Ecosystems

In Ottawalley National Park, grass is abundant. Gazelles spend most of the day feeding on grass, their main source of food. Gazelles are hunted and eaten by the park's wild dogs. Lions are a predator of both wild dogs and gazelles.

Which of the following food webs best represents the relationships described above?

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Choose the abiotic factors that characterize the tundra biome.

• very little rainfall, extreme temperatures

• very low temperatures, very little precipitation

• warm, wet forests

• arctic foxes, wolves, snowy owls

Which of the following bodies of water are included in the freshwater biome?

I. rivers

II. oceans

III. lakes

IV. streams

• III only

• I, II, III, and IV

• I, III, and IV only

• II and III only

Water lilies float on the surface of ponds. They grow in shallow ponds, so the roots of the plant can grow down into the mud at the bottom of the pond. Water lilies need about 4-6 hours of sunlight each day, and grow best in tropical areas.

Which statement best explains why water lilies cannot survive in the marine biome?

• The water in the marine biome is fresh water rather than salt water.

• The marine biome has an average yearly rainfall that is too low.

• The water in the marine biome is salt water rather than fresh water.

• The marine biome has an average yearly rainfall that is too high.

The tree in the photo has needle-like leave that have very little surface area. Therefore, very little snow accumulates on the branches, keeping them from becoming too heavy and breaking.

This adaptation is primarily beneficial for life in which biome?

• taiga

• tropical rainforest

• desert

• tundra

The green anole is a type of lizard. Lizards are reptiles, which means they are cold-blooded. The green anole has developed specific behaviors to help it survive. The green anole will lay in sunny areas to make sure that its body temperature remains between 75°F and 95°F. Green anoles can also climb trees and tall plants to find small insects to eat.

Which statement best explains why the green anole cannot survive in the taiga biome?

• The green anole would have too many predators.

• The green anole would have too much competition for food.

• The average temperatures are too cold for the green anole.

• The average temperatures are too hot for the green anole.

Compared to other land biomes, which abiotic factors are most likely responsible for the number of trees found in forests?

• extremely hot temperatures and dry air

• mild temperatures and abundant rainfall

• mild temperatures and strong winds

• extremely cold temperatures and abundant snow

Which of these gives an example of the influence of location on what kinds of organisms can survive in a biome?

• About 300 species of birds live in the taiga in the summer.

• A pine tree grows well in a taiga evergreen forest in Canada, while a barrel cactus grows well in a desert in Arizona.

• A person removes a cactus from a desert in Nevada and plants it in his yard in a nearby desert area.

• A caribou that lives in a taiga ecosystem occasionally wanders north into the tundra.

Which of the following is true about the marine biome?

• Organisms with a low tolerance for salt thrive in the marine biome.

• The marine biome experiences a smaller degree of temperature change than the terrestrial biome.

• The terrestrial biome has a major effect on the weather patterns of the marine biome.

• The marine biome includes the freshwater and saltwater biomes.

In which of the following biomes would you most likely find organisms that are adapted to limited water supplies?

• forest

• desert

• marine

• grassland