Ecology and the Environment

Which statement describes the flow of matter and energy in decomposers?

• A decomposer digests living organisms to produce energy, water, and carbon dioxide.

• A decomposer uses carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sun to produce oxygen and sugars.

• A decomposer consumes dead or dying organisms to produce oxygen and sugars.

• A decomposer breaks down decaying matter to produce energy and release nutrients back into the environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of these are the materials needed in order for this organelle to perform the process of photosynthesis?

• sunlight + water + oxygen

• sugar + sunlight + oxygen

• light energy + water + carbon dioxide

• chemical energy + sugar + water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Photosynthetic algae live within the tissues of the organisms that build coral reefs. The coral organisms provide the algae with carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The algae supply the corals with oxygen, sugar, and amino acids. Which statement best summarizes the sources of energy in the relationship between algae and coral?

• Algae get their energy from sunlight and pass the energy to corals in the form of carbon dioxide.

• Algae capture chemical energy from the sun, and corals use the energy from the sun to form sugar molecules.

• Algae use energy from the sun and store it in chemical bonds in sugar. Corals use energy stored in the bonds of sugar molecules.

• Algae use chemical energy stored in the bonds of sugar molecules to produce solar energy. Corals use solar energy to power cellular processes.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which organism would complete the diagram?

• Tree

• Worm

• Eagle

• Mushroom

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Decomposers cycle matter and energy between which of these?

• water and soil

• producers and consumers

• dead organisms and scavengers

• remains of living things and the environment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Aphids are tiny bugs that most people consider garden pests. They feed on plants and can damage them. Ladybugs are predators of aphids. Which graph best displays the general relationship between ladybug and aphid populations in a garden?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Scientists are studying how the average temperature affects how roots of grasses in grassland ecosystems grow. The amount of plant roots found in the soil is called root matter. The graph shows the amount of root matter that can be found in soil depending on the average annual temperature.

Based on the graph, what prediction could scientists make about the populations of grass in this grassland ecosystem?

• In years with high temperatures, grass populations will increase.

• As the average annual temperatures increase, grass populations increase.

• During years with high average temperatures, all grasses in the ecosystem die.

• If average annual temperatures increase, over time grass populations will probably decrease.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Drought is a weather condition that may limit the amount of water resources available to an ecosystem. Which of the following may be one result of drought?

• Fish populations may decline due to lower river levels.

• Birds may not build nests due to temperature change.

• Flowering plants may produce more seeds due to lack of water.

• Predator populations may increase due to increased prey populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

According to the food webs, which two organisms do not exhibit a competitive relationship over resources?

• bison and elk

• eagle and black bear

• elk and beaver

• beaver and bison

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Remoras ride along on sharks and eat scraps from shark meals; the sharks neither benefit nor are they harmed. What is this an example of?

• mutualism

• commensalism

• parasitism