Ecology Exam Review Practice Quiz
Q.1) Succession where glaciers melt and expose new rock is called
A.
B.
C.
primary
secondary
tertiary
In the following food chain, which organism is the secondary consumer?
Q.2)
grass ------> rabbit -------> snake ------> hawk
A.
B.
C.
D.
grass
rabbit
snake
hawk
Q.3) Which of the following cannot be recycled?
A.
B.
C.
D.
nitrogen
carbon
water
energy
Q.4) The term "nitrogen fixation" refers to
A.
B.
C.
D.
the process that turns nitrates and nitrites into nitrogen
the process where bacteria turns nitrogen into a form that plants can use (ammonia)
the process where nitrogen gas in the atmosphere is converted to nitrates
none of the above
Q.5) the release of water vapor from the leaves of trees is called
A.
B.
C.
D.
evaporation
precipitation
condensation
transpiration
Sea anemones contain a venom that is used to sting and paralyze their prey. The clownfish contains
Q.6) an enzyme in their scales that makes them immune to the venom. This allows them to freely live in
the sea anemone without being harmed. This is an example of what type of relationship?
A.
B.
C.
D.
predator-prey
mutualism
commensalism
parasitism
Q.7) Which of the following is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.8)
bird
tree
rock
deer
In the above food chain, the
snake is an example of a
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.9)
A.
B.
C.
D.
producer
primary consumer
secondary consumer
tertiary consumer
Mushrooms and other fungi are responsible for breaking down dead organic matter. In the
ecosystem, they are called
producers
consumers
decomposers
scavengers
Q.10) The amount of energy that is passed from one organism to the next in a food chain is
A.
B.
C.
D.
5%
10%
15%
20%
Q.11)
A.
B.
C.
D.
On what trophic level would you find organisms that use the sun's energy directly to make their own
food?
1
2
3
4
Q.12)
Lichen is a symbiotic decomposer that attaches itself to trees and slowly breaks them down. They
obtain nutrients from the tree, allowing them to survive and reproduce. What type of relationship is
this?
A.
B.
C.
D.
predator-prey
mutualism
parasitism
competition
Q.13)
In the terrestrial food web above, what would be the effect of a farmer introducing a rat poison in to
the ecosystem that is toxic to rats and mice?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The population of fox would decrease
The population of grasshoppers would decrease
The population of hawks would increase
The population of rabbits would decrease
Q.14) An animal that only eats the flesh of another animal is called a
A.
B.
C.
D.
producer
herbivore
carnivore
omnivore
Q.15) Which of the following statements is true about matter and energy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
matter is not recycled; energy is recycled
matter is recycled; energy is not recycled
Both matter and energy are recycled
Neither matter nor energy are recycled
Q.16) The ultimate source of energy for all organisms in life is
A.
B.
C.
D.
water
oxygen
nitrogen
the sun
Q.17) In the nitrogen cycle, the term "denitrification" refers to
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.18)
A.
B.
C.
D.
the conversion of ammonia into nitrogen
the conversion of nitrogen into ammonia
the conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas
the conversion of nitrogen gas into nitrates
Which of the following is considered the main source of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
leading to the destruction of the ozone layer?
Carbon gas released into the atmosphere from factories and cars
carbon dioxide being released from animals during the process of cellular respiration
carbon gas released into the soil through the process of decomposition
carbon dioxide released into the oceans during deposition and decomposition
Q.19) All of the following are ways that we can protect the biosphere except
A.
B.
C.
D.
recycling
protecting waterways from the dumping of illegal chemicals
burning fossil fuels
decreasing the process of deforestation
Q.20) The ecological role of an organism within an ecosystem is called its
A.
B.
C.
D.
food web
niche
habitat
biomass
Q.21) When the ground has absorbed the maximum amount of precipitation that it can hold, this occurs
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.22)
seepage
evaporation
condensation
runoff
The above image represents what type of relationship?
A.
B.
C.
D.
competition
mutualism
parasitism
predator-prey
Q.23) In which cycle would you find denitrification?
A.
B.
C.
