TEST DATE: __________
NAME:
Regents Biology
Homework Packet
Unit 10: Ecology

Use your Biology by Miller & Levine textbook to complete and help with the following homework
assignments.

(1) Read the assigned pages, (2) Define the vocabulary, and (3) Answer the questions.

Neatness counts. Number the definitions. Write the page and number of the questions. Do your work in
ink or even type the homework. Staple the definitions and questions to the HW packet.

The homework assignment is due the day before the test. We will use the HW packet as a test review.
The completed and corrected HW packet will be collected on the day of the test. Late homework
assignments receive no credit (0). If the assignment is not turned in by the last day of the quarter the
zero grade (0) will change to -5.
Chapter 3: The
Biosphere
Chapter 4: Ecosystems
and Communities
Chapter 5:
Populations
Chapter 6: Humans in
the Biosphere
Read pgs. 62 – 93
Read pgs. 94 – 127
Read pgs. 128 – 151
Read pgs. 152 – 186
Vocabulary
p. 64 (9)
p. 69 (12)
p 73 (7)
p. 79 (5)
Vocabulary
p. 96 (4)
p. 99 (12)
p. 106 (4)
p. 110 (7)
p. 117 (6)
Vocabulary
p. 130 (7)
p. 137 (3)
p. 142 (2)
Vocabulary
p. 154 (4)
p. 158 (6)
p. 166 (6)
p. 173 (4)
p. 68 #1a
p. 72 #1a
p. 78 #2a
p. 86 #4b
Regents Review
Pgs. 90 – 93
#1 – 23
p. 98 #2b
p. 104 #1a, 4b
p. 109 #1a, 3
p. 116 #1a
p. 121 #1a, 5
Regents Review
Pgs. 124 – 127
#1 – 23
p. 135 #4c
p. 141 #1b, 2b
p. 145 #3
Regents Review
Pgs. 148 – 151
#1 – 27
p. 157 #1a
p. 165 #2b
p. 172 #2a
p. 179 #2a
Regents Review
Pgs. 182 – 185
#1 – 27
Acid Rain
To celebrate the end of the long, New England winter, Bob and Sue
James decided to take a fishing trip in early spring. Sue suggested they go to
a small lake in New Hampshire's White Mountains where she used to fish as a
girl. She still had vivid memories of the many fish she had caught in the
unspoiled lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains.
When Sue and Bob arrived at the lake, they were unprepared for what
they saw. The setting was still as beautiful as Sue remembered it. But, washed
up on the shores of the lake were hundreds of dead fish. Shocked by this sight, the couple quickly summoned a
nearby park ranger.
"This is known as acid shock," the ranger explained. "It occurs when highly acidic snow on the
mountains melts and runs into the lake in spring. It's a rare occurrence, but I guess conditions were right for
it here this year. The effects are devastating to the ecological balance of the lake, and some scientists fear that
the effects may be irreversible."
"But why would the snow be so acidic," asked Sue, "and how can this be prevented?"
"Those are two complicated questions," the ranger replied. "The answers are part of a controversial
issue known as acid rain. Acid rain is a global problem that must be better understood before it can be
prevented."
Causes of Acid Rain
Acid rain, more accurately termed acid deposition, is a complex
chemical phenomenon that occurs when sulfur and nitrogen
compounds are emitted into the atmosphere. These compounds
are chemically converted into sulfuric and nitric acids while being
transported through the atmosphere. Eventually, the acidic
particles are carried back to the earth alone or mixed with rain,
snow, or fog.
The two principle sources of acid rain are sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Sulfur dioxide is emitted when
fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and some metallic ores are burned.
In the United States, most sulfur dioxide is generated by coalburning electric power plants, industrial boilers, and ore smelting.
Nitrous oxides are produced when any type of fuel is burned.
Vehicles and industrial fuel combustion are responsible for most of
Atmospheric Acid Formation. Sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are
transformed into sulfuric and nitric acids,
respectively, The transformation processes
are complex and are thought to involve
reactive hydrocarbons (RHC), ammonia
(NH:), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine
particulate matter (FPM).
the nitrous oxide emitted in this country. In addition to artificial sources, small amounts of these compounds
are produced by natural processes since both sulfur and nitrogen are found in living matter. Currently, 10 to
20 times more sulfur and nitrogen are released into the air by artificial sources than by natural processes.
