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Worksheets

Ecosystems 5.L.2

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A rabbit depends on various plants in an ecosystem to survive. Which would most likely happen if a drought decreased the plant population?

a)

The rabbit population would increase.

b)

The rabbit population would decrease.

c)

The rabbit population would remain the same.

d)

The rabbit population would increase, then decrease quickly.

2.

The diagram is an aquatic food chain.

Which will most likely occur if there is overfishing and a loss of clams?

a)

The amount of algae would increase and the number of bass would increase.

b)

The amount of algae would decrease and the number of bass would increase.

c)

The amount of algae would increase and the number of bass would decrease.

d)

The amount of algae would decrease and the number of bass would decrease.

3.

Why are animals like deer, raccoons, bears, and coyotes sometimes seen in neighborhoods?

a)

because it is easier to find food

b)

because they can escape predators

c)

because their habitats are increasing

d)

because their habitats are decreasing

4.

The diagram below is a simple grassland food chain.

grass-> mouse-> snake

If a predator of the snake were introduced to the ecosystem, which would most likely happen?

a)

The grass population would increase.

b)

The snake population would increase.

c)

The mouse population would increase.

d)

The mouse population would decrease.

5.

This is an aquatic food chain.

Which situation will most likely occur if the pond is polluted?

a)

The tadpole population will decrease while the others will remain the same.

b)

The algae population will decrease while the others will remain the same.

c)

The algae, tadpole, and perch populations will decrease.

d)

The algae tadpole, and perch populations will increase.

6.

Which is an example of a terrestrial organism relying on an aquatic organism for food?

a)

Eagles consume fish to survive.

b)

Birds consume worms to survive.

c)

Fish consume seaweed to survive.

d)

frogs consume flying bugs to survive.

7.

Which best describes a difference between estuaries and ponds?

a)

Ponds flow into the ocean and estuaries do not.

b)

Ponds are affected by tides and estuaries are not.

c)

Ponds are freshwater and estuaries are brackish water.

d)

Ponds have salt water and estuaries have brackish water.

8.

Which correctly compares lakes and ponds?

a)

Ponds are usually larger and deeper than lakes.

b)

Lakes are usually larger and deeper than ponds.

c)

Ponds usually contain salt water, while lakes contain freshwater.

d)

Lakes usually have the same temperature from top to bottom, while ponds do not.

9.

Which is a characteristic common to oceans and estuaries?

a)

contains only salt water

b)

contains only freshwater

c)

supports little to no animal life

d)

affected by the rise and fall of tides

10.

Which best compares a lake and an estuary ecosystem?

a)

They both have plants growing in their deepest water.

b)

They are both affected by the daily changing of tides.

c)

They both contain a mixture of salt water and freshwater.

d)

They are both affected y seasonal changes in water temperatures

11.

What area is most likely closest to a salt marsh or an estuary?

a)

a lake

b)

a prairie

c)

a coastline

d)

the mountains

12.

Which two ecosystems provide most of the food for the world's population?

a)

ponds and lakes

b)

estuaries and forests

c)

grasslands and oceans

d)

salt marshes and deserts

13.

Which characteristic differs the most between a forest and a grassland ecosystem?

a)

the amount of salt

b)

the amount of trees

c)

the amount of sunlight

d)

the amount of organisms

14.

Which correctly describes rain forests and deserts?

a)

They are aquatic because they have a lot of precipitation

b)

They are terrestrial because they have little precipitation

c)

They are aquatic because they are bodies of water.

d)

They are terrestrial because they are on land.

15.

Which two ecosystems are most similar to one another?

a)

pond and lake

b)

desert and pond

c)

ocean and forest

d)

grassland and forest

16.

Which organisms are most likely to be found in both a pond and a lake ecosystem?

a)

algae, fish, insects

b)

fungi, trees, squirrels

c)

zebras, giraffes, insects

d)

plankton, fish, crocodiles

17.

Due to their fertile soil, grasslands and estuaries are being used for which purpose?

a)

agriculture

b)

fishing

c)

manufacturing

d)

tourism

18.

Why are salt marshes and estuaries important for ocean life?

a)

They minimize damage to oceans during hurricanes.

b)

They filter salt out of river water before it enters the oceans.

c)

They provide safe, nutrient-rich breeding areas for ocean organisms.

d)

They increase the amount of sediment able to settle on the ocean floor.

19.

Which organisms are most likely found in grasslands and deciduous forests?

a)

deer, brown bears, and rabbits

b)

pelicans, sea lions, and seaweed

c)

monkeys, palm trees, and snakes

d)

oak trees, squirrels, and opossums

20.

Which ecosystem most likely receives the greatest amount of precipitation?

a)

estuary

b)

grassland

c)

rain forest

d)

salt marsh

21.

Which water-based ecosystem can be found in all of North Carolina?

a)

salt marsh

b)

estuary

c)

ocean

d)

pond

22.

How are forests and grasslands similar?

a)

They both have many types of trees.

b)

They both have many types of grasses.

c)

They are both found only in cold climates.

d)

They are both found in warm and cold climates.

23.

How are estuaries and salt marshes different from oceans?

a)

Estuaries and slat marshes are less salty than oceans.

b)

Estuaries and salt marshes are more salty than oceans.

c)

Estuaries and salt marshes have the same amount of sea grass.

d)

Estuaries and salt marshes do not contain any salt and oceans contain little salt.

24.

