Download Ecology Practice Questions - Miami Beach Senior High School

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Ecology
Mr. Michel
Name________________
October 16, 2013
1. A pond ecosystem is represented in the accompanying diagram.
Energy for this ecosystem originally comes from
1. water
3. sunlight
2. consumers
4. plants
2. Which type of model provides the most complete representation of the feeding relationships within a community?
1. a material cycle
3. a food chain
2. a predator-prey association
4. a food web
3. An ecosystem will most likely remain stable if
1. it has more predators than prey
3. biotic factors decrease
2. it has a high level of biodiversity
4. finite resources decrease
4. Which sequence best represents the flow of energy in the cartoon shown?
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1. prey --> predator
3. producer --> herbivore
2. host --> parasite
4. autotroph --> carnivore
5. What would most likely occur after an ecosystem is disrupted by fire?
1. The ecosystem would eventually return to its original 3. The ecosystem would evolve into a new ecosystem
state.
that is totally different from the original.
2. The ecosystem would return to its previous state
immediately.
4. The ecosystem would become an everchanging
environment with no stability.
6. For a natural ecosystem to be self-sustaining, many essential chemical elements must be
1. converted to energy
3. permanently removed from the environment
2. changed into fossil fuels such as oil and coal
4. cycled between organisms and the environment
7. Base your answer on the energy pyramid shown and on your knowledge of biology.
Energy from nutrients is transferred to ATP in
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1. level A, only
3. levels B, C, and D, only
2. levels B and C, only
4. levels A, B, C, and D
8. Base your answer on the energy pyramid shown and on your knowledge of biology.
The greatest amount of available energy is transferred from level
1. A to level B
3. B to level A
2. A to level C
4. D to level A
9. Base your answer on the energy pyramid shown and on your knowledge of biology.
Which energy levels could contain carnivores?
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1. A and B
3. C and D
2. B and C
4. D and A
10. Base your answer on the energy pyramid shown and on your knowledge of biology.
In a community where grass, cats, insects, and mice are found, which of these organisms would fill level A? [1]
1. grass
3. insects
2. cats
4. mice
11. A food pyramid representing relationships in a pond community is shown in the accompanying diagram.
The energy of the Sun is made available to the pond community through the activities of the organisms at level
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1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
12. What will most likely result after a fire or other natural disaster damages an ecosystem in a certain area?
1. The area will remain uninhabited for an indefinite
number of centuries.
3. An ecosystem similar to the original one will
eventually be reestablished if the climate is stable.
2. A stable ecosystem will be reestablished after one
year.
4. The stable ecosystem that becomes reestablished in
the area will be different from the original
13. The accompanying chart shows the environmental functions that some organisms perform in a stable ecosystem.
How would a decrease in the number of organisms that perform these functions most likely affect the ecosystem?
1. The interactions between other organisms would
stop immediately.
3. The ecosystem would remain stable.
2. The functions carried out by these organisms would 4. The ecosystem would become less stable.
no longer by necessary.
14. To answer this question, select the interaction, from the list shown, that is most closely associated with the following
description.
The rhinoceros bird (organism A) feeds on parasites that live on the body of a rhinoceros (organism B). The rhinoceros
allows the birds to feed on the parasites.
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15. To answer this question, select the interaction, from the list shown, that is most closely associated with the following
description.
Ants (organism A) defend acacia trees (organism B) from attacks by insects that are herbivores. The ants live in the hollow
thorns of the trees.
16. To answer this question, select the interaction, from the list shown, that is most closely associated with the following
description.
Wasp larvae (organism A) obtain nutrition from tomato hornworms (organism B). The tomato hornworms do not survive.
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17. The dense needles of Douglas fir trees can prevent most light from reaching the forest floor. This situation would have
the most immediate effect on
1. producers
3. herbivores
2. carnivores
4. decomposers
18. Which statement best describes a characteristic of an ecosystem?
1. It must have producers and consumers but not
decomposers.
3. It always has two or more different autotrophs filling
the same niche.
2. It is stable because it has consumers to recycle
energy.
4. It must have organisms that carry out autotrophic
nutrition.
19. Which statement illustrates a biotic resource interacting with an abiotic resource?
1. A rock moves during an earthquake.
3. A plant absorbs sunlight, which is used for
photosynthesis.
2. A sea turtle transports a pilot fish to food.
4. A wind causes waves to form on a lake.
20. Which relationship best describes the interactions between lettuce and a rabbit?
1. predator--prey
3. parasite--host
2. producer--consumer
4. decomposer--scavenger
21. The diagram shown represents an energy pyramid.
Which organisms would most likely be found at level A?
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1. birds
3. mammals
2. worms
4. algae
22. Which human activity would have the most direct impact on the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle?
1. reducing the rate of ecological succession
3. destroying large forest areas
2. decreasing the use of water
4. enforcing laws that prevent the use of leaded
gasoline
23. The dotted line on the graph shown represents the potential size of a population based on its reproductive capacity. The
solid line on this graph represents the actual size of the population.
Which statement best explains why the actual population growth is less than the potential population growth?
1. Resources in the environment are limited.
3. The birthrate gradually became greater than the
death rate.
2. More organisms migrated into the population than
out of the population.
4. The final population size is greater than the carrying
capacity.
24. Which concept does the cartoon shown illustrate?
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1. Fish require certain environmental conditions for
survival.
3. Fish alter the ecosystems to improve their ability to
survive.
2. Fish can adapt to any environment.
4. Fish can survive abrupt climate changes.
25. Base your answer on the diagrams of stages of succession shown and on your knowledge of biology.
What is the correct sequence of these stages?
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1. B-->A-->D-->C
3. C-->B-->A-->D
2. A-->D-->C-->B
4. D-->A-->C-->B
26. Base your answer on the diagrams of stages of succession shown and on your knowledge of biology.
Which statement helps to explain this type of succession?
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1. Species will replace species until an unstable
ecosystem is established.
3. Humans replace all species and fill all niches.
2. Species are replaced until a stable ecosystem is
established.
