WorksheetsEcology Test Review Questions
Total questions: 54
Worksheet time: 14hrs 30mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Calvin is pouring water through a sample of soil, and measuring the amount of time it takes 500 milliliters of water to pass through it. Soils that allow water to pass through them faster are more _______.
a)
acidic
b)
fertile
c)
basic
d)
permeable
2.
Which layer of soil is best for plant growth?
a)
subsoil
b)
parent material
c)
wetsoil
d)
topsoil
3.
Most animals that live in soil live in the _______ layer.
a)
parent material
b)
bedrock
c)
topsoil
d)
subsoil
4.
The diagram is a soil profile showing distinct layers of soil. The topsoil layer has the greatest concentration of organic matter. The subsoil generally lacks organic matter, but it does receive small clay particles and dissolved ions that wash downward from the topsoil. The C horizon is made of materials weathered directly from the parent material, which lies immediately below. The parent material is either solid bedrock or a layer of sediment. Based on this information:
a)
the topsoil likely has a rockier texture than the subsoil and C Horizon.
b)
the subsoil likely has a rockier texture than the topsoil and C horizon.
c)
all three of these layers should have the same texture.
d)
the C horizon likely has a rockier texture than the topsoil and subsoil.
5.
Which of the following can be used as a fertilizer that alters pH and makes soil nutrients more accessible?
a)
humus
b)
lime
c)
water
d)
organic material
6.
Cheryl recently moved across the state, and began really missing the native trees she had at her old house. So, she bought some of the same type of tree and planted them at her new house.
At her old house, it rained fairly often, but the rocky, grey soil dried out quickly after it rained. At her new house, it rains the same amount as at her old house, but the black, clay-rich soil stays wet for a long time after it rains.
Several weeks after planting the trees, the trees died. Which of the following is the best explanation for this?
At her old house, it rained fairly often, but the rocky, grey soil dried out quickly after it rained. At her new house, it rains the same amount as at her old house, but the black, clay-rich soil stays wet for a long time after it rains.
Several weeks after planting the trees, the trees died. Which of the following is the best explanation for this?
a)
The soil at the new house does not drain water quickly enough for these trees.
b)
The trees can grow only in soils that are grey in color.
c)
The trees needed to be planted in soil that was different from both locations.
d)
The soil at the old house should have been wetter.
7.
An oak tree in the middle of a meadow loses most of its leaves in Fall. The leaves fall to the ground and eventually become part of the meadow’s soil. What process will turn the leaves into soil?
a)
photosynthesis
b)
decomposition
c)
weathering
d)
transportation
8.
Which of the following types of soil has the greatest permeability?
a)
sandy
b)
loam
c)
silty
d)
clay
9.
When it rains, a soil holds water well and becomes moist and sticky. The soil probably contains a large amount of _______.
a)
clay
b)
silt
c)
sand
d)
pebbles
10.
A complete soil profile includes three layers:
a)
drysoil, wetsoil, and thicksoil.
b)
topsoil, midsoil, and bottomsoil.
c)
richsoil, parent material, and subsoil.
d)
topsoil, subsoil, and parent material.
11.
An indicator is used to measure the _______ of soil.
a)
mass
b)
composition
c)
temperature
d)
pH
12.
Most types of plants grow best in soil with a pH of _______.
a)
between 1 and 3
b)
either 1 or 14
c)
between 5 and 7
d)
between 10 and 12
13.
Which of the following can be a component of soil?
a)
decayed organic material
b)
rock particles
c)
minerals
d)
all of these
14.
Which of the following is an example of a population?
a)
all of the trees in Yellowstone National Park
b)
all plants and animals in Grand Canyon National Park
c)
all of the rocks in a rock collection
d)
all of the western diamondback rattlesnakes in Big Bend National Park
15.
A community includes:
a)
all of the living organisms in a specific place at a specific time.
b)
only the animals in a specific place at a specific time.
c)
only the plants in a specific place at a specific time.
d)
all plants, animals, minerals, and water in a specific place at a specific time.
16.
Which of the following ecological levels of organization includes abiotic factors?
a)
community
b)
population
c)
ecosystem
d)
all of these
17.
The soil of an ecosystem determines the kinds of organisms that are able to live there.
