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Ecosystems and Communities practice test
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[14 subjective questions not graded]
Ecosystems and Communities practice test
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The average year-after-year conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular
region are referred to as the region’s
a. weather.
c. ecosystem.
b. latitude.
d. climate.
ANSWER: D
2. Climate is a global factor that produces
a. Earth’s unique ocean and atmosphere.
b. the shape and elevation of landmasses.
c. a wide range of environmental conditions that shapes communities.
d. solar energy within the atmosphere.
ANSWER: C
3. The greenhouse effect is
a. the result of an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
b. a natural phenomenon that maintains Earth’s temperature range.
c. the result of the differences in the angle of the sun’s rays.
d. an unnatural phenomenon that causes heat energy to be radiated back
into the atmosphere.
ANSWER: B
4. Earth has three main climate zones because of the differences in latitude and, thus,
a. amount of precipitation received. c. ocean currents.
b. angle of heating.
d. prevailing winds.
ANSWER: B
5. Cool air over the poles will
a. rise.
b. sink.
c. absorb heat from the equator.
d. flow parallel to Earth’s surface.
ANSWER: B
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6. The unequal heating of Earth’s surface
a. drives wind and ocean currents.
b. causes winds that transport heat throughout the biosphere.
c. has important effects on Earth’s climate regions.
d. all of the above
ANSWER: D
7. The tendency for warm air to rise and cool air to sink results in
a. global wind patterns.
c. unequal heat distribution.
b. ocean upwelling.
d. regional precipitation.
ANSWER: A
8. Why does Earth have three main climate zones?
a. Warm air rises at the equator and cold air sinks over the poles causing
an unequal distribution of heat over Earth.
b. There are differences in latitude and, thus, the angle of heating from the
sun.
c. Continents and other landmasses physically interfere with global heat
distribution.
d. The Earth rotates and affects the major ocean currents.
ANSWER: B
9. Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT
a. plant life.
c. rainfall.
b. soil type.
d. temperature.
ANSWER: A
10. During a long period when there is no rainfall, a mountain lion may temporarily leave its
usual hunting territory to drink from a farm pond. This behavior is probably due to
a. its need to find different foods to eat.
b. the change in an abiotic factor in its environment.
c. its need to find a new habitat.
d. the change in a biotic factor in its environment.
ANSWER: B
11. An organism’s niche is
a. the range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism
lives and the way in which it uses those conditions.
b. all the physical and biological factors in the organism’s environment.
c. the range of temperatures that the organism needs to survive.
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d. a full description of the place an organism lives.
ANSWER: A
12. Several species of warblers can live in the same spruce tree ONLY because they
a. have different habitats within the tree.
b. eat different foods within the tree.
c. occupy different niches within the tree.
d. can find different temperatures within the tree.
ANSWER: C
13. An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called
a. competition.
c. mutualism.
b. sybiosis.
d. predation.
ANSWER: D
14. Different species can share the same habitat, but competition among them is reduced if
they
a. reproduce at different times.
c. increase their populations.
b. eat less.
d. occupy different niches.
ANSWER: D
15. No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time
a. because of the interactions that shape the ecosystem.
b. unless the species require different abiotic factors.
c. because of the competitive exclusion principle.
d. unless the species require different biotic factors.
ANSWER: C
16. A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit is
a. commensalism.
c. predation.
b. mutualism.
d. parasitism.
ANSWER: B
17. The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an
example of
a. mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food and the
insect pollinates the flower.
b. parasitism because the insect lives off the nectar from the flower.
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c. commensalism because the insect does not harm the flower and the
flower does not benefit from the relationship.
d. predation because the insect feeds on the flower.
ANSWER: A
18. The series of predictable changes that occurs in a community over time is called
a. population growth.
c. climax community.
b. ecological succession.
d. climate change.
ANSWER: B
19. Primary succession can begin after
a. a forest fire.
c. farm land is abandoned.
b. a lava flow.
d. a severe storm.