4. Changes in plant species are controlled only by the
types of animals in an area.
27. Base your answer on the diagrams of stages of succession shown and on your knowledge of biology.
Which organisms would most likely be harmed the most by the changes that occurred between these stages?
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1. trees
3. fish
2. raccoons
4. rabbits
28. In an ecosystem, the presence of many different species is critical for the survival of some forms of life when
1. ecosystems remain stable over long periods of time
3. natural selection does not occur
2. significant changes occur in the ecosystem
4. the finite resources of Earth increase
29. Which ecological term best describes the polar bears in the cartoon (see image)?
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1. herbivores
3. carnivores
2. parasites
4. producers
30. A new island formed by volcanic action may eventually become populated with biotic communities as a result of
1. a decrease in the amount of organic material present 3. the lack of abiotic factors in the area
2. decreased levels of carbon dioxide in the area
4. the process of ecological succession
31. Decomposers are important in the environment because they
1. convert large molecules into simpler molecules that
can then be recycled
3. can take in carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen
2. release heat from large molecules so that the heat can 4. convert molecules of dead organisms into permanent
be recycled through the ecosystem
biotic parts of an ecosystem
32. An environment can support only as many organisms as the available energy, minerals, and oxygen will allow. Which
term is best described by this statement?
1. biological feedback
3. homeostatic control
2. carrying capacity
4. biological diversity
33. Base your answer on the graph (see image) and on your knowledge of biology. The graph illustrates a single species of
bacteria grown at various pH levels.
The most likely reason there are no colonies in cultures of this species at pH 4 and at pH 10 is that
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1. these bacteria could successfully compete with other 3. at pH 4 and Ph 10 the environment is too acidic or
species of bacteria at these pH values
too basic for the bacteria to grow
2. there are more predators feeding on these bacteria at 4. fertilization cannot occur in these bacteria at pH 4 or
pH 4 and pH 10 than at other pH levels
pH 10
34. The graph (see image) shows the growth of two populations of paramecia grown in the same culture dish for 14 days.
Which ecological concept is best represented by the graph?
1. recycling
3. competition
2. equilibrium
4. decomposition
35. Which process usually uses carbon dioxide molecules?
1. cellular respiration
3. active transport
2. asexual reproduction
4. autotrophic nutrition
36. A particular species of unicellular organism inhabits the intestines of termites, where the unicellular organisms are
protected from predators. Wood that is ingested by the termites is digested by the unicellular organisms, forming food for the
termites. The relationship between these two species can be described as
1. harmful to both species
3. beneficial to both species
2. parasite/host
4. predator/prey
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37. A population of chipmunks migrated to an environment where they had little competition. Their population quickly
increased but eventually stabilized as shown in the graph (see image).
Which statement best explains why the population stabilized?
1. Interbreeding between members of the population
increased the mutation rate.
3. An increase in the chipmunk population caused an
increase in the producer population.
2. The population size became limited due to factors
such as availability of food.
4. A predator species came to the area and occupied
the same niche as the chipmunks.
38. Stage D in the diagram (see image) is located on land that was once a bare field.
The sequence of stages leading from bare field to stage D best illustrates the process known as
1. replication
3. feedback
2. recycling
4. succession
39. Base your answer on the food web and graph (see image) and on your knowledge of biology. The graph represents the
interaction of two different populations, A and B, in the food web.
Population A is made up of living animals. The members of population B feed on these living animals. The members of
population B are most likely
1. scavengers
3. predators
2. autotrophs
4. parasites
40. Which statement best describes the fruit fly population in the part of the curve labeled X in the accompanying graph?
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1. The fruit fly population has reached the number of
organisms the habitat can support.
3. The fruit fly population has an average life span of 36
days.
2. The fruit fly population can no longer mate and
produce fertile offspring.
4. The fruit fly population is no longer able to adapt to
the changing environmental conditions.
41. Lichens and mosses are the first organisms to grow in an area. Over time, grasses and shrubs will grow where these
organisms have been. The grasses and shrubs are able to grow in the area because the lichens and mosses
1. synthesize food needed by producers in the area
3. make the environment suitable for complex plants
2. are at the beginning of every food chain in a
community
4. provide the enzymes needed for plant growth
42. The ecological niches of three bird species are shown in the accompanying diagram.
What is the advantage of each bird species having a different niche?
1. As the birds feed higher in the tree, available energy 3. Predators are less likely to feed on birds in a variety
increases.
of locations.
2. More abiotic resources are available for each bird.
4. There is less competition for food.
43. Which information concerning a desert is provided by the accompanying quotation?
"The desert is arid, with less than 25 cm of rain per year. The plants are spaced far apart, or are grouped around water
sources. Most of the animals are active at night."
1. daily temperature range and types of autotrophs
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3. identity of a limiting factor and behavior of
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heterotrophs
2. time of rainy season and type of food used by
heterotrophs
4. type of nutrition in animals and distribution of
autotrophs
44. Which statement describes the ecosystem represented in the accompanying diagram?
1. This ecosystem would be the first stage in ecological 3. All of the organisms in this ecosystem are producers.
succession.
2. This ecosystem would most likely lack decomposers. 4. All of the organisms in this ecosystem depend on the
activities of biological catalysts.
45. What impact do the amounts of available energy, water, and oxygen have on an ecosystem?
1. They act as limiting factors.
3. They recycle the residue of dead organisms.
2. They are used as nutrients.
4. They control environmental temperature.
46. Many years ago, a volcanic eruption killed many plants and animals on an island. Today the island looks much as it did
before the eruption. Which statement is the best possible explanation for this?
1. Altered ecosystems regain stability through the
evolution of new plant species.
3. Geographic barriers prevent the migration of animals
to island habitats.
2. Destroyed environments can recover as a result of
the process of ecological succession.
4. Destroyed ecosystems always return to their original
state.
47. The growth of a population is shown in the accompanying graph.
Which letter indicates the carrying capacity of the environment for this population?
