Ecology and Ecosystems: Interactive Learning Quizzes for 8th Grade Science

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a basic component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Celestial bodies (like stars)

Answer

Living organisms (plants, animals)

Answer

Non-living features (water, air, soil)

Answer

Food webs

Question 2

Which of the following correctly describes the sequential order of trophic levels in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Producers, consumers, decomposers

Answer

Decomposers, producers, consumers

Answer

Consumers, producers, decomposers

Answer

Decomposers, consumers, producers

Question 3

What is the main role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead plants and animals and release nutrients back into the soil

Answer

To produce oxygen through photosynthesis

Answer

To consume other living organisms for food

Answer

To provide shelter for other organisms

Question 4

What is the term for a group of organisms of the same kind living together in the same area?

Accepted Answer

Population

Answer

Community

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biome

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a mutually beneficial relationship between two different species?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Predator-prey

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Competition

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a food web in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To illustrate the flow of energy and nutrients through different organisms

Answer

To show the exact location of species within a particular habitat

Answer

To predict the exact number of certain species in a population

Answer

To identify the most important species in a community

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Human activities

Answer

Living organisms (plants, animals)

Answer

Non-living factors (air, water, soil)

Answer

Energy

Question 8

The process by which plants use sunlight to create their own food is called:

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Combustion

Question 9

The relationship between two organisms where one benefits from the interaction while the other is neither helped nor harmed is known as:

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Predation

Question 10

The study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment is called:

Accepted Answer

Ecology

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biosphere

Answer

Habitat

Question 11

Trace the path of energy as it moves through a food chain. Explain the concept of trophic levels and how energy is lost at each level.

Accepted Answer

Energy flows through a food chain in a one-way direction, with only 10% of energy passing to the next level.

Answer

Energy moves from producers to consumers to decomposers, with each level retaining all the energy it receives.

Answer

Energy flows through a food chain in a circular pattern, with energy constantly being recycled.

Answer

Decomposers have a minimal role in energy flow because they don't directly consume other organisms.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT considered a component of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Gravity

Answer

Living organisms

Answer

Abiotic factors (e.g., air, water, minerals)

Answer

Energy flow

Question 13

What is the primary role of producers in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Convert sunlight or chemical energy into usable energy

Answer

Consume other organisms

Answer

Decompose organic matter

Answer

Filter water

Question 14

Which of the following is considered a secondary consumer in a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Animals that eat other animals (secondary consumers)

Answer

Plants (producers)

Answer

Animals that eat plants (primary consumers)

Answer

Tiny organisms that break down dead plants and animals (decomposers)

Question 15

What is the term used to describe the network of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Food web

Answer

Food pyramid

Answer

Ecosystem map

Answer

Trophic levels

Question 16

What is a potential consequence of reduced biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Reduced resistance to disease and environmental changes

Answer

Increased ecosystem stability

Answer

Higher levels of air and water pollution

Answer

Increased soil fertility

Question 17

What is the term for the physical environment in which an organism lives?

Accepted Answer

Habitat

Answer

Niche

Answer

Ecosystem

Answer

Biosphere

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit?

Accepted Answer

A fungus growing on a tree and absorbing nutrients

Answer

A lion preying on a zebra

Answer

A dog chasing a cat

Answer

A parasite living inside a host

Question 19

How does biodiversity help ecosystems stay stable?

Accepted Answer

It makes ecosystems more resistant to changes in the environment.

Answer

It reduces competition for resources among organisms.

Answer

It makes ecosystems more vulnerable to invasive species.

Answer

It lowers the overall productivity of the ecosystem.

Question 20

Within an ecosystem, which organisms solely consume plants and algae?

Accepted Answer

Primary consumers

Answer

Secondary consumers

Answer

Omnivores

Answer

Detritivores

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT an abiotic factor in an ecosystem? (Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem.)

Accepted Answer

Predators

Answer

Temperature

Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Water

Question 22

A food chain is a simplified diagram that shows the transfer of energy through different levels of organisms in an ecosystem. What should be the correct order of a food chain?

Accepted Answer

Producer -> Primary Consumer -> Secondary Consumer

Answer

Decomposer -> Secondary Consumer -> Primary Consumer

Answer

Secondary Consumer -> Producer -> Primary Consumer

Answer

Primary Consumer -> Secondary Consumer -> Decomposer

Question 23

Which of the following human activities is NOT a major threat to ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

Conservation efforts

Answer

Deforestation

Answer

Climate change

Answer

Pollution

Question 24

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

Accepted Answer

A food web is a more complex network of feeding relationships that includes multiple interconnected food chains.

