Experimental Design
Data Interpretation (reading graphs)
Ecology & Trophic Levels
Populations, Communities, & Ecosystems
Behavior, Migration, & Limiting Factors
100
Which variable is changed or manipulated by the experimenter?
What is the independent variable?
100
On the "Average Rainfall (mm) Over Time" bar chart, which months show the driest period?
What is June - October?
(lowest rainfall in these months)
100
What name describes organisms that chemically break down organic matter and return nutrients to soil?
What is decomposers?
100
What is a population?
What is a group of individuals from the same species living in the same area?
100
What is the correct definition of migration?
What is the large-scale movement of members of a species to a different environment?
200
Which variable is the response to the change made to the independent variable?
What is the dependent variable?
200
From the plant-growth line graph, approximate the water spinach height at day 10 (cm).
What is 18 cm?
200
In an energy pyramid, what percent rule describes energy passed to the next trophic level?
What is the 10% rule?
(only 10% of the energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next)
200
What is a community?
What is a group of populations of different species that live & interact in a shared habitat?
200
Which abiotic limiting factor drives the Serengeti wildebeest migration?
What are the wet & dry seasons?
(amount of rain, seasonal availability of nutritious grass)
300
On a graph, which axis is the vertical line at the side?
What is the Y-axis?
300
In the soil drainage bar graph (Sand, Silt, Clay), which soil allowed the most water to drain?
What is sand?
300
If producers have 600,000 kcal, how many kcal are incorporated in secondary consumers?
What is 6,000 kcal?
600,000/10 = 60,000 (what primary consumer gets)
60,000/10 = 6,000 (what secondary consumer gets)
300
What is the definition of an ecosystem?
What is a community of interacting organisms & their physical environment?
300
Which general reason for migration matches “seek growth of fresh grass / seek krill”?
What is food?
400
In a graph labeled "Time (Months)" vs "Average Rainfall (mm)", what is the independent variable (with unit)?
What is time (months)?
400
Which trophic level is a zebra in the Serengeti food web?
What is a primary consumer?
400
Which of these are abiotic factors?
Oxygen, CO2, & Other gasses
Plants
Animals
Bacteria in the soil
What are oxygen, CO2, & Other gasses?
400
What is a limiting factor?
What is anything that limits a population size and slows or stops is from growing?
500
Given a line graph of plant height (cm) vs growth period (days), which is the dependent variable?
What is plant height (cm)?
500
Define a keystone species and give the example of one that we've learned about in class
What is a species that other species largely depend on, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically?
500
Predict what happens to grass if wildebeest are removed from the ecosystem (explain briefly).
What is grass would increase?
Less grazing --> more grass
500
Explain briefly how seasonal migration increases the carrying capacity of wildebeest in the Serengeti.
What is by migrating seasonally they find new grazing, allow grazed areas to recover, redistribute nutrients, and thus support a much larger population?