WorksheetsECOLOGY UNIT REVIEW 8.11 ABC
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 42mins
Brown shrimp lay eggs that grow in tidal marshes on the southern Texas coast. Brown shrimp will not lay eggs in water that is less than 45 feet deep. There was a drought one year that caused the water level in many marshes to drop to 40 feet deep. What most likely happened to Texas's population of brown shrimp?
Texas's population of brown shrimp...
remained constant
relocated to inland lakes
decreased
increased
Living in a certain place, eating certain things, and being active at certain times all define an organism's ecological niche. For example, bats in central Texas are nocturnal flying insects. Having an ecological niche is critical to the survival of a species. Sudden changes in climate or major geological events can cause mass extinction of organisms in an area, which creates vacancies in ecological niches. What happens then?
Other organisms adapt, evolve, and compete to fill them.
The environment evolves in order to attract a variety of replacement organisms.
With no life to fill them, the niches simply disappear.
The niches remain empty until another geological event reverses the damage.
Finnish tawny owls are usually gray or brown in color. Gray owls typically do well in colder environments. Brown owls typically do well in warmer environments. Recently, global warming has caused Finnish tawny owls to be increasingly
(a) in response to the environment.
The table shows the number of beetles observed in a certain forest over 60 years.
If the environmental conditions remain constant, the population of each beetle will be...
Green Beetles=25
Brown Beetles=75
Green Beetles=20
Brown Beetles=80
Green Beetles=13
Brown Beetles=79
Green Beetles=80
Brown Beetles=20
Aquatic organisms such as krill and shrimp are primary consumers. These organisms might compete with one another for...
oxygen
sunlight
phytoplankton
fish
The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 24, 1989. An oil tanker owned by Exxon Shipping Company struck a reef. The ship spilled 10.8 million gallons of crude oil over the next few days. The oil covered 1,300 miles of coastline of which then affected the local environment. Which of the following would NOT be a way the oil spill affected the local community?
Decrease in local tourism
Increase in local temperatures
Oil got in the feathers of birds
Block light from getting to plant life
Many coastal areas that are dependent on fishing for their local economies have struggled recently because of overfishing. Scientists have been working with these communities to reestablish the fish populations. Which of the following would NOT be a recommendation of the scientists to help the local communities?
Create an artificial reef so the fish will have a habitat
Fishing limits to limit the amount of fish caught
Introduce non-native fish to the environment
Fisheries to release fish into the environment
Neighborhoods in coastal areas use algaecide in their ponds to control algae growth. The algaecide interferes with the algae's ability to conduct photosynthesis which kills the algae, allowing the pond to look clean. When there is a large rainstorm, the algaecide runs off into the local area streams. This water eventually runs out into the ocean. What is the likely outcome of the algaecide getting into the oceanic ecosystem?
Increase in the size of the fish
Increase in the number of zooplankton
Plants will increase in size
Plants will decrease in number
In a food web, the numbers of each organism typically exist in a relatively stable proportion. If an oil spill killed a large amount of zooplankton, what would be the next thing that would happen?
The number of tiger sharks would decrease.
The number of phytoplankton would increase.
The number of clams, mackerels, and jellyfish would decrease.
The number of herring, whelk, squids, and loggerhead turtles would increase.
This chart illustrates the type and number of items collected during a clean up of a beach. Based on the chart, what approximate percentage of the total items result from the action of people?
25%
50%
65%
75%
Decomposers break down fallen leaves on the forest floor. When they do this, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and nitrogen to the soil. Which of the following organisms would most likely be decomposers?
bacteria
mold
mushrooms
all of these
According to the diagram, the Alligator and the Raccoon are close to the top of the food web. Which organism feeds on a greater variety of organisms?
The alligator because the diagram shows that they feed on four different types of organisms.
The raccoon because the diagram shows that the racoon feeds on four different types of organisms.
Both the alligator and the raccoon feed on two separate organisms.
Both the alligator and the raccoon feed on three separate organisms.
What level of consumer does the coyote occupy?
primary consumer
secondary consumer
tertiary consumer
producer
According to the food web above, which of the following organisms would be harmed the least if the cattails were to be removed from the ecosystem?
Beavers because the diagrams is showing they feed on more than one organism for energy.
