Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

8.13B Ecosystem Stability

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 41mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
If these organisms were arranged in a food pyramid, which organism would have the least amount of total energy available?
2.

Match the following

a)

Decomposer

1.

This is an organism that breaks down and gains nutrients from dead organisms.

b)

Predator

2.

This is an animal that lives by preying on other animals.

c)

Producer

3.

This is an organism that supplies matter and energy, also known as an autotroph.

d)

Consumer

4.

This is an organism that relies on other organisms for its food and energy supply; heterotroph

e)

Parasite

5.

This is an organism which feeds on, but usually does not kill, a larger organism

3.
Question Image

Match the following:

a)

Producer/Autotroph

1.

Plant

b)

Secondary Consumer

2.

Bird

c)

Tertiary Consumer

3.

Snake

d)

Top Predator

4.

Owl

e)

Herbivore

5.

Grasshopper

4.

Select the primary consumer(s).

5.

The arrows in a food chain or web represents (a)   .

Choose from the below words
They point to the organism that is
It shows how sunlight flows within
They show what direction the energy
They represent how water is transfe
6.

Reorder the Trophic Levels beginning with the level that holds the MOST energy.

a)

Producer

b)

Primary Consumer

c)

Secondary Consumer

d)

Tertiary Consumer

e)

Quaternary Consumer

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
7.

For the food chain shown, which of the following changes would have the most severe consequences?

a)

a drastic decrease in rainfall, causing a drought

b)

the poaching of predatory hawks by game hunters

c)

the introduction of a second predator that eats field mice

d)

a parasitic infestation that reduces the cricket population

8.
What might happen if you remove a primary consumer from the ecosystem?
a)

There would be more food for secondary consumers.

b)

The number of primary consumers would increase.

c)

The number of plants would increase.

d)

The number of secondary consumers would increase.

9.
Which organism do the owl and the weasel compete for in the food web?
a)
Hawk
b)
Spider
c)
Grasshopper
d)
Shrew
10.

Which of the following is a food chain in the food web?

a)

Rabbit, mountain lion, fox

b)

Grass, grasshopper, frog, snake, hawk

c)

Grass, caterpillar, robin, mountain lion

d)

Tree, deer, mountain lion, fox

11.
What percentage of energy is passed on to each trophic level?
a)
10%
b)
50%
c)
90%
d)
100%
12.
If there is 1000 Kcal available in the producers in trophic level 1, how much energy is available in the herbivores in trophic level 2?
a)
10 Kcal
b)
1 Kcal
c)
100 Kcal
d)
1000 Kcal
13.
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.
14.

A partial food web is shown above.

Which of the following will most likely occur if the grouse population decreases?

a)

The butterfly population will increase.

b)

The red-tailed hawk population will increase.

c)

Emigration of grizzly bears and deer will increase.

d)

Competition between grizzly bears and deer will increase.

15.

Part of a hydrothermal vent food web is represented in the diagram. Which organisms are both secondary and tertiary consumers in this food web?

a)

Chemosynthetic bacteria and amphipods

b)

Zooplankton and mussels

c)

Ratfish and octopuses

d)

Galatheid crabs and zoarcid fish

16.

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.

17.

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

18.

Asian carp are an invasive species of fish. These large fish eat up to 40% of their body weight per day by feeding on phytoplankton. The carp also reproduce quickly. If these fish were to enter Lake Erie, how would the Presque Isle coastal ecosystem most likely be affected?

a)

Producers in the ecosystem would grow at a faster rate, and smaller fish such as yellow perch would thrive.

b)

The invasive fish would prey on mollusks such as mussels, but native fish species would quickly eat the invasive fish.

c)

Consumers in the higher trophic levels would suffer stress, but crustaceans such as amphipods would be unaffected.

d)

Most consumers in the ecosystem would face a shortage of food, and larger fish, such as walleye, would be unable to thrive.