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Changes in populations

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A Coyote eats a rabbit. The rabbit has eaten grass. Select how the flow of energy would look.

a)

Grass ---> Rabbit---> Coyote

b)

Rabbit<---- Grass<---- Coyote

c)

Coyote-----> Rabbit----> Grass

d)

Coyote<---- Rabbit-----> Grass

2.

Populations can change over time. For instance, if weather and climate conditions for oak trees to produce more acorns than usual then the squirrel population will _______________.

a)

increase

b)

decrease

c)

stay the same

d)

go extinct

3.

If the squirrel population increases then animals that are predators of squirrels, such as owls and foxes, will ___________________.

a)

increase

b)

decrease

c)

stay the same

d)

go extinct

4.

A ______________________ is anything that constrains a population's size and slows or stops it from growing.

a)

natural disaster

b)

population control

c)

restraining effect

d)

limiting factor

5.

The clownfish is protected by the sea anemone from predators, while the clownfish lures in food for the sea anemone. What type of symbiotic relationship?

a)

Mutualism

b)

Parasitism

c)

Commensalism

d)

Competition

6.

The relationship between Cheetahs and zebras in Africa depicts the predator-prey relationship. Since the zebras are a main prey of the cheetah, researchers have realized a food shortage as the cheetahs are eating too many zebras. This keeps the cheetah population in check. How does this relationship affect this populations?

a)

The relationship controls the population size of both species

b)

The predator or prey will become extinct

c)

The predator and prey are in competition with each other

d)

The predator species will grow out of control.

7.

What is an example of an abiotic factor? Check all that apply

a)

Temperature

b)

Animals

c)

Precipitation

d)

Plants

8.

What is the number of different species of plants and animals in an area

a)

Biodiversity

b)

Conservation

c)

Population

d)

Community

9.

Which statement BEST describes how limiting factors affect the organisms in an ecosystem?

a)

They destroy resources organisms need to survive.

b)

They provide what an organism needs to survive.

c)

They keep a population from getting too large.

d)

They have no effect on the organisms in an ecosystem.

10.

A disease kills most members of a predator population. What is the MOST LIKELY effect on the prey population?

a)

It will also be killed by the disease.

b)

It will decrease in size.

c)

It will greatly increase in size.

d)

It will not be affected by the change in the predator population.

11.

Limiting factors can only be abiotic factors.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

A fox eats a squirrel. The population of squirrels has...

a)

increased.

b)

decreased.

c)

stayed the same.

13.

2 foxes enter an ecosystem that has a lot of rabbits. Foxes eat rabbits. It is likely that the population of foxes will...

a)

increase.

b)

decrease.

c)

stay the same.

14.

2 foxes enter an ecosystem that has a lot of rabbits. Foxes eat rabbits. It is likely that the population of rabbits will...

a)

increase.

b)

decrease.

c)

stay the same.

15.

Hunters in an ecosystem really like to hunt deer. They are hunting too much and damaging the ecosystem. What are some reasonable effects of their overexploitation through hunting deer? Check all that apply

a)

The population of mountain lions, who eat deer, will decrease

b)

The grass, which deer eat, will die out

c)

Humans will go extinct

d)

The population of deer will decrease

e)

Rabbits, who also eat grass, will increase in population

16.

In an ecosystem, rabbits eat grass, and coyotes eat rabbits. All living things also need water, shelter, and mates to survive. Which of these situations will cause an increase in the population of rabbits?

a)

The water becomes polluted

b)

Deer, which also eat grass, enter the ecosystem

c)

An increase in rain causes more grass to grow

d)

The coyote population increases

17.

In the following graph, the predator and prey populations change over time. What is the reason for the predator population decreasing?

a)

The predator eats the prey

b)

The prey is eaten by the predator

c)

The predator runs out of food when the prey population is low

d)

The prey survives longer when the predator population is low

18.

In the following graph, the predator and prey populations change over time. What is the reason for the prey population increasing?

a)

The predator eats the prey

b)

The prey is eaten by the predator

c)

The predator runs out of food when the prey population is low

d)

The prey survives longer when the predator population is low