Eco Interactions Quiz

A disease has greatly reduced the number of snakes present in the desert ecosystem, shown in the diagram to the left. Which population would increase as a direct result of the decrease in the snake population?

• Hawks

• Rodents

• Foxes

• Scorpion

How would a reduction in the snail population effect this ecosystem?

• It would cause decreased competition between spiders and owls.

• It would cause decreased competition between spiders and wood mice.

• It would cause increased competition between grasshoppers and beetles.

• It would cause increased competition between wood mice and shrews.

What type of symbiosis?  Hummingbirds feed on nectar from flowers.  The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds as they move from flower to flower.

• commensalism

• mutualism

• parasitism

• predation

Which is an example of parasitism?

• Shark and seal

• Flea and dog

• Deer and grass

• Seagull and fish

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

• Geothermal vents

• The sun

• Decomposition

• Wind

Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• They produce oxygen through photosynthesis.

• They consume living plants and animals.

• They break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.

• They are the primary consumers in most food chains.

What is a trophic level in an ecosystem?

• A measure of the amount of energy or biomass at each level in a food chain.

• The rate at which energy is transferred from one part of the ecosystem to another.

• A specific biome type, such as forest or grassland.

• The depth at which sunlight can penetrate in aquatic ecosystems.

Which of the following best exemplifies a mutualistic relationship?

• A lion eating a zebra

• A tick feeding on a dog

• Bees pollinating flowers while collecting nectar

• A shark and a remora fish, where the remora cleans the shark's skin

What is the main difference between a food chain and a food web?

• A food chain is a theoretical concept, while a food web is a real-world observation.

• A food chain shows a single pathway of energy flow, while a food web shows multiple pathways.

• A food web only includes primary producers and primary consumers, while a food chain includes all trophic levels.

• There is no significant difference; they are interchangeable terms.

What role do plants play in the water cycle within an ecosystem?

• They release water vapor into the atmosphere through transpiration.

• They absorb water vapor directly from the atmosphere.

• They decrease the overall humidity and precipitation levels.

• They primarily serve as a source of water for herbivores.