Answer

A food chain is a linear representation of energy flow that does not include interactions between different levels of consumers.

Answer

A food web includes only producers and consumers, while a food chain includes decomposers.

Answer

There is no difference between a food chain and a food web.

Question 25

Which of the following is a producer organism? (Producer organisms make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.)

Accepted Answer

Grass

Answer

Deer

Answer

Snake

Answer

Mushroom

Question 26

What is the term for the process by which animals consume plants?

Accepted Answer

Herbivory

Answer

Predation

Answer

Symbiosis

Answer

Scavenging

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Static state

Answer

Interdependence of organisms

Answer

Energy flow

Answer

Cycling of nutrients

Question 28

Which trophic level in a food chain represents organisms that are able to make their own food?

Accepted Answer

Producers

Answer

Secondary consumers

Answer

Decomposers

Answer

Top predators

Question 29

Which of the following describes a mutually beneficial relationship?

Accepted Answer

Pollination by bees

Answer

Predation

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Herbivory

Question 30

The process by which organic matter is broken down, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem, is called:

Accepted Answer

Decomposition

Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Combustion

Question 31

Which of the following is a potential consequence of reduced biodiversity in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Reduced ecosystem stability and productivity

Answer

Increased ecosystem resilience

Answer

Improved nutrient cycling

Answer

Enhanced population growth rates

Question 32

The term 'Carrying Capacity' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The maximum population size supported by an ecosystem

Answer

The minimum resources needed for a population to survive

Answer

The rate of population growth

Answer

The number of predators in an ecosystem

Question 33

The transfer of energy through trophic levels is always:

Accepted Answer

Less than 10% efficient

Answer

100% efficient

Answer

50% efficient

Answer

Greater than 50% efficient

Question 34

The study of interactions between organisms and their physical surroundings is called:

Accepted Answer

Ecology

Answer

Biology

Answer

Chemistry

Answer

Physics

Question 35

Which of the following is the largest level of ecological organization?

Accepted Answer

Biosphere

Answer

Organism

Answer

Population

Answer

Ecosystem

Question 36

In a food chain, which organism is capable of producing its own food through photosynthesis?

Accepted Answer

Producer

Answer

Consumer

Answer

Decomposer

Answer

Predator

Question 37

When one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected, what type of relationship is this called?

Accepted Answer

Commensalism

Answer

Mutualism

Answer

Parasitism

Answer

Predation

Question 38

What term describes the variety of living organisms found within an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity

Answer

Habitat

Answer

Population

Answer

Niche

Question 39

Which of the following is the largest ecosystem on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Ocean

Answer

Forest

Answer

Grassland

Answer

Desert

Question 40

Which of the following is considered a renewable natural resource?

Accepted Answer

Water

Answer

Oil

Answer

Coal

Answer

Natural gas

Question 41

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

To break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients

Answer

To produce food for other organisms

Answer

To regulate the population size of other organisms

Answer

To create new habitats

Question 42

Which process explains how living things change over time to better survive in their surroundings?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Camouflage

Answer

Mimicry

Answer

Migration

Question 43

Which of the following is classified as a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

Plants

Answer

Wind

Answer

Sunlight

Answer

Soil

Question 44

In a food chain, which organism occupies the highest trophic level?

Accepted Answer

Apex predator

Answer

Primary consumer

Answer

Secondary consumer

Answer

Primary producer

Question 45

Which of the following characteristics is indicative of a healthy and stable ecosystem?

Accepted Answer

High biodiversity

Answer

Absence of decomposers

Answer

Low species competition

Answer

Limited nutrient cycling

Question 46

What is the process through which plants harness sunlight to create their own food?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthesis

Answer

Respiration

Answer

Transpiration

Answer

Decomposition

Question 47

In an ecosystem, what is the primary function of decomposers?

Accepted Answer

Decompose organic matter

Answer

Produce food for consumers

Answer

Provide shelter for animals

Answer

Regulate water flow

Question 48

What is the key difference between a population and a community in ecology?

Accepted Answer

A population consists of individuals of the same species, while a community includes multiple populations of different species.

Answer

A population is always larger than a community.

Question 49

Which of the following biomes is characterized by cold temperatures and coniferous trees?

Accepted Answer

Taiga

Answer

Tundra

Answer

Tropical rainforest

Answer

Temperate forest

Question 50

What is the driving force behind the process of evolution in species?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Answer

Selective breeding

Answer

Genetic drift