Which of the following soil characteristics can have an effect on the ecosystem of an area?
Which of the following soil characteristics can have an effect on the ecosystem of an area?
a)
the particle size of the soil
b)
the composition of the soil
c)
the texture of the soil
d)
all of the above
18.
Most plants grow best in soil that has a pH of between 5 and 7. Frank's backyard lawn has a pH of 4. Not very many plants grow in Frank's back yard. He adds lime to the soil, and the pH goes up to 6.
What will most likely happen to plant growth in Frank's back yard?
What will most likely happen to plant growth in Frank's back yard?
a)
There will be no change in plant growth.
b)
More plants will be able to grow.
c)
Fewer plants will be able to grow.
d)
All of the above
19.
Consider the energy pyramid pictured. Why are there very few organisms toward the top of the pyramid?
a)
Organisms at the top of the pyramid are preyed upon by many other organisms.
b)
Organisms at the top of the pyramid can only generate energy directly from the sun.
c)
There is too much energy available at the top of the pyramid.
d)
There is much less energy available at the top of the pyramid.
20.
An energy pyramid of an ecosystem is shown. Which of the following is true about this ecosystem?
a)
Energy in this ecosystem flows from snakes to grasshoppers.
b)
Energy in this ecosystem flows from grasshoppers to grass.
c)
Energy in this ecosystem flows from hawks to snakes.
d)
Energy in this ecosystem flows from grass to grasshoppers.
21.
An energy pyramid of an ecosystem is shown below. Which population of organisms shown on the pyramid has the most available energy?
a)
grass
b)
snakes
c)
hawks
d)
grasshoppers
22.
Look at the food web shown. Which organisms get energy directly from producers?
a)
zooplankton
b)
squid
c)
sperm whales
d)
phytoplankton
23.
Look at the food web shown. In this ecosystem, squid are considered to be _______.
a)
producers
b)
decomposers
c)
consumers
d)
all of these
24.
The image shows an aquatic food web. Which of the following describes how energy is transferred between the dolphin and the shark?
a)
The dolphin and the shark both transfer energy to each other.
b)
Energy is transferred from the dolphin to the shark.
c)
Energy is transferred from the shark to the dolphin.
d)
Energy is not transferred between the dolphin and the shark.
25.
Food webs are models that show how energy flows in an ecosystem. What is the ultimate source of energy for all of the organisms in the food web shown?
a)
the Sun
b)
decomposers
c)
consumers
d)
producers
26.
Zebra mussels were introduced into the Great Lakes region in the 1960s. They are not a native species and they spread quickly throughout the area. Zebra mussels attach to other species of mussels and often kill them. They also use up resources that native mussel species depend on for survival. As a result, zebra mussels have almost completely gotten rid of native mussels in the Great Lakes region.
Based on the table below, what type of interaction do the zebra mussels have with the native mussels?
Based on the table below, what type of interaction do the zebra mussels have with the native mussels?
a)
community interaction
b)
ecosystem interaction
c)
organismal function
d)
population interaction
27.
A badger lives in Oak Grove Forest. It is a female and it is four years old.Which of the following animals could be considered a member of this badger's population?
a)
a ten-year-old male badger living in Oak Grove Forest
b)
a ten-year-old female skunk living in Pine Warden Forest
c)
a four-year-old female badger living in a zoo
d)
a two-year old male red fox living in Oak Grove Forest
28.
How does energy flow in the food web shown?
a)
from producers to consumers
b)
from carnivores to herbivores
c)
from insects to plants
d)
from decomposers to the sun
29.
Biomes are large regions characterized by certain conditions, including a range of climate and ecological communities adapted to those conditions. Ecosystems consist of all interactions between biotic and abiotic factors functioning together in an area.
How are ecosystems and biomes related?
How are ecosystems and biomes related?
a)
Biomes and ecosystems are identical in size and composition.
b)
An ecosystem includes many different biomes.
c)
Organisms found in ecosystems cannot be found in biomes.
d)
A biome includes many similar ecosystems.
30.
The graph below shows the population size of a predator and its prey in a community. Look at the prey's population size at the end of the graph.
How will this population size most likely change next?
How will this population size most likely change next?
a)
The population size will remain the same.
b)
The population will shrink in size.
c)
There is no way to predict how the population size will change.
d)
The population will increase in size.
