4	120
    Wildlife corridor	4	4	3	40
    Reducing runoff	3	4	5	25
    Seed bank	1	5	5	1

19. 10.

    Noah weights the columns as shown and has a land limit of 50 hectares. Which plan should be chosen?

    • Reducing runoff: its plain sum, 12, is the highest in the table
    • Protected area: it ties at 23 points and has the top benefit score, 5
    • Wildlife corridor: 23 points, tied, and 40 hectares fits the limit
    • Seed bank: it costs the least and needs just 1 hectare of land