Ecosystems and Populations

What is an ecosystem?

• A group of organisms of the same species living in a specific area

• A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment

• The maximum population size an environment can sustain

• The role an organism plays in its environment

Which of the following is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

• The amount of sunlight

• The number of predators

• The availability of water

• All of the above

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Explain how carrying capacity affects population size in an ecosystem.

• Carrying capacity determines the maximum number of individuals that can be supported indefinitely in a given environment.

• Carrying capacity is the number of offspring an organism can produce.

• Carrying capacity is the amount of food available in an ecosystem.

• Carrying capacity is the number of predators in an ecosystem.

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Differentiate between biotic and abiotic factors with examples.

• Biotic factors are non-living, such as sunlight and water; abiotic factors are living, such as plants and animals.

• Biotic factors are living, such as plants and animals; abiotic factors are non-living, such as sunlight and water.

• Biotic factors include only animals; abiotic factors include only plants.

• Biotic factors are physical features; abiotic factors are chemical features.

What is the role of a niche in an ecosystem?

• It is the physical space an organism occupies.

• It is the role or function of an organism within its environment.

• It is the number of individuals in a population.

• It is the interaction between different species.

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How do density-dependent factors affect population growth?

• They affect population growth regardless of the population size.

• They have a greater impact as the population size increases.

• They are unrelated to population size.

• They decrease as population size increases.

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Identify an example of a density-independent factor.

• Disease

• Competition

• Natural disaster

• Predation

Describe the relationship between a habitat and a niche.

• A habitat is the role an organism plays, while a niche is the physical space it occupies.

• A niche is the role an organism plays, while a habitat is the physical space it occupies.

• Both habitat and niche refer to the physical space an organism occupies.

• Both habitat and niche refer to the role an organism plays in its environment.

What is interdependency in an ecosystem?

• The reliance of organisms on abiotic factors

• The reliance of organisms on each other for survival

• The competition between organisms for resources

• The isolation of organisms from each other

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Analyze how a change in an abiotic factor can impact an ecosystem.

• A change in an abiotic factor, like temperature, can alter the habitat and affect the survival of species.

• A change in an abiotic factor, like temperature, has no impact on the ecosystem.

• A change in an abiotic factor, like temperature, only affects the biotic factors.

• A change in an abiotic factor, like temperature, only affects the niche of an organism.

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