(1) 1. abiotic plants that make their own food
2. biotic living parts of ecosystems
3. consumers non-living parts of ecosystems
4. decomposers eat dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil
5. producers eat plants or other animals

(2) 1. biodiversity frozen layer of soil below the earth's surface

2. biome similar ecosystems, such as marine or desert

3. estuary transitional area between land and water systems that support
aquatic life

4. permafrost place where fresh and salt water meet

5. wetlands number of plants and animals in an ecosystem

(3) which are abiotic parts of an ecosystem? (choose more than one)

birds
water
people
soil
animals
air
dead organic matter

(4) which statements about ecosystems are true? (choose ore than one)

predators play a role in balancing the earth's ecosystems.
a healthy ecosystem can support an unlimited number of life forms.
the parts of an ecosystem depend on each other.
decomposers are the primary source of energy in an ecosystem.
your neighborhood park is an ecosystem.
people's activities can improve the health of an ecosystem.

(5) most plants and animals are pretty flexible and can thrive in more than one biome.

true
false

(6) which are characteristics of a desert ecosystem? (choose more than one)

dry and hot
dry and cold
many plants grow here
receives less than ten inches (twenty-five cm) of rain per year
covers one-half of the earth

(7) which statements are true about a grassland ecosystem? (choose more than one)

grasslands receive less than ten inches (twenty-five cm) of rain per year.
a large variety of trees grow here.
much grassland has been converted to grow crops.
many birds of the grasslands build their nests on the ground.
the soil is rich in nutrients.
europe and asia are the only continents with no grasslands

(8) most of the world's rain and snow comes from this ecosystem. (only choose one)

freshwater
forest
grassland
marine

(9) a major manufacturing firm wants to open in your rural town. your town currently
has a population of fewer than five thousand people. much of its land is
undeveloped and heavily forested. the firm has submitted a proposal to clear a
three-mile tract of land on which to build the plant. the town council is considering
the proposal and is concerned about the consequences of clearing so much forest
land to make room for industry. what concerns are they likely to have? (choose more
than one)

increased biodiversity
soil erosion
increased pollution
water runoff
reduced precipitation

(10) the crops grown in a small midwestern farming community are being destroyed by
grasshoppers. the farmers have banded together and have decided to spray
pesticides to reduce the grasshopper population. what is likely to happen in the
future as a result of this spraying? (choose more than one)

(11) consider this scenario: the tropical island of hawaii is virtually snake-free.
smugglers, seeking to make money, brought several crates of snakes to the island.
unfortunately, while traveling across the island, the truck carrying the snakes was in
an accident. the crates were thrown from the truck and broke apart. most of the
snakes were never recovered. would this have any affect on the ecosystem here?
explain your answer.

(12) read the passage and select the ecosystem it describes.

i live in the most unforgiving of places. it almost never rains. here the cold, cold wind blows non-stop. the soil is frozen year-round, and it is of such poor quality that almost nothing grows. the few plants that do grow here seem to huddle together for warmth.

steppe
tundra
desert
forest

(13) what ecosystem would be damaged the most by a fire?

marine
desert
forest
tundra