Nutrient Cycle and Succession

What is the role of decomposers in the nutrient cycle?

• They produce nutrients by photosynthesis.

• They consume nutrients from living organisms.

• They return nutrients to the soil after creatures die.

• They filter nutrients from water.

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Which of the following are considered decomposers?

• Plants and animals

• Fungi and bacteria

• Rocks and minerals

• Water and air

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Why must nutrients be recycled in ecosystems?

• To increase energy flow

• To create new ecosystems

• To be available for the next generation

• To reduce pollution

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What does greater biodiversity in an ecosystem offer?

• Fewer food resources

• More food resources

• Less resilience to environmental change

• Fewer habitats

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How does biodiversity impact the stability of an ecosystem?

• Greater diversity leads to less stability

• Greater diversity does not affect stability

• Greater diversity leads to greater stability

• There is no relationship between diversity and stability

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What is ecological succession?

• The process by which a community acquires a stable ecosystem

• The sequence of community changes including a transition in species composition over time

• The rapid growth of a species population

• The study of interactions between different organisms and their environment

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

How long does ecological succession typically take?

• A few months

• Several years or decades

• A century

• A few weeks

What usually triggers ecological succession?

• The introduction of a new species

• A change in weather patterns

• A disturbance

• The removal of a predator from the ecosystem

What is the first stage of organisms that colonize a virtually lifeless area in primary succession?

• Bacteria

• Lichens and mosses

• Grasses

• Shrubs

What does secondary succession imply in an ecological context?

• The complete destruction of soil and community

• The partial disturbance of a community without soil damage

• The introduction of a new species into an ecosystem

• The removal of all animal life from an area

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

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