WorksheetsEcology
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 31mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
What is the original source of almost all energy in most ecosystems?
a)
carbohydrates
b)
sunlight
c)
water
d)
carbon
2.
Water temperature would be an example of ...
a)
A biotic factor
b)
An abiotic factor
3.
A collection of organisms that belong to different populations but all live in the same area and interact with one another.
a)
Population
b)
Ecosystem
c)
Community
d)
Ecosphere
4.
Organisms that feed on both living producers and other consumers.
a)
Carnivores
b)
Omnivores
c)
Herbivores
d)
Detritivores
5.
Examples of a producer
a)
frog
b)
algae
c)
worm
d)
mouse
6.
A localized group of organisms that belong to the same species is called a
a)
community
b)
population
c)
ecosystem
d)
family
7.
A cow's herbivorous diet indicates that it is a(n)
a)
autotroph
b)
decomposer
c)
secondary consumer
d)
primary consumer
8.
Which of the following terms encompasses (includes) all of the others?
a)
primary consumers
b)
herbivores
c)
carnivores
d)
heterotrophs
9.
The number of organisms of a particular species that an environment can support is called
a)
the biotic number
b)
the carrying capacity
c)
the statute of limitations
d)
tolerance
10.
A certain desert has very high temperatures, low precipitation, sparse vegetation and little available food. This statement best describes
a)
the carrying capacity of the desert
b)
only abiotic factors in the desert
c)
all the biotic factors in the desert
d)
the limiting factors that species face in the desert
11.
Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms is called a(n)
a)
tolerance
b)
limiting factor
c)
population distribution
d)
carrying capacity
12.
A certain forest can support a population of 300 squirrels. This statement best describes
a)
the limiting factors that squirrels face in the forest
b)
the tolerance of squirrels for changes to their environment
c)
the carrying capacity of the forest for squirrels
d)
the predator-prey relationship of squirrels and foxes
13.
Plants, algae and other organisms that make their own energy-rich compounds (food) by photosynthesis are called
a)
producers
b)
primary consumers
c)
secondary consumers
d)
keystone species
14.
A carnivore that eats herbivores is called a(n)
a)
primary producer
b)
primary consumer
c)
secondary consumer
d)
tertiary consumer
15.
Which trophic level would have the most organisms?
a)
producers
b)
primary consumers
c)
secondary consumers
d)
apex predators
16.
Aspects of the nonliving environment that affect the species in the environment and determine which species can live there are called
a)
ecosystems
b)
abiotic factors
c)
biotic factors
d)
commensalism
17.
A collection of populations of different species that interact is called a(n)
a)
organism
b)
population
c)
community
d)
ecosystem
18.
What term describes the interactions among the populations in a community and the community's physical surroundings?
a)
organism
b)
population
c)
community
d)
ecosystem
19.
Why is it important to conserve the biodiversity of Earth?
a)
to decrease the amount of global predator populations
b)
to decrease the stability of major global ocean currents
c)
to increase the stability of ecosystems during environmental changes
d)
to increase the amount of nonrenewable resources located in the lithosphere
20.
Organisms such as fungi and bacteria get energy in a different way than producers or consumers. These organisms, called _____________, get energy by breaking down nutrients in dead organisms.
a)
producers
b)
carnivores
c)
decomposers
d)
herbivores
21.
DDT and other pesticides used over 50 years ago are still affecting the environment today. Scientists have found these substances in recent glacier runoff. Glacier runoff occurs during the summer, when precipitation that has fallen on glaciers during the winter is released. Ice layers from existing glaciers have been analyzed. The results of this analysis show that the concentrations of DDT and other pesticides were highest about 10 years after the use of these substances was banned. This information shows that
a)
DDT and other pesticides cause glacier runoff during the summer.
b)
it takes humans over 50 years to analyze a glacier.
c)
precipitation helps to break down pesticides.
d)
the decision of one human generation may have an impact on future generations.
22.
The northern elephant seal was almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s. By the late 1890s, approximately one hundred seals were left, reducing the gene pool of the population. What will be the consequence of this reduction?
a)
Competition within the population will increase.
b)
The surviving elephant seals will be better able to adapt.
c)
Inbreeding will be less frequent among the remaining population.
d)
The elephant seals will be more vulnerable to environmental change.
23.
A community is concerned about the water quality of a nearby lake. Increased sedimentation in the lake is endangering the native habitat. The increased sedimentation is most likely caused by which of the following?
a)
trees planted along the shore of the lake
b)
construction of homes along the lake
c)
the amount of sunlight on the lake
d)
the amount of fish in the lake
24.
When fertilizers run off farmland into streams and ponds, the nitrogen content of the water increases. This can lead to rapid growth of algae in a process called eutrophication. How can this process affect other organisms in the water?
a)
Oxygen is used up as algae is decomposed, reducing the amount available to other organisms.
b)
The water becomes better able to support aerobic organisms.
c)
The algae provide food for fishes and other organisms, leading to decreased algae populations.
d)
The extra nitrogen provides additional food for the other organisms, increasing their population.
25.