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1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
48. The accompanying diagram represents some energy transfers in an ecosystem.
Which type of organism is most likely represented by letter X ?
1. decomposer
3. producer
2. autotroph
4. herbivore
49. Base your answer on the accompanying passage which describes an ecosystem in New York State and on your
knowledge of biology.
The Pine Bush ecosystem near Albany, New York, is one of the last known habitats of the nearly extinct Karner Blue
butterfly. The butterfly's larvae feed on the wild green plant, lupine. The larvae are in turn consumed by predatory wasps.
The four groups in the accompanying table represent other organisms living in this ecosystem.
The Karner Blue larvae belong in which group?
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
50. Base your answer on the accompanying passage which describes an ecosystem in New York State and on your
knowledge of biology.
The Pine Bush ecosystem near Albany, New York, is one of the last known habitats of the nearly extinct Karner Blue
butterfly. The butterfly's larvae feed on the wild green plant, lupine. The larvae are in turn consumed by predatory wasps.
The four groups in the accompanying table represent other organisms living in this ecosystem.
Which food chain best represents information in the passage?
1. lupine --> Karner Blue larvae --> wasps
3. Karner Blue larvae --> lupine --> wasps
2. wasps --> Karner Blue larvae --> lupine
4. lupine --> wasps --> Karner Blue larvae
51. Base your answer on the accompanying passage which describes an ecosystem in New York State and on your
knowledge of biology.
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The Pine Bush ecosystem near Albany, New York, is one of the last known habitats of the nearly extinct Karner Blue
butterfly. The butterfly's larvae feed on the wild green plant, lupine. The larvae are in turn consumed by predatory wasps.
The four groups in the accompanying table represent other organisms living in this ecosystem.
Which group contains decomposers?
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
52. A graph of the population growth of two different species is shown.
Which conclusion can be drawn from information in the graph?
1. Oxygen concentration affects population sizes of
different species in the same manner.
3. Species B requires a high oxygen concentration to
stimulate population growth.
2. Species A requires a high oxygen concentration for
maximum population growth.
4. Low oxygen concentration does not limit the
population size of either species observed.
53. In the transfer of energy from the Sun to ecosystems, which molecule is one of the first to store this energy?
1. protein
3. DNA
2. fat
4. glucose
54. The accompanying graph represents the amount of available energy at successive nutrition levels in a particular food
web.
The Xs in the diagram represent the amount of energy that was most likely
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1. changed into inorganic compounds
3. recycled back to the producers
2. retained indefinitely by the herbivores
4. lost as heat to the environment
55. The accompanying diagram represents an energy pyramid constructed from data collected from an aquatic ecosystem.
Which statement best describes this ecosystem?
1. The ecosystem is most likely unstable.
3. The herbivore populations will continue to increase
in size for many years.
2. Long-term stability of this ecosystem will continue.
4. The producer organisms outnumber the consumer
organisms.
56. In 1859, a small colony of 24 rabbits was brought to Australia. By 1928 it was estimated that there were 500 million rabbits
in a 1-million square mile section of Australia. Which statement describes a condition that probably contributed to the
increase in the rabbit population?
1. The rabbits were affected by many limiting factors.
3. The rabbits were unable to adapt to the environment.
2. The rabbits reproduced by asexual reproduction.
4. The rabbits had no natural predators in Australia.
57. Information concerning the diet of crocodiles of different sizes is contained in the accompanying table.
Which statement is not a valid conclusion based on the data?
1. Overharvesting of fish could have a negative impact 3. Group B has no preference between reptiles and
on group C.
birds.
2. The smaller the crocodile is, the larger the prey.
4. Spraying insecticides would have the most direct
impact on group A.
58. Information concerning nests built in the same tree by two different bird species over a ten-year period is shown in the
accompanying table.
What inference best describes these two bird species?
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1. They most likely do not compete for nesting sites
because they occupy different niches.
3. They compete for nesting sites because they build
the same type of nest.
2. They do not compete for nesting sites because they 4. They compete for nesting sites because they nest in
have the same reproductive behavior.
the same tree at the same time.
59. In an ecosystem, the herring population was reduced by fishermen. As a result, the tuna, which feed on the herring,
disappeared. The sand eels, which are eaten by herring, increased in number. The fishermen then overharvested the sand eel
population. Cod and seabirds then decreased. Which food web best represents the feeding relationships in this ecosystem?
60. Two food chains are represented below.
Food chain A: aquatic plant → insect → frog → hawk
Food chain B: grass → rabbit → hawk
Decomposers are important for supplying energy for
1. food chain A, only
3. both food chain A and food chain B
2. food chain B, only
4. neither food chain A nor food chain B
61. In an ecosystem, the growth and survival of organisms are dependent on the availability of the energy from the Sun. This
energy is available to organisms in the ecosystem because
1. producers have the ability to store energy from light 3. all organisms in a food web have the ability to use
in organic molecules
light energy
2. consumers have the ability to transfer chemical
energy stored in bonds to plants
4. all organisms in a food web feed on autotrophs
62. A food chain is represented below.
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Grass → Cricket → Frog → Owl
This food chain contains
1. 4 consumers and no producers
3. 2 carnivores and 2 herbivores
2. 1 predator, 1 parasite, and 2 producers
4. 2 predators, 1 herbivore, and 1 producer
63. A volcanic eruption destroyed a forest, covering the soil with volcanic ash. For many years, only small plants could
grow. Slowly, soil formed in which shrubs and trees could grow. These changes are an example of
1. manipulation of genes
3. ecological succession
2. evolution of a species
4. equilibrium
64. Which statement best describes one of the stages represented in the accompanying diagram?
1. The mature forest will most likely be stable over a
long period of time.
3. As the population of the shrubs increases, it will be
held in check by the mature forest community.
2. If all the weeds and grasses are destroyed, the
number of carnivores will increase.
4. The young forest community will invade and take
over the mature forest community.