In North America, the effects of acid rain have been most severe in the eastern United States and
eastern Canada. Scientists believe this is because these areas are downwind of the heavily industrial Ohio
River valley. Studies have shown that ten midwestern
and eastern states (Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
New York and West Virginia) account for 55 percent
of the SO2 emissions and 50 percent of the NOx,
emissions in the United States. Recent studies done in
the western states have shown that acid precipitation is
becoming a serious problem there.
Effects of Acid Rain
Many environmentalists feel that the United States
must act immediately to curb the acid rain problem.
Acid Rain Concentration in the United States (in
milligrams of acid per liter)
They claim that the problem has already taken its toll on hundreds of lakes and streams in the Northeast,
lowering the pH below 5.0, destroying the natural balance, and killing or sterilizing many species of fish. The
National Research Council (NRC) studied fossils of microorganisms found at the bottoms of lakes. From this
they were able to determine that some lakes in the Adirondack Mountains have become ten times more acidic
since 1940. Prior to 1940, it took over 1,000 years for the acidity of these lakes to increase tenfold. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has projected that thousands of lakes will suffer similar rapid
acidification in the near future. Scientists also are studying forests for the effects of acid deposition; some
scientists attribute the decline in growth and the loss of pine needles in forests in the eastern United States to
acid rain. Most recently, damage to coastal waters has been attributed to acid rain.
Acidic conditions affect not only lakes and forests but also the buildings and statues found in many
cities. Limestone and marble, two commonly used building stones, are damaged by acid deposition. The acids
attack the calcium carbonate in these stones and thus gradually weaken their structure. Other materials, such
as metals, ceramics, glass, paints, and leather, are also affected by acid rain. To gain a better understanding of
the erosion of building materials by acids, scientists have put up test walls in different locations throughout
the country. These walls, constructed of whatever material is being studied, are exposed to the elements.
Scientists expect to find a correlation between the amount of wear on the walls and the concentrations of acids
and other pollutants in the air.
Acid rain already has damaged such structures as the Acropolis in Greece, the Statue of Liberty,
ancient Native American cities, and many tombstones. Rust seen on automobiles in the eastern United States
is also thought to be due in part to acid rain. EPA specialists estimate that the cost of repairing or replacing
structures damaged by acid deposition in this country alone is at least 5 billion dollars a year.
Some scientists are worried that acid rain may contribute to human health problems. Acidic water,
they claim, causes lead and heavy metals to dissolve out of pipes and enter the water supply. They also believe
that higher levels of mercury may be able to dissolve in acidified lakes. This would lead to increased mercury
concentrations in the fish we consume. Currently, though, there is no solid evidence linking acid rain to health
problems.
Other scientists do not believe that regulations to curb acid rain are warranted. They believe that there
is not enough scientific evidence to link acid deposition to the damage done to lakes, forests, and structures.
They have pointed out that some remote islands have quite acidic soils and rainfalls (pHs of 3.5 and 4.7,
respectively) even though they are far from industrial activity. Perhaps, then, they have hypothesized, many of
the acidic lakes and soils are natural, rather than artificial, phenomena.
Scientists who study soil formation believe that natural soil formation is often more important than
acid rain in determining the acidity of lakes and forests. Soils that develop naturally from granite are quite
acidic; even soils that develop on limestone or marble can be acidic. These scientists point out that natural soil
formation processes cause an increase in soil acidity. They believe that environmentalists should not ignore
the effects of soil type, land use, and vegetation on the pH of lakes and forests.
Solutions to the Problem
Environmental groups claim that the major sulfur emitting power plants in the Midwest and Northeast are
responsible for many of the acid rain problems we see today. They cite recent studies that show a linear
relationship between the sulfur concentration in the air and the amount of acid in acid rain. These same
studies show that the source of sulfur pollutants can be more than 1,000 kilometers away from the effects. A
study done in 1981 concluded that SO2 emissions could be reduced by 6 to 8.5 million tons annually with the
installation of new controls on the 50 largest power plants in the Ohio River valley. Already, the
concentration of air-borne sulfur compounds has decreased in the past 15 years. This has been attributed to
emission laws passed by individual states. Environmentalists believe that the government should require these
plants to reduce their sulfur emissions. "You have a smokestack on one end of the chain and dead fish on the
other," said one environmentalist.
