Ecology Quiz

What is meant by the term transpiration?

• a. water loss from the roots

• b. water absorption from the roots

• c. water loss from the leaves

• d. water absorption from the leaves

If a garden has poor soil quality, how might adding decomposers like earthworms and compost help improve it?

• a. Decomposers would eat the plants, reducing competition.

• b. Decomposers convert dead organic matter into nutrients that enrich the soil.

• c. They would attract more insects, increasing plant pollination.

• d. They would scare away animals that might eat the plants.

If a forest ecosystem lost all its herbivores, how might this impact the carnivores?

• a. Carnivores would eat more plants.

• b. Carnivores would have less food available

• c. no effect on carnivores.

• d. Carnivores would start to eat more insects.

You're testing how soil, sand, cotton, and gravel affect plant growth. Which combination of these materials would be best for growing tomatoes, and why?

• a. Soil and Cotton: Soil has nutrients and holds water, and cotton keeps the soil moist and helps air get to the roots.

• b. Sand and Gravel: Sand drains water quickly, while gravel keeps the plant standing strong.

• c. Soil and Gravel: Soil provides nutrients and holds water, while gravel prevents erosion.

• d. Cotton and Sand: Cotton absorbs nutrients, and sand lets air reach the plant's roots.

How could the introduction of a invasive fish species potentially affect the local fish population in a lake?

• a. lead to improved water clarity

• b. cause decrease in local fish populations due to competition for food.

• c. The invasive fish will likely become prey

• d. There will be no impact

In a river ecosystem, which of the following would be considered biotic factor?

• a. The flow rate of the river.

• b. The rocks along the riverbed.

• c. The bacteria living in the water.

• d. The amount of sunlight the river receives.

If many of the trees in a forest are cut down, how might this affect the animals living there?

• a. Animals have more space to live

• b. It would not affect the animals

• c. Animals decrease in number due to loss of food.

• d. The weather will become cooler

Which of the following help(s) return nitrogen into atmosphere?

• a. Decomposer and bacteria

• b. Bacteria only

• c. Decomposer only

• d. Virus and bacteria

If a park has too many deer (prey), which are eating all the vegetation, what might be a natural way to manage this problem?

• a. Introduce more deer into the area.

• b. Remove all the deer from the park.

• c. Introduce a natural predator of the deer.

• d. Plant more trees and shrubs.

If a squirrel and a bird live in the same tree, why might they not be in competition with each other?

• a. Because they do not share the same habitat.

• b. Because they have different niches within the same habitat.

• c. Because one is a bird and the other is a mammal.

• d. Because they eat the same food.