NAME ________________________________________
ECOLOGY - PRETEST
1. Which of the following living things in the pond system uses the energy from sunlight to make its own
food?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Insect
Frog
Water lily
Small fish
2. In this food web, which organism has the greatest number of food sources?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hawk
Mouse
Snake
Shrew
3. In the food web shown, which of the following consumers eats only producers?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hawk
Mice
Owl
Fox
4. How are humans classified in a food chain?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Producers
Manufacturers
Decomposers
Consumers
5. The diagram shows a food web in a large park. Each circle represents a
different species in the food web. Which of the organisms in the food web
could be referred to as primary consumers?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7 only
5 and 6 only
2, 3, and 4 only
2, 5, and 7 only
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6. An incomplete food web has been drawn for you. Complete it by filling in each of the empty circles with the
number of the correct animal or plant from the list. Remember that the arrows represent energy flow and go
from the provider to the user.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Caterpillar
Corn
Hawk
Snake
Mouse
Sunlight
Robin
Oak
Tree
7. Use food web to answer questions a-d
a. Identify a producer in this food web.
b. Identify an herbivore in this food web.
c. Identify a carnivore in this food web.
d. Identify an omnivore in this food web.
8. One role of a producer in a food chain is to
provide
A.
B.
C.
D.
9.
How do decomposers obtain their food?
A. hunting and killing prey for food
B. changing carbon dioxide and water into
food
C. absorbing food from dead organisms
D. producing food from oxygen and sunlight
water for plants
sunlight for plants
nutrients for animals
shelter for animals
10. Which living things in the pond system break down dead plants and animals?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Green algae
Bacteria
Rushes
Frogs
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11. Finish the diagram of a food web in the pond. The food web shows what eats what in the pond system.
Draw arrows in the diagram from each living thing to the things that eat it. (The first arrow is drawn for
you.)
Small Fish
Insect
Frog
Algae
12. Zebra mussels were introduced into the Great Lakes region in the 1960s. They are not a native species and
they spread quickly throughout the area. Zebra mussels attach to other species of mussels and often kill
them. They also use up resources that native mussel species depend on for survival. As a result, zebra
mussels have almost completely gotten rid of native mussels in the Great Lakes region. Based on the
information below, what type of interaction do the zebra mussels have with the native mussels?
Organismal Function: a bodily function, such as heart rate or body temperature, that affects an individual
organism
Population Interaction: an interaction between members of the same species, such as mating
Community Interaction: an interaction between members of different species, such as predator/prey
interactions or competition between two or more different species
Ecosystem Interaction: an interaction between the biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem, such as a
drought killing many different plant and animal species in an area
A.
B.
C.
D.
community interaction
organismal function
population interaction
ecosystem interaction
13. All communities include populations of producers, consumers, and decomposers. Which of the following is
a consumer in a meadow community?
A.
B.
C.
D.
mushroom
dragonfly
daisy
algae
14.
The Great Lakes region has both biotic and abiotic components. Abiotic components include water,
temperature, rainfall, and geological features. Biotic components include the entire animal and plant species in
the area. The ecosystem of the Great Lakes includes ____________________.
A.
B.
C.
D.
only the plant and animal species that live in the Great Lakes region
only the animal species that live in the Great Lakes region
all of the biotic and abiotic components of the Great Lakes region
only the abiotic components of the Great Lakes region
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15. Populations living in one place form a
A.
B.
C.
D.
community
habitat
system
species
15. Why are the fish able to survive in the pond?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The fish use carbon dioxide produced by the plants.
The fish use oxygen produced by the plants.
The plants use oxygen produced by the fish.
The plants use chlorophyll produced by the fish.
16. The main source of energy for this pond community is the
A.
B.
C.
D.
17.
plants
pond water
sun
animals
Which event is the best example of competition between species in a pond environment?
A.
B.
C.
