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Ecosystems Review

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which role of protists has the most positive effect on maintaining the plant population in an ecosystem?

a)

Protists are a major food source for animals.

b)

Protists produce approximately 75% of the oxygen on Earth.

c)

Protists decompose dead materials, returning nutrients to the soil.

d)

Protists found in the gut of animals assist in digestion.

2.

Saprophytes are fungi that feed on dead and decomposing organisms. They secrete enzymes that digest components of cell walls, such as cellulose and lignin. Which statement explains why these fungi are an important part of the biogeochemical cycle?

a)

Saprophytes perform gas exchange that assists the cellular activities of autotrophs.

b)

Saprophytes extract minerals from living tissue to recycle them back into the soil.

c)

Saprophytes transport nutrients through the xylem and phloem in autotrophs.

d)

Saprophytes return organic material to the soil for use by living organisms.

3.

A small town in the piney woods of East Texas has a soccer field composed of native grasses. The soccer field is mowed once a week. What effect does continual mowing have on the ecology of the field?

a)

Mowing increases the likelihood of nonnative species displacing native species.

b)

Mowing increases the number of species found in the field.

c)

Mowing causes different types of communities to form across the field.

d)

Mowing maintains a low species diversity by inhibiting further succession.

4.

Based on the two diagrams, which list correctly identifies the relationships Glyptapanteles wasp larvae have with other organisms?

a)

Competition: stinkbugs ; Parasitism: geometrid moths

b)

Competition: geometrid moths ; Commensalism: stinkbug ; Mutualism: guava and eucalyptus trees

c)

Competition: stinkbugs and geometrid moths ; Commensalism: guava and eucalyptus trees

d)

Parastitism: gemoetrid moths ; Commensalism: stinkbugs ; Mutualism: guava and eucalyptus trees

5.

The populations of which organisms will most likely increase as a result of a disease that suddenly reduced the population of Texas horned lizards?

a)

Grasses and ants

b)

Ants and grasshoppers

c)

Grasshoppers and Texas cottonmouths

d)

Texas cottonmouths and red-shouldered hawks

6.

Producers in an energy pyramid have 3,200 kcal of energy available. How much energy would be expected to be found at the tertiary level in this pyramid?

a)

110 kcal

b)

32 kcal

c)

3.2 kcal

d)

1,100 kcal

7.

The San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nana, is a light reddish-brown translucent salamander about 2-5 cm in length. E. nana is found only in Spring Lake and a portion of the San Marcos River.

Which human activity would most likely decrease the ability of the salamanders to survive?

a)

Increasing water consumption that decreases the flow of clean water from the springs that feed the river.

b)

Public transportation that reduces the number of automobiles that contribute to pollution runoff into the river.

c)

Tourism that helps fund the educational programs related to river ecosystem conservation.

d)

The addition of a new food source into the river that limits competition for resources.

8.

Scientists have observed many types of tropical fish moving beyond their traditional ocean ranges into waters that have historically been more temperate. These fish compete for food with native fish, consuming much from the kelp forests and beds of sea grass.

The expansion of the ranges of tropical fish was most likely caused by --

a)

agricultural runoff that contributes to dead zones in the ocean

b)

global droughts that raise the salt concentration of ocean waters

c)

the rising temperatures of ocean waters

d)

acid rain pollution that lowers the pH of ocean waters

9.

Some species of millipedes will roll into a ball when threatened, while other species of millipedes can secrete noxious chemicals from their bodies. These adaptations allow the millipedes to --

a)

survive in different temperatures

b)

avoid different types of predators

c)

conserve different amounts of energy

d)

blend into different types of environments

10.

The Indian leaf butterfly has traits that allow it to resemble a leaf. The bright colors of the monarch butterfly indicate that the butterfly tastes bad and can be poisonous.

How does the appearance of these butterflies help them to survive?

a)

The Indian leaf butterfly is able to avoid predators while the monarch butterfly warns predators away.

b)

The Indian leaf butterfly frightens predators away while the monarch butterfly poisons predators before they can eat it.

c)

Both butterflies rely on camouflage to avoid predation.

d)

Both butterflies cooperate with one another to avoid predation.

11.

What would be the most likely effect of a wildfire that burned a large area of a forest?

a)

More sugars and starches would be available for animals in the area.

b)

The availability of fossil fuels for use by industries in the area would be reduced.

c)

Less carbon dioxide would be removed from the atmosphere in the area by plants.

d)

An increase in animal respiration would increase the release of carbon dioxide in the area.

12.

Nitrogen oxide is the fixed form of nitrogen that can be used by plants. It can be the the solid or liquid state. How can fixed nitrogen be made available to plants?

a)

It is moved by the wind toward dry areas.

b)

It is incorporated into the exoskeletons of flying insects that eat plants.

c)

It is inhaled and exhaled by birds roosting in trees during rainstorms.

d)

It is carried by rain to the soil.