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Quizzes > Science

Ecology Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Short, free ecology practice test with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Aparajita MondalUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustrating an ecology quiz with themes of ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability on dark blue background.

This ecology quiz helps you check what you know about ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability with clear, quick questions and instant feedback. To go deeper, try our biodiversity practice, explore an ecosystem interactions quiz, or take a sustainability quiz to round out your study at your own pace.

Which of the following organisms acts as a primary producer in most ecosystems?
Herbivore
Decomposer
Sunlight
Plant
Plants are primary producers because they convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis, forming the base of food webs. They synthesize organic compounds that fuel all other trophic levels. Without plants, energy would not enter the ecosystem in a usable form. .
What term describes the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem?
Biodiversity
Biomass
Photosynthesis
Ecosystem
Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or the entire Earth. It includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. High biodiversity often indicates a healthy, resilient ecosystem. .
Which gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Methane
Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO?) from the air and use it, along with water and sunlight, to produce glucose and oxygen in photosynthesis. This process is essential for the carbon cycle and provides the organic material for nearly all life. .
Herbivores occupy which trophic level in a food chain?
Decomposer
Primary consumer
Secondary consumer
Primary producer
Herbivores eat primary producers (plants and algae) and are therefore classified as primary consumers in trophic structures. They transfer energy from producers to higher trophic levels. .
What is the term for the process by which water evaporates from plant leaves?
Evaporation
Condensation
Respiration
Transpiration
Transpiration is the process where water absorbed by roots moves through plants and evaporates from leaf surfaces. It helps drive water and nutrient uptake and regulates temperature. .
Which biome is characterized by very low precipitation and sparse vegetation?
Rainforest
Savanna
Tundra
Desert
Deserts receive less than 250 mm of rain annually, have sparse vegetation, and organisms adapted to conserve water. Temperature extremes and aridity define this biome. .
Which process releases energy from organic molecules by consuming oxygen?
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Fermentation
Nitrogen fixation
Cellular respiration breaks down glucose and other molecules in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP, the main energy currency for cells. It generates carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. .
Which of the following is an example of a keystone species?
Grass
Protozoa
Sea otter
Oak tree
Sea otters prey on sea urchins, preventing overgrazing of kelp forests. Their removal leads to ecosystem collapse, highlighting their keystone role. .
What term describes a species introduced to a new environment that causes ecological harm?
Keystone species
Endangered species
Native species
Invasive species
Invasive species establish, spread, and cause harm to ecosystems, economies, or human health outside their native range. They often outcompete native species. .
Which cycle involves the transformation of nitrogen gas into ammonia?
Phosphorus cycle
Water cycle
Nitrogen fixation
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric N? into ammonia (NH?), making nitrogen available for biological use. This is often driven by bacteria or lightning. .
Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
Natural gas
Oil
Solar energy
Coal
Solar energy is renewable because sunlight is continuously available and not depleted by usage. Unlike fossil fuels, it produces no direct emissions. .
Which ecosystem has the highest primary productivity per unit area?
Tundra
Desert
Open ocean
Tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforests have warm temperatures, high rainfall, and abundant sunlight, driving very high net primary productivity. They support dense, diverse habitats. .
What is the 'edge effect' in ecology?
Evolution of species
Energy flow in a food chain
Symbiotic relationship
Transition zone between ecosystems
The edge effect refers to greater species diversity and biological density at the boundary between two habitats. Edges often provide resources from both adjoining ecosystems. .
In a trophic pyramid, which level typically has the least biomass?
Secondary consumers
Tertiary consumers
Primary consumers
Producers
Tertiary consumers occupy the top trophic level and receive the least energy due to energy losses at each transfer. This leads to low biomass at higher levels. .
What agricultural practice involves planting different crops in the same field in sequential seasons?
Irrigation
Monoculture
Crop rotation
Deforestation
Crop rotation alternates crops to improve soil health, reduce pests, and increase yields. Rotating legumes can restore nitrogen levels. .
Which diversity metric accounts for both species richness and evenness?
Simpson's diversity index
Gross productivity
Trophic level
Species richness
Simpson's diversity index measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals from a sample belong to different species, incorporating both richness and evenness. It ranges from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater diversity. .
Which concept describes the largest catch that can be taken from a fishery stock indefinitely?
Ecological footprint
Maximum sustainable yield
Biosphere reserve
Carrying capacity
Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is the highest average catch that can be sustained over time without depleting the resource. It balances growth and extraction rates. .
Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential per molecule?
Carbon dioxide
Nitrous oxide
Methane
Water vapor
Nitrous oxide (N?O) has about 298 times the global warming potential of CO? over a 100-year period. It persists in the atmosphere and contributes strongly to radiative forcing. .
What is the main cause of ocean acidification?
Overfishing
Oil spills
Plastic pollution
Increased CO? dissolution
When atmospheric CO? dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, lowering pH. This acidification harms calcifying organisms like corals and shellfish. .
In the logistic growth model, which parameter represents the maximum population size the environment can support?
N
t
K
r
In the logistic growth equation dN/dt = rN(1 - N/K), K denotes carrying capacity, the limit to population size imposed by resources. As N approaches K, growth rate slows. .
What is bioremediation?
Blocking UV radiation
Killing bacteria in water
Using organisms to clean pollution
Removing topsoil
Bioremediation uses living organisms, like bacteria or plants, to detoxify or remove pollutants from soil and water. It's a cost-effective and eco-friendly cleanup method. .
Which life-history strategy describes species that reproduce quickly and colonize disturbed habitats?
K-selected
r-selected
Extinct
Endemic
r-selected species produce many offspring, mature rapidly, and thrive in changing or disturbed environments. They focus on reproduction over competitive ability. .
What principle underlies Lindeman's trophic-dynamic concept of ecology?
Plate tectonics and biogeography
Genetic drift in populations
Conservation of mass in cycles
Energy flow through trophic levels
Lindeman's concept focuses on energy transfer efficiency between trophic levels, emphasizing that only a fraction of energy passes upward. It shifted ecology toward quantitative energy analysis. .
Which metric quantifies the area of productive land needed to support a population's consumption and waste?
Biome capacity
Net primary productivity
Ecological footprint
Carbon footprint
Ecological footprint measures how much land and water area a population requires to produce resources and absorb wastes. It highlights sustainability gaps. .
What process describes the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere?
Nitrogen fixation
Nitrification
Denitrification
Ammonification
Denitrification is carried out by anaerobic bacteria that convert nitrate (NO??) into N? gas, releasing it back to the atmosphere. It completes the nitrogen cycle. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze ecosystem structure -