D.
dragonflies landing on lily pads
frogs and toads eating flies
lizards and snakes lying in the sun
hawks eating mice
18.
Competition is most likely to occur between
which two organisms?
A.
B.
C.
D.
20.
deer and butterflies
owls and bacteria
goldfish and rabbits
grass and strawberry plants
19. In the pond, small fish eat algae. What predator
might eat the small fish in the pond system?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Butterfly
Another small fish
Dragonfly
Raccoon
The Venus flytrap is a plant that both produces its own food through photosynthesis and obtains
nutrients by consuming insects. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Venus
flytrap and the fly?
A. competitive
B. parasitic
C. predator-prey
D. invertebrate-vertebrate
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21. Rebecca noticed that the leaves on her
rose bushes were getting eaten by
insects as shown in the picture.
Rebecca was planning to use insect
spray to kill the insects. Her friend
Gwen said that the insect spray might
kill other insects that are important for
some of the flowering plants in the
garden. Why are some insects
important for flowering plants?
22.
The diagram shows an example of interdependence among aquatic organisms. During the day the
organisms either use up or give off (a) or (b) as shown by the arrows. Choose the right answer for (a) and (b)
from the alternatives given.
A.
B.
C.
D.
(a) is oxygen and (b) is carbon dioxide.
(a) is oxygen and (b) is carbohydrate.
(a) nitrogen and (b) is carbon dioxide.
(a) is carbon dioxide and (b) is oxygen.
23.
Northwest of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in Lake Superior, is Isle Royal National Park. In the early
1900’s, moose arrived on the island. With no predators on the island, and plenty of water plants, twigs, and
leaves for the moose to feed on, the moose population increased greatly. By the 1930’s, the food was depleted,
and hundreds of moose starved. Following a fire, the food supply – and the moose – recovered. About 10 years
later the food dwindled again, and the moose starved once more. During the 1948-1949, as a result of an
extremely cold winter, Lake Superior froze over. A pack of eastern timber wolves migrated across the ice from
Canada and established themselves on the island. The wolf population now numbers between 25 and 40. The
wolves kill the very young, very old, sick or weak moose. The moose population, at a ration of about 30 moose
per wolf, is now stable and healthy. The balance is aided by a population of beaver, which builds dams for
ponds and beaver meadows, supplying the moose with additional plant growth. How do the moose benefit from
the beaver population?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The beaver increase the water supply by building dams.
The beaver create an environment favorable to plant growth.
The beaver have no effect on the survival of the moose.
The beaver are an alternative food source for the moose.
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24. Which statement would be true if the owl population disappeared?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The mouse population would increase.
The carrot population would increase.
The fox population would decrease.
The rabbit population would decrease.
25. Suppose that one spring a new type of large fish was put into the pond. So many were put in that there were
twice as many fish as before. By the end of the summer, what would happen to the large fish that were
already in the pond? Explain why you think these new large fish would have this effect.
26.
The picture shows a pond ecosystem. What would most likely happen if all the lily plants were removed
from the community?
A.
B.
C.
D.
there would be more kinds of animals in the pond
the pond water current would be slower
There would be more oxygen in the air
The animals would have fewer places to hide
27. Which of these species would be most in danger of becoming extinct if one of their food sources became
unavailable?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Polar Bear
Panda
Brown Bear
Black Bear
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28. The picture above shows part of a savanna ecosystem. Which of the following lists only biotic components
of this ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
elephant, bird, water
elephant, bird, grass
water, dirt, air
bird, water, grass
29. Taiben went on a walk in the forest. He saw a deer grazing in the grass, a bird eating a berry, a fish
swimming in a creek, and a fox catching a rabbit.
________________ is an action that has both a biotic and an abiotic component involved.
________________ is an action that involves only biotic components.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A bird eating a berry; a deer grazing in the grass
A deer grazing in the grass; a fox catching a rabbit
A fox catching a rabbit; a fish swimming in a creek
A fish swimming in a creek; a bird eating a berry
29. Some ecosystems—such as forests, estuaries, and grasslands—have many plants. Other ecosystems, such as
deserts, have few plants. Which is a nonliving factor that helps determine ecosystem type?
