Biomes and Succession

A habitat that receives little or no precipitation will most likely be suitable for organisms that —

• Hibernate for long periods of time

• Are covered in thick fur to keep warm

• Spend most of the day in the sunlight

• Store large quantities of water internally

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which of the following describes an interaction between a biotic and an abiotic factor?

• A pair of birds build a nest in a tree.

• A black bear uses a cave for a winter home.

• A squirrel gathers nuts to store for winter.

• A vulture eats the remains of a wild pig.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following is a description of an abiotic factor that makes up part of a desert habitat?

• Sparse growth of cottonwood trees

• Extreme day and night temperatures

• Few large predators, such as coyotes

• Leafless, waxy-coated plant with sharp spines

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Macaws (a parrot) have a diet which includes fruits, leaves, nuts, and seeds of plants. Which of the following describes a biotic factor of the macaw’s habitat that provides a survival advantage for these birds?

• The colorful feathers are lost and regrow each year.

• Some rainforest predators are able to climb trees.

• Trees provide shelter and abundant food supplies.

• During some periods, rain falls nearly every day.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

The ecosystem with the greatest sustainability will be the one that has the —

• greatest biodiversity

• lack of decomposers

• highest annual precipitation

• extreme daily temperatures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

The Brazilian rainforest is an area with significant biodiversity. As the rainforest is replaced with agricultural land, it is reasonable to predict a reduction in —

• consumption of solar energy

• sustainability over time

• precipitation levels

• average daily temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

In the process of ecological succession, grasses appear before shrubs because grasses—

• loosen the dirt for new trees to take root

• provide food for animals returning to the area

• require plenty of sunlight to make their own food

• can grow rapidly even in areas with shallow soil

An example of a typical pioneer species, that is one that appears in the earliest stages of ecological succession, is —

• oak trees

• Spiders

• Weeds

• Humans

Primary succession takes place in an area where —

• no soil or organisms were previously present

• wildfires removed existing prairie grass species

• large organisms outcompete smaller organisms

• weeds grow in a garden next to vegetables

Which of these types of environments experiences the LEAST change in the total number and type of species over time?

• An ecosystem with only pioneer species

• An ecosystem that is in primary succession

• An ecosystem that is in secondary succession

• An ecosystem with a climax community