65. Owls periodically expel a mass of undigested material known as a pellet. A student obtained several owl pellets from the
same location and examined the animal remains in the pellets. He then recorded the number of different prey animal remains in
the pellets. The student was most likely studying the
1. evolution of the owl
3. role of the owl in the local ecosystem
2. social structure of the local owl population
4. life cycle of the owl
66. A sequence of events associated with ecosystem.stability is represented in the accompanying diagram.
The arrows in this sequence should be read as
1. leads to
3. prevents
2. reduces
4. simplifies
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67. The size of plant populations can be influenced by the
1. molecular structure of available oxygen
3. number of chemical bonds in a glucose molecule
2. size of the cells of decomposers
4. type of minerals present in the soil
68. Competition between two species occurs when
1. mold grows on a tree that has fallen in the forest
3. a crow feeds on the remains of a rabbit killed on the
road
2. chipmunks and squirrels eat sunflower seeds in a
garden
4. a lion stalks, kills, and eats an antelope
69. A food chain is illustrated in Diagram A.
The arrows represented as (see Diagram B) most likely indicate
1. energy released into the environment as heat
3. the absorption of energy that has been synthesized
2. oxygen produced by respiration
4. the transport of glucose away from the organism
70. 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
3. a decrease in stability among populations
2. a decrease in the number of abiotic factors
4. an increase in the rate of succession
71. Base your answer on the accompanying diagram that represents an energy pyramid in a meadow ecosystem and on your
knowledge of biology.
Which species would have the largest amount of available energy in this ecosystem?
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1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
72. Base your answer on the accompanying diagram that represents an energy pyramid in a meadow ecosystem and on your
knowledge of biology.
Which two organisms are carnivores?
1. A and B
3. B and D
2. A and E
4. C and E
73. An ecosystem is represented in the accompanying diagram.
The organisms represented as (see image) are found in the area shown due to which factor?
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1. pH
3. light intensity
2. sediment
4. colder temperature
74. A manatee is a water-dwelling herbivore on the list of endangered species. If manatees were to become extinct, what
would be the most likely result in the areas where they had lived?
1. The biodiversity of these areas would not be
affected.
3. Other manatees would move into these areas and
restore the population.
2. Certain producer organisms would become more
abundant in these areas.
4. Predators in these areas would occupy higher levels
on the energy pyramid.
75. A serious threat to biodiversity is
1. habitat destruction
3. competition within a species
2. maintenance of food chains
4. a stable population size
76. The accompanying diagram represents the various stages of ecological succession in New York State.
If the ecosystem is not altered, which stage would be most stable?
1. grass
3. pine forest
2. shrub
4. hardwood forest
77. Base your answer on the accompanying energy pyramid and on your knowledge of biology.
Which level includes organisms that receive their energy from level B?
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1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
78. Base your answer on the accompanying energy pyramid and on your knowledge of biology.
Which level includes organisms that get their energy exclusively from a source other than the organisms in this ecosystem?
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
79. Which statement most accurately predicts what would happen in the aquarium shown below if it were tightly covered and
maintained in natural light for one month?
1. The water temperature would rapidly decrease.
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3. The rate of reproduction of the fish would be
affected.
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2. The process of respiration in the snail would
decrease.
4. The organisms would probably survive because
materials would cycle.
80. A limiting factor unique to a field planted with corn year after year is most likely
1. temperature
3. water
2. sunlight
4. soil nutrients
81. Base your answer on the accompanying information below and on your knowledge of biology.
After the Aswan High Dam was built on the Nile River, the rate of parasitic blood-fluke infection doubled in the human
population near the dam. As a result of building the dam, the flow of the Nile changed. This changed the habitat, which
resulted in an increase in its population of a certain aquatic snail. The snails, which were infected, released larvae of the fluke.
These larvae then infected humans.
The role of the snail may be described as a
1. host
3. producer
2. parasite
4. decomposer
82. Which phrase is an example of autotrophic nutrition?
1. a cow eating grass in a field
3. an apple tree making its own food
2. a mushroom digesting a dead log
4. a tapeworm feeding in the body of a dog
83. By studying the chemicals in rare plants that grow only in rain forests, scientists hope to discover new life-saving
medicines. Chances of finding such new medicines are reduced by
1. predation by carnivores
3. recycling of materials in food webs
2. homeostasis in organisms
4. loss of species due to human activities
84. Which concept is best represented in the accompanying diagram?
1. random mutations
3. genetic engineering
2. ecological succession
4. direct harvesting
85. Competition for biotic resources can be illustrated by organisms fighting for a limited amount of
1. air to breathe
3. mates for breeding
2. water to drink
4. space for nesting
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86. Which organisms directly help to reduce overpopulation in a deer herd?
1. parasites and predators
3. decomposers and predators
2. parasites and scavengers
4. decomposers and consumers
87. An earthworm lives and reproduces in the soil. It aerates the soil and adds organic material to it. The earthworm is a
source of food for other organisms. All of these statements together best describe
1. a habitat
3. an ecological niche
2. autotrophic nutrition
4. competition
88. An accompanying diagram frequently used in ecological studies is shown.
This diagram can be used to represent the
1. dependency of animal survival on physical
conditions in an ecosystem
3. competition among species in an ecosystem
2. loss of energy from various groups of organisms in
an ecosystem
4. mechanisms that maintain homeostasis in the plants
in an ecosystem
89. Base your answers on the accompanying passage and on your knowledge of biology.
. . . Corals come in about 1,500 known species—from soft swaying fans to stony varieties with hard skeletons that form reef
bases. They are made up of polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies and feed at night on microscopic plants and creatures.
The coral's surface is the living part, with color infused by single-celled algae called zooxanthellae that live in polyp tissue.
The algae act like solar panels, passing energy to the coral as they photosynthesize while feeding on the coral's waste.
Extremely sensitive, corals survive in a narrow range of temperature, sunlight and salinity. An uncommonly severe El Niño in
1998 raised ocean temperatures and changed currents, causing bleaching that devastated reefs worldwide. Scientists say
parts of the Indian Ocean lost up to 90 percent of corals. The bleaching struck reefs around the Persian Gulf, East Africa,
Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Some recovered. Many died. . . .