A.
B.
C.
D.
the amount of water available
the number of insects present
the kind of plants present
the kind of animals present
30. The diagram represents a cross section of a lagoon and some of its aquatic organisms. A magnified view
(400X magnification) of each organism is shown.
Choose one of the organisms in the diagram. Identify two nonliving resources the organism needs to live.
Explain how the organism uses each of the two nonliving resources.
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31. Which one of these refers only to living things?
A.
B.
C.
D.
clouds, fire, rivers
fire, rivers, trees
rivers, birds, trees
birds, trees, worms
32. Which effect does a decrease in sunlight have on a pond ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
an increase in oxygen levels
a decrease in the nitrogen levels
an increase in the algae population
a decrease in the algae population
33. If all green plants died, would lions survive?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Yes, lions do not eat green plants.
Yes, lions could still eat other animals.
No, the animals that lions eat need to eat green plants.
No, they would have no more plants to eat.
34. A slow but gradual change in an ecosystem is
A.
B.
C.
D.
succession.
habitation.
biotic evolution.
climax community.
35.
If a rainstorm washed some fertilizer from a nearby field into the pond, what would happen to the algae
in the pond system after one month? Why do you think the fertilizer would affect the algae this way?
36
A new species of fish was released into a lake. State two unwanted outcomes that could arise from the
introduction of this new species.
37. A company built a paper plant on 90 acres of land in a local community. The company employs 800 people
and uses local timber to make the paper.
A. Describe a situation that might harm the environment as the company operates its paper plant.
B. Describe a way that the company might prevent this damage to the environment in the future.
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38. The diagram shows a community consisting of snakes, mice and wheat plants. What would happen to this
community if people killed all of the snakes?
39. The quality of air is monitored by the government to determine whether a city needs to take steps to control
air pollution. To best measure air quality, the air should be tested _____
A.
B.
C.
D.
At night when the air is less polluted.
Several times a day in all types of weather.
Once a year on a day with very little vehicle traffic.
Once a day during rush hour when the most cars are on the road.
40. What is a likely consequence of cutting down rain forests?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A reduction in the amount of air pollution on Earth
An increase in the number of plants living on Earth
A reduction in the variety of organisms living on Earth
An increase in the number of arctic ecosystems on Earth
41. A species of giant pandas lives only in central China. Bamboo, a tall, green tropical plant, is the main food
source for these animals. Large areas of bamboo are being cut down in central China to make room for
growing other crops. What will most likely happen to these giant pandas?
A.
B.
C.
D.
They will become endangered or extinct.
They will migrate to warmer areas of China.
They will become carnivores.
They will begin to live in caves.
42. If surface or ground water in an ecosystem becomes polluted, what will happen to the ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The ecosystem will receive less rain.
The ecosystem will become unhealthy.
More animals will move to the ecosystem.
The ecosystem will become larger.
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43. Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water. Of that, only 1% is easily accessible surface water. In what
ways does population growth affect the water supply?
A.
B.
C.
D.
There is plenty of water. More people will not affect the water supply
Three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, so the water supply is not a concern
The more people there are, the less water there is per person
An increase in population will cause global warming and melt the glaciers. This will solve any water
shortages
44. What might happen in an ecosystem if the population of one species grows unusually fast?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The food that the species eats might start growing more quickly
Another species that eats the same food might also increase in population.
The predators that prey upon the growing species might begin to starve.
Another species that eats the same food might decrease in population
45. Which of the following statements is true?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Some plants are considered abiotic components of an ecosystem
Temperature range is always a biotic component of an ecosystem
Animals are always biotic components of an ecosystem
In many ecosystems, water is considered a biotic component of the ecosystem
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