Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Ecosystem Dynamics Test Review

Total questions: 33

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

a)

A resource that is abundant

b)

A factor that allows unlimited growth

c)

A resource that is lacking and prevents population growth

d)

A factor that increases population size

2.

When would grass be considered a limiting factor for rabbits?

a)

When it is abundant

b)

When it encourages rabbits to grow

c)

When there is not enough for the rabbit population

d)

When it increases the rabbit population

3.

What is the term used to describe the maximum population size that an environment can support?

a)

Growth Limit

b)

Carrying Capacity

c)

Resource Limit

d)

Population Peak

4.

What does the line going up and down in the graph represent?

a)

Constant population growth

b)

Fluctuations in population size around the carrying capacity

c)

A steady decline in population

d)

Unlimited resources

5.

What might happen to organisms that do not get the resources they need?

a)

They will thrive

b)

They may move to get them or they may die

c)

They will become predators

d)

They will continue to reproduce

6.

What happens to competition when there are more resources or fewer organisms in an area?

a)

There is more competition.

b)

There is less competition.

c)

Competition remains the same.

d)

Competition disappears completely.

7.

Which of the following is a type of symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit?

a)

Parasitism

b)

Commensalism

c)

Mutualism

d)

Predation

8.

In which type of symbiotic relationship does one organism benefit while the other is unaffected?

a)

Mutualism

b)

Parasitism

c)

Commensalism

d)

Competition

9.

What is parasitism?

a)

A relationship where both organisms benefit

b)

A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

c)

A relationship where neither organism benefits

d)

A relationship where both organisms are harmed

10.

What is commensalism?

a)

A relationship where both species benefit

b)

A relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected

c)

A relationship where one species is harmed

d)

A relationship where both species are harmed

11.

What is parasitism?

a)

A relationship where both species benefit

b)

A relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed

c)

A relationship where both species are harmed

d)

A relationship where neither species is affected

12.

How do invasive species affect local organisms?

a)

They help increase food sources

b)

They take up habitat and food sources

c)

They protect local organisms

d)

They increase biodiversity

13.

What is a keystone species?

a)

An organism that helps hold the ecosystem together

b)

A species that is the most numerous in an ecosystem

c)

A plant that provides food for many animals

d)

A predator that hunts in groups

14.

What might happen to an ecosystem if its keystone species disappeared?

a)

The ecosystem would remain unchanged

b)

The ecosystem would look very different

c)

The ecosystem would become more diverse

d)

The ecosystem would become more stable

15.
What type of symbiosis?  Skunks often live in burrows that have been dug and abandoned by woodchucks.  
a)
commensalism
b)
mutualism
c)
parasitism
d)
predation
16.

Aphids are tiny insects that live on and eat the leaves of plants, removing vital nutrients from the plants.

a)

Mutualism

b)

Predation

c)

Commensalism

d)

Parasitism

17.
Ostriches and gazelles feed next to each other. They both watch for predators and alert each other to danger. Because their visual abilities are different, they can identify threats that the other animal would not see as readily. 
a)
parasitism
b)
commensalism
c)
mutualism
d)

predation

18.
A mite lives in the base of the eyelashes of people who use mascara. It feeds on the mascara; it does not seem to harm people. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
a)
mutualism
b)
commensalism
c)
parasitism
d)
predation
19.
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)
Mutualism 
b)
Parasitism 
c)
Commensalism 
d)

Predation

20.
Silverfish live and hunt with army ants. They share the prey.  They neither help nor harm the ants. 
a)
Mutualism 
b)
Parasitism 
c)
Commensalism 
d)

Predation

21.

Which of the following is a biotic factor that would affect the carrying capacity of a population?

a)

Soil

b)

Predator

c)

Rainfall

d)

Sunlight

22.

Which of the following would likely be a limiting factor to a population?

a)

Abundance of food

b)

Living near a water source

c)

Presence of a natural predator

d)

Multiple sources for shelter

23.

When rabbits were introduced to Australia, they began to breed exponentially. However, over time their population has begun to decrease due to a limiting factor.


What is most likely the limiting factor in this situation?

a)

Abundant space to breed and live

b)

No available predator in the area

c)

Rabbits choosing not to mate to conserve space

d)

Lack of available food

24.

Which of the following demonstrates population growth when there is limited available water in an area?

a)
b)
c)
25.

Habitat availability increases for a population of prey. How would the carrying capacity of the prey change?

a)

The carrying capacity would increase as more resources become available.

b)

Carrying capacity occurs independent of factors in the environment.

c)

The carrying capacity would decrease as more resources became available.

d)

The carrying capacity is set in an environment and cannot change.

26.

Cheetahs and lions eat the same type of food and struggle with one another to get their food. What is this an example of?

a)

Competition

b)

Biotic factor

c)

Symbiosis

d)

Population

27.

Hawks and brown bears live together in the same habitat. There will be competition between the hawks and the brown bears only if which of the following is true?

a)

Brown bears hibernate during the winter while hawks remain active.

b)

Pesticides in the fish population affect hawks’ eggs and decrease their population.

c)

Both brown bears and hawks feed on the same species of fish.

d)

Laws prevent humans from being able to hunt eagles or grizzly bears.

28.

In a certain ecosystem, foxes and snakes prey on the same species of rabbit. What would increase the competition between the foxes and the snakes?

a)

A reduction in the number of rabbits in the ecosystem

b)

An increase in population of foxes and snakes

c)

A reduction in the size of the habitat for the foxes, snakes, and rabbits

d)

All of the above

29.
Which two organisms in this food web are COMPETING for food with each other?
a)
Cougar and Deer
b)
Rabbit and Snake
c)
Insects and Grass
d)
Shrew and Mouse
30.

Kudzu is an invasive plant species in the southern part of the United States. It is a fast growing vine that can cover fields and trees. The image provides evidence of kudzu's rapid growth in an area.

How does kudzu's rapid growth impact native plant populations?

a)

Kudzu can harm native plant populations because it blocks them from receiving sunlight.

b)

Kudzu can harm native plant populations because it causes more rainfall in the area.

c)

Kudzu can help native plant populations because it protects them from overheating.

d)

Kudzu can help native plant populations because it attracts new animals to the area.

31.

The water hyacinth is a plant that floats on water and forms groups. It can grow very fast and over time will cover the surface of ponds, lakes, and rivers.

What will happen to the environment where water hyacinth plants grow and spread?

a)

The native organisms in the area will not have enough habitat space.

b)

The amount of light in the water will increase.

c)

The temperature of the water will decrease.

d)

The amount of water will increase.

32.

If a new, NON-NATIVE species that eats rabbits was introduced into this food chain, what would probably happen?

a)

the population of rabbits would increase

b)

the population of eagles would increase

c)

the population of eagles would decrease

d)

there would be less sunlight

33.

A habitat is ___________________.

a)

the place in which an organism naturally lives.

b)

how plants produce their own food.

c)

an animal that only eats meat.

d)

something that happens when organisms try to use the same resource