An ecologist compared two different ecosystems and created the following list of similarities:

-aquatic

-diverse fish life

-high salt concentration

-plentiful light at the water’s surface

Which of the following two ecosystems was the ecologist most likely comparing?

• pond and river

• ocean and lake

• estuary and pond

• estuary and ocean

Organisms living in estuaries must have which adaptations to survive?

• The organisms can survive in water with changing levels of salinity.

• The organisms can survive in water with very low levels of salinity.

• The organisms can survive in freshwater only.

• The organisms can survive in saltwater only.

Deciduous forests contain ferns, mosses, and various types of trees that lose their leaves in the fall.

How is this different from a tropical rain forest?

• Tropical rain forest trees keep their leaves because of abundant precipitation and warm weather.

• Tropical rain forest trees lose all of their leaves in the warmer months.

• Tropical rain forests trees lose their leaves in the cooler months.

• Tropical rain forest trees survive with little or no precipitation.

If a forest ecosystem did not have decomposers, what would most likely happen?

• If a forest ecosystem did not have decomposers animal populations would increase in the forest.

• If a forest ecosystem did not have decomposers dead animals and plants would cover the forest

  floor.

• If a forest ecosystem did not have decomposers plant populations would increase in the forest.

• If a forest ecosystem did not have decomposers the forest ecosystem would not be affected.

A food web includes grass, grasshoppers, moss, and mushrooms. Which of the following is identified

as a consumer?

• grass

• moss

• grasshoppers

• mushrooms

In aquatic ecosystems, where are most producers found?

• Most producers are found in areas where fresh and saltwater meet.

• Most producers are found in deep water so they are protected.

• Most producers are found in deep water and in shallow water.

• Most producers are found in shallow water.

Which best describes the role of a shrub in a grassland ecosystem?

• decomposer

• consumer

• predator

• producer

During her walk in the park, Sophia observed and recorded the biotic factors. After she tallied the

factors, she classified them. Which factor is classified as a producer?

• grasshoppers

• rabbits

• trees

• squirrels

In a forest ecosystem a winter storm kills many of the plants the deer eat. Which of the following will

most likely result from the fewer plants in the forest ecosystem?

• There is no change in the population of deer, the deer do not need plants to survive.

• The population of deer will increase.

• The population of deer will decrease.

• The deer will begin feeding on meat.

Foxes eat mice in a terrestrial ecosystem. In Mr. Jackson’s field, all of the mice die from

disease. What will most likely happen to the population of foxes living in Mr. Jackson's field?

• The foxes will decrease in population.

• The foxes will eat only fruit and will increase in population.

• The foxes will eat only grass and will increase in population.

• The foxes will move to an aquatic ecosystem.