Ecology STAAR Questions

Giant salvinia is an aquatic plant that floats on water and reproduces rapidly. When these plants die, decomposition by bacteria affects oxygen levels in the water. As more plants die, less oxygen is available in the water. Students observe a pond covered by giant salvinia. Which statement is the best prediction the students can make about the immediate future of the pond?

• The depth of the water in the pond will increase.

• Fish populations in the pond will begin to decrease.

• The amount of bacteria in the pond will suddenly decrease.

• The number of different types of plants around the pond will increase.

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A group of scientists studied some trees in a pine forest. In the densely forested areas, the trees were within 1 m of each other. The scientists observed that these trees had dead branches near the ground. They measured the height above the ground at which the first living branches were found on different-sized trees in the forest. Then they repeated this procedure on the same kind of trees in an open meadow. This graph summarizes the scientists’ data.

Which inference is best supported by these data?

• Pine trees in a dense forest can grow taller than pine trees in an open meadow.

• Pine trees in a dense forest compete for sunlight with the surrounding trees.

• Pine trees in a dense forest are part of a less-complex food web than pine trees in an open meadow.

• Pine trees in a dense forest have more living branches than pine trees in an open meadow.

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After researching the diets of several birds inhabiting a nearby pond, a student goes on a field investigation to observe the feeding habits of the birds. The student records information from research and observations in the table. The student observes a great blue heron catching fish near the edge of the pond. Based on the information the student collected, which bird will compete with the great blue heron for the same hunting spots and similar prey?

• The mallard, because it hunts for fish while wading near the edge of the pond

• The pied-billed grebe, because it dives in open water to get crayfish on the bottom of the pond

• The great egret, because it hunts in water near the edge of the pond for fish and other prey

• None of these

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Barnacles are marine organisms that live attached to surfaces as adults. A scientist studies two barnacle species that live on rocks on a coast in Scotland. In some rocky areas Species A is found alone. In other rocky areas Species B is found alone. In still other rocky areas both species are found together. The diagram below shows the two barnacle species on rocks in their habitats.

If Species B were removed from the rocky areas it shares with Species A, Species A would most likely inhabit —

• Zone I only

• Zones I and II only

• Zone III only

• Zones I, II, and III

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Which statement supports the answer to Part A?

• Plants provide ecosystems with energy.

• Fish maintain water quality in ecosystems.

• Ecosystems with more species are more sustainable.

• Ecosystems with fewer species are better able to survive.

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Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?

• A community of organisms and their abiotic environment

• A group of interacting individuals of the same species

• A collection of different species living in the same area

• A single species and its natural habitat

We use the term “ecological footprint” because it

• Shows how large our shoes are compared to others

• Allows others to see how much energy we conserve

• Shows the mark we leave on earth as we carry out daily activities

• Allows people to understand that footprints are all sizes

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What is the branch of science that deals with the study of living things and their relationship with the environment?

• Anthropology

• Ecology

• Ecosystems

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The kingdom that has organisms that feed of dead and decaying organisms is ​ (a)  

• Fungi

• Plantae

• Animalia

• Eubacteria

• Protista

• Archaebacteria

Which of the following correctly expresses the relationship between organic matter decomposition and dissolved oxygen?

• Decomposition releases dissolved oxygen into the water

• Decomposition uses dissolved oxygen, removing it from the water

• Decomposition does not require dissolved oxygen

• Decomposition creates dissolved oxygen