Name_______________
Ecosystems and Communities Unit Exam
Part 1 –Multiple Choice
For each question choose the best possible answer.
1. Climate is composed of the following factors
a. atmosphere and precipitation
b. temperature and precipitation
c. atmosphere and temperature
d. atmosphere, precipitation, and temperature
2. The interactions of abiotic and biotic factors make up a(n)_______.
a. Biosphere
b. Ecosystem
c. Niche
d. Community
3. A bumble bee feeding off of a flowering plant represents what kind of symbioses?
a. Mutualism
b. Predation
c. Commensalism
d. Parasitism
4. Which of the following examples will be restored by primary succession?
a. a forest wildfire
b. farmland that has been abandoned
c. land covered by lava following a volcanic eruption
d. prairie fire
5. A biome that covers parts of Africa and Brazil, has warm temperatures and seasonal
rainfall is most likely which biome?
a. Temperate woodland
b. Tropical Savanna
c. Boreal forest
d. Tundra
6. Which of the following are freshwater ecosystems?
a. Estuaries and flowing water ecosystems
b. Estuaries and standing water ecosystems
c. Flowing water and standing water ecosystems
d. Mangrove swamps and flowing water ecosystems
7. Temperature, precipitation, soil type, sunlight, and nutrient availability are all examples
of_____________.
a. Climate
b. Abiotic factors
c. Biotic factors
d. Microclimate
8. Which of the following are examples of symbiosis?
a. Competition and predation
b. Predation, mutualism, and parasitism
c. Competition, commensalism, and mutualism
d. Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
9. Which of the following help shape an ecosystem?
a. Climate and weather
b. Biotic factors
c. Community interactions
d. All of the above
10. The ___________ extends from the low-tide mark to the outer edge of the continental
shelf.
a. Benthic zone
b. Coastal Ocean
c. Intertidal Zone
d. Aphotic zone
Part 2-Matching
Match the word on the left to the description on the right. Each description will be used only
once and some may not be used at all.
11. Microclimate_I__
A. relationship in which two species live closely together
12. Biome_C__
B. Biological influences on organisms in an ecosystem
13. Temperate forest_K__
C. Complex of communities that cover a large area
14. Symbiosis_A__
D. Ecological role of an organism
15. Climate_J__
E. Occurs on surfaces where no soil exists
16. Niche_D__
F. Portion of ocean with no sunlight
17. Primary succession_E__
G. Physical, or non-living, factors shaping an ecosystem
18. Biotic Factors_B__
H. Well lit area of ocean where producers can grow
19. Secondary succession_M__
I. Climate in a small area that differs from the climate
around it
20. Photic Zone_H__
J. Average year after year conditions of temperature and
precipitation
K. Cold winters, warm summers, year round precipitation,
located in eastern U.S.
L. Day to day condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a
particular time and place
M. After a disturbance, ecosystem is restored in
preexisting soil.
Part 3-True/False
For each question state whether the statement is true or false. If the statement is false please
explain why.
21. Climate is the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and
place.
False. Weather is the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time
and place. Climate is the long term, year after year, condition of temperature and
precipitation.
22. Mountain ranges and Polar Ice caps are land areas that do not fall within the 10
major biomes.
True
23. The area in which an organism lives is called its niche.
False. The niche is the full range of physical and biological conditions in which an
organism lives and the way the organism uses those conditions. The area in which an
organism lives would be its habitat.
Part 4-Labeling
24. Label the photic zone, aphotic zone, intertidal zone, benthic zone, coastal ocean,
and open ocean.
Intertidal zone
Photic zone
Coastal ocean
Open ocean
Benthic zone
Aphotic zone
Part 5-Short Answer
Answer each question in complete sentences using as much detail as possible.
25. A windstorm blows down all the tall trees in one section of a forest. Soon, sun loving plants
begin to sprout in the new clearing. What type of succession is this and what do you think the
area will look like in 5 years? In 50 years
This is an example of secondary succession. Because the trees were knocked down, the sun loving plants
began to flourish. In five years I would expect to see an abundance of these sun loving plants because of
the lack of tall trees. However, in 50 years I would expect that the tall trees would have regenerated,
reducing the number of sun loving plants in the area.
26. Identify the three main climate zones and discuss each in terms of climate and latitude.
The three main climate zones are the polar zones, temperate zones, and tropical zones. The
polar zones are cold areas because the sun’s rays strike at a very low angle. They are located at
the North and South poles between 66.5 and 90 degrees N and S latitudes. The temperate
zones are between the polar and tropical zones and because they are affected by the changing
angle of the sun, the temperature ranges from hot to cold depending on the season. The
tropical zone is located near the equator between 23.5 degrees N and S latitudes. It receives
direct sunlight all year resulting in a warm climate.
27. Define and give an example of mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Examples will vary.
Mutualism-both species benefit from the relationship. Example: clownfish and sea anemone
Commensalism-one member benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Example:
Barnacles on a whale
Parasitism-one member benefits and the other is harmed. Example: Tick on a dog
28. During this unit we have learned about the 10 major biomes. Identify 5 major biomes. Pick
one of the major biomes and describe factors making up the area. Include 3 abiotic and 5 biotic
factors.
Answers will vary. This is an example answer for the tropical savanna.
Some abiotic factors making up the tropical savanna are warm temperature, seasonal rainfall,
and compact soil. Some biotic factors are perennial grasses, drought-tolerant shrubs, lions,
leopards, elephants and antelopes.
Question
1
2
3
4
5
6
Objective(s)
Identify factors that makeup climate
Define ecosystem
Identify community interactions occurring in an ecosystem
Differentiate primary succession from secondary succession
Identify the climate of the world’s major biomes
Identify the two main types of freshwater ecosystems
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Knowledge
Knowledge
Apply
Apply
Knowledge
Knowledge
7
Identify and discuss abiotic and biotic factors in ecosystems
Comprehend
8
Define and differentiate competition, predation, symbiosis,
mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Comprehend
9
10
11
Define ecosystem
Classify and distinguish the zones of the marine ecosystem
Differentiate climate from microclimate
Knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge
12
Define biome
Knowledge
13
14
Identify the climate of the world’s major biomes
Define and differentiate competition, predation, symbiosis,
mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Knowledge
Knowledge
15
Define climate
Knowledge
16
17
18
19
Define niche
Differentiate primary succession from secondary succession
Define abiotic and biotic factors
Differentiate primary succession from secondary succession
Knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge
20
21
Classify and distinguish the zones of the marine ecosystem
Define climate
Knowledge
Knowledge
22
23
24
25
Identify land areas that do not fall within the 10 major biomes
Define niche
Classify and distinguish the zones of the marine ecosystem
Predict ecological changes in response to disturbances in an
ecosystem
Describe how different latitudes effect climate
Knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge
Apply
26
Knowledge/Comprehend
27
Identify and describe the three main climate zones
Define and differentiate competition, predation, symbiosis,
mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Knowledge/Comprehend
28
Identify the major biomes
Analyze
Research, identify, and discuss the factors making up the major
biomes