Representatives of the coal and utility industries believe that emission controls are premature because
the evidence still is inconclusive. They also feel that more attention should be focused on nitrous oxide
emissions. They point to EPA studies that show that NO, emissions will increase about 27 percent over the
next 15 years while SO, emissions will rise only 10 percent. A 1988 U.S. government funded report found acid
rain to be much less of an environmental threat than has generally been supposed. Most experts believe that
by the year 2000, nitric acids will be the primary cause of acid deposition.
Many scientists feel that we do not yet really understand the chemical reactions that lead to acid rain.
Thus, the millions of dollars that would be spent on sulfur emissions controls, if controls were required, might
not effectively reduce acid rain at all. The cost of controls, however, would raise utility rates and slow down
research into coal as an alternate energy source. Instead of sulfur emissions controls, some scientists favor
measures that reduce the amount of nitrous oxide in the air. These would include better automobile emissions
controls and mass transportation systems. Others believe efforts should be concentrated on repairing those
lakes, forests, and soils already damaged by acid rain. They claim that by distributing lime over the acidified
areas, the acid can be neutralized and the region protected from further acidification. Liming programs similar
to this have, in some cases, successfully restored fish populations in some New York lake areas. Other
scientists feel that further research is needed to fully understand how to control acid rain.
Many environmentalists oppose liming programs because they believe that the addition of massive
quantities of lime to a region may further upset its natural balance. They claim it would be impractical and
costly to reach all the areas that need liming, especially those in remote locations. These environmental
groups favor nitrous oxide reductions and further research in addition to the regulation of sulfur emissions.
The acid rain problem is complicated further by the question of who should bear the burden for its
control. This becomes a complex question because the pollutant may be emitted in one location, acidified in
another, and deposited in yet another. This situation has caused ill feelings between the United States and
Canada. Canadians claim that U.S. emissions are carried over the border and that the acid depositions
resulting from them now threaten the country's major industries-forestry, fishing, and tourism. The United
States and Canada recently have begun to work together to address this complex issue.
CONTENT REVIEW
1. What is acid rain?
2. How does acid rain form?
3. Why is acid rain a problem?
4. This article was written in 1995. In the time since, what proposals have been enacted to control, combat,
and prevent acid rain?
Know the Terms
Match the term with the correct definition.
a. carbon cycle
b. commensalism
e. herbivore
f. producer
i. parasitism
j. scavenger
___ 1. the branch of biology that deals with all the
interactions between organisms and their
environment
___ 2. the particular way in which a species
functions in an ecosystem
___ 3. a type of symbiotic relationship in which one
organism benefits from the association and the
other is not affected
c. consumer
g. niche
k. habitat
d. ecology
h. decomposer
l. mutualism
___ 6. the pathways by which carbon is circulated
through the biosphere
___ 7. an organism that obtains nutrients by
breaking down the remains of dead plants and
animals
___ 8. a heterotroph; an organism that obtains
nutrients from other organisms
___ 9. a heterotroph that feeds only on plants
___ 4. a carnivore that feeds on dead animals that it
finds
___ 5. an organism that produces organic
compounds from inorganic compounds; an
autotroph
___ 10. a symbiotic relationship in which one
organism benefits from the association and the
other is harmed
Complete the following paragraphs using the list of words below.
zooplankton
plant life
desert
freshwater
taiga
tundra
terrestrial
permafrost
marine
plankton
grasslands
benthos
epiphytes
nekton
latitude
tropical rain forest phytoplankton
biomes
temperate deciduous forest
The earth is divided into large geographical regions that show particular types of climax communities,
called ____________________(1) . In land, or ____________________ (2) , biomes, the climax community is
defined by its dominant type of ____________________ (3) . The biome known as the
____________________ (4) is characterized by low average temperatures and plants such as Iichens, mosses,
and grasses with few, if any, trees. Only the upper layers of soil thaw in the summer, while the layers beneath,
called the ____________________ (5) , remain continually frozen.
Moving southward, the vegetation gradually changes, and evergreen forests become the dominant
plant life. This biome, called the ____________________ (6), has cold winters but warmer summer
temperatures. Pines, spruce, and firs are the dominant vegetation. South of this biome, in eastern North
America and in Europe, one finds the ____________________ (7) with hot, humid summers and cold winters.
