Ecology Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge of Ecosystems and Interactions

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Natural disturbances and random events

Answer

Living organisms (biotic factors)

Answer

Non-living physical factors (abiotic factors)

Answer

Energy flow

Question 2

What is the main role of producers in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

To make food for other organisms

Answer

To break down organic matter

Answer

To absorb oxygen

Answer

To hold soil in place

Question 3

Which of the following factors does NOT affect the variety of species in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Stock market stability

Answer

Loss of habitats

Answer

Climate change

Answer

Population growth

Question 4

What term describes the reliance of different species on each other within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Answer

Mutualism

Question 5

What do decomposers do in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down organic matter

Answer

Create oxygen

Answer

Eat primary producers

Answer

Store energy

Question 6

Which of the following is considered a renewable resource?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Coal

Answer

Petroleum

Answer

Natural gas

Question 7

What is the primary cause of global climate change?

Accepted Answer

Increase in greenhouse gas emissions

Answer

Deforestation

Answer

Volcanic eruptions

Answer

Changes in the sun's activity

Question 8

Which factor is most likely to negatively impact biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Habitat destruction

Answer

Increased predator numbers

Answer

Abundant food supplies

Answer

Low levels of competition

Question 9

What is the primary role of decomposers within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down organic matter

Answer

Producing food for primary consumers

Answer

Controlling water flow

Answer

Filtering pollutants

Question 10

What is the main source of energy for most ecosystems on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy

Answer

Chemical energy

Answer

Electrical energy

Answer

Geothermal energy

Question 11

What term refers to the process by which organisms adapt to changes in their environment?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Artificial selection

Question 12

What is the ethical responsibility of humans towards the environment?

Accepted Answer

To preserve and protect natural resources

Answer

To prioritize economic exploitation

Answer

To disregard environmental concerns

Answer

To utilize the environment for personal gain

Question 13

In an ecosystem, which group of organisms shares a similar ecological niche and performs comparable ecological functions?

Accepted Answer

Guild

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a level of ecological organization?

Accepted Answer

Atom

Answer

Individual organism

Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Question 15

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients

Answer

Produce food for other organisms

Answer

Provide shelter for other organisms

Answer

Regulate population size

Question 16

What is the definition of ecological succession?

Accepted Answer

The gradual change in species composition and community structure in an ecosystem

Answer

The process of species extinction over time

Answer

The migration of species from one ecosystem to another

Answer

The establishment of a new ecosystem in a previously unoccupied area

Question 17

Which of the following is the primary producer in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plants

Answer

Herbivores

Answer

Carnivores

Answer

Decomposers

Question 18

The variety of living things in an environment is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity

Answer

Ecosystem diversity

Answer

Species richness

Answer

Endemism

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of a living factor in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plant species

Answer

Soil type

Answer

Climate

Answer

Water pH

Question 20

What term describes a group of organisms of the same species living in a specific area?

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Habitat

Question 21

What is the primary source of energy for most ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Plants

Answer

Animals

Answer

Wind

Question 22

Which process do plants use to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into glucose?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Fermentation

Question 23

Which of these organisms is a primary producer?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Deer

Answer

Bacteria

Answer

Mushroom

Question 24

Which of the following is often a keystone species in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Wolves

Answer

Mice

Answer

Mushrooms

Answer

Grass

Question 25

Which conservation strategy aims to protect entire ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Protected natural areas

Answer

Habitat restoration

Answer

Species protection

Answer

Wildlife corridors

Question 26

What is the field of study that examines the interactions between organisms and their environment called?

Accepted Answer

Ecology

Answer

Biology

Answer

Environmental science

Answer

Natural history

Question 27

What is the process by which plants use sunlight to create energy called?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Question 28

Which of the following is a type of freshwater ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Wetland

Answer

Desert

Answer

Forest

Question 29

What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil

Answer

To produce food for primary consumers

Answer

To absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 30

What is the main difference between a food chain and a food web?

Accepted Answer

Food chains are linear while food webs are branched

Answer

A food web is linear, while a food chain is branched

Question 31

Which of the following measures the variety of species in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Species richness

Answer

Population density

Answer

Biomass

Question 32

What is the process by which natural selection occurs?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Answer

Individuals with unfavorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

Question 33

What is the term for the area where two different ecosystems meet and interact?

