Ecosystem Disruptions and Food Webs

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

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

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

• 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.

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

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

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A forest fire occurs in the ecosystem. The impact of the fire caused the following:

●     A decrease in the squirrel population

●     A decrease in the white pine population

Which best describes how the forest fire may affect the energy transfer in this food web? Select all that apply. What is the most likely reason for the decrease in the squirrel population?

• A decrease in the white pine population would increase the energy transfers from producer to consumer and the deer population would remain stable.

• A decrease in the squirrel population would decrease a food source for the hawk. This would cause the hawk to consume more mice, therefore causing a decline in the mice population.

• Consumer populations, including the deer, squirrel, and hawk, could lose their habitats, causing the populations to leave the area.

• Producer populations, such as the white pine population, would go extinct, causing the removal of producers from the food web.

• A decrease in the white pine population would decrease the available food sources for deer, causing the deer to potentially leave the area.

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The image shows an aquatic ecosystem and some of the feeding relationships in the ecosystem. Which best describes how the overfishing of bass may affect the transfer of energy in this food web?

• If the bass population decreased, the trout population would remain unchanged, and the sea cucumber population would increase. The energy transfers throughout the food web would remain the same.

• If the bass population decreased, the trout population would increase, and the sea cucumber population would decrease. The energy transfers throughout the food web would change as a result.

• If the bass population decreased, the trout population would decrease, and the sea cucumber population would increase. The energy transfers throughout the food web would remain the same.

• If the bass population decreased, the trout population would increase, and the sea cucumber population would also increase. The energy transfers throughout the food web would change as a result.

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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.

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

• population changes; overpopulation; ecosystem stability; primary succession

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

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

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In the 1800s, European rabbits were considered an invasive species in Australia. How would European rabbits affect the transfer of energy in Australia's ecosystems?

• They would increase the energy flow by providing more food for predators.

• They would decrease the energy flow by outcompeting native species for resources.

• They would have no effect on the energy flow in the ecosystem.

• They would help native species by providing additional resources.

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The image shows a savanna grassland food web in Africa. Suppose the lion has recently been mainly hunting gazelle in this ecosystem. How would this impact the transfer of energy in the food web? Select all true statements based on overhunting of gazelles by lions.

• The energy transfer to higher trophic levels would decrease, and the population of cheetahs would increase.

• Lions would also have one less food source with a decrease in the gazelle population, leading to a potential decrease in wildebeest or giraffe populations.

• Grasses would potentially grow more because there are less gazelle eating them.

• The energy transfer to lower trophic levels would decrease, and the population of lions would increase.

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As you move from the bottom of the energy pyramid to the top of the energy pyramid, the amount of energy available at each level—

• Remains constant

• Increases

• Decreases, then increases

• Decreases

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

• A. Tree species competing for sunlight in a dense rainforest

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

• C. Sharks in a marine ecosystem competing for a tuna food source

• D. Sloths in a rainforest ecosystem competing for fresh water

• E. Cheetahs in a grassland savanna competing for mates

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

• A. Organisms only compete for abiotic resources for survival.

• B. Organisms only compete for biotic resources for survival.

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

• D. Organisms compete for abiotic resources after biotic resources disappear.

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What does a consumer do to get energy?

• It gets energy from the sun.

• It breaks down biotic wastes.

• It feeds on other organisms.

• It gets energy from water.