Common trees are oak, maple, and hickory, and common animals are wolves, foxes, and deer.
The ____________________ (8) biomes usually cover large areas in the interior of a continent and
have from 25 to 75 centimeters of rainfall per year. The animals of the North American part of this biome are
the badger, rattlesnake, and jackrabbit. The ____________________ (9) receives less than 25 centimeters of
rainfall per year and has wide-ranging temperatures. Plants in this biome have special adaptations for water
conservation.
The ____________________ (10) biomes are found around the equator and receive between 200 and
400 centimeters of rainfall a year. Temperatures remain around 25 degrees Celsius, and there is an enormous
amount of plant and animal life.
Aquatic environments are also considered to be biomes. The two aquatic biomes on earth are the
saltwater, or ____________________ (11), biome and the ____________________ (12) biome. The first of
these biomes is one of the richest in the world. Organisms that live on the ocean floor are called
____________________ (13), and organisms that float near the surface are known as ____________________
(14). This latter group can be divided into two groups. Those that are photosynthetic are called
____________________ (15), while those that are not photosynthetic are called ____________________(16).
Understanding the Concepts.
Answer the following questions with your knowledge of biology.
1. Why are the abiotic factors of a region important?
2. How are heterotrophs dependent on autotrophs?
3. How do animals obtain the nitrogen they need for
their life functions?
4. How might the light conditions of a region affect its
biotic factors?
5. A protozoan population lives in the gut of termites and digests the wood the termite eats. Some of the
byproducts of this process provide food for the termite. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
6. What is an organism's niche?
7. How are decomposers important to an ecosystem?
8. What factors distinguish one type of
biome from another?
9. Why aren't there clear-cut
boundaries between biomes?
10. Why are there few, if any, trees in
the tundra biome?
11. With all the lush vegetation found in the tropical rain forest biome, one would think that the soil would be
rich in organic matter. Why is this not the case?
12. Why is the marine biome the most stable of all biomes?
13. What can we do now to help alleviate our present ecological problems?
14. How have chemical pesticides been beneficial?
15. How have chemical pesticides been harmful?
1. At which level of the food web is the supply of energy at its maximum?
2. Which feeding relationship do first-order consumers have in common?
3. Which feeding relationship do second-order consumers have in common?
4. Why are plans called producers?
5. Food webs and food chains involve multiple trophic levels. How do the trophic levels differ?
6. Describe a food chain that includes a mountain lion and a shrub.
7. How might the organisms pictured in the food web be affected if most of the mouse population was destroyed
by disease?
1. What is the source of energy for the ecological pyramids shown in the diagram?
2. In general what are the organisms that make up the base of the pyramid? Give specific examples.
3. Examine the pyramid of energy. Explain why only 10% of the energy available at one trophic level is
transferred to the next higher trophic level.
4. How is the energy loss from one trophic level to the next reflected in the pyramid of numbers?
5. If a given ecosystem has a greater number of individual herbivores than individual producers how would this
affect the shape of the pyramid of numbers?
6. What quantity does a pyramid of biomass express?
7. Explain how biomass is calculated.
SUCCESSION
1. What do ecologists mean by succession?
2. Explain the process of primary succession in the diagram.
3. What is a climax community, and which organisms represent this community in the diagram?
4. How is secondary succession different from primary succession?
5. Based on the diagram, if you hiked through a patch of land that contained a pine forest that turned into an area that only contained
ferns, shrubs, and grasses, would you be moving from an older to younger community or vice versa?
6. What parts of the ecosystem had to be established before primary succession could occur?
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
1. The graph shows two abiotic factors that influence the kind of climax community that will develop in a particular area. Predict
which climax community would result in an area that has an annual precipitation of 50 cm and an annual average temperature of 100C.
2. Which climax community would result in an area that has an annual precipitation of 250 cm and an annual average temperature of
100C?
3. Which climax communities can be found at different points within the following range of temperatures and precipitation: 10 – 200
cm annual precipitation and 50 – 150 C annual average temperature?
4. Which climax communities require an average annual temperature of approximately 20 0C to 300C?
5. Which climax community is a little warmer and wetter than the tundra? What is its approximate range of temperatures and
precipitations?
6. Which climax community can exist in the broadest range of temperature?
7. What type of climax vegetation do you think would be found at a low-lying area near the equator that gets lots of rain?
