Ecology Extra

Which of these lists the levels of ecological organization from simplest to most complex?

• biome, ecosystem, organism, population, community

• community, ecosystem, biome, organism, population

• organism, population, biome, community, ecosystem

• organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome

Which correctly shows the transfer of energy within an ecosystem?

• producer → decomposer → herbivore → omnivore

• carnivore → herbivore → decomposer → primary consumer

• omnivore → carnivore → herbivore → primary consumer

• producer → herbivore → carnivore → decomposer

Small birds eat insects from the backs of rhinoceroses. The birds obtain food, and the rhinoceroses eliminate biting insects from their skins. Which ecological relationship is not represented by this situation?

• commensalism

• mutualism

• parasitism

• predators

Which tropic level is generally the smallest in a terrestrial ecosystem?

• producer

• primary consumer

• secondary consumer

• tertiary consumer

Which of the following is the best definition of carrying capacity?

• the maximum rate of growth of a population

• the population size that can be sustained by an ecosystem

• the number of different species that can inhabit an ecosystem

• the minimum number of different species that can compose a food web

Strep throat is a common human illness often caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. Which term best classifies the colonies of Streptococcus pyogenes in a person with strep throat?

• a population

• an organelle

• a community

• an ecosystem

Yellowstone National Park contains many different plants and animals that interact with one another. What is this level of ecological organization called?

• community

• ecosystem

• organism

• population

Which best describes an example of mutualism?

• Mistletoe lives in the branches of tall trees, absorbing nutrients from the tree branch.

• A leech attaches to the side of a fish, where it sucks blood and cell fluids from the fish.

• A clown fish hides in the tentacles of a sea anemone, drawing larger fish to the anemone.

• A barnacle attaches to the sides of a whale, filtering nourishment as the whale swims along.

A farmer plants two species of grass with similar nutrient needs on the same small plot of land.  What kind of interaction will most likely occur between the two species?

• parasitism
• competition
• commensalism
• mutualism