ANSWER: B
20. Which biome is characterized by very low temperatures, little precipitation, and
permafrost?
a. desert
c. tundra
b. temperate forest
d. tropical dry forest
ANSWER: C
21. Which two biomes have the least amount of precipitation?
a. tropical rain forest and temperate grassland
b. tropical savanna and tropical dry forest
c. tundra and desert
d. boreal forest and temperate woodland and shrubland
ANSWER: C
22. A biome is identified by its particular set of abiotic factors and its
a. average precipitation and temperature.
b. characteristic ecological community.
c. distance from the equator.
d. specific geographical location.
ANSWER: B
Modified True/False
Indicate whether the sentence or statement is true or false. If false, change the identified word or
phrase to make the sentence or statement true.
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23. Earth’s natural “insulating blanket” is the biosphere. _________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: F,atmosphere
24. The greenhouse effect occurs when carbon dioxide and other gases prevent heat energy
from leaving the atmosphere. _________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: T
25. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor trap light energy.
_________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: F,heat
26. The amount, intensity, and duration of sunlight striking Earth vary with latitude.
_________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: T
27. A symbiotic relationship between organisms in which one species benefits and the other is
neither helped nor harmed is mutualism. ______________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: F,commensalism
28. An existing community is gradually replaced by another community in an ecological
succession. _________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: T
29. The temperate forest biome is typically warmer and has more rainfall than the boreal
forest biome. _________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: T
30. The tropical rain forest is characterized by a wet season and a dry season.
_________________________
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RESPONSE:
ANSWER: F,dry
31. Tall, perennial grasses and herds of grazing herbivores are inhabitants of the desert biome.
______________________________
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: F,tropical savanna
Completion
Complete each sentence or statement.
32. The energy of incoming ____________________ drives Earth’s weather and helps to
determine climate.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: sunlight
33. Weather differs from ____________________ in that weather can change on a daily basis
and is not considered a description of year-to-year conditions of temperature and
precipitation.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: climate
34. Average year-after-year conditions are to climate as day-to-day atmospheric conditions
are to _________________.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: weather
35. Atmospheric gases that trap heat inside Earth’s atmosphere are called
____________________ gases.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: greenhouse
36. Organisms within an ecosystem are ____________________ factors in that ecosystem.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: biotic
37. Mild, moist air from the Pacific Ocean and giant redwood trees characterize the
______________________________.
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RESPONSE:
ANSWER: northwestern coniferous forest
Short Answer
Figure 4–1
38. Using Figure 4–1, describe a climate you might find at 10°N latitude.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: The climate at 10°N latitude is most likely a hot, rainy climate, because this
location is in the tropical zone.
39. Using Figure 4–1, explain why average temperatures decrease with increasing distance
from the equator.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: The sun’s rays strike Earth at increasingly lower angles with increasing
distance from the equator, thus providing less and less direct sunlight.
40. Explain why the food that a bullfrog eats is considered a part of its niche.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: A niche includes all of the physical and biological conditions in which an
organism lives and how the organism uses those conditions. Food is part of
the biological conditions that a bullfrog uses.
41. List three biotic and three abiotic factors that determine the survival of a rabbit in a
temperate forest.
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RESPONSE:
ANSWER: Biotic factors may include: plants the rabbit eats, predators that eat the
rabbit, and other competitive species. Abiotic factors may include:
temperature, rainfall, and space.
42. How is mutualism similar to and different from commensalism?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: They are both symbiotic relationships. In mutualism, both species benefit
from the relationship; in commensalism, only one species benefits whereas
the other is neither helped nor harmed.
43. Describe an important role that pioneer species play in primary succession.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: In primary succession, pioneer plants help rocks to break up in the process
of soil formation and contribute organic material to the forming soil in
which plants can grow.
