wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Ecosystems, Food Chains, and Food Webs

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What would most likely happen to the populations of organisms in the forest ecosystem if there were no rain for a very long time?

a)

The grass and tree populations would increase because they only need sunlight and soil to get nutrients.

b)

The populations of all the forest organisms would decrease because producers would not be able to survive to supply nutrients to the consumers.

c)

The populations of all the forest organisms would remain the same because water only affects other nonliving factors.

d)

The hawk and rabbit populations would increase because they would not have to compete with grass and tree populations for water.

2.

Based on the diagram, the diving beetle gets energy from the tadpole. The tadpole gets energy from a

a)

consumer, such as a minnow

b)

producer, such as a great pond snail

c)

consumer, such as a water beetle

d)

producer, such as a plant plankton

3.

Matter would not be available for reuse in an ecosystem if it were not for the activities of what organisms?

a)

decomposers

b)

carnivores

c)

omnivores

d)

producers

4.

A community ins the city or state where a person lives. In science, the word "community" has a different meaning. What is this meaning of the word "community" in science?

a)

a place where only people live

b)

a place where only plants live

c)

all of the living things in a place

d)

all of the non living things in a place

5.

If all plants on Earth suddenly stopped producing usable energy, what would happen?

a)

Many herbivores would turn into carnivores.

b)

All organisms that eat plants would have to create their own energy.

c)

Many organisms that eat plants would die.

d)

All organisms that eat plants would grow smaller but would survive.

6.

What would MOST LIKELY happen if mushrooms stopped growing in this Georgia ecosystem?

a)

The amount of water and sunlight would increase.

b)

The population of producers would increase.

c)

The population of consumers would increase.

d)

The amount of decaying matter would increase.

7.

Burmese pythons were first introduced to the Florida Everglades in the 1980's. They have no natural predators there. Pythons are consumers, or get their energy from, deer and alligators among other animals. Which statement best describes how the introduction of pythons affects other organisms?

a)

The number of pythons is increasing, while the numbers in alligators and deer are decreasing.

b)

The numbers of pythons and alligators are increasing, while the number of deer is decreasing.

c)

The number of deer is increasing, while the numbers of alligators and pythons are decreasing.

d)

The number of pythons is increasing, the number of deer is increasing, and the number of alligators are increasing.

8.

According to the diagram, the owl receives energy directly from the

a)

hawk

b)

frog

c)

grass

d)

grasshopper

9.

Which is NOT a type of consumer?

a)

carnivore

b)

omnivore

c)

producer

d)

predator

10.

Which food chain model shows an example of how energy moves through an ecosystem?

a)

tree leaves - caterpillar - toucan - puma

b)

mushroom - redwood tree - racoon - black bear

c)

worm - carrot - chipmunk - hawk

d)

phyto (plant) plankton - dolphin - shrimp - mackerel

11.

In the desert, scientists have studied lizards, foxes, insects, and cacti and how energy flows within this ecosystem. How would scientists model a food chain using these organisms?

a)

insects - Sun - cacti - foxes - lizards

b)

foxes - lizards - insects - cacti - Sun

c)

Sun - cacti - insects - lizards - foxes

d)

lizards - cacti - Sun - insects - foxes

12.

What could the student use to finish their model?

a)

prairie dogs

b)

foxes

c)

buffalo

d)

aspen trees

13.

Which organisms can be classified as decomposers?

a)

insect-eating birds and shrews

b)

fungi and bacteria

c)

hawks and shrews

d)

grasshoppers and squirrels

14.

What would MOST LIKELY result if farmers began using pesticides that kill insects that live above the ground?

a)

a decrease in the corn population

b)

an increase in the snake population

c)

an increase in the flowering plant population

d)

a decrease in the rat population

15.

Select the THREE species in the ecosystem that would MOST LIKELY be unable to survive if the water in this pond evaporated.

a)

raccoons

b)

fish

c)

birds

d)

cattails

e)

insect larvae

16.

Developers cleared a small forest to build an apartment complex near Marie's house. As a result, the amount of habitat for hawks decreased significantly. Since hawks eat mice, what is MOST LIKELY to happen to the population of mice now that the hawks have fewer places to live?

a)

The population of mice will decrease.

b)

The population of mice will increase.

c)

The population of mice will remain the same.

d)

The population of mice will move to another area.

17.

Which of the following would MOST LIKELY lead to a decrease in the mouse population?

a)

an increase in the frog and deer populations

b)

a decrease in the amount of sunlight available

c)

an increase in the number of decomposers

d)

a decrease in the hawk and snake populations

18.

Which organisms would receive less energy if rabbits disappeared from this food web?

a)

toads

b)

hawks

c)

snakes

d)

grasses

19.

The table shows organisms in an ecosystem and what they eat, which transfers energy between them.

a)

mice and snakes

b)

snakes and hawks

c)

wolves and hawks

d)

wolves and mice

20.

In the past, wolves were hunted to extinction in the park. Now they have been brought back. Which statement describes the park BEFORE the wolves were reintroduced?

a)

There were fewer elk and fewer plants.

b)

There were many more elk and fewer plants.

c)

There were fewer elk and more plants.

d)

There were many more elk and many more plants.