Ecosystem terms and examples

A hollow, sealed glass sphere contains sand, water, air, algae, and tiny brine shrimp. The sphere is a model ecosystem. Which of these is a biotic factor of this ecosystem?

• air

• algae

• sand

• water

Refer to the diagram. Which list includes abiotic factors only?

• Items A, C, D

• Items B, C, E

• Items A, D

• Items A, B, C, D, E

Which of these is a biotic factor in a river ecosystem?

• the types of microorganisms that live in the river water

• the amount of soil and other particles carried by the river

• the speed at which the river water flows toward the ocean

• the amount of rain that flows off the land and into the river

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

In many desert ecosystems, days are hot and nights are cold. Water is scarce, so animals seek water wherever possible. The spines of a cactus are actually leaves adapted to conserve water. The cactus plants have also adapted to live in thin, sandy soil. Which of the following is a biotic component of a desert ecosystem?

• the thin, sandy soil

• the wide temperature range

• the scarcity of water

• the spiny cactus leaves

Which of the following is a biotic factor in an ocean ecosystem?

• the salt content of the water

• the temperature of the water

• the fish in the water

• the oxygen in the water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following MOST completely describes the components of a pond ecosystem?

• the soil and water that make up the pond

• the organisms and non-living environment in and around the pond

• the plants and animals that live in and around the pond

• the fish and other aquatic animals in the pond

Drought, erosion, flood, and prolonged heat spells are examples of —

• communities

• biotic factors within an ecosystem which affect abiotic components

• populations

• abiotic changes within an ecosystem which can affect biotic factors

An example of an abiotic component of an ecosystem is:

• bats under a bridge in Austin, Texas

• population of deer on a deer lease in Central Texas

• attack on a wheat field by fungus

• monthly average rainfall in Texas

What terms should replace X and Y in the table?

• elements; compounds

• abiotic; biotic

• microscopic; macroscopic

• natural; man-made

Which statement below refers only to biotic components in an ecosystem?

• Evaporation, transpiration, and precipitation are complex processes that cycle water between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface.

• Photosynthesis and respiration are not considered atmospheric processes.

• Vegetation is an indicator of several environmental factors, including precipitation, temperature, soil, geology, and wind.

• In Yellowstone Park, shrubs have expanded into large areas formerly populated by short grasses, due to overgrazing and trampling by livestock.