Ecosystems Study Questions

58.  The energy pyramid below shows the flow of energy through the organisms is a kelp forest ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean.  How would the populations of other organisms in the energy pyramid be affected if the population of sea urchins suddenly decreased?

• Both the kelp and the sheephead populations would increase.
• Both the kelp and the sheephead populations would decrease.
• The kelp population would decrease and the sheephead population would increase.
• The kelp population would increase and the sheephead population would decrease.

8.  Which statement best describes the process of respiration?

• Oxygen and sugar are used in the process that provides energy to cells; water and carbon dioxide are its waste products.
• Water and sugar are used in the process that provides energy to cells; oxygen and carbon dioxide are its wastes products.
• Oxygen and carbon dioxide are used in the process that provides energy to cells; sugar and water are its waste products.
• Carbon dioxide and sugar are used in the process that provides energy to cells; water and oxygen are its waste products.

54.  The diagram below shows an energy pyramid.  Approximately how much energy is available to the secondary consumers in this energy pyramid?

• 10 kcal/m²/year
• 100 kcal/m²/year
• 1,000 kcal/m²/year
• 5,000 kcal/m²/year

118.  Use the graph below to answer the following question.  A sunfish population was introduced into a lake 10 years ago.  Biologists have been monitoring this population since then.  The graph shows their data.  What is the estimated carrying capacity for sunfish in this lake?  

• 30 sunfish
• 40 sunfish
• 50 sunfish
• 60 sunfish

27.  The picture below shows an energy pyramid.  What will most likely happen to the foxes and the wolves if the rabbits are removed?

• The foxes will eat more wolves.
• The foxes will eat fewer wolves.
• There will be more foxes and wolves.
• There will be fewer foxes and wolves.

104.  Use the picture below to answer the following question.  Which of these lists only biotic factors of this ecosystem?

• fox, tree, grass
• sun, stream, cloud
• cloud, grass, rock
• stream, cloud, fox

65.  The following diagram shows an energy pyramid for an area within an ocean ecosystem.  How is the shape of the pyramid related to energy flow within the ecosystem?

• Most energy is concentrated at the highest trophic level.
• Energy is equally distributed among the organisms in each trophic level.
• Only a small amount of energy is available to organisms in ocean ecosystems.
• Only a small amount of energy from one trophic level is available to organisms at the next higher level.

50.  Use the diagram below to answer the following question.  If the organisms in this food chain were arranged in an ecological pyramid, which organism would have the most energy available?

• decomposer
• secondary consumer
• primary consumer
• producer

42.  The diagram shows an aquatic food web.  When the living things in this food web die, bacteria act upon them and release all the nutrients into the environment.  What role do bacteria play in this ecosystem?

• producers
• decomposers
• primary consumers
• secondary consumers

29.  Which model correctly shows energy flow in a food chain?

• plants - insects - salmon - bears
• insects - plants - bears - salmon
• bears - salmon - insects - plants
• salmon - bears - plants - insects