Food Chains and Food Webs in an Ecosystem

Which of the following would most likely result in a decrease in the population of insect-eating birds that build their nest on trees?

• Overhunting of animals that prey on birds

• Observation of birds by scientists

• Introduction of a new type of insect

• Clearing of forests to build a highway

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How are organisms, such as snakes, cacti, and coyotes able to survive in harsh desert conditions?

• Over thousands of years these organisms have developed adaptations to survive in arid climates

• These organisms migrate out of the desert during the summer months

• These organisms work together to find sources of food and water

• Snakes, cacti, and coyotes are all aquatic species that live in ponds and rivers during the hot day

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Which biome is home to jaguars, anacondas, leopards, gorillas, and poisonous tree frogs?

• Grasslands

• Temperate Forest

• Rainforest

• Tundra

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Which is LEAST LIKELY to push a species toward extinction?

• Cutting down entire forest

• Putting animals in a zoo

• Polluting mountain streams

• Introducing new species to an ecosystem with no known natural predator

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

In this tundra food web, if all grasses died out from disease, what is a possible outcome for this ecosystem?

• There would be an overpopulation of arctic hares and lemmings.

• Polar bears would move to a new ecosystem

• The ecosystem would collapse because it lost its main producer

• Wildflowers would die out from the ecosystem

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Highways allow people to travel between towns and cities, but it also divides ecosystems into smaller pieces. Animals can become separated from lakes they use for food and shelter. For example, tiger salamanders use lakes for these reasons. How could the building of highways affect animals such as the tiger salamander?

• Tiger salamanders could improve lake ecosystems.

• Tiger salamanders may be cut off from important resources.

• Tiger salamander habitats may have less pollution.

• Tiger salamander habitats within ecosystems would become larger.

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Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

• Polar bears thrive in the Arctic, but struggle in tropical climates.

• All animals can adapt to any environment.

• Fish can live both in water and on land.

• Birds can only survive in forests.

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Consider a forest ecosystem. If the population of predators increases significantly, what is the most likely immediate effect on the herbivore population?

• Increase

• Decrease

• Stay the same

• Become extinct

Answer explanation

If the population of predators increases significantly in a forest ecosystem, the most likely immediate effect on the herbivore population would be a decrease due to increased predation pressure.

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What are the three groups of the biotic factors?

• Producer, Decomposer, and Consumer
• Decomposer, Consumer, and Rocks
• Consumer, Water, and Producer
• Weather, Consumer, and Decomposer

Which organism do the owl and the weasel compete for in the food web?

• Hawk

• Spider

• Grasshopper

• Shrew

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