ScienceFusion - Interactions of Living Things

Which of the following best describes what scientists consider when they study ecology?

• the interactions of organisms with their environment

• the interactions of organisms with weather and climate

• the interactions of organisms to reproduce and produce offspring

• the interactions of organisms with one another and the environment

Which of the following determines where a population can live?

• whether its needs are met by the biotic factors in the habitat

• whether its needs are met by the abiotic factors in the habitat

• whether its needs are met by the abiotic and biotic factors in the habitat

• whether its needs are met by the other populations of organisms in the habitat

The following image shows organisms in a certain land biome.

Which land biome is most likely shown in this image?

• desert

• tundra

• tropical rain forest

• temperate grassland

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

• wind

• tree leaves

• small rocks

• light from the sun

Which of these statements describes a species?

• A species is a group of organisms that are closely related.

• A species is a group of organisms that live in the same habitat.

• A species is a group of organisms that live in an area and interact.

• A species is a group of organisms that are closely related and produce fertile offspring.

Each organism has its own role in an ecosystem. Organisms can be producers, consumers, or decomposers. Which of these organisms can be classified as a decomposer?

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Which of the following consumers is a herbivore?

• cat

• horse

• human

• vulture

A student is identifying food chains in an ecosystem. Which of the following organisms might be a tertiary consumer?

• frog

• redwood tree

• great white shark

• athlete’s foot fungus

Two types of global food webs show the feeding relationships of organisms. What distinguishes one type of global web from the other?

• whether the producers are located on land or in water

• whether or not the food web includes tertiary consumers

• whether the web includes animals that migrate during the year

• whether the ecosystem described by the web is localized or very broad

All organisms must obtain energy from their environment. Every organism needs this energy in order to grow and reproduce. How do producers obtain energy?

• They obtain energy by eating plants, bacteria, and algae.

• They extract chemical energy from decaying organic matter.

• They extract energy from the chemicals in soil, air, and water.

• They capture energy from sunlight and manufacture their own food.