Ecosystem Hierarchy

What is the base level of the hierarchy in an ecosystem?

• Communities

• Species

• Populations

• Organisms

While walking through a dense forest, you observe various organisms around you. Which of the following is an example of an organism you might see?

• Earthworm

• Deer

• Bird

• Mushroom

What is a population in an ecosystem?

• A group of organisms interacting with one another

• A group of organisms of different species living in the same area

• All the different populations of organisms living in the same ecosystem

• A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area

After observing various populations within a forest ecosystem, what is the next level of hierarchy that these populations would collectively form?

• Organisms

• Communities

• Species

• Environments

What does a community in an ecosystem consist of?

• All the different populations of organisms living in the same ecosystem

• A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area

• A group of organisms interacting with one another

• A group of organisms of different species living in the same area

Which of the following is an example of a population in a forest ecosystem?

• Earthworms

• Squirrels

• Oaks trees

• Mushrooms

organism

• a group of organs working together to perform a vital body function.

• a living thing

• same species interacting with each other

• all living things in a particular area.

population

• a group of organs working together to perform a vital body function.

• a living thing

• same species interacting with each other

• all living things in a particular area.

community

• a group of organs working together to perform a vital body function.

• a living thing

• same species interacting with each other

• all living things in a particular area.

Ecosystem . . .

• All living things and nonliving components of the environment (water, air, soil, light) in a particular area.

• The environments that support life (soil, bodies of water and inner atmosphere)

• the type of natural environment in which a particular species of organism lives.

• the role and position a species has in its environment; how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces.