Ecosystems Test Questions

39. Which is a factor that could interrupt the progress of succession?

C. Another natural disturbance

22. Which would be least likely to be affected by a density-dependent limiting factor?

A. A small, scattered population

41. The development from early to middle stages of succession results in

A. An increase in species diversity

44. If sea otters immigrate into a keep frost community, it results in

A. An increase in species diversity

26. The data table shows the populations of four species before and after an ecological disturbance. According to the date, which species suffered most form the hurricane, in terms of the percentage of population?

A. Buteo lineatus

31. The most accurate description of a producer is an organism that

A. Get its energy from non living resources to produce its own food

23. A researcher study in gan area which was recently transformed by a volcanic eruption small patches of lichens beginning to grow. In the process of primary succession, what would most likely be the last producer to appear?

A. Hardwood trees

2. A predator can increase the numbers of certain species in its habitat by

A. Killing and eating the competitions of other species

30. What type of growth curve is shown in the diagram above?

A. Logistic

37. The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of

A. Mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food and the insect pollinates the flower

9. Which of the following would most likely happen if the decomposers in an ecosystem were suddenly removed?

A. Nutrients necessary for producers would be less available

3. Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT:

A. Plant life

32. An increase in which of these most likely caused the tiger population to decline

A. The competition amongst predators

6. A major ecological disturbance could be distinguished from a minor one by which of the following?

A. The number of species affected and the change in population of the species

42. The community with the most biodiversity

B. 1 acre of rainforest

40. If there is a sudden reduction of producers in a particular ecosystem, one effect will likely be

B. A decrease in food consumption by consumers

35. Primary succession can begin after

B. A lava flow

25. An incomplete concept map of carrying capacity is provided. Which of the following factors would most accurately be places in the same side of the concept map as "Increase in population of competitors"?

B. Decrease in available living space

34. Unexpected changes in ecosystems resulting from human activities are most likely to

B. Destabilize the ecosystem

1. The series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time is called

B. Ecological succession

21. A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit is:

B. Mutualism

10. What data would need to be collected to evaluate the claim that the higher the diversity in an ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is?

B. Population data for various representative organisms in ecosystems with high and low diversity before and after a disturbance

12. Which of the following best describes the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

B. Remove nutrients from dead matter and return it to the soil

15. What is one difference between primary and secondary succession?

B. Secondary succession begins on soil and primary succession begins on newly exposed surfaces.

13. During a long period when there is no rainfall, a mountain lion may temporarily leave it's usually hunting territory to drink from a farm one. This behavior is probably due to

B. The change in an abiotic factor in its environment

29. The graph provided shows the population of an organism introduced to a new environment and how the population changed over sixty days. After the sharp rise, there was a leveling off of the population. What does this indicate?

B. This environment has only enough resources to support 250-300 individuals of this organism

43. Gradual, sequential changes in the composition of an ecosystem, particularly following an initial disturbance is called:

B. Tolerance

7. Each of the following is a density-dependent limiting factor EXCEPT:

B. Unusual weather

5. The graph shows how the population of a particular species changed between the years of 1800 and 1925. Based on the information in the graph, it can be concluded that the carrying capacity of this environment for this excites is approximately:

C. 1.5 million

20. No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time:

C. Because of the competitive exclusion principle

33. When individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate, it produces a pattern of growth called

C. Exponential growth

4. Which of the following environmental conditions will have a negative effect on the limit a certain population of organisms is able to achieve in that habitat?

C. High levels of predation

38. Any factor in the environment that causes population growth to decrease is a

C. Limiting factor

18. Which of the following occurs during the ecological succession of an ecosystem?

C. Living organisms modify their environment a little at a time

28. Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?

C. Number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem

8. An indication of a stable ecosystem is that, after a minor physical disturbance, the —

C. Number and kinds of species in the ecosystem will return to the original status

14. A stable ecosystem requires that:

C. Nutrients cycle through it

17. Which factors can influence continual change in an ecosystem?

D. All of the above

16. What common elements are found in most examples of ecological succession?

D. All of the answers

24. Different species can share the same habitat, but competition among them is reduced if they

D. Occupy different niches

36. An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called

D. Predation

11. Which of these groups of organisms forms the base of all stable ecosystems?

D. Produces

19. The populations of four species introduced into a new ecosystem are plotted, for the first one hundred days in the graph provided. Which species was first to reach the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for that particular kind of organism?

D. Species 4

27. Higher biodiversity in an ecosystem results in higher stability. Which of the following best explains why this is? In an ecosystem with high biodiversity —

D. There is a greater chance that a mutation will lead to a helpful adaptation