SOL 4.5 Ecosystems

Which of these fish has a mouth shape that best allows it to find food hidden in the cracks of rocks and coral?
(2001 test -question 5)
Bright and unusual fish markings can warn other fish to stay away. Which of these fish probably is the most dangerous to its predators?
(2002 test – question 33)
The picture shows some caddis fly larvae. These larvae cover themselves with small twigs and pebbles. What is the advantage of this behavior?
(2007 test – question 15)
1. They can eat the twigs.
2. They are hidden from predators.
3. They can crawl on the bottom of creeks.
4. They are able to keep warm.
A porcupine has sharp quills that protect it from predators. Which of these is a behavioral adaptation of porcupines that makes the quills more effective for protection?
(2006 test – question 1)
1. Using sharp teeth to cut twigs and leaves
2. Climbing to the very tops of trees to eat
3. Making an underground nest for young
4. Curling up into a ball when threatened
Blue whales have no teeth. Instead, they have rows of bristled strands that look like a broom, called baleen, which filters their food. Which sea creatures are their most common food?
(2006 test – question 30)
1. Seal and shark
2. Dolphin and porpoise
3. Turtle and penguin
4. Small fish and shrimp-sized krill
The great horned owl has a sharp beak and claws used for catching prey and tearing meat. It has good eyesight to see in low light. Which of these most likely describes the niche of the great horned owl?
(2011 test – question 7)
1. Hunts small animals at night
2. Grazes on grass during the day
3. Comes out at dusk to sweep the sky for insects
4. Comes out at dawn to get worms from the ground
Some fish have a streamlined body shape that allows them to move swiftly in the water. Which of these fish is probably the fastest?
(2004 test – question 35)
The eyespots on this butterfly’s wings allow it to —
(2003 test – question 34)
1. stay warm
2. locate nectar-filled flowers
3. fly away quickly
4. frighten or confuse enemies
Barnacles and corals are two types of animals that live in the ocean. Both animals build a hard layer of calcium around their soft body parts. What is the most likely reason that they build these layers?
(2006 test – question 21)
1. Prepare them for reproduction
2. Protect them from predators
3. Help them capture food
4. Keep them from drying out
Part of a coral reef is shown. A coral reef is —
(2010 test - question 19)
1. a rock
2. an ecosystem
3. an ocean current
4. an underwater cave
To a brook trout, a stream would be its —
(2005 test - question 21)
1. niche
2. habitat
3. community
4. population
To the blue crab, the open bay of the Chesapeake Bay region is its —
(2002 test - question 22)
1. niche
2. habitat
3. community
4. population
All of the populations of species in an area make up a —
(2011 test - question 25)
1. region
2. niche
3. family
4. community
Acorn barnacles are seashore animals found on rocks. They live 1 to 2 meters above low-tide level. These rocks are the acorn barnacles’ —
(2011 test - question )
1. ecosystem
2. community
3. food web
4. habitat
A wild turkey’s forest community includes —
(2009 test - question 40)
1. insects
2. rainfall
3. soil
4. wind
Which of the following best describes the living and non-living parts of the diagram above?
(2001 test - question 10)
1. A niche
2. A community
3. An ecosystem
4. A biome
Which of these animals is least likely a member of the pond community?
(2010 test - question 7)
In a healthy ecosystem, many different species of animals may share the same habitat because they each have a different niche. An animal’s niche is best described as —
(2006 test - question 17)
1. the role it plays in its habitat
2. where it is located
3. its appearance
4. its ability to reproduce

SOL 4.5 Adaptations, Ecossystems