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Ecosystems Assignment

Total questions: 75

Worksheet time: 6hrs 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Biotic factors are...

a)

living things

b)

non-living things

c)

undead things

2.

Abiotic factors are...

a)

living things

b)

non-living things

c)

undead things

3.

Which of the following is an abiotic factor that plants depend on?

a)

seed-eating birds

b)

insect pollinators

c)

ants building their nests in trees

d)

nutrients in the soil

4.

Which of the following is an abiotic factor that could be used for shelter?

a)

a tree

b)

a bush

c)

a bridge

d)

a field of corn

5.
The following picture is an example of...
a)
population
b)
community
c)
microorganism
d)
predator
6.

Identify the ecosystem

a)

Forest

b)

Tundra

c)

Freshwater

d)

Desert

7.
This ecosystem has very few trees and a lot of varieties of grasses.
a)
Forest
b)
Grassland
c)
Wetland
d)
Lakes/Ponds
8.

A place where living and nonliving things interact

a)

population

b)

community

c)

ecosystem

d)

nutrient cycle

9.

What is the smallest level of organization within an ecosystem?

a)

population

b)

community

c)

ecosystem

d)

organism

10.

What is an example of an ecosystem?

a)

a deer

b)

a group of deers, the sun, rabbits, the lake, the soil, a bird, a tree

c)

a group of deers

d)

a group of deers, rabbits, a bird, and a tree

11.

Which of the following groups are abiotic?

a)

bird, fish, tree, frog

b)

shark, manatee, fly, lizard

c)

water, shark, tree, soil

d)

water, sun, 98 degrees, soil

12.

Wild hogs introduced to Texas from Europe became feral after the hogs escaped from the ranches where they lived. Feral hogs are omnivores that feed on native plants, crops, and small animals. Feral hogs can damage an ecosystem by rooting through the soil to look for food and trampling small plants.

Which types of native organisms do feral hogs most likely compete with for food sources?

a)

Carnivores and producers

b)

Herbivores and carnivores

c)

Producers and decomposers

d)

Decomposers and herbivores

13.

Giant salvinia is an aquatic plant that floats on water and reproduces rapidly. When these plants die, decomposition by bacteria affects oxygen levels in the water. As more plants die, less oxygen is available in the water. Students observe a pond covered by giant salvinia.

Which statement is the best prediction the students can make about the immediate future of the pond?

a)

The depth of the water in the pond will increase.

b)

Fish populations in the pond will begin to decrease.

c)

The amount of bacteria in the pond will suddenly decrease.

d)

The number of different types of plants around the pond will increase.

14.

A group of scientists studied some trees in a pine forest. In the densely forested areas, the trees were within 1 m of each other. The scientists observed that these trees had dead branches near the ground. They measured the height above the ground at which the first living branches were found on different-sized trees in the forest. Then they repeated this procedure on the same kind of trees in an open meadow. This graph summarizes the scientists’ data.

Which inference is best supported by these data?

a)

Pine trees in a dense forest can grow taller than pine trees in an open meadow.

b)

Pine trees in a dense forest compete for sunlight with the surrounding trees.

c)

Pine trees in a dense forest are part of a less-complex food web than pine trees in an open meadow.

d)

Pine trees in a dense forest have more living branches than pine trees in an open meadow.

15.

Black walnut trees produce a nontoxic chemical that becomes highly toxic when it is exposed to air or soil.

How does this chemical help black walnut trees compete with plants growing nearby?

a)

By attracting herbivores to the other plants

b)

By suppressing the growth of the other plants

c)

By increasing the photosynthesis rates in the other plants

d)

By limiting the amount of water available to the other plants

16.

The Prairies Region and the Cross Timbers are located in north-central Texas. The graph below shows information about eating habits of white-tailed deer in these regions.

A Cross Timbers rancher is concerned about competition between the ranch animals and the deer. Based on the graph, which ranch animals compete for the most food with white-tailed deer?

a)

Cattle that eat grass and feed

b)

Goats that eat weeds and shrubs

c)

Turkeys that eat seeds and fruit

d)

Hogs that eat fruit, seeds, and feed

17.

Fish in a lake have to compete for space. Different fish have different optimal temperature ranges. The graph below shows the temperature ranges of four fish species.

At which temperature range will there be the most competition for space among these fish species?

a)

5°C to 10°C

b)

10°C to 15°C

c)

15°C to 20°C

d)

25°C to 30°C

18.
Which of the following would be the most likely effect, if there were a sudden increase in the cricket population?
a)
There would be a decrease in the small bird population.
b)
There would be a decrease in the grass/flowers population.
c)
There would be a decrease in the mice population.
d)
There would be an increase in the grass/flowers population.
19.
If additional snakes are introduced into this ecosystem, there will most likely be an immediate decrease in the _________.  
a)
hawk population
b)
rabbit population
c)
wildflower population
d)
grass population
20.
If the grasshopper were to be removed completely from the food web, what organism would be most effected?
a)
The squirrel
b)
The shrew
c)
The deer
d)
The rabbit
21.

