Quiz about Ecosystems Unit Common Assessment

Question 1

What is a food web?

Accepted Answer

A network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem

Answer

A diagram that shows the flow of energy through an ecosystem

Answer

A single path of energy flow in an ecosystem

Answer

A list of all the species in an ecosystem

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of a natural disaster that can disrupt an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

<p>Earthquake</p>

Answer

Deforestation

Answer

Urban development

Answer

Agriculture

Question 3

How does human intervention typically impact the transfer of energy in food webs?

Accepted Answer

It can disrupt the balance and flow of energy

Answer

It always increases energy transfer efficiency

Answer

It has no impact on energy transfer

Answer

It simplifies the food web

Question 4

Describe the process of primary succession.

Accepted Answer

It occurs in areas where no soil exists

Answer

It occurs in areas where soil is already present

Answer

It involves the re-establishment of a damaged ecosystem

Answer

It is the final stage of ecological succession

Question 5

What is the main difference between primary and secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession starts without soil, secondary starts with soil

Answer

Primary succession occurs faster than secondary succession

Answer

Primary succession starts with soil, secondary does not

Answer

There is no difference between them

Question 6

Explain how secondary succession can affect species diversity.

Accepted Answer

It initially decreases diversity but can increase it over time

Answer

It decreases species diversity permanently

Answer

It has no effect on species diversity

Answer

It only increases species diversity

Question 7

Why is biodiversity important for the stability of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

It increases the ecosystem's resilience to changes

Answer

It reduces the number of species

Answer

It makes the ecosystem more vulnerable to changes

Answer

It has no impact on ecosystem stability

Question 8

Which of the following best describes ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

A gradual process of change and replacement in an ecosystem

Answer

A sudden change in an ecosystem

Answer

The extinction of species in an ecosystem

Answer

The introduction of new species into an ecosystem

Question 9

How can population changes impact the energy flow in a food web?

Accepted Answer

They can alter the balance of predator and prey relationships

Answer

They have no impact on energy flow

Answer

They always increase energy flow

Answer

They simplify the food web

Question 10

What role does biodiversity play in the health of organisms within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

It provides a variety of resources and habitats

Answer

It limits the resources available to organisms

Answer

It decreases the health of organisms

Answer

It has no role in organism health

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of a stable ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

High species diversity

Answer

Low species diversity

Answer

No species diversity

Answer

Constant species extinction

Question 12

How does a natural disaster like a forest fire initiate secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

By removing existing vegetation and allowing new growth

Answer

By creating new soil

Answer

By introducing new species

Answer

By permanently destroying the ecosystem

Question 13

What is the first stage of primary succession?

Accepted Answer

Colonization by pioneer species

Answer

Establishment of a climax community

Answer

Development of soil

Answer

Introduction of animals

Question 14

In what way can human activity lead to secondary succession?

Accepted Answer

By clearing land for agriculture

Answer

By planting trees in a barren area

Answer

By introducing invasive species

Answer

By building urban areas

Question 15

Why is it important to maintain biodiversity in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

To provide stability and resilience against environmental changes

Answer

To ensure the survival of only the strongest species

Answer

To reduce the number of species

Answer

To simplify the food web

Question 16

Natural disasters such as flooding and tornadoes are linked to ________________.

Accepted Answer

secondary

Answer

primary

Answer

old field

Answer

ecosystem

Question 17

What does a food web represent?

Accepted Answer

All connections of energy flow throughout all organisms in a habitat.

Answer

The specific ways that mutualism is carried out.

Answer

A single pathway or energy flow between organisms.

Answer

How carnivores get their food.

Question 18

Using the food web, choose the organisms in the correct order.

Accepted Answer

microscopic plants > water fleas > small fish > perch

Accepted Answer

microscopic plants > tadpoles > water boatman > perch

Answer

microscope plants > perch > water flease > small fish

Answer

perch > waterboatmen > small fish > tadpoles

Question 19

What are two examples of organisms competing for biotic factors in an ecosystem? Choose two correct answers.

Accepted Answer

Sharks in a marine ecosystem competing for a tuna food source

Accepted Answer

Cheetahs in a grassland savanna competing for mates

Answer

Tree species competing for sunlight in a dense rainforest

Answer

Elephants and leopards competing for water at a watering hole in Africa

Answer

Sloths in a rainforest ecosystem competing for fresh water

Question 20

Which best describes how organisms compete for resources in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Organisms compete for both biotic and abiotic resources in order to survive.

Answer

Organisms only compete for abiotic resources for survival.

Answer

Organisms only compete for biotic resources for survival.

Answer

Organisms compete for abiotic resources after biotic resources disappear.

Question 21

How could a hurricane negatively impact the transfer of energy within a food web? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

High winds could damage plant life such as trees and agriculture, which could weaken the patterns of energy transfer from producers to consumers.

Accepted Answer

The flooding could remove bacteria and contamination from the area, which could reduce certain diseases in plants and animals.

Accepted Answer

The flooding could cause destruction to the shelters of primary consumers, thus reducing the population and a food source for the organisms that prey on them.