Whaling was a very profitable profession until whale populations crashed. The global community came together to enact a ban on whaling. However, Japan and Norway have not agreed to stop whaling. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of their decision?
a)
The whale populations are bouncing back very successfully and are unaffected by Japan and Norway continuing to whale.
b)
The whale populations are not rebounding as quickly as they might if all of the countries agreed not to hunt whales.
c)
The whale populations have mutated into new kinds of organisms.
d)
The whales are getting better at avoiding capture.
26.
True / False: some organisms, like a frog, can be both predator and prey.
a)
True
b)
False
27.
Which term best describes two predators living in the same habitat who feed on the same prey?
a)
coexistence
b)
competition
c)
mutualism
28.
Acacia trees and acacia ants maintain a mutualistic relationship. Which best explains what would happen to the trees and ant populations if a disease that affects acacia trees is introduced into the ecosystem?
a)
Both populations will increase.
b)
Both populations will decrease.
c)
The tree population will decrease, but the ant population will increase.
d)
The tree population will decrease, but the ant population will remain the same.
29.
The graph below shows the relationship between available space in an ecosystem and a population of rabbits. How would the rabbit population be affected if land was cleared to build a housing development?
a)
The rabbit population would increase.
b)
The rabbit population would decrease.
c)
The rabbit population would remain stable.
d)
The rabbit population would rise temporarily, then fall.
30.
The chart below shows the human population and the fox population in an area. Which best explains the relationship between the human and fox populations in the ecosystem?
a)
Humans compete for the same prey as foxes, causing the fox population to drop.
b)
Humans compete for the same space as foxes, causing the fox population to drop.
c)
Humans are affected by the same D. diseases as foxes, causing both populations to change in the
same way.
same way.
d)
Humans are affected by the same predators as foxes, causing both populations to change in the same way.
31.
If krill is a primary food source for a local population of whales, which will most likely happen to the whales if the krill population suddenly doubles?
a)
The whales will have to compete more with each other for available food.
b)
The whales will have to find another food source or risk starvation.
c)
The whales will migrate to another area.
d)
The whale will increase in number.
32.
The diagram below shows a forest food web. If deer were introduced into this ecosystem, which would most likely occur first?
a)
The beetle population would decrease.
b)
The grass population would decrease.
c)
The robin population would decrease.
d)
The snake population would decrease.
33.
When a population grows past the ecosystem's carrying capacity, what happens to the population?
a)
Continues to grow
b)
The population starts to die off to return to carrying capcity
c)
The population will go extinct due to lack of resources
d)
The population grows then finds a new carrying capacity
34.
An individual belonging to a specific species
a)
Biotic
b)
Community
c)
Organism
d)
Reptile
35.
What is the process by which plants get energy from the sun and convert it into oxygen and food for themselves?
a)
Photography
b)
Photosynthesis
c)
Chemosynthesis
d)
Photoelectric effect
36.
A group of alligators, a group of fish, and a group of beetles would be considered what?
a)
Community
b)
Population
c)
Ecosystem
d)
Ecological strata
37.
What do the arrows in a food web represent?
a)
The direction of travel of each organism
b)
The direction energy flows
c)
The arrow points to the animal being eaten
38.
What is an example of natural selection?
a)
If the climate gets colder, animals that have thicker coats are more likely to reproduce
b)
Humans like animals with floppy ears, so they only breed dogs with floppy ears
c)
A peacock's tail is extravagant to attract a mate
d)
Humans bringing each other flowers to make friends
39.
What is an adaptation in Ecology?
a)
The differences between organisms in a population
b)
A difference that gives one organism a better chance of survival
c)
When they take a book and make it into a movie
d)
When an organism changes from one thing to another
40.
Which of the following is a herbivore?
a)
cricket
b)
frog
c)
hawk
d)
shrew
41.
Another name for a consumer is a
a)
heterotroph
b)
autotroph
c)
producer
d)
plant
42.
Temperature, light, air, water, and soil are all _____ parts of the environment.
a)
alive
b)
biotic
c)
abiotic
d)
living
43.
How do biodiversity and sustainability work together?
a)
The lower the biodiversity the greater the sustainability.
b)
The higher the biodiversity, the less sustainable the ecosystem
c)
The higher the biodiversity, the greater the sustainability.
d)
Biodiversity has nothing to do with sustainability.
44.
High biodiversity is
a)
having a lot of the same organism.
b)
having a few of the same organism.
c)
having a lot of variety of different organisms.
d)
only having one of each organism.
45.
Which biome is more biodiverse?
a)
Desert
b)
Sand
c)
Tundra
d)
Rainforest
46.
Biodiversity is important to keep an area (biome) healthy. In this example "Food Web A" is sustainable. Why is sustainability important for an ecosystem in "Food Web A".
a)
If one organism is removed the food web can still operate (work) with little or no negative effect.
b)
If an organism is removed the food web will collapse and will affect the environment.
47.
Organisms better suited to their environment survive easier and longer than those who aren't
a)
Natural Selection
b)
Adaption
c)
Artificial Selection
d)
Speciation
48.
The action of an organism changing to better suit its new or old environment.
a)
Natural Selection
b)
Physical Trait
c)
Camouflage
d)
Adaptation
49.
When every organism of a species has died.
a)
Evolution
b)
Natural Selection
c)
Extinction
d)
Artificial Selection
50.
Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?
a)
Because they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
b)
Because they come from dominant alleles.
c)
Because they come from recessive alleles.
d)
Because the trait is an acquired phenotype.
100 %
