3.15 Unit Assessment

Which of the following is the best definition of an ecosystem?

• An ecosystem is a large tract of land that includes many species.

• An ecosystem is made up of individuals of the same species in the same place.

• An ecosystem grows exponentially unless a factor limits it.

• An ecosystem is a community and its surrounding nonliving environment.

Refer to the following graphs to answer the question.



• Graph A

• Graph B

• Graph C

• Graph D

You are an ecologist studying the life history of a newly discovered animal. You find that it reproduces slowly and has only one offspring each time it reproduces. Which reproductive strategy does this organism use?

• endangered

• r-strategy

• carrying capacity

• K-strategy

A large geographic area dominated by specific types of plants and animals and characterized by a distinct climate is called __________.

• a biosphere

• an ecosystema biome

• a biome

• a biodiversity

Which biome covers the largest part of earth?

• forest

• marine

• grassland

• desert

Refer to the following photograph to answer the question.

Which biome is pictured here?

• tundra

• taiga

• grassland

• temperate forest

Refer to the following photograph to answer the question.

Which organisms would you expect to find in this biome?

• cedars, pine trees, and warblers

• cacti, lizards, and bats

• sedge, arctic hares, and arctic foxes

• vines, ferns, and sloths

Which types of organisms recycle the organic molecules of dead organisms at all trophic levels and return their nutrients to the environment?

• parasites

• decomposers

• carnivores

• herbivores

Which statement best describes the term biodiversity?

• the number of trophic levels in a food web

• the total number of different species in an area

• the total size of a population of a single species

• the number of communities in an ecosystem

Which statement best summarizes the water cycle?

• As water moves through an ecosystem, its energy is lost between trophic levels.

• The water on earth changes forms as it moves from one reservoir to another.

• Water in the atmosphere must be converted to another chemical before animals can use it.