Answer

The flooding could bring new fish to the coastal area, thus decreasing the transfer of energy from consumer to producer.

Answer

High winds could help the transfer of seeds to allow for seed dispersal and decrease the transfer of energy from producer to consumer.

Question 22

Read the paragraph.

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, volcanoes, and wildfires are examples of ___________. If a wildfire occurs within a forest, the loss of vegetation leads to ______________. .Also, some organisms relocate to new areas, which leads to_____________ and a decrease in_______________ . All of these occurrences can affect the transfer of energy in a food web. Choose the option that identifies the missing terms or phrases, in order of appearance in the sentences.

Accepted Answer

natural disasters; loss of habitat; changes in population size; food sources

Answer

population changes; overpopulation; ecosystem stability; primary succession

Answer

natural disasters; overpopulation; changes in population size; primary succession

Answer

population changes; loss of habitat; ecosystem stability; food sources

Question 23

Read the paragraph.

____________succession occurs when the land was not inhabited by any living organisms prior to the natural event or human activity that created the new habitat. This type of succession results in a(n) _____________ ecosystem. ______________succession occurs on land that was previously inhabited by living organisms. This type of succession results in a(n) ____________ecosystem.

Choose the option that identifies the missing terms, in order of appearance in the sentences.

Accepted Answer

Primary; stable; Secondary; stable

Answer

Primary; stable; Secondary; unstable

Answer

Secondary; unstable; Primary; stable

Answer

Secondary unstable; Primary; unstable

Question 24

Suppose there is an oil spill because an oil company begins drilling on land. The oil spill destroys the nearby ecosystem. There are no longer any animals and plants inhabiting the area.

Which explanation best describes how succession occurs after the oil spill?

Accepted Answer

Primary succession will occur after algae and fungi begin to form. Plants will begin to grow, and animals will eventually repopulate the area. Biodiversity will increase.

Answer

Secondary succession will occur after lichen begins to form on bare rock. Plants and animals will then repopulate the area. Biodiversity will increase.

Answer

Primary succession will occur after existing seeds and roots grow new plant life. Biodiversity will decrease since the ecosystem will only contain producers.

Answer

Secondary succession will occur after animals repopulate the area. Plants will then begin to grow. Biodiversity will increase.

Question 25

Read the paragraph.

Bees are vital to the ecosystem because they are the predominant pollinators of flowering plants in nature. Bees are considered a(n) _________________ because without them many plant populations would ______________- , and the ecosystem would be more ______________________ .

Choose the option that identifies the missing terms, in order of appearance in the sentences.

Accepted Answer

keystone species; decrease; unstable

Answer

invasive species; increase; stable

Answer

pioneer species; stay the same; unstable

Answer

native species; decrease; stable

Question 26

A healthy ecosystem is one that has biodiversity to support life. Which of the following options best describe how biodiversity contributes to the stability and sustainability of an ecosystem? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity helps provide a variety of food sources for organisms which increases the stability of populations.

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity helps organisms create multiple predator and prey relationships, therefore helping to stabilize populations.

Answer

Biodiversity helps organism populations grow in their ecosystem by lowering birth rates in different populations.

Answer

Biodiversity helps ecosystems support animals that do not compete for food and stabilizes the populations of prey.

Question 27

Look at this diagram of a food web.

In the diagram, which organism is the keystone species?

Accepted Answer

The gray wolf, because it controls the stability of the entire food web.

Answer

The vole, because it controls the stability of the plant populations.

Answer

The shrub with berries, because it controls the stability of the entire food web.

Answer

The elk, because it controls the stability of the shrubs and berries.

Question 28

Suppose you are an ecologist investigating an ecosystem after a devastating natural event occurs. The area previously had been inhabited. Now, the environment has lost all animal species, as well as most plant species.

How will succession take place and what impact will it have? Choose two correct answers.

Accepted Answer

Secondary succession will restart from the existing soil, nutrients, and plant species in the ecosystem; plant diversity will increase.

Accepted Answer

Once plant species diversity increases, animal populations that depend on the plant species will begin to recover.]

Answer

Secondary succession will restart from the existing plant species in the ecosystem but plant diversity will decrease.

Answer

Since plant species diversity decreases, animals that depend on the plant species will leave the ecosystem to recover elsewhere.

Answer

Primary succession will restart from the existing soil, nutrients, and plant species in the ecosystem; plant diversity will increase.

Question 29

The image shows an Amazon rainforest food web. How will a toucan being overhunted affect the transfer of energy in the food web? Choose the best response.

Accepted Answer

Overhunting toucans will affect the entire food web. Boa constrictors will rely more heavily on sloths as a main food energy source, causing a decrease in the sloth population. Producers may increase as a result.]

Answer

Overhunting toucans will only affect the boa constrictor and sloth populations because their food energy sources will increase. This will also increase the producer population.

Answer

Overhunting toucans will only affect the toucan and the boa constrictor. The boa constrictor will no longer have a main food energy source, and both populations will continue to decrease.

Answer

Overhunting toucans will only affect the toucan and the sloth. The sloth will not have the food to eat, causing a decrease in food energy for the sloth.

Ecosystems Unit Common Assessment

35 questions