Ecosystem Roles
Which is a producer?
A. Mushroom
B. Apple Tree
C. Mouse
D. Both A & B
B. Apple Tree
Grass -> Grasshopper -> Rat -> Snake. The snake is a...
Tertiary
Fleas survive by eating a dog's blood. This is...
A. Parasitism
B. Commensalism
C. Mutualism
Parasitism
An invasive species called the emerald ash borer feeds on the inner bark of ash trees across Ohio, preventing trees from transporting water and nutrients. Which of the following is a direct impact of this invasive species on the local ecosystem?
A. The population of ash trees will increase.
B. Organisms that depend on ash trees for food or shelter will lose their habitat.
C. Wood-boring beetles will run out of oxygen.
D. Local predators will stop eating insects entirely.
B. Organisms that depend on ash trees for food or shelter will lose their habitat.
If the waterweed population in a pond decreased, what would most likely happen to the pond fly population that eats it?
A) The pond fly population would grow much bigger.
B) The pond fly population would decrease because they would have less food.
C) The pond flies would start making their own food from sunlight.
D) Nothing would change because pond flies do not need food.
B) The pond fly population would decrease because they would have less food.
Which is a consumer?
A. Grass
B. Mouse
C. Hawk
D. Both B & C
D. Both B & C
Phytoplankton -> Zooplankton -> Fish -> Seal. The fish is a...
Secondary
The wrasse cleans parasites from a moray eel; the eel protects the wrasse and provides food. This is... (hint, type of symbiosis)
Mutualism
An invasive plant called garlic mustard spreads quickly across forest floors in Ohio. It sprouts early in the spring, blocking sunlight from reaching lower levels of the forest before native wildflowers can grow. Choose one impact of this invasive species on the local ecosystem.
A. Native forest floor plants will have less sunlight to perform photosynthesis.
B. Herbivores in the ecosystem will only eat garlic mustard.
C. The native trees will stop growing leaves in the spring.
D. The soil will completely lose its ability to support plant life.
A. Native forest floor plants will have less sunlight to perform photosynthesis.
How does a trout get its energy from algae?
A) The trout eats the algae directly.
B) The trout eats smaller bugs or fish that ate the algae.
C) The trout gets energy just by swimming near the algae.
D) The trout does not need energy from algae at all.
B) The trout eats smaller bugs or fish that ate the algae.
An animal that only eats plants is a...
Herbivore
Mushrooms, mold, and bacteria are examples of...
A. Herbivores
B. Scavengers
C. Decomposers
D. None of these
C. Decomposers
Which is an example of commensalism?
A. Tapeworm in a dog
B. Barnacles on a whale
C. Mouse and flea
D. Honeybees and a flower
Barnacles on a whale
An invasive species called the bush honeysuckle inhabits abandoned fields, roadsides, woodlands, and edges of marshes across Ohio. It forms dense thickets that absorb large amounts of soil moisture and nutrients. Choose one impact of this invasive species on the local ecosystem.
A. The population of birds will decrease immediately.
B. The population of a competing native producer will increase.
C. The population of a competing native producer will decrease.
D. There will be no impact on the ecosystem.
C. The population of a competing native producer will decrease.
Which of the following correctly names a producer in a food web and accurately explains its role?
A) A mushroom, because it breaks down dead leaves to clean up the ecosystem.
B) A grasshopper, because it eats grass to get energy.
C) Green grass, because it uses sunlight to make its own food through photosynthesis.
D) A hawk, because it hunts smaller animals to control their population.
C) Green grass, because it uses sunlight to make its own food through photosynthesis.
Because they cannot make their own food, all animals fall into this broad ecosystem role and must eat plants or other animals to survive.
Consumers
In a food chain, what type of organism begins the chain by making its own food?
Producer
Which of the following is the best example of a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit?
A) A flea living on a dog and biting its skin to drink its blood.
B) A bee collecting nectar from a flower while spreading the flower's pollen.
C) A owl nesting in a hollow tree hole without hurting the tree.
D) A lion hunting and eating a zebra on the savanna.
B. A bee collecting nectar from a flower while spreading the flower's pollen.
The zebra mussel is an aquatic invasive species in Lake Erie that filters huge amounts of water to eat plankton. Plankton are the main food source for tiny native fish, which are eaten by larger predatory fish like walleye. How does the zebra mussel most likely impact this food web?
A. The population of native tiny fish will increase due to cleaner water.
B. The population of larger predatory fish will decrease because their prey has less food.
C. Zebra mussels will replace walleye as the top predator in Lake Erie.
D. Decomposers will disappear because plankton levels drop.
B. The population of larger predatory fish will decrease because their prey has less food.
Which animal competes with the dragonfly for the same prey in the food web?
A) The plants that make food from sunlight.
B) The large fish that hunts and eats the dragonfly.
C) Another predator animal that hunts and eats the exact same bugs as the dragonfly.
D) The decomposers that break down dead leaves.
C) Another predator animal that hunts and eats the exact same bugs as the dragonfly.
A (blank) consumer is an organism that eats producers.
Primary
What happens to the number of consumers when its food source becomes less available?
It decreases
Which term describes a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other organism is harmed?
A) Commensalism
B) Mutualism
C) Parasitism
D) Predator
C) Parasitism
The invasive European buckthorn shrub produces a chemical called emodin through its roots and leaves, which changes the soil chemistry and prevents native plant seeds from germinating (sprouting). It also drops leaves early that decompose faster than native leaves. Which statement best predicts a long-term impact on the ecosystem?
A. Biodiversity will decrease because fewer native plant species can successfully reproduce in the altered soil.
B. Native plants will adapt within one season to use emodin as a nutrient.
C. Herbivores will thrive because the ecosystem will produce a larger variety of native crops.
D. Primary consumers will increase because faster leaf decomposition eliminates all bacteria.
A. Biodiversity will decrease because fewer native plant species can successfully reproduce in the altered soil.
Which of the following best explains how organisms perform a variety of roles in an ecosystem to help it survive?
A) All organisms have the exact same role of making food from sunlight so that no animal goes hungry.
B) Producers make energy from the sun, consumers eat other organisms for energy, and decomposers recycle waste back into the soil.
C) Animals constantly change their roles every day by switching between being plants, predators, and decomposers.
D) Organisms only look for food and do not play any specific roles in their environment.
B) Producers make energy from the sun, consumers eat other organisms for energy, and decomposers recycle waste back into the soil.