STAAR Biology Ecology

Which of these organisms would most likely be found at the t͟͟o͟͟p͟͟ of an energy pyramid

• Clams

• Sardines

• Sharks

• Kelp

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of these only include biotic parts of an ecosystem

• Rain, grass, seeds, mice 🐭

• Sand, air, water, sunlight ☀️

• Log, dead, grass, fungi, bird 🦅

• Bacteria, soil, minerals, worms 🐛

The DEFENSES of 2 flightless birds that live in different habitats are shown. How do the wings of the Gentoo penguin and the legs of the ostrich provide an advantage in their habitat?

• Allows them to find prey

• Allows them to escape from predators

• Allows them to control body temperature

• Allows them to be camouflaged in their environments

Answer explanation

You can narrow down the answer choices to either "finding prey" or "escaping predators." Note that the question says the birds need DEFENSES and are FLIGHTLESS. Defenses are used to escape predators, not to hunt.

Photosynthesis takes in ​ (a)   and spits out ​ (b)   . Cellular respiration takes in ​ (c)  

• light energy

• chemical energy

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Overfishing is when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, causing the decline of fish populations. Overfishing ​ (a)   the stability of the ecosystem by ​ (b)   .

• increases

• disrupting food chains

• decreases

• increasing competition for limited resources

• allowing prey populations to overproduce

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Snowshoe hares change coat color during the year. In the summer, when there is no snow on the ground, their coat is brown. In the winter when there is snow, their coat is white. Which describes the genetic basis for seasonal changes in coat color?

• The snow causes mutations in the genes

• The genes are regulated by hormone signals that are altered by changes in the environment

• Sunlight causes cancer cells to develop

• The genes are deleted during the summer

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Two plants are grown together for a time and then separated. Plant 2 is a parasite of Plant 1. Which graph depicts the growth of Plant 1 and Plant 2 during the experiment?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Farmers spray pesticides on plants to protect plants from being eaten by insects. Some individual insects have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to the pesticides. Which best describes how only a few resistant individuals resulted in the pesticide becoming ineffective?

• the resistant insects change the toxin on the plants, making it safe for others

• the resistant insects grow larger and eat less of the plants

• the resistant insects eat the contaminated surface and leave the rest for others

• the resistant insects are able to survive to reproduce and create a population that is also resistant

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which organism has the MOST energy?

• eagle/bird

• snake

• rabbit

• grass/plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which organism gets the LEAST energy?

• eagle/bird

• snakes

• rabbits

• grass/plants

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3