Ecosystem Quiz

What is the main role of a "producer" in an ecosystem?

• To hunt other animals

• To break down dead matter

• To make its own food using sunlight

• To compete for resources

Which of these is an example of an "abiotic factor" in Orchard Town's ecosystem?

• A deer

• A tree

• Sunlight

• A mushroom

If two different types of birds both try to eat the same limited supply of berries, what kind of interaction is this?

• Mutualism

• Predation

• Interspecific competition

• Parasitism

What does the arrow represent in a food chain (e.g., Grass → Rabbit)?

• The direction of water flow

• The flow of energy

• The movement of animals

• The cycling of carbon

Which human activity directly adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

• Planting trees

• Recycling paper

• Burning fossil fuels

• Conserving water

What term describes a species that is not native to an area and causes harm to the environment?

• Producer

• Decomposer

• Native species

• Invasive species

If the population of a prey animal suddenly decreases, what would you most likely predict about its predator's population shortly after?

• It would increase

• It would decrease

• It would stay the same

• It would become a producer

What is the main goal of "conservation"?

• To use all natural resources as quickly as possible

• To protect and manage Earth's natural resources for the future

• To build more houses in natural areas

• To introduce new species to every ecosystem

Which of these is a good way to "monitor" the impact of pollution in a river?

• Ignoring the river

• Regularly testing the water for chemicals

• Only looking at the river once a year

• Asking animals if they feel sick

The emergence of the "coywolf" (a mix of coyote, wolf, and dog) is an example of how human changes to the environment can lead to:

• Animals becoming less adaptable

• New types of animals through adaptation and interbreeding

• All animals moving to cities

• A decrease in predator populations