Pearson science 9

Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

Name: _____________________ Class:__________ Date:__________

Instructions: Write answers in the right-hand column. Score: ___________ / 50 marks

Section A— Multiple choice (10 marks)

1 Where organisms live together and both benefit from the relationship, the
interaction is classified as:
A mutualism A
B commensalism
C competition
D parasitism 1
2 Producers are vital in ecosystems because:
A they can make the food materials they need
B animals can consume them D
C they can use sunlight to use up carbon dioxide
D they are the only organisms that can make food materials 1
3 Which reaction introduces chemical energy into the ecosystem and therefore
supports almost all the life on Earth?
A respiration B
B photosynthesis
C breathing
D decomposition 1
4 Some materials can be harmful to the organisms in the food web. Which of
the following explains why DDT is particularly dangerous in food webs?
A It kills insects when it is sprayed on them. B
B It accumulates and concentrates while passing along a food chain.
C It becomes more poisonous when it passes through a living thing.
D DDT is a toxic chemical and any toxic chemical is dangerous to use. 1
5 Look at the food chain shown. Using the information in the food chain,
determine which statement is NOT a correct inference.
clover  caterpillar  lizard  kookaburra
D
A The lizard consumes the caterpillar.
B The clover is the producer.
C The kookaburra is dependent on the clover.
D There would be a greater mass of kookaburras than lizards. 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

6 When green plants capture light energy they make glucose. Most of this
glucose is then used in:
A respiration A
B making new cells
C growing
D photosynthesis 1
7 From the following lists, choose the one that only contains physical (abiotic)
factors.
A rainfall, sunlight, competition, soil nutrients
B temperature, wind speed, predation, humidity C
C soil moisture, sunlight, air temperature, soil texture
D pollination, parasitism, humidity, soil humus content
1
8 Choose which of the following best describes what ecologists study.
A interactions between organisms that affect their survival
B a list of the organisms in a community and their abiotic surroundings D
C the biotic and abiotic factors in a habitat that affect survival
D the interactions between organisms and their non-living surroundings 1
9 The chemical reactions of photosynthesis involve:
A oxygen and water combining to form sugar and carbon dioxide
B carbon dioxide and water combining to form sugar and oxygen B
C oxygen and carbon dioxide combining to form sugar and water
D carbon dioxide and sugar combining to form oxygen and water 1
10 A community consists of:
A the organisms in an ecosystem and their physical surroundings
B the habitat and environment of all the different populations in an C
ecosystem
C all the organisms in an ecosystem
D the habitat and abiotic factors in an environment 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

Section B— Short answer (30 marks)

1 Examine the food chain shown below. a water weed

water weed  tadpole  b tadpole
moorhen  swamp harrier c swamp harrier
For this food chain, identify the:
a producer
b herbivore
c third order consumer 3
2 Define biodiversity and give one High biodiversity means lots of species
reason why it is important in a in an ecosystem.
sustainable natural ecosystem. Biodiversity allows the ecosystem to
resist environmental changes such as
variations in weather and invasion by
foreign species. 2
3 Demonstrate how frogs would be Frogs lay eggs in water and these hatch
affected by both the biotic and abiotic into tadpoles. Without the water they
environments. cannot reproduce. Water is an abiotic
factor.
Frogs are eaten by birds and snakes,
which are biotic factors.
2
4 Consider the food chain shown below. At each link in the chain, the organism
leaves  caterpillar uses most of the energy in its food in
maintaining itself. Only about 10% ends
honeyeater  brown hawk
up stored in its body cells. So at each
The total energy in the leaves is much link, 90% of the energy is lost to the
greater than the energy received by the next link.
hawk. Describe the main reason why
energy in the cells of the leaves may
not reach the hawks. 3

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

5 Describe four major ways in which Any four such as:

humans damage ecosystems. Habitat destruction – clearing land to
build and grow food removes habitat
for native species.
Introduced species – compete with
native species, prey on them or
destroy habitat.
Pesticides – can kill beneficial
species and may accumulate in food
webs.
Overcropping – removing more
individuals from the population than
can be replaced by breeding.
Chemical pollution – toxic chemicals
that kill species. 4
6 Compare how matter and energy flow Matter recycles – decomposers return
through an ecosystem. the material to the soil and air for reuse
by plants.
Energy does not recycle – it is
progressively lost along food chains. 2
7 Clarify two reasons why natural Any two of:
ecosystems should be protected. Survival – destroying natural
ecosystems could destroy our life
support systems such as food crops
and fish stocks.
Economics – they can earn money
via tourism or may supply us in the
future with new chemicals for
medicines, etc.
Culture – they contain species that
are part of our national identity such
as kangaroos and emus.
Compassion – only humans
understand the threat to life on the
planet so we have a responsibility to
protect it. 4

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

8 Consider the following diagram During the day plants photosynthesise,

showing oxygen changes in a lake over releasing oxygen.
a day. Consumers respire all day and night,
using oxygen.
During the day the amount produced
must be greater than the amount
consumed. (Or could say: Therefore the
amount of photosynthesis is greater than
respiration.)

