Ecosystems

Below is an example of a simple food chain.

Acorn → Squirrel → Fox → Mountain Lion 

What will most likely happen if squirrels are removed from the food chain?

• The fox will eat acorns
• The fox population will decrease
• The trees will produce fewer acorns.
• The mountain lion population will increase

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Which is an abiotic factor that would affect the growth of a population within an ecosystem?

• the availability of water
• the availability of producers
• the type of herbivores present
• the number of carnivores present

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When an ecosystem is affected by loss of shelter, what happens to the populations in that ecosystem?

• They can decrease or die out
• They are usually not affected
• They can readily adapt to the changes
• The populations increase

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As populations grow, they tend to spread out into new territory. Which limiting factor is most likely to become an issue?

• food
• shelter
• space
• water

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Without decomposers, what would build up on the ground and not return to the soil?

• large rocks

• rain water

• bacteria and other microorganisms

• dead plant and animal matter

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In any community, which group includes the largest number of animals?

• herbivores

• prey

• predators

• consumers

All the living and nonliving things in an area make up a/an

• community.

• ecosystem.

• population.

• environment.

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An organism that makes its own food is a/an

• producer.

• consumer.

• predator.

• prey.

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An _____ is everything that surrounds and affects a living thing.

• ecosystem

• environment

• population

• community

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All the living things in an ecosystem make up a ________.

• ecosystem

• environment

• population

• community