8. Which climax vegetation would you expect to find in an area that has an annual average temperature of about 5 0C and a little less
rainfall that would be needed to support a forest?
9. What is the range of temperature and precipitation for the area in which you live?
Review Questions
Choose the best answer and mark it on the space provided
Choose the best answer to match the statement. Choices may be used more than once.
a. mutualism
b. tropical rain forest
c. selective harvesting
e. commensalism
f. grasslands
g. hydrogen sulfide
i. nitrogen oxide
j. recycling
k. parasitism
m. eutrophication
n. sulfur dioxide
o. biodegradation
q. terracing
r. tundra
s. rotation
u. taiga
v. desert
d. biomagnification
h. carbon monoxide
l. temperate deciduous forest
p. tropism
t. inversion
___ 1. the relationship existing between legumes and
nitrogen-fixing bacteria
___ 15. breakdown of sewage and wastes by
microorganisms
___ 2. the relationship existing between Indian pipe and
certain other plants
___ 16. resulted in the mercury poisoning of many people
in Japan
___ 3. the relationship existing between tapeworms and
certain other animals
___ 17. reacts with hydrocarbons and sunlight to produce
smog
___ 4. the relationship existing between termites and
certain microorganisms
___ 18. reacts with oxygen and ultraviolet light to produce
ozone
___ 5. the relationship existing between pilot fish and
sharks
___ 19. produced by the manufacture of paper pulp;
smells like rotten eggs
___ 6. areas around the poles
___ 20. reacts with other substances to produce some of
the acids found in acid rain
___ 7. the plains of North America
___ 8. areas in northern Africa and central Australia
___ 9. Common plants include pines, firs, and spruce.
___ 10. Common plants include oaks, maples, and
hickory.
___ 11. Temperatures remain constant throughout the
year.
___ 12. Common animals include caribou, lemmings, and
ptarmigans.
___ 13. caused by excessive nutrient input into lakes
___ 14. resulted in excessive levels of DDT in fish-eating
birds
___ 21. produced by the combustion of fuels; reduces
hemoglobin's capacity to carry oxygen
___ 22. important practice that reduces or prevents soil
erosion
___ 23. involves digging flat areas in hillsides for planting
crops
___ 24. involves growing different crops each year to
prevent soil depletion
___ 25. involves marking some trees for cutting while
leaving others undisturbed to grow
The map illustrates the general location of various
terrestrial biomes in selected areas of North, Central, and
South America. Select the biome that is most closely
associated with the following statement.
___1. Deer nibble on low-lying shrubs while cardinals sit
on branches of trees in a large deciduous forest.
1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
___ 2. Snowy owls hunt mice that try to escape among the
lichens growing on ground that has permanently frozen
subsoil.
1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
___ 3. Prairie dogs hide in their burrows in a vast area of
tall grasses that provide food for herds of pronghorn
antelope and bison.
1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4 5) 5
___ 7. Base your answer to the following question on the
diagram shown of the nitrogen cycle and on your
knowledge of biology.
Which substance, acted on by A in the cycle, would most
likely be included in the area labeled "Wastes"?
1) urea
3) carbon dioxide
2) sulfur
4) mineral salt
___ 8. In a self-sustaining ecosystem, which component
cannot be recycled because it is lost from food chains and
becomes unavailable?
1) carbon
2) nitrogen
3) water
4) energy
___ 9. Which sequence represents a correct order of
succession that would involve these stages?
___ 4. Knowing the type of food consumed by an
organism helps to identify the role of the organism in the
community. This role is known as its
1) nesting site
2) territorial range
3) biomass
4) niche
___ 5. Which factor determines the type of terrestrial
plants that grow in an area?
1) percentage of nitrogen in the air
2) depth of the ponds in the area
3) number of secondary consumers present
4) climate of the area
___ 6. Termites can be found living in dead trees partially
buried under soil and stones. Within the tree trunks, the
termites feed on the wood fiber, creating passageways
having a high humidity. The wood fiber is digested by
protozoans living within the digestive tract of the termite.
What are the biotic factors in this habitat?