Source: Associated Press, December 2001
The relationship between the polyps and the zooxanthellae can best be described as
1. negative for both
3. positive for both
2. neutral for both
4. negative for one and positive for the other
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90. Base your answers on the accompanying passage and on your knowledge of biology.
. . . Corals come in about 1,500 known species—from soft swaying fans to stony varieties with hard skeletons that form reef
bases. They are made up of polyps, tiny animals that live in colonies and feed at night on microscopic plants and creatures.
The coral's surface is the living part, with color infused by single-celled algae called zooxanthellae that live in polyp tissue.
The algae act like solar panels, passing energy to the coral as they photosynthesize while feeding on the coral's waste.
Extremely sensitive, corals survive in a narrow range of temperature, sunlight and salinity. An uncommonly severe El Niño in
1998 raised ocean temperatures and changed currents, causing bleaching that devastated reefs worldwide. Scientists say
parts of the Indian Ocean lost up to 90 percent of corals. The bleaching struck reefs around the Persian Gulf, East Africa,
Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. Some recovered. Many died. . . .
Source: Associated Press, December 2001
The passage contains information concerning
1. limiting factors
3. bacteria
2. reproductive methods
4. competition
91. Which characteristic of a geographic region would have the greatest influence on the type of ecosystem that forms in
that region?
1. ratio of autotrophs to heterotrophs
3. number of food chains
2. concentration of atmospheric oxygen
4. climatic conditions
92. When two different bird species temporarily occupy the same niche, they would most likely
1. change their nesting behaviors
3. interbreed to form a new species
2. not affect one another
4. compete with one another
93. Which group would most likely be represented in a food chain?
1. biotic factors
3. inorganic compounds
2. abiotic factors
4. finite resources
94. Over a long period of time, the stages represented in the accompanying diagram were each present in a particular
ecosystem.
After a forest fire, what is the most likely order in which these stages appeared?
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1. D-->C-->A-->B
3. A-->B-->C-->D
2. B-->D-->C--> A
4. B-->C-->D-->A
95. Which term refers to the ecological niche of many bacteria and fungi in an ecosystem?
1. decomposer
3. producer
2. herbivore
4. scavenger
96. Base your answer on the accompanying diagram and on your knowledge of biology. The diagram represents an energy
pyramid for an ecosystem in the Australian outback.
Which two organisms could have a predator-prey relationship?
1. kookaburras and gum trees
3. dingos and kangaroo grasses
2. kangaroos and silky mice
4. wedge-tailed eagles and wombats
97. A food web is more stable than a food chain because a food web
1. transfers all of the producer energy to herbivores
3. includes alternative pathways for energy flow
2. reduces the number of niches in the ecosystem
4. includes more consumers than producers
98. The diagram shown represents a model of a food pyramid.
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Which statement best describes what happens in this food pyramid?
1. More organisms die at higher levels than at lower
levels, resulting in less mass at higher levels.
3. When organisms die at higher levels, their remains
sink to lower levels, increasing the mass of lower levels.
2. Energy is lost to the environment at each level, so
less mass can be supported at each higher level.
4. Organisms decay at each level, and thus less mass
can be supported at succeedingly higher levels.
99. Which energy transfer is least likely to be found in nature?
1. consumer to consumer
3. host to parasite
2. producer to consumer
4. predator to prey
100. Which ecosystem has a better chance of surviving when environmental conditions change over a long period of time?
1. one with a great deal of genetic diversity
3. one with animals and bacteria but no plants
2. one with plants and animals but no bacteria
4. one with little or no genetic diversity
101. The accompanying diagrams show some changes in an environment over time.
Which phrase best describes this sequence of diagrams?
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1. the path of energy through a food web in a natural
community
3. natural communities replacing each other in an
orderly sequence
2. the altering of an ecosystem by a natural disaster
4. similarities between an aquatic ecosystem and a
terrestrial ecosystem
102. The accompanying diagram illustrates the relationships between organisms in an ecosystem.
Which change would most likely reduce the population size of the carnivorous fish?
1. an increase in the autotroph populations
3. an increase in the raccoon population
2. a decrease in the duck population
4. a decrease in pathogens of carnivorous fish
103. Base your answer on the diagram shown and on your knowledge of biology.
The base of an energy pyramid for this ecosystem would include a
1. frog
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3. plant
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2. snake
4. grasshopper
104. In an ecosystem, nutrients would be recycled if they were transferred directly from herbivores to carnivores to
1. hosts
3. decomposers
2. prey
4. autotrophs
105. Which statement concerning the producers in the ocean ecosystem shown (see image) is correct?
1. An increase in the types of producers will most likely 3. If all the producers in this ecosystem are destroyed,
decrease the available energy for the squid.
the number of heterotrophs will increase, but the
ecosystem will reach a new equilibrium.
2. A producer in this ecosystem is the zooplankton.
4. Since there is only one group of producers, their
numbers must be large enough to supply the energy for
the rest of the food web.
106. Which factor has the greatest influence on the variety of species that survive in different regions of a marine habitat?
1. depth of light penetration
3. size of predators
2. daily fluctuations in temperature
4. average annual rainfall
107. Which group contains terms that are all directly associated with one of the organisms shown in the diagram (see
image)?
1. herbivore, prey, autotroph, host
3. carnivore, predator, heterotroph, multicellular
2. predator, scavenger, decomposer, consumer
4. producer, parasite, fungus, fish
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108. Which set of statements best illustrates a material cycle in a self-sustaining ecosystem?
1. In summer, growing plants remove magnesium ions
from the soil to make chlorophyll. In autumn, these
plants release magnesium when they die and
decompose. In spring, new plants will grow in this same
area.
3. DDT is sprayed on a forest ecosystem to control the
mosquito population. After a year, the level of DDT is
found to be much higher in the tissues taken from a
hawk than in the tissues taken from a mouse in this
ecosystem.
2. Trees do not live in a desert ecosystem where there
is not enough water present in the sandy soil to
support their growth. Trees can live in a desert oasis.
