Population and Ecosystem Investigation

If krill is a primary food source for a local population of whales, which will most likely happen to the whales if the krill population suddenly doubles?

• The whales will have to compete more with each other for available food.

• The whales will have to find another food source or risk starvation.

• The whales will migrate to another area.

• The whales will increase in number.

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

“Lions are predators to antelopes in many African ecosystems.” Which is best being described?

• a population shift

• an abiotic factor

• the lion’s niche

• a biotic factor

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Mangrove trees are affected by several factors. Which is an abiotic factor contributing to the energy cycle of a mangrove ecosystem?

• bacteria

• climate

• fungi

• fish

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NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Which factor best explains why energy decreases as you move up the energy pyramid?

• Some of the energy is converted to heat.

• The survival rate of organisms gradually decreases.

• The availability of space decreases as feeding levels increase.

• Toxic chemicals get concentrated as they move up the food web.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

The white-tailed deer found in North Carolina are herbivores. What will most likely happen to the deer if there is a drought and most of the plant life dies?

• Deer population will not change

• Deer population will increase due to a lack of food.

• Deer population will decrease due to a lack of food.

• Deer population will decrease due to lack of sun.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

When would the availability of water be a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

• when a population is small

• when a population is decreasing

• when a population contains many predators

• when a population is becoming too large

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which is an abiotic factor that most limits the number of frogs living in a pond?

• the color of the water

• the number of predators

• the temperature of the water

• the populations of producers

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

An organism sometimes lives on its host, benefiting itself while the host is harmed. Which term best describes this relationship?

• parasitism

• mutualism

• competition

• coexistence

Which term best describes two predators living in the same habitat who feed on the same prey?

• coexistence

• competition

• mutualism

• parasitism

In the ocean, a sea anemone attaches itself to the shell of a hermit crab. The stinging arms of the sea anemone protect the hermit crab, while the movement of the hermit crab brings food to the sea anemone. Which best describes the relationship between the sea anemone and the hermit crab?

• commensalism

• mutualism

• parasitism

• symbiosis

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-3