Unit 11 - Interdependence

The graph below shows the populations of two species from January 2010 to June 2011. One species is native to the ecosystem, while the other is a new species that was recently introduced to the ecosystem. How will the two populations most likely compare in December of 2011?

• The population of the native species will be higher than the population of the new species.

• The population of the native species will be lower and the population of the new species will be higher.

• The population of the native species will be higher and the population of the new species will be lower.

• The population of the both the native species and the new species will remain the same as it is in June 2011.

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Food chains from four different habitats are shown below. Which food chain correctly represents a pattern of energy transfer from producer to consumers to decomposer?

• Ocean: seaweed → sea urchin → squid → shark

• Wetland: mosquito → fish → turtle → bacteria

• Rainforest: hibiscus flower → monkey → jaguar → mushroom

• Grassland: grass → mouse → hawk → vulture

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Top-level predators, such as wolves and lions, are categorized in the highest trophic levels in their food webs. Where does the energy they consume start?

• their predators
• producers
• their prey
• primary consumers

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The diagram below shows a food web within a forest ecosystem. This food web is missing an important group of organisms. What will most likely happen to the organisms that are a part of this food web?

• The populations of prey will continue to grow due a lack of predators.
• The organisms will eventually die out due to a lack of decomposers to break down decaying matter.
• Due to a lack of sunlight, the tertiary consumers will develop the ability to feed on lower consumers. There will be an increase in mutualistic relationships among the organisms due to a lack of producers.
• There will be an increase in mutualistic relationships among the organisms due to a lack of producers.

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Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between hibiscus flowers and bumblebees that eat hibiscus nectar and transfer the pollen of the hibiscus flower

• parasitism: bumblebees harm the host hibiscus flowers by removing pollen
• commensalism: bumblebees live off the nectar but the hibiscus flowers do not benefit
• predation: bumblebees feed on hibiscus flowers' nectar which causes the hibiscus flowers to die
• mutualism: bumblebees pollinate hibiscus flowers and hibiscus flowers provide food for bumblebees

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A small crab will make its home inside a mussel, obtaining food and shelter while the mussel simply tolerates the situation. In contrast, a different crab falls victim to an intruder who slowly extracts nutrients from its body by spreading a fungus-like substance throughout its extremities. Which two symbiotic relationships are described in the examples?

• commensalism and parasitism
• communism and predation
• competition and mutualism
• competition and symbiosis

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8 A model of a marine food web is shown below. What might a food web model like this help scientists to understand?

• the process of energy transfer in a food web
• the relationships of producers in an ecosystem
• how the populations change within an ecosystem
• how the introduction of a new species changes the food web

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In 1906, there was a population of deer. Cows ate all the grass that the deer normally would. People created a safe space for the deer without cows and natural predators. In 1920, the number of deer in the space was very large. By 1923, most of the deer were starving from a lack of food. Which statement best describes what happened between 1906 and 1923?

• Overeating by cows caused the deer to starve.
• The large growth and starvation of the deer population was from natural selection.
• Because there were no predators to hunt the deer, the deer population continued to grow.
• The growth of the deer population was slower than the growth of the grass, causing starvation.

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A species of fish has recently increased its carrying capacity. What could explain this increase in carrying capacity?

• The species lives on a coral reef that has experienced an increase in photosynthetic algae.
• The species lives on the ocean floor, and one of its competitors for food has experienced an increased population.
• The species lives mutually with another species that has recently experienced a decline in its population due to parasites.
• The species lives in an estuary that has recently experienced a large influx of freshwater due to flooding of the nearby rivers.

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The graph shows the change in an organism population in an area. What are the carrying capacities of the graph?

• 50 and 200
• 300 and 225
• 420 and 180
• 450 and 200

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