4. Plants trap the Sun's energy in the chemical bonds of
organic molecules. This energy is then used for plant
metabolic activities.
109. Events that occur in four different ecosystems are shown in the chart (see image).
Which ecosystem would most likely require the most time for ecological succession to restore it to its original state?
Ecosystem
Events
A
A severe ice storm occurs during the winter, damaging trees and shrubs. No ice storms occur for the next 20
years.
B
A severe drought causes most of the leaves to fall from the trees during a single summer. There are no serious
droughts for the next 20 years.
C
An island with a dense shrub population becomes submerged for 3 years. When the river water lowers, the
island does not become submerged for the next 20 years.
D
A fire burns through a large grassy area. Fires do not occur in the area for the next 20 years.
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
110. Cattail plants in freshwater swamps in New York State are being replaced by purple loosestrife plants. The two species
have very similar environmental requirements. This observation best illustrates
1. variations within a species
3. random recombination
2. dynamic equilibrium
4. competition between species
111. One biotic factor that limits the carrying capacity of any habitat is the
1. availability of water
3. activity of decomposers
2. level of atmospheric oxygen
4. amount of soil erosion
112. A greater stability of the biosphere would most likely result from
1. decreased finite resources
3. increased biodiversity
2. increased deforestation
4. decreased consumer populations
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113. Base your answer on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.
Thirty grams of hay (dried grasses) were boiled in 500 milliliters of water, placed in a culture dish, and allowed to stand. The
next day, a small sample of pond water was added to the mixture of boiled hay and water. The dish was then covered and its
contents observed regularly. Bacteria fed on the nutrients from the boiled hay. As the populations of bacteria increased
rapidly, the clear mixture soon became cloudy. One week later, microscopic examination of samples from the culture showed
various types of protozoa (single-celled organisms) eating the bacteria.
The protozoa that fed on the bacteria can best be described as
1. producers
3. herbivores
2. parasites
4. consumers
114. The accompanying diagram 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
115. The feeding niches of three bird species are shown in the accompanying diagram.
What is the advantage of these different feeding niches for the birds?
1. less competition for food
3. fewer biotic resources for each bird species
2. fewer abiotic resources for each bird species
4. less energy available as the birds feed higher in the
tree
116. Which statement describes all stable ecosystems?
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1. Herbivores provide energy for the autotrophs.
3. The number of autotrophs equals the number of
heterotrophs.
2. The populations of predators are dependent on the
populations of their prey.
4. Consumers synthesize ATP from light energy.
117. The accompanying graph shows the number of birds in a population.
Which statement best explains section X of the graph?
1. Interbreeding between members of this population
increased the mutation rate.
3. The population reached a state of dynamic
equilibrium due to limiting factors.
2. An increase in the bird population caused an
increase in the producer population.
4. Another species came to the area and provided food
for the birds.
118. Some data concerning bird species are shown in the accompanying chart.
Which statement is a valid inference based on information in the chart?
1. The different species in northern Alaska can
interbreed.
3. The different species in southwest Texas evolved
from those in northern Alaska.
2. There are conditions in Costa Rica that account for
greater biodiversity there.
4. The greater number of species in Costa Rica is due to
a greater number of predators there.
119. A food web is shown in the accompanying diagram.
Which organisms feed on both producers and decomposers?
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1. amphipods
3. crayfish
2. catfish
4. protozoa
120. What would most likely happen if most of the bacteria and fungi were removed from an ecosystem?
1. Nutrients resulting from decomposition would be
reduced.
3. The rate of mutations in plants would increase.
2. Energy provided for autotrophic nutrition would be
reduced.
4. Soil fertility would increase.
121. Four students each drew an illustration to show the flow of energy in a field ecosystem. Which illustration is most
accurate?
122. As succession proceeds from a shrub community to a forest community, the shrub community modifies its environment,
eventually making it
1. more favorable for itself and less favorable for the
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3. less favorable for itself and more favorable for the
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forest community
forest community
2. more favorable for itself and more favorable for the
forest community
4. less favorable for itself and less favorable for the
forest community
123. An energy pyramid is represented in the accompanying diagram.
How much energy would be available to the organisms in level C?
1. all of the energy in level A, plus the energy in level B 3. a percentage of the energy contained in level B
2. all of the energy in level A, minus the energy in level 4. a percentage of the energy synthesized in level B and
B
level D
124. Four environmental factors are listed below.
A. energy
B. water
C. oxygen
D. minerals
Which factors limit environmental carrying capacity in a land ecosystem?
1. A, only
3. A, C, and D, only
2. B, C, and D, only
4. A, B, C, and D
125. A scientist studied iguanas inhabiting a chain of small ocean islands. He discovered two species that live in different
habitats and display different behaviors. His observations are listed in the accompanying table.
Which statement best describes these two species of iguanas?
1. Both species evolved through the process of
ecological succession.
3. The two species can interbreed.
2. Each species occupies a different niche.
4. Species A is a scavenger and species B is a
carnivore.
126. Base your answer on the information below and the accompanying graph and on your knowledge of biology.
A population of paramecia (single-celled aquatic organisms) was grown in a 200-mL beaker of water containing some smaller
single-celled organisms. Population growth of the organisms for 28 hours is shown in the accompanying graph.
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One likely explanation for the change in the paramecium population from 26 hours to 28 hours is that the
1. carrying capacity of the beaker was exceeded
3. time allowed for growth was not sufficient
2. rate of reproduction increased
4. oxygen level was too high
127. Base your answer on the accompanying data table and on your knowledge of biology. The table contains information
about glucose production in a species of plant that lives in the water of a salt marsh.
Which level of the accompanying energy pyramid would contain the plant species of this salt marsh?
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
128. An energy pyramid containing autotrophs and other organisms from a food chain is represented in the accompanying
diagram.
Carnivores would most likely be located in
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1. level I, only
3. level III, only
2. level I and level II
4. level II and level III
129. Which statement describes a situation that leads to stability within an ecosystem?
1. Carbon dioxide and water are released only by abiotic 3. Animals provide the oxygen used by plants, and
sources in the ecosystem.
plants provide the nitrogen needed by animals.
