Biology Keystone Ecology

A species of snapping turtles has a tongue that resembles a worm. The tongue is used to attract small fish. Which best describes the interaction between the fish and the snapping turtle?

• predation

• symbiosis

• parasitism

• competition

Which set of ecological organization levels is most likely to contain the largest variety of species?

• multiple biomes in a biosphere

• multiple ecosystems in a biome

• multiple individuals in a population

• multiple populations in a community

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

An aye-aye is a small nocturnal lemur that weighs about four pounds. This endangered species is found in Madagascar, a large island off the east coast of southern Africa. The main food for aye-ayes is larvae that live in wood. Aye-ayes find the larvae by tapping on tree branches. They also eat nuts and fruit. Aye-ayes spend most of their time alone. Each animal occupies about 15 acres and marks the territory, which alerts other aye-ayes of the boundary.

For the aye-aye species, what is most likely the primary value of individuals living alone?

• decreased space needs for the species

• increased survival rates with habitat loss

• reduced competition for natural resources

• greater genetic variability within the species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which energy transfer most likely occurs between organisms in the food web?

• from owl to fox

• from rabbit to fox

• from bird to grass

• from mouse to grasshopper

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which description is the best example of a population?

• all of the red foxes in a forest

• all of the red foxes and gray foxes in a forest

• all of the organisms in a forest

• all of the organisms in every forest

Ash from a volcanic eruption decreases the amount of available solar energy for a region. Which statement describes how a decrease in available sunlight will most likely affect ecosystems of this region?

• Producer populations will decrease, causing a decrease in consumer populations.

• Producer populations will decrease, causing an increase in consumer populations.

• Decomposer populations will increase, causing a decrease in consumer populations.

• Decomposer populations will increase, causing an increase in consumer populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Scientists observed that the populations of top-level consumers in a particular ecosystem were rapidly decreasing. Further studies revealed that there was also a decline in producer productivity. Which other changes did the scientists most likely observe in the ecosystem?

• increased producer diversity

• decreased population size at all levels

• decreased primary consumer populations only

• increased primary and secondary consumer diversity

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which sequence correctly describes the flow of energy between organisms in the marine food web?

• from seals to penguins to krill

• from whales to krill to small fish

• from sea birds to seals to penguins

• from small fish to penguins to seals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

In Pennsylvania, a nonnative plant called stiltgrass out-competes native plants in many forest ecosystems. Which statement best describes how the spread of stiltgrass negatively affects native herbivores?

• Stiltgrass stops the life cycles of native herbivores.

• Stiltgrass reduces the size of the native plant populations.

• Stiltgrass increases the flow of energy through the ecosystem.

• Stiltgrass attracts other nonnative plants to the forest ecosystem.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Use the list below to answer the question.

Observations

• two grey wolves • five moose • several species of conifer trees • large granite rock • shallow pond

A student wrote several observations in a field notebook. Which term best classifies all of the student’s observations?

• population

• food chain

• ecosystem

• community