1) tree trunk, stones, and protozoans
2) soil and humidity
3) termites and protozoans
4) humidity, soil, and stones
1) 2  3  1  4  5
2) 2  1  3  5  4
3) 3  1  2  4  5
4) 3  2  1  5  4
___ 10. Although three different bird species all inhabit the
same type of tree in an area, competition between the
birds rarely occurs. The most likely explanation for this
lack of competition is that these birds
1) have different ecological niches
2) share food with each other
3) have a limited supply of food
4) are unable to interbreed
___ 11. The diagram represents the nitrogen cycle. Which
letter in the diagram indicates the activity of bacteria of
decay?
1) W 2) X 3) Y 4) Z
For questions 12 and 13, select the type of symbiosis that
best identifies the relationship:
1) Commensalism
2) Mutualism
3) Parasitism
___ 12. A tapeworm lives in the digestive tract of a
human.
___ 13. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in nodules on the
roots of legumes.
___ 14. In the nitrogen cycle, which type of bacteria
converts nitrogenous wastes into ammonia?
1) bacteria of decay
2) nitrogen-fixing bacteria
3) nitrifying bacteria
4) denitrifying bacteria
___ 15. A student measured some abiotic factors present
in an aquarium in a biology laboratory. Which data did the
student most likely record?
1) the weight and color of each type of scavenger
2) the number of each type of green plant and each type
of snail
3) the size and number of each species of fish
4) the temperature and oxygen content of the water
___ 16. Starting on bare rock, what is the usual ecological
succession of organisms?
1) grasses  shrubs  lichens  trees
2) lichens  shrubs  grasses  trees
3) grasses  shrubs  lichens  trees
4) lichens  grasses  shrubs  trees
___ 17. The diagram represents a pyramid of biomass in
an aquatic environment. Which statement best explains
why mass decreases from one level to the next in this
pyramid?
1) More organisms die at higher levels than at lower
levels, resulting in less mass at higher levels.
2) When organisms die at higher levels, their remains sink
to lower levels, increasing the mass at lower levels.
3) Energy is lost to the environment at each level, so less
mass can be supported at succeedingly higher levels.
4) Organisms decay at each level, and thus less mass can
be supported at succeedingly higher levels.
___ 18. The first organism in most natural food chains is
1) an herbivore
2) a decomposer
3) photosynthetic
___ 19. Which statement best describes the pioneer
organisms involved in ecological succession?
1) They do not require sunlight.
2) They are the last organisms to appear.
3) They modify the environment.
4) They are restricted to desert biomes.
___ 20. An ecosystem is not considered to be selfsustaining if
1) there is interaction between biotic and abiotic factors
2) some of its living systems incorporate energy into
organic compounds
3) cycling of materials occurs between organisms and
their environment
4) it lacks a constant supply of energy
___ 21. Which group has the greatest biomass?
1) omnivores
3) carnivores
2) herbivores
4) producers
___ 22. In the diagram below, which processes are most
closely associated with the arrows labeled A?
___ 25. Some characteristics of four different biomes are
represented in the following chart. Which biome is
characterized by moderate precipitation, cold winters,
warm summers, and climax plants that lose their leaves in
the winter?
1) runoff and respiration
2) photosynthesis and decomposition
3) respiration and transpiration
4) nitrogen fixation and synthesis
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
___ 26. Which term would be used to classify the patrons
of the restaurant "Chez Rotting Carcass" in the cartoon?
___ 23. The diagram represents a tree containing three
different species of warbler, A, B, and C. Each species
occupies a different niche. A fourth species, D, which has
the same environmental requirements as species B,
enters the tree at point X. Members of species B will most
likely
1) live in harmony with species D
2) move to a different level and live with species A or
species C
3) stay at that level but change their diet
4) compete with species D
___ 24. In a swamp ecosystem, the heron and the
snapping turtle feed on the same species of minnow.
These feeding patterns will most likely result in
1) ecological succession of plants in the swamp
2) competition between the heron and the turtle
3) extinction of the turtle
4) evolution of a new type of climax fauna
1) herbivores
3) scavengers
2) parasites
4) saprophytes
___ 27. Which factor is not necessary for an ecosystem to
be self-sustaining?
1) a constant source of energy
2) living systems that incorporate energy into organic
molecules
3) a cycling of materials between organisms and their
environment
4) an equal number of producers and consumers
___ 28. This diagram provides some information
concerning an ecosystem.
Which title is most appropriate for the diagram?
