Introduction to Ecology Quiz

Master ecology basics with our quiz on levels, food webs, and species interactions!

List the levels of organization in the environment from the smallest (most specific) to the broadest Organism --> Population --> Community --> Ecosystem --> Biome --> Biosphere Levels of Organization Organism A single living thing Population a group organisms that look similar and can produce fertile offspring Species a group organisms that look similar and can produce fertile offspring Community A group of different species that live in the same habitat and interact with one another Ecosystem A community of organisms and their non-living environment Biosphere all of the world and it's atmosphere that support life Biome large region by climate and certain types of plant and animal communities The main difference between a community and an ecosystem is that a community only includes biotic factors whereas ecosystems include biotic and abiotic factors Use the word bank to complete the sentences below: 1. A producer is an organism at the beginning of a food chain because they can produce their own food using energy from the sun2. Organisms that feed off of other organisms and cannot make their own are known as heterotrophs3. A nonliving part of the environment is a(n) abioticfactor4. A living part of the environment is a(n) biotic factor5. A consumer that eats only plants is known as a herbivore6. A consumer that eats both plants and animals is called an omnivore7. Energy is transferred through an ecosystem by eating or consuming food and is represented on food chains and food webs using arrows8. Decomposers breakdown decaying organisms and nutrients are put back into the soil by bacteria and fungi Match the description with the appropriate level of ecology: A single ant Individual A colony of ants Population The ants, grass, and flowers found in a certain area Community The ants, grass, flowers, sun, and soil in a certain area Ecosystem A group of biotic and abiotic factors that share a similar climate and weather patterns Biome The portion of the earth that supports life Biosphere Food Chains and Food Webs Use the following food web to answer the questions below: - The arrows represent transfer of energy- In this food chain, which organism is the producer? grass - In this food chain, which organism is the primary consumer? grasshopper- In this food chain, which organism is the tertiary consumer? snake- In this food chain, which organism is an herbivore? grasshopper - What type of consumers are the frog and the snake? carnivores- If the frog population increased, what would happen to the grasshopper population? It would decrease - If the frog population increased, what would happen to the snake population? It would increase- What was the original source of energy in this food web? Sun Use the food web below to answer the following questions. What level of consumer is a wild cat? Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer What level of consumer is a goat? Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Which organism can be both a primary and a secondary consumer? Owl Wild Cat Rabbit Snake This food chain can be found in the coastal waters of Virginia. The population of which organisms in the food chain would be the first to decline if commercial fishing over-harvested shrimp? Algae Zooplankton Damselfish Barracuda Energy Pyramid - Draw and label a 4-level energy pyramid with the correct trophic levels. Place the following organisms in the correct trophic level:Snake, Grasshopper, Hawk, Frog, Grass Introducedspecies are species that are accidentally or on purpose brought to an ecosystem that is not their natural ecosystem. An introduced species becomes an invasivespecies when it has a negative impact on the environment. An example of an invasive species is a zebra mussel. A zebra mussel was accidentally brought from Russiato the Great Lakes by a boat. The zebra mussel can reproduce very quickly and they eat the planktonout of the water. They can clog up pipes and destroy boat motors. Their predators,the freshwater drum and diving duck, can't eat them fast enough to maintain their population. The main organisms they are changing currently is the plant population. The water is clearer now allowing more water to reach the bottom of the lakes which allow for more algae growth on the bottom.