Ecosystems: Explore the Interconnectedness of Living Things

Question 1

Which of these is NOT a natural part of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Things that humans do (building, pollution, farming)

Answer

Living things (plants, animals, and tiny living things)

Answer

Things that are not alive (temperature, water, sunlight, and soil)

Question 2

How do producers contribute to the flow of energy in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Producers use sunlight to create food, storing energy within it.

Answer

Producers absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, providing energy for other organisms.

Answer

Producers decompose organic matter, releasing energy for consumers.

Answer

Producers consume other organisms, passing energy up the food chain.

Question 3

Ecological pyramids illustrate trophic levels and energy flow in ecosystems. Which statement best describes the pyramid of biomass?

Accepted Answer

It shows the decreasing amount of living matter (biomass) at each trophic level.

Answer

It shows the increasing number of organisms at each trophic level.

Answer

It shows the increasing amount of energy available at each trophic level.

Answer

It shows the decreasing diversity of organisms at each trophic level.

Question 4

How does rapid human population growth impact ecosystems and our planet?

Accepted Answer

It can lead to habitat loss as land is cleared for development.

Answer

It has minimal impact because it happens gradually.

Answer

It makes resources more accessible due to increased production and distribution.

Answer

It has no significant impact on ecosystems.

Question 5

Why are protected areas essential for preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem health? Explain their role in safeguarding species and ensuring the well-being of ecosystems.

Accepted Answer

Protected areas protect species by providing safe habitats free from harmful human activities.

Accepted Answer

Protected areas contribute to ecosystem health by preserving natural processes and reducing pollution.

Answer

Protected areas are not necessary for biodiversity conservation because species can naturally adapt to environmental changes.

Question 6

How do decomposers help recycle nutrients in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Decomposers break down dead plants and animals, releasing nutrients back into the soil.

Answer

Decomposers eat living organisms and turn them into energy.

Answer

Decomposers make oxygen, which all living things need.

Question 7

Invasive species can disrupt native ecosystems. Explain how non-native species impact the environment, including their effects on different species, food chains, and the ecosystem's overall balance.

Accepted Answer

Invasive species often outcompete native species for resources, leading to a decline in biodiversity and disruption of food chains.

Accepted Answer

Invasive species can introduce new diseases or parasites, harming native species.

Accepted Answer

Invasive species may have no predators in their new environment, allowing them to rapidly increase in population and alter the ecosystem's balance.

Answer

Invasive species often improve the overall stability of the ecosystem by introducing new genetic diversity.

Question 8

Invasive species can disrupt ecosystems. What is a possible impact of invasive species on native ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Displacement of native species

Answer

Increased biodiversity

Answer

Improved soil quality

Answer

Enhanced water filtration

Question 9

How can natural disturbances, like fires or hurricanes, help improve the health and variety of living things in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Natural disturbances can get rid of weak or sick organisms, giving healthier ones a chance to grow and thrive.

Answer

Natural disturbances always cause a drop in the number of different species in an ecosystem.

Answer

Natural disturbances don't have much of an effect on how energy moves through an ecosystem.

Question 10

When managing ecosystems, which ethical principle should guide our decisions to balance human needs with preserving their health and diversity?

Accepted Answer

Considering the long-term consequences of human actions on the ecosystem

Answer

Prioritizing economic benefits over environmental protection

Answer

Protecting endangered species at the expense of others

Answer

Ignoring the well-being of non-human species

Question 11

How does the flow of energy differ between different ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

It varies based on the types of producers and consumers found in each ecosystem.

Answer

It remains constant across all ecosystems, regardless of the organisms present.

Answer

It is solely determined by the size of the ecosystem.

Answer

It is unaffected by the climate conditions of the ecosystem.

Question 12

How do changes in one ecosystem affect other ecosystems and the overall health of the biosphere?

Accepted Answer

Changes in one ecosystem can have a ripple effect on other ecosystems, potentially affecting the overall health of the biosphere.

