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Unit 11 Ecology

Total questions: 70

Worksheet time: 1hrs 28mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
The diagram below shows the cycling of nutrients in an ecosystem.
The removal of which of the following groups would cause an immediate decrease in the amount of energy flowing through the system?
a)
Producers
b)
Consumers
c)
Decomposers
d)
Inorganic nutrients
2.
What is the original source of almost all energy in most ecosystems?
a)
carbohydrates
b)
sunlight
c)
water
d)
carbon
3.
What is an ecological model of the relationships that form a network of complex interactions among organisms in a community from producers to decomposers?
a)
food web
b)
an ecosystem
c)
food chain
d)
a population
4.
What does a food web represent?
a)
All connections of energy flow throughout all organisms in a habitat.
b)
The specific ways that mutualism is carried out.
c)
A single pathway or energy flow between organisms. 
d)
How carnivores get their food. 
5.
Consumer that eats plants
a)
heterotroph
b)
herbivore
c)
producer
d)
community
6.
The rabbit in this food web would be considered a:
a)
Decomposer
b)
Producer
c)
Secondary Consumer
d)
Primary Consumer
7.
What are the Abiotic factors in this image? 
a)
water, sunlight, dirt, air
b)
birds and plants
c)
birds, water, dirt
d)
plants, water
8.
Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?
a)
all the living organisms in an area and their physical surroundings
b)
a region with a distinct climate
c)
all the living organisms of the same species throughout the world
d)
all the living organisms in an area
9.
An increase in the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the biggest contributor to which of the following?
a)
El Nino
b)
global warming
c)
wind storms
d)
ozone depletion
10.
The graph below shows population data for two species.  What can be said about the relationship between species 1 and species 2?
a)
When the population of species 1 increases, the population of species 2 decreases.
b)
The population of species 1 and species 2 stay the same over the time period shown.
c)
The population of species 1 is not influenced by the population of species 2.
d)
When the population of species 1 increases, the population of species 2 increases.
11.
Biotic means ____________. 
a)
Nonliving
b)
Living
12.

What is the producer in this food chain?

a)

Python

b)

Frog

c)

Grasshopper

d)

Grass

13.

Which factor promotes competition between organisms in an ecosystem?

a)

cycling of minerals

b)

limited resources

c)

decomposition of organic matter

d)

presence of saprophytes

14.
As the population of prey decreases, the population of the predator which eats it will...
a)
Increase
b)
Decrease
c)
Remain Constant
15.

Predator population lags behind prey population because:

a)

Increase in predators leads to decrease in prey

b)

Increase in predators leads to increase in prey

c)

Increase in predators leads to decrease in producers

16.
 Which of these BEST describes how some birds survive when the weather gets cold? 
     
a)
 a.   They store twigs and sticks in their nest 
b)
 b. They migrate to a warmer climate 
c)
 c. They grow more feathers to stay warm in the winter 
d)
 d. They hide in bushes and wait for warm weather 
17.
What do you call an animal that eats both plants and other animals?
a)
vegetarian
b)
herbivore
c)
omnivore
d)
carnivore
18.
Any physical structure (body part or covering) or behavior that helps an animal survive:
a)
habitat
b)
instinct
c)
fur
d)
adaptation
19.

Arrows in food webs and food chains show

a)

predator-prey relationships

b)

transfer of energy

c)

mutalistic relationships

d)

patterns of inheritance

20.

Each step in a food chain or web is called a

a)

trophic level

b)

consumer

c)

predator prey relationship

d)

mutualism

21.

True or False: In general, the size of the predator population is influenced by the size of the prey population and vice versa

a)

true

b)

false

22.

True or False: The regulation of a population by predation takes place within the predator-prey relationship

a)

true

b)

false

23.

True or false: If more food is available the predator population will grow, and as the prey population decreases the predator population decrease.

a)

true

b)

false

24.
Changes in a body to fit a location.
a)
Variation
b)
Adaptation
c)
Behavior
d)
Environment
25.
What is the advantage of having different shaped beaks?
a)
To look different from other species.
b)
To be able to eat different types of food.
c)
To fly faster.
d)
To confuse scientists. 
26.
What is it called when better adapted organisms survive to pass traits along to their offspring.
a)
Evolution
b)
Natural Selection
c)
Extinction
d)
Artifical Selection
27.
The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce is known as...
a)
Adaptation
b)
Trait
c)
Fitness
d)
Variation
28.
Why did the population of peppered moths in England change from light to dark after the Industrial Revolution?
a)
Light moths were easy to see against sooty trees and were eaten
b)
Light moths were killed by soot
c)
The birds that ate the dark moths were killed by soot
d)
Dark moths were produced by industrial processes
29.
The example of the peppered (brown) moths living near English industrial cities demonstrates that
a)
A change in an environment can result in the evolution of species living there
b)
Evolution occurs so slowly that is it not possible to determine that it has happened in less than a million years
c)
The environment near these cities has always favored dark colored moths
30.
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.
31.
Which of the following is an example of selective breeding?
a)
populations of lizards that have a certain trait become more numerous after a change in climate
b)
a population of insects develops resistance to a pesticide after farmers repeatedly use the same pesticide to kill the insects
c)
a population of bacteria develops resistance to an antibiotic
d)
farmers allow only sheep that produces the best wool to breed.
32.
Enviromentals changes leads to
a)
variations
b)
pollution
c)
predation
d)
artificial selection
33.

