MCAS Ecology Review (2023)

3

Match the vocabulary to the definition

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Mutualism		Relationship where both organisms benefit
Commensalism		Relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Parasitism		Relationship where one organism harms another

3

Match the word with the definition

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Emigration		Amount of organisms that enter a population
Carrying capacity		Amount of organisms that exit a population
Immigration		The maximum number of organisms that an area can support

1

Look at the food web below to answer the following question:

What would happen to the hawk population if there was a decrease in grouse population?

1

Determine how much energy is transferred to the ladybug, if plants contain 50,000 calories

1

Remora fish can attach themselves to larger aquatic animals, such as whales. When the whales eat, the fish detach themselves and eat leftover scraps of food. These fish do not harm or help the whales.
What is the ecological relationship between the remora fish and the whales?

1

The Karner blue butterfly has been listed as an endangered species since 1992. Karner blue butterfly larvae feed only on wild lupine plants, which require a habitat with dry soil and exposure to direct sunlight.
Which of the following would be the best habitat for wild lupine that could help Karner blue butterfly populations recover?

1

Which of the following statements best describes how an increase in the size of a mammal population could be related to a large surplus of food?

1

The graph below shows the estimated number of orca whales off the coast of Washington State over a 20-year period
Which of the following best explains the orca population changes between 1996 and 2002?

1

Based on the energy pyramid, how much energy would be stored in the tertiary consumers in this ecosystem?

1

Corn is one of the most important crops grown in the United States. Corn, which is mostly starch, is used as a food source for humans and other animals.

Humans first developed corn as a food crop over 8000 years ago. These early farmers produced corn by selectively breeding a wild grass called teosinte. The kernels of teosinte have a hard coating that makes them difficult for humans to eat. A key step in developing corn as a food crop was selecting individual plants that produced kernels without this coating so that they could more easily be used as a food source. The illustrations show the kernels on an ear of corn and the kernels on an ear of teosinte.

Corn and teosinte share the scientific name Zea mays. A single gene with two alleles codes for kernel coating (H) or no kernel coating (h) in Zea mays. To determine the inheritance pattern of this gene, scientists crossed teosinte that is true-breeding (homozygous) for kernel coating and domestic corn that is true-breeding for no kernel coating to produce offspring with partially formed kernel coatings. The three phenotypes and their genotypes are shown in the table.

This question has three parts.
Corn plants produce their own food through a chemical process.

1

MCAS Ecology Review (2023)

Match the vocabulary to the definition

Match the word with the definition

Look at the food web below to answer the following question:What would happen to the hawk population if there was a decrease in grouse population?

Determine how much energy is transferred to the ladybug, if plants contain 50,000 calories

Remora fish can attach themselves to larger aquatic animals, such as whales. When the whales eat, the fish detach themselves and eat leftover scraps of food. These fish do not harm or help the whales.What is the ecological relationship between the remora fish and the whales?

Which of the following statements best describes how an increase in the size of a mammal population could be related to a large surplus of food?

The graph below shows the estimated number of orca whales off the coast of Washington State over a 20-year periodWhich of the following best explains the orca population changes between 1996 and 2002?

Based on the energy pyramid, how much energy would be stored in the tertiary consumers in this ecosystem?

This question has three parts.

A major reservior for oxygen is the atmosphere. Which of the following processes adds oxygen to the atmosphere?

Match the vocabulary to the definition

Match the word with the definition

Look at the food web below to answer the following question:What would happen to the hawk population if there was a decrease in grouse population?

Determine how much energy is transferred to the ladybug, if plants contain 50,000 calories

Remora fish can attach themselves to larger aquatic animals, such as whales. When the whales eat, the fish detach themselves and eat leftover scraps of food. These fish do not harm or help the whales.What is the ecological relationship between the remora fish and the whales?

Which of the following statements best describes how an increase in the size of a mammal population could be related to a large surplus of food?

The graph below shows the estimated number of orca whales off the coast of Washington State over a 20-year periodWhich of the following best explains the orca population changes between 1996 and 2002?

In this food web, which organism is both a primary and secondary consumer?

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.A law passed that results in less fishing in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Chemical runoff from a factory kills small fish and crabs

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Warmer ocean temperatures cause more algae in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Invasive species of sea star preys on sea urchins in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.More sharks migrate to the area

Based on the energy pyramid, how much energy would be stored in the tertiary consumers in this ecosystem?

Select two factors that are responsible for the inefficiency of energy transfer from one trophic level to another.

This question has three parts.

Which equation correctly shows how the chemical reaction corn plants use to make energy?

Identify the source that provides energy for the chemical reaction for photosynthesis.

How do human cells use the products from photosynthesis?

A major reservior for oxygen is the atmosphere. Which of the following processes adds oxygen to the atmosphere?

In this food web, which organism is both a primary and secondary consumer?

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.A law passed that results in less fishing in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Chemical runoff from a factory kills small fish and crabs

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Warmer ocean temperatures cause more algae in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.Invasive species of sea star preys on sea urchins in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.More sharks migrate to the area

Select two factors that are responsible for the inefficiency of energy transfer from one trophic level to another.

Which equation correctly shows how the chemical reaction corn plants use to make energy?

Identify the source that provides energy for the chemical reaction for photosynthesis.

How do human cells use the products from photosynthesis?

Look at the food web below to answer the following question:

What would happen to the hawk population if there was a decrease in grouse population?

Remora fish can attach themselves to larger aquatic animals, such as whales. When the whales eat, the fish detach themselves and eat leftover scraps of food. These fish do not harm or help the whales.
What is the ecological relationship between the remora fish and the whales?

The graph below shows the estimated number of orca whales off the coast of Washington State over a 20-year period
Which of the following best explains the orca population changes between 1996 and 2002?

Look at the food web below to answer the following question:

What would happen to the hawk population if there was a decrease in grouse population?

Remora fish can attach themselves to larger aquatic animals, such as whales. When the whales eat, the fish detach themselves and eat leftover scraps of food. These fish do not harm or help the whales.
What is the ecological relationship between the remora fish and the whales?

The graph below shows the estimated number of orca whales off the coast of Washington State over a 20-year period
Which of the following best explains the orca population changes between 1996 and 2002?

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
A law passed that results in less fishing in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Chemical runoff from a factory kills small fish and crabs

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Warmer ocean temperatures cause more algae in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Invasive species of sea star preys on sea urchins in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
More sharks migrate to the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
A law passed that results in less fishing in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Chemical runoff from a factory kills small fish and crabs

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Warmer ocean temperatures cause more algae in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
Invasive species of sea star preys on sea urchins in the area

Determine if the following situation will lead to an increase or decrease in sea otter population.
More sharks migrate to the area