Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems - Test Test Answers

Which explanation is best supported by the numbers in the chart?

Which statement describes the relationship between plants, animals, and the carbon cycle?

The burrowing owl is found in dry, open areas such as grasslands, prairies, savannas, deserts, farmlands, golf courses, and urban areas throughout most of western United States and Florida, Central America, and most of South America. It makes its home in burrows of other animals and primarily eats insects and small rodents. As humans build more cities, nearby burrowing owl habitats change due to destruction of burrows and loss of prey. Which is the least likely outcome of the habitat changes that are described?

How would an increase in nest sites affect a population of pigeons?

A trout population grew from 4 in 1992 to 16 in 1993 and then to 64 in 1994. If it continued to grow exponentially, approximately how many trout were there in 1995?

Which determines carrying capacity?

Which of these is an autotroph?

A mountain lion population recently experienced a drop in population size. Which of the following would best describe the limiting factor that is involved?

Termites are insects that live in colonies. In a colony, the king and a queen are responsible for reproduction. Workers spend most of their time caring for the other termites and building the nest. Soldiers protect the nest from attacks. The organization of the termite colony is an example of which benefit of social behavior?

Interactions between organisms and their environment impact the organism’s overall population. The jaguar Panthera onca is the largest cat in North America. It is found in areas across the Southwest, including Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It is a carnivore that has powerful jaws and sharp teeth and preys on fish, turtles, and many smaller mammals. Which shows the relationship between the jaguar and turtles?

White perch is a fish that is native to Atlantic coastal regions and is invasive to the Great Lakes. It feeds on native species and is thought to be the cause of the decline of the Great Lakes walleye fish populations. What was most likely its mode of introduction?

Ground squirrels are found in many areas of the United States. They live in underground burrows and are often attacked by birds of prey, coyotes, and bobcats. Which of the following is a limiting factor for a ground squirrel population?

Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration are part of the carbon cycle. Which statement best compares these two processes?

Wolves are predators of deer. What is most likely to happen to the deer population if the wolf population increased?

The Serengeti plains are part of the African savanna ecosystem and are home to a variety of different species of plants and animals. The Serengeti plains experience a seven-month period of seasonal drought each year, during which the ecosystem receives only four inches of rain and the availability of some resources becomes very scarce. Which type of limiting factors does the seasonal drought in the Serengeti plains affect?

Which best describes how an organism’s niche is determined?

Which statement describes both a positive impact and a negative impact associated with the effects of nitrogen-enhanced fertilizers?

If the herbivore population in an ecosystem increased, what would most likely happen to the size of the carnivore population?

Which statement best compares consumers and decomposers?

Some species form social groups only with members of the same gender. For example, elephants form groups with only females and their offspring. Once the male offspring reach a certain age, they leave the group and become solitary. Which is a benefit of this type of social group structure?

A group of sheep run in random directions to confuse a single predator. This is an example of which social behavior?

Which type of social behavior is shown in the image?

Which of these facts about wild boars is best supported by the evidence provided?

Which would have to happen to keep the population growth of cheetahs in 2013 the same the previous years?

Which best describes what is occurring in this population of squirrels?