1) Energy Flow and Material Cycles in an Ecosystem
2) Evolution in an Ecosystem
3) Succession in an Ecosystem
4) The Water Cycle in an Ecosystem
___ 29. This diagram shows an example of
interdependence among aquatic organisms. During the
day, the organisms either use or give off substance A or
B, as shown by the arrows. Which substances are
represented by A and B?
___ 31. An aquarium ecosystem is shown in the
accompanying diagram.
A community in this aquarium consists of the
1) plants and gravel
2) fish, water, and snails
3) fish, plants, and snails 4) water and gravel
___ 32. Which group represents a population?
1) all the vertebrates living in New York State
2) all the Homo sapiens living in New York State
3) all the plant and animal species found in New York
State
4) all the flowering plants found in New York State
___ 33. Which statement regarding the ecosystem shown
in the diagram is correct?
1) A represents oxygen and B represents carbon dioxide.
2) A represents oxygen and B represents carbohydrates.
3) A represents nitrogen and B represents carbon dioxide.
4) A represents carbon dioxide and B represents oxygen.
___ 30. Base your answer to the following question on the
chart and on your knowledge of biology.
Which stage represents a pioneer community?
1) The community within this ecosystem consists of seven
guppies and one catfish.
2) The energy source for this ecosystem is the gas from
the air stone.
3) A population within this ecosystem is the three snails.
4) Cycling of materials is not necessary in this selfsustaining ecosystem.
___ 34. Which is an example of an ecosystem?
1) a population of monarch butterflies
2) the interdependent biotic and abiotic components of a
pond
3) all the abiotic factors found in a field
4) all the mammals that live in the Atlantic Ocean
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
___ 35. The use of ladybugs and praying mantises to
consume insect pests in gardens is an example of
1) biological control of insect pests
2) exploitation of insect pests
3) abiotic control of insect pests
4) use of biocides to control insect pests
___ 36. Which human activity would be more likely to
have a negative impact on the environment than the other
three?
1) using reforestation and cover cropping to control soil
erosion
2) using insecticides to kill insects that compete with
humans for food
3) developing research aimed toward the preservation of
endangered species
4) investigating the use of biological controls for pests
___ 37. Which human activity would most likely result in
the addition of an organism to the endangered species
list?
1) cover cropping
2) use of pollution controls
3) use of erosion controls
4) habitat destruction
Use the diagram to answer questions 38 and 39.
___ 42. A fungus is an example of
1) an herbivore 2) a saprophyte
3) an autotroph 4) an omnivore
___ 43. Several years after a building had been tom down
and the ground cleared, grasses began to grow in that
area. After 10 years, small bushes replaced the grasses.
This pattern of plant growth is known as
1) biological control
2) ecological succession
3) land-use management
4) cover cropping
___ 44. In order to preserve the biosphere for future
generations, humans must
1) make use of technology to develop new herbicides
2) put all wild animals in game preserves
3) explore ways to drain and fill wetlands along the
seacoast
4) understand how living things interact with their
environment
___ 45. Which organisms would most likely have a
predator-prey relationship?
1) tapeworm and dog
2) barnacle and whale
3) hawk and mouse
4) rabbit and grass
___ 46. Eggs of a wasp species are deposited inside the
body of a gypsy moth caterpillar. The wasp eggs hatch
into larvae, which feed on and destroy the caterpillar. The
relationship that exists between the wasp larvae and the
caterpillar is known as
1) mutualism
2) parasitism
3) commensalisms
4) saprophytism
___ 38. A carnivore in this desert community is
represented by the
1) lizard
2) sage
3) yeast
4) desert rat
___ 39. Which is an example of the nutritional pattern of a
primary consumer?
1) grasshoppers  lizards
2) scorpions  bacteria
3) prickly pear cactuses  desert rats
4) lizards  roadrunners
___ 47. Which processes are involved in the water cycle?
1) respiration and photosynthesis, only
2) transpiration and excretion, only
3) respiration, photosynthesis, evaporation, and
condensation, only
4) respiration, photosynthesis, transpiration, excretion,
evaporation, and condensation
___ 48. In the food pyramid represented, which level has
the greatest biomass?
___ 40. Which concept includes the other three?
1) competition
2) survival of the fittest
3) natural selection
4) overproduction
___ 41. In a natural community, all the living things that
directly or indirectly affect the environment are known as
1) pioneer organisms
2) secondary consumers
3) climatic limitations
4) biotic factors
1) eagles
3) mice
2) snakes
4) green plants
___ 49. Which factor promotes competition between
organisms in an ecosystem?
