Some bacteria benefit mammals by helping with digestion. When a person becomes ill with a bacterial infection a doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Certain antibiotics cause patients to exhibit digestive side effects. These side effects are most often the result of —

bacteria being killed in the digestive tract

the antibiotics being converted into stomach acids

too much water being drawn into the digestive tract

In what manner do bacteria cause disease?

They damage tissues and release toxins.

They cause cracks in the skin, which allows dirt to enter.

They generate heat that kills nearby cells.

They integrate themselves into the host cell’s DNA.

How do antibiotics work to destroy a bacterial cell?

Antibiotics break down the cell wall of the bacterial cell.

Antibiotics destroy the nucleus of bacterial cells.

Antibiotics break down the endoplasmic reticulum of bacterial cells.

Antibiotics invade the nucleus of bacterial cells and destroy the DNA.

Which response usually occurs after an individual receives a vaccination for influenza virus?

Antibodies against the virus form in the blood.

Antigens from the vaccine deactivate the virus.

Hormones in the blood inhibit reproduction of the virus.

Enzymes released from platelets kill the virus.

Pioneer species are species which colonize previously uncolonized land, usually leading to ecological succession. They are the first organisms to start the chain of events leading to a livable biosphere or ecosystem. Why is a lichen most likely to be a pioneer species?

The mutualistic relationship of species forming a lichen allows it to survive independently.

The lichen is fast growing and provides a nutritious food source for many other species.

The lichen does not require sunlight to survive.

The lichen is a decomposer that digests rocks and forms soil.

In which of the following areas would secondary succession most likely occur?

A previously forested area devastated by fire

An area with a well-balanced, well-established ecosystem

A rock ledge exposed by the melting of the glacier that covered it

A new farmer purchases a large area of naturally occurring hayfield and immediately begins plowing the land and planting only wheat on the land. His actions will most likely

decreased the diversity of plant and animal life in that field.

had very little effect on the diversity of plant and animal life in that field.

increased the diversity of plant and animal life in that field.

As ecological succession progresses forward in time,

the diversity of plant and animal life increases.

there is very little effect on the diversity of plant and animal life.

the diversity of plant and animal life decreases.

Using the diagram, why will the herbs and shrubs most likely replace the lichens and mosses?

The lichens and mosses will modify the environment, making it more favorable for herbs and shrubs.

Increased cultivation by humans will provide more fertile soil.

Dense shrubs are the climax community for this environment.

An increase in carbon dioxide in the soil will make it possible for taller plants to grow.

Which statement best describes these two species?

Species A is a predator and species B is its prey.

Species A is a producer and species B is its consumer.

Species A is a host and species B is its parasite.

Species A is a scavenger and species B is its decomposer.

The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of –

mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food, and the insect pollinates the flower.

parasitism because the insect lives off the nectar from the flower.

commensalism because the insect doesn’t harm the flower and the flower doesn’t benefit from the relationship.

predation because the insect feeds on the flower.

Which organisms are correctly paired with their nutritional roles?

mountain lion—predator; bark beetle—herbivore

hawk—decomposer; insect-eating bird—parasite

mouse—autotroph; flower seed—heterotroph

grasshopper—carnivore; grass—autotroph

Which of the following is a long-term effect on the removal of the redfish from the ecosystem represented by the food web above?

The clam worm population will increase.

The osprey population will increase.

The amphipod population will increase.

The phytoplankton population will increase.

The diagram represents a pyramid of biomass in an aquatic environment. Which statement best explains why mass decreases from one level to the next in this pyramid?

Energy is lost to the environment at each level, so less mass can be supported at higher levels.

Organisms decay at each level, and thus less mass can be supported at higher levels.

When organisms die at higher levels, their remains sink to lower levles, increasing the mass at lower levels.

More organisms die at higher levels than at lower levels, resulting in less mass at higher levels.

The long-term survival of species is dependent on -

changing resource bases that are limited.

its ability to absorb sunlight to stay warm.

its ability to perform photosynthesis.

An axolote is a reptile similar to an iguana. It is found only in the canals of a small area in Mexico and numbers are diminishing at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, the axolote is in danger of extinction. Which of the following factors could be affecting the long-term survival of the axolote species?

