Organism Interactions in Ecosystems

What is a population in the context of an ecosystem?

• All the biotic factors in an area

• All the members of one species living in a particular area at a particular time

• All the nonliving things in an ecosystem

• All the ecosystems on Earth

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Which of the following is NOT one of the three main ecosystems identified by scientists?

• Aquatic Marine

• Aquatic Freshwater

• Terrestrial

• Urban

What is the limiting factor for many plant species in the desert?

• Nutrients

• Predators

• Water

• Pathogens

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Why do animals need light?

• To make food

• To balance their wake-and-sleep cycles

• To find shelter

• To regulate body temperature

How does soil composition affect the types of organisms that live in an ecosystem?

• It has no effect on the types of organisms.

• It determines the variety of plant species, which in turn affects the variety of animal species.

• It only affects the types of animal species.

• It changes the climate of the ecosystem.

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What is the carrying capacity (K) in an ecosystem?

• The maximum population size that can be supported by an ecosystem.

• The total number of organisms in an ecosystem at any given time.

• The rate at which a population grows in an ecosystem.

• The amount of food available in an ecosystem.

What determines the carrying capacity of a population in an ecosystem?

• The number of predators in the ecosystem.

• The weather patterns of the ecosystem.

• The limiting factors such as food supply and space.

• The migration patterns of the species.

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How do predator and prey numbers in an ecosystem typically change over time?

• Predator numbers increase as prey numbers increase indefinitely

• Prey numbers increase as predator numbers decrease because there is more food available

• Predator and prey numbers do not follow any patterns over time

• Predator and prey numbers often follow cyclic patterns over time

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What happens in an ecosystem when too many organisms compete for the same limited resources?

• All organisms get an equal share of resources

• Only the organisms that can get the needed resources will survive

• The ecosystem immediately collapses

• Predators will increase in number rapidly

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What happens if one part of a food web is disturbed?

• Only the directly affected species will suffer

• The disturbance has no significant impact on the ecosystem

• It can cause a chain reaction affecting many organisms in the ecosystem

• The food web will quickly recover without any intervention

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