Ecology & the Environment Quiz

1. What is an ecosystem?

1. A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment
2. A system for recycling waste
3. A system of rivers and lakes
4. A type of biome

2. What is a 'food chain'?

1. A diagram showing who eats whom in an ecosystem
2. A supermarket supply system
3. A type of ecological network
4. The process of photosynthesis

3. What is a 'producer' in a food chain?

1. A factory that produces animal food
2. A top predator
3. An animal that produces young
4. An organism (usually a plant) that produces food via photosynthesis

4. What is 'biodiversity'?

1. The number of different habitats in a region
2. The total number of species on Earth
3. The variety of biomes on Earth
4. The variety of life in an area — species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity

5. What is the greenhouse effect?

1. The cooling of the atmosphere
2. The depletion of the ozone layer
3. The effect of growing plants in greenhouses
4. The warming of Earth's surface as greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun

6. What are the three main greenhouse gases produced by human activity?

1. CO₂, methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O)
2. CO₂, ozone, oxygen
3. Methane, chlorine, argon
4. Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen

7. What is 'deforestation' and why is it a concern?

1. Clearing forests, which reduces carbon storage, biodiversity, and ecosystem services
2. Planting new forests
3. The natural death of old trees
4. Treating trees for disease

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

1. A food chain is a single linear sequence; a food web shows all interconnected food chains in an ecosystem
2. A food web only includes plants
3. Food webs are smaller
4. They are the same thing

9. What is a 'keystone species'?

1. A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance
2. The largest predator in an ecosystem
3. The most numerous species in an ecosystem
4. The species at the top of the food chain

10. What is the ozone layer and why is it important?

1. A layer of carbon dioxide above the clouds
2. A layer of O₃ in the stratosphere that protects Earth from harmful UV radiation
3. A layer of water vapour that keeps Earth warm
4. The outermost layer of the atmosphere

11. What is 'biomagnification'?

1. Magnifying cells under a microscope
2. The expansion of ecosystems
3. The growth of microorganisms in polluted water
4. The increase in concentration of a pollutant as it moves up the food chain

12. What is the carbon cycle?

1. The burning of fossil fuels
2. The capture of carbon in power stations
3. The process by which carbon is exchanged between atmosphere, biosphere, oceans, and geosphere
4. The production of CO₂ by living organisms

13. What is a 'biome'?

1. A large geographical area characterised by a distinct climate and community of organisms
2. A single ecosystem
3. An underground ecological system
4. The total life on Earth

14. What is 'eutrophication'?

1. Excessive nutrient enrichment of a water body causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion
2. The formation of new ecosystems in water
3. The natural aging of a lake
4. The purification of polluted water

15. What is the role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

1. They break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem
2. They consume plants and animals
3. They produce food via photosynthesis
4. They purify water

16. Which gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis?

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Hydrogen
3. Nitrogen
4. Oxygen

17. What is an 'invasive species'?

1. A native species that becomes too numerous
2. A non-native species introduced to a new area that causes harm
3. A predator that invades another's territory
4. A species protected by law

18. What is 'sustainable development'?

1. Development in less wealthy countries
2. Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs
3. Development that uses all available resources
4. Economic development without environmental regulation

19. What percentage of Earth's species are estimated to live in tropical rainforests?

1. 10%
2. 25%
3. 50%
4. 75%

20. Which human activity is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions globally?

1. Agriculture
2. Deforestation
3. Energy production from fossil fuels
4. Transport (cars and planes)