Cod and tilapia, invasive species, are eating the limited food source of the axolote.

The canals where the axolote live are being polluted.

Carp and other fish eat the plants the axolote lays its eggs on and eat the eggs at the same time.

The diagram shows several phases of the nitrogen cycle. Which of the following describes the most likely effect of removing some plants from the area by using chemical herbicides?

The flow of necessary nutrients would be disrupted.

The rate of erosion of rocks on the ground would be slowed.

The ability of plants to complete photosynthesis would be increased.

The infiltration of water into the ground would be halted.

The nitrogen cycle is most directly dependent upon the -

nitrogen-fixing bacteria and lightening.

evaporation of water from Earth's surface.

ability of consumers to move from place to place.

process of transpiration in autotrophs.

How does the burning of fossil fuels affect the cycle shown?

It releases carbon into the atmosphere.

It releases ozone into the atmosphere.

It removes carbon from the atmosphere.

It both releases and removes carbon from the atmosphere.

How do plants affect the given cycle above?

They both release and remove carbon from the atmosphere.

They only release carbon into the atmosphere.

They do not contribute to this cycle.

They only remove carbon from the atmosphere.

The information in the graph suggests that -

the ability of a water flea to produce offspring is affected by population density.

water fleas produce more offspring when they are crowded together.

water fleas have fewer offspring when they are thinly populated.

the reproduction rate of water fleas increases steadily after 20 day.

How would an exotic/nonnative species, such as a water plant bred for home aquariums, likely interrupt the balance in a freshwater pond ecosystem?

It would compete for space and light with the plants native to the pond.

It would attract more animals to the pond than can be sustained.

It would become a home for many insects.

It would cause an overproduction of oxygen in the pond and kill many fish.

Coyotes are killing sheep in West Texas, and ranchers decide the coyote population is out of control. The graph above represents the effect of the ranchers’ decision to hunt the coyotes. Which statement best represents the data above?

Predation maintains homeostasis in an ecosystem.

Rabbits reproduce faster than sheep.

Sheep and rabbits compete for the same food source.

The rabbit population decreases as a result of the ranchers hunting the coyotes.

Which relationship can be correctly inferred from the data presented in the given graphs?

As sewage waste increases, carp population increases.

As sewage waste increases, walleye population increases.

As sewage waste increases, trout population increases.

As oxygen content decreases, carp population decreases.

Ecology STAAR Review

Authored by Lauren Murphy

Biology

9th Grade

NGSS covered

Used 186+ times

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45 questions

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

How does human development of land effect the carrying capacity in a given area for a species other than humans?

It is unaffected.

It increases but then quickly decreases.

It is decreased.

It is increased.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

How would a disease that infects and kills jerboa most directly affect the given food web above?

Leafcutter ant populations would compete more for food.

The biomass of rattlesnakes and lizards would increase.

Rattlesnake, badger, and lizard populations would likely decrease.

Raptor and coyote populations would likely increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

According to the graph shown, what effect did the brown tree snake have on the birds in Guam?

The snakes had no effect on the bird populations.

The snakes caused a decline in the number of bird populations.

The snakes formed a mutualistic relationship with the birds.

The snakes caused an increase in the number of bird populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

How would an increase in prey effect the carrying capacity of a particular ecosystem?

It would decrease.

It would have no effect.

It would decrease suddenly and then slowly increase.

It would increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

How would a sudden increase in parasites, within a population, affect the population's growth?

The birth rate would increase.

The growth rate would continue at a steady pace.

The growth rate would be unaffected.

The death rate would increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

Which of the following is the most crucial role of fungi in a balanced ecosystem?

They act as autotrophs that turn energy from the Sun into glucose and oxygen.

They serve as decomposers and recycle nutrients.

They serve as tertiary consumers.

They serve as primary producers.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

Analyze the food web above. What are two roles that bacteria have in the environment?

Nitrogen fixation and decomposing dead matter

Recycling nutrients and producing O2 for atmosphere

Photosynthesis and development of new antibiotics

Nitrogen fixation and preserving dead matter

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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