Ecology Test Review
Question 1
All of the organisms in a typical ecosystem are interdependent, helping
to maintain the equilibrium of the ecosystem and sustaining each
other. Which of the following processes can bacteria perform that is
not possible for the other members of a typical ecosystem?
A converting radiant energy into chemical energy
B conserving water
C using nitrogen from the atmosphere
D balancing carbon dioxide levels
Question 2
When barnacles attach themselves to a whale, the whale is not usually
positively or negatively affected. The movement of the water past the
swimming whale carries food particles to the barnacles. This situation
is an example of –
A commensalism
B mutualism
C parasitism
D predation
Question 3
Hermit crabs live inside shells produced by other organisms. Sea
anemones often attach to the top of a hermit crab's shell. When the
crab moves, the shell, including the anemone is carried to a new
location. There may be additional food resources at this location. Most
predators of hermit crabs avoid sea anemones. Which symbiotic
relationship best describes the hermit crab and sea anemone?
A parasitism
B commensalism
C mutualism
D competition
Question 4
In autumn, leaves from deciduous trees change color due to
environmental abiotic conditions. Which of the following explains this
phenomenon?
A Decreasing moisture causes closing of the stomata controlling gas
exchange.
B Decreased light levels decreases the production of chloroplasts.
C Increasing moisture increases the production of sap.
D Increasing light levels increase the levels of meristematic tissue in the
stem.
Question 5
The fly Ormia ochracea is attracted to the sound of the male cricket,
using it to locate the male in order to deposit her young on him. The
larvae promptly burrow into the cricket and eat him. What symbiotic
relationship does this illustrate?
A parasitism
B commensalism
C mutualism
D competition
Question 6
Which of these organisms provides the most energy in a typical forest
ecosystem?
A birds
B lynx
C moose
D trees
Question 7
In the biomass energy pyramid to the right, which level contains 1% of
the energy from the producer?
Biomass
A Oak Tree
B Blue tit
Sparrowhawk
C Caterpillar
Blue tit
D Sparrowhawk
Caterpillar
Oak Tree
Question 8
Some plants have very long taproots. This adaptation helps these
plants survive in a –
A. temperate forest by needing very little water
B. tundra by taking water from below the permafrost
C. prairie by absorbing large amounts of surface water
D. desert by reaching deep underground water supplies
Question 9
According to this food web to the left, which of these
does not eat producers?
A frog
B moose
C rabbit
D mice
Question 10
Like other vultures, the king vulture is a scavenger. These large birds glide on air
currents, conserving energy while searching the forests or savanna below for the
corpses of dead animals. Because of their unappetizing eating habits, they fill an
ecological niche, and may help to prevent the spread of disease by disposing of
rotting remains. In this food web, the vulture takes on the role of a:
A Producer
B Detritivore
C Secondary Consumer
D Primary Consumer
Question 11
Which cycle would be affected to the greatest extent by the destruction
of the Earth’s huge rainforests?
A water cycle
B carbon cycle
C nitrogen cycle
D None of these is greatly affected
Question 12
In this ecosystem, the algae are …
A producers
B consumers
C decomposers
D recyclers
Question 13
Which of the following describes the correct energy flow in an
ecosystem?
A Energy flows from heterotrophs to autotrophs to decomposers.
B Energy flows from decomposers to consumers to producers.
C Energy flows from producers to consumers to decomposers.
D Energy flows from producers to decomposers to consumers.
Question 14
The highest concentration of life exists in the top 200 meters of ocean
water. Consider energy flow in this ecosystem. The most important
factor that influences this concentration of life is the
A amount of gases at the surface.
B amount of nutrients in the water.
C large number of predators at lower depths.
D amount of sunlight
Question 15
A chemical spill kills all of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in an ecosystem
without directly harming any other organisms. Which of the following
processes in plants will be affected first as a result of the loss of these
bacteria?
A. Production of oxygen
B. Production of sugars
C. Production of water
D. Production of amino acids
Question 16
Thick fleshy stems with thick waxy covering would most likely be useful
adaptations for which of the following types of plants?
A. desert plants that need to conserve water
B. tundra plants that need to conserve heat
C. prairie plants that need to survive fires
D. rainforest plants that need to repel insects
Question 17
Various processes and events occur during ecological succession.
Which one of the following does not occur during succession?
