Exploring Ecosystems

Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?

• The climate and weather patterns of a region.
• A group of animals that interact with each other.
• All the living and nonliving things in an area.
• A collection of only living organisms in an area.

What role do abiotic factors play in an ecosystem?

• They are the nonliving parts that influence the ecosystem.
• They are the consumers that rely on producers.
• They are the organisms that produce energy.
• They are the living components that interact with each other.

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Why is water essential for all living organisms?

• Their bodies are composed of a significant percentage of water.
• It is a primary source of energy.
• It is the only nutrient that organisms need.
• It helps in the process of photosynthesis.

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In an ecosystem, what is the primary function of producers like plants and algae?

• To compete with consumers for resources.
• To consume other organisms for energy.
• To produce oxygen and food that animals need.
• To break down dead matter into useful substances.

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Which of the following statements about the Blackland Prairie is true?

• It consists only of nonliving components.
• It is home to many different organisms.
• It has no abiotic factors.
• It is a type of food chain.

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How can human activities impact ecosystems?

• They always improve the balance of ecosystems.
• They only affect the abiotic factors.
• They can upset the natural balance of ecosystems.
• They have no effect on ecosystems.

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How can changes in one population affect other populations in the same ecosystem?

• It has no effect on other populations.
• It can lead to an increase in biodiversity.
• It only affects the population that is directly competing.
• It can disrupt the balance and affect food availability.

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What is a food chain?

• A method of measuring biodiversity in an ecosystem.
• A diagram showing the relationships between different ecosystems.
• The path energy takes from producers to consumers to decomposers.
• A list of all organisms in a specific habitat.

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What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

• They are the primary consumers in the food chain.
• They compete with producers for sunlight.
• They break down dead organisms into simpler substances.
• They produce energy for the ecosystem.

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What adaptation did the green anole make to reduce competition?

• It learned to eat different types of food.
• It migrated to a different ecosystem.
• It found a new habitat where it did not compete for food.
• It changed its physical appearance.

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