Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics - Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of these interactions does NOT happen in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear Fusion

Answer

Competition for resources

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Question 2

In a food chain, which type of organism makes its own food?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Herbivore

Answer

Carnivore

Answer

Decomposer

Question 3

In a food web, energy flows from the ____ to the ____.

Accepted Answer

producers to consumers

Answer

consumers to producers

Answer

decomposers to producers

Answer

producers to decomposers

Question 4

What is an ecosystem, and why is it important for maintaining the balance of nature?

Accepted Answer

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms and their physical surroundings, interacting as a system.

Answer

An ecosystem is only the collection of living organisms in a specific environment.

Answer

An ecosystem is a term used to describe the physical environment in which organisms live.

Question 5

Which of these is NOT a type of relationship where two different species live together?

Accepted Answer

Competition

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Question 6

How does high biodiversity benefit ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

It increases the likelihood of species surviving environmental changes.

Answer

It reduces competition for resources among species.

Answer

It lowers the overall productivity of the ecosystem.

Answer

It prevents the introduction of new species into the ecosystem.

Question 7

What are trophic levels, and describe the different types of organisms found at each level?

Accepted Answer

Trophic levels are feeding levels in an ecosystem. Producers, like plants, are at the first level. Consumers, like herbivores, are at the second level. Carnivores, like lions, are at the third level.

Answer

Trophic levels are based on organism size, with smaller organisms at lower levels and larger organisms at higher levels.

Answer

Trophic levels show the importance of species in an ecosystem, with higher levels being more important.

Answer

Trophic levels are only found in aquatic ecosystems.

Question 8

Which adaptation helps polar bears survive in their cold Arctic habitat?

Accepted Answer

Thick, insulating fur

Answer

Flippers for swimming

Answer

Sharp claws for hunting

Answer

Ability to change fur color with the seasons

Question 9

What is an example of mutualism? Explain how both species involved benefit from this relationship.

Accepted Answer

A clownfish living among the tentacles of a sea anemone.

Answer

A bird eating seeds from a plant.

Answer

A lion hunting a zebra.

Question 10

When a forest habitat is destroyed, what is a possible negative effect on the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Reduced ability of the ecosystem to maintain balance

Answer

Increased variety of plant and animal life

Answer

More resources available for the remaining species

Answer

Improved cleanliness of nearby water sources

Question 11

Imagine a forest where wolves are the keystone species. They keep the deer population in check. What would happen if the wolves were suddenly removed from the ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The deer population would increase, leading to overgrazing and reduced plant diversity.

Answer

The ecosystem would remain balanced, as other predators would take the wolves' place.

Answer

The removal of the wolves would have no significant impact on the ecosystem.

Question 12

How do abiotic factors like temperature, water, and sunlight affect where and how many living things are found in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Abiotic factors can affect where living things are found by setting limits on what they can tolerate and where they can live.

Answer

Abiotic factors don't affect where and how many living things are found in an ecosystem.

Answer

Abiotic factors don't affect how many living things there are or how they behave.

Question 13

How does succession cause an ecosystem to change over time?

Accepted Answer

Pioneer species are replaced by more specialized species that are better suited to the changing conditions of the ecosystem.

Answer

Succession only changes the structure of an ecosystem, not its composition.

Answer

Succession only happens in aquatic ecosystems.

Answer

Succession always leads to a climax community that will never change.

Question 14

Scientists want to study how different amounts of sunlight affect the growth of plants. Which experiment would be the best way to find out?

Accepted Answer

Plant several seeds in different pots with varying amounts of sunlight, but keep all other conditions the same, such as water, temperature, and soil type.

Answer

Observe plants in different locations with varying amounts of sunlight and compare their growth.

Answer

Plant a single seed in a pot and measure its growth over time under varying amounts of sunlight.

Question 15

How do decomposers contribute to nutrient recycling in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Decomposers break down dead organisms, releasing nutrients back into the soil.

Answer

Decomposers consume living organisms, controlling their populations.