A. environmental changes
B. replacement of one community by another
C. increase in population size followed by a decrease in population size
D. decreased species diversity
Question 18
How will rapid environmental change impact the stability of an
ecosystem?
A. It will make the ecosystem less stable.
B. It will make the ecosystem more stable.
C. It will not impact the stability of the ecosystem.
D. It will help the ecosystem attract more animals.
Question 19
Under favorable conditions, a population will grow in size. Look closely
at the graph which shows the growth of a population over time. Why
did the population stop growing?
A.
The reproductive rate increased.
B.
Resource bases such as food are limited.
C.
The individual exhibited more adaption to their environment.
D.
The carbon and nitrogen cycles stopped operating
Question 20
In a desert, water is limited. Which species described below is most
likely to survive?
A. Large animal that begins to sweat profusely when overheated.
B. A plant lacks vascular tissues instead relying on osmosis to get
water.
C. A small nocturnal rodent has efficient kidneys that able to retain
water and filter salt.
D. A large carnivorous mammal has a coat made up of hollow hairs
enabling retention of body heat.
Question 22
In Texas, the Prairies & Lakes (Backland Prairies) ecosystem is often
characterized with grasslands intermingled with oak & hickory forests.
Grass seedlings require large amounts of sunlight to grow, while oak
seedlings don’t. Based on that information what statement is most
likely true?
A. Over time, forested land will become grassland.
B. Over time, grassland will become forested land.
C. Over time, forested land will remain forested land
D. Over time, grassland will remain grassland
Question 23
The family Elephantidae contains both living and extinct species of the
largest land mammal on earth. Of the most well-known extinct species is the
tundra mammoth. The largest Tundra mammoth ear ever discover measured
only 12 inches long. The living African elephant has ears measuring 71
inches. What is the most likely explanation for the variations in ear length of
these species?
A. difference in diet led to smaller sized individuals.
B. differences in climate led to distinctive body shape
C. the process of fossilization caused the appendages of the mammoth to
shrink
D. living tissues are full of water thus swell to a larger size
Question 24
The Nile River flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Aswan High Dam contains the flow of water from
the river and reduces the annual fall flooding. The floodwater is trapped behind the huge dam, allowing
irrigation for agriculture. Sediments that would be washed away by the annual floods are also trapped
behind the dam. The graph shows the water flow from the Nile that enters the Mediterranean Sea.
How has this dam most likely
affected the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem?
A. Reduced nutrients from the land
support fewer producers in the sea.
B. Water trapped behind the dam causes
the marine ecosystem to move inland.
C. The flooding in August through November
causes marine life to be destroyed.
D. The water temperature of the sea has increased.
Question 25
The iris controls the size and shape of the pupil. Which eye most likely belongs to
an animal that is active most of the day on white desert sand?
Question 26
In biological terms, what does succession mean?
A. A descendent of animal breeding.
B. The result when one species is more successful than another.
C. The gradual process of change in an ecosystem brought about by
the progressive replacement of one community by another until a
stable climax is established.
D. There is no biological succession
Question 27
Why are food chains so short, rarely going higher than through 45 organisms
instead of 8 or more trophic levels?
A The digestive systems of carnivores cannot handle foods in a widely varied
diet.
B The number of species available for consumption is very limited in most
ecosystems.
C There is too little energy left at higher trophic levels to make consumption
worthwhile.
D There are just not enough animals present in ecosystems for really long
food chains.
Question 28
Various processes and events occur during ecological succession.
Which one of the following does not occur during succession?
A. environmental changes
B. replacement of one community by another
C. increase in population size followed by a decrease in population
size
D. decreased species diversity
Question 29
The chestnut lamprey is a jawless native fish that can attach its mouth to the side
of another fish, such as a lake trout. The lamprey releases a substance that
prevents the lake trout's blood from clotting and uses its tongue to create suction
that draws a steady flow of blood and body fluids from the lake trout. This type of
lamprey rarely kills the lake trout before detaching and moving on. The relationship
between a chestnut lamprey and a lake trout can best be described as –
A commensalism
B mutualism
C predation
D parasitism
Question 30
The Nile crocodile opens its mouth to permit the Egyptian plover to
feed on any leeches attached to its gums. Which type of symbiosis is
this?
A commensalism
B mutualism
C predation
D parasitism