Biomes
Consumers, Producers, Decomposers, Oh My!
Ecosystem Relationships
Ecosystems Potpourri
Cumulative Potpourri
100
Mangrove trees are common in wetlands. Which condition MOST likely keeps mangrove trees from growing in deserts?
A. The ground is too dry.
B. The winds are too strong.
C. The air gets too cold at night.
D. There is too much light during the day.
A. The ground is too dry.
100
Decomposers are important to the flow of energy in an ecosystem because they ________
A. are at the top of every food chain.
B. eat things other organisms do not eat.
C. make up a large portion of the top layer of the soil
D. break organic material into parts that can be reused.
D. break organic material into parts that can be reused.
100
In the food web above, which change would MOST likely reduce the number of both large roach fish and steelhead fish?
A. an increase in the amount of algae
B. an increase in the number of small invertebrates
C. a decrease in the number of predatory invertebrates
D. a decrease in the number of young stickleback fish
C. a decrease in the number of predatory invertebrates
100
Decaying plants and animals are important to an ecosystem because they
A. cause disease in living organisms.
B. reduce soil erosion.
C. recycle oxygen to the air.
D. return nutrients to the soil.
D. return nutrients to the soil.
100
Students rolled a 22-gram car down three different ramps. The results from the investigation are shown in the table.
Which statement BEST explains why the car rolled down the wood ramp the fastest?
A. There was more force applied to the car on the wood ramp.
B. There was less friction on the surface of the wood ramp.
C. The wood ramp was higher than the other ramps.
D. The car on the wood ramp had more mass.
B. There was less friction on the surface of the wood ramp.
200
Mangrove trees have shallow roots that start above ground. These roots filter out salt so the tree can receive fresh water. Based on this information, in which area are mangroves BEST suited to grow?
A. a grassy field
B. a coastal area
C. a sandy desert
D. a rocky mountain
B. a coastal area
200
An ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with their physical environment. Why are decomposers an important part of ecosystems?
A. They break down dead organisms to return nutrients to the soil.
B. They produce their own food for survival.
C. They play a role in preventing weathering and erosion.
D. They provide most of the energy to consumers.
A. They break down dead organisms to return nutrients to the soil.
200
A stream food web is shown above. The number of stonefly nymphs in a large stream increased over the last year. How will this MOST likely affect this food web?
A. The brook trout population will increase, and the fly larva will decrease.
B. The fly larva population will increase, and mayfly nymph population will decrease.
C. The kingfisher population will decrease, and the brook trout population will increase.
D. The mayfly nymph population will decrease, and the algae population will increase.
A. The brook trout population will increase, and the fly larva will decrease.
200
Rolanda is growing tomato plants in her garden. She has created a compost pile and has been adding compost around her tomato plants to help fertilize them. Compost is solid waste in which organic material is broken down by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to where it can be safely stored, handled, and applied to the environment. On what does Rolanda primarily rely in order for composting to work?
A. producers
B. consumers
C. scavengers
D. decomposers
D. decomposers
200
Anna ran 100 meters in 20 seconds. What was her average speed?
A. 2 m/s
B. 5 m/s
C. 20 m/s
D. 25 m/s
B. 5 m/s
300
The Russian thistle, commonly known as the tumbleweed, is a big, round plant with many branches and short, stiff leaves. This plant spreads a large number of seeds when it breaks off from its stalk. The thistle is MOST likely found in what kind of environment?
A. swamp
B. prairie
C. forest
D. tundra
B. prairie
300
A brown bear eats a variety of foods including berries, insects, and small animals. Which BEST describes a brown bear?
A. producer
B. herbivore
C. carnivore
D. omnivore
D. omnivore
300
A lake food web is shown above.
Many tourists and locals have been fishing in the same spot in this lake for a long period of time. How will the organisms in this food web MOST likely be affected if this fishing continues?
A. The frog population will have fewer dragonflies to eat.
B. The dragonfly population will have more beetles to eat.
C. The pelican population will have less herring to eat.
D. The mayfly population will have less algae to eat.
C. The pelican population will have less herring to eat.
300
High average daily temperature and heavy annual precipitation are found in a
A. desert.
B. grassland.
C. rainforest.
D. tundra.
C. rainforest.
300
Two sailboats are moving as shown in the graph below.
Which statement is correct based on the data in the graph?
A. Boat A traveled faster than Boat B.
B. Boat B traveled faster than Boat A.
C. Boat A traveled for a longer time than Boat B.
D. Boat B traveled for a longer time than Boat A.
A. Boat A traveled faster than Boat B.
400
Where are fern plants MOST likely to grow?
A. in a desert
B. along a river
C. at the bottom of an ocean
D. in the middle of a prairie
B. along a river
400
Meadow voles are small mouse-like animals that eat plants and insects. Their niche in an ecosystem is a
A. omnivore.
B. herbivore.
C. producer.
D. scavenger.
A. omnivore.
400
Changing ocean temperatures have led to a large decrease in the number of horseshoe crabs. Which effect will MOST likely occur next?
A. The diamondback turtle and grackle populations will decrease.
B. The striped bass and plankton populations will decrease.
C. The razor clam population will increase.
D. The sanderling population will increase.
C. The razor clam population will increase.
400
A disease reduces the number of young salmon in a river. Which populations will MOST likely increase as a result?
A. trout and eagle
B. algae and trout
C. otter and sculpin
D. sculpin and algae
D. sculpin and algae
400
Scott dropped a sheet of paper from a second floor balcony. The wind was blowing in the direction shown in the diagram.
In which direction did the sheet of paper MOST likely travel?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
D.
500
Clara says that her school is in a desert. Which fact about her schoolyard MOST helps her claim?
A. The schoolyard has few trees.
B. The schoolyard has rocks and sand.
C. The schoolyard gets warm in the summer.
D. The schoolyard gets little rain during the year
D. The schoolyard gets little rain during the year
500
Plants in a forest need to obtain nutrients from the soil to survive. How do MOST of the nutrients get back in the soil once the forest plants have used them for growth?
A. Organic matter is recycled from dead organisms.
B. Commercial fertilizers are applied by humans.
C. Solar radiation reaches the ground surface.
D. Rainwater drips off of living organisms.
A. Organic matter is recycled from dead organisms.
500
Which effect will an increase in sea urchins MOST likely have on this food web?
A. a decrease in the number of sea otters
B. a decrease in the amount of seaweed
C. a decrease in the amount of sunlight
D. a decrease in the number of parrotfish
B. a decrease in the amount of seaweed
500
Some animals live in a grassland. A fire burns through the grassland. Which type of animal will BEST compete for resources after the fire?
A. one that eats meat
B. one that uses plants for shelter
C. one that lives under the ground
D. one that builds nests on the ground
C. one that lives under the ground
500
After Todd took a hot shower, he noticed that the bathroom mirror looked foggy. He could not see his reflection. Which statement BEST explains what happened?
A. Water froze on the mirror because its surface was cold.
B. Hot water splashed on the mirror and heated its surface.
C. Water evaporated when it touched the hot mirror’s surface.
D. Water vapor condensed when it touched the cold mirror’s surface.
D. Water vapor condensed when it touched the cold mirror’s surface.