    Using this ecology quiz, you'll analyze relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers within diverse ecosystems.

  2. Evaluate biodiversity patterns -

    Through our ecology practice test, you'll evaluate species richness and evenness and understand their roles in ecosystem stability.

  3. Interpret food web dynamics -

    Engaging with ecology questions will help you interpret energy flow and trophic interactions across multiple habitats.

  4. Apply sustainability principles -

    After completing the ecology test, you'll apply principles of conservation and resource management to real-world environmental challenges.

  5. Identify key ecological terms -

    By working through ecology practice questions, you'll identify and define essential concepts such as niche, succession, and carrying capacity.

  6. Assess human impacts on ecosystems -

    This ecology quiz will guide you in assessing how land use, pollution, and climate change affect ecosystem health.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Energy Flow and the 10% Rule -

    Review how energy moves through trophic levels - producers, consumers, and decomposers - and remember that roughly 10% of energy transfers to the next level (universally cited in ecology textbooks like those from UC Davis). A handy mnemonic is "10% Only," reminding you that most energy is lost as heat. This concept often appears in ecology quiz questions on food web efficiency.

  2. Levels of Biodiversity -

    Understand the three tiers: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity as defined by the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and discussed in journals like Conservation Biology. Use the "GSE" mnemonic (Genetic, Species, Ecosystem) to lock it in. Knowing these levels is key for ecology practice test items about conservation priorities.

  3. Biogeochemical Cycles -

    Master the major cycles - water, carbon, and nitrogen - by reviewing processes such as evaporation, photosynthesis (CO₂ + H₂O → C₆H₝₂O₆ + O₂), and nitrogen fixation (N₂ → NH₃) highlighted in NOAA and EPA resources. Create a cycle diagram to see how each element repeatedly travels through Earth systems. These cycles frequently form the basis of ecology practice questions on nutrient flow.

  4. Ecological Succession -

    Differentiate primary succession (starting on bare rock) from secondary succession (following disturbance) using classic case studies like the Mount St. Helens recovery (USGS data). Remember the stages: pioneer species → intermediate → climax community. This progression is a staple in your ecology test prep for understanding habitat development.

  5. Population Dynamics and Carrying Capacity -

    Familiarize yourself with the logistic growth equation, dN/dt = rN(1 - N/K), where K is carrying capacity - core content in ecology practice questions on population limits. A simple memory trick is "Logistic Limits Life," reminding you that growth slows as populations near K (often covered by IPCC and USDA studies). Expect these concepts on any in-depth ecology quiz.

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