Ecology Practice Quiz

What does "biotic" refer to?

• Non-living components of an ecosystem

• Living components of an ecosystem

• Energy flow in an ecosystem

• Nutrient recycling

What is an "abiotic" factor?

• A living organism

• A non-living component

• A type of plant

• A consumer

Which of the following best defines an "ecosystem"?

• A community of plants

• A group of different species interacting with their environment

• A food chain

• A single species in a habitat

What is a "community" in ecological terms?

• All living and non-living things in an area

• A group of similar species

• Different species living together and interacting

• A group of producers

Which of the following describes an "autotroph"?

• An organism that consumes others for food

• An organism that produces its own food

• A type of decomposer

• A predator

What does "heterotroph" mean?

• An organism that creates energy from sunlight

• An organism that cannot produce its own food

• A plant that photosynthesizes

• A type of bacteria

What role do "decomposers" play in an ecosystem?

• They produce energy

• They consume other organisms

• They break down dead organic matter

• They compete for resources

A "food chain" is best described as:

• A complex network of species

• A linear sequence of energy flow

• A list of producers only

• A diagram of abiotic factors

What is a "food web"?

• A single chain of food interactions

• A complex network of food chains

• A model of energy loss

• A description of abiotic factors

The "Rule of 10" refers to:

• The total number of species in an ecosystem

• The percentage of energy transferred between trophic levels

• The number of decomposers in a food web

• The maximum number of organisms in a community