Answer

Decomposers produce oxygen through photosynthesis, providing fresh air.

Question 16

How can human activities harm ecosystems? Provide specific examples.

Accepted Answer

Human activities can harm ecosystems by causing pollution, deforestation, habitat destruction, overfishing, and introducing non-native species.

Answer

Human activities have no negative impact on ecosystems.

Answer

Pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction are the only ways human activities can harm ecosystems.

Answer

Human activities can only harm ecosystems in water environments.

Question 17

How does biodiversity contribute to the stability of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

It helps the ecosystem recover faster from disruptions.

Answer

It increases the variety of species in the ecosystem.

Answer

It only benefits ecosystems in water.

Answer

It makes the ecosystem less stable.

Question 18

In a forest ecosystem, which of the following is a producer?

Accepted Answer

Tree

Answer

Hawk

Answer

Wolf

Answer

Mushroom

Question 19

The process where plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create their own food is called:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Transpiration

Question 20

Which of these is NOT a type of symbiotic relationship?

Accepted Answer

Competition

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Question 21

A group of the same type of living thing that lives in the same area is called a:

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Community

Answer

Habitat

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of a decomposer?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria

Answer

Grasshopper

Answer

Tree

Answer

Hawk

Question 23

The process by which nutrients are reused in an ecosystem is called:

Accepted Answer

Nutrient cycle

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Question 24

In a food chain, which organism comes first?

Accepted Answer

A plant that makes its own food from sunlight

Answer

An animal that eats plants

Answer

An animal that eats other animals

Answer

An animal that eats both plants and animals

Question 25

What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down dead plants and animals

Answer

Create new plants and animals

Answer

Control the population of other organisms

Answer

Provide shelter for other organisms

Question 26

Where does the main energy for living things on Earth come from?

Accepted Answer

The sun

Answer

The wind

Answer

The water

Answer

The soil

Question 27

Which of the following is a living thing in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A tree

Answer

The temperature

Answer

The amount of rain

Answer

The type of soil

Question 28

How do plants make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Breathing

Answer

Decomposing

Answer

Cycling nutrients

Question 29

What is a diagram that shows how different organisms in an ecosystem are connected?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Energy pyramid

Answer

Ecosystem map

Question 30

Which interaction between living things in an ecosystem involves one organism hurting another?

Accepted Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Abiotic factors

Question 31

In an ecosystem, what is the level that includes all the living and non-living things in a particular area?

Accepted Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Biome

Question 32

How do plants make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Through photosynthesis

Answer

Through digestion

Answer

Through absorption

Answer

Through hunting

Question 33

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead organisms

Answer

To make food for other organisms

Answer

To eat living animals

Answer

To provide shelter for other organisms

Question 34

Where does most of the energy used by living things on Earth come from originally?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy

Answer

Chemical energy

Answer

Nuclear energy

Answer

Geothermal energy

Question 35

What is a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

A species that has a bigger influence on its ecosystem than its population size might suggest

Answer

A species that is in danger of extinction

Answer

A species that is at the top of a food chain

Answer

A species that can be found in all ecosystems

Question 36

Which of the following is a type of relationship where two different species live together and help each other?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 37

In a food chain, the organism that makes its own food from the sun is called the:

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Hawk

Answer

Snake

Answer

Deer

Question 38

When two organisms live together in a close relationship, helping each other, it is called:

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 39

Energy enters an ecosystem through:

Accepted Answer

The sun

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Producers

Answer

Decomposers

Question 40

Living things that break down dead plants and animals are called:

Accepted Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Herbivores

Question 41

Which of these is something that can be replaced naturally?

Accepted Answer

Trees

Answer

Coal

Answer

Oil

Answer

Natural gas

Question 42

How does niche partitioning help keep an ecosystem stable?

Accepted Answer

By lowering competition among different species

Answer

By raising the ecosystem's carrying capacity

Answer

By eliminating the need for predators

Answer

By making the ecosystem more vulnerable to disturbances

Question 43

Which factor does NOT help ecosystems stay balanced and able to change over time?

