Ecosystems & Energy

Scientists have developed an allergy medication from a plant that is part of the rainforest food chain. What concern might develop when producing this medication from the plant?

• overproduction of the medication
• increase in allergies in rainforest wildlife
• lack of patients to test the new medication
• decrease in a food source to rainforest wildlife

Which most likely describes the effect of removing shelter from an ecosystem while increasing a population?

• The population will decrease due to lack of space and food.
• The population will increase due to lack of shelter and available food.
• The population will increase, then decrease due to lack of biotic factors.

When would water be a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

• when a population is small
• when a population is decreasing
• when a population contains many predators
• when a population is approaching the carrying capacity

Some organisms obtain their food from a host organism. Which is the best example of this relationship?

• A bat pollinating a saguaro cactus.
• A bird building a nest on a tree branch.
• A flea getting nourishment from a cat’s blood.
• Ants protecting a tree that produces their food.

Which best demonstrates a producer in an ecosystem?

• fox
• bear
• grass
• rabbit

A pride of lions stalks, tackles, and kills an antelope. Which is best being demonstrated?

• predation
• mutualism
• cooperation

Through which process do producers convert sunlight into food energy which is consumed and passed on to other organisms?

• oxidation
• reduction
• photosynthesis
• cellular respiration

Which best explains the role of plants in the carbon cycle?

• Plants take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
• Plants take in carbon dioxide released by other organisms.
• Plants take in carbon dioxide and pass it directly to animals.

This diagram shows the connection between aquatic and terrestrial food webs.
Which best describes what happens when an owl attacks and kills a fish for food?

• an interconnection between aquatic and terrestrial food webs.
• an interconnection between terrestrial organisms and predators
• an interconnection between aquatic food webs and decomposers

Which shows the correct flow of energy through this simple food chain?

• fox → grass → rabbit
• grass → fox → rabbit
• grass → rabbit → fox
• rabbit → grass → fox