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Ecology Unit Test Review

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If you were to graph the data in the table, it would show:

a)

an increase in the population over time.

b)

a decrease in the population over time.

c)

the population staying the same over time.

d)

an increase in population at first, followed by a decrease over time.

2.

What might be causing the pattern in these data?

a)

the population’s food resources became less abundant

b)

the population’s predators became less abundant

c)

the population’s habitat became less abundant

d)

the population’s competitors became more abundant

3.

Which statement best describes an important difference between plants and animals?

a)

Plants get food from the soil while animals get food by eating other organisms.

b)

Animals are alive but plants are not

c)

Plants use carbon dioxide from the air and water to make their own food while animals get food by eating other organisms.

d)

Animals use energy stored in food but plants do not.

4.

The role of decomposers in an ecosystem is to:

a)

convert the sun’s energy into energy stored as food

b)

convert plant matter into matter that can be used by animals

c)

eat other living organisms for energy

d)

break down dead and waste matter

5.

A food web shows the flow of __________ through an ecosystem and the cycling of ___________ within an ecosystem.

a)

matter, energy

b)

energy, matter

c)

food, waste products

d)

waste products, food

6.

In the above diagram, which of the following is a producer?

a)

rabbit

b)

owl

c)

human

d)

grass

7.

The original source of energy for this food web is:

a)

soil

b)

the sun

c)

water

d)

nutrients

8.

The word “ecosystem” refers to:

a)

the physical environment

b)

living organisms

c)

living organisms and the physical environment

d)

living organisms in the laboratory

9.

Which of the following statements about introduced species is TRUE?

a)

Most were introduced intentionally by people.

b)

They are more likely to cause problems in natural areas than in urban areas.

c)

They are unlikely to cause problem for people.

d)

Their impact on the local ecosystem is difficult to predict.

10.

Mary decides to release her pet mouse into the woods behind her house. The possible tradeoffs of her decision include:

a)

her mouse may die in its new habitat

b)

she may have introduced a new species into the woods

c)

her mouse may die in its new habitat and she may have introduced a new species

d)

there are no trade-offs associated with her decision

11.

Disruptions in ecosystems:

a)

can be caused by abiotic and biotic factors

b)

can lead to short-term changes but not long-term changes.

c)

can lead to increased stability in the ecosystem.

d)

are usually caused by humans.

12.

What is most likely to happen to the population of minnows in Lake Hiawatha?

a)

it will increase

b)

it will decrease

c)

it will stay the same

d)

it will first increase, then decrease

13.

What is most likely to happen to the population of the new species of fish in Lake Hiawatha?

a)

it will increase

b)

it will decrease

c)

it will stay the same

d)

it will first decrease, then increase

14.

The introduction of this new species of fish into Lake Hiawatha provides an example of:

a)

competition

b)

parasitism

c)

predation

d)

mutualism

15.

Which of the following is an example of a mutualism?

a)

a mosquito feeding on the blood of a bison

b)

a coneflower being pollinated by a bee

c)

a mushroom growing in the soil

d)

a mouse and a bird eating the same kind of seed

16.

The main reason some introduced species survive and overpopulate an area is that:

a)

there are few natural predators in the area

b)

there is not enough food for other organisms

c)

most organisms can survive in new habitats

d)

people feed them

17.

Invasive species are usually:

a)

larger than native species

b)

smaller than native species

c)

the same size as native species

d)

none of the above.

18.

Solutions to problems caused by invasive species:

a)

require using every possible treatment regardless of the trade-offs

b)

are easy to develop

c)

are relatively inexpensive

d)

involve identifying criteria and constraints

19.

What pattern do you see in the number of native birds?

a)

The number of native birds increases from the interior to the edge of the forest.

b)

The number of native birds increases from the edge to the interior of the forest.

c)

The number of native birds shows no pattern

d)

No pattern can be detected because there were no birds towards the edge of the forest.

20.

What pattern do you see in the plants along the transect from the edge to the interior?

a)

The number of native plants increases while the number of non-native plants decreases.

b)

The number of native plants remains the same while the number of non-native plants increases

c)

The number of native plants increases while the number of non-native plants remains the same.

d)

The number of native plants and non-native plants both increase.

21.

What might be causing the above patterns?

a)

Both native plants and birds prefer lower temperatures.

b)

Non-native plants prefer higher temperatures

c)

Both native plants and non-native plants prefer lower temperatures.

d)

Native birds prefer non-native plants.

22.

A population of birds is declining in size. List a factor that may explain this decline.

a)

The birds’ food supply has declined

b)

The number of nesting sites for the birds has decreased.

c)

There are more predators of the birds.

d)

All of the options listed.

23.

A new kind of tree is brought to an island it has never lived on before. Describe how this might affect some of the other life on the island.

a)

It might provide food for animals on the island and their populations would increase.

b)

It could grow so fast on the island that other plants would not be able to compete for light and water and they might disappear.

c)

It could successfully become part of the ecosystem.

d)

All of the options listed

24.

What do you predict will happen to the population of voles in the next 20 years?

a)

Keep going up

b)

It will go down

c)

It will continue to keep going up and down in cycles

d)

Unable to predict due to lack of data

25.

Which organisms receives energy directly from the sun?

a)

Grizzly bear

b)

Fish

c)

Water beetle

d)

Algae

26.

Imagine that a volcano erupts, covering a nearby river and surrounding forest with ash. Roberto says that the animals will come back first because they can move. Irena says that the plants will come back first because they don’t need to eat. Who is correct?

a)

Irena

b)

Roberto

c)

Both are correct

d)

Neither are correct

27.

Graybirds and whitebirds live on North Island. Both types of birds eat the berries of the berry bush. The seeds of the berry bush grow best after the berries are eaten by birds and dropped elsewhere around the island. Whitebirds are also found on nearby South Island. The whitebirds on South Island eat berries and the nuts of the nut tree. Rats are found on both islands. The rats eat berries and bird eggs. Identify an example of competition on North Island.

a)

Between the two kinds of birds

b)

Rats and whitebirds compete for berries

c)

Birds and the berries

d)

None of the options listed