Trophic Cascades and Keystone Species

An interconnected web that represents the flow of energy (and what eats what) through an ecosystem, is referred to as a?

• trophic level

• trophic cascade

• food web

• food chain

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following describes the broader consequences or side-effects when a certain species that usually helps to keep the entire ecosystem balanced is reduced or removed.

• trophic level

• trophic cascade

• food web

• keystone species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The role or job of an organism in an ecosystem.

• Predator

• Prey

• Predation

• Niche

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

A keystone species that is a critical food source for predator populations and increases the diversity of predators in an environment. For example, krill. This is referred to as a?

• keystone predator

• keystone prey

• keystone ecosystem engineer

• keystone plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A keystone species that create, modify, or maintain the landscape around them. For example, a beaver.

• keystone predator

• keystone prey

• keystone ecosystem engineer

• keystone plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A keystone species that keeps populations under control by hunting consumers in the environment that may otherwise over populate and reduce diversity, is referred to as a?

• keystone predator

• keystone prey

• keystone ecosystem engineer

• keystone plant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

One of the defining ​​ characteristics of a ​ (a)   species is that it fills a critical ​ (b)   role that no other ​ (c)   can. Without them, the entire ​ (d)   would radically change-or cease to ​ (e)   altogether.

• keystone
• ecological
• species
• ecosystem
• exist

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

African elephants eat A LOT of small trees and shrubs that would otherwise become forests. This allows open spaces that grow grassess for antelopes and zebras and provides warm soil for small rodents for burrowing. Elephants also spread seeds via their dung. They can therefore be described as?

• Keystone predator

• Keystone prey

• Keystone producers

• Keystone ecosystem engineer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Prairie dogs are an important food source for 130+ species. Their digging and burrowing create healthy soil for grasslands and their burrows become shelter for many other animals. Which two types of keystone species are they?

• Keystone predator

• Keystone prey

• Keystone producers

• Keystone ecosystem engineer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Match the following terms to their definition:

• Heterotroph

• Organisms that make their own food using sunlight

• Omnivore

• Organisms that must consume food from other organisms

• Autotroph

• Animals that eat both plants and other animals

• Decomposer

• Recycle dead plant and animal matter