Accepted Answer

Ecotone

Answer

Biome

Question 34

In an ecosystem, which factor is considered biotic?

Accepted Answer

Plants

Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Water

Answer

Soil

Question 35

In a food chain, what is the correct sequence of energy flow?

Accepted Answer

Producer -> Consumer -> Decomposer

Answer

Decomposer -> Consumer -> Producer

Answer

Consumer -> Producer -> Decomposer

Answer

Producer -> Decomposer -> Consumer

Question 36

Which human activity can negatively impact biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Invasive species introduction

Answer

Habitat restoration

Answer

Pollution reduction

Answer

Protected area conservation

Question 37

In a symbiotic relationship, what type of interaction is mutually beneficial?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Competition

Question 38

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down dead organisms

Answer

Producing food for other organisms

Answer

Controlling populations

Answer

Performing photosynthesis

Question 39

Which characteristic is associated with a healthy ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Stable populations

Answer

Low biodiversity

Answer

High pollution levels

Answer

Reduced food chains

Question 40

Which gas contributes to the greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Oxygen

Answer

Nitrogen

Answer

Water vapor

Question 41

What is the term for the process where organisms adjust to their environment?

Accepted Answer

Adaptation

Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Mutation

Question 42

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Organisms interact with each other and their physical environment

Answer

Systems are isolated from outside influences

Answer

Abiotic factors are independent of biotic factors

Answer

Ecosystems remain constant and unchanging

Question 43

In a food chain, which organism plays the role of converting sunlight into energy?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Answer

Scavenger

Question 44

What process returns nutrients to the soil, making them available to plants?

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Fermentation

Answer

Respiration

Question 45

Which of the following is an example of a living component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria

Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Temperature

Answer

Rocks

Question 46

What term refers to the zone where two different ecosystems meet?

Accepted Answer

Ecotone

Answer

Biome

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Niche

Question 47

What is the term used to describe the maximum population size that an environment can support?

Accepted Answer

Carrying capacity

Answer

Population growth rate

Answer

Population density

Answer

Genetic diversity

Question 48

Which of the following is NOT a potential environmental impact of human activities?

Accepted Answer

Increased biodiversity

Answer

Habitat loss

Answer

Pollution

Answer

Climate change

Question 49

Decomposers are responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Breaking down dead organisms and waste, releasing essential nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Answer

Generating food through photosynthesis.

Answer

Consuming living organisms as their primary source of energy.

Question 50

The interconnected nature of food webs primarily:

Accepted Answer

Enhances the stability and resilience of the ecosystem against disturbances.

Answer

Simplifies the flow of energy within the ecosystem.

Answer

Minimizes competition among various species within the ecosystem.

Question 51

Which human activity has the minimal direct impact on biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Composting biodegradable waste.

Answer

Excessive harvesting of fish from ocean ecosystems.

Answer

Intentional or accidental introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem.

Answer

Clearing forests for agricultural purposes.

Question 52

The process by which specific gases in the Earth's atmosphere absorb and trap heat is termed as:

Accepted Answer

Greenhouse effect.

Answer

Cellular respiration.

Answer

Ozone depletion.

Answer

Photosynthesis.

Question 53

In a meadow ecosystem, the rabbit population declined due to decreased rainfall. What's the limiting factor in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

Availability of water.

Answer

Outbreak of infectious diseases.

Answer

Competition with other herbivore species.

Answer

Population of predators.

Question 54

In most ecosystems, the primary source of energy is:

Accepted Answer

Sunlight.

Answer

Energy released from nuclear reactions.

Answer

Heat from the Earth's core.

Answer

Fossil fuels.

Question 55

Which biome is known for its frigid temperatures, frozen soil, and brief growing seasons?

Accepted Answer

Tundra.

Answer

Savanna.

Answer

Desert.

Answer

Tropical rainforest.

Question 56

The symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed is:

Accepted Answer

Parasitism.

Answer

Mutualism.

Answer

Commensalism.

Answer

Competition.

Question 57

The gradual process by which an ecosystem recovers from disturbances is known as:

Accepted Answer

Ecological succession.

Answer

Natural selection.

Answer

Adaptive radiation.

Answer

Genetic drift.

Question 58

Which of the following is considered a biotic factor within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The presence of decomposers.

Answer

Temperature variations.

Answer

Availability of water.

Answer

Amount of sunlight.