Ecology Quiz

What is the name for the group of living things and their surroundings that keep changing? (a)  

• Ecosystem

• Overpopulation

• Highway development

• Deforestation

Answer explanation

The correct name for the group of living things and their surroundings that keep changing is an ecosystem.

What can be both good and bad in an ecosystem?

• Food

• Changes

Answer explanation

Changes can be both good and bad in an ecosystem because they can introduce new opportunities for growth and adaptation, but also disrupt the existing balance and stability.

What happens when an ecosystem has too many living things and they have to fight for resources?

• Overpopulation

• Decrease

Answer explanation

When an ecosystem has too many living things fighting for resources, it is considered overpopulation as the population exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment.

What happens when there are too many organisms in an ecosystem?

• It reduces the number of organisms in the ecosystem

• It makes the ecosystem more diverse

Answer explanation

When there are too many organisms in an ecosystem, it leads to competition for resources, which can result in a decrease in the number of organisms as they struggle to survive.

What happens when there are too many people that it impacts the number and types of living things? (a)  

• More food and homes

• Less food and homes

• More growth in ecosystems

• Less highway development

Answer explanation

When there are too many people, it leads to a scarcity of resources like food and homes, impacting the number and types of living things negatively.

What happens to the number of living things in an area when trees are cut down?

• It provides more homes for living things

• It decreases the number of living things

Answer explanation

Cutting down trees decreases the number of living things as it destroys habitats and food sources for various organisms.

What is the impact of highway development on an ecosystem?

• It decreases the diversity of organisms

• It has no effect on the ecosystem's population

Answer explanation

Highway development can lead to habitat fragmentation, which decreases the diversity of organisms in an ecosystem by disrupting their natural habitats and migration patterns.

Based on the food web provided, what would likely happen to the population of snowshoe hares if the population of red-tailed hawks decreased?

• The snowshoe hares would move out of the ecosystem.

• The snowshoe hares population would increase due to less predation.

Answer explanation

The snowshoe hares population would increase due to less predation.

If caterpillars were no longer around, what would most likely happen in the food chain?

• The number of shrews would go down because they would lose their source of food.

• The willows and white spruces would die out because caterpillars are gone.

Answer explanation

The number of shrews would go down because they would lose their source of food.

What would happen to the ecosystem if the plants like willows and white spruces were destroyed because of a highway being built?

• The whole food chain would be upset, which could cause some animals to die out.

• The number of herbivores would go up as they move to find other plants.

Answer explanation

The whole food chain would be upset, which could cause some animals to die out.