2. Interactions between biotic and abiotic components 4. Organisms provide all the necessary energy for the
regulate carbon dioxide and water levels.
maintenance of this ecosystem.
130. The accompanying graph represents the growth of a population of flies in a jar.
Which letter indicates the part of the graph that represents the carrying capacity of the environment in the jar?
1. A
3. C
2. B
4. D
131. Ecosystems will have a greater chance of maintaining equilibrium over a long period of time if they have
1. organisms imported by humans from other
environments
3. a diversity of organisms
2. a sudden change in climate
4. predators eliminated from the food chains
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132. The accompanying diagram represents a food pyramid.
The concentration of the pesticide DDT in individual organisms at level D is higher than the concentration in individuals at
level A because DDT is
1. synthesized by organisms at level D
3. produced by organisms at level C which are eaten by
organisms at level D
2. excreted by organisms at level A as a toxic waste
4. passed through levels A, B, and C to organisms at
level D
133. Which concept is represented in the accompanying graph?
1. ecological succession in a community
3. energy flow in a food chain over time
2. cycling of carbon and nitrogen in a forest
4. negative human impact on the environment
134. Gardeners sometimes use slug traps to capture and kill slugs. These traps were tested in a garden with a large slug
population. Organisms found in the trap after one week are shown in the accompanying table.
How many organisms in the trap were herbivores?
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1. 5
3. 22
2. 9
4. 99
135. Scientists studying ocean organisms are discovering new and unusual species. Which observation could be used to
determine that an ocean organism carries out autotrophic nutrition?
1. Chloroplasts are visible inside the cells.
3. The organism lives close to the surface.
2. Digestive organs are visible upon dissection.
4. The organism synthesizes enzymes to digest food.
136. Much of the carbon dioxide produced by green plants is not excreted as a metabolic waste because it
1. can be used for photosynthesis
3. is needed for cellular respiration
2. is too large to pass through cell membranes
4. can be used for the synthesis of proteins
137. The size of a frog population in a pond remains fairly constant over a period of several years because of
1. decreasing competition
3. excessive dissolved oxygen
2. environmental carrying capacity
4. the depth of water
138. In December 2004, a tsunami (giant wave) destroyed many of the marine organisms along the coast of the Indian Ocean.
What can be expected to happen to the ecosystem that was most severely hit by the tsunami?
1. The ecosystem will change until a new stable
community is established.
3. Ecological succession will no longer occur in this
marine ecosystem.
2. Succession will continue in the ecosystem until one
species of marine organism is established.
4. The organisms in the ecosystem will become extinct.
139. Deforestation of areas considered to be rich sources of genetic material could limit future agricultural and medical
advances due to
1. the improved quality of the atmosphere
3. an increase in the rate of evolutionary change
2. the maintenance of dynamic equilibrium
4. the loss of biodiversity
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140. The accompanying graph represents a predator-prey relationship.
What is the most probable reason for the increasing predator population from day 5 to day 7?
1. an increasing food supply from day 5 to day 6
3. the decreasing prey population from day 1 to day 2
2. a predator population equal in size to the prey
population from day 5 to day 6
4. the extinction of the yeast on day 3
141. The accompanying graph indicates the size of a fish population over a period of time.
The section of the graph labeled A represents
1. biodiversity within the species
3. a population becoming extinct
2. nutritional relationships of the species
4. a population at equilibrium
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142. What will most likely occur if two different plant species compete for the same requirements in an ecosystem?
1. They will usually develop different requirements.
3. One species may be eliminated from that ecosystem.
2. One species may adapt to a different environment.
4. They will alter the environment so that they can both
survive in that ecosystem.
143. Some of the energy taken in by an organism is not available to other organisms in a food web. Energy that is not
available to other organisms in a food web is energy that is
1. stored in the remains of a dead animal
3. stored in eggs produced during sexual reproduction
2. lost to the environment as heat
4. produced in muscle tissue during the growth of an
organism
144. If an ecosystem is changed through a natural disaster, organisms will have the best chance of survival if
1. their environment has few abiotic factors
3. the population size is small
2. the organisms are large
4. their species exhibits genetic variation
145. Which graph represents a population that grew and is maintained at the carrying capacity of its ecosystem?
146. The accompanying diagram represents a species of bee that helps one type of orchid plant reproduce by carrying pollen
on structure X from one orchid flower to another. Pollination by this species of bee is the only way the orchid can reproduce.
If this bee species dies out, this orchid species would most likely
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1. cease to exist
3. flower at a different time of year
2. find another animal to carry the pollen
4. develop another way to reproduce
147. Which statement best describes the starch content of two leaves taken from the same plant shown in the accompanying
chart?
1. Neither leaf contains starch.
3. Leaf A contains more starch than leaf B.
2. Both leaves contain the same amount of starch.
4. Leaf B contains more starch than leaf A.
148. Base your answer on the passage below and on your knowledge of biology.
To most people, using maggots (fly larvae) for a medical treatment is not a great idea. However, to many doctors, fly larvae
do have a place in medicine, and that place is inside open wounds.
In maggot debridement therapy, live fly larvae are mixed into a dressing for a wound and the area is covered with gauze.
Maggots, which will only eat dead tissue, feed on damaged flesh and leave the healthy tissue behind. In the process, the
maggots excrete an antimicrobial chemical that helps cleanse the wound of pathogens. When the dressing is cut away two or
three days later, the maggots, now up to 10 times their original size, are easily removed.
People with diabetes often have impaired wound healing. This could lead to infection. Maggot therapy has been used to
clean these types of wounds.
Which group of terms best describes a maggot?
1. decomposer, prey, host
3. producer, predator, parasite
2. scavenger, heterotroph, consumer
4. pathogen, carnivore, autotroph
149. Base your answer on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.
If farm fields in the Piedmont region of North Carolina are abandoned, there is a regular sequence of plant species that will
inhabit the field. The accompanying data table shows a typical sequence of dominant plant species.
