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5.L.2.3 Interactions in Ecosystems

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 1hrs 7mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Eelgrass is a major source of food for birds and turtles in an estuary.  What will most likely happen to the bird and turtle populations if people remove the eelgrass to build a bridge?
a)
The turtle population will increase, but the bird population will decrease
b)
Both the bird population and the turtle population will increase
c)
The bird population will increase, but the turtle population will decrease
d)
Both populations will decrease
2.

A chemical intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops

a)

nicotine

b)

pesticide

c)

sweet tea

d)

tar

3.
In a grassland ecosystem, if the population of eagles suddenly decreased, what will most likely be the effect on the rest of the ecosystem?
a)
The ecosystem will become overpopulated with snakes
b)
There will be a decrease in the population of snakes in the ecosystem
c)
The nutrition of the soil in the ecosystem will decrease
d)
More types of plants will begin growing in the ecosystem
4.
An organism that feeds off another organism and causes it harm. 
a)
symbiosis
b)
host
c)
parasite
d)
competition
5.

An organism that is often harmed in a symbiotic relationship with another organism.

a)

parasite

b)

competition

c)

host

d)

symbiosis

6.
If wolves prey on deer for food, what will most likely happen to the deer population if wolves are removed from an area where deer live? 
a)
he population of deer will increase. 
b)
The population of deer will decrease.
c)
 The population of deer will remain the same.
d)
The population of deer will become extinct. 
7.
Meadow moles are small mouse-like animals that eat plants and animals. Their niche in an ecosystem is a?
a)
omnivore
b)
herbivore
c)
producer
d)
scavenger
8.
Which would most likely increase the number of squirrels living in an area?
a)
cutting down trees that serve as habitats for squirrels.
b)
planting trees that produce nuts squirrels do not eat.
c)
Reducing the number of animals that hunt and kill squirrels.
d)
removing all food sources for squirrels from the area.
9.
Which best explains why many kinds of plants and animals can live together in an ecosystem?
a)
The plants and animals all care for each other and protect one another.
b)
The plants and animals are all part of a food chain and depend on each other to live.
c)
The plants and animals are independent of one another, so they can live together,
d)
The plants and animals all feed on the same things, so they compete with each other for food.
10.
Wood ducks build their nests in holes in trees near lakes. If some of the  trees were removed from around the lake, how would the wood ducks be affected?
a)
Wood ducks would become a new species.
b)
Wood ducks would lay more eggs in each nest.
c)
Wood ducks would increase their competition for nests.
d)
Wood ducks would begin building their nests on the ground.
11.
The place in which an organism lives  
a)
habitat
b)
population
c)
ecosystem
d)
niche
12.
How have desert plants adapted to their environment? 
a)
by limiting the use of sunlight 
b)
by storing water 
c)
by distributing certain nutrients 
d)
by releasing water 
13.

Which is the best example of habitat reduction caused by humans

a)

Birds and animals flee a forest fire caused by lightning

b)

Birds become sick from eating insects new to their area

c)

Fish swimming to breeding grounds are blocked by dams

d)

A new species of fish migrates up a river competing with native fish or food

14.
What prevents plant growth beneath the trees in thick forests? 
a)
The trees limit the amount of sunlight that is able to reach the ground. 
b)
The roots of the tree make it difficult for plants to grow 
c)
Little water reaches the ground under the trees
d)
Little water reaches the ground under the trees
15.

Which of the following factors is most likely to decrease the stability of an ecosystem?

a)

the removal of one species

b)

an increase in animal biodiversity

c)

an increase in plant biodiversity

d)

the removal of one individual animal

16.

If most of the phytoplankton from this ecosystem were to die off because of some pollution or climate change event, which of the organisms would be most directly and immediately impacted?

a)

herring and squid

b)

copepods and sperm whale

c)

squid and sperm whale

d)

herring and copepods

17.

A coral reef ecosystem contains many types of organisms that have many different types of interactions. For example, cleaner shrimp live in close proximity to moray eels. The moray eels open their mouths wide and allow the shrimp to clean their teeth and gums. The cleaner shrimp eat the parasites and debris from the mouths of the eels as food. The shrimp and moray eel have what type of interaction?

a)

commensalism

b)

predation

c)

competition

d)

mutualism

18.

There is a population of lions in a South African savanna that eat only impalas and kudu. What do you think is the least likely to happen if all the kudu are killed by humans overhunting them?

a)

The lions would go extinct due to the lack of kudu

b)

The impala population would increase

c)

The lion would rely only on the impalas for food, which could lead to ecological collapse

d)

The ecosystem would not be impacted

19.

Given this example of an ecosystem network, which of the organisms plays a more crucial role than others?

a)

sperm whale

b)

herring

c)

phytoplankton

d)

squid

20.

You are observing a forest ecosystem and notice that there are mushrooms, which you know to be a fungus, growing on top of a fallen, dead tree. A likely explanation of what is going on would be which of the following choices?

a)

the mushrooms are competing with the tree for shelter

b)

the mushrooms’ and the tree’s interaction could be considered parasitism

c)

the mushrooms are breaking down the dead tree

d)

the mushrooms are practicing predation

21.

A team of Academy scientists embarks on an expedition to an uninhabited island, to document the biodiversity of the area. They land on the rocky shore that is teeming with life. How might scientists calculate the species richness of the rocky shore ecosystem?

a)

by counting the total number of individual organisms living on the rocky shore.

b)

by counting the total number of different species within the rocky shore ecosystem.

c)

by calculating the amount of energy and matter that is flowing within the ecosystem.

d)

by calculating the number of individual predators, prey, and decomposers.

22.

Which of the following best describes the interaction between these two organisms pictured here?

a)

competition

b)

commensalism

c)

mutualism

d)

parasitism

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