Which of the following is NOT a source of pollution in the ocean?

a)

Nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers used on land.

b)

Oils found on city streets.

c)

Sand drifting along the bottom of the ocean floor.

d)

Emissions from gas-burning vehicles.

34.

The largest source of pollution in the ocean comes from __________.

a)

Oil Spills

b)

Acid Rain

c)

Runoff

d)

Wind

35.

The diagram below shows the relationship between some of the organisms in a marine food web. Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to happen if a large number of phytoplankton are killed from runoff entering the ocean?

a)

The number of porpoises would probably stay the same because porpoises are far removed from phytoplankton in the food web

b)

The number of zooplankton would probably increase because they wouldn’t have to compete with phytoplankton for food.

c)

The number of salmon would probably decrease because there would be less food available for zooplankton and herring.

d)

The Sun would probably not emit as much energy because there would not be as many phytoplankton in the ocean.

36.

The ocean is the Earths largest _____________.

a)

Habitat

b)

Current

c)

Basins

37.
In the following food chain, what would happen if all the mice became extinct?
a)
The snake population would increase.
b)
The grasshopper population would decrease.
c)
The grasshopper population would increase.
d)
The plants would stop growing.
38.
Organisms that help break down dead and decaying organisms in an ecosystem are called...
a)
decomposers
b)
scavengers
c)
predators
d)
consumers
39.
In a food chain, an omnivore eats...
a)
Consumers
b)
Producers
c)
decomposers
d)
Consumers and Producers
40.
What is a food web?
a)
A way for spiders to catch food.
b)
A single food chain
c)
Several food chains combined
d)
An area where animals eat.
41.
Why might an organism have more than one arrow coming from them in a food web?
a)
More than one organism may eat them. 
b)
They may eat more than one other organism. 
c)
This organism gets its energy from multiple sources. 
d)
They have no resources available to them.
42.
The rabbit in this food web would be considered a:
a)
Decomposer
b)
Producer
c)
Secondary Consumer
d)
Primary Consumer
43.
An organism that gets energy from breaking down dead organisms, non-living material or waste is a(an) ___________.
a)
producer
b)
consumer
c)
decomposer
d)
autotroph
44.
Which organism do the owl and the weasel compete for in the food web?
a)
Hawk
b)
Spider
c)
Grasshopper
d)
Shrew
45.
Which organism do the owl and the weasel compete for in the food web?
a)
Hawk
b)
Spider
c)
Grasshopper
d)
Shrew
46.
How many producers are in this food web?
a)
1
b)
2
c)
3
d)
4
47.
Which of the following is a predator-prey relationship in this food web?
a)
Jackal-Goat
b)
Rabbit-Green Plant
c)
Mouse-Owl
d)
Jackal-Lion
48.
Organisms who make their own energy by taking in light or chemicals.
a)
Heterotroph
b)
Phototropism
c)
Autotroph
d)
Heterotroph
49.
There is competition for resources between:
a)
Brittle Brush and Saguaro Cactus
b)
Armadillo and Peccary
c)
Stomach Worm and Gila Monster
d)
Banded Gecko and Peccary
50.
A Cross Timbers rancher is concerned about competition between the ranch animals and deer. Based on the graph, which animals compete for the most food with the white-tailed deer?
a)
Cattle that eat grass and feed.
b)
Goats that eat weeds and shrubs.
c)
Turkeys that eat seeds and fruit.
d)
Hogs that eat fruit, seeds, and feed.
51.
Which of these correctly describes a relationship between organisms in the soil food web?
a)
Protozoa get nutrients from small arthropods.
b)
Mammals are predators of birds.
c)
Nematodes prey on arthropods.
d)
Bacteria get nutrients from organic matter.
52.
The amount of salt water in Galveston Bay estuary changes with the tides. Sometimes the water is mostly freshwater, and sometimes it is mixed with saltwater. Various plant species live in this environment and provide a habitat for other organisms. To be successful here, a plant species must have an adaptation that allows it to-
a)
produce large amounts of food
b)
absorb large amounts of water
c)
store excess gases
d)
filter excess salt
53.
What does a biotic do?
a)
do nothing
b)
move, repopulate, and live
c)
stand still
d)
dead things
54.
if an eagle/hawk population goes down what happens?
a)
predators are booming
b)
nuke
c)
Mouse population explodes
d)
nothing
55.
What does a limiting factor do?
a)
makes a population grow large
b)
stops a population from growing large
c)
helps organisms adapt to abiotic factors
d)
provides geographical boundaries for migration
56.
What does a limiting factor do?
a)
makes a population grow large
b)
stops a population from growing large
c)
helps organisms adapt to abiotic factors
d)
provides geographical boundaries for migration
57.
If a disease were to infect frogs and kill them off what would be the likely impact of this system?
a)
Decrease the amount of flies
b)
Increase the amount of frogs
c)
Decrease the amount of algae
d)
Increase the amount of algae
58.
anything that an organism needs to live, ex. food, water, space
a)
carrying capacity
b)
resource
c)
succession
d)
denitrification 
59.
What is surface runoff?
a)
Water from precipitation that flows over the land surface
b)
The surface running off
c)
Snow
d)
A runny surface
60.
Water from rain and melting snow that flows over the ground and into streams and storm drains.
a)
River System
b)
Flood Plain
c)
Watershed
d)
Runoff
61.

