1. In a forest ecosystem, wolves prey on deer, and deer browse on young saplings. If a disease dramatically reduces the wolf population, what is a likely consequence of this trophic cascade?
- A. The deer population will also decrease.
- B. The number of young saplings will decrease.
- C. The wolf population will quickly recover on its own.
- D. The population of birds in the forest will increase.
2. Based on the information about their diet, what ecological relationship did Walleye Pollock and Moon Jellies have?
- A. Predator-prey
- B. Competition
- C. Parasitism
- D. Mutualism
3. If a new disease caused a sharp decline in the Moon Jelly population, what would be the most probable immediate effect on the other populations mentioned?
- A. The zooplankton population would increase due to reduced predation.
- B. The Walleye Pollock population would also decline due to the disease.
- C. The zooplankton population would decrease.
- D. The Walleye Pollock population would immediately increase to fill the niche.
4. Imagine a year with unusually cold ocean temperatures that cause a massive die-off of zooplankton. What would be the most likely immediate impact on both the Moon Jelly and Walleye Pollock populations?
- A. Both populations would increase as they switch to a new food source.
- B. The Moon Jelly population would decline, but the Pollock would be unaffected.
- C. Both populations would face stress and likely decline due to food scarcity.
- D. The Pollock would begin eating the Moon Jellies to survive.
5. Which of the following best defines a trophic cascade?
- A. When a single species' population grows uncontrollably without affecting other species.
- B. The process where changes in the population of a species at one trophic level cause a series of effects through other levels of the food web.
- C. A direct competition for territory between two predator species.
- D. The seasonal migration of a species from one ecosystem to another.
6. If a sudden disease significantly reduced the Walleye Pollock population, what would be the most likely outcome for the Moon Jelly population?
- A. It would also decline due to the ecosystem becoming unstable.
- B. It would increase due to greater food availability.
- C. It would remain stable, as fish and jellies do not interact.
- D. It would be forced to migrate to a new habitat with more fish.
7. The competition between Moon Jellies and Walleye Pollock is centered around which key element of the ecosystem?
- A. Access to sunlight for energy.
- B. Suitable territory for breeding.
- C. A shared, limited food source.
- D. Protection from larger predators.
8. Imagine a year with an unusually large bloom of zooplankton, making this food source extremely abundant. How would this event likely alter the interaction between Moon Jellies and Walleye Pollock?
- A. Competition would increase.
- B. The Pollock would start preying on the Jellies.
- C. Competition between them would be reduced.
- D. There would be no change in their interaction.
9. In the glacier sea ecosystem, Moon Jellies and Walleye Pollock both consume zooplankton. Which ecological term best describes their relationship?
- A. Predation
- B. Competition
- C. Mutualism
- D. Parasitism
10. The effect of the Walleye Pollock population on the Moon Jelly population is considered an indirect interaction. What does this mean?
- A. They live in different parts of the ocean and never meet.
- B. They influence each other by affecting a shared resource, not by direct contact.
- C. One is a primary producer and the other is a consumer.
- D. They only interact during certain seasons of the year.