ECOSYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS

A researcher observing an ecosystem describes the amount of sunlight, precipitation, and type of soil present. Which factors is the researcher most likely describing?

• biotic factors in a forest

• biotic factors in a tundra

• abiotic factors in a prairie

• abiotic factors in an ocean

A student studying the biosphere makes a list of biotic and abiotic characteristics of various biomes. Which characteristic is considered a biotic factor?

• dry, sandy, nutrient-poor soil in a desert

• less than 25 cm of precipitation in a desert

• evergreen trees present in a coniferous forest

• temperature range of -40 to 40°C in a grassland

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A student listed characteristics of a classroom aquarium ecosystem. Which characteristic is a biotic component of the aquarium ecosystem?

• The water temperature is 23°C.

• The pH of the water is usually between 6.5 and 6.8.

• The ammonia is controlled with a filter that uses two types of bacteria.

• The lighting is supplied by natural sunlight and a fluorescent light bulb.

The diagram shows part of a river ecosystem. Which statement best describes a relationship between a biotic part and an abiotic part of this ecosystem?

• The rain erodes the rock.

• The river moves water into the lake.

• The grasses use energy from the Sun to grow.

• The grasses provide a food source for the deer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which biome is characterized by conifers, or trees whose seeds grow in cones?

• tundra

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• temperature deciduous forest

A scientist discovers that very few plants grow on the bottom of the ocean. Which statement below best explains this observation?

• an increased amount of oxygen availability

• an increased amount of sunlight

• a decreased amount of sunlight

• a decreased amount of competition

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which statement correctly describes an interaction between a biotic component of an ecosystem and an abiotic component of the ecosystem?

• A snail obtains energy for its body processes by eating plant leaves.

• A flash flood drastically increases the water level of a small lake.

• A fish in a pond breathes by filtering dissolved oxygen from the water.

• Heat from the Sun transforms liquid water from a pond into water vapor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which biome is characterized by trees that replace their leaves annually?

• tropical rainforest

• deciduous forest

• coniferous forest

• tundra

In which biome of Africa would you find lions, giraffes, and elephants?

• savanna

• chaparral

• desert

• tropical rainforest

Ecosystems are dynamic, and various factors - both biotic and abiotic - can have serious effects on their stability. Which of the following lists ONLY abiotic factors that can affect ecosystems?

• temperature, soil pH, and types of producers

• oxygen availability, amount of light, and amount of available water

• floods, types of decomposers, and droughts

• fires, types of autotrophs, and water salinity