Pollution and runoff affects people living everywhere in the world because...

a)

everyone needs clean water.

b)

dirty runoff pollutes water that we drink.

c)

dirty water affects the ecosystem.

62.
a man made, underwater structure that promotes the growth of reef dwelling aquatic organisms.
a)
Corral reefs
b)
Artificial reefs
c)
organisms
d)
food
63.
taking more fish out of an ecosystem than can be replaced by the reproductive rates of the remaining populations.
a)
extint
b)
fishing
c)
over fishing
d)
over population
64.
Who causes the most damage to coral reefs?
a)
Whales
b)
Fish
c)
Boats
d)
Humans
65.

Plants need sunlight to perform photosynthesis. In the tropical rainforest, the survival of a plant depends upon its ability to adapt in order to reach sunlight.


Which of the following is an example of one such adaptation?

a)

Vines that wrap around a tree

b)

Thin, shallow roots that run across the forest floor

c)

Numerous small leaves on one stem

d)

Colorful petals

66.

Which of the following is NOT an example of how biotic factors interact

with abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

a)

A lion preys on a herd of gazelle.

b)

Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and add oxygen.

c)

Animals cause erosion by digging in the dirt.

d)

A lizard raises its body temperature by using heat from the Sun.

67.

A company purchased a large forest and cut the trees for

lumber. Sunlight which had not reached the forest floor before was now very bright on the bare ground. Holly ferns began to grow rapidly because of increased access to light and moisture.


Which population of organisms would be in direct competition with the Holly ferns for the same resources?

a)

Spotted owls

b)

Squirrels

c)

Hawks

d)

Wildflowers

68.

The Texas blind salamander lives exclusively in San Marcos, Texas and has the following characteristics.


Characteristics of the Texas Blind Salamander

--Blood rich gills that allow them to breathe in their aquatic environment

--There are no eyes present Very little skin pigment to protect them from ultraviolet radiation

--Able to sense pressure changes in the aquatic environment to detect prey

--Adults eat snails and blind shrimp


Which abiotic resource is not likely present in the Texas blind salamander’s environment?

a)

Oxygen

b)

Water

c)

Plants

d)

Light

69.

In Austin, Texas, a well-known salamander inhabits the waters of the spring outflows of Barton Springs. This is the perfect habitat for the Barton Springs salamander since it thrives in fresh and pure continuous flowing water. They may inhabit underground or surface environments. They have been observed in water, under and among rocks and gravel, as well as within plants and algae. They consume small aquatic organisms.


What is the most likely way that humans could have a damaging impact on the Barton Springs salamander?

a)

Polluting the water

b)

Floating down the river

c)

Adding new water vegetation

d)

Adding new crustaceans

70.

Coral reefs support more species than any other marine

environment. The biodiversity in a coral reef is great, and scientists estimate that there may be another 1 to 8 million undiscovered species of organisms living in and around reefs. Reef structures protect shorelines against waves preventing the destruction of beaches and coastal property.


An artificial reef is a man-made structure that mimics some of the characteristics of a natural reef. Often, old ships and even subway cars are sunk off the coastal shore to create an artificial reef environment.


What is the greatest benefit an artificial reef would provide to the people living along the coast?

a)

The artificial reef would create a place for scuba divers to explore.

b)

The artificial reef would decrease the biodiversity of the ecosystemoff of the coast.

c)

The artificial reef would decrease erosion of the coastline.

d)

The artificial reef would provide a place for people to recycle large, unused structures.

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