Chapter 1 Exam Questions

Chapter 1 – Exam questions

Q1.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ1

Which statement best describes as organism’s environment

AIt is the ecosystem in which it lives.

BIt is the sum of all of the living and non-living things that affect it.

CIt is the set of physical factors that influence its survival.

DIt is the place where it lives.

A1.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA1

B. This option includes each of the others, whereas each of the other options only provides a limited description of an organism’s environment.

Q2.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ2

In environmental terms what are deserts, woodlands, grasslands and forests?

AThey are examples of ecosystems found in parts of Australia with different climates

BTheyare examples of the interactions of living organisms

CTheyare stages in the succession of ecosystems

DTheyhave the same inputs, outputs and processes

A2.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA2

A. The different environments described are ecosystems.

Q3.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ3

Which description best explains the environmental factors of temperature, availability of gases and amount of light?

AThey are biotic factors that can influence the distribution and abundance of species

BThey are abiotic factors that can influence the distribution and abundance of species

CThey are biotic and abiotic factors in the environment

DThey are physical factors that affect the distribution of plants, but not animals

A3.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA3

B. The items listed are only abiotic; abiotic factors affect both plants and animals.

Q4.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ4

Which of the following is true for the distribution of a particular species?

AIt does not usually vary much

BIt can be changed by human activities but not by natural processes

CIt is determined by the availability of its requirements

DIt tells us the numbers to be found in a particular area

A4.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA4

C. Availability of resources is critical to the distribution of species. The distribution of species can vary and may be affected by both human activities and natural processes.

Q5.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ5

seagrass -> fish -> pelicans

Pop. 1 Pop.2 Pop. 3

The diagram shows three populations that make up a food chain in a coastal marine ecosystem. If a new predator moves in that also feeds on fish, what might happen to the numbers in the three populations?

ANumbers of all three populations would decline

BNumbers in population 2 would decline but 1 and 3 would increase

CNumbers in population 1 would increase but 2 and 3 would decline

DNumbers in population 2 would decline but 1 and 3 would stay the same

A5.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA5

C. A second predator will decrease the number of fish (population 2). Fewer fish feeding on the seagrass will increase the numbers in population 2. Competition for fish and reduced numbers of fish will also lead to a decrease in population 3 (pelicans).

Q6.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ6

Why do we use transects and quadrats when studying population size?

ATo determine the number of organisms in an ecosystem

BTo ensure random sampling of an ecosystem

CTo estimate the distribution of a population

DTo estimate the abundance of a population

A6.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA6

D. Transects and quadrats do not give us numbers in a population but are a good indication of the abundance of organisms.

Q7.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ7

Why is aerobic cellular respiration an important process in ecosystems?

AIt transforms light energy into energy-rich organic compounds

BIt releases energy stored in organic compounds

CIt creates the energy that cells need

DIt involves a series of important chemical reactions in cells

A7.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA7

B. The significance of aerobic cellular respiration is in its energy-releasing capacity.

Q8.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ8

In an area of an ecosystem, a biologist estimated the following biomasses (V to Z represent populations of particular species):

V = 500 kg, W = 600 kg, X = 5000 kg, Y = 50 kg, Z = 5 kg

Which of the following represents a possible food chain in this ecosystem?

AV  W  X  Y

BZ  Y  V  X

CZ  Y  X W

DX  V  Y  Z

A8.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA8

D. This illustrates the pattern of decreasing biomass at each level, with greatest biomass at the bottom of the pyramid.

Q9.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ9

A tiny flatworm, Coavoluta roscoffensis, lives buried in the sand in the tidal zone of the seashore. It has a green alga living in its tissues. When the tide is out during the day, the worm comes to the surface. In the light, the green alga can photosynthesise. The flatworm lives on the starch produced as a result of photosynthesis by the alga. Which of the following best describes the relationship between the flatworm and the alga?

Amutualism

Bcommensalism

Cparasitism

Dpredator–prey

A9.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA9

A. Both the flatworm and the alga benefit from the association.

Q10.

Bk Ch1 Exam MQ10

What role do decomposers play in ecosystems?

ADecomposers are bacteria and fungi in soil and water

BDecomposers contribute to the recycling of materials

CDecomposers live on dead organic matter

DDecomposers are the end of the food chain

A10.

Bk Ch1 Exam MA10

B. Decomposers absorb nutrients from dead organism or waste materials and return organic matter to the soil.

Chapter 1 – Short answers

Q1.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ1

You are on a field trip to Cope Creek on the Bogong High Plains of Victoria to investigate the revegetation of areas where cattle are now excluded. Your task is to estimate the population of the silver snow daisy in a fenced plot. Outline a sampling technique that would allow you to estimate the plant population without counting every plant of that species in the plot.

