Organism Interactions in Ecosystems Assessment

Two species of fish live in the same pond. They eat the same kinds of plants. Which of the following would increase competition between these two species of fish?

• 
  Average habitat temperature increases.

• 
  Population of water birds increases.

• Number of food plants increases.

• 
  Number of food plants decreases.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The graph below shows the populations, over several years, for two animals that share a habitat. Foxes are mammals that hunt for food, and grouse are birds, a common prey animal of foxes. According to the data, in which year did the population of foxes show a decrease that is most likely the result of a decrease in the availability of a source of food?

• 2003

• 2005

• 2008

• 2012

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An increase in the population of rabbits would most likely be associated with which of the following?

• 
  A series of severe weather events in the habitat

• A decrease in necessary resources available

• An increase of living space

• 
  An increase in predators in the habitat

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What data would you need to collect to prove that the population of a certain plant is dependent on the rainfall in its habitat?

• The average amount of water absorbed by the roots and given off by the leaves of these plants

• The amount of water retained in the soil in the area where the plants live

• Rainfall amounts and number of these plants in a certain habitat over several years

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

The milkweed plant serves an important role in the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Adult monarchs lay their eggs in milkweed, and then caterpillars eat that same plant during their development. Based on the relationship between monarchs and milkweed, which of the following trends would be predicted when looking at data on the populations of these two organisms?

• • If the milkweed population decreases, then the monarch population will also decrease.

• 
  If the milkweed population decreases, then the monarch population will increase.

• If the milkweed population increases, then the monarch population will decrease.

• 
  If the milkweed population increases, then the monarch population will stay the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Prairie dogs are small mammals that live in underground burrows in grassland prairie ecosystems. How do prairie dogs depend on these burrows?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Fish in a small pond depend on what biotic and abiotic factors to meet their needs? Name 1 biotic and 1 abiotic factor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

A graph showing the populations of lemmings and weasels in a given environment over a nine-year period is shown below. How many more lemmings are there than weasels during the height of the lemmings population?

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Eagles and grizzly bears live together in the same habitat. There will be competition between the eagles and the grizzly bears only if which of the following is true?

• • Grizzly bears hibernate during the winter while eagles remain active.

• Pesticides in the fish population affect eagles’ eggs and decrease their population.

• 
  Both grizzly bears and eagles feed on the same species of salmon.

• 
  Laws prevent humans from being able to hunt eagles or grizzly bears.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

An increase in which of the following factors is likely to contribute to competition between two members of the same species living in a certain habitat?

• 
  Increase in available food resources

• Increase of population of the species

• 
  Increase in annual rainfall

• Increase in the overall size of the habitat

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4