Propose why the amount of oxygen

changes in the lake over the day,
mentioning both photosynthesis and
respiration in your answer. 3
9 Eucalypts are adapted to withstand a thick bark, lignotubers
fires and yet they have some features (underground stems)
that encourage fires to spread. b oil glands in the leaves, stringy
a Identify two features of bark that hangs down to the
eucalypts that enable them to ground
survive fires. c Eucalypts can survive the fires
b Identify two features of better than other plants so
eucalypts that encourage fires to encouraging the fires to spread
spread. removes the competing plants so
that eucalypts can regrow much
c Explain how these features
quicker and take over the area.
together can explain the success
of eucalypts as a dominant plant
of the Australian vegetation. 4

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

10 Explain why decomposers are vitally They recycle chemicals between the
important in a sustainable ecosystem. living and non-living environments.
For example, they return chemicals that
are needed by producers to the soil. This
keeps the ecosystem functioning
because it will not run out of resources.

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

Section C— Thinking scientifically (10 marks)

1 A soil sample was analysed and four species of animal were found. The
approximate numbers of each animal in the soil sample are shown below.
species W: 2 000 000
species X: 2
species Y: 2000
B
species W: 20 000
Deduce which species is likely to be the highest order consumer.
A W
B X
C Y
D Z 1
2 Consider the food chain shown below.
wheat  mouse  snake  kookaburra
If the wheat eaten by the mouse contains 1000 units of energy, calculate
approximately how many units of energy will the kookaburra receive.
B
A 1
B 10
C 100
D 1000 1
3 Consider the food chain shown below.
phytoplankton  zooplankton  small fish  large fish  sea eagles
Identify which of the following correctly describes the role of the
zooplankton and large fish.
zooplankton large fish C
A producer third order consumer
B first order consumer fourth order consumer
C first order consumer third order consumer
D second order consumer fourth order consumer 1
4 Identify which of the following is a structural adaptation of a kangaroo.
A On very hot days it licks its forearms to allow them to cool by
evaporation. D
B It hides in caves or under trees on hot days.
C It digs to find water in dry creek beds.
D It has a long heavy tail that balances its body when it hops. 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

5 Many fish, such as sharks and barracuda, are often streamlined, meaning
they are very smooth and shaped a bit like a bullet. Identify the physical
factor that this adaptation helps them cope with.
A Water is quite ‘thick’ compared with air and is hard to swim through. A
B Water is cold and fish need a small surface in contact with it so they
don’t freeze.
C Predators cannot see them well if they are long and thin.
D Fish can hide from predators in narrow spaces if they are long and thin. 1
6 The following table compares the physical factors in a rain forest with a
beach sand dune environment.
Physical factor Rain forest Beach sand dunes
Soil movement Soil fairly stable – plants do Soil moves around rapidly
not become buried burying plants
Salt content Low salt content in soil High salt content soil
Soil water Lots of moisture Very little moisture
Soil fertility Moderate to low in nutrients Low in nutrients
B
Wind Wind speed low Strong winds
Identify which the type of plant would grow best in a beach environment.
A a fern that requires a lot of moisture and that dries out easily in the wind
B a plant with very fast-growing underground stems that can tolerate
drying out and being buried
C a fast-growing tree that requires moderate soil moisture, can tolerate salt
but that does not survive being battered by wind-blown particles
D a climbing vine that grows in the shade and needs very high humidity in
the air 1
7 Following are some strategies that help solve some environmental problems.
Identify which strategy correctly matches to the problem it solves.
Answer Strategy Environmental problem solved
A Organic farming Introduced species B
B National parks and reserves Habitat destruction
C Quarantine laws Chemical pesticides
D Biological control Overcropping 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

8 Two species of water animal were placed in a tank and the numbers of each
were recorded over two weeks. The population sizes are shown in the graph
below.

Propose which of the following seems a reasonable deduction.

A Species 1 ate species 2.
B Species 2 ate species 1.
C Both species 1 and 2 were eaten by a predator.
D Species 1 and 2 were in competition. 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6
Pearson science 9
Chapter 9 Test
Ecosystems

9 Consider the graph shown below that shows the changes in population size
of two different organisms that live in water. Propose which of the following
seems a reasonable deduction.

A Species X ate species Y.

B Species Y ate species X.
C Both species X and Y were eaten by a predator.
D Species X and Y were in competition. 1
10 Consider the following food web.

If there were a disease that killed most of the leaf blister caterpillar
population, choose which of the following is the most likely effect on the
food web.
A The number of bees would increase.
B The biomass of eucalypts would decrease.
C Wasp numbers would decline.
D More leaf miners would survive. 1

Copyright © Pearson Australia 2012 (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) ISBN 978 1 4425 2361 6