Cold deserts are best described by: **e. experience freezing temperatures during the winter and any precipitation is in the form of snowfall.** This characteristic highlights the cold temperatures typical of cold deserts and the nature of precipitation they receive.

An ecological niche includes all of the following except: **c. the place where the species lives** While the niche encompasses the role and interactions of a species within its environment (including resource use and requirements), the specific physical location where a species lives is typically referred to as its habitat rather than its niche.

The false statement is: **b. The Red List of Threatened Species is comprehensive and complete.** The Red List, while extensive and valuable, is not comprehensive or complete, as it only includes a portion of the world's species and many species have not yet been assessed or described.

The action that leads to a decrease in biodiversity is: **a. Introduction of exotic species** Introducing non-native species can disrupt local ecosystems, outcompete native species for resources, and lead to a decline in biodiversity.

c. studies the past distribution of species

The diversity that enables species to adapt to and survive environmental changes is known as **c. Genetic diversity**. Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a species, which allows for variations that can help populations adapt to changing conditions over time.

The process that leads to an increase in biodiversity is: **c. Removal of exotic species** Removing invasive or exotic species can help native species thrive, thereby increasing overall biodiversity in an ecosystem. Other options listed are more associated with negative impacts on biodiversity.

I'm unable to view images directly. However, I can provide definitions for the terms you provided to help you identify what might be represented in the image: a. **Primary succession**: This occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat. It involves the colonization of bare rock by organisms starting with lichens and mosses. b. **Secondary succession**: This happens in areas where a

b. parent material

c. cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms and are not considered heterotrophs. They can produce their own food through photosynthesis, unlike carnivores, omnivores, and decomposers, which rely on consuming other organisms or organic matter for energy.

The correct answer is: b. a food chain

c. Nucleic acids

The false statement is: **d. The goal of basic science is to develop a product or service for immediate public or commercial value.** Basic science is primarily focused on generating knowledge and understanding fundamental principles, whereas applied science aims to use that knowledge to address practical problems and develop products or services.

The most likely order of applying the scientific method to a problem is: **a. observation-question-hypothesis-experimentation-analysis-conclusion** This sequence starts with making observations, which lead to questions. Then a hypothesis is formulated, followed by experimentation to test the hypothesis. After experimentation, data is analyzed, and a conclusion is drawn based on the analysis.

The correct answer is **b. an independent variable**. In a scientific experiment, the independent variable is the one that is changed or manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable, which is the outcome that is measured.

To determine which type of ecosystem service is represented in the image, it would be helpful to know more about the content of the image. However, I can provide a brief description of each of the four ecosystem service types to help identify it: a. **Provisioning**: These services provide us with resources such as food, freshwater, timber, fiber, and genetic resources. b. **Cultural**: These involve non-material benefits that people obtain

d. What is the average life expectancy in 2022? This option does not represent an ethical question about the study of environmental ethics, as it pertains to a factual statistic rather than a moral or ethical dilemma. The other options involve ethical considerations related to human interactions with the environment.

d. All of the above. Deforestation, soil degradation, and overfishing are all significant indicators of global environmental stress. They each reflect unsustainable practices that can lead to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, and depletion of natural resources.