31.
Hermit crabs use old seashells for shelter and protection. Some species of fish also use abandoned seashells as a place to hide from predators.Which of the following statements is true?
a)
Hermit crabs and fish that hide in shells cooperate with each other for food.
b)
Hermit crabs and fish that hide in shells compete with each other for shelter.
c)
Hermit crabs and fish that hide in shells compete with each other for food.
d)
Hermit crabs and fish that hide in shells cooperate with each other for shelter.
32.
Parasitism is a relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits at another organism's expense. Which of the following relationships reflects this principle?
a)
caterpillar-cocoon
b)
ladybug-aphid
c)
termite-fallen log
d)
tapeworm-human
33.
Some types of algae live inside coral. The algae provide the coral with nutrients. The coral provides the algae with shelter. Which of the following relationships exist between the algae and coral?
a)
a symbiotic relationship
b)
a parasite-host relationship
c)
a predator-prey relationship
d)
a competitive relationship
34.
Ants live in the hollow thorns of an acacia tree. The tree provides food and shelter for the ants. The ants protect the tree from herbivores that might otherwise eat the tree.
Which type of relationship does this represent?
Which type of relationship does this represent?
a)
mutualism
b)
predation
c)
parasitism
d)
commensalism
35.
A mite is a tiny organism that may "ride" on top of an insect such as a beetle in order to move quickly from place to place.
This relationship between the mite and the beetle would be an example of mutualism if:
This relationship between the mite and the beetle would be an example of mutualism if:
a)
the beetle is neither harmed nor helped by the mite.
b)
the mite protects the beetle from predators.
c)
the beetle eats the mite.
d)
the beetle is unable to catch prey because it is slowed down by the mite.
36.
Which of the following is an example of a predator/prey relationship?
a)
A tick latches on to a dog's ear and consumes its blood.
b)
A fungus grows on a fallen log and decomposes it.
c)
A wolf hunts, kills, and consumes a deer for nutrition.
d)
Mistletoe attaches to another plant and uses its minerals and nutrients.
37.
The pictures below show a field that is being studied over time. In the field, there are rabbits (red circles) and foxes (blue circles). What conclusion can be drawn from these observations?
a)
The number of rabbits and foxes remains constant over time.
b)
The number of foxes decreases as the number of rabbits increases.
c)
The number of foxes remains constant while the number of rabbits decreases.
d)
The number of foxes increases while the number of rabbits decreases.
38.
Fire ants are a species native to South America. They have been carried to different locations in the southern United States and have continued to spread north. A scientist is interested in designing solutions to minimize the impact of fire ants in a local ecosystem into which the fire ants have been recently introduced.
Which of the following questions would be useful in helping the scientist understand the impact fire ants have on the ecosystem?
Which of the following questions would be useful in helping the scientist understand the impact fire ants have on the ecosystem?
a)
What types of organisms do the fire ants consume in the ecosystem?
b)
Have populations of other ant species decreased since the fire ants have been introduced?
c)
What types of predators consume fire ants in the ecosystem?
d)
all of these
39.
Scientists wanted to study how competition would affect two different deer species living in the same ecosystem. The result of their eight-year study is summarized in the graph below. What can you predict will most likely happen to the white-tailed deer in this ecosystem?
a)
The population of white-tailed deer will equal the population of axis deer.
b)
The population of white-tailed deer will most likely die out over time.
c)
The population of white-tailed deer will continue to stabilize.
d)
The population of white-tailed deer will dramatically increase.
40.
A population of cottontail rabbits gives birth to an average of eight kits (baby rabbits) per litter, and it only has one predator. However, an average of only two kits per litter actually lives to maturity. Which of these might explain this low survival rate?
a)
A population of bobcats depends on these rabbits for food.
b)
There is enough water in the region to support six kits per litter.
c)
There is enough grass to feed up to nine kits per litter.
d)
A population of birds lives nearby that does not prey on rabbits or eat their food.
41.
A population of sagebrush lives in a grassland ecosystem. Over several years, erosion causes the soil of the grassland to have an increasing amount of sand in it. The data below was collected by scientists studying the ecosystem. If the soil is 53% sand next year, which of the following statements is the most likely prediction?
a)
The size of the sagebrush population will decline.
b)
The average height of the sagebrush will increase.
c)
The average height of the sagebrush will decrease.
d)
The size of the sagebrush population will increase.
