Copy of Practice Test Ecology 6A/6B-03/30/2025 17:15

A lichen is a combination of fungus and algae that lives on the sides of trees, rocks, and other materials. The fungus provides the algae with water and minerals and the algae uses the water and minerals to make food for both organisms. What BEST describes the ecological relationship in this example?

• A predator-prey relationship, because the fungus benefits from the relationship while the algae is consumed as food.

• A competition relationship, because the fungus competes with the algae for the same limited resources.

• A commensalism relationship, because the fungus benefits and the algae is neither helped nor harmed.

• A mutualism relationship, because the fungus and algae both benefit from the relationship.

Which of the following is an abiotic limiting factor of a population?

• a predator

• a parasite

• food

• climate

Decomposers help in

• spreading decay in the ecosystem.

• recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

• controlling large populations in the ecosystem.

• supplying energy directly to consumers in the ecosystem.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Oxygen, light, temperature, and rain are all

• abiotic factors.

• biotic factors.

• symbiotic factors.

• limiting factors.

The energy that gets to the top-level consumers originally comes from

• the sun.

• water.

• the producers.

• the decomposers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which type of organisms get their energy directly from the sun?

• producers

• decomposers

• first-level consumers

• second-level consumers

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

Woodpeckers and squirrels fight for nesting rights in the same holes and spaces in trees, while the lions and cheetahs of the African savanna fight for the same antelope and gazelle prey. Which of the following statements about these relationships is accurate?

• These are examples of competition because no organisms are helped or harmed.

• These are examples of competition because the organisms are fighting for resources.

• These are examples of predation because lions and cheetahs eat woodpeckers and squirrels.

• These are examples of predation because the organisms are trying to take each other’s food and homes.

Which of the following best compares the relationships of mutualism and commensalism?

• In mutualism, one organism is harmed; whereas in commensalism, two organisms are harmed.

• In mutualism, one organism benefits; whereas in commensalism, two organisms benefit.

• In mutualism, two organisms are harmed; whereas in commensalism, one organism benefits.

• In mutualism, two organisms benefit; whereas in commensalism, one organism benefits.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

What type of relationship do a snake and a mouse have?

• producer-consumer

• mutualism

• parasitism

• predator-prey

Commensalism refers to a relationship between two organisms in which

• neither organism benefits.

• one organism is always harmed.

• both organisms benefit.

• one organism is not affected.