This regular sequence of plant species over the 150-year period is known as
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1. degrading of the ecosystem
3. ecological succession
2. loss of biodiversity
4. biological evolution
150. An ecosystem that has almost the same number and type of organisms for many years is exhibiting
1. feedback
3. environmental change
2. global instability
4. equilibrium
151. A stable ecosystem is characterized by having
1. predators that outnumber their prey
3. limited autotrophic nutrition
2. a continual input of energy
4. no competition between species
152. Which pair of organisms would most likely compete for the same ecological niche?
1. bacteria and fungi
3. tree and fungi
2. deer and wolf
4. deer and bacteria
153. Abandoned railroad tracks are overgrown with weeds. Ten years later there are small aspen trees growing in the middle
of the tracks. This change is an example of
1. ecological succession
3. genetic variation
2. biological evolution
4. heterotrophic nutrition
154. Two interactions between organisms are shown in the accompanying table. X and Y do not represent the same
organisms in the two interactions.
Which statement best describes the relationship between organism X and organism Y in each interaction?
1. Organism X is positively affected by the relationship 3. Both organisms are positively affected by the
and organism Y is negatively affected.
relationship.
2. Organism X is negatively affected by the relationship 4. Both organisms are negatively affected by the
and organism Y is positively affected.
relationship.
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155. The accompanying diagram represents the varying biodiversity in three ecosystems.
The level of biodiversity in ecosystem A is high because it has the
1. least variety of energy levels
3. greatest number of decomposers
2. greatest variety of genetic material
4. least number of ecological niches
156. Which group would most likely have the greatest survival success during a long period of environmental changes?
1. a small population of rabbits living in a field of grass 3. an endangered population of polar bears living near
an iceberg
2. a large population of red ants living in a forest
4. one species of bird that nests only in sugar maple
trees
157. Which consequence could most likely be associated with a decrease in biodiversity in an area?
1. More species would be better able to survive a major 3. The amount of genetic information in the species of
environmental change.
the area would increase.
2. The ecosystems in the area would become more
stable.
4. Some sources of future foods or medications would
be lost.
158. After a fire destroys a forest, the area will most likely
1. remain bare land indefinitely
3. develop into an entirely different type of forest after
hundreds of years
2. develop into a desert area
4. recover through gradual changes back to a point of
long-term stability
159. A certain fungus can be harmful when it infects the outermost layers of the human foot, while another type of fungus
can be beneficial when it recycles nutrients by breaking down dead organisms. Which terms identify these two roles of
fungi?
1. producer, prey
3. parasite, decomposer
2. host, autotroph
4. herbivore, predator
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160. Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge has been developed from an abandoned airport to restore habitat for
six species of birds that require an area rich in tall grasses. Workers must continually remove trees that are beginning to
invade the area as a result of
1. direct harvesting
3. evolutionary change
2. genetic engineering
4. ecological succession
161. Which graph best shows the relationship between the amount of biodiversity and the number of different populations
in an ecosystem?
162. Base your answer on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.
Yes, This Big Lizard is Pink
A new study from the University of Rome Tor Vergata shows that a rare strawberry-tinted land iguana [rosada iguana] in the
Galapagos Islands is genetically distinct from other iguanas there, having diverged from them more than five million years
ago as the archipelago [a group of islands] formed. The rosada iguana—which escaped Darwin's notice—was discovered
only recently, largely because it lives on the desolate slopes of an active volcano.
Source: Smithsonian, March 2009
Which diagram best represents the evolutionary pathway of the strawberry-tinted iguana?
163. Base your answer on the accompanying information and on your knowledge of biology.
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Yes, This Big Lizard is Pink
A new study from the University of Rome Tor Vergata shows that a rare strawberry-tinted land iguana [rosada iguana] in the
Galapagos Islands is genetically distinct from other iguanas there, having diverged from them more than five million years
ago as the archipelago [a group of islands] formed. The rosada iguana—which escaped Darwin's notice—was discovered
only recently, largely because it lives on the desolate slopes of an active volcano.
Source: Smithsonian, March 2009
According to information in the article, it is most likely that
1. the ancestors of this iguana were separated from
3. gases released from an active volcano caused
ancestors of other Galapagos iguanas millions of years ancestral iguanas to mutate so they could adapt to the
ago and adapted to different environments
hot, dry environment near the volcano
2. the ancestors of this iguana came from the mainland 4. it is a color variation of the same species of iguana
of South America millions of years ago and needed to that lives elsewhere on the island, and it was not
adapt to the conditions of the Galapagos
discovered because it blended in with its environment
near the volcano
164. Which sequence shows a correct pathway for the flow of energy in a food chain?
1. bacteria--> grass--> fox--> owl
3. fungi--> beetle--> algae--> mouse
2. grass-->grasshopper-->frog-->snake
4. algae--> snake--> duck--> deer
165. Decomposition and decay of organic matter are accomplished by the action of
1. green plants
3. viruses and algae
2. bacteria and fungi
4. scavengers
166. For many decades, certain areas of New York State have remained as hardwood forests containing predominantly oak
and hickory trees.
These forested areas will most likely
1. remain indefinitely and not be affected by
environmental influences
3. be destroyed by environmental changes and never
return to their present forms
2. reach maturity and change in the near future
4. continue in their present forms unless affected by
environmental factors
167. What is a characteristic of a stable environment?
1. It usually contains only one type of producer.
3. It contains simple food chains that have more
consumers than producers.
2. It usually contains a great diversity of species.
4. It contains complex food webs that have more
heterotrophs than autotrophs.
168. Base your answer on the diagram and on your knowledge of biology.
Which term best describes the mosquito larvae?
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1. producer
3. carnivore
2. parasite
4. consumer
169. Base your answer on the information shown and your knowledge of biology.
In this situation, what is the relationship between the birds and the moths?
1. producer-consumer
3. parasite-host
2. predator-prey
4. autotroph-heterotroph
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