Ecosystems and Populations

A coal-burning facility is constructed in an area containing several pond ecosystems.  How will this human activity most likely affect the pond ecosystem?

• More nutrients will be available.
• Organism diversity will increase.
• Disease will become less common.
• Water quality will be reduced.

Sea anemones are poisonous. However, the clownfish has developed an outer layer of mucus which provides protection from stinging cells of the sea anemone.  The mucus is best described as--

• an adaptation.
• a relationship.
• an energy requirement.
• a social hierarchy.

Which of these is most likely the result of weasels and foxes depending on the same food source?

• The populations will compete with each other.
• One of the populations will become herbivores.
• Birthrates for both populations will increase.
• New species of prey will evolve in the area.

A farmer wants to plant a crop that grows well in a marshland environment.  In order to produce a good harvest, the most important characteristic this plant should have is the ability to--

• thrive in wet soil.
• mature quickly.
• survive in dry conditions.
• attract a variety of pollinators.

Which is an abiotic change in an ecosystem?

• Plant photosynthesis rates increase.
• Fish species populations increase.
• Aquatic predator survival rates increase.
• Annual rainfall totals for an area increase.

White-footed mice having thicker fur than cactus mice is probably influenced most by the differences in the--

• food that they eat.
• time of day they are active.
• environmental climates where they live.
• amount of predators they encounter.

A zebra has two tick birds on its back.  The tick birds alert the zebras that predators are near as well as remove and eat ticks found on zebras.  What is the primary type of interaction between the tick birds and the zebras?

• Mutualism
• Parasitism
• Competition
• Commensalism

Which organisms are producers in this food web?

• predator animals
• insects
• plants
• prey animals

Black bears roam over large territories.  What effect would building shopping centers in these territories have on the bears?

• Promote an increase in black bear reproduction.
• Stabilize the black bear population.
• Reduce the black bears' habitat.
• Introduce a new bear population to the area.

Seaweed-->Fishes-->Sea otter-->OrcaWhat is the role of the Orca in this food chain?

• Producer
• First-order consumer
• Second order consumer
• Third-order consumer