Other
USING SCIENCE SKILLS
Average Rainfall and Temperature of Earth’s Biomes
Biome
Average Yearly
Average
Climate Zone
Rainfall
Temperature
Tropical rain forest 400 cm
Daytime: 34ºC
Tropical
Nighttime: 20ºC
Tropical dry forest 250–300 cm
Dry season: 32ºC Tropical
Wet season: 20ºC
Temperate forest 75–125 cm
Summer: 28ºC
Mostly
Winter: 6ºC
temperate
Boreal forest
35–75 cm
Summer: 14ºC
Mostly
Winter: -10ºC
temperate
Tropical savanna 150 cm
Dry season: 34ºC Mostly tropical
Wet season: 16ºC
Desert
Less than 25
Summer: 38ºC
Tropical and
cm
Winter: 7ºC
temperate
Temperate
25–75 cm
Summer: 30ºC
Temperate
grassland
Winter: 0ºC
Tropical woodland Less than 50
Summer: 20ºC
Temperate
and scrubland
cm
Winter: 10ºC
Tundra
30–50 cm
Summer: 12ºC
Temperate and
Winter: -26ºC
polar
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Figure 4–2
44. Comparing and Contrasting In Figure 4–2, compare the average daytime temperature of
the tropical rain forest with the average summer temperature of the tundra. How can you
account for the difference?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: The tropical rain forest has an average daytime temperature of 34°C. The
tundra has an average summer temperature of 12°C. The difference is that
the tropical rain forest receives almost direct sunlight all year long. The
tundra receives sunlight at a much lower angle, resulting in a colder climate
than the tropical rain forest.
45. Calculating What is the highest average temperature shown in Figure 4–2? The lowest
average temperature? How many degrees of temperature are there between the highest
and the lowest temperatures?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: highest temperature = 38°C; lowest temperature = –26°C; There are 64
degrees between the highest and lowest temperatures. (38 Celsius degrees
above zero + 26 Celsius degrees below zero)
46. Using Tables and Graphs Which climate zone listed in Figure 4–2 includes the most
biomes?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: temperate zone
47. Using Tables and Graphs Which biomes listed in Figure 4–2 include areas that have an
average yearly rainfall of less than 75 cm? Which biomes include areas that have an
average yearly rainfall of more than 200 cm?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: Biomes that have less than 75 cm of yearly rainfall include: boreal forest,
desert, temperate grassland, temperate woodland and shrubland, and
tundra. Biomes that have more than 200 cm of yearly rainfall include:
tropical rain forest and tropical dry forest.
48. Analyzing Data Which two biomes shown in Figure 4–2 have seasons determined by the
amount of precipitation they receive at different times of the year?
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: The tropical dry forest and the tropical savanna each have a wet season and
a dry season.
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Essay
49. Describe the greenhouse effect and explain how it maintains Earth’s temperature range.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: Solar energy has an important effect on the temperature of the atmosphere.
Atmospheric gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, do
not allow heat energy to pass out of the atmosphere. This natural situation
in which heat is retained by these greenhouse gases is called the
greenhouse effect. This effect provides a natural insulating blanket around
Earth and maintains its temperature range.
50. Name and define the three main classes of symbiotic relationships. Give examples of
each.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: The three main classes of symbiotic relationships are mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism. In mutualism, both species benefit from the
relationship. For example, flowers depend on certain insects to pollinate
them. The flowers provide the insects with food in the form of nectar,
pollen, or other substances. In commensalism, one member of the
association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Barnacles
attached to the skin of whales benefit from food particles in the water
moving past the swimming whale, but the whale is not affected. In
parasitism, one member benefits by obtaining all its nutritional needs from
the host. The host can be damaged but is usually not killed. Fleas, ticks,
and lice are examples of parasites that live on the bodies of mammals.
51. Describe the stages of primary succession in land environments, including lichens,
mosses, grasses, shrubs, and trees.
RESPONSE:
ANSWER: Primary succession occurs on newly exposed surfaces, such as a fresh lava
flow that destroys the previous ecosystem. The first organisms to appear
are plantlike lichens that colonize the newly formed volcanic surfaces.
Over several years, various species of plants including mosses and grasses
establish themselves among the rocks and then take root in the thin layer of
soil. Eventually, tree seedlings and shrubs sprout among the plant
community. A characteristic ecological community may eventually
dominate the area.
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