Biology 1st Quarter Assessment
1. Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?
a.
Average temperature of the ecosystem
b.
Type of soil in the ecosystem
c.
Number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem
d.
Concentration of oxygen in the ecosystem
2. A wildfire destroyed thousands of acres along the Rio Grande River. Heavy rains have
washed ash into the river resulting in decreased water quality. Which abiotic factor will most
likely affect the survival of fish in the Rio Grande River?
a.
Decreased oxygen levels
b.
Decreased temperature
c.
Decrease in available food
d.
Increase of predators
Figure A: Populations of Organisms A and B in a grassy field.
Use Figure A to Answer question 3.
3. A possible reason for these changes is that
a.
Population B has less resistance to a disease outbreak.
b.
Population A is better at competing for resources than population B.
c.
Both populations have experienced a drought.
d.
The predators of population A have increased.
Figure B: Near Wagon Wheel Gap, there has been extensive spruce beetle infestation in the Rio
Grande Forest. Many pine trees have died as a result of this infestation. This has resulted in a
change in the Rio Grande River runoff.
Use Figure B to answer questions 4-5
4. What is the most reasonable explanation for the timing of peak runoff in the years 2008-2012
given compared to the historic average?
a.
Warmer spring temperatures caused earlier runoff.
b.
Cooler spring temperatures caused earlier runoff.
c.
Live trees provide more shade to the snow than the dead trees and thus, the runoff is
earlier
with dead trees.
d.
More water was available in 2012 due to increased snowpack.
5. In this graph the change in runoff results from the _________________ causing a change in
the __________.
a.
invasive species, keystone species
b.
keystone species, invasive species
c.
d.
excess nutrients, keystone species
excess nutrients, invasive species
6. Sea otters are important members of the kelp forest in the northwestern United States. Sea
otters’ main diet consists of sea urchins while sea urchins rely on kelp forests for food. Over
hunting decreased the population of sea otters to the point of them being declared endangered.
Describe the effect the low otter population would have on the sea urchin and kelp populations.
a.
Sea urchin and kelp populations increased.
b.
Sea urchin and kelp populations decreased.
c.
Sea urchin population increased; kelp populations decreased.
d.
Sea urchin population decreased; kelp population increased.
Figure C: Succession in an ecosystem.
Use Figure C to answer questions 7-8
7. What organisms are found in the climax community for this ecosystem?
a.
lichens and moss
b.
trees and shrubs
c.
weeds and grasses
d.
volcanoes and soil
8. Figure C shows an ecosystem succession following a volcanic eruption. Which years
illustrate primary succession?
a.
0 to 115+ years
b.
0 to 15 years
c.
20 to 115+ years
d.
35 to 80 years
9. An example of a human-caused disturbance is
a.
a hurricane.
b.
forest-clearing.
c.
wildfires sparked by lightning.
d.
growing lichens.
Figure D: Population pyramids in West Africa and in Western Europe.
Use Figure D to answer questions 10-12
10. Give a reason why the West Africa age-structure diagram has the shape shown.
a.
Birth-rate and death-rate are similar.
b.
Birth-rate is high and life expectancy is long.
c.
Birth-rate is high and life expectancy is short.
d.
Birth-rate is low and life expectancy is short.
11. Give a reason why the Western Europe age-structure diagram has the shape shown.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Birth-rate and death-rate are similar.
Birth-rate is high and life expectancy is long.
Birth-rate is high and life expectancy is short.
Birth-rate is low and life expectancy is short.
12. Countries in the first stage of demographic transition have
a.
High-death rate and high-birth rate
b.
High-death rate and low-birth rate
c.
A slowly growing population
d.
More old people than young people
Figure E
Relationship between Hare and Lynx Populations over Time
Use Figure E to answer question 13
13. Why does the hare population spike in 1867?
a.
Inadequate food supply
b.
Lack of predators
c.
High population of lynx
d.
Competition
Figure F
Use Figure F to answer questions 14 and 15.
14. During what month does the deer population reach carrying capacity?
a.
Month 5
b.
Month 8
c.
Month 4
d.
Month 1
15. What is the approximate carrying capacity for deer in this population?
a.
100
b.
80
c.
60
d.
40
Figure G: A food web arranged into trophic levels.
Use Figure G to answer question 16
16. What is the fewest number of energy transfers possible between the sun and the wolf?
a.
Three
b.
Two
c.
One
d.
Four
17. Using the given table, create a line graph. Make sure to give your graph a title and label the
axes.
18. Using the graph you drew in Question 17, predict the population of the United States in
2050.
a.
280 million
b.
350 million
c.
500 million
d.
650 million
Figure H: The nitrogen cycle.
Use Figure H to answer question 19
19. Which of these are responsible for nitrogen fixation?
a
Bacteria
b
Lightning
c.
Industry and agriculture
d.
Both B & C
e.
All of the above
Figure I: An energy pyramid.
Use Figure I to answer questions 20-21.
20. Which of these organisms is a secondary consumer?
a.
Grasshopper
b.
Grass
c.
Rat
d.
Owl
21. If the grass contains 1500 kcal of energy, how many kcals would be available to the owl?
a.
1500 kcal
b.
150 kcal
c.
15 kcal
d.
1.5 kcal
22. Compare the way nutrients and energy move through an ecosystem?
a.
Both flow one way through ecosystems
b.
Both cycle through ecosystems
c.
Matter cycles and energy flows one way through ecosystems
d.
Matter flows one way and energy cycles through ecosystems
23 Where does the water cycle get its energy?
a.
Wind
b.
The sun
c.
d.
Precipitation
Plants
24. Which of the following is true about phosphorus?
a.
Phosphorus is found primarily in the atmosphere.
b.
Phosphorus is an important component of RNA and DNA.
c.
Phosphorus can be “fixed” by lightning.
d.
Phosphorus is released into the air when animals exhale carbon dioxide.
25. In the natural world, the availability of food, water, shelter and space can change animal and
plant populations. Also, competition for resources, predation and disease can impact
populations. These are known as:
a.
niches
b.
limiting factors
c.
density-independent limiting factors
d.
habitats
26. Which of the following would be true of a meat-based diet?
a.
Requires less energy for the resources than a plant-based diet
b.
Requires more energy for the resources than a plant-based diet
c.
Requires fewer resources than a plant-based diet
d.
Causes less of an ecological impact than a plant-based diet
Images/Questions included from Mike Blakeman (USFS), Exam View Test Generator
(Miller/Levine Biology-Pearson), and Google Images.