Biology Ecosystems

The diagram below shows part of a food web in a salt marsh. Which organisms in the food web belong to the trophic level that provides the most available energy to the ecosystem?

• Sea urchins

• Kelp

• Sea otters

• Sharks

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which of the following statements describes one way that energy is transferred in a food web?

• Energy is cycled between producers.

• Producers store energy made by animals.

• Consumers obtain energy directly from sunlight.

• Plants provide energy to consumers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

A partial food web is shown below. Which of the following will most likely occur if the grouse population decreases?

• The red-tailed hawk population will increase.

• The butterfly population will increase.

• Competition between grizzly bears and deer will increase.

• Emigration of grizzly bears and deer will increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is NOT an example of density-dependent limiting factors?

• Disease

• Wildfires

• Predation

• Food Scarcity

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A partial food web is shown below. Which organisms in the food web are both primary and secondary consumers?

• Bluegills

• Cattails

• Coyotes

• Snakes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Before 1960, people hunted harbor seals in Washington state because they thought seals threatened the success of commercial and sport fishing. In 1960, it became against the law to hunt harbor seals. The graph below shows the harbor seal population in Washington state between 1970 and 2000.

Based on "Harbor Seals in Washington State", which change MOST LIKELY contributed to the population trend shown in the graph?

• decrease in available food

• decrease in predators

• increase in predators

• increase in available food

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

The Sonoran Desert covers portions of Arizona, California, and Northwestern Mexico.

If the desert experiences a prolonged drought where many of the plants die, which BEST predicts the effect on the carrying capacity of the ecosystem?

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will decrease because there will be less food available for many organisms.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will increase because there will be fewer organisms competing for resources.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will increase because there will be fewer organisms that require resources.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will decrease because there will be more space available for organisms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

If all the red-tailed hawks, coyotes, and rattlesnakes are removed from the ecosystem, which BEST predicts the effect on the population of desert cottontails?

• The cottontail population will experience unlimited growth without predators to control their populations.

• The cottontail population will experience rapid growth without predators but will eventually stabilize due to a lack of resources.

• The cottontail population will experience growth due to an increase in resources but will eventually stabilize due to increased competition.

• The cottontail population will experience rapid growth due to a lack of competition for resources.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

If the desert experiences a prolonged drought where many of the plants die, which BEST predicts the effect on the carrying capacity of the ecosystem?

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will increase because there will be more space available for organisms.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will increase because there will be fewer organisms that require resources.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will decrease because there will be fewer organisms competing for resources.

• The carrying capacity of the ecosystem will decrease because there will be less food available for many organisms.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

More desert cottontail rabbits move into the ecosystem. Describe how the additional rabbits will affect the carrying capacity of the ecosystem for both coyotes and wild grasses.

• The coyote population will increase and the wild grasses population will decrease

• The coyote population will decrease and the wild grasses population will increase

• The coyote population and wild grasses population will both stay the same

• The coyotes and wild grasses will both die out

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4