Middle School Life Science : Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Which of these is NOT a resource?

Possible Answers:

organisms

space

water

plastic

Correct answer:

plastic

Explanation:

The answer is plastic. 


Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #2 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

If a drought were to occur which of these would be affected by the lack of resources?

Possible Answers:

plants

humans

all of these would be effected

animals

Correct answer:

all of these would be effected

Explanation:

The answer is "all of these would be effected" because all organisms need water. Additionally some animals eat plants, and humans eat animals. 

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #2 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Which is most likely the reason that sharing habitat with lions would cause there to be limited resources for cheetahs?

Possible Answers:

They drink a lot of water

They use so much space

They sit under the trees

They feed on the same prey

Correct answer:

They feed on the same prey

Explanation:

The answer is "they feed on the same prey." 

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

Example Question #2 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Which of these human actions most limits resources for animals?

Possible Answers:

building a shopping mall

making a community garden

making laws that protect a national forest

going camping and swimming in the river

Correct answer:

building a shopping mall

Explanation:

The answer is building a shopping mall

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

Example Question #13 : Interdependent Relationships In Ecosystems

Sharks are often hunted for their fins. The overfishing of sharks can affect the availability of phytoplankton even though they are at opposite ends of their food chain. How is this possible?

Possible Answers:

overfishing of sharks changes the water quality

any disruption in a food chain will have affects on other populations of organisms in the same food web

phytoplankton live on shark fins

humans will hunt for more phytoplankton when they're hunting for more sharks

Correct answer:

any disruption in a food chain will have affects on other populations of organisms in the same food web

Explanation:

The answer is "any disruption in a food chain will have affects on other populations of organisms in the same food chain."

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #6 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

In desert environments, fresh water is a limited resource. Which of these is NOT a way organisms have responded to the lack of availability of water?

Possible Answers:

top predators like lions will defend their territories with water from competition

animals spend more time in the sun than they usually would

plants like cacti have adapted ways of conserving water

some animals will die and further limit food resources for other animals

Correct answer:

animals spend more time in the sun than they usually would

Explanation:

The answer is "animals spend more time in the sun than they usually would." This would require more water from their bodies to be used in the cooling process when water is already scarce. Most animals spend more time in the shade when water is not readily available.

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #7 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Limited resources are affecting population growth in a habitat. What type of graph best represents this scenario?

Possible Answers:

exponential curve, or "J shaped" curve

climate curve

logarithmic, or "S shaped" curve

linear 

Correct answer:

logarithmic, or "S shaped" curve

Explanation:

The answer is "logarithmic, or "S shaped" curve" because when resources are limited, populations can only increase to a certain carrying capacity then population growth will level out.

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #3 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Which of the following is a limiting factor in an ecosystem?

Possible Answers:

availability of water

habitat

availability of food

all of these

Correct answer:

all of these

Explanation:

The answer is "all of these."

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #9 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Screen shot 2020 06 04 at 8.57.13 am
The image shows growth for population A and population B. Which population has limited resources?

Possible Answers:

neither of these

population B

both of these

population A

Correct answer:

population B

Explanation:

The answer is population B, because it has reached carrying capacity and is no longer growing. 

Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

Example Question #10 : Understand The Effect Of Limited Resources On Populations

Screen shot 2020 06 04 at 8.57.13 am
The image shows growth for population A and population B. Which population has unlimited resources?

Possible Answers:

population A

both of these

neither of these

population B

Correct answer:

population A

Explanation:

The answer is "population A" because it's growing exponentially and does not level out.
 
Resources are defined as a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organism. When resources are limited, “competition,” increases and some populations of organisms will decrease. Some individuals may even be weaker or smaller without the resources they need.

Natural disasters, environmental changes, and humans can all have an effect on the availability of resources. When a drought occurs, many plants and animals die. When forests are cleared for human use, animals and plants do not have habitat.

Some animals are technically a “resource” for others. The predator prey relationship consists of the interactions between two species and their consequent effects on each other. In the predator prey relationship, one species is feeding on the other species. The prey species is the animal being fed on, and the predator is the animal being fed. Usually these populations go through cycles.

 

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