APES Ecosystem Overview Quiz

Barnacles are aquatic animals that cannot move. In order to get food, they attach to whales and catch any floating plankton in the water. The whale is neither helped nor harmed in the interaction. What type of symbiosis is this?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Neutralism

In the wild, crocodiles get their teeth cleaned by symbiotic birds. The birds get their food from the alligators' teeth. What type of symbiosis is this?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Neutralism

In a rainforest ecosystem, lizards are observed eating members of the insect population. In this same ecosystem, birds are also observed using these insects as a food source. The relationship between lizards and birds would best be described as

• predation

• competition

• parasitism

• mutualism

Different species are most likely to compete for resources in an ecosystem if both species attempt to

• occupy the same niche.

• successfully reproduce.

• live in different habitats.

• find different food sources.

Different species of fish that live in a lake have different optimal temperature ranges. The graph shows the temperature ranges of four fish species. At which temperature range will there be the most competition for space among these fish species?

• 5°C to 10°C

• 10°C to 15°C

• 15°C to 20°C

• 25°C to 30°C

Groups of different species that live in a given area and interact are called a(n)

• Community

• Colony

• Population

• Ecosystem

What ecological relationship does this graph represent?

• Mutualism

• Competition

• Symbiosis

• Predator/Prey

A species that plays a far more important in its community than its relative abundance might suggest.

• Keystone Species

• Pioneer Species

• Invasive Species

• Indicator Species

Which of the following is NOT a form of symbiosis?

• Mutualism
• Commensalism
• Parasitism 
• Predation

Two closely related species of birds live in the same tree. Species A feeds on ants and termites, while Species B feeds on caterpillars. The two species coexist successfully because

• each occupies a different niche

• they interbreed

• they use different methods of reproduction

• birds compete for food