Which diagram can show us the AMOUNT OF ENERGY that flows from producers to consumers?

a)

Food chain

b)

Web chain

c)

Food pyramid

22.

Where is the habitat of a frog?

a)

Fresh water pond, water plants

b)

Rocky soil

c)

Sand Dunes

d)

Fast moving river

23.

Select the RIGHT food chain in a shortgrass prairie

a)

grasshopper \rightarrow  bird \rightarrow  mouse \rightarrow  buffalo

b)

hawk \rightarrow  snake \rightarrow  mouse \rightarrow  grasshopper

c)

grasshopper \rightarrow  mouse \rightarrow  snake \rightarrow  hawk

24.

What type of living thing is this?

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Predator

d)

Decomposer

25.

What type of living thing is this?

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Predator

d)

Decomposer

26.

What type of living thing is this?

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Predator

d)

Decomposer

27.

What type of living thing is this?

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Predator

d)

Decomposer

28.

Why are plants considered as producers?

a)

Plants convert energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose (food).

b)

Plants produce root crops that supply carbohydrates to animals.

c)

Plants provide vegetable for animals and human consumption.

d)

Plants produce fruits that can be eaten by animals.

29.

Where does the food chain START?

a)

with consumers that eat grass

b)

with the sun giving energy to producers

c)

with the sun giving energy to consumers

d)

with consumers eating other consumers

30.

 Animals that eat a variety of meats, fruits, and vegetables are

a)

producers

b)

Carnivores

c)

omnivores

d)

herbivores

31.

In any food chain, the first trophic level is occupied by:

a)

Herbivores

b)

Secondary consumer

c)

Producers

d)

Keystone species

32.
An animal that eats other animals is a....
a)
carnivore
b)
omnivore
c)
herbivore
d)
decomposer
33.
What is a herbivore?
a)
an animal that gets energy from eating other animals
b)
an organism that gets energy from eating only plants
c)
an animal that gets energy by eating both plants and other animals
d)
an animal that eats only herbs
34.
An organism that gets energy from breaking down dead organisms, non-living material or waste is a(an) ___________.
a)
producer
b)
consumer
c)
decomposer
d)
autotroph
35.
A connection of food chains with many food energy paths in an ecosystem is a ____________.
a)
ecosystem
b)
food web
c)
environment
d)
population
36.
Which of the following is a herbivore?
a)
cricket
b)
frog
c)
hawk
d)
shrew
37.
What percentage of energy is passed on to each tropic level?
a)
10%
b)
50%
c)
90%
d)
100%
38.

Decomposers get energy from...

a)

the sun

b)

eating plants

c)

eating animals

d)

dead things and waste

39.

Who is the producer?

a)

lettuce

b)

greenfly

c)

ladybird

d)

thrush

40.

The deer population has significantly increased in an ecosystem, the best hypothesis is 

a)
the deer's main predator has been eliminated
b)
competition increased
c)
decreased water levels of local ponds
d)
organisms that rely on similar food sources migrated to the area
41.
Which relationship describes predator/prey
a)
hawks and shrubs
b)
mountain lion and deer
c)
frogs and trees
d)
grasses and crickets
42.

Which type of organism should replace the X in the food web?

a)

an omnivore

b)

an herbivore

c)

a carnivore

d)

a producer

43.

Which list contains only animals that receive energy transferred directly from consumers in this food web?

a)

Red-tailed hawks, snowshoe hares, and caterpillars

b)

Snowshoe hares and caterpillars

c)

Snowshoe hares and shrews

d)

Shrews and red foxes

44.

Which statement correctly describes the transfer of energy in a food chain in this wetland?

a)

Energy is transferred from hawks to shrews to grasshoppers to marsh grasses.

b)

Energy is transferred from marsh grasses to crickets to hawks to frogs.

c)

Energy is transferred from grasshoppers to crickets to frogs to hawks.

d)

Energy is transferred from cattails to crickets to shrews to hawks.

45.

Bacteria, fungi, and worms typically serve what role in an ecosystem?

a)
herbivore
b)
carnivore
c)
omnivore
d)
decomposer
46.

Which of these completes the food chain correctly?

a)

a rock

b)

a fox

c)

a plant

d)

an egg

47.

Which of these is a possible food chain for this environment?

a)

Sun → grass → fly → frog

b)

frog → fly → grass → Sun

c)

Sun ← grass ← fly ← frog

d)

Sun → fly → frog → snake

48.
Which of these organisms would receive energy from the snake?
a)
Plant
b)
Rabbit
c)
Mouse
d)
Hawk
49.

What is the effect of removing prey from a food chain?

a)

All predators above them will die or suffer.

b)

The prey's predator will die or suffer, but everybody else should be fine.

c)

The prey will always, eventually, come back

d)

The predators population will grow

50.

If the mouse population becomes sick and decreases, which statement about the food web will be true?

a)

The grass population will decrease.

b)

The hawk population will increase.

c)

The grass population will increase.

d)

The wildflower population will decrease.

51.

An example of prey:

a)

lion

b)

mouse

c)

shark

52.

