Question 1

A healthy, balanced ecosystem has _______.a.fewer producers than consumersb.more quaternary consumers than primary consumersc.more producers than consumersd.fewer primary consumers than tertiary consumers

Accepted Answer

C. More producers than consumers

Question 2

If predators A and B prey upon the same species and predator A is eliminated, the population of predator B will likely __________.a.be eliminatedb.increasec.decreased.remain the same

Accepted Answer

B. Increase

Question 3

Quaternary consumers are not _______.a.consumersb.preyc.predatorsd.animals

Accepted Answer

B. Prey

Question 4

Explain how trees can be producers and yet the smallest trophic level in a pyramid of numbers.

Accepted Answer

Trees are very large compared to the organisms they support, such as insects, birds and rodents. A single tree has much more biomass than the consumers depending upon it, meaning it is still the base of biomass pyramids and pyramids of energy. Therefore even if they are fewer in number trees still occupy the producer level of the trophic pyramid.

Question 5

Explain why quaternary consumers occupy the top position in the pyramid of energy.

Accepted Answer

Energy is lost ascending each trophic level of the pyramid of energy. Therefore, when quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers, most of the energy stored in the tertiary consumers' bodies is lost and only 10-15% is passed on to the quaternary consumers. Quaternary consumers, meanwhile, occupy the top position in the pyramid of energy because nothing preys upon them in turn.

Question 6

Explain how the elimination of a predator from an ecosystem might result in starvation amongst its prey species.

Accepted Answer

If the primary predator of a prey species is eliminated, the prey species' population will increase to the point of overpopulating the ecosystem. This overpopulation will result in depletion of the prey species' food supplies as more individuals compete for the same resources and can ultimately lead to the prey species starving.

Question 7

In order to look for their prey, owls _______.a.turn their headb.move their eyesc.turn their eyes and head separatelyd.move their body

Accepted Answer

A. Turn their head

Question 8

Explain the importance of decomposers to a food web and their interaction with quaternary consumers.

Accepted Answer

Decomposers recycle the nutrients in dead organisms allowing it to completely travel through the food web cycle, from producer, to consumer and back again. Without decomposers, dead organic matter would accumulate in an ecosystem until it reached harmful levels. This recycling also applies to quaternary consumers, the predators that generally have no natural enemies, allowing the nutrients in their bodies to be recycled.

Question 9

Explain what distinguishes primary and secondary consumers.

Accepted Answer

Primary consumers such as herbivores only feed on producers. Secondary consumers are predators and feed on primary consumers. The principal difference between the two trophic levels is what they consume.

Question 10

Rabbits are best described as _______.a.producersb.primary consumersc.secondary consumersd.tertiary consumers

Accepted Answer

B. Primary consumers

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