Ecosystem Knowledge Assessment

How do terrestrial ecosystems compare to each other?

• All terrestrial ecosystems have the same climate and plant life.

• Terrestrial ecosystems differ in climate, plants, and animals that live there.

• Terrestrial ecosystems do not contain abiotic factors.

• There are only two types of terrestrial ecosystems: forests and grasslands.

How do aquatic ecosystems compare to each other?

• Aquatic ecosystems are all the same because they contain water.

• Aquatic ecosystems include both freshwater and saltwater environments.

• All aquatic ecosystems have the same depth and amount of sunlight.

• Freshwater ecosystems contain salt, while saltwater ecosystems have no salt.

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Where does the energy in an ecosystem come from?

• The soil

• The water

• The Sun

• The decomposers

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How does energy move through an ecosystem?

• Energy moves in a cycle, returning to the Sun.

• Energy moves through a food chain from producers to consumers and decomposers.

• Energy stays within one organism forever.

• Energy is created by animals and plants.

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How does organic matter recycle through an ecosystem?

• Producers break down dead plants and animals.

• Consumers turn organic matter into sunlight.

• Decomposers break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil.

• Organic matter does not recycle in an ecosystem.

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How does a food chain and a food web show how different populations within an ecosystem are connected?

• A food chain shows one path of energy transfer, while a food web shows multiple connections between organisms.

• A food chain and a food web show the same information in different ways.

• A food chain shows every possible way organisms interact, while a food web shows only one way.

• A food web only includes plants, while a food chain includes all organisms.

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Why do most aquatic living organisms live in the shallow areas from the shoreline to the continental shelf?

• There is more sunlight for photosynthesis and more food.

• The water is too cold in deeper areas.

• Deep water contains too much salt for organisms to survive.

• Organisms prefer to live near humans.

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How are the food webs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems similar?

• Both food webs start with decomposers.

• Both show energy transfer from producers to consumers to decomposers.

• Aquatic food webs do not include decomposers.

• Terrestrial food webs have only one path of energy transfer.

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How can you classify organisms in an ecosystem?

• By their colors and shapes

• By their roles as producers, consumers, or decomposers

• By their size and speed

• By the amount of sunlight they receive

How do plants and animals depend on one another in an ecosystem?

• Animals depend on plants for food and oxygen, and plants depend on animals for seed dispersal and pollination.

• Animals do not depend on plants in an ecosystem.

• Plants provide oxygen, but animals do not help plants in any way.

• Animals only need other animals to survive.

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