Ecosystem Interdependence

Certain trees, such as the dogwood, can be inhabited by a fungus that damages their leaves. Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between the tree and the fungus?

• parasitism

• saprophytism

• mutualism

• commensalism

What is the relationship between an ecosystem and a community?

• A community is a very large ecosystem.

• An ecosystem is a very large community.

• An ecosystem includes a community and abiotic factors.

• A community includes an ecosystem and abiotic factors.

The European starling entered North America in the late 1800s. It proved very successful and was able to spread throughout the United States by 1955. The survival and rapid reproduction of starlings MOSTlikely limited the population size of which organisms within its habitats?

• its decomposers

• its competitors

• its mutualists

• its predators

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

This food chain shows the interactions between organisms found in a pond ecosystem.

Algae → Water Boatman → Diving Beetle → Frog → Heron

Which organism would be affected first if algae was removed from the ecosystem?

• water boatman

• diving beetle

• frog

• herron

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Lions tend to prey on primary consumers like zebras and gazelles. If there were a sudden decline in a population of lions, which ecological imbalance would MOST likely occur in the habitat?

• overgrazing

• eutrophication

• invasion by nonnative species

• overproduction of greenhouse gases

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Tide pools are habitats for several kinds of organisms that attach to the rocky surface and depend upon tides for food and oxygen. Sea stars present in these tide pools feed on mussels and other shellfish that have no other natural predators. How will it MOST likely impact species diversity if all of the sea stars are removed from the tide pool ecosystem?

• Diversity will increase as the rate of predation decreases.

• Diversity will decrease as competition for space increases.

• Diversity will increase as the recycling of nutrients decreases.

• Diversity will decrease as food and oxygen supplies increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following types of organisms get their energy through the process of photosynthesis?

• Producers

• Primary Consumers

• Secondary Consumers

• Tertiary Consumer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Ticks tend to grab onto host as they walk by tall grass. Once they have attached to a host they begin to feed on the blood of that host. Based on the description which of the following bests describes the ticks niche(role) in an ecosystem?

• Producer

• Scavenger

• Consumer

• Parasite

Which of the following organisms would not be affected by a sudden decrease in the population of flies?

• Trout

• Dragonfly

• Frog

• Turtle

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is most likely to occur if the population of carp were to increase?

• The population of dragonflies would increase

• The population of trout would decrease

• The population of trout would increase

• The population of slugs would decrease

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4