Content Benchmark L.8.C.4

Content Benchmark L.8.C.4

Content Benchmark L.8.C.4

Students know inter-related factors affect the number and type of organisms an ecosystem can support. E/S

Sample Test Questions

1st Item Specification: Understand that inter-related factors include both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Which of the following is a biotic factor?
  2. The pH of a soil sample.
  3. Bacteria present in a water sample.
  4. Levels of nutrients present in soil.
  5. The changing of tides in the ocean.
  1. Which of the following would NOT be considered an abiotic activity?
  2. The melting of ice in the spring.
  3. Oxygen dissolving in moving water.
  4. Production of air pollution by humans.
  5. The process of photosynthesis.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Fire is most important in maintaining what biome listed below?
  2. Grasslands
  3. Tundra
  4. Deciduous forests
  5. Deserts
  1. What paired factors below are the most important in determining the type of vegetation that is present in a natural ecosystem?
  2. Soil and water
  3. Landforms and soil
  4. Water and temperature
  5. Temperature and soil

2nd Item Specification: Predict and recognize the effect of a change in the inter-related factors in an ecosystem.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Use the diagram below to answer the next question.

The graph below shows the changes of two fish populations in a pond.

Source:

Which of the following wouldNOTbe a reason for the decline in Fish A?

  1. Fish A produced less offspring than Fish B.
  2. Fish A couldnot compete with Fish B for the same food.
  3. Fish B began to prey upon Fish A.
  4. Fish B resisted a new disease but A did not.
  1. Use the graphs below to answer the next question.

1 2 3 4

A herbivore has been living in balance with its environment for years. Then a drought occurred and lasted for several years. Which graph from above would best represent the population of this herbivore during this period?

  1. Graph 1
  2. Graph 2
  3. Graph 3
  4. Graph 4

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Use the diagram below to answer the next question.

Which of the following outcome is MOST likely to occur if a disease reduced the number of frogs in this food web?The number of

  1. foxes would remain the same.
  2. snakes would be reduced.
  3. grasses would increase.
  4. beetles would drop.
  1. A farmer decides to place less nitrogen fertilizer on his corn fields. Which of the following consequences would LEAST likelyto happen?
  2. His corn plants would show decreased growth.
  3. His nearby pond would show greater algae growth.
  4. The number of weeds in the fields would decrease.
  5. There would be a greater need for other essential elements.

3rd Item Specification: Understand that populations of organisms have specific adaptations that help them survive in an ecosystem and explain why an organismcould/could not survive in a particular environment (e.g. due to specific adaptations, carrying capacity, and available biotic and abioticresources.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Which of the following adaptations wouldLEAST likely help a plant survive in a hot, dry environment?
  2. Open their stomata at night.
  3. Grow long shallow roots.
  4. Have needles instead of leaves.
  5. Have thin large leaves on branches.
  1. Which of the following adaptations wouldLEAST likely help an animal survive in a dry environment?
  2. Be nocturnal.
  3. Spend time in shady places.
  4. Keep a constant body temperature.
  5. Drink little water.

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Use the brief habitat description below to answer the next question.

This habitat is characterized with low rainfall and hot days. Evenings are cool and short.

Which adaptation below would be the LEAST helpful to organisms living in this habitat?

  1. Plants have long roots just below the surface.
  2. Plants have large leaves to capture sunlight.
  3. Animals are active at night rather than the day.
  4. Animals drink small amounts of water.
  1. Use the brief habitat description below to answer the next question.

This habitat has short summers and long winters. The ground is frozen much of the year. Summers are cool and windy.

Which adaptation would be the LEAST helpful to organisms living in this habitat?

  1. Animals migrate to other habitats in the winter.
  2. Animals will hibernate for most of the winter.
  3. Plants often grow close to the ground.
  4. Plants have many long and deep roots.

4th Item Specification: Know living organisms compete for resources in an ecosystem and the amount of available resources limits the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

Depth of Knowledge Level 1

  1. Which of the following factors would LEAST effect the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
  2. Amount of food available to living organisms
  3. Presence of water
  4. Available habitats for shelter
  5. Temperature of the atmosphere
  1. Which of the following factors would have the greatest impact on reducing the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
  2. Competition from another organism.
  3. The population size remains stable.
  4. Available habitats for shelter.
  5. Stable rainfall and temperatures.
  1. Use the graph below to answer the next question. The graph shows the number of organisms in an area over time.

Source:

During which year did the population reach its carrying capacity?

  1. Year 2
  2. Year 3
  3. Year 6
  4. Year 7

Depth of Knowledge Level 2

  1. Use the carrying capacity graph below to answer the next question.

This graph shows the carrying capacity for a population of grass eating animals on the Great Plains of the United States.

Source:

Which explanation below is the best reason why the carrying capacity dropped during years 4 to 7?

  1. The animals beganto migrate to another area in year 4.
  2. The animals began to have fewer offspring between years 3 and 4.
  3. A group of non-grass eating animals moved into this area in beginning in year 3.
  4. The area began to experience drought conditions in year 4.
  1. Use the graph below to answer the next question.

Source:

Which of the following situationsMOST likely produced this population of deer on WallaWallaIsland?

  1. Deer predators were removed from the island before the deer arrived.
  2. The deer overgrazed the grasses immediately upon their arrival to the island.
  3. After a period of time the deer adjusted to the available food on the island.
  4. The deer contracted a new disease just after their arrival on the island.

Constructed Response Question L.8.C.4

1. The data below shows the growth of rabbits in a new grassland habitat.

Year / Population Size
1 / 0
2 / 2
3 / 3
4 / 5
5 / 12
6 / 23
7 / 24
8 / 25
9 / 24
10 / 18

A. Use the data above to graph the growth of the rabbits over the ten year period. Be sure to correctly label the X and Y axes.

B. What is meant by the term carrying capacity? Identify on the graph where the carrying capacity for the rabbits occurs.

C. Identify two abiotic and two biotic factors that can affect the carrying capacity of this grassland habit and explain their affect.

Content Benchmark L.8.C.4

Students know inter-related factors affect the number and type of organisms an ecosystem can support. E/S

Answers to Sample Test Questions

  1. B, DOK Level 1
  2. D, DOK Level 1
  3. A, DOK Level 2
  4. C, DOK Level 2
  5. A, DOK Level 1
  6. C, DOK Level 1
  7. B, DOK Level 2
  8. B, DOK Level 2
  9. D, DOK Level 1
  10. C, DOK Level 1
  11. B, DOK Level 2
  12. D, DOK Level 2
  13. D, DOK Level 1
  14. A, DOK Level 1
  15. B, DOK Level 1
  16. D, DOK Level 2
  17. C, DOK Level 2

Constructed Response L.8.C.4 Score Rubric:

3 points / Response addresses all parts of the question clearly and correctly.
The student’s graph matches the graph shown above. The student’s graph must show the title and correct labels for the x-axis and y-axis.Define the carrying capacity as the number of organisms that an environment or ecosystem can support. The student should indicate the years between 6 and 10 would represent the carrying capacity. The student could list the climate or specific aspects like temperature or precipitation (rainfall); soil type or soil nutrients; or availability of space or water. Biotic factors include predation, diseases and competition.
2 points / Response addresses all parts of the question and includes only minor errors.
1 point / Response does not address all parts of the question.
0 Points / Response is totally incorrect or no response provided.