Ecology STAAR Questions
Quiz by Amanda Jones
High School
Biology(2017)(ARCHIVED)
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
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8 questions
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- Q1The Indian leaf butterfly has traits that allow it to resemble a leaf. The bright colors of the monarch butterfly indicate that the butterfly tastes bad and can be poisonous. How does the appearance of these butterflies help them to survive?The Indian leaf butterfly frightens predators away while the monarch butterfly poisons predators before they can eat it.Both butterflies cooperate with one another to avoid predation.Both butterflies rely on camouflage to avoid predation.The Indian leaf butterfly is able to avoid predators while the monarch butterfly warns predators away.60sBIOL.12b
- Q2Which of these best demonstrates mutualism between certain types of bacteria and humans?Invasive bacteria at an area of injury produce toxins that damage healthy tissues of the human body.Intestinal bacteria obtain nutrients from the gut and produce vitamin K used by humans.Bacteria become resistant to antibacterial medication that humans use for treatment.Bacteria in improperly prepared food is consumed by humans, causing food poisoning.60sBIOL.12a
- Q3In the mid-1980s an aggressive strain of algae known as Caulerpa was accidentally introduced into the Mediterranean Sea when a seaside aquarium cleaned out its tanks. The algae contains a toxin that prevents native herbivores from consuming it. Caulerpa quickly spread over the sea floor, crowding out many species including sponges, corals, sea fans, and lobsters. Which statement explains the most likely impact Caulerpa has had on the biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea?The spread of Caulerpa improved the habitat for many species of sea grasses, and increased the biodiversity.Caulerpa interbred with native species with the same adaptations within the ecosystem.The presence of Caulerpa within an ecosystem is an indicator of the ecosystem's health.Caulerpa became dominant within the ecosystem and reduced the biodiversity60sBIOL.12e
- Q4The table lists some organisms found in a swamp ecosystem and their sources of energy. When constructing an energy pyramid of the swamp ecosystem, which of these would be placed at the top of the pyramid?Grass carpAmerican alligatorGreat blue heronEastern mud turtle60sBIOL.12c
- Q5Scientists have observed many types of tropical fish moving beyond their traditional ocean ranges into waters that have historically been more temperate. These fish compete for food with native fish, consuming much from the kelp forests and beds of sea grass. The expansion of the ranges of tropical fish was most likely caused by -the rising temperatures of ocean watersglobal droughts that raise the salt concentration of ocean watersagricultural runoff that contributes to dead zones in the oceanacid rain pollution that lowers the pH of ocean waters60sBIOL.12e
- Q6In North American forests, two species of birds, nuthatches and brown creepers, forage on the same trees for insects. Brown creepers feed on insects found near the bottom of the tree trunk, while nuthatches feed on insects in the top part of the tree. The difference in foraging behavior most likely affects the nuthatches and brown creepers by -allowing the birds to avoid many types of predatorsreducing competition between the birds for resourcesestablishing dominance between the birds for nesting sitespreventing the birds from interbreeding with each other60sBIOL.12a
- Q7As part of the nitrogen cycle, animals acquire some amino acids by doing which of the following?Breathing airProducing wasteEating plantsDrinking water60sBIOL.12d
- Q8A partial meadow food web is shown. Based on this food web, which organisms are direct sources of energy for secondary consumers?Aphid Bird RabbitLadybug Fox DragonflyFrog Butterfly BerriesMouse Snake Hawk60sBIOL.12c
