Ecology Quizzes: Test Your Knowledge of Ecosystems and Living Things

Question 1

In a food web, the organisms that produce their own food using sunlight are called:

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Detritivores

Question 2

Which of the following is the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Chemosynthesis

Answer

Fermentation

Question 3

What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the environment

Answer

To consume primary producers

Answer

To produce food for consumers

Answer

To regulate the population of other organisms

Question 4

What is the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

The maximum population size that can be sustained by the ecosystem over a long period of time

Answer

The number of organisms that are present in the ecosystem at any given time

Answer

The rate at which the population of an organism is increasing

Answer

The amount of food available for the organisms in the ecosystem

Question 5

In a food web, the role of producers is to:

Accepted Answer

Create their own food through photosynthesis

Answer

Consume other organisms

Answer

Decompose organic matter

Answer

Control the populations of other organisms

Question 6

Decomposition, a vital process in nutrient recycling, involves:

Accepted Answer

Breaking down organic matter

Answer

Creating food through sunlight

Answer

Releasing oxygen into the environment

Answer

Consuming other organisms

Question 7

A mutually beneficial relationship between two organisms is called:

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 8

The primary purpose of a food chain is to:

Accepted Answer

Transfer energy across different levels

Answer

Sustain a stable population of organisms

Answer

Regulate the climate

Answer

Provide shelter for animals

Question 9

Which of these is a renewable resource?

Accepted Answer

Solar energy

Answer

Fossil fuels

Answer

Natural gas

Answer

Coal

Question 10

The region where two ecosystems overlap is known as the:

Accepted Answer

Ecotone

Answer

Biome

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Biosphere

Question 11

Which of the following is a living part of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plants

Answer

Temperature

Answer

Sunlight

Question 12

Which diagram best illustrates the feeding connections between animals and plants in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Nutrient cycle

Answer

Energy pyramid

Question 13

Which of the following organisms helps to break down dead plants and animals?

Accepted Answer

Mushrooms

Answer

Trees

Answer

Birds

Answer

Fish

Question 14

What term describes the number and variety of species found in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity

Answer

Ecosystem diversity

Answer

Species richness

Answer

Ecological balance

Question 15

What is the term for the process by which nutrients are used and then returned to the environment?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient cycle

Answer

Food chain

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Photosynthesis

Question 16

What action can harm ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Destroying habitats

Answer

Reducing pollution

Answer

Conserving water

Question 17

What is an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

A community of organisms and their environment

Answer

A group of organisms that share the same habitat

Answer

A food chain that includes all organisms in an area

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The physical features of an area

Question 18

Which organism in a food web produces its own food?

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Lion

Answer

Snake

Answer

Bacteria

Question 19

Which type of relationship describes two organisms living together closely for mutual benefit?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 20

Which animal plays a vital role in shaping the Everglades ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Alligator

Answer

Panther

Answer

Dolphin

Answer

Eagle

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a crucial element of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Human-made structures

Answer

Living organisms

Answer

Non-living environment

Answer

Climatic conditions

Question 22

In a food chain, what is the function of a decomposer?

Accepted Answer

Consumes and breaks down dead organisms

Answer

Synthesizes food from sunlight

Answer

Preys on other organisms

Answer

Provides shelter and nesting sites

Question 23

What is the process by which plants utilize sunlight to create food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Predation

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between species?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Answer

Predation

Question 25

What is the primary purpose of a food web?

Accepted Answer

To show the flow of energy and nutrients through an ecosystem

Answer

To regulate population growth

Answer

To provide habitat for organisms

Answer

To maintain environmental balance

Question 26

What field of science focuses on studying the interactions between living organisms and their environment?

Accepted Answer

Ecology

Answer

Zoology

Answer

Botany

Answer

Geology

Question 27

In an ecosystem, how do the different levels depend on each other?

Accepted Answer

Producers create food for consumers.

Accepted Answer

Consumers rely on producers for food.

Accepted Answer

Decomposers return nutrients to the ecosystem.

Answer

Producers and consumers compete for resources.

Question 28

In a food web, which type of organism is primarily responsible for converting sunlight into energy that can be used by other organisms?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Answer

Predator

Question 29

Which of the following is a primary function of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down organic matter

Answer

Creating new soil

Answer

Producing oxygen

Answer

Controlling populations of organisms

Question 30

A group of organisms of the same species that live together in an area is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Habitat

Question 31

Which life process allows plants to use sunlight to produce their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Excretion

Answer

Digestion

Question 32

Which type of symbiotic relationship involves two organisms living together, with one benefiting and the other neither benefiting nor being harmed?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 33

In a food chain, the organism that occupies the highest trophic level is called the:

Accepted Answer

Apex predator

Answer

Producer

Answer

Consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Question 34

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

Accepted Answer

Magic spells

Answer

Living organisms

Answer

Non-living environment

Answer

Interactions between organisms

Question 35

In a food chain, which organism is typically at the top?

Accepted Answer

Apex predators

Answer

Producers

Answer

Consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a healthy ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Unbalanced nutrient cycling

Answer

High biodiversity

Answer

Stable population sizes

Answer

Balanced nutrient cycling

Question 37

Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship?

Accepted Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Predation

Answer

Competition

Answer

Parasitism

Question 38

In an ecosystem, what are the three main roles that living things play?

Accepted Answer

Producers, consumers, and decomposers

Answer

Predators, prey, and parasites

Answer

Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores

Answer

Symbionts, mutualists, and commensals

Question 39

A deer population experiences a sudden increase in numbers. Which of the following factors could have caused this rapid growth?

Accepted Answer

Fewer predators

Answer

More habitat loss

Answer

Less food available

Answer

Disease outbreak

Question 40

In ecological succession, which stage is characterized by the establishment of pioneer species that thrive in harsh conditions and colonize new or disturbed areas?

Accepted Answer

Pioneer stage

Answer

Climax stage

Answer

Transitional stage

Question 41

Which of the following is not considered a living component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Building

Answer

Plants

Answer

Animals

Answer

Microorganisms

Question 42

In a food web, which organism typically occupies the highest trophic level and consumes other animals?

Accepted Answer

Carnivore

Answer

Producer

Answer

Detritivore

Answer

Herbivore

Question 43

Which of the following factors can affect the population size of a species in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Availability of food and shelter

Answer

Shape of their ears

Answer

Color of their fur

Answer

Number of days in a week

Question 44

How does deforestation impact the environment?

Accepted Answer

Reduces the absorption of carbon dioxide

Answer

Enhances photosynthesis

Answer

Increases oxygen production

Answer

Has no effect

Question 45

Which type of interaction between organisms involves one organism benefiting while the other is not significantly affected?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Amensalism

Question 46

What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients

Answer

Produce oxygen

Answer

Consume primary producers

Question 47

Which of the following is a measure to protect and conserve biodiversity?

Accepted Answer

Protecting habitats

Answer

Overharvesting natural resources

Answer

Polluting the environment

Answer

Introducing non-native species

Question 48

What is the term used to describe the process by which organisms adapt to their environment over time?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Genetic drift

Answer

Artificial selection

Answer

Mutation

Question 49

Which of the following is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

High biodiversity

Answer

Dominance of one species

Answer

Low species competition

Answer

Frequent disturbances

Question 50

How do human activities like burning fossil fuels contribute to changes in the environment?

Accepted Answer

Release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere

Answer

Alter precipitation patterns

Answer

Reduce solar radiation

Answer

Cause earthquakes