Ecosystem Vocabulary

After a forest fire, plants come back in abundance.  Which limiting factor to plant growth is removed?

• Food
• Shelter
• Space
• Water

How would a drought most likely affect the plants of a grassy plain?

• There would be shorter plants
• They would have thicker stems
• There would be a greater variety
• They would have brighter flowers

Some caterpillars need big wide leaves to wrap up in when undergoing metamorphosis.  Which is the limiting factor when there is a shortage of this kind of leaf?

• Food
• Shelter
• Space
• Water

Which is an abiotic factor that would affect the growth of a population within an ecosystem? 

• The availability of producers
• The type of herbivores present
• The availability of water
• The number of carnivores present

Estuaries often have marsh grasses that act as a safe nursery for young fish.  Which is a limiting factor, provided by estuaries, does this describe?

• Food
• Shelter
• Space
• Predators

In a forest ecosystem, a food chain might look like this: green plants >rabbit>coyote>mountain lion.  If the green plants are destroyed in a forest fire, which short-term effect will this have on the organism in this food chain?

• There would be fewer rabbits for the ecosystems
• The mountain lions would have to begin to eat green plants. 
• There would be an increase in the coyote population.
• There would be more green plants for the rabbits to eat

After a volcanic eruption, it takes a long time for large ecosystems to fully recover. Which statement best explains why the development takes so long?

• Space is limited
• The quality of light is low
• Soil must be created.
• Minerals are destroyed

An aquatic food web is shown below. If acid rain causes a decrease in the number if mayfly nymphs, which population will decrease the most in number?

• Trout
• Frogs
• Birds
• Snails

How do harsh winters benefit some species, such as deer?

• by shielding them for predators
• by increasing their food supplies
• by eliminating diseases
• by reducing the herd population

In this example of a simple food chain. Acorn> Squirrel> Fox> Mountain Lion. What will most likely happen if squirrels are removed from the food chain?

• The fox will eat acorns
• The fox will population will decrease
• The trees will produce fewer acorns
• The mountain lion population will increase