Answer

Changes in one ecosystem have no impact on other ecosystems or the biosphere.

Answer

Changes in one ecosystem can affect nearby ecosystems but have no impact on ecosystems in distant regions.

Answer

Changes in one ecosystem are always beneficial to other ecosystems and the biosphere.

Question 13

How does the location of a population within an ecosystem impact its carrying capacity?

Accepted Answer

The location of the population can influence the carrying capacity.

Answer

The location of the population has no effect on the carrying capacity.

Answer

The carrying capacity is only determined by the size of the population.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT part of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Machines

Answer

Plants

Answer

Animals

Answer

Water

Question 15

What do we call the transfer of energy through an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Energy flow

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Food web

Answer

Nutrient cycle

Question 16

Which organism in a food chain makes its own food?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Rabbit

Answer

Fox

Answer

Bacteria

Question 17

What is the relationship between a hawk and a mouse?

Accepted Answer

Predator-prey

Answer

Parasite-host

Answer

Mutualist

Answer

Commensal

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of maintaining healthy ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Less oxygen production

Answer

Cleaner air and water

Answer

Improved soil quality

Answer

Increased biodiversity

Question 19

What do we call a group of organisms of the same species living together in the same area?

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biome

Question 20

What is the process by which organisms become better suited to their environment over time?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Evolution

Answer

Mutation

Answer

Genetic drift

Question 21

In a food chain, who makes their own food from sunlight?

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Predators

Question 22

Which of these is NOT a type of consumer?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Herbivore

Answer

Carnivore

Answer

Omnivore

Question 23

Which ecosystem has tall trees and lots of different plants?

Accepted Answer

Forest

Answer

Grassland

Answer

Desert

Answer

Tundra

Question 24

When living things break down and put their nutrients back in the ground, this process is called:

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Transpiration

Question 25

When a top predator is taken out of a food web, what happens?

Accepted Answer

There will be more prey animals

Answer

There will be less food for producers

Answer

The food web will become more balanced

Answer

Nothing will change

Question 26

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

Accepted Answer

Man-made structures

Answer

Living organisms

Answer

Non-living factors

Answer

Interactions between organisms and their environment

Question 27

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

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Fossil fuels

Answer

Wind

Answer

Nuclear reactions

Question 28

Which of the following is an organism that produces its own food?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Snake

Answer

Owl

Answer

Mushroom

Question 29

What is the function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead organisms

Answer

To create food

Answer

To offer protection

Answer

To regulate temperature

Question 30

Which of the following represents a cooperative relationship between species?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 31

What is the term used to describe the interconnected web of food chains within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food cycle

Answer

Ecological pyramid

Answer

Trophic levels

Question 32

What is the primary source of energy for life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Wind

Answer

Water

Answer

Soil

Question 33

Within an ecosystem, what is the term for multiple interconnected food chains?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Population

Question 34

In an ecosystem, which organisms produce their own food?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Deer

Answer

Wolf

Answer

Bacteria

Question 35

How does energy typically flow through an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

From producers to consumers

Answer

From consumers to producers

Answer

In a circular pattern

Answer

Randomly

Question 36

What is the process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to create food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Combustion

Question 37

How do decomposers contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

By breaking down dead organisms and returning nutrients to the soil

Answer

By absorbing nutrients from the soil

Answer

By producing food for other organisms

Answer

By cleaning the water

Question 38

What is the term for the specific set of environmental conditions that an organism needs to survive?

Accepted Answer

Niche

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Adaptation

Answer

Ecosystem

Question 39

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

Accepted Answer

Artificial substances

Answer

Living organisms

Answer

Non-living factors

Answer

Energy flow

Question 40

In a food chain, which organism consumes plants and is eaten by other animals?