42.
A population of black bears depends on salmon from a stream for food. If a drought causes the stream to run dry one year, how will this likely impact the black bear population?
a)
The population will be unaffected.
b)
The population's size will decrease.
c)
The population's size will increase.
d)
The population will thrive on new species of fish.
43.
The graph shows the predator-prey relationship between red foxes and chipmunks in a habitat. What happens to the populations of red foxes and chipmunks over time?
a)
The numbers of red foxes and chipmunks do not change very much over time.
b)
The number of red foxes always decreases, and the number of chipmunks always increases.
c)
The number of red foxes always increases, and the number of chipmunks always decreases.
d)
The numbers of red foxes and chipmunks seem to increase and decrease at the same intervals.
44.
Zebra mussels, shown below, have recently been found in Colorado lakes. The mussels are not native to the lakes, and they have begun to kill native mussels by attaching to them and covering them up. The zebra mussels are:
a)
a hybrid species.
b)
a pioneer species.
c)
a cooperative species.
d)
an invasive species.
45.
In an ecosystem, there are many factors that affect how many organisms can survive there. Which of the following is one of those factors?
a)
number of times humans have seen the area
b)
color of flowering plants
c)
availability of water
d)
age of mammal species
46.
A population of gray foxes lives in a forest ecosystem. These foxes prey mostly on a large population of mice. If a fatal disease infects the mouse population, which of these is most likely to happen to the fox population through time?
a)
It will increase in size.
b)
It will develop resistance to the disease.
c)
It will suffer from a similar disease.
d)
It will decrease in size.
47.
Mosquitoes must lay their eggs in standing water. What would most likely happen to the mosquito population in an ecosystem that experienced less rainfall than usual?
a)
The mosquito population would decrease in size.
b)
The mosquito population would not experience any changes.
c)
The mosquito population would disappear altogether.
d)
The mosquito population would increase in size.
48.
A plant growing near the edge of a forest grows best when it gets a large amount of sunlight. If a forest fire occurs and burns down many trees in the forest, how will this most likely affect the plant's population?
a)
The plant's population will become extinct.
b)
The plant's population will increase in size.
c)
The plant's population will not be affected.
d)
The plant's population will decrease in size.
49.
The food web for a particular ecosystem is shown below. What would most likely happen if the algae were removed from this ecosystem?
a)
The amount of sunlight would decrease.
b)
The ant population would increase.
c)
The tadpole population would decrease.
d)
The snake population would increase.
50.
The food web pictured involves both land and marine organisms. What would likely happen if all of the phytoplankton in the ocean suddenly disappeared?
a)
There would be less water.
b)
Gulls would have more food to eat.
c)
Foxes would have less food to eat.
d)
There would be more zooplankton.
51.
Look at the diagram of a food web. What would happen to the food chain if a drought occurred, and the vegetation did not grow?
a)
The fox would only be able to live off of energy from the sun.
b)
All of the animals in this web would starve.
c)
The caterpillar, partridge, and rabbit would not survive.
d)
The fox would not survive.
52.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support for a long period of time. What might happen when a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the land?
a)
Nothing should happen to the population or the ecosystem it lives in.
b)
The population will eventually learn to use other resources.
c)
The population improves the dynamics of the local ecosystem.
d)
The population uses up its resources faster than they are replenished.
53.
A food web is shown above. What would most likely happen in this ecosystem if the shark population significantly increased?
a)
The population of dolphins would increase.
b)
The population of crustaceans would decrease.
c)
The population of fish would decrease.
d)
The population of algae would increase.
54.
A new predator is introduced into the ecosystem shown in the food web below. This predator feeds on bees and mice. How will this most likely affect the species in this ecosystem?
a)
There will be a decrease in bees and mice which will cause a decrease in the populations of both black bears and foxes.
b)
There will be an increase in bees and mice which will cause an increase in the populations of both black bears and foxes.
c)
There will be a decrease in bees and mice which will cause an increase the black bear population and a decrease in the fox population.
d)
There will be an increase in bees and mice which will cause a decrease in the black bear population and an increase in the fox population.
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