Crayfish because the diagram is showing that they feed on more than one organism in the ecosystem.
Suckerfish because the diagram is showing that they feed on more than one organism in the ecosystem.
The diagram shows that all organisms would be equally harmed if catttails were removed.
Bacteria and mold break down fallen leaves on the forest floor. When they do this, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and nitrogen to the soil. Which of the following roles do bacteria and mold have in the environment?
producers
consumers
predators
decomposers
What best explains the variation in tree heights in the tropical rain forest?
grazing patterns of herbivores
competition for light and moisture
fewer nutrients are available to the shorter trees
the intense heat causes the trees to be shorter than similar trees in other biomes
Which of the following compete for food in this food web?
The tiger shark competes with the tuna for the mackerel.
The clams and zooplankton compete with the mackerel for phytoplankton.
The whelk competes with the loggerhead turtle for mackerel.
The squid competes with the herring for clams.
What is the relationship between the hawk and the grasshopper in this food web?
The hawk is a tertiary consumer and the grasshopper is a primary consumer.
The grasshopper is a parasite and the hawk is the host.
The hawk is a predator and the grasshopper is its prey.
The hawk is a primary producer and the grasshopper is a third-level consumer.
What do the first order consumers in this food web have in common?
They are both herbivores.
They both rely on insects as a main food source.
They produce their own food.
They are both carnivores.
How are humans classified within a food web?
producers
consumers
decomposers
parasites
Humans depend on the oceans for food as well as for recreational entertainment. Which of the following are other ways in which humans depend on the oceans? Select the best answer.
I. Oxygen production from phytoplankton
II. Weather regulation due to coastal water temperature
III. Transportation
IV. Relief from hurricanes and tornadoes
I only
II and IV
IV only
I, II, and III
Complete the passage below.
Clown fish live in the waving tentacles of sea anemones in the ocean. The sea anemone provides a safe place for the clown fish to escape predators. The sea anemone, although it has poisonous tentacles, does not bother the clown fish and is not harmed by the clown fish. This relationship between organisms can be described as
commensalism
mutualism
predation
parasitism
Which of these species would be most in danger of becoming extinct if one of their food sources became unavailable?
bilbie
red kangaroo
mala
koala
According to the food web, which organism(s) prey on suckerfish?
muskrat
trout
both answers
neither answer
According to the food web above, which organism(s) prey on the crayfish?
muskrat
raccoon
both answers
neither answer
Cuscuta europaea is a plant that has roots only during the seedling stage of its life cycle. A mature Cuscuta europaea loses its roots and grows around the stems of larger plants. Unlike most plants, Cuscuta europaea does not have chlorophyll. It gets nutrients from the tissues of a larger plant but does not kill it. In most climates, the Cuscuta europaea is an annual plant. It lives on the larger plant for only one year before dying. The larger plant may or may not have Cuscuta europaea growing on it during the following year.
– How should the relationship between the two plants in the picture be classified?
– Justify your response by describing how each plant is affected by this relationship.
– Describe a similar relationship between two animals.
An Australian resort is worried that the number of tourists in the area are damaging coastal reef systems. Whenever snorkelers and scuba divers touch, step on, and snap pictures of the reef, marine organisms are impacted. As a solution, a conversationalist group has decided to place an artificial reef in the area that, with time, will contain enough marine life for tourists to visit. The hope is that this new reef system will draw tourists away from the natural reefs, thus protecting them. Which of the following is the most reasonable prediction for how the artificial reef will impact the ecosystem?
The artificial reef will bring new sea life to the area as well as eliminate the damage done by tourists.
Adding an artificial reef will have no impact on protecting the natural reef due to rising ocean temperatures.
The artificial reef may temporarily protect the natural reef system but may also cause unforeseen changes to the ecosystem.
The artificial reef will negatively impact fishing industries in Australia.
The world’s coasts are being urbanized at a very rapid rate. It is estimated that more than half of today’s world population live in coastal areas (within 60 km from the ocean) and this number continues to rise. Coastal areas are also the most visited by tourists across the globe. Which of the following threats to the ocean is most likely NOT posed by human actions?