D.
water
carbon
nitrogen
energy
Q.24) Which of the following organisms is an autotroph?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.25)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Q.26)
algae
a bear
a cheetah
a fish
An area was recently destroyed by a raging wildfire. Which of the following events would allow
secondary succession to take place?
animals that survive migrate to surrounding areas
plant life that survive begin to die out as a result of the lack of available nutrients
the dead bodies of animals that did not survive the fire return nutrients to the soil
Omnivores that survive create a decline of both the herbivore and carnivore population
Using the food web above, create a food chain. Label the producer, primary consumer, secondary
consumer and tertiary consumer. What level is directly affected by the sun? Explain the result of
removing one organism from the food web.
27
The amount of carbon in the environment
A)
B)
C)
D)
does not change
is converted to heat and lost to the abiotic environment
is called the carbon cycle
immediately converts to carbon dioxide
2
28
4
The way in which carbon is used and reused through the ecosystem is called
A)
B)
C)
D)
energy recycling
the energy pyramid
the carbon cycle
the biotic/abiotic cycle
3
29
The four main processes of the water cycle are
A)
B)
C)
D)
evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and vaporization
precipitation, condensation, transpiration, and evaporation
transpiration, evaporation, precipitation, and vaporization
condensation, vaporization, precipitation, and circulation
4
30
B)
C)
D)
precipitation
evaporation
condensation
transpiration
5
4
The process in which liquid water changes into gas is called
A)
B)
C)
D)
precipitation
evaporation
condensation
transpiration
6
32
4
The process in which water evaporates from the leaves, stems and flowers of plants is called
A)
31
4
4
The process in which water vapor changes to a liquid is called
A)
B)
C)
D)
precipitation
evaporation
condensation
transpiration
7
33
Water that moves over the surface of the ground into lakes and rivers is called
A)
B)
C)
D)
run-off
ground water
a water table
the water cycle
8
34
4
When any substance is added to the environment faster than it can be broken down, stored,
or converted to a non-harmful form, it is called
A)
B)
C)
D)
transpiration
concentration
particle suspension
pollution
9
35
4
4
Bioaccumulation is
A)
B)
C)
D)
a mixture of non-harmful pollutants
the build-up of pollutants in an organism
the process of applying DDT to crops
the number of decaying organisms in an ecosystem
10
4
36
In a food chain, the organisms most affected by bioaccumulation are
A)
B)
C)
D)
top consumers
producers
phytoplankton
parasites
37. A country that has a stable population is characterized by an age structure that is _____.
a. largest among reproductive years
b. largest among pre-reproductive years
c. about the same among all groups
d. largest among post-reproductive years
38. The effect of local population fluctuations in rapidly expanding suburbs may _____ schools,
roads, and police and fire services.
a. reduce the need for
b. none of these
c. stress
d. have no effect on
39. Which of the following problems do immigration and emigration pose for demographers?
a. Demographers must provide for more city services.
b. Demographers find it difficult to make predictions about populations.
c. Demographers study growth rates, age structures, and geographic distributions of
populations.
d. Demographers cannot identify the age structure of immigrants.
40. Organisms that employ a strategy of slow reproduction usually require an environment
that _____.
a. has 24-hour growing periods
b. has cold days
c. is stable
d. fluctuates from year to year
41
For a particular species, the carrying capacity is the maximum number of individual organisms
that _____.
a. could be supported by a given environment indefinitely
b. the species could reach in a given time period if all the offspring survive and
reproduce
c. are in their post-reproductive years
d. could be supported by any environment over a period of one year
42. A population that grows until it reaches its carrying capacity usually has the shape of an
_____.
a. M
b. S
c. I
d. J
43. Bacteria employ a(n) _____ reproductive strategy, a characteristic determined by their small
size, rapid maturation, and short life span.
a. slow
b. unusual
c. rapid
d. early
44. The effect of movement of people between counties has _____ effect on total world population.
a. a great
b. a damaging
c. no
d. little
45. The giant land tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and sequoias of California have among the
longest life spans of any organisms. This indicates that they likely employ a strategy of _____.
a. slow growth
b. early sexual maturity
c. rapid reproduction
d. all of these
46. Density-independent factors are limiting factors whose effects are _____.
a. determined by the degree of competition for resources
b. confined to the habitat of the population
c. determined by the difference between birthrate and population density
d. not influenced by population densities