MODULE: Ecosystems

1 hour TIMSS intervention session

This session has been designed to help you to practice answering TIMSS questions
about the ecosystem module. It also helps you to practice explaining the key
concepts and apply your undersanding.

1. Which of the following statements is true about organisms that are consumers?

A They use energy from the sun to make food

B They absorb energy from a host animal

C They get energy from eating living things

D They get energy by breaking down dead plants and animals

2. Which of the following statements is true about organisms that are producers?

A They use energy from the sun to make food

B They absorb energy from a host animal

C They get energy from eating living things

D They get energy by breaking down dead plants and animals

3. Which of the following statements is true about organisms that are decomposers?

A They use energy from the sun to make food

B They absorb energy from a host animal

C They get energy from eating living things

D They get energy by breaking down dead plants and animals

 4. An incomplete food web has been drawn for you. Complete it by filling in each of
the empty circles with the number of the correct animal or plant from the list.
Remember that the arrows represent energy flow and go from the provider to the
user.

1 Caterpillar

2 Corn

3 Hawk

4 Snake

Mouse

Sunlight

Robin
Oak
Tree
5. Fill in each circle in this food web with the number of the correct plant or animal
from the list. Remember that the arrows point from the energy provider to the energy
user.

1 Owl

2 Rose

3 Grass

4 Rabbit

Red
Fox

Skunk

Honey
bee
Sunlight
6. A forest contains trees, birds, monkeys, vines, frogs and has sunshine.

Explain why each of the following is important in maintaining the ecosystem in the
rainforest.

A The Tree

B The Sun
7. An aquarium has a light and contains two fish, a snail, plants, and a rock

Explain why each of the following is important in maintaining the ecosystem in the
aquarium.

A The plants

B The light
8. What could be the unwanted consequences of introducing a new species to a
certain area? Give an example.

9. The Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands, were first inhabited by

organisms (plants and animals). When people came to live on the islands they
brought with them a number of new animals such as cats and goats.

Write down one effect the introduction of cats and goats could have on the plants
and animals living on the islands.

A. One effect of cats

B. One effect of Goats

C. What would be your advice to conservationists on the Galapagos islands with

regard conserving the original species of animals and plants. Give reasons for
your advice.
10. Here is part of a food web for a lake.

A new species of fish is introduced. The alewife eats

water fleas and shrimp. It is smaller than a perch and
reproduces faster.

Explain two possible effects of introducing the

alewife.

11. Here is a food chain in an ecosystem.

a) i) Name the producer.

______________________________________________________________

ii) Explain why it is called a producer

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
 iii) Explain why frogs are called consumers

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

b) i) If the plants die during a summer drought, the cricket population would
most likely:

Tick one box

Decrease Increase Remain the same

Explain your answer

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ii) If the number of frogs increases, the snake population would most likely:

Tick one box

Decrease Increase Remain the same

Explain your answer

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
12. Study the food web and then answer the questions below.

Tuna

Shark

Herring

Zooplankton

Whale

bee
Phytoplankton

a. Which organisms in this food we are producers?

b. Which organisms in this food web are consumers?

c. Where does the energy for this ecosystem come from?

d. Which organisms in this food web trap this energy?

e. i) How do they drap the energy?

ii) What is the process?

iii) Describe the process?

f. How is the energy transferred through this food web?

g. What is the energy used for?

h. Is all the energy transferred? Explain your answer.

i. What would happen to the shark population if the Tuna were over fished?
Explain your answer.

j. What would be the effect on the food web of over fishing of herring?
k. What would be your advice to fisheries officers and fisherman fishing in the
waters of this food web. Give reasons for your advice.

l. i) What gas is produced by the phytoplankton during day light?

Explain your answer.

ii) How do the herring use this gas?

Explain your answer.

iii) What gas do herring release?

iv) What gas do phytoplankton produce at night? Explain your answer.

m) What happens to the organisms in the food web when they die?