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Exam Review: Ecology & Life Functions

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which statement about the carbon cycle is true?

a)

Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere by animal & plant cellular respiration.

b)

The carbon cycle ends when an organism dies.

c)

Only animals are involved in the carbon cycle.

d)

Carbon exists only as carbon dioxide in the cycle.

2.

Deforestation removes trees; why would atmospheric carbon dioxide increase as a result of this?

a)

Grass often replaces forests.

b)

The trees shade the soil from the sun.

c)

Farmers plant corn and soybeans.

d)

There are fewer trees to take in carbon dioxide.

3.

What would cause population growth to level out rather than increase exponentially?

a)

limitations on resources

b)

having infinite resources

c)

low availability of sunlight

d)

limited genetic diversity

4.

Which process recycles and returns organic materials back into the environment after an organism dies?

a)

decomposition

b)

deposition

c)

mutualism

d)

photosynthesis

5.

Which process provides most of the oxygen found in Earth’s atmosphere?

a)

cellular respiration

b)

photosynthesis

c)

the nitrogen cycle

d)

decomposition

6.

We've noticed that in nature, small populations more easily become endangered or extinct.  Given that this is true, which do you think will most directly determine the impact of an infectious disease on survival of a population?

a)

climate

b)

number of population members

c)

food availability

d)

habitat location

7.

Lynx eat rabbits; which factor best explains why the lynx population remains relatively stable in number?

a)

a limited amount of food

b)

competition with other producers

c)

commensalism with aphids

d)

eating a variety of foods

8.

Which organisms change nitrogen from an atmospheric gas into a useful form through nitrogen fixation?

a)

fungi

b)

plants

c)

animals

d)

bacteria

9.

Large aphids defend feeding sites on a tree by kicking smaller aphids off of the best leaves. Which of the following terms best describes the interaction between the large aphids and the small aphids?

a)

competition

b)

mutualism

c)

commensalism

d)

parasitism

10.

Which cycle theoretically has the greatest impact on climate change on Earth?

a)

nitrogen cycle

b)

carbon cycle

c)

phosphorous cycle

d)

water cycle

11.

A scientist studying dolphin populations has noticed an increase in infant death. High levels of a toxin have been found in mothers’ fat. This toxin is passed to her infant in her milk. Which environmental problem does this best demonstrate?

a)

bioaccumulation

b)

biomagnification

c)

energy loss

d)

habitat destruction

12.

Which best indicates that the carrying capacity of an area has been exceeded?

a)

a steady increase in all species in an area

b)

a constant number of various species over time

c)

a sudden, rapid decline in many species in an area

d)

a sharp increase in the population of one species

13.

Which population is most likely to be affected by the biomagnification of toxins found in pesticides?

a)

producers

b)

primary consumers

c)

secondary consumers

d)

top level predators

14.

Which is the correct representation of energy flow through an ecosystem?

a)

water → squirrels → nuts

b)

producers → consumers → sun

c)

sun → producers → consumers

d)

sun → consumers → producers

15.

Which human activity causes an immediate increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

a)

burning fossil fuels

b)

deforestation

c)

reforestation

d)

recycling

16.

Mosquitoes breed in water and are responsible for the transmission of malaria to humans. Which control method would be least likely to negatively impact the natural environment?

a)

Put pesticides into ponds to kill mosquito larvae.

b)

Stock ponds with fish species and other wildlife that feed on mosquito larvae.

c)

Drain ponds so that mosquito eggs have nowhere to hatch.

d)

Spray a light coat of oil over ponds to prevent respiration in mosquitoes.

17.

Ants and Acacia trees have a symbiotic relationship. The tree provides the ants with nest sites and food while in return the ants defend the tree against consumers. Based on the information, how can the symbiosis best be classified?

a)

mutualism

b)

commensalism

c)

parasitism

d)

predation

18.

What is one way animals can directly obtain nitrogen from their environment?

a)

eating plants

b)

through nitrogen fixation

c)

absorption through drinking water

d)

inhaling it from the air

19.

Name the structure in euglena that allows it to find light for photosynthesis

a)

eyespot

b)

flagellum

c)

contractile vacuole

d)

nucleus

20.

The stomach and intestines in humans aids in which life function?

a)

nutrition/digestion

b)

gas exchange

c)

response to stimuli

d)

reproduction

21.

Which is not a life function/process?

a)

reproduction

b)

growth and development

c)

response to stimuli

d)

gas exchange

e)

all of these are life functions/processes