Directions. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the best answer for each of the following questions.

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1 Directions. MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the best answer for each of the following questions. 1. Organisms that are able to manufacture organic nutrients from substances in the abiotic environment are classified as (1) heterotrophs (2) fungi (3) predators (4) autotrophs 2. A food chain is illustrated below. The arrows represented as most likely indicate (1) energy released into the environment as heat (2) oxygen produced by respiration (3) the absorption of energy that has been synthesized (4) the transport of glucose away from the organism 3. If several species of carnivores are removed from an ecosystem, the most likely effect on the ecosystem will be (1) an increase in the kinds of autotrophs (2) a decrease in the number of abiotic factors (3) a decrease in stability among populations (4) an increase in the rate of succession 4. Some people make compost piles consisting of weeds and other plant materials. When the compost has decomposed, it can be used as fertilizer. The production and use of compost is an example of (1) the introduction of natural predators (3) the deforestation of an area (2) the use of fossil fuels (4) the recycling of nutrients 5. Carbon dioxide makes up less than 1 percent of Earth s atmosphere, and oxygen makes up about 20 percent. These percentages are maintained most directly by (1) respiration and photosynthesis (3) synthesis and digestion (2) the ozone shield (4) energy recycling in ecosystems 6. Which factor would have the greatest effect on the flow of energy into an ecosystem? (1) a large decrease in the amount of sunlight available (2) a large increase in the number of carnivores (3) a small increase in the number of decomposers (4) a small decrease in the amount of minerals available 7. The soil on a farm can very quickly become depleted of the minerals essential to plants because harvesting of crops can interfere with the (1) reproductive cycles of animals (3) flow of energy (2) recycling of inorganic compounds (4) transport of groundwater

2 8. A pond ecosystem is shown in the diagram below. Not drawn to scale Which statement describes an interaction that helps maintain the dynamic equilibrium (stability) of this ecosystem? (1) The frogs make energy available to this ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis. (2) The algae directly provide food for both the rotifers and the catfish. (3) The green-backed heron provides energy for the mosquito larvae. (4) The catfish population helps control the populations of water boatman and water fleas. 9. A food web is shown below. Which organisms feed on both producers and decomposers? (1) amphipods (3) crayfish (2) catfish (4) protozoa

3 10. The diagram below represents an energy pyramid At each successive level from A to D, the amount of available energy (1) increases, only (3) increases, then decreases (2) decreases, only (4) remains the same Base your answers to questions 11 and 12 on the diagram below that represents an energy pyramid in a meadow ecosystem and on your knowledge of biology. 11. Which species would have the largest amount of available energy in this ecosystem? (1) A (2) B (3) C (4) E 12. Which two species are carnivores? (1) A and B (2) A and E (3) B and D (4) C and E 13. Which statement describes all stable ecosystems? (1) Herbivores provide energy for the autotrophs. (2) The populations of predators are dependent on the populations of their prey. (3) The number of autotrophs equals the number of heterotrophs. (4) Consumers synthesize ATP from light energy 14. Competition between two species occurs when (1) mold grows on a tree that has fallen in the forest (2) chipmunks and squirrels eat sunflower seeds in a garden (3) a crow feeds on the remains of a rabbit killed on the road (4) a lion stalks, kills, and eats an antelope

4 15. An ecosystem is represented below. The organisms represented as are found in the area shown due to which factor? (1) ph (3) light intensity (2) sediment (4) colder temperature Base your answers to questions 16 and 17 on the passage below and on your knowledge of biology. Alaska: Anchorage Birders noted a sharp increase in European starlings in the 2005 Anchorage Christmas Bird Count. The sometimes aggressive species is relatively new to Alaska. Only three starlings were spotted during the 1995 Christmas bird count. Last year, there were 35. This year, birders counted 156. Source: USA Today, 12/28/ Which graph best represents the change in the number of starlings seen in the Anchorage area? 17. The change in the starling population in Anchorage from 1995 to 2005 could have been due to the presence of (1) a large population of competing species (3) an abundant food supply (2) a wide variety of predators (4) very few flowering plants

5 18. The feeding niches of three bird species are shown in the diagram below. What is the advantage of these different feeding niches for the birds? (1) less competition for food (2) fewer abiotic resources for each bird species (3) fewer biotic resources for each bird species (4) less energy available as the birds feed higher in the tree 19. The graph below shows how the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed over the last 150,000 years. Which environmental factor has been most recently affected by these changes in carbon dioxide level? (1) light intensity (3) size of consumers (2) types of decomposers (4) atmospheric temperature 20. The relationship that exists when athlete s foot fungus grows on a human is an example of (1) predator/prey (3) parasite/host (2) producer/consumer (4) decomposer/autotroph

6 21. Which statement best describes one of the stages represented in the diagram below? (1) The mature forest will most likely be stable for a long period of time. (2) If all the weeds and grasses are destroyed, the number of carnivores will increase. (3) As the population of the shrubs increases, it will be held in check by the mature forest community. (4) The young forest community will invade and take over the mature forest community. Directions. SHORT ANSWER. Answer all of the following questions. Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. A park with a small lake is home to a population of ducks. A housing complex is built which eliminates a nearby pond. Soon other ducks and waterbirds like geese and egrets come to live at this small lake. 1. State one specific way the new populations of birds may affect the original population of ducks. [2] 2. State one specific way the new populations of birds may change the abiotic factors of the environment in and around the lake. [2] 3. Predict one way the new populations of birds may affect the populations of plants that live in and around the lake. [2]

7 Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. An ecologist made some observations in a forest ecosystem over a period of several days. Some of the data collected are shown in the table below. 1. On the diagram below, complete the food web by placing the names of all the organisms in the correct locations. [6] 2. Identify one producer recorded by the ecologist in the data table. [1] 3. Which statement describes how one biotic factor of the forest uses one of the abiotic factors listed in the data table? (1) Trees absorb water as a raw material for photosynthesis. (2) Insects eat and digest the leaves of trees. (3) Erosion of sedimentary rock adds phosphorus to the soil. (4) Fungi release oxygen from the trees back into the air.

8 Base your answers to questions 7-10 on the information below and on your knowledge of biology. A student uses a covered aquarium to study the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. The aquarium contains sand, various water plants, algae, small fish, snails, and decomposers. The water contains dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as time amounts of minerals and salts. 4. Explain how oxygen is cycled between organisms in this ecosystem. [2] 5. Describe one specific way the fish population changes the amount of one specific abiotic factor (other than oxygen) in this ecosystem. [2] 6. Identify one source of food for the decomposers in this ecosystem. [2] 7. Describe one specific way the use of this food by the decomposers benefits the other organisms in this aquarium. [2]