1. Each of the following is an abiotic factor in the environment EXCEPT
plant life
soil type
Rainfall
temperature

2. Which is a biotic factor that affects the size of a population in a specific ecosystem?
average temperature of the ecosystem
type of soil in the ecosystem
number and kinds of predators in the ecosystem
concentration of oxygen in the ecosystem

3. During a long period when there is no rainfall, a mountain lion may temporarily leave its usual hunting territory to drink from a farm pond. This behavior is probably due to
its need to find different foods to eat
the change in an abiotic factor in its environment
its need to find a new habitat
the change in a biotic factor in its environment

4. An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is called
Competition
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Predation

5. A symbiosis in which both species benefit is
Commensalism
Mutualism
Competition
Parasitism

6. The symbiotic relationship between a flower and the insect that feeds on its nectar is an example of
mutualism because the flower provides the insect with food, and the insect pollinates the flower
parasitism because the insect lives off the nectar from the flower
commensalism because the insect does not harm the flower and the flower does not benefit from the relationship
predation because the insect feeds on the flower

7. When individuals in a population reproduce at a constant rate, it is called
logistic growth
growth density
exponential growth
multiple growth

8. As resources in a population become less available, population growth
declines rapidly
increases slowly
reaches carrying capacity
enters a phase of exponential growth

9. In a logistic growth curve, exponential growth is the phase in which the population
reaches carrying capacity
grows quickly and few animals are dying
growth begins to slow down
growth stops

10. A biotic or an abiotic resource in the environment that causes population size to decrease is a
carrying capacity
limiting nutrient
limiting factor
growth factor

11. All of the following are limiting factors EXCEPT
Immigration
Competition
Predation
Human disturbances

12. If a population grows larger than the carrying capacity of the environment, the
death rate may rise
birthrate may rise
death rate must fall
birthrate must fall

13. Which of the following is characteristic of parasitism?
One organism kills and consumes another.
Two organisms live together and neither is harmed
Two organisms feed side by side from the same food.
One organism lives in or on another and benefits. 

14. An ecosystem is made up of:
living things only
Physical environment only
living things and the physical environment
living things and decaying matter

15. When a rabbit population in a meadow cannot grow any larger, it has reached the
Climax community
Carrying capacity
Limiting factor
Minimum size

16. A population of rabbits is at its carrying capacity when the population
Reproduces
becomes extinct
stops growing
can’t survive

17. An unusually cold winter causes the squirrel population to decrease
An unusually cold winter causes the squirrel population to decrease. This is an example of temperature as a
carrying capacity
Limiting factor
Climax community
Pattern in space

18. Many individuals of the same species living together in a
Many individuals of the same species living together in a defined area form a/an 
Community
Ecosystem
Population
Biome

19. Which of the following is characteristic of parasitism?
One organism kills and consumes another.
Two organisms live together and neither is harmed
One organism lives in or on another and benefits.
Two organisms nourish each other; both benefit.

20. Which list of terms is in the correct order, from simplest to most complex?
organism, community, population, ecosystem, biome
organism, population, community, biome, ecosystem
organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome
organism, community, ecosystem, population, biome

21. All the leopard frogs in a pond make up the pond’s leopard frog:
Population
Niche
Habitat
Community

22. Biotic factors in an ecosystem may include:
bacteria, soil, and water
plants, animals, and bacteria
temperature, water, and soil
animals, fungi, and temperature

23. Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism Predation
Certain bacteria living in a human's large intestine help to produce vitamin K. This relationship is an example of
Parasitism
Mutualism
Commensalism
Predation

24. An herbivore population may
oscillate up and down as its major predator increases and decreases in number.
exceed its carrying capacity if its major predator is removed.
exceed its carrying capacity when it is introduced to a new community.
all of the above are true.

25. Which of the following IS NOT an example of mutualism?
a flowering plant and its pollinator species
a host species and its parasite.
root fungi (mycorrhizae) and tree species
nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their host species