Competition in Ecosystems Generation Genius

Which of the following is NOT a resource that animals compete for in ecosystems?

• Air

• Food

• Shelter

• Internet

Answer explanation

Animals compete for essential resources like air, food, and shelter to survive. However, the internet is a human-made resource and not something animals compete for in ecosystems.

How does competition for resources affect animals and plants in an ecosystem?

• Animals compete for food; plants compete for sunlight and water.

• Animals and plants do not compete for resources.

• Only animals are affected by resource competition.

• Competition occurs only between different animal species.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that animals compete for food, while plants compete for sunlight and water, illustrating how both groups are affected by resource competition in an ecosystem.

Genetic factors include traits that are _______ from parents.

Answer explanation

Genetic factors refer to traits that are inherited from parents. This means that these traits are passed down through generations, making 'inherited' the correct choice to fill in the blank.

What do the arrows in a food web show?

• The direction of wind

• Where energy and matter are transferred

• The number of organisms

• The amount of sunlight

Answer explanation

The arrows in a food web indicate where energy and matter are transferred from one organism to another, showing the flow of energy through the ecosystem.

Fill in the blank: __________ is the relationship between organisms that strive for the same resources.

Answer explanation

Competition is the relationship between organisms that strive for the same resources in the same ecosystem. It occurs when multiple species or individuals seek limited resources, leading to a struggle for survival.

Fill in the blank: __________ are substances or objects in the environment required by an organism for normal growth.

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Resources' because it refers to substances or objects in the environment that organisms need for normal growth, such as water, nutrients, and light.

Food webs explain ecosystem interactions by:

• showing energy flow and relationships between organisms

• describing weather patterns

• listing all species

• measuring ecosystem size

Answer explanation

Food webs illustrate how energy flows through an ecosystem and depict the relationships between different organisms, making the first choice the correct answer. The other options do not accurately represent the purpose of food webs.

An environmental factor might affect an ecosystem by:

• Changing the population of certain species

• Having no impact on any organisms

• Making all species extinct instantly

• Preventing any changes in the ecosystem

Answer explanation

An environmental factor can influence an ecosystem by changing the population of certain species, which can lead to shifts in the ecosystem's balance. The other options either imply no change or extreme scenarios that are unlikely.

How do genetic factors aid population survival?

• By increasing genetic diversity for adaptation.

• By causing harmful mutations.

• By making all individuals identical.

• By preventing changes over time.

Answer explanation

Genetic diversity is crucial for a population's survival as it enhances adaptability to environmental changes, allowing for better resilience and evolution over time.

An invasive species could change an ecosystem by:

• increasing biodiversity

• disrupting food chains

• improving native species' survival

• having no effect

Answer explanation

An invasive species can disrupt food chains by outcompeting native species for resources, leading to declines in native populations and altering predator-prey relationships, which ultimately affects the entire ecosystem.