Accepted Answer

Primary consumer (herbivore)

Answer

Producer

Answer

Secondary consumer (carnivore)

Answer

Tertiary consumer (omnivore)

Question 41

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

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Wind

Answer

Water

Answer

Coal

Question 42

Which human activity can disrupt an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Deforestation

Answer

Planting trees

Answer

Reducing pollution

Answer

Protecting endangered species

Question 43

What is the name for the complex network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Energy pyramid

Answer

Ecosystem map

Question 44

Which of the following organisms makes its own food using sunlight?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Deer

Answer

Hawk

Answer

Snake

Question 45

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

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Digestion

Answer

Evaporation

Question 46

What type of diagram shows the relative number of organisms at each level of a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Trophic pyramid

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Food web

Answer

Energy flow diagram

Question 47

Design an ecosystem that can thrive in a desert environment. Choose the best producers, consumers, and decomposers for your ecosystem and explain your choices.

Accepted Answer

Producers: Cacti and succulents; Consumers: Insects and reptiles; Decomposers: Bacteria and fungi

Answer

Producers: Trees and shrubs; Consumers: Birds and mammals; Decomposers: Earthworms and snails

Answer

Producers: Algae and mosses; Consumers: Fish and amphibians; Decomposers: Protozoa and bacteria

Question 48

Sustainability means meeting our current needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own. How can we achieve this balance?

Accepted Answer

Meet our current needs while also investing in renewable energy and conservation measures.

Answer

Use all the natural resources we can, even if it means there won't be any left for future generations.

Question 49

When making decisions about managing an ecosystem, what is an important ethical concern?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the diversity of plant and animal species

Answer

Focusing only on economic gains

Answer

Ignoring the impact on future generations

Answer

Prioritizing one species over the needs of others

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of healthy ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Using up all of our natural resources

Answer

Cleaning the air and water we breathe

Answer

Providing homes and food for animals

Answer

Helping to balance the Earth's climate

Question 51

How do citizen science and technology work together to help monitor and protect ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Citizen science allows people to collect data and get involved in real time.

Accepted Answer

Technology helps scientists analyze data and create models of ecosystems.

Answer

Citizen science data is not reliable and cannot be used in scientific research.

Answer

Only professional scientists should monitor ecosystems.

Question 52

How does a growing human population impact the sustainability of ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Reduces resources, weakens ecosystem services, and lowers sustainability

Answer

Increases resource availability

Answer

Enhances ecosystem services

Answer

Promotes environmental sustainability

Question 53

The flow of energy through an ecosystem is always:

Accepted Answer

One-directional

Answer

Two-directional

Answer

Circular

Answer

Random

Question 54

Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predator-prey

Answer

Competition

Answer

Commensalism

Question 55

What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down organic matter

Answer

Produce food for other organisms

Answer

Provide shelter for animals

Answer

Regulate temperature

Question 56

Which of the following is a renewable resource?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Fossil fuels

Answer

Minerals

Answer

Freshwater

Question 57

How does biodiversity contribute to ecosystem stability?

Accepted Answer

High biodiversity leads to high stability

Answer

Low biodiversity leads to high stability

Answer

There is no relationship

Answer

Low biodiversity leads to low stability

Question 58

What is the primary source of energy that supports life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Wind

Answer

Water

Answer

Fossil fuels

Question 59

In a food chain, which organism consumes producers?

Accepted Answer

Primary consumer

Answer

Secondary consumer

Answer

Tertiary consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Question 60

Which of the following relationships describes an interaction where both species benefit?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 61

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil

Answer

Produce food for other organisms

Answer

Hunt and kill other organisms

Answer

Photosynthesize to create energy

Question 62

In ecological succession, what is the correct order of stages?

Accepted Answer

Pioneer species, intermediate species, climax community

Answer

Climax community, pioneer species, intermediate species

Answer

Intermediate species, pioneer species, climax community

Question 63

In an ecosystem, how does energy flow from one organism to another?

Accepted Answer

Producer → Consumer → Decomposer

Answer

Decomposer → Producer → Consumer

Answer

Consumer → Producer → Decomposer

Answer

Decomposer → Consumer → Producer

Question 64

How can people help ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Planting trees

Accepted Answer

Reducing energy use

Accepted Answer

Driving less

Answer

Littering