Skip to main content
Back

Introduction to Ecology quiz #4

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/40
  • What level of ecology is concerned with the adaptations of individuals?
    Organismal ecology
  • Which type of process first occurred in the ecosystem around Mount St. Helens after it erupted?
    Primary succession
  • What determines the carrying capacity of an environment?
    The availability of resources such as food, water, and space determines the carrying capacity.
  • When does secondary succession occur?
    Secondary succession occurs after a disturbance in an area where soil is already present.
  • How do birds benefit from spreading the seeds of berries?
    Birds benefit by obtaining food from the berries, while the plants benefit from seed dispersal.
  • Which is an example of secondary succession?
    A forest regrowing after a fire.
  • Succession will cease in an ecosystem when what occurs?
    Succession ceases when a stable climax community is established.
  • Which two levels of ecological organization include members of only a single species?
    Organismal and population levels.
  • What is an ecological pyramid?
    An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation showing the distribution of energy or biomass among trophic levels.
  • What is the role of a decomposer in an ecosystem?
    Decomposers break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
  • Which two of the following organisms are secondary consumers in this food web? A) Lion B) Rabbit C) Eagle D) Grasshopper
    A) Lion and C) Eagle
  • What role do lichens and mosses play in succession?
    Lichens and mosses are pioneer species that help create soil in barren environments, facilitating further succession.
  • What is ecological succession?
    The gradual replacement of one community by another
  • Which level of ecological organization includes both biotic and abiotic factors?
    Ecosystem
  • This kind of succession occurs where no life has existed before?
    Primary succession
  • Which best describes secondary succession?
    Secondary succession is the process of ecological recovery in an area where soil remains after a disturbance.
  • Which organism is often a pioneer species?
    Lichen
  • When succession happens in a place with no life or soil, what is it called?
    Primary succession
  • What role do decomposers play in an ecosystem?
    Decomposers break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
  • Which type of organism can obtain energy directly from any of the other organisms in an ecosystem?
    Decomposers
  • What role do decomposers play in a food web?
    Decomposers recycle nutrients by breaking down dead organisms and waste products.
  • What is not a cause of habitat loss?
    Natural disasters
  • What is the difference between habitat and niche?
    A habitat is the physical environment where an organism lives, while a niche is the role the organism plays in that environment.
  • What are some threats that could affect an ecosystem and its biodiversity?
    Threats include habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and invasive species.
  • What do decomposers eat?
    Decomposers consume dead organic material and waste products.
  • What is the difference between a food web and a food chain?
    A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains, while a food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another.
  • What are the three primary ecosystem types?
    The three primary ecosystem types are terrestrial, freshwater, and marine.
  • Which is an example of a pioneer species?
    Lichens are an example of a pioneer species.
  • What kind of ecosystem are exotic species especially threatening to?
    Exotic species are especially threatening to island ecosystems.
  • What type of disaster typically results in primary succession?
    Volcanic eruption
  • What is an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem?
    Bacteria
  • How do the roles of detritivores and decomposers differ in an ecosystem?
    Detritivores consume dead organic matter, while decomposers break it down chemically, recycling nutrients.
  • What is an adaptation for organisms living in the upper intertidal zone?
    Adaptations include the ability to withstand desiccation and temperature fluctuations.
  • What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
    Primary succession occurs on bare rock, secondary on soil
  • What is an example of a decomposer?
    Mushroom
  • Rain forest organisms do not usually have to compete for which resource? A) Light B) Water C) Nutrients D) Space
    B) Water
  • What is an example of primary succession?
    A new island forming from volcanic activity
  • What is the function of a pioneer species?
    Pioneer species initiate ecological succession by colonizing barren environments and modifying them to support subsequent communities.
  • What is the total number of organisms in an ecosystem called?
    Population size
  • What factor would increase the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
    Increase in available resources