Pollution of marine resources
Damaged coral reefs
Higher hurricane wind speed
Damaged sea turtle nesting sites
Coyotes are wild animals related to dogs. Their diet usually consists of fruit and small rodents, such as rats, and mice, but in large cities they have been known to attack pets. In the wild wolves, cougars and bears compete with the coyotes keeping them from overpopulating. However, in the past five years, more and more coyotes have been spotted in Denver, Dallas, Chicago, Detrioit, New York and other large cities.
Why do you think the numbers of coyotes keep increasing in the city?
Coyotes don't have as much competition in the city as they do in the wild.
It is easier for coyotes to find shelter during cold weather in the city.
Coyotes are running out of food in the wild.
It is easy for coyotes to adapt to a city habitat.
According to the food web, which of the following animals preys on the bass?
turtle
mountain lion
sunfish
raccoon
According to the food web above, which organism(s) prey on suckerfish? Select all that apply.
watercress
trout
muskrat
crayfish
Recently there has been a decline in the abundance of life on coral reefs. Scientists are unsure why, but one of the explanations for it is that global temperatures are increasing, making water temperatures rise. These small changes are killing off some of the smallest animals on the reef, which then affects the entire food chain. Which of the following would NOT help protect the diversity of the coral reef?
create artificial coral reefs in cooler waters
limit fishing around the reefs
ban the placing of anchors in the reefs
ban cities from discarding sewage into coral reef areas
A company has purchased 15,000 acres of forest. The loggers harvest mature trees in order to supply lumber for new homes.
The graph shows the result that the logging has had on organisms in the ecosystem. What is the most likely result to the population of hawks and owls if the number of mature trees that exist now stays the same and new trees never grow back?
The population of hawks and owls will increase back to their normal levels as their food source increases back to its normal level.
The population numbers will stay at the new level because there will not be enough nesting space for the numbers to increase.
The populations will decrease because their food source will continue to decrease.
The population will increase because the birds will find ways to nest in the ground.
Large forest fires that are started by lightning have been common in parts of Western and Northwestern United States in the past few years. The forest ecosystem is changed by this natural disaster. In addition to the loss of property, there are other ways that forest fires affect the environment. Which of the following is also a result of a large forest fire?
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decreases.
Mudslides cover roads and river valleys after heavy rain.
Wildlife populations increase.
Soil becomes less fertile.
Which of the following is the MOST affected by seasonal environmental conditions?
size and number of pecans on a tree
growth height of young horses
length of horns on a steer
the number of wings on a butterfly
Which of the following is the MOST likely negative effect of damming rivers to supply hydroelectric energy?
increased fossil fuel costs
loss of fish habitat and reproduction
decreased use of electricity
higher levels of air pollution
According to the food web, what would be the most likely outcome if all of the mountain lions were removed from this ecosystem?
The deer population would increase due to the lack of predation.
The deer population would increase due to the lack of predation and the racoon population would decrease because they lost their only food source.
The turtle population would increase due to the lack of predation.
The egret population would increase due to the lack of predation.
A scientist measured the size and age of leaf fossils found in an area.
Based on this data, which of the following environmental changes MOST LIKELY occurred in this area?
A pond became a lake.
A forest became a desert.
A temperate forest became a swamp.
An arctic region became a tropical region.
Across the southwestern United States and Mexico, tall stalks of creamy white flowers dot the landscape in late May and summer. One yucca plant produces dozens of flowers on a single stalk, and each flower is dependent on one source for pollination-the pronuba moth. These small, silvery insects have a limited window of time to reproduce. After mating, the female moth makes her way to the base of the flower where she deposits a few eggs in the ovary. She then collects pollen using specialized mouthparts to form a pollen ball which she inserts in a small depression on the stigma of another flower, completing the pollination process. The yucca seeds and moth eggs develop at the same time. As the moth eggs hatch inside the ripening ovary, they feed on the developing seeds and eventually work their way out of the flower, falling to the ground where they go underground to complete their life cycles.
The work of the pronuba moth ensures that the yuccas have new seeds for future plants and the plants ensure that the developing larva have a source of nutrition. What is the relationship between the yucca and pronuba moth?
parasitism
commensalism
mutualism
competition
Ceratocystis fagacearum is a plant that lives on Oak trees, stealing their nutrients. What term best describes the relationship between Ceratocystis fagacearum and Oak trees?
mutualism
commensalism
competition
parasitism
