Understanding Ecology Concepts Quiz # Ecology Quiz

What is the term for the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely?

• Biotic potential

• Carrying capacity

• Population density

• Ecological footprint

Which of the following is an example of primary succession?

• Forest regrowth after a wildfire

• Lichen colonization on bare rock

• Grass growing in a plowed field

• Algae bloom in a pond

In population ecology, what does the term "natality" refer to?

• Death rate

• Birth rate

• Immigration rate

• Emigration rate

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Which of the following is a characteristic of secondary succession?

• Occurs on newly exposed surfaces

• Begins in an area with no soil

• Follows a disturbance in an existing ecosystem

• Involves pioneer species

Analyze the impact of introducing a new predator into an ecosystem. What could be a potential consequence?

• Increase in prey population

• Decrease in biodiversity

• Stabilization of the ecosystem

• No significant change

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Evaluate the role of keystone species in an ecosystem. Why are they crucial for maintaining ecological balance?

• They are the most abundant species

• They have a disproportionate effect on their environment

• They are the primary producers

• They are the top predators

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Which process is most likely to occur after a volcanic eruption creates a new land surface?

• Secondary succession

• Primary succession

• Tertiary succession

• Climax community formation

Consider a forest ecosystem. What might be the effect of a prolonged drought on the food web?

• Increase in plant growth

• Decrease in herbivore population

• Increase in predator population

• No effect on the ecosystem

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Which of the following best describes the concept of an ecological niche?

• The physical space an organism occupies

• The role an organism plays in its ecosystem

• The food an organism consumes

• The lifespan of an organism

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Predict the outcome of removing a top predator from an ecosystem. What is a likely consequence?

• Increase in prey population

• Decrease in plant diversity

• Stabilization of the ecosystem

• Increase in biodiversity

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