Accepted Answer

Invasive species

Answer

Variety of living things

Answer

Species with similar roles

Answer

Linked habitats

Question 44

How do limiting factors regulate the size of a population in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

They control the population's growth and survival.

Answer

They allow the population to grow without limits.

Answer

They have no impact on the population.

Question 45

Scientists have noticed that the number of sea turtles has been decreasing in a certain area for the past ten years. What could be a reason for this decline?

Accepted Answer

A new animal has moved into the area that eats sea turtles.

Accepted Answer

People are overfishing in the area.

Answer

More food is available for the sea turtles.

Answer

The water quality in the area has improved.

Question 46

Decomposers are important in ecosystems because they break down dead plants and animals. What is the main benefit of this process?

Accepted Answer

Decomposers release nutrients back into the soil.

Answer

Decomposers release harmful chemicals into the soil.

Answer

Decomposers create new plants and animals.

Answer

Decomposers make the air cleaner.

Question 47

Which of these BEST describes a food chain?

Accepted Answer

A line of organisms showing who eats whom, with energy passing from one to the next.

Answer

A web of feeding relationships showing how all organisms in an ecosystem are connected.

Answer

The total amount of energy available in an ecosystem.

Answer

The number and variety of species in an ecosystem.

Question 48

Which adaptation helps polar bears survive in their icy habitat?

Accepted Answer

Thick fur

Answer

Sharp claws

Answer

Webbed feet

Question 49

A factory is being built near a river. The factory will release pollution into the river, which could harm the fish that live there. What is the best way to protect the fish?

Accepted Answer

Make the factory install pollution control devices.

Answer

Build a dam to stop the pollution from reaching the river.

Answer

Move the fish to a safer river.

Answer

Don't take any action.

Question 50

In an ecosystem, what is the main feature of a keystone species?

Accepted Answer

They have a big impact on the ecosystem, even though there aren't many of them.

Answer

They are at the top of the food chain.

Answer

They are found in all ecosystems.

Answer

They are not affected by changes in the ecosystem.

Question 51

What happens to the plants and animals in an ecosystem over time?

Accepted Answer

Some move in and some disappear.

Answer

They always stay the same.

Answer

The amount of sunlight increases.

Question 52

What is NOT considered a living part of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Plants

Answer

Animals

Answer

Bacteria

Question 53

Who makes their own food in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Scavengers

Question 54

When light energy becomes plant energy, what type of transformation has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Light energy to chemical energy

Answer

Chemical energy to heat energy

Answer

Heat energy to light energy

Answer

Electrical energy to mechanical energy

Question 55

Where does most of the energy in Earth's ecosystems come from?

Accepted Answer

The sun

Answer

The moon

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Geothermal energy

Question 56

What breaks down plants and animals into nutrients?

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Transpiration

Question 57

When two different species help each other, what type of relationship do they have?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 58

Who affects the whole ecosystem even though they are few in number?

Accepted Answer

Keystone species

Answer

Producers

Answer

Top predators

Answer

Decomposers

Question 59

Which of these is NOT a part of the scientific method?

Accepted Answer

Deciding based on your feelings

Answer

Noticing a problem

Answer

Making a guess

Answer

Testing your guess

Question 60

How does habitat loss harm an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Reduces the variety of living things

Accepted Answer

Makes ecosystems more likely to be disrupted

Answer

Improves water quality in rivers and lakes

Answer

Lowers the amount of carbon dioxide in the air

Question 61

Which process allows plants to use sunlight to make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Symbiosis

Question 62

What name is given to a group of organisms of the same kind living in the same place?

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biome

Question 63

Which type of organism can create its own food from non-living materials (like sunlight)?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Answer

Scavenger

Question 64

What is the role of decomposers in nature?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down dead plants and animals

Answer

Making food for plants

Answer

Eating herbivores

Answer

Providing shelter for animals