Ecology Experts Science Olympiad

Which of these would most likely be a keystone species?

• Sea Otter
• Sea Urchin
• Kelp
• Horseshoe Crabs

Which of these would NOT be true of a specialist species?

• They are more likely to go extinct during changes to an ecosystem. 
• They have a very narrow niche.
• They often lose in competition for resources to generalists. 
• They often feed on a very specific diet. 

People in industrialized countries are more likely to eat this in their diet in comparison with people in developing countries.

• Wheat
• Rice
• Beans
• Beef

Of the following, which occupies the lowest trophic level?

• Spider
• Bat
• Rabbit
• Tiger

Introduced or invasive species are often difficult because:

• They contribute to habitat fragmentation
• They do not adapt well to new environments
• They increase biodiversity
• They often lack natural predators

A bird nests in a tree.  The tree does not gain any benefit and is not harmed.  What relationship best describes this:

• commensalism
• parasitism
• mutualism
• mimicry

Which of the following is a nonrenewable resource?

• wind
• water
• solar
• fossil fuels

Humans impose the largest negative impact on the carbon cycle by ________________

• cultivating crops
• burning fossil fuels
• harnessing solar power
• mining

Which of the following would have the largest biomass in any given terrestrial ecosystem?

• autotrophs
• secondary consumers
• primary consumers
• tertiary consumers

If you wanted to predict which biome you would find in an area, what two things would you would need to know about that area?

• the annual soil nutrient levels and relative humidity
• the annual levels of light and length of day
• its annual rainfall and temperature
• the annual daytime high and nighttime low temperatures