NC checkin Energy Flow and Ecosystems Quiz

Which best explains what happens to the available energy in an ecosystem as it flows from a lower trophic level to a higher trophic level?

• Energy increases because there is an increase in the types of organisms in the higher trophic levels.

• Energy decreases because organisms in higher trophic levels need less energy than those in lower trophic levels.

• Energy remains stable because the trophic levels of an ecosystem are always in a balanced state.

• Energy decreases because some of the energy is used during the life processes of organisms.

Which best explains why internal fertilization is a greater advantage to an organism than external fertilization?

• Internal fertilization produces a large number of zygotes.

• Internal fertilization prevents mutations from occurring.

• Internal fertilization decreases the chance of mitotic cell division.

• Internal fertilization provides a protective environment for fertilization to occur.

As the grasshopper and rabbit populations in an area increase, the amount of plants in the area decreases. What else will most likely increase?

• the carrying capacity of both grasshoppers and rabbits

• competition between grasshoppers and rabbits

• the resources needed by both grasshoppers and rabbits

• the diversity of the plants growing in the area

As space and nutrients become limited, which term best describes the number of bacteria an environment can support?

• emigration

• competition

• carrying capacity

• population density

Lionfish, an aggressive predator of smaller fish, have been introduced into the southern Atlantic Ocean. The lionfish is normally native to the Pacific Ocean. What is the most likely impact on the Atlantic Ocean ecosystem?

• The lionfish population stays small because the same predators of lionfish live in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

• The lionfish breeds with the native fish of the Atlantic Ocean, and a new species of fish evolves.

• The lionfish population eats the native fish of the Atlantic Ocean at a fast rate, so the native fish population decreases.

• The lionfish develops a niche in the Atlantic Ocean by eating parasitic worms, and the health of the ecosystem improves.

Which is a benefit of planting different crops on the same field during the year?

• It increases the size of vegetables.

• It adds iron to the soil.

• It increases water runoff.

• It slows down the loss of soil minerals.

Which is a biotic factor that may affect any habitat?

• presence of decomposers

• extent of soil erosion

• amount of available water

• concentration of carbon dioxide

What is the main function of stomata in the leaves of plants?

• gas exchange

• photosynthesis

• water absorption

• protection

Which best describes the relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on the nectar from the flower?

• competition, because the insect and the flower need the pollen as a nutrient source

• mutualism, because the insect gets its food from the flower, and the insect helps to pollinate the flower

• parasitism, because the insect gets its food from the flower, and the flower is then eaten by the insect

• predation, because the insect hunts the flower for food and then kills the flower before it can spread its pollen

A toxin is introduced into an environment. The toxin is fatal to prey but is not fatal to predators. What long-term effect will this toxin have on the predators?

• There will be an increase of predators because the toxin will not be harmful to the predators.

• There will be an increase of predators because there will be more space for the predators to live.

• There will be a decrease of predators because there will be less food available to the predators.

• There will be a decrease of predators because there will be a buildup of the toxin in the predators.