1) cycling of minerals
2) decomposition of organic matter
3) limited resources
4) presence of saprophytes
Use the diagram to answer questions 50 and 51.
___ 50. Decomposer bacteria are indicated by letter
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
___ 51. Denitrifying bacteria are indicated by letter
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
___ 52. All the interacting populations in a given area
represent an ecological unit known as a
1) biosphere
2) community
3) world biome
4) saprophytic relationship
___ 55. Which organisms would most likely be the pioneer
organisms on a newly formed volcanic island?
1) conifers
2) lichens
3) deciduous trees
4) tall grasses
___ 56. The diagram shows a relationship between
altitude, latitude, and tree growth. What is a valid
inference that can be made based on this graph?
1) Deciduous trees cannot grow at an altitude of 5,000
feet.
2) The effects of increasing altitude and latitude on tree
growth are similar.
3) There is less light available at 10,000 feet than at lower
elevations.
4) Trees do not grow rapidly in the tropics.
___ 57. Which statement is best supported by the diagram
of the carbon-oxygen cycle?
___ 53. If birds eat insects that feed on corn, which
pyramid level would birds occupy?
1) A 2) B 3) C 4) D
___ 54. When animals excrete nitrogenous wastes into
the soil, certain soil bacteria convert these wastes into
nitrates, which are absorbed by plants. These soil bacteria
function as
1) autotrophs
2) secondary consumers
3) decomposers
4) abiotic factors
1) Decomposers add oxygen to the atmosphere and
remove carbon dioxide.
2) Combustion adds oxygen to the atmosphere and
removes carbon dioxide.
3) Producers generate oxygen and utilize carbon dioxide.
4) Consumers generate oxygen and utilize carbon dioxide.
Base your answers to questions 58 - 60 on the information
shown and on your knowledge of biology.
The Long Island Pine Barrens is a natural
woodland that once covered more than a quarter of a
million acres. The dominant tree in this woodland is the
pitch pine. Plant and animal distribution and abundance
are controlled by fire and soil conditions. Dry, sandy soils
encourage frequent wildfires, which periodically consume
all or part of the vegetation.
Fires are natural and important in maintaining the
Pine Barrens. Pine Barrens plants and animals must be
fire adapted; that is, they must have the ability to survive
fires or to colonize burned areas rapidly. Some Pine
Barrens insects, for example, escape fire by burrowing
deep into the ground during times of the year when fires
are likely to occur.
___ 58. A pioneer organism in the Pine Barrens is one
that
1) migrates to a different habitat
2) is the first to repopulate areas where fire destroyed the
vegetation
3) burrows out of the ground after the fire is extinguished
4) is destroyed by the fire
___ 59. In the pine barrens, pitch pine trees are part of a
1) tundra biome
2) pioneer community
3) climax community
4) grassland biome
___ 60. Which event normally takes place after a fire in
the Pine Barrens?
1) ecological succession, which helps reestablish the Pine
Barrens
2) hibernation of the insects in the ground
3) increased mutations in the pitch pines
4) rapid interbreeding of animal species that survive the
fire
Use the diagram to answer questions 62 and 63.
___ 62. Which organisms are represented by box I in the
chart?
1) nitrifying bacteria
2) nitrogen-fixing bacteria
3) saprophytic bacteria
4) denitrifying bacteria
___ 63. Which term belongs in box 2?
1) tropism
2) gradualism
3) saprophytism 4) commensalism
___ 64. In an attempt to prevent certain species from
becoming extinct, humans have
1) placed all endangered species in zoos
2) increased the trapping of predators
3) increased wildlife management and habitat protection
4) attempted to mate organisms from different species to
create new and stronger organisms
___ 65. Which group in the food web represented would
most likely have the greatest biomass?
___ 61. Which is an abiotic factor that functions as a
limiting factor for the autotrophs in the ecosystem shown?
1) grasshopper
3) fish
2) light
4) hawk
1) corn and oats
3) mice and rats
2) hawks and owls
4) snakes and raccoons
___ 66. The science of ecology is best defined as the
study of
1) the classification of plants and animals
2) the interactions of living organisms and their
environment
3) technology and its effects on society
4) weather and its effects on food production in the ocean