A1.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA1

Mark out a 1 m  1 m quadrat chosen at random. Count the number of silver snow daisy plants within the quadrat. This figure will represent the number of plants per square metre. By comparing the quadrat to the total area in the fenced plot (that is, estimating the fraction of the total area that the quadrat represents) the total plant population within the area can be estimated. Repeating the process a number of times provides more reliable estimates.

Q2.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ2

Three species of small arthropods are found living in a river estuary. The diagram and graph below show the distribution of these species and the water salinity in the estuary.

aDescribe how the salinity of the water affects the distribution of each species.

bSuggest another environmental factor which may affect the distribution of each species.

A2.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA2

aThe range for species 1 is from the mouth of the estuary (where salinity is highest) to about 16 km upstream; it is the most salt tolerant of the three species represented. Species 2 is found between 16 and 24 km from the mouth of the estuary and the distribution of species 3, which is less salt tolerant than species 2, begins at 24 km from the mouth of the estuary.

bDaily tidal levels/water cover

Q3.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ3

Study the following two diagrams. Which diagram best represents the feeding relationships in a field? Give three reasons for your choice.

A3.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA3

The second diagram. It correctly represents a biomass pyramid. The greatest biomass is at the base of the pyramid, representing the producers in the feeding relationship. The biomass represented at one level is much greater than the biomass of the animals it produces in the next level. The organisms listed in a biomass pyramid reflect the flow of energy in food chains from the producer organisms at the base through each level to the top-order consumers.

Q4.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ4

Locust plagues are common in some inland areas of Australia, following seasons of good rainfall.

aDescribe the short term effect on an ecosystem of the arrival of the locust plague

bWhat is the long term effect on the ecosystem?

A4.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA4

aThe short term effect is serious; many plants will be destroyed and damaged. If cereal crops planted by farmers are destroyed then the farmers will suffer severe economic loss. The food supply of the herbivores in the ecosystem will be reduced, reducing their survival and reproductive rates. Habitats and nesting sites may be destroyed. There will be an increase in insectivore numbers in response to the increase in food availability

bIn the long term, the ecosystem will probably recover and the populations of organisms return to their original numbers.

Q5.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ5

Study the following cross-sectional diagram of a lake in summer.

aDescribe the relationship between depth and temperature.

biDescribe the relationship you would expect between depth and light penetration.

iiHow is light penetration likely to affect the distribution of plants in the lake?

iiiIn which layer (X, Y or Z) would you expect the greatest abundance of animal life? Explain your answer.

cIdentify two other physical factors that might affect the organisms living in the lake.

A5.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA5

aTemperature decreases as water depth increases.

biLight penetration would decrease with increased water depth.

iiPlants need sunlight for photosynthesis. It follows that since the greatest light intensity is closest to the surface of the water, the greatest number of plants will also be found at and close to the surface of the water. As water depth increases the number of plants will decrease.

iiiLayer X. The greatest concentration of animals will be found in the layer where their food sources are found. Animals rely either directly or indirectly on the plants for food, eating the plants or other animals that eat plants.

Q6.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ6

Study the following diagram.

a)Name the two processes X and Y represented in the diagram

b)Name substance A

c)List three uses of energy by the kangaroo

A6.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA6

aX = photosynthesis; Y = respiration

bA = Oxygen

cany 3 uses of energy eg. growth, repair and maintenance of cells, functioning of specialised cells such as muscles and nerves, synthesis of complex molecules, transport of materials round the body, maintaining body temperature.

Q7.

Bk Ch1 Exam SQ7

Study the food web shown in Figure 1.28.

aIdentify the producer organisms in this food web.

bDescribe three predator–prey relationships that are represented.

cGive an example of commensalism in this food web. Fully explain the relationship between the organisms you have listed.

dDraw a food pyramid that is representative of all of the organisms in the food web.

A7.

Bk Ch1 Exam SA7

aAlgae (phytoplankton)

bThe fish preys upon the zooplankton. The walrus preys upon the molluscs. The humans prey upon the whales. Many other correct examples can be drawn from the food web.

cThe relationship between the humans and the huskies can be described as symbiosis and, more specifically, commensalism. The huskies are used to help the Eskimos hunt and to pull cargo. The humans provide the huskies with food and shelter. Both kinds of organisms benefit from the relationship.

dFood pyramid:

Ch 1 Exam questionspage 1 of 7