#1
Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?
A community of organisms interacting with each other and the environment
ExplanationEcosystems involve the interplay of organisms and their surroundings.
#2
What is the primary source of energy in most ecosystems?
Sunlight
ExplanationSunlight is the key energy source driving ecological processes.
#3
What is the difference between a predator and a prey?
A predator is an animal that hunts and feeds on other animals, while prey is an animal that is hunted and eaten by predators
ExplanationPredators hunt and consume other organisms, while prey are the hunted and consumed.
#4
What is the difference between a producer and a consumer in an ecosystem?
A producer is an organism that makes its own food using sunlight, while a consumer is an organism that eats other organisms
ExplanationProducers create their own food, typically through photosynthesis, while consumers consume other organisms for energy.
#5
Which of the following is an example of an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
Sunlight
ExplanationSunlight, a non-living component, is an abiotic factor influencing ecosystems.
#6
Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem?
Plant
ExplanationPlants are living organisms, representing a biotic component in ecosystems.
#7
What is a population in the context of ecology?
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area
ExplanationPopulations consist of individuals of a single species in a specific geographical region.
#8
What is a keystone species?
A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure and function of an ecosystem
ExplanationKeystone species have disproportionately large effects on ecosystems, crucial for stability.
#9
Which of the following best describes the concept of carrying capacity?
The maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support indefinitely
ExplanationCarrying capacity represents the sustainable population size an ecosystem can maintain.
#10
What is an ecological niche?
The role and position a species has in its environment
ExplanationAn ecological niche encompasses a species' function and position in its habitat.
#11
Which of the following is an example of a density-independent factor affecting population size?
Weather
ExplanationWeather can impact populations regardless of their size or density.
#12
What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?
Primary succession occurs on bare rock, while secondary succession occurs in an area where soil is already present
ExplanationPrimary succession starts on barren surfaces, while secondary succession begins in areas with existing soil.
#13
Which of the following is an example of a density-dependent factor affecting population size?
Competition for food
ExplanationDensity-dependent factors, like competition for resources, influence population size based on its density.
#14
Which of the following is an example of a top-down control on ecosystem dynamics?
Predation
ExplanationTop-down control, like predation, involves regulation of lower trophic levels by higher trophic levels.
#15
What is the difference between intraspecific competition and interspecific competition?
Intraspecific competition is competition for resources among individuals of the same species, while interspecific competition is competition for resources among individuals of different species
ExplanationIntraspecific competition occurs within the same species, while interspecific competition involves different species vying for resources.