A grassland is most similar to which ecosystem?

a)

prairie

b)

forest

c)

ocean

d)

lake

25.

How are grasslands and rain forests similar?

a)

both have tall trees

b)

both have a lot of grass

c)

both have salt water sources

d)

both have freshwater sources

26.

How are deciduous forest and tropical rain forest ecosystems similar?

a)

They both support only flying organisms.

b)

They are both found near the polar regions.

c)

They both support a variety of organisms.

d)

They are both found near the equator.

27.

Calvin lives in a deciduous forest ecosystem and will be vacationing in a rain forest ecosystems. Which difference Calvin experience?

a)

The rain forest will be cooler and dryer than the deciduous forest.

b)

The rain forest will be hotter and wetter than the deciduous forest.

c)

The rain forest will have less trees and shrubs than the deciduous forest.

d)

The rain forest will have less food and shelter for animals than the deciduous forest.

28.

Which type of organisms only live in shallow ocean waters and estuaries where sunlight is available?

a)

crustaceans

b)

fish

c)

mammals

d)

plants

29.

The table shows three jars containing water and salt representing aquatic ecosystems

Which aquatic ecosystem does Jar A most likely represent?

a)

lake

b)

estuary

c)

ocean

d)

salt marsh

30.

Molly spent a week at the lake and a week at the ocean on her family vacation. Which most accurately lists the animals she saw at each location?

a)

The fish, ducks and frogs were at the lake and the crabs, pelicans and se turtles were at the ocean.

b)

The fish, ducks and frogs were at the ocean and the crabs, pelicans and sea turtles were at the lake.

c)

The fish, crabs and frogs ere at the lake and the ducks, pelicans and sea turtles were at the ocean.

d)

The fish, ducks and sea turtles were at the ocean and the crabs, pelicans and frogs were at the lake.

31.

Which best describes the environmental conditions that organisms must tolerate when living in estuary and salt marsh ecosystems?

a)

changing water levels and salinity

b)

changing amounts of food and sunlight

c)

changing sediment and geologic features

d)

changing wind speeds and rainfall amounts

32.

The diagram shows part of a lake food web.

Many tourists and locals have been fishing in the same spot in this lake for a long period of time. How will the organisms in this food web MOST likely be affected if this fishing continues?

a)

The frog population will have fewer dragonflies to eat.

b)

The dragonfly population will have more beetles to eat.

c)

The pelican population will have less herring to eat.

d)

The mayfly population will have less algae to eat.

33.

Geotropism is a response by plants to which force?

a)

gravity

b)

friction

c)

air pressure

d)

Earth's magnetism

34.

a brown bear eats a variety of foods including berries, insects, and small animals. Which BEST describes a brown bear?

a)

producer

b)

herbivore

c)

carnivore

d)

omnivore

35.

Decaying plants and animals are important to an ecosystem because they

a)

cause disease in living organisms.

b)

reduce soil erosion.

c)

recycle oxygen to the air.

d)

return nutrients to the soil.

36.

How are bacteria classified in a forest ecosystem?

a)

as consumers

b)

as decomposers

c)

as herbivores

d)

as producers

37.

Decomposers are important to the flow of energy in an ecosystem because they

a)

are at the top of every food chain.

b)

eat things other organisms do not eat.

c)

make up a large portion of the top layer of the soil.

d)

break organic material into parts that can be reused.

38.

Meadow voles are small mouse-like animals that eat plants and insects. Their niche in an ecosystem is a

a)

omnivore.

b)

herbivore.

c)

producer.

d)

scavenger.

39.

The main function of a producer in an ecosystem is to

a)

absorb minerals from the soil.

b)

change water vapor into a liquid.

c)

make sugar through photosynthesis.

d)

break down dead plant and animal matter.

40.

Which will most likely cause a decrease in predator populations?

a)

an increase in prey populations

b)

a decrease in prey populations

c)

a decrease in decomposers

d)

an increase in producers

41.

Which organism is a producer?

a)

frog

b)

mushroom

c)

grass

d)

lizard

42.

An energy pyramid shows that less food and energy is available moving from the bottom to the top.

Based on this model, where would producers be located on the energy pyramid?

a)

Level 1

b)

Level 2

c)

Level 3

d)

Level 4

43.

Which gets all of its energy from the sun?

a)

producer

b)

consumer

c)

decomposer

44.

What best describes the roles of the organisms listed below in order from let to right?

a)

consumer, producer, consumer

b)

producer, decomposer, consumer

c)

consumer, decomposer, consumer

45.

Tyler is classifying organisms according to their source of energy. Based on the food chain below, which organism would be considered a carnivore?

a)

ant

b)

bird

c)

maple leaf

46.

Which describes a consumer in a pond ecosystem?

a)

catfish

b)

cattail

c)

water lily

47.

What is needed for plants to produce sugar?

a)

water, sunlight, oxygen

b)

water, sunlight, nitrogen

c)

water, sunlight, carbon dioxide

48.

Which is the first organism in a food chain?

a)

producer

b)

consumer

c)

decomposer

49.

In a food web, how are consumers most often described?

a)

by their size

b)

by their color

c)

by the food they eat

d)

by the way they move

50.

In a forest ecosystem, which would be most helpful in speeding up the rate of decomposition?

a)

a decrease in moisture

b)

an increase in temperature

c)

a decrease in the size of an organism

d)

an increase in the amount of nutrients being recycled