An example of a predator:

a)

shark

b)

mouse

c)

rabbit

53.
A population of mice lives in a barn community. A cat population has just joined the community. What will happen?
a)
Mouse and cat populations both go up?
b)
Mouse and cat populations both go down
c)
Mouse population goes down as cat population goes up
d)
Mouse population goes up as cat population goes down
54.

A student wants to grow a sunflower plant. He knows it is a producer 

and can make its own food. 

The plant needs all of the following in order to make its own food EXCEPT 

a)

carbon - dioxide

b)

insects

c)

water

d)

sunlight

55.

These two species of birds, the egret and heron, eat the same types 

of fish as their maindiet. They live in the same ecosystem. 

How would the egrets in this area MOST LIKELY respond if all of the herons were removed from the area?

a)

They would move to different ponds.

b)

They would change to another diet.

c)

They would build fewer nests.

d)

They would have an increase in population.

56.

In 2011, fires in Bastrop County, Texas, were the most destructive 

wildfires in Texas history.  

The fire spread through the Loblolly pine trees and scorched 

nearly 5,700 acresof Bastrop State Park.  

The majority of the Houston Toad’s habitat was lost, and 

the Lost Pines Forest was heavily affected.  

A food web of the Bastrop State Park environment is shown below.

The loss of habitat for the Houston Toad most likely affected 

the food web by -

a)

causing a decrease in the number 

of wildflowers

b)

causing an increase in the number 

of insects

c)

causing a decrease in the number 

of armadillos

d)

causing an increase in the number 

of opossums

57.

Sandra plants a vegetable garden in her backyard. She plants yellow squash and red peppers. Unfortunately, slugs begin eating the vegetables while squash bugs begin drinking the sap from the squash vines. The slugs and the squash bugs are both 

a)

plants

b)

consumers

c)

decomposers

d)

producers

58.

The diagram shows a grassland food web. 

The grassland ecosystem is experiencing a drought where very little 

rain has fallen for many years. 

How would the organisms in the grassland ecosystem be affected 

by the drought?

a)

There would be fewer shrubs 

and there would be more deer.

b)

There would be fewer numbers of 

each type of organism.

c)

There would be more numbers of 

each type of organisms.

d)

There would be fewer hawks and 

there would be more mice.

59.

Look at the picture of the forest.

What prevents the small trees in the forest from growing larger?

a)

Less rain reaches the smaller trees.

b)

Less sunlight reaches the smaller trees.

c)

Less soil reaches the smaller trees.

d)

Less rain, sunlight and soil reaches the smaller trees.

60.

The table lists some characteristics of producers and consumers.

Which example would best replace the “X” in the table?

a)

Plants

b)

Trees

c)

Shrubs

d)

Goats

61.

The food web shows interactions in a forest environment.

What statement about the interactions within the forest is correct?

a)

Carpenter ants are producers.

b)

Lichen are not producers.

c)

Voles do not get energy from owls.

d)

Black-tailed deers will not get energy from berries.

62.

The transfer of energy and nutrients through a community is called a __________

a)

Food Web

b)

Food Chain

c)

Replication

d)

Competition

63.

Animals that hunt and eat other animals are called _______

a)

herbivores

b)

prey

c)

predators

d)

producers

64.

___________ are usually the second link of a food chain.

a)

herbivores

b)

predators

c)

decomposers

d)

producers

65.

Several food chains linked together form a

a)

ecosystem

b)

food web

c)

chain links

d)

habitat

66.

when two or more organisms try to use the same resources it is called

a)

community

b)

competition

c)

niche

d)

predator

67.

Organisms can be affected when one part of their food web changes

a)

True

b)

False

68.

How many predators eat the rabbit for energy in this food web?

a)

2

b)

3

c)

4

d)

5

69.

The diagram shows an incomplete food chain. Which of the following would best complete this food chain?

a)

Producer

b)

Consumer

c)

Decomposer

d)

Animal

70.

The picture shows the energy flow through a meadow community. Which of the following would most likely occur to the populations within the community of organisms immediately after a wildfire burns the environment?

a)

Hawks would increase and foxes would increase.

b)

Hawks would decrease and foxes would increase.

c)

Meadow plants would increase and rabbits would decrease.

d)

Meadow plants would decrease and rabbits would decrease.

71.
What may happen if the snowshoe hare was removed from the food web pictured?
a)
The insects in the habitat would increase.
b)
The shrew population would decrease due to being only hawk food source.
c)
The willow tree population would decrease.
d)

The population of foxes would decrease due to no food source. 

72.
Barnacles create home sites by attaching themselves to whales. This relationship neither harms nor benefits the whales. 
a)
parasitism
b)
commensalism
c)
mutualism
73.
Yucca flowers are pollinated by yucca moths. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers where the larvae hatch and eat some of the developing seeds. Both species benefit. 
a)
parasitism
b)
commensalism
c)
mutualism
74.
Mistletoe extracts water and nutrients from a spruce tree. The spruce tree is harmed. 
a)
parasitism
b)
commensalism
c)
mutualism
75.

What is the animal's carrying capacity?

a)

2500

b)

100 years

c)

7250

d)

10000