Carrying Capacity and Food Chains

Multiple Choice

1. Define carrying capacity.

a) The maximum number of organisms that an ecosystem can support indefinitely.

b) The minimum number of organisms that an ecosystem can support indefinitely.

c) The number of organisms that an ecosystem can support for a short period of time.

d) The number of organisms that an ecosystem can support regardless of external factors.

2. Which of the following factors can impact carrying capacity?

a) Food availability

b) Water availability

c) Predation

d) All of the above

3. Which of the following is a correct example of a food chain?

a) Grass → Deer → Lion

b) Sun → Grass → Cow → Human

c) Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake

d) Water → Fish → Bird

4. What is the primary source of energy in most food chains?

a) Water

b) Sunlight

c) Air

d) Soil

5. What is a trophic level?

a) The position of an organism in a food chain.

b) The number of organisms in a food chain.

c) The type of organisms in a food chain.

d) The amount of energy in a food chain.

6. What happens to energy as it moves up the trophic levels in a food chain?

a) It decreases.

b) It increases.

c) It stays the same.

d) It becomes more concentrated.

7. Which of the following is an example of a decomposer?

a) Grass

b) Deer

c) Bacteria

d) Snake

8. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

a) A food chain shows only one possible path of energy flow, while a food web shows all possible paths.

b) A food chain shows all possible paths of energy flow, while a food web shows only one possible path.

c) A food chain and a food web are the same thing.

d) A food web includes only primary consumers, while a food chain includes all consumers.

9. What is the role of a producer in a food chain or food web?

a) To eat other organisms.

b) To break down dead organisms.

c) To convert sunlight into food energy.

d) To provide shelter for other organisms.

10. What happens to the biomass of an ecosystem as you move up the trophic levels?

a) It increases.

b) It decreases.

c) It stays the same.

d) It becomes more complex.

Fill in the Blank

1. ___________ is the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support.
2. ___________ is the process by which one organism is eaten by another organism.
3. A food chain always starts with a ___________ that converts energy from the sun into food.
4. The ___________ is the organism at the top of the food chain.
5. As energy flows up the food chain, only about ___________ of the energy is transferred from one level to the next.
6. The ___________ is the organism that is eaten by the predator.
7. When the prey population is reduced, the predator population will ___________.
8. A food web is a series of interconnected ___________.
9. In a food web, arrows are used to show the direction of ___________ flow.
10. When the carrying capacity of an ecosystem is reached, the population will ___________ or decrease.

Short Answer

1. Define carrying capacity and explain why it is important to consider in ecosystems.
2. Describe the difference between a food chain and a food web.
3. Identify three different types of organisms that could be found in a food chain.
4. Explain what happens to a food chain if one species is removed from the chain.
5. What is the relationship between the predator and prey populations in an ecosystem?
6. Describe two different factors that could cause a population to exceed its carrying capacity.
7. Explain how humans can impact carrying capacity in ecosystems.
8. Describe the impact of climate change on food chains and carrying capacity.
9. What is an ecological niche, and how does it relate to carrying capacity?
10. Provide an example of a real-world ecosystem and describe the carrying capacity for one of the species within that ecosystem.

Answers

Multiple Choice

1. a
2. d
3. c
4. b
5. a
6. a
7. c
8. a
9. c
10. b

Fill in the Blank

1. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem can support.
2. Predation is the process by which one organism is eaten by another organism.
3. A food chain always starts with a producer that converts energy from the sun into food.
4. The apex predator is the organism at the top of the food chain.
5. As energy flows up the food chain, only about 10% of the energy is transferred from one level to the next (also acceptable: 10-20%).
6. The prey is the organism that is eaten by the predator.
7. When the prey population is reduced, the predator population will decrease.
8. A food web is a series of interconnected food chains.
9. In a food web, arrows are used to show the direction of energy flow.
10. When the carrying capacity of an ecosystem is reached, the population will stabilize or decrease.

Short Answer

1. Explain the concept of carrying capacity and provide at least three examples of how it can affect an ecosystem.
2. Compare and contrast a food chain and a food web. Provide examples of each and explain the benefits and limitations of each structure.
3. Describe the four different levels of the trophic structure and give examples of organisms that are found at each level. Explain the energy transfer process that occurs between the different levels.
4. Using an example food chain, explain what happens when one species is removed from the chain. What impact does this have on the other organisms in the chain and the overall ecosystem?
5. Describe the relationship between predator and prey populations in an ecosystem. Explain how this relationship can be influenced by carrying capacity and other factors.
6. Explain how human activities can impact carrying capacity and the food chain in ecosystems. Provide examples of how humans have negatively impacted ecosystems through overconsumption, pollution, and other means.
7. Discuss the impact of climate change on food chains and carrying capacity. Explain how climate change affects different levels of the trophic structure and what the long-term consequences may be.
8. What is an ecological niche, and how does it relate to carrying capacity? Provide examples of how different species can occupy different niches within the same ecosystem.
9. Using a real-world ecosystem, describe the carrying capacity for one of the species within that ecosystem. Explain what factors influence the carrying capacity of the ecosystem and what impact changes to that ecosystem may have on the species in question.
10. Finally, discuss the importance of maintaining balanced food chains and carrying capacity in ecosystems. Explain why it is important for humans to protect the environment and the consequences that may occur if we do not.